Advanced English Vocabulary: Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, and Lexis
Comprehensive English Lexicon: Phrases, Idioms, and Advanced Terms
Section 1: Common Phrases, Idioms, and Expressions
This section provides definitions, synonyms, and antonyms for common English phrases and idiomatic expressions, focusing on usage and context.
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Three Synonyms | Three Antonyms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Be on a high | To feel extremely happy or excited | be elated, feel euphoric, be overjoyed | feel down, be depressed, be miserable |
| Tie the knot | To get married | get married, wed, exchange vows | split up, divorce, |
Comparing Poetic Techniques: Exposure and Storm on the Island
Exposure vs. Storm on the Island: Poetic Analysis
3. Exposure – “The merciless iced east winds that knive us…”
- Personification (Verb “Knive”): The verb “knive” anthropomorphizes the wind as a violent attacker, aligning nature with the enemy and suggesting that the soldiers are under constant assault. This mirrors the aggressive, militaristic imagery in Storm on the Island, where nature also becomes a relentless attacker through words like “bombarded.”
- Adjective (“Merciless”)
Understanding Must, Adjectives, and Language Competence
What is the past of must? Must does not have a past form, but we can use two structures instead. The structure we use depends on whether we want to express obligation or if we want to say how certain we are about the probability of something happening. To express obligation, we use the structure: had + infinitive. For example: “They had to sleep.” To express a personal opinion in the past, we use the structure: must + have + past participle. For example: “They must have arrived late.” Why
Read MoreUnderstanding Celebrity Writers and Their Experiences
1. Why Do Most Celebrity Writers Despise Being Interviewed?
Ans: Most celebrity writers despise being interviewed as they consider it an undesirable intrusion into their personal lives. Some view it as an immoral and offensive activity, while others feel it would ‘diminish’ them.
2. How Is Umberto Eco’s Non-Fictional Writing Style Different from Academic Writing Style?
Ans: Umberto Eco’s non-fictional writing style has a certain playful, narrative, and personal quality about it, whereas his
Read MoreMiguel Hernández’s Poetic Symbols: From Orihuela to War
Miguel Hernández: Symbolism and Imagery in Poetry
Miguel Hernández’s (MH) poetry is rich in symbolism and vivid imagery. His lyrical style, often described as “Hernandiana,” is characterized by its intensity and recurring motifs. The evolution of the poet’s life and expression allows us to distinguish a variety of symbols corresponding to different stages and experiences.
Early Works and Orihuela Imagery (1924–1931)
MH’s poems during his formative years (1924–1931) feature images drawn directly
Read MoreLiterary Analysis: Metrics, Grammar, and Narrative Theory
Lyrical Poetry and Metric Analysis
When analyzing a poem, the following elements must be identified:
- Verse Type
- Stanza Form
- Rhyme Scheme
- Metric Scheme
Stanza Forms (Types of Stanzas)
- Couplet (Paired): 2 verses.
- Tercet: 3 verses.
- Tercet Chained: 3 decasyllabic verses linked by rhyme.
- Quatrain (Major Art): 4 verses of 9 or more syllables.
- Quatrain (Minor Art): 4 verses of 8 or fewer syllables.
- Quintet: 5 verses.
- Sextet: 6 verses.
- Octave: 8 lines, typically of Major Art.
- Sonnet: 14 verses.
Verse Classification
- Blank