All about lexis and structures gor new students
Welcome to the world of English language learning! Lexis and structures are two fundamental concepts that will help you build a strong foundation in English. Here's a comprehensive guide to get you started:
What is Lexis?
Lexis refers to the vocabulary of a language, including words, phrases, and idioms. It's the building blocks of language that help you communicate effectively. Lexis includes:
- Vocabulary: Words, phrases, and expressions that convey meaning.
- Collocations: Words that often appear together, such as "strong coffee" or "heavy rain".
- Idioms: Fixed expressions with a specific meaning, like "kick the bucket" or "break a leg".
- Phrasal verbs: Verbs that combine with prepositions and/or adverbs to create new meanings, like "pick up" or "get on".
What are Structures?
Structures refer to the way words are arranged to form sentences, phrases, and clauses. It's the grammar of language that helps you convey meaning and express yourself clearly. Structures include:
- Sentence structure: The order of words in a sentence, such as subject-verb-object (SVO) or subject-object-verb (SOV).
- Clause structure: The way clauses are connected to form sentences, such as independent and dependent clauses.
- Phrasal structure: The way phrases are combined to form sentences, such as noun phrases or verb phrases.
- Modal structures: The way modal verbs (like "can", "must", or "should") are used to express possibility, necessity, or obligation.
Tips for New Students
- Start with the basics: Focus on common vocabulary, grammar rules, and sentence structures.
- Practice, practice, practice: Use flashcards, language learning apps, or practice with a language exchange partner.
- Learn collocations and idioms: These can help you sound more natural and fluent.
- Read and listen: Expose yourself to authentic materials like news articles, podcasts, or audiobooks.
- Speak and write: Practice speaking and writing in English to improve your pronunciation and grammar.
- Don't be afraid to make mistakes: Language learning is a process, and mistakes are an essential part of it.
Common Lexis and Structures for New Students
Here are some essential lexicon and structures to get you started:
Vocabulary:
- Common verbs: be, have, do, say, go, take, make
- Common nouns: person, place, thing, animal, food, drink
- Common adjectives: big, small, happy, sad, hot, cold
Grammar:
- Present simple: I go to school, she eats breakfast
- Present continuous: I am studying, they are watching TV
- Past simple: I went to school, she ate breakfast
- Future simple: I will go to school, she will eat breakfast
Sentence Structures:
- Simple sentences: I like coffee.
- Compound sentences: I like coffee, and I like tea.
- Complex sentences: I like coffee because it's good for me.
Phrasal Verbs:
- Get on: to start something
- Pick up: to lift or move something
- Take off: to remove something
Idioms:
- Break a leg: good luck
- Cost an arm and a leg: very expensive
- In a nutshell: a brief summary
Remember, language learning is a lifelong process. Focus on building a strong foundation, and don't be afraid to make mistakes. Good luck, and happy learning!