Vanlig IELTS-vokabulär - essential words level 1

The definition of the noun advantage reads as follows: An advantage is a quality or condition that puts something in a favorable or superior position. Simply said, an advantage is a characteristic that makes something better than something else.

We often use "advantage" to talk about the benefits of a thing or person. For instance, the following three sentences use "advantage" to describe the benefits of living in a big city:

• The advantage of living in a big city is that there is plenty of entertainment.
• One advantage of living in a big city is that there is plenty of entertainment.
• One of the advantages of living in a big city is that there is plenty of entertainment.

However, only if "advantage" is used at the very beginning of a sentence do we say "advantage of something". When using expletive constructions like “There are/is” it would sound wrong or unnatural to say "There are many advantages of living in a big city". Many students make this mistake. Here you should use the preposition "to" as in the following sentence:

• There are many advantages to living in a big city
• There are many advantages in living in a big city

Often we simply paraphrase here and say:

• Living in a big city has many advantages.

Okay! Now! If we want to specify the alternatives we are comparing to, we normally use the preposition over as in “have an advantage OVER sth.” Since advantage refers to a position superior to another thing, it is kind of natural to use OVER here to say that is is higher than the other thing. So 'A has an advantage over B'. means that A is in a favorable or superior position compared to B. This phrase is commonly used when talking about competition in business, sports or even evolution.

Let me give you some examples here:

• Our company has an advantage over our competitors.
• The New York Knicks have a clear advantage over Miami Heat
• Humans have an evolutionary advantage over other animals.

Instead of using  “to have an advantage” all the time you can say “to be at an advantage” as well... In this case, how could you change the three sentences? You can pause this video and try it yourself… It's not too complicated. :) We can change the phrasing as follows:

• Our company is at an advantage over our competitors.

• The New York Knicks are at a clear advantage over Miami Heat

• Humans are at an evolutionary advantage over other animals.

Especially in business, "advantage" is often used together with the adjective “competitive” to highlight the competitive environment businesses are in. For example, if you say

• Our company has a competitive advantage over Google.

That would mean your company is in a certain field better than Google. 

There are many other verbs that can be used together with advantage. For instance, you can “gain an advantage”, “win an advantage”, and “develop an advantage” or “sth. Can give or offer you an advantage” and you can “take advantage of sth.”

To make these more specific, let's have a look at some more examples.

• Our company gained/won a competitive advantage over our competitors by reducing costs.
• During the process of evolution, humans developed an intellectual advantage over other animals.
• By reducing costs we could develop a competitive advantage over our competitors.
• My English skills gave/offered me a clear advantage over other applicants..
• You should take advantage of all the resources bestmytest.com offers to improve your English.

Advantage is often used with “to” as well, as in the following phrases.

• To one's advantage

If something is 'to one's advantage' it means that something gives an advantage or is beneficial to someone. Here are example sentences

• The ice cream store was able to turn the hot weather to its advantage.  
• It is to your advantage to invest wisely.
• The new regulations will work to our advantage.

The adjective "advantageous" means good or useful in a particular situation. It is often used with the preposition "to", for example,

• The new tax system is advantageous to higher-rate taxpayers.
• Living in university dormitories is advantageous to students.
• The company believes the new location is advantageous to the growth of its business.

The word "affect" means to have an influence on or make a change in something. 

• The movie deeply affected me, leaving me thoughtful for days.

• His decision did not affect the outcome of the project.

• Weather conditions can significantly affect the safety of a flight.

The verb "benefit" means to gain an advantage or profit from something. The noun "benefit" means an advantage or profit gained from something.

• Regular exercise has many health benefits.

• The new policy will benefit both employees and the company.

• She benefited greatly from her study abroad experience.

The noun "cause" means a person or thing that gives rise to an action, phenomenon, or condition.

• The police are still trying to determine the cause of the fire.

• Smoking can cause serious health problems.
  
  

The verb "cause" means to make something happen or to bring about a result. 

• Heavy rainfall caused flooding in many parts of the city.

• A sudden drop in temperature can cause the pipes to freeze.

• Lack of sleep can cause poor concentration and health issues.

• The economic crisis was caused by a combination of factors, including poor financial regulation.

The noun "effect" means the result or outcome of a cause.

• The new law had an immediate effect on reducing crime.

• Advertising can have a significant effect on the public 

• One negative effect of social media on society is that it leads to addiction. 

• One positive effect of computers on society is that they bring convenience to our lives. 

• Parasitic relationships can have beneficial or harmful effects on hosts.  

• Nicotine, an addictive substance, has many harmful effects on our health. One detrimental effect of nicotine is that it causes lung diseases. Another adverse effect of nicotine is it causes damage to our brains. 

The noun "special effect" refers to techniques used in the film, television, theater, video game, and simulator industries to realize scenes that cannot be achieved by normal means, such as space travel, magical powers, or explosions occurring in battle scenes.

• Special effects in movies can make impossible scenes look real.

In British English, the spelling is 'enrol' with one 'l' only.

As a transitive verb, the word 'enroll' means to get someone officially registered as a member of an organization or a school. In this case, the pattern is : ____(sb) enrolls __ (sb) in ___ (a school, a program, or an organization). For example

• My neighbors enrolled their children in a private school.

• I enrolled myself in a weight-loss program.

Or it simply means to take someone as a member. Here is an example:

• The college enrolls about 25,000 students every year.

As an intransitive verb, it is followed by the preposition 'in'. So 'to enroll in' means to officially register a course, a school, or an organization. The pattern is: ___ (sb) enrolls in ___ (a course, a school, or an organization). Here are examples:

• I enrolled in the history course.

• A total of 652 students have enrolled in college courses in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry.

• Many students enrolling in college are unprepared for the rigors of higher education.

• After graduating from high school, he enrolled in the army.

Notice that in British English, you often hear 'enrol on a course' instead of 'enroll in a course'. But if you are taking TOEFL exams, we recommend you use 'enroll in a course'. As the “on” version is pretty much never used in American English.

The noun of ‘enroll’ is ‘enrollment’. The noun "enrollment" has two meanings:

The first meaning of enrollment is the process of officially joining a course, school, or a service. Here are examples:

• Enrollment is in the first week of September.
• Fees must be paid in full at the time of enrollment.
• Enrollment will take place in the main hall.

The second meaning of enrollment is the number of people who signed up for a school. Here are examples:

• Our college had an enrollment of 2000 students last year.
• The enrollment of international students has increased over the past 3 years. = The number of international students who signed up for schools has increased over the past 3 years. 

We often add words like ‘college’, ‘high school’, ‘undergraduate’,  and ‘international’ ..etc before the noun “enrollment” to give more details about the type of enrollment. Look at the following example sentences:

• College enrollment across the country has been steadily decreasing for five years.
• China is the largest sender of international students to the U.S., with Chinese students accounting for 31.5% of all international enrollments in the U.S
• As a result of declining undergraduate enrollments, many colleges are working to increase recruitment efforts to more effectively attract students.

The word experience is a noun. When the noun "experience" refers to a past event, it is countable. For example,

• I have many embarrassing experiences during my childhood.

• The most memorable experience I have ever had is my graduation trip to Europe.

But when its meaning is the length of time that you have spent doing something or when we talk about a skill or knowledge that you get by doing something, it is uncountable. In this case, you will often see the preposition “in”, “with', and “of” used with the word experience. Let's look at how to properly use them.

“Experience in sth.” is used when we refer to a particular field. For example,

• I have a lot of experience in sales and marketing.

• I have experience in teaching.

• I have five years of experience in software engineering.

“Experience with something” is used when we refer to something more specific. For example,

• I have a lot of experience with working with children.

• I have 10 years of experience with managing projects.

Okay! Sometimes you can hear “have experience of something', it is used to say somebody has done something before. For example, Do you have the experience of fixing a car? = Have you ever fixed a car?

The noun "impact" means the action of one object coming forcibly into contact with another, or the effect or influence of one person, thing, or action on another.

• The environmental policies had a significant impact on reducing pollution.

• One positive impact of computers on society is that they bring convenience to our lives. 

The verb "impact" means to have a strong effect on something or someone.

• The new law will impact small businesses the most.

• The asteroid impacted the surface of the moon, creating a large crater.

• Globalization has many adverse impacts on developing countries. One negative impact is the acceleration of income inequalities. However, globalization can also have positive impacts on developing countries. One positive impact is that it creates greater opportunities for firms to tap into more and larger markets around the world. 

"Prefer" means to like better. The following patterns are often used: 

I prefer to ____ (Verb)

I prefer ____(Noun) to/over ____(Noun)

To me, ____(Noun) is certainly preferable to ____(Noun)

I would rather ____(Verb) than ___ (Verb)

Example sentences:

• I prefer to watch all TV episodes at once.

• I prefer having a higher-paying job with longer hours to having a lower-paying job with shorter hours.

• My kids prefer Kraft's mac and cheese to any homemade version that I make. 

• To me, eating at restaurants is certainly preferable to eating at home.

• I would rather work in a team than work alone.

The following patterns and expressions are commonly used with the noun ‘reason’.

One/The reason why _____ is _____

One/The reason for _____ is ____.

Let’s look at the following examples:

• One reason why the population is growing so fast is that death rates have fallen dramatically
• One reason why the population is growing so fast is the drastic decline in the death rates.
• The reason for overpopulation is that resources are limited.

The adjectives "primary" and "main" are often used with the word "reason". Using this, you can change the last sentence like this:

• The primary/main reason for overpopulation is that resources are limited.

The noun "result" means the outcome or effect of an action, situation, or event. 

• The experiment yielded an interesting result.

• The result of the election was announced last night.

• She was very happy with the result of her job interview.

The phrase 'sign up for sth.' means to commit oneself to join something - like a course or organization. Or we use the pattern 'sign someone up to do something' or "sign someone up for something". For example,

• I want to sign up for private basketball lessons.

• My father signed me up for private basketball lessons on the weekend. 

• I have decided to sign up for evening classes at the community college.

• My teacher signed me up to do voluntary work next month.

• Hey Grace, has anyone signed you up for the office picnic?

• Make sure you sign up for our email list to receive special discounts, exclusive partnership offers, and a birthday surprise, just for you!

• Sign up for our newsletter and be the first one to receive exclusive discounts and news regarding Fortinos Hotel Group.

"Sign someone up with someone/something" also means an orgranization hiring someone by signing a contract with him or her. Here are example sentences:

• The team signed a rookie pitcher up for next season.

• The agent was trying to get Sean to sign up with him.

Definition: signs or objects that represent something or somebody

Example senences:

• From spring’s delicate first buds to lush late-summer gardens, green is a symbol not just of life, but of life that is thriving.
• The strange symbols found in Egyptian tombs have intrigued historians for centuries.

Admission as a word encompasses various meanings, primarily focusing on the act of allowing someone to enter a specific place or institution. It can also refer to the fee charged for entry to events or establishments. Moreover, it signifies the act of acknowledging or confessing something, often used in contexts where someone admits a mistake or a fact.

• How much do they charge for admission?

• Tickets are $10, with free admission for children under age 12.

• The cost includes free admission to the casinos.

• Many students apply for admission to more than one university.

• No admission to the park between 11 P.M. and 6 A.M.

• Congratulations on your admission to the University of Illinois.

• I failed to gain admission to my dream university.

• I submitted an application for admission to Harvard.

• Many students apply for admission to more than one university.

• We have already seen an increase in the level of emergency admissions.

• We keep careful records of all hospital admissions. 

The noun "consequence" means a result or effect of an action or condition, often one that is bad or not desired.

• Every action has its consequences.

• He didn't consider the consequences of his actions.

• The environmental consequences of this decision could be disastrous.

To contribute is to give (something like money or time) in order to help achieve or provide something. Here are examples:

• He contributed 100 dollars to the charity.

• Jack contributed many hours of his time to the charity.

• She contributed many hours of her time to helping the charity organize the event.

The phrase "contribute to" can also mean "to give something or to help make something happen".

• He did not contribute to the project.

• Many players have contributed to the team's success.

• Everyone in the community was asked to contribute to the local food drive.

• His invention contributed significantly to the advancement of technology.

The phrase "contribute to" can mean "cause". Here are example sentences: 

• Heavy drinking contributed to her death. 

• Carbon dioxide significantly contributes to global warming.

The word contributing can be used to describe things that help to bring about results, whether positive or negative.

Ok! Let’s take a look at the sentences below of the word contributing:

• The coach's positive attitude was a contributing factor to the team's success. 
• She has been a contributing writer for the magazine for 10 years.
• If you're a contributing voice in the audience at a noisy rock concert, it means you're screaming your head off. 
• If you're a contributing member of your friend's fundraising efforts, it means you're giving her money. 

When you write cause and effect sentences in TOEFL writing section, you can use the phrase "a contributing factor to" instead of "contribute to". Here is an example:

• Deforestation is a major contributor to climate change = Deforestation significantly contributes to climate change.

When you make a contribution, it means you're giving something away — whether it's your money, your possessions, or your time. A contribution can take many forms. Some contributions are measurable, like a $10 donation to the Salvation Army. Others are less tangible.

Here are more examples using “make a contribution”:

• She made a 100-dollar contribution (This means to make a donation) to breast cancer research.
• He made an important contribution to the debate.
• I made a significant contribution to your group’s project.
• They want to make a monetary contribution to the building of the new stadium.
•  As mayor, he made many positive contributions to the growth of the city.

·       

The word 'demand' has a general meaning of an urgent request, but when the word demand is used in a phrase, the meaning of the phrase varies. Let's look at the following phrases with the word 'demand':  (1) Make demands on (2) By popular demand (3) in demand (4) on demand

The first phrase is “make demands on”.  When you say A makes demands on B, you mean A is a lot for B to deal with. For example:

• This software program makes heavy demands on the computer's memory.
• Enforcing the current law is making ridiculous demands on police.

The next phrase is “by popular demand”.  “By popular demand” means that a lot of people have asked for it. For example,

• The circus will be back by popular demand later this summer

essentially means

• The circus will be back later this summer because a lot of people have asked for it to come back.

Here is another example

• By popular demand, HBO has promised fans 4 spin-off TV series from Game of Thrones.

Okay! The next phrase is”in demand”. When we say A is in demand,  we mean A is wanted by a lot of people. So for example:

• Our products are in demand all over the world.

Basically means

• Our products are wanted by a lot of people all over the world.

Often people are confused about “in demand” and “on demand”. As we just said,“In demand” means “something is wanted by a lot of people”. On the other hand, “On-demand” means “whenever people want it”. Look at the following examples

• Some people believe that wifi should be available on demand at school
• We can't simply make cosmetic surgery available on demand.

Another word you often see is the adjective 'on-demand'. It describes something that is available whenever a customer asks for it. Notice there is a hyphen in the middle. Let's look at some examples

• Our company will sell a voice recognition product as an on-demand service for our users.
• Most people in Africa do not have television, let alone on-demand movies.

On-demand can also be a noun. It means a service for watching films and TV programs at any time. For example,

• Cable customers pay $9.95 a month for on-demand

The word 'demand' is often used as an economic term, meaning "the amount of an item that is asked for in the market. In this case, it is often used with the preposition 'for'. Here are example sentences:

• Demand for organic food is increasing
• With the increasing population, we need to find out ways to cope with the increasing demand for food and water.
• Apple sold almost 5 million iPads during its March quarter and it still couldn't keep up with the demand for iPads.

The word demand can be a verb. When you demand, you request urgently.

The following two patterns are often used: (1) A demands that B does something (2) A demands to do something. Here are examples

• I demand that teachers give no homework on the weekend
• My boss demanded that the work to be done tonight.
• The customer demands to see our manager.

The adjective form of demand is demanding. When you say a person is demanding, you mean this person needs a lot of attention and is not easily pleased or satisfied or this person has very high standards. When you say a job is demanding, you mean this job might require a lot of physical work, like farming, or a lot of patience and diplomacy. For example,

• For years he worked as a bindery operator in the printing industry, doing a variety of physically demanding jobs.

• I like a nice light novel to read when I'm on holiday—nothing too demanding.

• These customers are by far the most demanding we've ever had.

• Tina's boss was really demanding, often expecting her to work long into the night.

• Mr. O'Brien is known to be a demanding but fair boss and is open to suggestions from his staff.

The definition of the noun "disadvantage" reads as follows: A disadvantage is a quality or condition that puts something or someone in an unfavorable or inferior position compared to others.

We often use “disadvantage” to talk about the shortcoming of a thing or a person. For instance, the following three sentences use disadvantage to describe a shortcoming of living in the countryside:

• The disadvantage of living in the countryside is the poor quality of education.
• One disadvantage of living in the countryside is the poor quality of education.
• One of the disadvantages of living in the countryside is the poor quality of education.

However, only if disadvantage is used in the very beginning of a sentence we say ‘disadvantage of something’. When using expletive constructions like “There is/are” it would sound wrong or unnatural to say “There are many disadvantages of living in the countryside. Many students make this mistake. Here you should use the prepositions in/to as in the following two sentences:

• There are many disadvantages to living in the countryside.
• There are many disadvantages in living in the countryside.

To make it easier, we often paraphrase here and simply say:

• Living in the countryside has many disadvantages.

The word disadvantage is often used in the following phrases:

• At a disadvantage
• To one’s disadvantage (= work to one’s disadvantage)

The phrase “at a disadvantage” means being in an unfavorable position in comparison to others. We often use adjectives like ‘competitive’, ‘clear’ and ‘distinct’ before the word "disadvantage". For example,

• At a clear disadvantage
• At a distinct disadvantage
• At a competitive disadvantage

Notice ‘competitive’ is often used when the subject is related to the business world.

Alright! So how do we use the phrase ‘at a disadvantage’? The phrase ‘at a disadvantage’ can be used in the following sentence patterns:

• _____ (something)  puts/places ____ (someone or something) at a disadvantage.
• ____ (someone or something) is at a disadvantage.

Here are example sentences for the first sentence pattern:

• His lack of formal education puts him at a clear disadvantage in the business world.
• The new tariff policy will place my company at a competitive disadvantage in the marketplace.

And, here are example sentences for the second sentence pattern:

• You'll be at a disadvantage playing tennis against someone as skilled as Jimmy.
• Children from poor families are at a distinct disadvantage in education.

Okay! Now let’s look at the phrase ‘to one’s disadvantage’. If something is to your disadvantage or works to your disadvantage, it creates difficulties for you. So

___ (something) is to ___(one’s) disadvantage = ___ (something) works to ___(one’s) disadvantage = ___ (something) puts ___(someone) at a disadvantage

Here are examples

• My lack of formal education is to my disadvantage in the business world.
• I hope my lack of experience won't be to my disadvantage.
• It is to your disadvantage to not take this opportunity.
• The new tariff policy will work to our disadvantage.

The adjective ‘disadvantaged’ describes someone or something lacking the things (such as money or education) that are considered necessary for an equal position in society.

Therefore, people who are disadvantaged or live in disadvantaged areas live in bad conditions and lack a good education, resources, or reasonable standards of living.

Let’s look at some examples.

• Research shows that men from disadvantaged backgrounds experience lower rates of marriage.
• Nowadays employers are reaching beyond their usual networks and hire more people from disadvantaged populations.
• Aborigines are the most disadvantaged ethnic group in Australia.
• Scholarships, grants, and financial aid make studying abroad affordable for disadvantaged students.

Also, ‘disadvantaged’ is often used with adverbs like ‘socially’ and ‘economically’ as in the following sentences

• Research shows economically disadvantaged children enter school with less developed cognitive skills than their peers.
• In addition to higher smoking prevalence, socially disadvantaged workers smoke more heavily and are less successful in quitting smoking compared to other workers.

The adjective “disadvantageous” describes things that cause somebody or something to be in a worse situation compared to others. Here are examples:

• We have to resell the property at a disadvantageous time.
• Minority groups find themselves in a disadvantageous position.​

Also, we often see the phrase ‘be disadvantageous to’.  For example,

• Living off campus is disadvantageous to students.
• The company believes the new regulation is disadvantageous to the growth of its business.

Let’s have a look at some other meanings of the word “estimate” in the noun form and example sentences.

1 (countable): a guess that you make based on the information you have about the size, amount, etc., of something. Example sentences are as follows:

• According to government estimates, current oil reserves are 10 percent lower than they were a year ago.
• One conservative estimate is that he stole two million dollars.
• At a (very) rough estimate, the job will take three months.

2 (countable): a statement about how much a job will cost

• We solicited several estimates for the project.
• The contractor's estimate for the job seemed high.

3: an opinion or judgment about how good or bad something is

(singular)

• He has a high estimate (means opinion, estimation) of his own abilities.

(non-countable)

• The company's products are, by general estimate, poorly made.

Let’s have a look at some other meanings of the word “estimate” in the verb form and example sentences.

In the verb form, the word “estimate” means to give or form a general idea about the value, size, or cost of (something): to make an estimate of (something).

Example sentences include:

• They estimated the distance at/as about three miles.
• We need to estimate how much paint we'll need for the job.
• The cost of the project has been estimated at/as about 10 million dollars.

The noun estimation can mean opinion. Look at the following examples:

• My estimation of his films was never very high. [= I never thought his films were very good]

• This is not, in my estimation, an efficient use of our resources.

Another definition of estimation is an approximate calculation of something's value, size, amount ..etc. For example:

• If you go to an auction, you can often review a catalog that will have an estimation of the value of each item for sale. Sometimes the items sell for more than the estimation and sometimes less.
• You may ask a contractor for an estimation before you decide to build a deck on the back of your house.
• The analysis of ancient DNA in bones and teeth is now the most widely used method for age estimation in the field of archaeology.

The noun "factor" means one of the elements contributing to a particular result or situation.

• Weather is an important factor in planning outdoor activities.

• Cost is a major factor when choosing a college.

• He considered every factor before making his decision.

The verb "factor in" means to consider or include particular elements or aspects in making a calculation or judgment.

• You must factor in all potential costs before starting the project.

• Don't forget to factor in the time needed for travel when planning your schedule.

• The impact of the new law was underestimated because they failed to factor in public resistance. 

Influence in the noun form means the power to change or affect, move someone or something. For example:

• Recent years have seen a decline in the company's influence within the industry.

There are many other verbs which can be used together with the word influence. For instance, you can “have an influence on/over/upon sth”, “gain influence”, and "use/wield/exert influence".

"Exert/wield influence" means to use influence, authority, or power in order to affect or achieve something.

Note: If you wield a tool or a weapon, you handle it effectively. Picture a knight wielding a sword. You don't just have to wield something physical; you can also wield or exert influence/power/authority. 

Okay! Here are examples :

• She claims that her personal problems had no/little influence upon her decision to resign.
• His health problems may have had some influence on his decision.
• Her parents still have a great deal of influence over her.
• Her ideas have gradually gained influence in the company.
• He exerted/wielded his influence to reform the company's policies.
• A well-funded national organization would be able to exert/wield more influence in Parliament.
• Common in ancient cultures, the sovereign wielded much power and influence over the people

Let’s look at another phrase "under the influence". It means affected by alcohol.  Here is an example sentence:

• He was arrested for driving under the influence.​

Influence in the verb form means to affect or change (someone or something) in an indirect but usually important way: to have an influence on (someone or something).

Example sentences:

• I was deeply/greatly influenced by my parents.
• Nowadays children are greatly influenced by the sportsperson they see on the television
• No one knows how this decision will influence the outcome of the election.

Influential means having or exercising influence or power over someone or something. Here are example sentences:

• An influential newspaper will make people change their opinions about something.
• The bible is considered a very influential book.
• Influential books can affect someone’s outlook on life.
• Self-help books are usually very influential.

If your grandfather worked his whole life in hospitals and inspired you to become a doctor, you could describe your grandfather as very influential in your life. 

The phrase "be influential in" is often used. Here is an example

• She has been influential in establishing programs to help the poor.

In addition, sometimes measure words such as highly/very or enormously/extremely are used before the word: influential. Some example sentences include:

• a highly/very influential book
• She became an (enormously/extremely) influential critic/writer.

When you estimate something, you make a calculation or a judgment of its value. So, when you overestimate, you assign too much value to the thing you are judging. If you overestimate how much time you have left to get to school, you could be late. Likewise, if you overestimate how prepared you are for a test; you might end up with a poor grade. This verb is the opposite of underestimate, or “to assign too little value.”

Here are some example sentences using the word “overestimate”:

• I overestimated the number of chairs we would need for the party. (This means I thought we would need more chairs than we actually did)
• We overestimated the value of the coins.

Please be aware that in the above examples the word “overestimate” is followed by an object.

The word overestimate can also mean to think of (someone or something) as being greater in ability, influence, or value than that person or thing actually is. Example sentences are as follows:

• She overestimated his ability to do the job.
• The importance of a good education cannot be overestimated. (This means a good education is very important)

Overestimate can also be used in the plural form: overestimates which is a countable noun.

Example sentence:

•  Cost overestimates in the budget left us with extra money in the end.

If you have a strong liking for something, you have a preference for it.​

Example sentences:

• To me, religion should be purely a matter of personal preference.

• To make the most of your account, we encourage you to update your email preferences to receive our weekly promotional emails.

• In recent years, the majority of shoppers have shown a preference for credit card payments over other methods of payment when it comes to making everyday purchases. As a result, they have become increasingly vulnerable to fraudulent transactions.

• Taiwanese have a deep-seated cultural preference for homeownership. The homeownership rate of 85% is among the highest in developed countries.

To underestimate is to guess that something is worth less or is smaller than it really is. 

Example sentences include:

• The city underestimated the cost of the new building.
• The number of people in the crowd was underestimated by 5,000.

The word “underestimate” can also mean to think of (someone or something) as being lower in ability, influence, or value than that person or thing actually is.

Example sentences include:

• Never underestimate the importance of a good education.
• Her talent has always been underestimated.

Please note that the overestimate is the opposite of underestimate.

The word advance can be a verb and a noun. The original meaning of the verb "advance" is “to go or move forward”. This can be used to describe actual physical movement but is more often used to describe progress or improvement. Here is an example for each:

To advance = moving forward

1. Physical movement: The troops advance towards the capital.
2. Progress or Improvement: Technology advances so quickly, I can hardly keep track.

Advance can also be used as "to bring something forward". In this case, "advance" is a transitive verb, so there must be an object after it. We often use this to describe topics or skills we personally “make progress in” The following sentences are quite useful and often heard in daily conversations.

• I advanced my knowledge of English by studying abroad.
• I want to advance my career in banking.

Finally, "advance" can have a more timely focus as well. So, when something advances it could mean that it is progressing in time, or when we advance something we are bringing it forward in time. Let me give you two examples for a more time-focused use of“advance”

• As the twentieth century advanced, other forms of entertainment rapidly took over.
• The bank advanced me 500USD today.

The latter means that the bank gave or lend you money before a due date. The bank basically brought the money forward in time. If you wanted to ask someone for an advance payment you could ask: “Could you advance me 500USD until Tuesday?”
The noun advance has the same underlying meaning as “to advance”, so “an advance” is “a certain move forward” or “a specific improvement”. It is a countable noun and is normally used with the preposition 'in'. Here are some example sentences

• Scientific advances in diagnostic tools make it possible to identify new diseases more quickly.
• Advances in technology led to the industrial revolution.
• Recent advances in technology now make the smartphone more popular than the desktop computer.
• Huge advances in the development of anti-depressants greatly help people who suffer from depression.

As I told you before “to advance” can be used for money as well. The same is true for the noun, so “an advance” can also be the money paid before its due date. In business, we often take “advance payments” for security reasons in international trade. The following examples can help you understand.

• She asked for an advance on her salary.=
• The bank will give you an advance of 95% of the purchase price.

Students are often confused about the difference between “advance” and “advancement”. Although they are very similar, it should be not too complicated to differentiate them with the right definition in your mind. The difference is that “advance” describes individual and tangible improvements, while advancement refers to the overall process of improvement. Also, the advancement is more used with the preposition “of”. For example,

• Our company has made significant advances in our mobile phone technology.

BUT:

• Advancement of technology is a crucial factor for national growth.
• The advancement of modern medicine has lengthened many people's lives.

Definition: Lie in a straight line, or in correct relative positions

Example sentences:

• On this rear elevation, you can also see the repetition of the glass block pattern, which now fully frames a perfectly square window that aligns with the front door on the other side of the house.

Definition: Regard as probable; expect or predict

Example senences:

• No one can anticipate the results of the games
• Given what is at stake the winners can anticipate a probable quarter-final against Wales.

Definition: expected hopefully

Example senences:

• It was the fourth year of a war whose devastation no one had anticipated and which no one could have imagined.

One word you can use to introduce the cause of something is the verb arise, which means to get up or come up. It is followed by the preposition from to say that something comes up from a certain cause.

Take a look at the following examples

• Accidents arise from carelessness.
• These problems arise from the widening of the gap between the rich and poor.
• Mental disorders arise from the complex interplay of heredity, biology, and environment

The noun "attribute" means a quality or characteristic that is inherent in or ascribed to someone or something. 

• Patience is an important attribute for a teacher.

• Honesty might be considered an important attribute for a leader to have
  
  

The verb "attribute" means to regard something as being caused by someone or something. 

• Many financial analysts attributed the recent market boom to increased investment in real estate from foreign investors.

• Climate change is widely attributed to the buildup of greenhouse gasses. 

• His doctor attributes his health problems to a poor diet and a lack of exercise.

The adjective "balanced" describes something that is in a state of equilibrium or equally proportioned. 

• A well-balanced diet includes fruits, vegetables, proteins, and grains.

• He managed to keep his life balanced between work and leisure.

• The gymnast maintained a balanced position on the beam.

Definition: warn strongly; put on guard

Example sentences:

• The association cautioned that escaping moths could contaminate nearby farms and endanger their organic certification.

Definition: in a systematic or consistent manner

Example sentences:

• The show seems as if it will build to some towering finale, but instead it keeps teetering along at the same consistently high mark.

If two or more facts, pieces of advice, etc. are contradictory, they are very different from each other.

Example sentences using the word contradictory:

• I keep getting contradictory advice - some people tell me to keep it warm and some tell me to put ice on it.
• The evidence is completely contradictory.
• The argument is internally contradictory (meaning contradicts itself).
• The two studies came to contradictory conclusions.

When you want to talk about something that causes something bad to happen, we often use the word “culprit” instead of “cause”

For example.

• Ultraviolet A rays are often the real culprit for health problems related to too much sun exposure.
• A banana left on the steps can be a culprit for making you slip and fall.

The noun "element" means a fundamental or essential constituent of a whole, especially a part of a complex mechanism or system.

• Water is composed of two elements: hydrogen and oxygen.

• Heating elements are often made of metal.

• The surprise element of the party made it very exciting.
  派對中的驚喜元素讓它非常刺激。 

The adjective "elementary" describes something basic, fundamental, or at an introductory level. It is often used to refer to the simplest or most initial parts of a subject that are taught first or are easiest to learn. 

• Elementary school students are usually between the ages of six and twelve.  

• He goes to the elementary school near our house.

• Mathematics can be quite complex, but I'm only teaching the elementary concepts today.

• Learning elementary French is fun and allows you to understand basic conversations.

• Elementary school is the first stage of formal education in many countries.  

• She teaches third grade at the local elementary school.  

• Particle decay occurs when elementary particles spontaneously transform into other elementary particles. 

The noun "eligibility" refers to the state or condition of being qualified or entitled to participate or receive something.

• You must meet the eligibility requirements to apply for this scholarship.

• The eligibility criteria for the competition are listed on the official website.

• Due to his age, he questioned his eligibility for the junior team.

The adjective "eligible" describes someone or something that meets the necessary requirements or conditions to participate or be chosen for something. For example, in the sentence "She is eligible to compete in the tournament," "eligible" describes her meeting the specific criteria required to compete. 

• You must be a resident of the state to be eligible for the scholarship.

• Only those over 18 are eligible to vote in the election.

• The company offers special discounts to eligible employees.
  
  

The verb "enhance" means to increase or improve in value, quality, desirability, or attractiveness.

• Good lighting can enhance the atmosphere of any room.

• Regular exercise can significantly enhance your overall health.

• Using spices in cooking can greatly enhance the flavor of the food.

The noun "enhancement" means an increase or improvement in quality, value, or extent.

• The new software features several enhancements that improve user experience.

• They are looking for ways to bring about an enhancement in the efficiency of the workflow.

• The enhancement of public safety has always been a priority for the local government.

The verb "fulfill" means to achieve or complete successfully.

• He fulfilled his promise to take his son to the zoo.

• The company has fulfilled all the requirements for environmental protection.

• She fulfilled her dream of becoming a professional athlete.

The noun "fulfillment" means the achievement of something desired, promised, or predicted.

• Finding fulfillment in your career can greatly improve your overall happiness.

• She felt a deep sense of fulfillment after completing the marathon.

• The fulfillment of his lifelong dream to travel the world brought him immense joy.
  
  

Definition: The state or fact of something’s being likely; probability

Example sentences:

• Young people who can see no likelihood of finding employment.

People often confuse outcome and result.

"Result" is often used to talk about things that are caused directly by something else. "Outcome" is more often used to talk about what happens at the end of a process when the exact relation of cause and effect is less clear. 

in addition, "result" is often used after an event to talk about what happened. "Outcome" is often used before an action or process to talk about what is likely to happen.”

Take a look at these examples

• The outcome of a pricing strategy may be less profit from a reduced number of sales.
• It's too early to predict the outcome of the meeting.
• We are waiting to hear the final outcome of the negotiations.
• I know that my students worked hard, so I expect a good outcome.

When one thing seems like a better option than another, it is preferable. Example sentences:

• To me, eating at restaurants is certainly preferable to eating at home.

• Graduating from high school is usually preferable to dropping out.

The verb "recover" is used to describe the process of returning to a normal state after a disruption or decline. It can apply to physical health, such as recovering from an illness or injury, as well as to emotional or financial stability. The word emphasizes the regaining of something lost or diminished, highlighting a journey back to a former state or condition.

• After the surgery, it took him several weeks to fully recover.

• The company is expected to recover its losses by the end of the fiscal year.

• She managed to recover her composure after hearing the shocking news. 

Definition: Stop oneself from doing something

Example sentences:

• To avoid their after taste during dessert, we might have refrained from eating them.

Definition: refuse to accept or acknowledge

Example sentences:

• Airlines for America, a trade group for the airline industry, has rejected the idea of legroom and seat width standards.

The verb phrase "result in" means to cause a particular outcome or effect.

• Poor communication can often result in misunderstandings.

• Neglecting car maintenance may result in expensive repairs.

• Efficient planning could result in significant cost savings for the company.
  
  

Definition: having good quality;being well made;firm

Example sentences:

• He is a solid basketball player.
• When heated this produces methane gas and a solid residue of sodium carbonate

Definition: firm; in a fixed position; without change

Example sentences:

• Steady growth is projected for companies involved in genetic engineering.
• A steady diet of lecture-based learning was designed to fill students up with facts and test their ability to memorize them.

Straightforward generally describes something that is uncomplicated, direct, and clear. It can refer to a person who is honest and does not hide their thoughts, or it can describe a task, process, or explanation that is simple and easy to understand. Using straightforward language or methods often leads to better understanding and less confusion.

• He gave me a straightforward answer without any hesitation.

• I appreciate her straightforward approach to problem-solving.

• The instructions were straightforward and easy to follow. 

Definition: regard as untrustworthy; regard with suspicion; have no faith or confidence in

Example sentences:

• If you suspect a gas leak, do not strike a match or even turn on an electric light.
• She suspected that other young researchers could use a reminder that science isn’t all about successful experiments and flashy publications.

Definition: long and tiring

Example sentences:

• The lecture was pretty tedious.

Definition: provoke someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises or persuasion

Example sentences:

• Investors may be tempted to do some bargain hunting.
• The idea of getting rich quickly tempted him to invest his life savings.

Definition: a distinguishing feature of your personal nature

Example sentences:

• Profundity, simplicity, humanity, fanaticism — these are among the traits that define Apple and its products.
• There are a few broad traits that characterize the comic book films we’ve come to expect every summer.

Definition: not probable

Example sentences:

• Bears are only relocated if they are in a situation where escape is unlikely or if public safety is threatened.