0
Moon7296 Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary
Teaching synonyms (how to teach well?)
I do not know quite well about how to teach synonyms well.
For example, I introduce 'depend on'. Then I bring similar expressions for it: rely on, stick with, be dependent on, be reliant on, count on, rest on, turn to, resort to.
Hu.. there are so many synonyms for 'depend on'!.
As I have read some of the threads about synonyms, I think one of the best way to teach them is match a context with each synonymous expression. But there are too many synonyms for 'depend on' as I enumerated.
Some students may ask, "Moon, are they interchangeble?" then I will say, "No, it depends on a context", then they would ask, "when(how) should I use 'rely on', 'be reliant on', 'depend on', 'be dependent on' etc".
Then I'd be very embarassed because I don't know what context fits each of them
Is there no other way about teaching synonyms other than giving a context?
For example, I introduce 'depend on'. Then I bring similar expressions for it: rely on, stick with, be dependent on, be reliant on, count on, rest on, turn to, resort to.
Hu.. there are so many synonyms for 'depend on'!.
As I have read some of the threads about synonyms, I think one of the best way to teach them is match a context with each synonymous expression. But there are too many synonyms for 'depend on' as I enumerated.
Some students may ask, "Moon, are they interchangeble?" then I will say, "No, it depends on a context", then they would ask, "when(how) should I use 'rely on', 'be reliant on', 'depend on', 'be dependent on' etc".
Then I'd be very embarassed because I don't know what context fits each of them
Is there no other way about teaching synonyms other than giving a context?
Top answer
Ha, ha! Now you know how I feel when trying to answer synonym questions here, moon! There is no other way of differentiating synonyms except by context, register and collocation, and few of these are set in stone without allowing for some variability.
- Ha, ha!
- Now you know how I feel when trying to answer synonym questions here, moon!
- There is no other way of differentiating synonyms except by context, register and collocation, and few of these are set in stone without allowing for some variability.
- But why do it all yourself?
- Have your students get on the internet and find examples of each in use.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
1 Answers
0
Ha, ha! Now you know how I feel when trying to answer synonym questions here, moon!
There is no other way of differentiating synonyms except by context, register and collocation, and few of these are set in stone without allowing for some variability.
But why do it all yourself? Have your students get on the internet and find examples of each in use. Bring their examples into
There is no other way of differentiating synonyms except by context, register and collocation, and few of these are set in stone without allowing for some variability.
But why do it all yourself? Have your students get on the internet and find examples of each in use. Bring their examples into
0
Related Questions