0
Bill_Murong Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary

Vocabulary in English novels

I've been trying to read English novels recently to improve my English. The book I'm reading now is "the Tale of Two cities". The problem I'm facing now is I found that I don't know lots of words in the book. I have read other best-seller type of books, and I think they are much easier to understand. Is it normal that those old classic books are harder to read?

Btw, can anyone recommend some good classic but simple English novels for a non-native speaker? Thanks.
  

Top answer

I also have met this problem. I think this is a common problem for most non-native speakers. In english novels, especially in classics, there are lots of adjectives and adverbs which used less frequently in our life to make the articles dramatic and life-some.

— Ractina

  • I also have met this problem.
  • I think this is a common problem for most non-native speakers.
  • In english novels, especially in classics, there are lots of adjectives and adverbs which used less frequently in our life to make the articles dramatic and life-some.
  • Also, there are some words and expresses are used in old time, while in our modern expression they are merely appeared in poems and literatures.
  • Now I'm reading a very simple novel, The House on Mango Street.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

4 Answers
0
I also have met this problem. I think this is a common problem for most non-native speakers.

In english novels, especially in classics, there are lots of adjectives and adverbs which used less frequently in our life to make the articles dramatic and life-some. Also, there are some words and expresses are used in old time, while in our modern expression they are merely appeared in poems an
0
0
Glad to know that, thanks a lot. I actually felt pretty bad when I started reading the book. Emotion: smile
0
0
Bill_MurongIs it normal that those old classic books are harder to read?
Yes, this is true of anything written more than 75 years ago. English changes, and words that were once popular fall out of use and new words replace them. Sometimes, though, the difference is between British and American terms for the same thing. For example, Americans never us
0
0
This is a bear of a novel for person learning the language - this would not be easy reading for a native speaker. The 19th century prose is dense, old-fashioned, and complicated, with numerous references to events of the day, which would require a lot of historical research to comprehend. Unless you're in love with this book, I would recommend other classics; for example, the short stories of 20t
0

Related Questions