English Words│Building a Basic Vocabulary│100+ Frequently Used Words (2024)

Categorizing English Words: Examples Included

English words can be divided into two broad categories based on their function and nature: function words and content words. Understanding this distinction can significantly simplify the process of vocabulary learning.

Function Words

Function words are used to establish grammatical relationships between different parts of a sentence. They include pronouns, auxiliary verbs, modal verbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and determiners. Here are some examples of function words:

SheOurThoseWhichWhose
EveryoneAnyFewInsideWithout
ThoughItsIsHasDoes
CouldShallMayQuiteVery
WhereWhenWhyTooHad

Content Words

Content words are those that carry specific meanings. They include nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. These words are generally the first ones that new language learners start with, as they are easier to identify and understand. Here are some examples of content words:

JoyfulAnswerNationEagleTable
ExtremelyObserveSoarMoreoverMischievous
ElephantChildCouchStrollMessage
ConsumeLiquidEnchantingAffectionDog
RelaxNecklaceStarDesireButter

As you familiarize yourself with function words and content words, you should also learn about loan words. They form a significant part of any language, and English has a considerable percentage of them.

Loan words are words borrowed from other languages and used without translation in English. These words come from a wide range of languages, including Latin, Greek, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, and Indian languages. Let's explore some loan words, their origins, and meanings.

Loan WordOriginMeaning
RésuméFrenchA summary, often used to refer to a brief account of a person's education, qualifications, and previous occupations.
KindergartenGermanA preschool educational institution for children.
CaféFrenchA small restaurant where simple meals and refreshments are served.
AlgebraArabicA branch of mathematics in which letters and symbols are used to represent numbers and quantities in equations and formulas.
PastaItalianA dish originally from Italy consisting of dough made from durum wheat and water, extruded or stamped into various shapes.
YogaSanskritA Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, including breath control, meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures.
English Words│Building a Basic Vocabulary│100+ Frequently Used Words (2024)

FAQs

English Words│Building a Basic Vocabulary│100+ Frequently Used Words? ›

the set of lexical items in a language that are most resistant to replacement, referring to the most common and universal elements of human experience, such as parts of the body ( foot, eye ), universal features of the environment ( water, star ), common activities ( eat, sleep ), and the lowest numerals.

What are basic vocabulary words? ›

the set of lexical items in a language that are most resistant to replacement, referring to the most common and universal elements of human experience, such as parts of the body ( foot, eye ), universal features of the environment ( water, star ), common activities ( eat, sleep ), and the lowest numerals.

Why is English important in 100 words? ›

Short Importance of English Paragraph in 100 Words

Knowing English opens up a world of opportunities. It enhances employability, as many global companies require English proficiency. It also facilitates access to a vast pool of information on the internet.

What is vocabulary A to Z? ›

Vocabulary A-Z is a digital solution for helping K-5 students build vocabulary and increase reading comprehension.

Is 10,000 words good vocabulary? ›

The relationship between vocabulary size and fluency is complex, and the number of words required to achieve fluency varies. Some estimates suggest that around 3,000 words are necessary to achieve basic fluency, while others suggest 10,000 or more.

What is 850 basic English? ›

Basic English derives its vocabulary and grammar from English but reduces both to a remarkable extent: there are 850 basic vocabulary items, 600 of which are nouns and 150 of which are adjectives.

What is the first 1,000 words in English? ›

The Usborne First Thousand Words in English serves as a comprehensive illustrated vocabulary-builder, teaching 1000 new English words by encouraging direct association of the English word with the object to ensure effective, long-term learning. Each double-page spread features a topic-based scene.

What are the 12 most powerful words? ›

What are the twelve powerful words? Trace, Analyze, Infer, Evaluate, Formulate, Describe, Support, Explain, Summarize, Compare, Contrast, Predict. Why use the twelve powerful words? These are the words that always give students more trouble than others on standardized tests.

What is the most spoken word of all time? ›

Although it's become the most spoken word on the planet, it's kind of a strange word. Sometimes it's spelled out—“o*kay”—and sometimes just two letters are used: “o*k.” Other times, periods separate the two letters: “O.K.”

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