No Vocab? No Problem! Easy English Conversation Tip no.9

No Vocab? No Problem! Easy English Tip #9 BEST conversation tips English Speaking 360

Explanation + Practice

No Vocab? No Problem!

When you’re learning English and you don’t know a word, you can still communicate by explaining what you mean using other, simpler words. This is called paraphrasing or circumlocution. It’s a great skill to help you continue a conversation without getting stuck!

Here’s how you can do it:

Steps to Paraphrase or Explain Words:

  1. Describe the meaning: Think about what the word means and use a phrase or a few words to explain it.
    • Example: If you don’t know the word unemployed, you can say, “People who don’t have jobs.”
  2. Use examples: You can give examples to explain the word.
    • Example: If you don’t know how to say furniture, you can say, “Things like tables, chairs, and sofas.”
  3. Talk about what it does: You can explain the word by talking about its purpose or what it’s used for.
    • Example: If you don’t know the word refrigerator, you can say, “It’s the thing you put food in to keep it cold.”
  4. Use opposites: Sometimes, describing the opposite of a word can help.
    • Example: If you don’t know the word expensive, you can say, “It’s not cheap.”
  5. Think about synonyms: Use a similar word you already know.
    • Example: If you don’t know the word angry, you can say mad.

Examples:

  • Dentist → “The doctor who takes care of your teeth.”
  • Flight → “The trip you take by plane.”
  • Vegetarian → “A person who doesn’t eat meat.”
  • Bored → “You feel like there’s nothing to do.”

Practice Tips:

  • Don’t worry if your explanation is long. It’s more important to communicate clearly.
  • The more you practice, the easier it will get!
  • You can use gestures, examples, or even point to things around you to help explain.

By using these strategies, you can still express yourself even if you don’t know every word. Keep practicing, and over time, your vocabulary will grow!

Extra Practice

Here’s a quiz to help practice paraphrasing or explaining words when you don’t know the exact vocabulary. The goal is to encourage students to think of different ways to describe words.

Quiz: Paraphrasing and Explaining Vocabulary

Part 1: Fill in the Blanks with Explanations

For each word, explain its meaning using simpler words or phrases.

  1. Airport: It’s a place where people __________.
  2. Waiter: A person who __________.
  3. Library: It’s a place where you can __________.
  4. Umbrella: Something you use when __________.
  5. Restaurant: A place where people go to __________.
  6. Laptop: A small computer that you can __________.
  7. Teacher: A person who __________.
  8. Hospital: A place where __________.
  9. Painter: Someone who __________.
  10. Supermarket: A place where you can __________.

Answers: Part 1

  1. travel or take flights
  2. serves food in a restaurant
  3. read or borrow books
  4. keeps you dry when it rains
  5. eat or have meals
  6. carry and use anywhere
  7. teaches students or children
  8. sick or injured people go
  9. creates art with paint
  10. buy food and other items

Part 2: Choose the Best Paraphrase

For each word below, choose the best explanation from the options given.

  1. Firefighter
    a) A person who builds houses.
    b) A person who drives fast cars.
    c) A person who puts out fires.
  2. Train
    a) Something people ride on the road.
    b) A long vehicle that moves on tracks and carries people or goods.
    c) A fast way to fly in the sky.
  3. Glasses
    a) Something you wear to help you see better.
    b) A piece of furniture to put your books on.
    c) A place where you buy clothes.
  4. Mailman
    a) Someone who teaches students.
    b) A person who brings letters and packages to people’s homes.
    c) A person who repairs cars.
  5. Farm
    a) A place where food is sold.
    b) A place where animals are raised.
    c) A place where people go to exercise.

Answers: Part 2

  1. c) A person who puts out fires.
  2. b) A long vehicle that moves on tracks and carries people or goods.
  3. a) Something you wear to help you see better.
  4. b) A person who brings letters and packages to people’s homes.
  5. b) A place where animals are raised.

Part 3: Paraphrase These Sentences

In this part, you have to rewrite the sentences using simpler words. Hint: Break down the important words.

  1. She is a veterinarian.
    • She is a person who __________.
  2. They are buying groceries.
    • They are buying __________.
  3. The weather is chilly today.
    • The weather is __________.
  4. He drives a convertible.
    • He drives a car that __________.
  5. She is a vegetarian.
    • She is a person who __________.

Answers: Part 3

  1. takes care of animals.
  2. food or things from the store.
  3. cold or cool.
  4. has no roof.
  5. does not eat meat.

More Examples!

Here’s a list of 15 words with 3 different ways to explain each one. This will help students practice paraphrasing!

1. Dentist

  • A doctor who takes care of your teeth.
  • Someone who fixes teeth when they are bad.
  • The person who cleans and checks your teeth.

2. Airplane

  • A machine that flies in the sky.
  • A vehicle that takes people from one place to another by air.
  • Something you use to travel far distances quickly.

3. Refrigerator

  • A place where you keep food cold.
  • A machine that makes sure food doesn’t spoil.
  • The thing in your kitchen that keeps food fresh.

4. Bus

  • A large vehicle that carries many people.
  • Something you take to get around the city.
  • A form of public transportation on the road.

5. Clock

  • A device that shows you the time.
  • Something you look at to know what hour it is.
  • A tool for telling time.

6. Keys

  • Small objects you use to unlock doors.
  • Metal things that help you open locks.
  • Tools you need to start a car or get into your house.

7. Jacket

  • A piece of clothing you wear to stay warm.
  • Something you put on when it’s cold outside.
  • Clothes that keep you warm when it’s chilly.

8. Mechanic

  • A person who fixes cars.
  • Someone who repairs vehicles when they are broken.
  • The person who takes care of your car’s problems.

9. Beach

  • A place with sand and water.
  • An area near the ocean where people swim and relax.
  • A sandy spot by the sea for fun and sunbathing.

10. Calendar

  • A tool that shows the days, weeks, and months of the year.
  • Something that helps you know the date.
  • A chart that organizes days and events.

11. Library

  • A place where you can borrow books.
  • A building with many books that you can read or study.
  • Somewhere you go to find books and information.

12. Chef

  • A person who cooks food professionally.
  • Someone who prepares meals in a restaurant.
  • The person who makes and creates dishes for people to eat.

13. Hotel

  • A place where you stay when you are traveling.
  • A building where people sleep for a short time when on a trip.
  • Somewhere you rent a room when you are away from home.

14. Bicycle

  • A vehicle with two wheels that you ride.
  • Something you pedal to move forward.
  • A form of transportation you use by pushing pedals.

15. Pharmacy

  • A place where you get medicine.
  • A store that sells medicine and health products.
  • A place where people go to buy pills and other treatments.

These different explanations for each word show how to paraphrase and use simpler words to describe something when you don’t know the exact term!

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