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STARTER WORD LIST

UNIT ONE
Word / Phrase Part of Speech Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence
address noun [count] /əˈdres/, /ˈædres/ the name of the place where “What’s your address?”
you live or work, including the “17 Main Street, Clinton.”
house or office number and
the name of the street, area,
and town
afternoon noun [count or /ˌæftərˈnun/ the period of time between I like studying in the afternoon,
noncount] the middle of the day and the after lunch.
beginning of the evening
again adverb /əˈɡen/ used for saying that something I finish an exercise in class.
happens or someone does Then, I do it again at home.
something one more time
when it has already happened
or been done before
a little adverb /ˌə ˈlɪt(ə)l/ to a small degree Can you speak a little louder?
all over preposition /ˌɔl ˈoʊvər/ in or to many parts of I have friends from all over the
something world.
alphabet noun [count] /ˈælfəˌbet/ a set of letters that are used L and M are letters of the
for writing a language alphabet.
also adverb /ˈɔlsoʊ/ used for adding another fact or I watch English films. I also
idea to what you have already listen to English songs.
said
ask verb /æsk/ to speak or write to someone If you don’t understand the
because you want them to give exercise, ask the teacher for
you something help.
at preposition /æt/ used for stating where I speak English at home.
someone or something is
brother noun [count] /ˈbrʌðər/ a son of your parents Her younger brother Jim lives
at home with her and her
parents.
capital adjective /ˈkæpɪt(ə)l/ the large form of a letter, for The word “English” begins
example “A” or “B”, that with a capital letter.
you use at the beginning of a
sentence or name
CD noun [count] /ˌsi ˈdi/ compact disc: a small round I play music CDs in my car.
piece of hard plastic with
sound recorded on it or
computer information stored
on it
check verb /tʃek/ to mark something with the Check the things that you like
symbol to show that it is doing.
correct or that you agree with it
circle verb /ˈsɜrk(ə)l/ to draw a circle around Circle the correct answer.
something
class noun [count] /klæs/ a group of students who are Julia is a student in my English
taught together class.
come verb /kʌm/ to move or travel to the place Come to my house after
where you are school.

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Word / Phrase Part of Speech Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence

concert noun [count] /ˈkɑnsərt/ an event at which a band or I like going to rock concerts.
musician plays or sings in front
of an audience
contraction noun [count] /kənˈtrækʃ(ə)n/ a word made by leaving out Using contractions, like “it’s”,
a letter or letters of a word or makes your English sound
words more natural.
conversation noun [count or /ˌkɑnvərˈseɪʃ(ə)n/ a talk between two or more I had a conversation in English
noncount] people, usually a private and with my friend.
informal one
correct adjective /kəˈrekt/ right according to the I try to speak English with the
established rules or ways of correct pronunciation.
doing something
credit card noun [count] /ˈkredɪt ˌkɑrd/ a small plastic card that you “Can I pay by credit card?”
use to buy things “Yes. What’s your credit card
number?”
date of birth noun [count] /ˈdeɪt əv ˌbɜrθ/ the day, month, and year when My date of birth is March 3,
you were born 1995.
day noun [count] /deɪ/ one of the periods of time that There are seven days in a
a week is divided into, equal to week.
24 hours
dictionary noun [count] /ˈdɪkʃəˌneri/ a book that gives a list of Look up words you don’t know
words in alphabetical order in the dictionary.
and explains what they mean
different adjective /ˈdɪf(ə)rənt/ not the same as another I work with different partners
person or thing, or not the in class.
same as before
do verb /du/ to perform or complete a job I do grammar exercises for
or a piece of work homework.
double phrase /ˈdʌb(ə)l/ used when spelling a word or “Hello” is spelled
giving a number, to say that a H-E-double-L-O.
letter or number is repeated
eight number /eɪt/ the number 8 Eight is the number 8.
email address noun [count] /ˈimeɪl əˌdres/ the letters, numbers, and “What’s your email address?”
symbols that you use to send “jennyh@myschool.com”
someone an email
English noun [noncount] /ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ/ the main language that people I am studying English in
speak in the U.K., the U.S.A., college.
Canada, Australia, and some
other countries
evening noun [count or /ˈivnɪŋ/ the part of the day between I am going to the movie
noncount] the end of the afternoon and theater at 7:00 p.m. this
night, including the time when evening.
the sun goes down
every determiner /ˈevri/ used for showing how often I read an English newspaper
something happens or how every day.
far apart things are, especially
when there is a regular time or
distance between them
everyone pronoun /ˈevriˌwʌn/ every person in a group Good luck with the exam,
everyone.
everything pronoun /ˈevriˌθɪŋ/ all the things, activities etc. I practiced everything we had
that are involved in a situation learned in class.
exercise noun [count] /ˈeksərˌsaɪz/ an activity or set of activities I have done all the exercises in
that you do in order to learn this unit.
how to do something

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Word / Phrase Part of Speech Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence

favorite adjective /ˈfeɪvərət/ your favorite person or thing of Adele is my favorite singer.
a particular type is the one that
you like the best
finish verb /ˈfɪnɪʃ/ to do the last part of I want to finish my homework
something so that it is before I go out.
complete
first adverb /fɜrst/ if you do something first, you First, I listen to the CD. Then,
do it before you do anything I read the text.
else
first name noun [count] /ˈfɜrst ˌneɪm/ the name that comes before “What’s your first name?”
your family name “It’s Norah.”
five number /faɪv/ the number 5 Five is the number 5.
for example phrase /ˌfɔr ɪɡˈzæmp(ə)l/ used when mentioning I eat a lot of fruit, for example,
something that shows the type apples and bananas.
of thing that you are talking
about and helps to explain
what you mean
four number /fɔr/ the number 4 Four is the number 4.
friend noun [count] /frend/ someone you know well and Mia is my friend. We often go
like, but who is not a member out together.
of your family
from preposition /frɑm/ used for stating someone’s or I have friends from all over the
something’s origin world.
goal noun /ɡoʊl/ something that you hope to My goal for this year is to read
achieve an English newspaper every
week.
great adjective /ɡreɪt/ very good at doing something She’s a great dancer.
have verb /hæv/ to do something My friends and I have
conversations in English.
he pronoun /hi/ used to refer to a man or boy This is James. He’s my friend.
hear verb /hɪr/ to listen to something such I want to hear the news before
as a speech, performance, or we go out.
program
help noun [noncount] /help/ to give someone support or I use my dictionary to help me
information so that they can do pronounce words correctly.
something more easily
her possessive adjective /hɜr/ belonging to a woman or girl This is Margaret. Her nickname
is Marg.
here adverb /hɪr/ in or to this place Alice is here.
high adjective /haɪ/ a high sound is near the upper The boy had a very high voice.
end of a range of sounds He sounded like a girl.
his possessive adjective /hɪz/ belonging to a man or boy His real name is Curtis Jackson.
home noun [count or /hoʊm/ the place where you live I watch English movies at
noncount] home.
home number noun [count] /ˈhoʊm ˌnʌmbər/ the phone number at your “What’s your home number?”
house “289-555-1782.”
how question word /haʊ/ used for asking or talking How do you pronounce this?
about the method of doing
something
ID number noun [count] /ˌaɪˈdi ˌnʌmbər/ the number on a document My ID number is 00004543.
that shows who you are
initial noun [count] /ɪˈnɪʃ(ə)l/ the first letter of someone’s “What’s his middle initial?”
name “It’s H.”

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Word / Phrase Part of Speech Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence

intonation noun [count or /ˌɪntəˈneɪʃ(ə)n/ the way in which your voice It is important to use the
noncount] rises or falls when you speak correct intonation when you
speak English.
introduce verb /ˌɪntrəˈdus/ to tell someone another I would like to introduce you to
person’s name when they meet Bill Reid.
for the first time
introduction noun [count or /ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃ(ə)n/ the process of telling someone Nicole made the introductions
noncount] another person’s name when when her parents and her
they meet for the first time teacher met.
last name noun [count] /ˈlæst ˌneɪm/ the name that you share with My last name is Robinson.
the other members of your
family
like preposition /laɪk/ similar or in a similar way Mark is like his father. They are
both good musicians.
listen verb /ˈlɪs(ə)n/ to pay attention to a sound, or I listen to English songs.
to try to hear a sound
long adjective /lɔŋ/ measuring a large amount from Long words are hard to
one end to the other pronounce.
loud adjective /laʊd/ used for describing a sound He spoke in a loud voice so
that is strong and very easy to everyone could hear him.
hear
meet verb /mit/ to come together in order I meet my friends in a café
to talk to someone you have after school.
arranged to see
middle name noun [count] /ˈmɪd(ə)l ˌneɪm/ a second name that some My first name is Richard and
people have between their first my middle name is John.
name and their family name
morning noun [count or /ˈmɔrnɪŋ/ the part of the day from when I like to get up early in the
noncount] the sun rises until midday morning.
my possessive adjective /maɪ/ used for showing that My phone number is
something belongs to you 541-555-8426.
when you are the person
speaking or writing
name noun [count] /neɪm/ a word or set of words by “What’s your name?”
which a person or thing is “Janet Smith.”
usually known
new adjective /nu/ recently obtained My new English teacher is very
young.
nice adjective /naɪs/ friendly, kind, and pleasant I like my brother’s girlfriend.
She is very nice.
nickname noun [count] /ˈnɪkˌneɪm/ an informal name that your My name is Patrick, but my
friends or family call you that is nickname is Pat.
not your real name
night noun [count or /naɪt/ the part of each 24-hour I often study late at night and
noncount] period when it is dark don’t go to bed until 1:00 a.m.
nine number /naɪn/ the number 9 Nine is the number 9.
now adverb /naʊ/ at the present time I work in a restaurant now.
number noun [count] /ˈnʌmbər/ a sign or word that represents Five is the number 5.
an amount or quantity. 1, 2, 3,
etc. are numbers
office noun [count] /ˈɑfɪs/ a room or building where the This is the company my dad
people in an organization or works for. His office is on the
department work third floor.
one number /wʌn/ the number 1 One is the number 1.

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Word / Phrase Part of Speech Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence

online adjective /ˈɑnlaɪn/ connected to the internet You can buy tickets online.
other determiner /ˈʌðər/ used for referring to additional I meet other English students
people or things of the type online.
already mentioned or known
about
our possessive adjective /aʊr/ belonging to you and the Our names are Joe, Kevin,
group of people that you are and Nick. We’re the Jonas
a part of when you are the Brothers.
person speaking or writing
partner noun [count] /ˈpɑrtnər/ someone you do a particular I practice English in class with
activity with different partners.
people noun [plural] /ˈpiːp(ə)l/ the plural of person There are lots of people in
a city.
personal noun [noncount] /ˌpɜrsənəl facts about someone We can exchange personal
information ɪnfərˈmeɪʃ(ə)n/ information.
phone number noun [count] /foʊn nʌmbər/ numbers that you press on a What’s your phone number?
telephone to call someone
phonetic adjective /fəˈnetɪk/ using special symbols as a way The dictionary gives a phonetic
of showing speech sounds in transcription of each word.
writing
practice verb /ˈpræktɪs/ to repeat an activity regularly I practice speaking English with
so that you become better at it tourists.
professor noun [count] /prəˈfesər/ a senior teacher in a college or He works as a professor at the
university college.
pronounce verb /prəˈnaʊns/ to say the sounds of letters or I use my online dictionary to
words help me pronounce words
correctly.
pronunciation noun [count or /prəˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃ(ə)n/ the way in which a word or I repeat sentences from
noncount] language is pronounced my English CD to help with
pronunciation.
question noun [count] /ˈkwestʃ(ə)n/ something that someone Can I ask you a question?
asks you when they want
information
real adjective /rɪəl/ not false My real name is Joseph, but
my friends call me Joe.
repeat verb /rɪˈpit/ to say or write something Could you repeat that, please?
again I didn’t hear you.
say verb /seɪ/ to express something using How do you say this in English?
words
school noun [count] /skul/ a place where children go to He is a teacher at the local
be taught school.
set verb /set/ to give something to someone I always set myself goals at the
to do or to achieve start of the year.
seven number /ˈsev(ə)n/ the number 7 Seven is the number 7.
show noun [count] /ʃoʊ/ a performance especially in a He’s at a dance show.
theater
sing verb /sɪŋ/ to make music using your voice I like to sing English songs.
singer noun [count] /ˈsɪŋər/ someone who sings especially She’s a great singer.
as a job
six number /sɪks/ the number 6 Six is the number 6.
song noun [count] /sɔŋ/ a piece of music with words Turning Tables is my favorite
that you sing song.

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Word / Phrase Part of Speech Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence

speak verb /spik/ to be able to talk in a particular My friends and I speak English
language together after school every day.
speaker noun [count] /ˈspikər/ someone who is able to speak I meet English speakers online.
a particular language
spell verb /spel/ to know the letters of a word in “How do you spell your
the correct order surname?” “J-O-N-E-S.”
stressed adjective /strest/ a stressed word or syllable The second syllable is stressed
(=part of a word) is in “address.”
pronounced more loudly, or
with greater force, than other
words or syllables
student noun [count] /ˈstud(ə)nt/ someone who goes to school He’s a law student at the
university.
surname noun [count] /ˈsɜrˌneɪm/ the name that you share with My first name is Phil, and my
other members of your family. surname is Davies.
In English, it is the last part of
your full name.
syllable noun [count] /ˈsɪləb(ə)l/ a word or a part of a word that The word “morning” has two
has only one vowel sound syllables.
teacher noun [count] /ˈtitʃər/ someone whose job is to teach My math teacher’s name is
Mrs. Rowland.
ten number /ten/ the number 10 Ten is the number 10.
their possessive adjective /ðer/ belonging to a group of I like British bands like Blur,
people that you are not part of Pulp, and Oasis. Their songs
are great.
then adverb /ðen/ used for introducing the next First, I have a shower. Then,
thing that happens I have breakfast.
three number /θri/ the number 3 Three is the number 3.
ticket noun [count] /ˈtɪkɪt/ a piece of paper that Buy a concert ticket online.
shows you have paid to go
somewhere, like a concert or a
football game
transcription noun [count or /trænˈskrɪpʃən/ the process of writing My dictionary gives a phonetic
noncount] something down, especially a transcription of each word,
conversation or speech showing how to pronounce it.
try verb /traɪ/ to attempt to do something I try to read an English
newspaper every week.
two number /tu/ the number 2 Two is the number 2.
the United noun /ˌðə juˈnaɪtəd England, Scotland, Wales, He’s from Cardiff in the United
Kingdom ˈkɪŋdəm/ and Northern Ireland are Kingdom.
considered as a political unit
university noun [count] /ˌjunɪˈvɜrsəti/ a place where students study Greg studies engineering at
for degrees university.
use verb /juz/ to do something using a I try to use the correct stress
machine, tool, skill, method, when I speak English.
etc., in order to do a job or to
achieve a result
way noun [count] /weɪ/ a method for doing something Find a new way to practice
speaking English.
website noun [count] /ˈwebˌsaɪt/ a place on the internet where Buy a ticket on the website.
information is available about a
particular subject
what pronoun /wɑt/ or /hwɑt/ used for referring to a I listen to my English CD and
particular thing, action, or idea repeat what I hear.

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Word / Phrase Part of Speech Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence

which question word /wɪtʃ/ used for asking for a specific Which student is like you?
choice from a limited number
of possibilities
with preposition /wɪð/ or /wɪɵ/ if one person or thing is with I speak English with tourists in
another or does something my dad’s restaurant.
with them, they are together or
they do it together
work verb /wɜrk/ to spend time trying to achieve When we have to do speaking
something, especially when this activities in class, I work with
involves using a lot of effort my two best friends.
world noun [singular] /wɜrld/ society in general, in all I have online friends from all
countries over the world.
your possessive adjective /jur/, /jɔr/, or /jər/ belonging to the person or Your name is Mark.
people that you are talking or
writing to
zero number /ˈzɪroʊ/ the number 0 Zero is the number 0.

Useful Expressions
Useful Expressions Topic / Category Sample Sentence
Bye Greetings Bye, Neil. See you.
Fine, thanks. Greetings Hi. I’m fine, thanks.
Good morning/afternoon/evening/ Greetings Good morning. How are you?
night.
Goodbye! Greetings See you later! Goodbye!
Hello. Greetings Hello. How are you?
Hey. Greetings Hey, John. This is Carol.
Hi. Greetings Hi. I’m fine, thanks.
How are you? Greetings Hello. How are you?
I’m … Greetings Hello. I’m John.
Nice to meet you. Greetings Hello. Nice to meet you.
See you later! Greetings See you later! Goodbye!
Sorry! Greetings Sorry! I can’t help you.
This is … Greetings This is my brother …
Welcome. Greetings Welcome to our home!
What’s your …? Greetings Hello. What’s your name?
How do you pronounce this? Asking for help A: How do you pronounce this?
B: Num-ber.
How do you say this in English? Asking for help A: How do you say this in English?
B: Cell phone.
How do you spell your name? Asking for help A: How do you spell your name?
B: S-A-R-A-H.
What does that mean? Asking for help “Occupation.” What does that mean?
capital … Spelling words A: How do your spell your name?
B: Capital J-U-L-I-E.
double … Spelling words A: How do you spell “hello?”
B: H-E-double-L-O.

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Useful Expressions Topic / Category Sample Sentence

Please. Polite language What’s your name, please?
Thanks. Polite language A: What’s your phone number, Alan?
B: It’s 818-555-6793.
A: Thanks.
Thank you Polite language A: Welcome, Mr Evans.
B: Thank you, Carl.

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