Lesson 1: Identifying Common Synonyms
Words with Similar Meanings
Welcome to our B1 series on Word Relationships! To make your English sound more interesting and advanced, you shouldn't use the same words all the time. Luckily, English has many words with similar meanings. These words are called "synonyms1". This lesson will teach you how to identify and use common synonyms to make your speaking and writing more powerful.
What are Synonyms?
Synonyms are words that have the same or a very similar meaning to another word. Using them makes your language more precise2 and less repetitive. Let's look at some examples.
| Basic Word | Common Synonyms | Example Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| good | nice, great, wonderful | The weather is good. ➞ The weather is wonderful! |
| bad | terrible, awful, horrible | The traffic was bad. ➞ The traffic was terrible. |
| happy | pleased, glad, delighted | I am happy to see you. ➞ I am delighted to see you! |
| big | large, huge, enormous | It's a big temple. ➞ It's an enormous temple. |
| to get | to receive, to obtain | I need to get a visa. ➞ I must obtain a visa. |
Usage Note: Nuance and Formality
While synonyms have similar meanings, they are not always perfectly interchangeable. Some have a slightly different nuance3 or are used in more formal situations.
- Strength: 'Big' is normal. 'Large' is similar. 'Huge' and 'enormous' mean *very, very big*.
- Formality4: 'To get' is very common and informal. 'To obtain' is more formal and is often used in writing or official situations.
Strategy: When you learn a new synonym, look at example sentences in a dictionary to understand how it's used.
In Conversation
Srey is telling Bora about a book she finished reading.
Srey: Bora, I just finished a great book. The story was fantastic.
Bora: Oh really? I thought you said it was just a 'good' book yesterday.
Srey: It was good, but the ending was wonderful! I was so pleased with how it finished. I wasn't just happy, I was truly delighted.
Bora: That's great! I am reading a book about elephants. They are huge animals!
Srey: I know! They are not just big, they are enormous.
Bora: The book says you must obtain a special permit to work with them. You can't just get one easily.
quiz Check Your Understanding
1. Which word is a synonym for 'happy'?
- a) sad
- b) glad
- c) angry
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) glad
2. Which word means 'very, very bad'?
- a) bad
- b) horrible
- c) okay
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) horrible (This is a stronger synonym).
3. You need to get a formal document from the government. Which verb is best? "I need to ______ a business license."
- a) get
- b) obtain
- c) watch
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) obtain (This is more formal and suitable for official documents).
edit Your Mission
- Upgrade Your Sentences: Rewrite these sentences with a more powerful or interesting synonym.
1. The movie was good. 2. I was happy to get your email. 3. The building is big. - Notebook Practice: In your vocabulary notebook, find three words you already know (like 'smart', 'fast', or 'speak'). Use an online dictionary to find one synonym for each and write it down with an example sentence.
- Speak: Your mission is to use a synonym for a simple word in a conversation today. Instead of 'good', say 'nice' or 'great'. Instead of 'bad', say 'terrible'.
book Lesson Glossary
- Synonym (noun) - Khmer: សទិសសព្ទ (sa-tuh-sa-sap) - A word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word. ↩
- Precise (adjective) - Khmer: ច្បាស់លាស់ (chbas leah) - Exact and accurate in detail. ↩
- Nuance (noun) - Khmer: ភាពខុសគ្នា (pheap khos knea) - A small, subtle difference in meaning or tone. ↩
- Formality (noun) - Khmer: បែបបទ (baep bât) - The quality of being suitable for official or serious situations. ↩
- Word Relationship (noun phrase) - Khmer: ទំនាក់ទំនងពាក្យ (tum-neăk tum-nong peak) - How words connect to each other through meaning (e.g., as synonyms or opposites). ↩