TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES

The word "transformation" is made up of three main parts:

1. Trans

The prefix "trans" comes from Latin, meaning "across," "beyond," or "through." It indicates a change or movement from one state to another.

2. Form

The root word "form" comes from Latin, meaning "shape" or "structure." It refers to the external appearance or configuration of something.

3. Ation

The suffix "-ation" comes from Latin, forming a noun that indicates a process, action, or result. It implies a change or transformation of some kind.

The meaning of "transformation" is:

The process of changing or altering something completely, resulting in a new form, shape, or structure. It can refer to a physical, emotional, or spiritual change, and often implies a significant or radical alteration.

Examples:

- "The caterpillar underwent a transformation into a beautiful butterfly."

- "The company underwent a transformation to become more environmentally sustainable."

- "She experienced a transformation in her life after practicing meditation and yoga."

Transformation of sentence means "from one formation to another formation of sentences  without changing the meaning. 

ICE AND FIRE: SUMMARY AND QUESTION ANSWERS

 

Summary of Fire and Ice Poem

The poet begins the Fire and Ice poem by stating the two views that different groups of people hold. He says that some people believe that the world will be wiped out by fire and others support that the world will end in ice. Either way, the world is sure to end, but the poet does not provide a definite answer whether it will end by fire or ice. In this summary of poem Fire and Ice, we will see how the poet justifies both views.

The Fire and Ice is one of the simple poems for kids to recite. In the Fire and Ice poem, the poet initially sides with the people who say that the world will be destroyed by fire because of the desires of human emotions. But after a second thought, he says that ice is equally capable of destroying the world if it is to die twice.

In the summary of poem Fire and Ice, we will also see how human emotions are compared to fire and ice. Here, fire denotes the uncontrollable feelings of humans like greed, desire etc. The more we try to satisfy them, the more these emotions spread, just like fire. Also, the ice is compared to the indifferent attitude of humans as we act cold towards others’ feelings. The Fire and Ice poem describes that since both fire and ice grow at a rapid rate, the world will soon come to an end.

Literary devices

1. Rhyming scheme- Aba,abc,bcb

2. Assonance- it is repetition of vowel sounds in same line. The repetition is at different places in different words.

Example- The long sound of “o” in “I hold with those who favour fire”

3. Alliteration- alliteration is the repetition of a consonant sound at the start of two or more closely placed words.

Example- The sound of “f” in “favour fire”, “w” in “world will”

4. Imagery- Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. Example- “Some say the world will end in fire”

“To say that for destruction ice Is also great”

5. Anaphora- the repetition of a word or expression at the start of two or more consecutive lines.

Example – “Some say” is repeated at the start of lines 1 and 2.

6. Personification- Personification is to give human qualities to inanimate objects. In this poem, “fire” and “ice” are capable of destruction. Thus, the poet personifies fire and ice by giving them mind and power to destroy anything.

7. Enjambment- it is defined as the thought or clause that does not come to an end at a line break, rather it moves over to the next line.

Example- “From what I’ve tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire” 

Short Answer Type Questions

1. What do you think would be enough to destroy the world? Can Fire and Ice contribute to it?

Answer: Our desires and hatred would be enough to destroy the world. According to the poet, `fire’ represents ‘desire’ and `ice’ represents `hatred’. Desires like fire spread rapidly and engulf one’s whole life. Similarly, ‘hatred’ fills life with poison.

2. What is the underlying idea of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?

Answer: The poet equates fire with `desire’ and ice with ‘hatred’. Both of these are growing with enormous speed. If we don’t check them from growing, the world will perish. So we must restrain our desires and love our fellow-beings.

3. Which two ideas about how the world will end have been mentioned in the poem? Which idea does the poet support more?

Answer: The two ideas mentioned are that the world will end in fire or in ice. Though the poet thinks both are great for destruction, yet he seems to favour the idea of the destruction of the world in a fire a little more than in ice.

4. What does ‘fire’ and ice’ stand for and what is the general opinion regarding the world?

Or

According to the poet, what does ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ represent? Do you agree with him?

Answer: According to the poet, ‘fire’ represents desire and ‘ice’ represents hatred. I do agree with the poet. Desires like fire spread rapidly and engulf one’s whole life. Similarly ‘hatred’ fills the whole life with poison. It makes one hard-hearted and cruel.

5. What do people think about the ending of the world? What does the poet think?

Answer: Some people think that someday the world will end in fire. On the other hand. some people say. that it will end in ice. The poet has tasted both the fire and the ice. He thinks that the world will end in fire. Here fire stands for the tire of desire.

6. How will the world end twice?

Answer: The poet says that both fire and ice are destructive. Here fire stands for the heat of desire and ice stands for hatred He thinks that our violent desires will end the world. If it survives, it will be ruined by hatred.

7. What is the main idea of the poem?

Answer: The main idea of the poem is that there are violent passions in the world. They are destructive. But mare distinctive Mail those violent desires is the hatred between man and man. The poet thinks that one day this hatred will destroy the world. 

8. Will this world come to an end? What does the poet say in this regard?

Answer: Everything that has a beginning or origin, does have an end. It is an eternal law of nature. The existing world will come to an end, someday. The poet believed many people believe that either ‘fire’ or ‘ice’ will be the cause of the end of the world.

9. What do people think about the end of the world? Who does the poet side with and why?

Answer: People are divided over the cause of the end of this world. Some people think that ‘fire’ symbolised by unbridled passions, desires and fury will destroy this world. Others believe that ‘ice’ symbolised by cold reasoning, indifference and hatred will be the cause of destruction. The poet sides with those who believe that ‘fire’ or unbridled passions and desires will result in the destruction of the world.

10. Why does the poet say, ‘I’ve tasted of desire/I hold with those who favour fire?

Answer: The poet is familiar with the fire of passions and desires in love. He knows it quite well that are uncontrolled desires, passions and fury lead to our destruction. Similarly, he sides with those people who believe that ‘fire’ symbolised by unbridled passions and desires with be the real cause of the end of the world.

11. What will be the cause of the end of the world if it has to perish twice?

Answer: This world is not eternal. Its end is certain. The poet sides with those people who think that ‘fire’ will cause the end of the existing world. But if this world has to perish twice the ‘ice’ is as strong to bring the end of the world as ‘fire’ is. Icy reasoning devoid of human love and sympathy and hatred is sufficient to bring an end of this world.

12. How does the poet ‘know enough of hate’? Where will this ‘hate’ lead to?

Answer: ‘Icy’ or cold reasoning can lead to rigidity, indifference and insensitiveness. This can take away all warmth of human feelings, love and sympathy. The result can be disastrous. ‘Hatred’ born out of cold and ‘Icy’ reasoning can lead to the destruction of the world.

13. How will ‘ice’ be as ‘great’ and ‘suffice’ for causing the end of this existing world? Do you agree with the poet?

Answer: There is no need for ‘fire’ to destroy the world. Even ‘ice’ is sufficient and ‘strong’ enough to cause the destruction of this world. If this world has to ‘perish twice’, then there is no need for fire to destroy it twice. ‘Ice’ is as ‘strong’ and ‘great’ a cause that can cause the end of this world.

14. What is the message of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?

Answer: The metaphors of ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ are used very effectively to convey a definite message to the readers. ‘Fire’ here stands for our unbridled, uncontrolled and unchecked passions, desires, lust and fury. Such passions are disastrous for human beings. Similarly cold reasoning devoid of all human warmth, love, sympathy will bring insensitivity, cruelty and rigidity. This hatred will lead to the end of this world.

15. From when I have tasted of desire

I hold with those who favour fire.

Why does the poet hold with those who favour fire?

Answer: The poet sides with those who believe that the world will be destroyed by fire. ‘Fire’ is a symbol of desire. The poet has already experienced desire. On the basis of his experience, he knows that excessive desire will destroy the world. That is why he holds with those who favour fire.

16. But if it has to perish twice

I think I know enough of hate.

What does ‘it’ refer to? How will it perish twice?

Answer: ‘It’ here refers to the world. The poet says that people hold different opinions about the end of the world. Some say ‘fire’, which stands for ‘desire’, will destroy the world. Secondly, ‘ice’, which stands for ‘hatred’ can also destroy the world.

17. To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

In the poem what does ‘ice’ stand for? How is it sufficient to bring destruction?

Answer: ‘Ice’ stands for ‘hatred’. Hatred may be religious, communal or of any other type. According to the poet, there is enough hatred in the world which will destroy the external, physical world one day.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. How does the poem depicts the two contrasting ideas— ‘Fire’ and ‘Ice’? Can hatred destroy us and the world? Explain bringing out values which can make this world a better place to live in.

Answer: (i) In this poem, Robert Frost refers to two contrasting ideas—Fire and Ice as predictions of how the world will end. According to him, some people say that the world will end in a fire while some others hold that this will end in ice. The poet equates desire with fire and hatred with ice. Both the desire and hatred are growing with such a rapid speed that the world will come to an end either of the ways.

(ii) Yes, hatred can destroy us and the world. Intolerance in behaviour creates hatred that leads to fury and cruelty. One becomes hard-hearted and insensitive to the feelings of others.

(iii) Love, brotherhood, tolerance, peace, contentment, sensitivity, benevolence, generosity among people can make this world a better place to live in.

2. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? How does it help in bringing out the contrasting ideas in the poem?

Answer: The rhyme scheme of the poem in the first stanza is a, b; a band in the second stanza it is – a, b, a, b, a.

The lines ending with the same rhythm have the same idea but the line that ends with a different note has the contrasting idea. In the first stanza, the first, third and fourth lines end with the words fire, desire, fire – same rhythm but the second line ends with the word ‘ice’, a different note, also it contrasts with ‘fire’.

Thus the poet has brought out the contrasting ideas in the poem by using different rhythms.

3. There are many ideas about how this world will come to an ‘end’. What are they? Do you agree with the poet and his understanding of the poet and his understanding of the issue in this regard?

Answer: Almost all think that this world will end at one time or the other. It is true that everything that has a beginning or origin will come to an end too. There are many ideas about how this world will come to an end. Some think that ‘fire’ will be the cause of the ‘end’ of the world. Others believe that ‘ice’ will bring the end of the world. Both of these ideas have their valid reasons. The poet sides and stands with those who believe that ‘fire’ will be the cause of the ‘end’.

The poet is well aware of how the ‘fire’ of unbridled passions, desires, lust, and fury can lead to the destruction of humanity and the world. But the other view is equally convincing. Cold and ‘icy’ reasoning can create insensitivity, rigidity, frigidity, and indifference in man. Ultimately, it breeds ‘hatred’ and contempt. This kind of ‘icy’ reasoning which is devoid of all human warmth, sympathy, love, and understanding will only bring destruction and death of this world.

I believe that both ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ have strong potentialities to bring disasters and destruction to the world.

4. What do the metaphors of ‘ice’ and ‘fire’ convey to the readers? Don’t they represent the two extremes of human behaviour that can lead to the destruction and death of this world? What is the message that the poet wants to give to the readers?

Answer: The poet has touched the universal issue of the ending of this existing world. He gives a message as well as a warning to human beings. Man is swaying between two extremes — ‘fire’ and ‘ice’. Sometimes he is torn by his unbridled fire of passions, desires, lusts, longings, and fury. This results in greed, avarice and passionate love. All such extremes can lead to unavoidable conflicts and disasters. If not controlled, they can help in bringing an early end of this world.

The other extreme behaviour of human beings is born out of cold and ‘icy’ reasoning. When our cold reasoning becomes completely devoid of human warmth, feelings, love, and sympathy, it breeds hatred. Hatred born out of cold indifference, insensitivity and rigidity are strong enough to cause the end of this world. Humanity can redeem itself and possibly save or delay the end of the world by giving up such extremes of thinking and behaviour.

Extract Based Questions

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow:

1. Some say the world will end in fire

Some say in ice.

From what I’ve tasted of desire

I hold with those who favour fire.

a. What do people think about the ending of the world?

b. What is the poet’s opinion?

c. What does ‘desire’ mean here?

d. Name the poem and the poet.

Answer:

a. Some people think that the world will end in fire. Others say that it will end in ice.

b. The poet thinks it right that the world will end in fire.

c. Here, ‘desire’ means man’s passions and violence.

d. The poem is ‘Fire and Ice’ and the poet is ‘Robert Frost’.

2. But if it had to perish twice.

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

a. What does ‘it’ refer to here?

b. How is ‘ice’ sufficient for destruction?

c. What is the main idea of these lines?

d. What is ice a symbol of?

Answer:

a. Here, ‘it’ refers to the ‘world’.

b. ‘Ice’ symbolises hatred. So hatred is sufficient for the world’s destruction.

c. The main idea of these lines is that hatred can destroy the world.

d. Ice is a symbol of hatred.

N. B. Courtesy: Google 

DUST OF SNOW: SUMMARY & QUESTION ANSWERS

 The poem takes place in the winter season and the poet also happens to be in a foul mood. The poet was having a miserable day for unknown reasons. A crow happens to fling snow dust on him as he is standing under the tree. This snow dust that fell on him immediately made him feel better 

"Dust of Snow" is a short poem by Robert Frost, published in the Pulitzer Prize-winning volume New Hampshire (1923). The poem's speaker, possibly the poet himself, is initially unhappy. But a sprinkling of snow, dislodged by a crow in the tree above the speaker, brings an element of surprise that partly "save[s]" the speaker's bad day. The poem thus shows how nature can lift people's mood, if only temporarily.

“Dust of Snow” Theme

“Dust of Snow” shows how nature can cheer people up by putting their problems in perspective and reminding them of the world outside their own heads. But rather than staging this idea as some grand revelation, this poem depicts it on a smaller, funnier, more relatable scale: a crow in a hemlock tree shakes snow down onto the passing speaker, in a surprise that seems to lighten the day’s troubles.

The poem leaves much unsaid, but the speaker clearly sees this dust of snow as significant. This suggests that, even in its smallest actions, nature has something to teach humanity—if perhaps only through its indifference to human problems!

The speaker had "rued" (that is, bitterly regretted or resented) the day prior to this dusting. The speaker could just be having a bad day or could be experiencing something more profoundly upsetting. Either way, nature finds a way to put these bad feelings into perspective.

When the crow shakes snow down onto the speaker, it’s like a cold shock of reality. It's almost as if the crow knew this was what the speaker needed (though, of course, it didn't!). The fact that the crow—and nature more generally—doesn't tiptoe around the speaker's bad mood reframes that mood as less important. The crow's timing is so comically perfect that it pulls the speaker out of this funk, almost as if to tell the speaker to stop worrying and look at the beauty around them.

It's not just the snow itself that "save[s]" the speaker's day, either. It's "the way" the crow makes it fall. Nature, here, is a series of actions and reactions, a system of interconnected parts. And while the event in the poem seems trivial, it links four of those parts together: the snow, the tree, the crow, and the speaker. The sudden snow thus might remind the speaker that they’re part of something larger than themselves—and that their problems are small in the grand scheme of things.

That this event cheers the speaker up is amusingly ironic. Crows are often seen as bad omens, but here it's almost as if the crow has a sense of comic timing, shaking down snow just when the speaker needs it most. Rather than foreshadowing death, the crow affirms life. And rather than finding the snow-dusting unpleasant, the speaker finds it refreshing.

Still, the poem doesn't sentimentalize or exaggerate the impact of this moment. The speaker doesn't make a sweeping statement about nature's ability to save people—just an observation about how it can sometimes, in a small yet significant way, make someone feel better. (And here, perhaps, it improves the speaker's outlook by providing inspiration for this very poem.) The reader never learns what's behind the speaker's mood, just that it’s temporarily brightened by the natural world.

1. The dust of snow: Metaphor  

Reason: The snow is metaphorically referred to as “dust,” implying its lightness and the subtle impact it has, like dust particles. This metaphor enhances the delicacy and ephemeral nature of the snow, adding depth to its description.

2. Shook down on me.: Personification  

Reason: The action of the crow shaking down the snow is personified. This personification attributes human-like actions to the crow, giving life and animation to the scene, making it more vivid and relatable.

3. The entire stanza : Imagery

Reason: Imagery is used throughout this stanza to create a vivid picture in the mind of the reader. The description of the crow, the snow, and the hemlock tree conjures a clear and specific image, engaging the reader’s senses and imagination.

4. Rhyme Scheme: abab

Explanation: The rhyme scheme of this stanza is abab, where “me” and “tree” form the ‘a’ rhyme and “crow” and “snow” form the ‘b’ rhyme. This pattern contributes to the musical quality and rhythm of the poem.

5. Symbolism: Crow and Hemlock tree

Reason: The crow and the hemlock tree are used symbolically to represent emotions like dejection, gloom, and depression. Frost uses these traditionally inauspicious symbols of nature to convey a deeper message that even elements considered gloomy or unfavorable can bring about a positive change in a person’s mood and mindset.

6. Has given my heart 

And saved some part. : Alliteration, sounds of 'h' and 's' are repeated pleasingly.

7.  Has given my heart a change of mood - Synecdoche: Here a part of the poet is used to represent the whole of his being.

Questions

1. What is a “dust of snow”? What does the poet say has changed his mood? How has the poet’s mood changed?

2. What are the birds that are usually named in poems? Do you think crow is often mentioned in poems? What images come to your mind when you think of a crow?

3. Again, what is ‘a hemlock tree’? Why doesn’t the poet write about more ‘beautiful’ tree such as a maple, or an oak, or a pine?

4. What do the ‘crow’ and ‘hemlock’ represent-joy or sorrow? What does the dust of snow that the crow shakes off a hemlock tree stand for?

Answers:

1. The ‘dust of snow’ means the fine particles or flakes of snow. The sudden shower in the form of the dust of snow changed the poet’s mood. The poet’s mood changed from sad to happy. He felt refreshed and wanted to enjoy the rest of the day.

2. Generally, poets take the birds and trees which are known for their beauty and good qualities like peacock, parrot, cuckoo, mynah and trees full of beautiful flowers and fruits, etc. But here Frost has taken a totally different approach. He chose a crow, which is not often used in poems. Crow is black in colour with very harsh voice and is believed to be a symbol of bad omen. Thinking of a crow brings very depressing and sorrowful pictures to our mind.

3. A hemlock tree is a poisonous plant with small white flowers. The poet, Robert Frost, didn’t choose to use an oak, maple or pine tree. Instead, he chose the hemlock tree and left all the beautiful trees present in the world. Actually he did so to present his mood and feelings.

4. The crow and hemlock tree represent sorrow and depression felt by the poet in this materialistic world. The dust of snow is the symbol of natural joy and energy. The dust of snow that the crow shakes off a hemlock tree means passing through the sad and depressing moments the poet is entering into the time full of joy and optimism.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. What made the poet change his mood?

Answer: A crow on the hemlock tree shook down the dust of snow on the poet. The falling dust of snow on the poet has changed his mood.

Question 2. In what mood was the poet before falling of snow on him?

Answer: He was in an unpleasant mood.

Question 3. How did the dust of snow affect the poet?

Answer: It changed the poet’s mood.

Question 4. Where was the crow sitting?

Answer: The crow was sitting in a hemlock tree.

Question 5. What type of plant is ‘a hemlock tree’?

Answer: It is a poisonous plant with small white flowers.

Question 6. Who is the poet of the poem ‘Dust of Snow’?

Answer: The poet of this poem is ‘Robert Frost’.

Question 7. What fell on the poet from the hemlock tree?

Answer: Dust of snow fell on the poet from the hemlock tree.

Question 8. What did the poet think of the day before the fall of the dust of snow on him?

Answer: The poet thought unhappiness of the day before the fall of the dust of snow on him. But after the incident, he started to look at the surroundings.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. Where was the poet and what happened to him?

Answer: There was snow everywhere. The poet was under a hemlock tree. The tree was covered with snow Suddenly a crow shook the tree The dust of snow fell on the poet. It changed his mood.

Question 2. What is a “Dust of Snow”? What does the poet say has changed his mood? How has the poet’s mood changed?

Answer: A ‘Dust of Snow” means the fine particles of snow. This ‘Dust of Snow” changed the poet’s mood. The poet’s mood changed from that of dismay to joy. He was holding the day in regret when this dust of snow fell on him and this simple little thing brought him some joy.

Question 3. How has the poet observed nature in the poem ‘Dust of Snow’

Answer: The poet has observed nature as a positive medium of change for him. The poet had been the sorrowful and depressive mood in the poem. But then the way a crow shook snow dust off, it changed his mood. Nature gave him the inspiration to behave in a positive manner.

Question 4. The poet was sad and depressed. But one comical incident lifts his spirits. He is full of joy and happiness again. Based on your reading of the poem, write a paragraph on the topic – Happiness is relative.

Answer: No one is always happy. It is just a passing phase of one’s life. It varies from time to time and place to place. It depends on certain people who you are close to. There are times when we are extremely happy or sorrowful. In most circumstances, our happiness is decided l>y certain moments in our life. Some light moments can really enliven our mood. The actions of our friends can make us happy or sometimes sorrowful. We must also realize that on every cloud there is a silver lining. This means that every sorrowful moment is followed by a period of joy and happiness.

Question 5. What is the message that Robert Frost wants to convey to the readers in the poem ‘Dust of snow’?

Answer: Robert Frost gives quite a positive message to the readers. Depression and hopelessness do cloud our hearts, spirits and moods. However, there is a silver-lining beyond every cloud. The poet had given up all hopes and declared that the whole day would go waste. Suddenly, the falling of fine dust of snow on him brings a sudden change in his mood. Cheerfulness replaces the feeling of regret.

Question 6. How did the crow change the poet’s mood?

Answer: The poet was going somewhere in a snowy morning. He was upset. All the trees were covered with snow dust. A crow sitting on a hemlock tree shook the tree in such a way that some dust of snow fell on the poet. This changed his mood and he became happy and relaxed.

Question 7. What side of nature do ‘crow’ and ‘hemlock’ represent?

Answer: ‘Crow’ is a black, harsh-voiced bird and ‘hemlock’ is a tree with poisonous bitter fruit. Both are not beautiful. They represent the dark, depressive, sorrowful and bitter side of nature.

Question 8. Why does the poet feel that he has saved some part of the day?

Answer: Crow shook down the dust of snow on the poet. Both crow and hemlock tree are considered inauspicious. The falling of dust of snow from hemlock tree is bad omen. But the poet took it in a positive way. He found himself relieved from sorrow after this incident. Now he could use his entire day in a fruitful way.

Question 9. What mood of the poet is reflected in the poem? How does it reflect?

Answer: The sorrowful and depressive mood of the poet is reflected in the poem. The use of the bird ‘crow’, which is ugly and harsh, and hemlock tree, which is a poisonous plant, reflects the poet’s mood.

Question 10. What do the ‘Hemlock’ tree and ‘Crow’ represent? What does the dust of snow metaphorically stand for ?

Answer: The poet was going somewhere in a snowy morning. He was upset. All the trees were covered with snow dust. A crow sitting on a hemlock tree shook the tree in such a way that some dust of snow fell on the poet. This changed his mood and he became happy and relaxed.

N. B. Courtesy: Google 

ELECTION POSTERS PASTED ON WALLS IN BBSR

 

ACRONYMS, HOMONYMS AND HOMOPHONES

 

1. Acronym

What is the difference between an acronym and an initialism?

According to Marriam Webster dictionary, both acronyms and initialisms are made up of the first letter or letters of the words in a phrase. The word acronym typically applies when the resulting thing can be read as a word; for example, radar comes from "radio detection and ranging" and scuba comes from "self-contained underwater breathing apparatus." The word initialism only applies when the resulting thing is read as an abbreviation; for example DIY, which comes from "do it yourself," is pronounced by saying the names of the letters. Note that the word acronym is also sometimes used to mean "initialism."

What is the difference between an acronym and an abbreviation?

An acronym is a kind of abbreviation. Abbreviations can be shortened forms of any kind. For example, appt is an abbreviation of appointment, and ASAP is an abbreviation of as soon as possible. ASAP, however, also qualifies as an acronym because it is made up of the initial letters of the phrase it comes from: as soon as possible.

Is OK an acronym?

OK is technically an acronym. It comes from the phrase "oll korrect," a humorous alteration of "all correct."

Examples of acronyms:

ASAP – As soon as possible

CAPTCHA – Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart

FIFA – Federation Internationale de Football Association

FOMO – Fear of missing out

IELTS – International English Language Testing System

ISRO – Indian Space Research Organization

LASER – Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation

LAN – Local Area Network

LOL – Laugh out loud

NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

PIN – Personal Identification Number

RADAR – Radio Detection and Ranging

RAM – Random Access Memory

RAW – Research and Analysis Wing

ROM – Read Only Memory

SAARC – South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

SARS – Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

SCUBA – Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus

SIM – Subscriber Identity Module

SONAR – Sound Navigation and Ranging

SWOT – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats

TEFL – Teaching English as a Foreign Language

TESL – Teaching English as a Second Language

TESOL – Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language

UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation

UNICEF – United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund

WAN – Wide Area Network

WiFi – Wireless Fidelity

WIP – Work in progress

YOLO – You only live once

ZIP – Zone Improvement Plan

2. Homophone = the same sound – the words that have the same pronunciations, but different spellings and different meanings such as there and their.

Examples of Homophones:

Air - atmosphere

Heir - inheritor

All - the whole

Awl - pointed tool

Aloud - loudly

Allowed - permitted

Assent - agree

Ascent - going up

Ate - past tense of 'eat'

Eight – the number 8

Bear - an animal

Bare - uncovered or empty

Bolder -more bold

Boulder - more rock

Berth - sleeping place

Birth - being born

Bore - make a hole

Boar - a male pig

Bow - bend

Bough - branch of a tree

Bowled - past tense of 'bowl'

Bold - brave

Calendar - table showing months

Calendar - machine for pressing

Canvas - coarse cloth

Canvass - asking for votes

Canon - an accepted principle or rule

Cannon - a big gun

Cast - throw

Caste - social class

Check - examine

Cheque - written order for the bank to pay

Cite - refer to, name, mention

Site - a location

Cord - thin rope

Chord - line joining two points in a circle

Council - assembly

Counsel – advice

Coarse - rough

Course - direction, series of studies

Dear - loving

Dear - high in price, costly, scarce

Deer - an animal

Dew - tiny drops of moisture

Due - owed as a debt or an obligation

Die - stop living

Dye - colour

Doe - female deer

Dough - mass of flour moistened and kneaded

Fair - mela, not dark, honest

Fare - price for travel

Feet - plural of foot

Feat - a deed of skill

Flour - Pronounced flower, powder made from grain

Flower – a bloom

Fowl - bird

Foul - bad smell or taste

Grown - past participle of grow  

Groan - sound forced out by pain

Hair - hair on our head

Hare - rabbit

Heal - cure

Heel - back part of the foot

Hole - hollow place

Whole - complete

Hear - listen

Here – at this place

Idle - lazy

Idol - image of god

Incite - to enrage, provoke, anger

Insight. - the ability to see the inner nature of someone or something

It's - a contraction of the words "it" and "is

Its - the possessive form of it

Lessen - become less

Lesson - something to be learnt

Lead - Pronounced led, a metal

Led - past tense of 'lead'

Lightning - flash in the clouds

Lightening - making lighter

Loose - not tight

Lose - to part with something

Meet - come in contact

Meat – flesh

Night - opposite of day

Knight - honourable rank

Not - negative

Knot - tangle

Oar - car is used to row a boat

Ore - rock containing mineral

Peace - tranquility

Piece - a part, portion, bit

Peak - maximum height

Peek- to look quickly and secretly

Pique – arouse, stimulate

Plane - smooth

Plain - flat land

Praise - admire

Prays - offers prayers

Principal - chief

Principle – rule

Rain - water that falls from the sky

Reign - sway, rule, a period of time

Rein. - a leather strap

Raise - lift

Rays - beams of light

Raze - demolish, level to the ground

Right - correct

Write - note down

Role - a part one acts

Roll – turn, rotate, spin, move

Sale - act of selling something

Sail - sheet of canvas of a ship or boat

Sea - the part of an ocean

See - watch, look

Site - a location

Sight - vision

Sole - belonging to one person only, the bottom surface of the foot

Soul - more spiritual

Stationary - staying in one spot

Stationery – writing equipment such as pen, penil, paper and envelopes

Steal - take without permission

Steel - a metal 

Tale - a story

Tail - the part at the end of the body of an animal or bird

Their - possessive pronoun form of they

There – at that place

They’re - a contraction of "they" and "are,"

Waist - the narrowest part around the middle of your body

Waste - something you throw away or misuse.

Yore - refers to the past

Your - the possessive adjective form of you

 You’re - the contraction of "you" and "are"

3. Homonym = the same name – the words that have the same spellings and the same pronunciations, but different meanings such as bat and bat. 

Examples of Homonyms:

Axes = the plural of axis

Axes = the plural of axe

Band = music group

Band = a ring or strap

Bank = land sloping up along each side of river

Bank = an establishment for keeping money

Bark = outer covering of a tree trunk

Bark = sound made by dogs

Bat = flying mammal

Bat = sports equipment

Bear = the animal

Bear = the verb meaning “to carry”

Blow = moving of a current of air

Blow = hard stroke given with the fist

Blue = color

Blue= depressed feeling

Can = container

Can = modal auxiliary showing ability

Chest = a large strong box

Chest = the upper front part of the body

Class = lesson; category

Class = classiness

Close = near

Close = to shut

Content = satisfied

Content = various media

Crane = bird

Crane = machine used in construction

Date = a day in a month or a year

Date = a sweet fruit

Fan = the appliance that makes wind

Fan = an admirer/appreciator

Fair = treating justly/impartially

Fair = market

Fall = to go down

Fall = a season of the year, otherwise known as autumn

Fine = money that must be paid as a punishment

Fine = of high quality

Firm = not yielding

Firm = business company

Grave = serious

Grave = ground dug for a dead body

Hide = animal's skin

Hide = keep out of sight

Jar = container usually of glass

Jar = have a harsh effect

Just = being morally right

Just = simply

Lean = thin

Lean = bend

Leave = go away from

Leave = time absent from duty

Leave = permission to remain absent from a working plcae

Mean = convey something

Mean = selfish

Might = great strength

Might = a modal verb

Nail = of a finger

Nail = catch or arrest

Object = thing

Object = argue

Park = public garden

Park = leave a vehicle in a place

Pen = writing instrument

Pen = fenced plot for keeping the cattle, sheep, poultry, etc.

Present = gift

Present = to bring forth

Produce = create

Produce = fruits and veggies

Right = opposite of left

Right = what is good and just

Row = propel a boat

Row = something arranged in a line

Rose = a flower

Rose = to come up

Ruler = someone who rules a kingdom

Ruler = a long, narrow piece of wood, steel or plastic that is flat and used to measure things or draw straight lines

Spring = a season of the year

Spring = to jump or move suddenly or quickly

Sound = in good condition

Sound = sensation detected by the ear

State = condition

State = express

Strike = organised stopping of work by workers

Strike = hit

Subject = thing

Subject = to something

Train = railway engine with bogies

Train = modify behaviour through instruction or practice

Trunk = main stem of a tree

Trunk = large box for storing clothes

Well = A large, deep hole in the ground that carries water which can be used for domestic purposes

Well = to be in a good state

4. Homograph = the same writing – the words that have the same spellings, but different meanings and sometimes different pronunciations such as wind and wind.

*The most common confusion comes between homonyms and homographs because both the types of words are spelled the same, but homographs have different pronunciations.

Examples of Homographs:

• bow, row, sewer, sow, minute, read, desert, lead, bass, close, dove, live, mobile, polish, object, produce, refuse, resume, wind, and wound.

N.B.  Collected from different sources.