Learning English

6 Minute Vocabulary

Vocabulary points to take away

Verbs with o-u-g-h in the past simple form, like thought and bought, are pronounced or: /'ɔ:/ 

Taught and caught are pronounced like this too, but notice the different spelling: a-u-g-h-t.

There are at least five other ways to pronounce words with o-u-g-h in them. Common examples are:

cough /'kɒf/

roughly /'rʌflɪ/, enough /ɪ'nʌf/

through /'θru:/

although/though /ɔ:l'ðəʊ/  /'ðəʊ/

thorough /'θʌrə/

There is no rule for learning the spelling and pronunciation of ough words. It's best to practise writing and saying or recording each one.

Session 1

rough
(here) can describe someone's ill feeling

syllable
a word or part of word with one vowel sound

plough
to prepare a field for planting by cutting long straight lines

plough on through
to carry on in a difficult situation

Session 3

fired
removed from your job because you've done something wrong

get down to business
start talking about what's important

we're getting there
we're making progress but haven't finished

pulled out all the stops
made every effort

delivered
(here) completed a project

bug
small problem with the computer system

a bit short on
not having many (of something)

a good team player
works well with other people

to rethink
to consider again/think about again

dinosaur
(used here as an insult) old fashioned person who people think is not useful

a second chance
another opportunity to do something after a bad mistake

Session 4

principle
an idea that a system is based on

objective
something that you are trying to achieve

funding
money given for a project

realistic
possible to achieve

kick-off
the beginning of a new project

role
the way in which someone is involved in a project or activity

schedule
a document that shows what tasks need to be completed and when

efficiently
quickly and in an organised way

higher management
the more senior people in an organisation

key
very important or necessary

motivated
keen to achieve something

social skills
the ability to deal with people easily

Session 5: Drama

stabbed (to stab)
hurt with a knife

odd
strange

shiver
to shake from fear

congregation
a group of people who pray in a church or other religious place

startle
to surprise someone

lame
unable to walk properly (animal)

suspect
to think that a person has carried out a crime

informed (to inform)
given information about a person who has done something wrong

proof
information that shows that something is true

blacksmith
a person who makes and repairs horseshoes

nail
a thin pointed piece of metal used to fix something