Academic Vocabulary

Verbs that you will see in test and homework questions

Analyze

0To break something into its individual parts, study them, and determine how they work together to form a whole.

0Other Forms: analysis, analyzing, analyzed

0Related words: break apart, dissect, deconstruct

0Sample question: Analyze the author’s use of literary devices in the following poem.

Apply

0To put the skills or information you have learned to use.

0Other Forms: application, applying, applied

0Related words: utilize, employ, use

0Sample question: Apply your knowledge of capitalization rules to edit the following paragraph.

Compare

0To determine how two things are similar or alike.

0Other Forms: comparison, comparing, comparable

0Related words: connect, relate, similarities(noun), liken

0Sample question: Compare Twilight’s Edward Cullen to Dracula’s Count Dracula.

Contrast

0To determine how two things are different or unlike.

0Other Forms: contrasting, contrasted, in contrast

0Related words: differentiate, distinguish, discriminate, draw a distinction

0Sample question: Contrast the themes of Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart and The Raven.

Comprehend

0 To understand or grasp the meaning or significance of something.

0 Other Forms: comprehension, comprehending, comprehended

0 Related words: understand, recognize, realize, grasp, appreciate

0 Sample question: What do you comprehend about the setting of A Christmas Carol?

Classify

0To group like items under a specific category.

0Other Forms: classification, classifiable, classifying

0Related words: order, organize, categorize, sort, catalogue

0Sample question: Classify the following pronouns as nominative, objective, or possessive.

Critique

0To examine or review something and discuss its strengths and weaknesses.

0Other Forms: criticism, criticize, critical, critic, critical

0Related words: examine, review, opinion(noun), appraise, assess

0Sample question: Critique your descriptive essay rough draft.

Describe

0To create a mental picture of someone or something.

0Other Forms: describing, description, described

0Related words: recreate, portray, depict, illustrate, express

0Sample question: Describe the Secret Annex in The Diary of Anne Frank.

Evaluate

0To determine or assess the value, worth, or condition of something.

0Other Forms: evaluation, evaluated, reevaluate

0Related words: assess, appraise, rate

0Sample question: Evaluate the importance of correct grammar in e-mails and texts.

Explain

0To clarify a statement by using facts, evidence, and details.

0Other Forms: explanation, explain, explained

0Related words: clarify, demonstrate, expound

0Sample question: Would you rather live forever and be poor, or die young but be rich? Explain your opinion.

Identify

0To find or recognize something and name it.

0Other Forms: identifying, identified, identifiable

0Related words: find, recognize, detect, distinguish

0Sample question: Identify the transitive verbs in the following sentences.

Infer

0To combine your prior knowledge (schema) and clues from the text to figure out something the author did not directly say.

0Other Forms: inference, inferring, inferred

0Related words: conclude, gather, understand, assume

0Sample question: What can you infer from Little Miss Muppet’s behavior when the spider appeared beside her?

Interpret

0To decipher or determine the meaning of something.

0Other Forms: interpretation, interpreting, interpreted

0Related words: clarify, understand, construe

0Sample question: Interpret the symbolism of the raven in Poe’s poem, “The Raven.”

Predict

0To draw a reasonable conclusion about what might happen next based on clues in the text.

0Other Forms: prediction, predictable, predicting, predicted

0Related words: guess, envision, expect, foretell

0Sample question: Predict what the story might be about based on the title and the cover illustration.

Summarize

0To reduce a text to its essential elements and main points.

0Other Forms: sum up, summary, summative, summarizing, summarized

0Related words: reduce, recap, condense, abridge

0Sample question: Summarize the first two paragraphs of this passage.

Synthesize

0To create or produce a new product by combining new and prior knowledge.

0Other Forms: synthesis, synthesizing

0Related words: create, produce, combine, make

0Sample question: Using your knowledge of Greek and Latin root words, synthesize a new word to mean the study of underwater alien life forms.