What things are made of
| brick |
iron |
stone |
| cement |
metal |
wood |
| fabric (material) |
paper |
|
| glass |
plastic |
|
Tools
Nouns and Descriptive Words
| ax |
nuts and bolts |
screw, -driver |
| hammer |
pliers |
shovel |
| nail |
saw |
spade |
Verbs
| break, broken |
fix |
push |
| chop |
hammer |
saw |
| cut |
pull |
turn |
CATEGORY F: CITIES, BUILDINGS AND VEHICLES
Nouns and Descriptive Words
City
| across |
exit |
sewer |
| avenue |
funeral |
sidewalk |
| block |
gutter |
sign |
| bus stop |
lamp post |
statue |
| careful |
litter, -basket |
stop, -sign |
| caution |
mailbox |
street |
| cautions |
park |
subway |
| cemetery |
pedestrian |
token |
| city |
playground |
tomb, -stone |
| corner |
private |
traffic, -light |
| curb |
public |
trash basket |
| danger, dangerous |
road |
turnstile |
| docks |
safe |
whistle |
| entrance |
safety zone |
zoo |
Buildings
| airport |
factory |
newsstand |
| apartment house |
firehouse |
police station |
| bank |
garage |
post office |
| bar |
gas, -station, -pump |
railroad station |
| beauty parlor |
grocery store |
restaurant |
| bridge |
hangar |
school |
| building |
hardware store |
store |
| business |
hospital |
subway station |
| butcher shop |
hotel |
supermarket |
| coffee shop |
house |
tailor |
| church |
lighthouse |
temple |
| department store |
motel |
theater |
| drug store |
movie theater |
tower |
| dry cleaner |
museum |
|
Vehicles
| airplane, pilot |
fire engine |
subway train |
| automobile, driver |
helicopter |
taxi |
| bike, bicycle |
jet |
tracks |
| boat |
limousine |
tractor |
| bus |
motor |
train |
| cab |
motorcycle |
tram |
| car |
scooter |
trolley |
| carriage |
semi |
truck |
| cart |
ship |
van |
| engine |
smoke stack |
wagon |
| ferry |
snowmobile |
|
Verbs
| blink |
fill up with gas |
start |
| blow |
fix |
stay |
| bury |
fly, flew |
steer |
| change (traffic light) |
get in, off, on, out of |
stop |
| change the tire (flat tire) |
land the airplane |
take off (plane) |
| cross the street |
pedal the bike |
turn |
| die, dead |
ride, rode |
wait |
| drive, drove |
squirt the hose |
walk |
CATEGORY G: CLOTHING
Nouns and Descriptive Words
| apron |
jacket |
rubbers |
| bathing cap |
jewelry |
scarf |
| bathing suit |
key, keys |
chain shirt |
| beads |
lapel |
shoe polish |
| belt |
lock |
shoelaces |
| blouse |
loose |
shoes |
| boots |
mittens |
shorts |
| bow |
necklace |
size |
| bracelet |
necktie |
skirt |
| buckle |
nightgown |
sleeve |
| button, buttonhole |
overcoat |
slip |
| cap |
overshoes |
slippers |
| ckecks |
pair |
socks |
| clothes, clothing |
pajamas |
stockings |
| coat |
panties |
stripes |
| collar |
pants |
suit |
| cuff |
pin |
sweater |
| dots |
plaid |
tie |
| dress |
pleat |
tight |
| earrings |
pocket |
trousers |
| fir |
pocketbook |
umbrella |
| glasses; eye |
purse |
undershirt |
| gloves |
raincoat |
underwear |
| handkerchief |
ribbon |
uniform |
| hat |
ring |
wallet |
| hem |
robe |
watch |
Verbs
| button |
put on |
try on |
| dress, get dressed |
shine |
wear, wore |
| fit, fits |
take off |
|
| polish |
tie |
|
Sewing
Nouns and Descriptive Words
| cloth |
material |
spool |
| cotton |
needle |
stitch |
| fabric |
nylon |
tape measure |
| felt |
pattern |
thread |
| fur |
pin, safety pin |
wool |
| knit, knitted |
plastic |
yarn |
| lace |
sewing |
|
| leather |
silk |
|
Verbs
| crochet |
knit |
repair |
| cut |
mend |
sew |
| darn |
patch |
trim |
| hem |
pin |
weave |
CATEGORY H: COMMUNITY HELPERS
Nouns and Descriptive Words
| church |
mail; -man; -box |
principal |
| conductor |
mayor |
rabbi |
| delivery person |
milkman |
sailor |
| doctor |
minister |
salesman |
| engineer |
nurse |
soldier |
| fire fighter |
police officer |
street cleaner |
| garbage man; -collector |
president |
teacher |
| guard |
priest |
uniform |
Verbs
| carry |
dump |
teach |
| collect |
help |
work, go to work |
| deliver |
mail |
|
| direct traffic |
send, sent |
|
GOING TO THE DOCTOR
Nouns and Descriptive Words
| adhesive tape |
headache |
pain |
| appointment |
infection, infected |
pill |
| bandage |
injection, shot |
sick |
| blood |
medicine |
skin |
| bruise |
nurse |
sore throat |
| cough |
office |
stomach ache |
| cut |
operation |
temperature |
| doctor |
otoscope |
thermometer |
CATEGORY I: EMOTIONS, COURTESIES
Nouns and Descriptive Words
| afraid |
in a good (bad) mood |
quarrel |
| angry |
in a hurry |
rest |
| annoyed |
in good (bad) humor |
rough |
| calm |
ired |
rude |
| cheerful |
kind |
sad |
| cranky |
kindness |
scowl |
| dizzy |
laugh |
scream |
| excited |
lazy |
shout |
| feelings |
love |
sleepy |
| frightened |
mad |
smile |
| frown |
mood, moody |
surprised |
| fussy |
nervous |
tears |
| gay |
nice |
thoughtful |
| gentle |
patient |
unhappy |
| glad |
pep, peppy |
What's the matter? |
| happy |
pleased |
worried |
| idle |
pleasure |
yell |
Verbs
| argue |
love |
scream |
| cry |
make ;up |
shout |
| feel, felt |
please |
smile |
| fight |
pout |
surprise |
| frown |
quarrel |
take it easy |
| hope |
rest, rested |
take your time |
| hurry; -along |
rush |
yell |
| laugh |
scare |
|
| like |
scowl |
|
Courtesies
| excuse me |
hello |
may I? |
| good afternoon |
hold the door |
please |
| good evening |
how do you do? |
polite |
| good habits |
I beg your pardon |
shake hands |
| good morning |
I'm sorry |
thank you |
| good-bye |
keep a promise |
you're welcome |
CATEGORY J: FAMILY
Nouns and Descriptive Words
| adult |
gentleman |
next door |
| age |
girl |
niece |
| aunt |
grandfather, grandpa |
old, older |
| baby |
grandmother, grandma |
parents |
| birthday |
grandparents |
person, people |
| boy |
grownups |
relative, related to |
| brother |
home |
sister |
| child, children |
kids |
son |
| company |
lady |
uncle |
| cousin |
man, men |
wedding |
| dad, daddy |
members (family) |
woman, women |
| daughter |
mother |
young, younger |
| family |
neighbor |
visitor |
| father |
nephew |
|
Verbs
| belong |
live; -with |
obey |
| born |
marry, get married |
take care of |
| call, to be called |
name |
visit |
CATEGORY K: FARM AND COUNTRYSIDE
Nouns and Descriptive Words
| bark |
hay; loft |
saddle |
| barn |
heap |
seed |
| bee; -hive |
hill |
shade |
| berry; -ies |
hoe |
sheep |
| branch |
hole |
shovel |
| brook |
horse |
shrubs |
| bucket |
insect |
silo |
| bug |
lake |
smell |
| bush |
leaf |
spade |
| chicken |
load |
stable |
| country |
mountain |
stall |
| cow |
mud |
stem |
| farm, farmer |
nest |
stone |
| feed, food |
pasture |
stream |
| fence |
path |
tractor |
| field |
picnic |
tree |
| flower |
pig |
trunk |
| forest |
plant, sow |
twig |
| garden |
plow |
valley |
| goat |
rake |
wagon |
| grain |
river; -bank |
weed |
| greenhouse |
road |
woods |
| ground, earth |
rock |
worms |
| harvest |
rope |
|
Verbs
| bend; -over |
graze |
rake |
| cut |
harvest |
ride |
| dig, dug |
milk, milking |
smell |
| feed |
pick |
water |
| gather |
plant |
|
| go for a walk |
plow |
|
CATEGORY L: FOODS
Nouns and Descriptive Words
Vegetables and Starches
| asparagus |
macaroni |
radish |
| beans |
noodles |
rice |
| beets |
onion |
spaghetti |
| carrots |
pasta |
spinach |
| corn |
peas |
squash |
| cucumber |
pizza |
tomato |
| lettuce |
potato; -chips |
vegetable |
Fruits
| apple |
banana |
fruit |
| grapefruit |
plum |
lime |
| melon |
lemon |
pear |
| pineapple |
orange |
watermelon |
| apricot |
peach |
|
| grapes, bunch |
strawberry |
|
Meats, Fish, Eggs
| bacon |
fish |
meat; -balls; -loaf |
| beef |
ham |
pork |
| chicken |
hamburger |
roast |
| chops |
hot dog, frankfurter |
sausage |
| eggs, eggshell |
lamb |
steak |
Breads, Desserts
| bread; loaf, slice |
flour |
pancakes |
| cake |
ice cream |
pie |
| candy |
jam |
pudding |
| cereal |
jello |
rolls |
| cookies |
jelly |
toast |
| crackers |
muffin |
|
Drinks
| beer |
drink |
tea |
| beverage |
juice |
whiskey |
| coffee |
liquid |
wine |
| coke |
milk |
|
| cream |
soda |
|
Flavors, etc.
| chocolate |
juicy |
spicy |
| favorite |
salty |
sweet |
| flavor |
sour |
vanilla |
Miscellaneous
| butter |
mayonnaise |
relish |
| cheese |
mustard |
salad |
| fat |
nuts |
salad dressing |
| ketchup |
peanut butter |
salt |
| lard |
pepper |
sandwich |
| margarine |
pickles |
|
CATEGORY M: HOUSECLEANING
Nouns and Descriptive Words
| apron |
dusty |
shine, shiny |
| broom |
hamper |
soap, soapy |
| brush |
iron |
steel wool |
| clean |
ironing board |
suds |
| cloth; dust- |
laundry |
wash |
| clothes line |
mess |
washing machine |
| detergent |
mop |
water |
| dirt, dirty |
neat |
wet |
| dry |
pail |
woodwork |
| dryer |
pan |
wrinkle |
| dust; -pan |
rag |
|
Verbs
| brush; -off |
mop |
shine |
| clean; -up |
polish |
spill |
| dust |
pour |
sweep |
| fix |
rinse |
wash |
| fold |
rub |
wipe |
| hang up |
scrub |
|
| iron, press |
shake the mop |
|
CATEGORY N: KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM
Nouns and Descriptive Words
| apron |
flame |
paper towel |
| bag |
flavor |
piece |
| bib |
food |
pitcher |
| bite |
fork |
plate |
| bottle |
fresh |
pot |
| bowl |
frying pan |
rack |
| breakfast |
full |
refrigerator |
| broiler |
garbage; -pail; -can |
sharp |
| broken |
gas |
shelf |
| cabinet |
glass |
sink |
| can |
handle |
slice |
| chair |
helper |
sliding door |
| cord; electric- |
hook |
spoil |
| counter |
hungry |
spoon |
| cover, lid |
ice cube |
stale |
| cup and saucer |
icebox |
steam |
| dinner |
jar |
stool |
| dish; -cloth; -towel |
knife |
stove |
| double boiler |
knob |
supper |
| drink |
lunch |
tablecloth |
| eggbeater |
matches |
taste |
| electric, electricity |
meal |
thirsty |
| empty |
napkin |
toast, toaster |
| faucet |
oven |
|
| fire |
pan |
|
Verbs
| bake |
eat, ate |
put away |
| bite, bit |
empty |
roast |
| boil |
feed |
scrape |
| break, broke |
fill |
set the table |
| broil |
finish |
slice |
| burn |
fry |
spill |
| carve |
help |
spread |
| chew |
light, lit (stove) |
stir |
| chop |
mash |
swallow |
| crack |
mix |
taste, tasted |
| cut |
peel |
toast |
| drink |
plug in |
turn on (gas, electricity) |
| dry |
pour |
wash |
CATEGORY O: LIVING ROOM
Nouns and Descriptive Words
| ashes |
footstool |
radiator |
| ashtray |
furniture |
rocking chair, rocker |
| bookcase |
lamp; -shade |
rug |
| cabinet |
light; -bulb |
smoke |
| carpet |
-fixture |
sofa |
| chimney |
-switch |
table |
| cigar |
magazine |
telephone; -cord |
| cigarette |
newspaper |
-receiver |
| clock |
outlet (for plug) |
-wire |
| coffee table |
pad |
vase |
| conversation |
page |
venetian blinds |
| couch |
picture |
wastebasket |
| curtain |
pillow |
window; -plane |
| cushion |
pipe |
-shade |
| desk |
plug |
-sill |
| drapes, draperies |
|
|
| fireplace |
|
|
Verbs
| call (on telephone) |
phone |
rest |
| dial |
plug in |
sit, sit down |
| light, lit |
read |
smoke |
| listen |
relax |
talk; -about |
TV, MUSIC, AND INSTRUMENTS
Nouns and Descriptive Words
| announcer |
loud |
song |
| antenna |
orchestra |
sound |
| band |
phonograph |
station |
| broadcast |
piano |
television |
| channel |
picture |
trumpet |
| drum |
program |
tube |
| guitar |
radio |
violin |
| jazz |
record; -player |
voice |
| knob (on TV or radio) |
singer |
|
| leader; orchestra |
soft |
|
Verbs
| beat |
lead |
tune in |
| blow |
listen to |
turn on; -off |
| change (stations) |
look at |
watch |
| enjoy |
play |
|
| hear, heard |
see, saw |
|
CATEGORY P: MONEY AND SHOPPING
Nouns and Descriptive Words
| amount |
elevator |
paper bag |
| bank |
errand |
penny |
| bill |
escalator |
piece |
| bin |
expensive |
pint |
| bottle |
fifty cents |
pocketbook |
| box |
fit |
pound |
| butcher |
foods |
price |
| candy store |
for sale |
price tag |
| cash register |
gallon |
purse |
| cashier |
groceries |
quality |
| cent |
grocery store |
quart |
| change (money) |
handbag |
rack; clothes- |
| change purse |
how many |
sale |
| cheap |
how much |
sales person |
| check |
market |
scales |
| clerk |
meat |
shelf |
| cost |
money |
shop, shopping |
| counter |
news stand |
store |
| customer |
newspaper |
string |
| dime |
nickel |
supermarket |
| dollar |
ounce |
wallet |
| dozen |
package |
|
| drug store |
pair |
|
Verbs
| ask |
hang |
spend, spent |
| buy, bought |
need |
take |
| carry |
pack |
try on |
| change |
pay |
want |
| count |
save |
wrap |
| deliver |
sell, sold |
|
| fit |
send, sent |
|
CATEGORY Q: PARK, PLAYTIME, AND SPORTS
Nouns and Descriptive Words
| ball |
indoors |
roller skates |
| balloon |
lake |
sandbox |
| bench |
lawn |
seesaw |
| bicycle, bike |
mud |
sled |
| blocks |
nest |
slide |
| boat; row-, sail- |
oars |
snowball |
| bridge |
outdoors |
snowman |
| canoe |
paddle |
step |
| doll |
park |
stick |
| flowers |
party |
swing |
| friend |
picnic |
top |
| game |
plants |
toy |
| grass |
playground |
tree |
| ground |
puzzle |
zoo |
Verbs
| build |
jump |
row |
| clap hands |
paddle |
sail |
| dance |
play |
skate |
| fish |
pull |
skip |
| fit (put together) |
push |
slide |
| form a circle |
ride: go for a - |
slip |
| hide, hid |
rock |
steer |
| hold; -hands |
roll |
swing |
AT THE BEACH
Nouns and Descriptive Words
| beach, -umbrella |
rock |
stone |
| calm |
salt water |
tide; low-, high- |
| crabs |
sand; -pail; -shovel |
water |
| deep |
seaweed |
waves |
| ditch |
shallow |
whitecaps |
| foam, foamy |
shell |
|
| pebble |
snail |
|
Verbs
| build |
splash |
tide goes out (ebb) |
| dig |
swim |
wade |
| float |
tide comes in (flow) |
wash away |
SPORTS
Nouns and Descriptive Words
| baseball |
field |
racket |
| basketball |
football |
referee |
| bat |
helmet |
score |
| batter |
hill |
skiis |
| captain |
ice skates |
soccer |
| cheer |
mitt |
team |
| court |
net |
tennis |
| crowd |
player |
umpire |
| diamond |
race |
uniform |
Verbs
| beat (win) |
kick |
slide |
| carry |
lose |
throw, threw |
| catch |
race |
toss |
| fall |
run |
win |
| hit |
skate |
|
CATEGORY R: SCHOOL
Nouns and Descriptive Words
| absent |
grades |
poem |
| aisle |
gym |
present |
| answer |
hall |
principal |
| attention |
hard |
pupil |
| auditorium |
homework |
question |
| bad |
ink |
quiet, quietly |
| bell |
language |
ready |
| blackboard |
late |
recess |
| book |
library |
report card |
| boys' room |
line |
room |
| bulletin board |
loud |
rubber band |
| card |
lunchroom |
ruler |
| cardboard |
map |
school |
| chair |
mark(s) |
scissors |
| chalk |
monitor |
score |
| child, children |
naughty |
seat |
| class |
noise, noisy |
sentence |
| crayon |
note; notebook |
sheet of paper |
| desk |
nurse |
speech |
| disobedient |
office |
stage |
| early |
on time |
stairs |
| easel |
page |
story |
| easy |
paints |
subject |
| eraser |
paper |
teacher |
| exam, examination |
paper clip |
test |
| facts |
paste |
trip |
| fire drill |
pen |
truth |
| flag, American flag |
pencil |
typewriter |
| girls' room |
period |
wastbasket |
| globe |
picture |
water fountain |
| good |
play |
word |
| grade |
playground, yard |
|
School Courses
| arithmetic |
handwriting |
science |
| art history |
social studies |
spelling |
| English |
music |
|
| geography |
reading |
|
Verbs
| answer |
lower |
speak, spoke |
| ask |
march |
spell |
| bring, brought |
notice |
stand, stood |
| color |
obey |
study |
| copy |
paint |
take down (notes) |
| draw, drew |
paste |
talk |
| erase |
pay attention |
teach, taught |
| forget, forgot |
point |
tell, told |
| form a line; circle |
raise (hand, flag) |
think, thought |
| giggle |
read |
type |
| guess |
recite |
understand |
| hold hands |
remember |
visit |
| know, knew |
ring (bell) |
watch |
| learn |
show |
wiggle |
| listen (to) |
sing, sang |
write, wrote |
| look (at) |
sit, be seated |
|
CATEGORY S: SHAPES, MEASUREMENTS, AND WEIGHTS
| about |
high |
pound |
| around |
inch |
rectangle |
| as much as |
inside |
right (accurate) |
| beginning |
large |
right (direction) |
| big |
larger than |
round |
| broad |
left |
ruler |
| circle |
length |
same |
| corner |
less, less than |
scale |
| correct |
line |
shape |
| crooked |
long |
short, shorter than |
| cross |
longer than |
size |
| curly |
lots; -of |
small |
| deep |
many; how- |
square |
| different |
mark |
straight |
| distance |
measurement |
tall |
| edge |
middle |
thin |
| end |
mile |
ton |
| equal |
more, more than |
triangle |
| even |
much; how- |
wavy |
| fat |
narrow |
weight |
| foot, feet |
ounce |
wide |
| gallon |
outside |
width |
| half |
part |
wrong |
| heavy |
piece |
yard |
| height |
pint |
|
SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS
| above |
close; -to |
next to |
| against |
down |
on, on top of |
| around |
far; -from |
out, outside |
| aside |
from |
over |
| away from |
front, in front of |
side of |
| back, in back of |
further |
there |
| behind |
here |
through |
| below |
high |
to |
| beneath |
in |
top |
| beside |
inside of |
under; -neath |
| between |
low, lower |
up |
| bottom |
near, nearer |
|
CATEGORY T: TACTILE AND SENSORY WORDS
Nouns and Descriptive Words
| blunt |
hard |
smooth |
| bumpy |
juicy |
soft |
| chilly |
loud |
sour |
| course |
numb |
spicy |
| cold |
pointed |
sticky |
| damp |
rough |
sweet |
| dry |
round |
tart |
| dull |
salty |
taste |
| feel |
sharp |
touch |
| flat |
slippery |
warm |
| flavor |
smell, smelly |
wet |
Verbs
| bite |
nibble |
sting |
| dry |
rub |
tap |
| feel |
see |
taste |
| handle |
shake |
touch |
| hear |
smell |
watch |
| hold |
sniff |
|
| listen; -for; -to |
squeeze |
|
CATEGORY U: WEATHER, CALENDAR, NUMBERS, TIME, AND HOLIDAYS
Nouns and Descriptive Words
Weather
| air |
hazy |
slippery |
| breath |
hot |
slush |
| breeze |
humid, humidity |
snow; -drift; -plow |
| bright |
ice, icy |
storm |
| clear |
mist |
sun, sunny |
| climate |
moist |
temperature |
| cold |
pleasant |
thermometer |
| damp |
rain |
warm |
| dry |
rainbow |
wet |
| fog |
shade, shady |
wind, windy |
| frost, frosty |
sleet |
|
Verbs
| blow |
shine |
It's pouring! |
| breathe |
shovel |
The humidity is high. |
| fall |
slip |
It's clearing up. |
| freeze, frozen |
snow |
The sun is coming out. |
| melt |
sparkle |
It's a nice day. |
Calendar
| afternoon |
moon; -light |
tomorrow |
| date |
morning |
tonight |
| daylight |
night |
weekday |
| evening |
noon |
weekend |
| holiday |
star |
yesterday |
| midnight |
sunrise; -set |
|
| Mon., Tues., Wed., etc. |
today |
|
Holidays
| New Year's Eve |
Easter |
Labor Day |
| New Year's Day |
Mother's Day |
Columbus Day |
| Lincoln's Birthday |
Memorial Day |
Halloween |
| Valentine's Day |
(Decoration Day) |
Election Day |
| Washington's Birthday |
Father's Day |
Veteran's Day |
| St. Patrick's Day |
Fourth of July |
Thanksgiving |
|
(Independence Day) |
Christmas |
Months
| Jan., Feb., etc. |
season |
Winter |
| day |
Spring |
year |
| Fall; Autumn |
Summer |
|
| month |
week |
|
Counting
| 1, 2, 3 -20, 21, 22, etc. |
thousand |
once, twice |
| 30, 40, 50 - 99 |
million |
three times |
| hundred |
first, second, third, etc |
zero |
Time
| clock |
late |
on time |
| early |
minute; -hand |
second; -hand |
| face |
next |
tell the time |
| hour; -hand |
o'clock |
|
What time is it?
| It is eight forty-five. |
It is eleven- fifteen. |
It is two-thirty. |
| It is nine o'clock. |
It is a quarter to one. |
It's a quarter past three. |
| It is half-past ten. |
It is twenty past two |
It's ten after four. |
CATEGORY V: USEFUL WORDS
Nouns and Descriptive Words
| although |
however |
reverse |
| careful |
important |
such |
| careless |
instead; -of |
until |
| difficult |
maybe |
use, -useful |
| double |
of course |
very |
| either, -or |
often |
what |
| empty |
only |
when |
| even |
otherwise |
who |
| exact |
reach |
why |
| handle |
regardless |
with |
| help |
regular |
|
Verbs
| answer |
own |
reply |
| happen |
prepare |
seem, seems |
| imagine |
promise |
sorry |
| notice |
realize |
want |
| offer |
refuse |
|
| owe |
repeat |
|
   - References:
1. Conversational English for the Non-English-Speaking Child by Nina Philips (Columbia
Press, NY, 1968) and references therein.
2. Language Through Living by Morag Clark (Hodder and Stoughton, London, Sydney,
Aukland, Toronto, 1989)
3. Raising Your Hearing Impaired Child by Shirley Hanawalt McArthur (AGBell Association
for the Deaf, 1982)
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