Educational worksheet teaching how to use a dictionary with interactive exercises and fun illustrations.

Here is the complete solution to the worksheet “HOW TO USE A DICTIONARY”, with explanations for each part.

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1. Put these words in alphabetic order:

Words given:
KEY – JET – YACHT – KATE – WATER – HAT – XYLOPHONE – HOME – YET – YESTERDAY – WHOLE – JOURNEY – HEART – WILDLIFE – KART – JULY

✔ Alphabetical Order Solution:

> HEART – HAT – HOME – JET – JOURNEY – JULY – KART – KATE – KEY – WATER – WHOLE – WILDLIFE – XYLOPHONE – YACHT – YET – YESTERDAY

🔹 Explanation:
To alphabetize, we compare words letter by letter from left to right.
- First letter: H, J, K, W, X, Y → so group by first letter.
- Within H: HEART, HAT, HOME → HAT (H-A), then HEART (H-E), then HOME (H-O)
- Within J: JET, JOURNEY, JULY → JET (J-E), JOURNEY (J-O), JULY (J-U)
- Within K: KART, KATE, KEY → KART (K-A-R), KATE (K-A-T), KEY (K-E-Y) → KART before KATE because R comes before T; KATE before KEY because A comes before E
- Within W: WATER, WHOLE, WILDLIFE → WATER (W-A), WHOLE (W-H), WILDLIFE (W-I) → WATER, WHOLE, WILDLIFE
- Within X: only XYLOPHONE
- Within Y: YACHT, YET, YESTERDAY → YACHT (Y-A), YET (Y-E), YESTERDAY (Y-E-S) → YACHT first, then YET, then YESTERDAY (since E vs E, then T vs S — S comes before T? Wait — no! Let’s check:

Actually:
- YACHT → Y-A
- YET → Y-E
- YESTERDAY → Y-E-S

So after Y-E, we compare next letter: YET has no 3rd letter? No — YET = Y-E-T, YESTERDAY = Y-E-S-T... So at 3rd letter: T (in YET) vs S (in YESTERDAY). Since S comes before T, YESTERDAY comes before YET.

⚠️ Correction needed!

Let’s redo the Y group carefully:

- YACHT → Y-A-C-H-T
- YESTERDAY → Y-E-S-T-E-R-D-A-Y
- YET → Y-E-T

Compare first letter: all Y → same.
Second letter: A (YACHT), E (YESTERDAY), E (YET) → so YACHT comes first.
Now compare YESTERDAY and YET:
- 2nd letter: both E
- 3rd letter: S (YESTERDAY) vs T (YET) → S comes before T → so YESTERDAY before YET

✔ Corrected alphabetical order:

> HEART – HAT – HOME – JET – JOURNEY – JULY – KART – KATE – KEY – WATER – WHOLE – WILDLIFE – XYLOPHONE – YACHT – YESTERDAY – YET

*(Note: Some dictionaries might list YET before YESTERDAY if they ignore case or consider word length, but standard alphabetical order compares letter-by-letter — S before T, so YESTERDAY comes before YET.)*

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2. Look up in your dictionary the abbreviations used to show the following grammar functions:

These are standard grammatical labels found in most English dictionaries.

✔ Answers:

- Noun → n.
- Pronoun → pron.
- Adjective → adj.
- Verb → v.
- Adverb → adv.
- Article → art.
- Preposition → prep.
- Conjunction → conj.

🔹 Explanation:
Dictionaries use these abbreviations to quickly tell you the part of speech of a word. For example, if you look up “run” and see “v.”, it means it’s being used as a verb.

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3. Look up the verb TO LIKE and find out the different meanings related to the different functions:

This requires checking a real dictionary. Here are common meanings based on standard dictionaries like Oxford or Merriam-Webster.

✔ LIKE verb:

1. To enjoy or be fond of something or someone.
*Example: I like chocolate.*

2. To wish or prefer (often used in polite requests).
*Example: I’d like a cup of tea, please.*

✔ LIKE prep. (preposition):

1. In the same way as; similar to.
*Example: She sings like a bird.*

2. Used to introduce a comparison or example.
*Example: It feels like velvet.*

3. Used to indicate resemblance.
*Example: He looks like his father.*

4. Used to introduce a hypothetical situation (informal).
*Example: It’s not like I didn’t try.*

🔹 Explanation:
“Like” can function as both a verb (action word) and a preposition (shows relationship between words). As a verb, it expresses preference or desire. As a preposition, it shows similarity or comparison.

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4. In the following sentences write the function and the meaning of the underlined words:

We’ll analyze each pair.

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#### 1. Can you _play_ the piano?
→ Function: Verb
→ Meaning: To perform music on an instrument.

Yesterday I saw a _play_ by Shakespeare?
→ Function: Noun
→ Meaning: A dramatic work performed by actors on stage.

🔹 Explanation: Same spelling, different parts of speech and meanings — this is called a homograph.

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#### 2. I _like_ ice creams.
→ Function: Verb
→ Meaning: To enjoy or have a preference for.

They worked _like_ slaves.
→ Function: Preposition
→ Meaning: In the manner of; similar to.

🔹 Explanation: “Like” changes function — verb (enjoy) vs. preposition (comparison).

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#### 3. The _book_ on the table is mine.
→ Function: Noun
→ Meaning: A written or printed work consisting of pages bound together.

Can I _book_ a room please?
→ Function: Verb
→ Meaning: To reserve or arrange for something in advance.

🔹 Explanation: Another homograph — noun (object) vs. verb (action).

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#### 4. Jan’s bag is very _light_.
→ Function: Adjective
→ Meaning: Not heavy; having little weight.

Turn on the _light_, please.
→ Function: Noun
→ Meaning: The natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible; or an electric lamp.

🔹 Explanation: “Light” as adjective (describes weight) vs. noun (source of illumination).

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#### 5. Last month it was _cold_.
→ Function: Adjective
→ Meaning: Having a low temperature; chilly.

*(Note: There is no second sentence here — perhaps a typo in the worksheet. If there were another sentence like “He gave a cold stare,” then “cold” would still be an adjective describing the stare.)*

✔ So for this one, only one usage:
→ Function: Adjective
→ Meaning: Low temperature.

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## ✔ Final Summary:

1. Alphabetized Words:

> HEART – HAT – HOME – JET – JOURNEY – JULY – KART – KATE – KEY – WATER – WHOLE – WILDLIFE – XYLOPHONE – YACHT – YESTERDAY – YET

2. Grammar Abbreviations:

- Noun → n.
- Pronoun → pron.
- Adjective → adj.
- Verb → v.
- Adverb → adv.
- Article → art.
- Preposition → prep.
- Conjunction → conj.

3. Meanings of “LIKE”:

- Verb: 1. Enjoy / be fond of. 2. Wish / prefer.
- Prep: 1. Similar to. 2. Introduce comparison. 3. Resemblance. 4. Hypothetical (informal).

4. Function & Meaning of Underlined Words:

1. play (v.) – perform music; play (n.) – theatrical performance
2. like (v.) – enjoy; like (prep.) – similar to
3. book (n.) – reading material; book (v.) – reserve
4. light (adj.) – not heavy; light (n.) – illumination
5. cold (adj.) – low temperature

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✔ You’ve now successfully completed the worksheet! This exercise helps build dictionary skills, vocabulary, and understanding of parts of speech — essential for strong English language learning.