Y05W15VC Word Roots — -ness (state of being)

Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate towards others.

Example: A small act of kindness, such as helping someone carry their bag, can make a significant difference to their day.

Synonyms: generosity, warmth, compassion

Collocations: show kindness, an act of kindness, kindness towards

Darkness is the state of being without light.

Example: The story created a mysterious mood by setting the most important scene in complete darkness.

Synonyms: shadow, gloom, blackness

Collocations: complete darkness, fall into darkness, in the darkness

Sadness is the feeling of being unhappy or sorrowful.

Example: She expressed her sadness through a poem she wrote after her pet passed away.

Synonyms: sorrow, grief, unhappiness

Collocations: feel sadness, express sadness, deep sadness

A question is a sentence that asks for information or invites a response.

Word family: questioning (adj.), questionnaire (n.)

Example: She wrote a key question at the top of her page to guide her research for the report.

Synonyms: query, inquiry, problem

Collocations: ask a question, a key question, raise a question

To wonder means to think curiously about something, asking yourself why or how.

Word family: wonderful (adj.), wonderfully (adv.)

Example: She began to wonder whether the results of her experiment would change if she adjusted the amount of light.

Synonyms: think about, be curious, ponder

Collocations: wonder why, wonder about, wonder if

Someone who is curious is eager to learn or find out about something.

Word Breakdown: -ous (suffix meaning ‘having the quality of’)

Word family: curiosity (n.), curiously (adv.)

Example: She was curious about how butterflies navigate thousands of kilometres during migration.

Synonyms: inquisitive, interested, questioning

Collocations: curious about, naturally curious, feel curious

To investigate means to examine something carefully and systematically in order to find out the facts.

Word family: investigation (n.), investigative (adj.)

Example: The students were asked to investigate why some plants grow faster in indirect sunlight.

Synonyms: examine, explore, research

Collocations: investigate a topic, investigate further, investigate and report

To notice something is to become aware of it, usually by observing carefully.

Word family: noticeable (adj.), noticeably (adv.)

Example: She noticed that the plants near the window were growing faster than those in the corner.

Synonyms: observe, spot, detect

Collocations: notice a change, notice something unusual, hard to notice

‘As a result’ is used to introduce the outcome or consequence of what was just described.

Example: She investigated the data carefully; as a result, she was able to identify a pattern in the results.

Synonyms: therefore, consequently, so

Collocations: as a result, this shows; as a result, the; as a result of