Y06W03VC Word Roots — inter- (between)

To communicate or work together with another person or thing, often influencing each other.

Word Breakdown: inter- (prefix meaning 'between')

Example: Students interact with each other more effectively when they have a clear shared goal.

Synonyms: communicate, engage, connect

Collocations: interact with, interact socially, interact positively

To stop something that is happening by saying or doing something in the middle of it.

Example: It is polite to wait for a speaker to finish rather than interrupt them mid-sentence.

Synonyms: cut in, disturb, break into

Collocations: interrupt someone, interrupt a conversation, do not interrupt

A formal meeting in which someone is asked questions, often for a job or to gather information. As a verb, to question someone formally.

Example: The journalist conducted an interview with the scientist to find out about her latest discovery.

Synonyms: conversation, meeting, discussion

Collocations: conduct an interview, an interview with, job interview

The information or circumstances that surround a word, idea or event and help explain its meaning.

Word family: context (n.), contextual (adj.), contextualise (v.)

Example: You need to read a word in context to understand exactly what it means in that sentence.

Synonyms: setting, background, circumstances

Collocations: in context, the context of, out of context

The facts, events or experiences that explain how or why something is the way it is.

Word family: background (n.)

Example: The teacher gave some background information about the historical period before they read the text.

Synonyms: context, setting, history

Collocations: background information, provide background, historical background

Closely connected to or appropriate for what is being discussed or done.

Word Breakdown: -ant (suffix meaning "having a quality of")

Word family: relevant (adj.), relevance (n.), relevantly (adv.)

Example: Make sure every piece of evidence you include is relevant to the argument you are making.

Synonyms: related, appropriate, pertinent

Collocations: relevant to, highly relevant, remain relevant

To use knowledge, a skill or a rule in a particular situation. It can also mean to be suitable or appropriate.

Word family: apply (v.), applied (adj.), application (n.)

Example: She was able to apply the strategy she had practised to a brand new writing task.

Synonyms: use, employ, implement

Collocations: apply to, apply a rule, apply knowledge

The combination of circumstances or conditions that exist at a particular time and place.

Word family: situation (n.), situational (adj.)

Example: The characters in the story had to make difficult choices given their dangerous situation.

Synonyms: circumstance, position, condition

Collocations: in a situation, a difficult situation, assess the situation

‘However’ introduces a contrast or a different point from the idea before it.

Example: The source included useful facts; however, some details needed to be checked.

Synonyms: but, yet, on the other hand

Collocations: however, this does not mean; however, there are; however, it is important to