Y07W13VC Word Roots — -ten / -tain- (hold)

To hold something within limits, or to have something as a part or component.

Example: The report contained detailed data on the effects of pollution on local waterways.

Synonyms: hold, include, enclose

Collocations: contain information, contain elements, fail to contain

To keep something going over a long period of time, or to support and maintain it.

Example: The environmental project struggled to sustain its momentum after funding was unexpectedly reduced.

Synonyms: maintain, support, keep up

Collocations: sustain effort, sustain life, sustain interest

To keep something in its current condition or at the same standard, or to firmly assert a position.

Example: She worked consistently to maintain a high standard of evidence throughout her research report.

Synonyms: keep, uphold, preserve

Collocations: maintain quality, maintain standards, maintain a position

To show or prove something clearly through actions, examples, or evidence.

Word family: demonstration (n.), demonstrative (adj.)

Example: The student used three well-chosen sources to demonstrate that the policy had reduced carbon emissions.

Synonyms: show, prove, illustrate

Collocations: demonstrate understanding, demonstrate skill, demonstrate evidence

A first or preliminary version of a piece of writing, or the act of producing one.

Word family: drafter (n.), redraft (v.)

Example: She wrote a first draft of her essay, then revised it carefully after reading her teacher's comments.

Synonyms: outline, version, sketch

Collocations: first draft, rough draft, draft a response

Special importance or attention given to something so that it stands out from the rest.

Word Breakdown: em- (prefix meaning ‘into’ or ‘upon’, intensifying the root)

Word family: emphasise (v.), emphatic (adj.)

Example: The teacher placed considerable emphasis on using specific evidence to support every analytical claim.

Synonyms: stress, focus, weight

Collocations: place emphasis on, particular emphasis, shift emphasis

Clearly visible or understood; obviously true from the information available.

Word Breakdown: -ent (suffix forming adjectives meaning ‘having the quality of’)

Word family: evidently (adv.), evidence (n.)

Example: It was evident from the data that students who slept fewer than seven hours performed significantly worse.

Synonyms: clear, obvious, apparent

Collocations: clearly evident, evident from, make evident

A firm promise that something will definitely happen or be done, or to give such a promise.

Word family: guaranteed (adj.)

Example: No outcome can be guaranteed, but a structured argument greatly improves the chance of a convincing result.

Synonyms: assure, promise, pledge

Collocations: no guarantee, absolute guarantee, guarantee a result

Used to introduce a finding or truth that emerges from analysis or observation.

Example: The data was collected over eighteen months; this reveals a consistent decline in student engagement during winter terms.

Synonyms: this shows, this demonstrates, this makes clear

Collocations: this reveals that, this reveals a pattern, this clearly reveals