Vocab and Grammar WEEK THREE Weekly Words 1

Vocab and Grammar WEEK THREE

Weekly Words 1. Aberration 2. Abhor 3. Bigot 4. Debacle 5. Denigrate 6. Flagrant 7. Impetuous 8. Noxious 9. Obfuscate 10. Talisman

Abberation �Definition: A state or condition markedly different from the norm �Example: Shelley’s angry retort was an aberration from her normally quiet demeanor.

Abhor �Definition: To Hate �Sentence: Michelle would abhor being the brunt of most jokes.

Bigot �Definition: Narrow-minded, prejudiced person �Sentences: While my aunt claims she is open-minded, she is actually a bigot who criticizes most religions.

Debacle �Definition: A sudden and violent collapse or disaster. �Sentences: Because of the security debacle at last week’s basketball game, fans are no longer allowed to take backpacks into the arena.

Denigrate �Definition: To charge falsely or with malicious intent �Sentences: During the election, the crooked politician did everything in his power to denigrate his rival

Flagrant �Definition: Conspicuously or outrageously bad or offensive. �Sentences: After the basketball player committed a flagrant foul, he was kicked out of the game.

Impetuous �Definition: To act quickly or do something without thought or care. �Sentences: Marrying someone you hardly know is an impetuous decision!

Noxious �Definition: Harmful; poisonous, lethal. �Sentences: People in a radius of five miles of the recycling plant were evacuated because the fire was creating noxious fumes from the burning plastic.

Obfuscate �Definition: To make obscure or unclear. �Sentence: The loan contract was filled with legal words meant to obfuscate trusting borrowers.

Talisman �Definition: Lucky charm �Sentences: When the soldier was questioned about surviving the fierce battle, he told everyone his good fortune was because of his talisman, his wife’s picture inside of his helmet.

Grammar Comma Usage with Relative Clauses

Restrictive Clauses �Don't use commas around a clause if it's restrictive. It is necessary for the sentence to retain its intended meaning. People who dislike kale won’t enjoy green smoothies. � This refers to a particular group of people! �“That” will not have a comma before it. I love reading books that are full of adventure because they take me away from my boring life.

Non Restrictive Clauses �Do use commas if the clause is non-restrictive. It is not necessary to the meaning of the sentence. My mother, who dislikes kale, doesn’t enjoy green smoothies. This clause is not used to identify a certain one of “my mothers”. It is giving information that does not define the subject. �“Which” will always have a comma before it. I love Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, which is full of adventure, because it takes me away from my boring life.

Try It �Candy that contains chocolate is dangerous to dogs. �Candy which is a sweet is irresistible to children. �Professional athletes who exercise often have fewer health problems. �People who have a sweet tooth consume too much sugar.