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This guide explains key academic verbs such as analyze, apply, compare, contrast, comprehend, and more. Enhance your understanding of these verbs commonly used in test and homework questions.
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Academic Vocabulary Verbs that you will see in test and homework questions
Analyze • To break something into its individual parts, study them, and determine how they work together to form a whole. • Other Forms: analysis, analyzing, analyzed • Related words: break apart, dissect, deconstruct • Sample question: Analyze the author’s use of literary devices in the following poem.
Apply • To put the skills or information you have learned to use. • Other Forms: application, applying, applied • Related words: utilize, employ, use • Sample question: Apply your knowledge of capitalization rules to edit the following paragraph.
Compare • To determine how two things are similar or alike. • Other Forms: comparison, comparing, comparable • Related words: connect, relate, similarities(noun), liken • Sample question: Compare Twilight’sEdward Cullen to Dracula’s Count Dracula.
Contrast • To determine how two things are different or unlike. • Other Forms: contrasting, contrasted, in contrast • Related words: differentiate, distinguish, discriminate, draw a distinction • Sample question: Contrast the themes of Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart and The Raven.
Comprehend • To understand or grasp the meaning or significance of something. • Other Forms: comprehension, comprehending, comprehended • Related words: understand, recognize, realize, grasp, appreciate • Sample question: What do you comprehend about the setting of A Christmas Carol?
Classify • To group like items under a specific category. • Other Forms: classification, classifiable, classifying • Related words: order, organize, categorize, sort, catalogue • Sample question: Classify the following pronouns as nominative, objective, or possessive.
Critique • To examine or review something and discuss its strengths and weaknesses. • Other Forms: criticism, criticize, critical, critic, critical • Related words: examine, review, opinion(noun), appraise, assess • Sample question: Critique your descriptive essay rough draft.
Describe • To create a mental picture of someone or something. • Other Forms: describing, description, described • Related words: recreate, portray, depict, illustrate, express • Sample question: Describe the Secret Annex in The Diary of Anne Frank.
Evaluate • To determine or assess the value, worth, or condition of something. • Other Forms: evaluation, evaluated, reevaluate • Related words: assess, appraise, rate • Sample question: Evaluate the importance of correct grammar in e-mails and texts.
Explain • To clarify a statement by using facts, evidence, and details. • Other Forms: explanation, explain, explained • Related words: clarify, demonstrate, expound • Sample question: Would you rather live forever and be poor, or die young but be rich? Explain your opinion.
Identify • To find or recognize something and name it. • Other Forms: identifying, identified, identifiable • Related words: find, recognize, detect, distinguish • Sample question: Identify the transitive verbs in the following sentences.
Infer • To combine your prior knowledge (schema) and clues from the text to figure out something the author did not directly say. • Other Forms: inference, inferring, inferred • Related words: conclude, gather, understand, assume • Sample question: What can you infer from Little Miss Muppet’s behavior when the spider appeared beside her?
Interpret • To decipher or determine the meaning of something. • Other Forms: interpretation, interpreting, interpreted • Related words: clarify, understand, construe • Sample question: Interpret the symbolism of the raven in Poe’s poem, “The Raven.”
Predict • To draw a reasonable conclusion about what might happen next based on clues in the text. • Other Forms: prediction, predictable, predicting, predicted • Related words: guess, envision, expect, foretell • Sample question: Predict what the story might be about based on the title and the cover illustration.
Summarize • To reduce a text to its essential elements and main points. • Other Forms: sum up, summary, summative, summarizing, summarized • Related words: reduce, recap, condense, abridge • Sample question: Summarize the first two paragraphs of this passage.
Synthesize • To create or produce a new product by combining new and prior knowledge. • Other Forms: synthesis, synthesizing • Related words: create, produce, combine, make • Sample question: Using your knowledge of Greek and Latin root words, synthesize a new word to mean the study of underwater alien life forms.