1. Verbal Foundations

2. Basics of Vocabulary Building
Most people build their vocabulary by hearing or reading words in context
Because your GRE passages will appear on the computer screen reading these publications online can be especially helpful when you prepare for the GRE
When you come across a word you don’t know and can’t figure out from context, look them up in a dictionary and make a vocab journal

3. Basics of Vocabulary Building
Techniques you may use to build your vocab
Record and define unfamiliar words
Generate lists of synonyms and antonyms
Use your thesaurus
Practice using each unfamiliar word in a sentence

4. Word Groups
The GRE does not test whether you know exactly what a particular word means
The GRE also does not expect you to be a walking dictionary
Learning words in groups based upon similar meanings is an excellent way to expand your useful vocabulary

5. Greek and Latin Roots
GRE words are heavily drawn from Latin and Greek origins
Therefore, learning roots can be extremely helpful
Sometimes you can use roots to figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words
Roots offer a common denominator for words thousands of years old
Beware: Roots do not always give accurate clues about meaning

6. Breaking Down the Text Circumnavigate Root words: Circum and Nav
What are other words with these root words?
Circumscribe, Circumvent
Navigator, Navy
Defining Root Words
Circum: Around
Nav: Ship, sail
Circumnavigate: To Sail Around

7. Lets Try One As a Class Panoptic What are the root word(s)?
What are other words with these root word(s)?
What are the definition(s) of the root word(s)?
What is the definition of Panoptic?

8. Class Example Panoptic What are the root word(s)?
Pan and optic
What are other words with these root word(s)?
Pan-American, panacea, optician
What are the definition(s) of the root word(s)?
Pan: All, Optic: See/Observe
What is the definition of Panoptic
Everything visible in one view

9. Words in Context
Learning words in context is one of the best ways for the brain to retain word meanings
Get familiar with the parts of speech
Beware of words with multiple meanings!

10. Parts of Speech
Nouns: Names a person, place, or thing and answers the questions “Who?” “What?” Or “Where?”
Adjectives: Describes a noun, answering the questions “What kind?” “Which one?” or “How many?”
Verbs: Represents an action, state, or relationship between two or more things