eng8-V4· UNIT 4. MANNERS AND RULES· ~16 min

Unit 4 Vocabulary: Basic etiquette

Use action verbs and manners words to describe respectful and disrespectful behaviour.

Etiquette vocabulary describes both physical actions and their effect on other people. Cover, sneeze, and spit name different actions involving the mouth or nose. Interrupt describes stopping a speaker briefly. Apologise expresses being sorry after doing something wrong or causing a problem, while offend describes making someone upset or angry. The adjectives rude and disrespectful both describe poor manners, but their definitions focus on politeness and respect. Context identifies the meaning; sentence grammar then determines any verb-form change.

Key terms

basic etiquette — Polite social behaviour, such as covering a cough, not spitting, not interrupting, and saying thank you.
respect — What disrespectful behaviour fails to show.
apology — Telling someone that you are sorry for wrongdoing or a problem.
verb form — A form of a verb chosen to fit its grammar context, such as offend or offended.
Meaning contrasts
WordCore meaningUseful clue
sneezeblow air suddenly and uncontrollably through the nose and mouthuncontrolled action
spitforce the contents of the mouth outcontents leave the mouth
apologisesay that you are sorryexpress regret
offendmake someone upset or angrycause an emotional effect
rude / disrespectfulnot polite / not showing respectpoor manners
✎Separate cause from response
  1. 1Cause: ‘The careless joke may offend a friend.’
  2. 2Response: ‘The speaker should apologise for the joke.’
  3. 3Contrast: Offend names the upsetting effect; apologise names the expression of regret.
✎Check the verb form
  1. 1Base word: offend
  2. 2Grammar frame: ‘The remark has ___ him.’
  3. 3Choice: Use offended after has.
🚫Do not confuse effect and apology

A remark can offend someone; the speaker may then apologise.

💡Read the behaviour clue

Not polite points to rude, while not showing respect points to disrespectful.

⚠️Meaning comes before form

First choose the verb that fits the situation, then change its form if the sentence requires it.

Rules

  1. 1Use cover for putting or spreading something over another thing.
  2. 2Distinguish a sneeze, which suddenly blows air through the nose and mouth, from spitting, which forces the contents of the mouth out.
  3. 3Use interrupt when words or actions briefly stop another person from speaking.
  4. 4Use apologise for expressing regret and offend for causing upset or anger.
  5. 5Use rude for not polite and disrespectful for not showing respect.
  6. 6After choosing the correct verb, check whether the sentence needs a changed form such as offended.

Practice

3 easy · 3 medium · 3 hard

Up to 10 random questions per test

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