Universal Core Vocabulary · Episode 45
This episode is in English.
Below in teaching order, as in the video: related words sit side by side so you can compare them.
being steady and not likely to change or fall
स्थिरता
Usage
The country needs political stability to grow.
A wide base gives the bridge stability.
Common mistake
The ladder has good stable on flat ground.
The ladder has good stability on flat ground.
Stable is the adjective; stability is the noun.
Remember: Stability: it stays steady.
keeping things somewhere until they are needed
भंडारण
Usage
Save your photos on cloud storage.
Farmers keep potatoes in cold storage.
Common mistake
We need more storages for the new files.
We need more storage for the new files.
Storage is uncountable: no plural.
Remember: Storage: where you store it.
large in amount, size or importance
पर्याप्त, काफ़ी बड़ा
Usage
India won the match by a substantial margin.
She got a substantial pay rise this year.
Common mistake
He ate a substantial meal, so he was hungry.
He ate a small meal, so he was hungry.
Substantial means large, the opposite here.
Remember: Substantial: lots of substance.
more than is needed
अधिशेष, बचत
Usage
There was a surplus of mangoes, so prices fell.
The state has a power surplus this winter.
Common mistake
We have a surplus of time, so let's rush.
We have little time, so let's rush.
Surplus means extra, so there would be no rush.
Remember: Surplus: plus, over the need.
feeling that something is wrong, or causing it
संदिग्ध; शक करने वाला
Usage
The guard became suspicious of the man's questions.
A suspicious bag was found at the station.
Common mistake
Police are suspicious on the new tenant.
Police are suspicious of the new tenant.
We are suspicious of someone.
Remember: Suspicious: you suspect something.
very good, or very great in amount
शानदार, ज़बरदस्त
Usage
Anjali gave a terrific performance in the play.
The bike went at a terrific speed.
Common mistake
The horror film was terrific, so I hid my eyes.
The horror film was terrifying, so I hid my eyes.
Terrific means great; terrifying means very scary.
Remember: Terrific is great; terrifying is scary.
a short video showing parts of a new film
ट्रेलर, झलक
Usage
We watched the trailer before buying tickets.
The trailer got ten million views in a day.
Common mistake
I watched the trailor of the new film.
I watched the trailer of the new film.
It is spelt trailer, with -er.
Remember: A trailer runs ahead of the film.
seen or found everywhere
सर्वव्यापी
Usage
Mobile phones are ubiquitous, even in villages.
Chai stalls are ubiquitous in Indian cities.
Common mistake
Tigers are ubiquitous; you can rarely see one.
Tigers are rare; you can rarely see one.
Ubiquitous means everywhere, the opposite of rare.
Remember: Ubiquitous: everywhere you look.
to be the real reason behind something
मूल में होना
Usage
Poverty and poor schooling underlie many problems.
Stress may underlie her headaches.
Common mistake
Poverty underlies to many social problems.
Poverty underlies many social problems.
Underlie takes an object directly, with no 'to'.
Remember: Underlie: it lies under the problem.
likely to change suddenly and without warning
अस्थिर, अनिश्चित
Usage
Onion prices are volatile; they can double in a week.
The share market was volatile today.
Common mistake
Gold prices stayed volatile: they never changed.
Gold prices stayed stable: they never changed.
Volatile means changing fast, not steady.
Remember: Volatile: up, down, all around.