Chapter: 07. Mullah Nasreddin And The Nail
Word Wonder: Understanding Binomial Pairs
Explanation for Self-Learning:
Have you ever noticed how some pairs of words just go together and always seem to appear in the same order, like “black and white” or “fast and furious”? These are called binomial pairs.
What they are: A binomial pair is a phrase made up of two words, often connected by a conjunction (like ‘and’, ‘or’, ‘nor’), that are frequently used together. The important thing is that the order of the words is usually fixed. You wouldn’t say “white and black” or “furious and fast” – it just sounds wrong! They make your language sound more natural and fluent, as native speakers use them all the time. They often have a slightly different or more specific meaning than the individual words used separately. They can be a fun way to expand your vocabulary and understand common expressions. Listen carefully: Pay attention when you read or hear English to notice these fixed pairs. Practice saying them: The more you say them in the correct order, the more natural they’ll feel. Look for patterns: Sometimes they involve rhyming words (like ‘hustle and bustle’), alliteration (like ‘safe and sound’), or words that represent opposites (like ‘rich or poor’). Let’s look at the examples given:
step by step: This means gradually, one stage at a time. (You wouldn’t say “step by step,” though the individual words are ‘step’ and ‘step’, the common phrase is fixed). rock and roll: A type of music, but also can mean to have fun or act wildly. more or less: Approximately; to a certain extent. Now, let’s complete some more binomial pairs using the words provided! Think about which word naturally fits with the first word, and try saying them aloud to see if the order feels right.
Complete these binomial pairs using the words from the box.
Word Wonder - Textbook
