[Type here]

DESCRIBING FUNCTIONS
GIVING DEFINITIONS & EXPLANATIONS

There are several ways of describing a device’s function:

 for + gerund
This is a device for controlling the cursor and selecting items on the screen.
 used to + infinitive
This device is used to control the cursor and select items on the screen.
 work by + gerund
It works by detecting light from the computer screen.

 Some common words and expressions used in definitions or explanations are

listed below:

is/ are defined as is taken to be denotes including

that is such as means illustrations of
for example for instance like illustrated
by
examples of instances of cases of illustrates
seen in shown by shows by …. we mean
a second example in other words

Office workers use many computer applications such as word processing, data
bases, and spreadsheets.
Students can make good use of computer technology at school. Essay writing, for
instance, can be done using a word-processing program.
A computer is an electronic device.
The term computer refers to the processor plus the internal memory.
A microchip can be defined as a tiny piece of silicon or similar material carrying
an integrated circuit.
By peripherals we mean those devices attached to the computer.
 Some definitions and explanations give further distinguishing characteristics
by means of a defining relative clause.

Disks are memory devices which/that can be stored away for future use.
A programmer is a person who/that prepares programs to solve problems.
A computer is an electronic device which/that processes information.
The arithmetic-logical unit is the part of the CPU where arithmetic and decision-
making operations are done.
 [Type here]

 Another way of defining or explaining is to use a noun, a noun phrase, or a

clause separated from the rest of the sentence by commas or dashes.

Computers – electronic devices for processing information – are now used in

practically every aspects of life.
The compiler is a system program which may be written in any language, but the
compiler’s operating system is a true systems program which controls the CPU,
peripheral devices, and the secondary memory devices.

Note:
A formal definition is a form of classification. You define a term by placing it in a
category and then identifying the features that distinguish it from other members of
the same category.
Term category distinguishing features
A computer is an electronic device that processes information.

An informal definition explains a term by giving a more familiar word or

phrase as a synonym.

WORD FORMATION: PREFIXES & SUFFIXES

When you are reading, you will come across unfamiliar words. It is often possible to guess the
meanings of these words if you understand the way words in English are generally formed:
Prefix – Stem – Suffix
An English word can be divided into three parts: a prefix, a stem, and a suffix. Pre- means ‘before’. A
prefix, therefore, is what comes before the stem. A suffix is what is attached to the end of the stem.
Prefixes, which do not change the part of speech of a word, usually change the meaning of the word.
Suffixes, on the other hand, change the word from one part of speech to another but keep the basic
meaning of the word.

Prefixes

Negative & positive Meaning Examples

prefixes:
un- not unhappy, unhappiness, unkind, undo, unable.
in- not incomplete, inactive, inexpensive, inaccurate.
im- not impolite, impossible, immobile, improper
il- not illegal, illogical, illegible, illiterate.
ir- not irregular, irrelevant, irresponsible, irresistible.
non- not connected with non-programmable, non-image, nonsense, nonfiction
mis- bad, wrong misunderstand, misprint, misregistration, mistake
dis- opposite feeling, disagree, dislike, discomfort.
[Type here]
opposite action discover, disappear, disconnect, discharge.
anti- against antifriction, anti-clockwise, antiglare, anti-virus.
de- reduce, reverse demagnetize, decode, debug, decompress.
under- too little, below underestimate, underground, underwear.
re- do again redo, reorganize, reusable, resize, reformat, reboot.
over- too much overload, overheating, overtime, overrated.
Prefixes of size Meaning Examples
semi- half, partly semiconductor, semicircle, semi-final
super- over, much greater supersound, superman, superconductor, supercomputer
mini- small minicomputer, miniskirt, minibus.
micro- very small microcomputer, microprocessor, microphone.
mega- large, great megabyte, megawatt, megabit, megahertz, megohm.
ultra- very much greater Ultrasound, ultraviolet
Prefixes of location Meaning Examples
inter- between, among interface, interactive, internet, international
intra- inside intranet,
trans- across transmit, transfer, transport
ex- out exclude, external, exhale, exception.
extra- beyond extraordinary, extracurriculum, extravascular.
tele- distant telephone, television, telecommunication
sub- under subway, submarine, subfolder, subscript, submenu.
infra- below Infra-red, infrastructure
Prefixes of time Meaning Examples
and order
pre- before prepress, preamplication, preheat
prime- first primary, primitive
post- after postpress, post-treatment, postgraduate.
Prefixes of Meaning Examples
numbers
mono- one monochrome, monosyllable, monorail.
bi- two binary, bicycle, bilingual, bimetal, biannual
tri- three triangle, tricycle, trilingual
quad- four quadruple
penta- five pentagon
hex- six hexadecimal, hexagon
dec- ten decimal
multi- many multisystem, multicolor, multimedia,
poly- many polymer, polygamy, polycarbonate
Other prefixes Meaning Examples
aero- air aeroplane, aeronautical
geo- earth geology, geometry
sol- sun solar
auto- self automatic, automobile, automation
co- together co-ordinate, co-processor, co-chairman
[Type here]
therm- heat thermal, thermometer
hydr- water hydrostatic
aud- hearing audio, audible
vis- seeing visual, visible, vision
e- meaning electronic e-commerce, e-learning, ebook, e-signature, email.
i- meaning ipad, iphone, ipod
information
cyber- related to computercyberspace, cybercrime, cyberculture, cybercafé,
network cybernetics.

Suffixes

Noun-forming Meaning Examples

suffixes
-ance state performance, resistance, maintenance.
-ence quality of Independence, difference, transparence.
-er, -or a person who programmer, operator, employer, advisor, manager
a thing which computer, processor, printer, scanner, plotter.
-ist, -yst a person who dentist, scientist, artist, analyst.
-ian pertaining to electrician, technician, vegetarian, politician.
-tion, -ation, -ion the act of action, distribution, production, edition, resolution.
translation, modulation, multiplication, application
conversion, division, decision, compression.
-ness condition of happiness, weakness, readiness, flatness
-ment state, action measurement, movement, development, shipment
-ing activity (gerund) programming, processing, coding, spooling
-ity state, quality electricity, quantity, reality, possibility, capacity.
-ism condition/state magnetism, organism, capitalism, communism
-dom domain/condition kingdom, freedom, boredom.
-ship condition/state partnership, relationship, friendship
-al condition/state Ideal, approval, arrival, terminal, denial, proposal.
Verb-forming Meaning Examples
suffixes
-ize/-ise To make computerize, standardize, maximize, optimize.
-ate To make automate, activate, calculate, incorporate.
-ify To make simplify, amplify, notify, classify,
-en To make harden, widen, shorten, strengthen, (enlarge, enrich,
ensure)
Adverb-forming Meaning Examples
suffixes
-ly In the manner of electronically, logically, rapidly.
Adjective-forming Meaning Examples
suffixes
-al having the quality logical, computational, global, peripheral, internal,
[Type here]
of digital, professional, conditional, natural, optical.
-ar having the quality circular, particular, singular, cellular,
of
-ic having the quality magnetic, electronic, economic, electric, static,
of
-ical having the quality electrical, economical, mechanical.
of
-able capable of being comparable, preferable, programmable, reusable
-ible capable of being divisible, visible, compatible
-ous like, full of dangerous, various, continuous, famous
-ful characterized by helpful, useful, hopeful, careful,
-less without careless, hopeless, homeless, jobless, paperless,
wireless,
-ish like yellowish, reddish, bluish, childish, selfish
-ed past participle computed, printed, exposed, programmed.
-ive having the quality interactive, active, expensive, creative, innovative,
of exclusive,
-y relating to cloudy, sandy, windy, sunny, funny,

COLLOCATIONS

1/ Verbs and nouns often go together in English to make set phrases, for example access the
Internet. These word combinations are called collocations, and they are very common. Learning
collocations instead of individual words can help you remember which verb to use with which noun.
Here are some examples:

 Produce images, edit images, scan images. Correct colors, separate colors.
Complete processes. Convert images into CMYK.
 Store information. Send texts. Perform operations. Do research. Display data.

2/ A collocation can be a pair or group of words that are often used together in some areas of
meanings. For example:

 Adverb – Adjective: Highly sensitive (information). Freely available (on the Web).
Commonly employed (printing units). Relatively significant. Totally different (colours)
 Adjective – Noun: Mathematical (formulas). Up-to-date (information). Graphic (Arts).
Digital (printing), digital (image). Tonal (difference). Logic (bomb). Optical (fibre).
Optical (media). Virtual (reality). Analogue (signal). Artificial (intelligence).

Note: The word online often collates with other words and can function as adjective or adverb.
Adjective: They post opinions on online journals.
[Type here]
Adverb: A podcast is an audio recording posted online.
[Type here]

PRESENTATION

Phrases for better English presentations

A technique that can help you achieve objective, clear, and structured English
presentations, is to use linking phrases which join the separate parts of your presentation
together.
English presentations normally consist of an introduction, main body, different parts of the
main body, and the ending or conclusion.
To help maintain your audience’s attention, you need to signal when you are going from one part
to another.
The Introduction
All good presentations start with a strong introduction. There are a number of different
ways you can open your English presentation, depending on your goal. Here’s a simple, but
effective introduction structure which works for most types of business presentations:
Introduce – Introduce yourself (greeting), explaining the reasons for listening.
1. Good morning/afternoon (everyone) (ladies and gentlemen).
2. It’s a pleasure to welcome (the President) here.
3. I’m … (the Director of …)
4. By the end of the talk/presentation/session, you’ll know how to… /
…you will have learned about… /
Introduce the presentation topic
5. I plan to say a few words about…
6. I’m going to talk about…
7. The subject of my talk is…
Outline
8. My talk will be in (three parts).
9. In the first part…
10. Then in the second part…
11. Finally, I’ll go on to talk about…
Questions
12. Please interrupt if you have any questions.
13. After my talk, there will be time for a discussion and any questions.
Main Body
Now that you have finished the introduction, we now need to transition to the main body,
and its individual parts in a smooth way.
[Type here]

Beginning the Main Body

14. Now let’s move to / turn to the first part of my talk which is about…
15. So, first…
16. To begin with…
Ending Parts within the Main Body
17. That completes/concludes…
18. That’s all (I want to say for now) on…
19. Ok, I’ve explained how…
Beginning a New Part
20. Let’s move to (the next part which is)…
21. So now we come to the next point, which is…
22. Now I want to describe…
23. Let’s turn to the next issue…
24. I’d now like to change direction and talk about...
Listing
25. There are three things to consider. First… Second… Third…
26. There are two kinds of… The first is… The second is…
27. We can see four advantages and two disadvantages. First, advantages…
28. One is… Another is… A third advantage is… Finally…
Sequencing
29. There are (four) different stages to the process.
30. First / then / next / after that / then (x) / after x there’s y.
31. There are two steps involved. The first step is… The second step is…
32. There are four stages to the project.
33. At the beginning / later / then / finally…
34. I’ll describe the development of the idea. First the background, then the present situation,
and then the prospect for the future.
Ending the Main Body
35. Okay, that ends (the third part of) my talk.
36. That’s all I want to say for now on (the 2017 results).
Beginning the Summary and/or Conclusion
37. To sum up…
38. Ok, in brief, there are several advantages and disadvantages.
39. To conclude…
40. I’d like to end by emphasizing the main points.
41. I’d like to end with a summary of the main points.
Concluding
42. I think we have seen that we should…
43. In my opinion, we should…
44. I recommend/suggest that we…
 [Type here]

45. There are three reasons why I recommend this. First, … / Second, … / Finally,...

An Ending Phrase
46. Well, I’ve covered the points that I needed to present today.
47. That sums up (my description of the new model).
48. That concludes my talk for today.
Inviting Questions and/or Introducing Discussion
49. Now we have (half an hour) for questions and discussion.
50. So, now I’d be very interested to hear your comments.
Thanking the Audience
51. I’d like to thank you for taking time out to listen to my presentation.
52. Thank you for listening / your attention. / Many thanks for coming.