Advanced (C2) Verbs to Build Your Vocabulary

Wes of Interactive English teaches advanced C2 verbs: linger, dole out, pinpoint, plague, prescribe, utter, curb, delegate, reconcile, and loathe, with pronunciation tips and examples.

Key Takeaways

Many C2 verbs have multiple meanings and useful collocations that aid natural usage.
Pronunciation features such as flap T, linking, and stop consonants strongly affect how these verbs sound.
Context examples, such as news headlines and everyday sentences, help learners understand verb usage.

What the video covers

Introduces the C2 verb 'linger', covering its two meanings: to continue to exist and to take longer than usual to leave.
Explains pronunciation of 'linger' and contrasts it with 'singer' and rhyming with 'finger'.
Covers the phrasal verb 'dole out' (to distribute, often money) with news headline examples and linking of consonant and vowel sounds.
Teaches 'pinpoint' with two meanings (locate exactly, or identify exact facts) and notes the subtle stop T.
Sponsored segment promoting Elsa Speak, a pronunciation app with instant feedback and discounts.
Covers 'plague' (to cause persistent worry or difficulty, often 'plagued by') and its aspirated G and final D pronunciation.
Explains 'prescribe' as a doctor specifying treatment, with common collocations and stress on the second syllable.
Teaches 'utter' as a formal alternative to 'say', with a flap T pronunciation example.
Covers 'curb' (to control or limit), 'delegate' (to assign responsibilities), 'reconcile' (to resolve differences), and 'loathe' (to hate), with examples and pronunciation notes.
Ends with a review and encouragement to subscribe to the channel.

Chapters

What are the two meanings of the verb 'linger'?

The first meaning is to continue to exist, as in 'the cold is still lingering.' The second is to take longer than usual to leave, as in customers lingering after a shop closes.

What is the difference between 'utter' and 'say' according to the lesson?

'Utter' is more formal and less commonly used than 'say,' and it can imply making a sound with the voice even when the words aren't clear. The lesson gives the example of someone uttering something through a car window that was not understandable.

Why does the speaker recommend the Elsa Speak app?

The speaker presents Elsa Speak as a tool to pinpoint pronunciation mistakes and provide instant feedback. He also mentions a free seven-day Pro trial and discounts available through the description links.

Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown

Speaker A

let's learn some advanced C2 verbs and I'm going to get right to the point and we'll begin with our first verb, which is to linger. So this verb actually has two different meanings. The first one is to continue to exist. So if I were sick and I have a cold, I could say that it is still lingering, and in this case you may often hear it being used in the continuous tense with that adverb still. That's a good adverb-verb collocation: something is still lingering.

Speaker A

How's your cold?

Speaker A

Yeah, unfortunately it's still lingering.

Speaker A

It also means to take longer than usual to leave, and in this case you may be talking about a person or group of people. Some customers lingered for a while after the shop closed, and they just took longer than usual to leave.

Speaker A

When you pronounce this verb, it has two syllables, and the stress is on that first syllable: linger. But I want to focus on that "ng" because it can be a little confusing. Look at these two words: they are not rhyming words. "Singer" only has that "ing" sound, whereas "linger" has the "ing" plus that "g" sound afterwards. Linger. It's similar to the word "finger." These are rhyming words: linger, finger.

Speaker A

Any of you wish to seek counseling due to lingering trauma? Speak with me privately.

Speaker A

Yeah, well, it turns out that there are some lingering feelings or something.

Speaker A

Clark, get out of here!

Speaker A

My mistake.

Speaker A

Except, yes, it is your mistake. It's lingering. He's so annoying.

Speaker A

And if you are someone who enjoys building your vocabulary, then I hope that you linger for a while and watch more video lessons. I would also love it if you subscribed and turned on notifications, that way I can become your teacher. My name is Wes, the channel is Interactive English, and it's all about trying to help you reach your fluency goals. Throughout the lesson, I'm going to talk to you about how to pronounce these verbs, because I tried to choose verbs that are a little difficult to pronounce, or maybe confusing, or just have something about the pronunciation that I'd like to talk to you about.

Speaker A

Like this next verb: dole out. This means to give something, usually money, to several people. This C2 verb is a phrasal verb that may be separable, so you could dole something out or dole out something. In order to show you how this verb may be used in context, I have some news headlines for you.

Speaker A

"As lawmakers dole out record surplus, many say they need more."

Speaker A

"Colts dole out 22.5 million dollars for kicker Matt Gay."

Speaker A

This is talking about American football, and yeah, that's a lot of money to dole out for a kicker.

Speaker A

"Should political parties be able to dole out freebies?"

Speaker A

When pronouncing this phrasal verb, you should know that linking is going to occur. We can link the final consonant sound in "dole" with the beginning vowel sound in "out," and this is when linking commonly occurs: linking a final consonant sound with a beginning vowel sound. It just helps us make a smooth transition from one word to the next. "Dole out." It's like we're taking that consonant sound and just moving it over to the next syllable: dole-out.

Speaker A

Then we have the verb pinpoint. It also has two meanings. The first one is to find or say the exact position in space or time of something. I may ask you the question, "Can you pinpoint our location on the map?" because I just want to know where we are. It also means to discover or describe the exact facts of something. I could tell you, "Doctors could not pinpoint the cause of his illness," so in this case, they just could not describe the facts of his illness.

Speaker A

For pronunciation, the verb has two syllables, and the stress is on that first syllable: pinpoint. I'd also like to point out that final T. It's really a stop T. It's pretty subtle: pinpoint.

Speaker A

Now, if you have some lingering doubts when it comes to pronunciation, then I'd like to tell you about the sponsor of today's lesson, which is Elsa Speak. This is a great app that will help you pinpoint your mistakes so that you can fine-tune your pronunciation. If you're unfamiliar with it, let me show you how it works. You just download the app, create an account, and there's so much that you can do: practice daily lessons, improve pronunciation, study by topic. But let me show you some of the other cool features that Elsa has to offer. You can do fun activities like unscrambling words, practicing both vocabulary and pronunciation, like this one: "fireworks." Let's do one more: "party." You can also practice a variety of study sets based on your needs, because I know many of you may be practicing for the IELTS. So we can practice synonyms for "very," and you can listen to it: "The book and the film are dreadful." And then practice saying it: "The book and the film are dreadful."

Speaker A

Now let me show you what it's like if a mistake is made, and I mispronounce that synonym: "The book and the film are dreadful." As you can see, you get instant feedback, which then allows you to try and make adjustments. Right now, when you click on the link below and download the Elsa Speak app, you can get seven days of the Pro membership for free. You can also use my discount to get 85 percent off a lifetime membership or 40 percent off a one-year membership, so check out the links and discounts in the description if you'd like to pinpoint your mistakes and improve your pronunciation. Before you know it, you'll sound just like a native speaker.

Speaker A

Now let's get back to our C2 verbs. The next one that I have for you is plague. This means to cause worry, pain, or difficulty to someone or something over a period of time, and often you may follow this verb with the preposition "by." You have been plagued by something. I could tell you that, well, my athletic career has been plagued by back injuries. And to be honest, I've never really had much of an athletic career, so that's not really true, but yes, over the years I have been plagued by back injuries. That part is unfortunately true.

Speaker A

When it comes to pronunciation, the spelling and pronunciation don't really look like they match, but that final "gue" is going to be pronounced with an aspirated "g" sound: plague. But often people may use this verb as well in the past participle, in which case it's going to end with the final "d" sound: plagued. Those consonants can be a difficult combination. "That plague... plagued." You've been plagued by something. "I'm plagued by an internal struggle." "If you would just use the bucket, you'd be so much more comfortable." "Sunrise Bay was a coastal community plagued by a centuries-old curse."

Speaker A

Next is the verb prescribe. This is a very useful verb because it's when a doctor says what kind of treatment someone should have, and it's very specific because we're really talking about someone's health. There are some common collocations with this verb, because a doctor may prescribe some medicine, prescribe some pills, prescribe some rest, or even prescribe some painkillers. Now, this verb has two syllables, and the stress is on that second syllable: prescribe. And that first syllable, even though it's spelled "p-r-e," has a "pr" sound because it's unstressed: prescribe. Say it with me: prescribe. Excellent!

Speaker A

Then we have the verb utter. This means to say something or just make a sound with your voice. Sometimes it can be interchangeable with "say," except that it's a bit more formal and not as commonly used. Maybe I tell you, "He sat through the meeting without uttering a word," and that's a good collocation with this verb: without uttering a word. To talk about the difference between "utter" and "say," utter is not always clear. "She uttered something through the car window, but I didn't understand what she was saying." It wasn't clear, but I could tell she was making some sounds with her voice.

Speaker A

For pronunciation, the verb has two syllables, and the stress is on that first syllable: utter. But what I'd really like to point out is that T. I'm going to pronounce it as a flap T. It's going to sound like a soft D, and this is pretty common with the American accent when the T comes between two vowel sounds. There are many words we can say with the flap T, like "water," "better," "utter."

Speaker A

past participle in which case it's going to end with the final D sound and those consonants that can be a difficult combination that plague plagued you've been plagued by something I'm plagued by an internal struggle if you would just

Speaker A

use the bucket you'd be so much more comfortable Sunrise Bay was a Coastal Community plagued by a centuries-old curse next is the verb prescribe and this is a very useful verb because it's when a doctor says what kind of

Speaker A

treatment someone should have and it's very specific because we're really talking about someone's health and there are some common collocations with this verb because a doctor May prescribe some medicine or prescribe some pills or prescribe some rest or even prescribe

Speaker A

some painkillers now this verb has two syllables and the stress is on that second syllable prescribe and that first syllable even though it's spelled p-r-e it has a PR sound because it's unstressed prescribe say it with me prescribe

Speaker A

excellent then we have the verb utter this means to say something or just make a sound with your voice so sometimes it can be interchangeable with say except that it's a bit more formal and not as commonly used maybe I tell you he sat

Speaker A

through the meeting without uttering a word and that's a good collocation with this verb without uttering a word now to talk about the difference between utter and say is that well utter is not always clear she uttered something through the car

Speaker A

window but I didn't understand what she was saying it wasn't clear but I could tell she was making some sounds with her voice and uttered something for pronunciation the verb has two syllables the stress is on that first syllable

Speaker A

utter but what I'd really like to point out is that T I am going to pronounce it as a flap T it's going to sound like a soft D and this is pretty common with the American accent when the t comes

Speaker A

between two vowel sounds there are many words we can say with the flap T like water better utter just just listen for it it was him he uttered something oh I'm sorry I uttered you think you're funny don't you

Speaker A

bro it is the truth I did with his own lips what's she said though then we have the verb curb and to curb something means to control or limit something that is not wanted and you would try to curb something and in order

Speaker A

to show you how this verb is used in context once again I have some news headlines for you this phone helped me curb my screen addiction Syria agrees to curb drug trade in meeting with Arab ministers Brazil orders Google to curb campaign against

Speaker A

fake news law and when you pronounce this verb it's pretty simple and straightforward there's just one syllable curb but that U has more of an ER vowel sound curb to curb something then there's lure this means to persuade

Speaker A

someone to do something or go somewhere by offering them something exciting and often you may follow this verb with the preposition into or two the employees were lured into working over the weekend with the promise of overtime or universities try to lure the top

Speaker A

academics to their school they always set those things to pay out more so they can lure people into the casino Maurice working to your house oh very clever assistant we're luring our bees to your sugar and selling them

Speaker A

back to us at an inflated price they're on to what now Simpson you diabolical when you pronounce this verb just make sure that you are saying that diphthong because that you it's going to sound like a combination of vowel sounds

Speaker A

lure say it with me lure lure good then there's indulge and I really like this verb it means to allow yourself or some other person to have something enjoyable especially more than what's good for you so you may follow

Speaker A

this verb with the preposition in and you indulge in something late at night sometimes I get a little hungry and I probably shouldn't eat anything but I like to indulge in sweets and I'll have some cookies or chocolate and often you

Speaker A

may use this verb when talking about food and you indulge in something and you have more than what's really good for you for pronunciation there are two syllables the stress is on that second syllable and that g has more of a j

Speaker A

sound indulge indulge what do you like to indulge in let me know in the comments then there's delegate this means to give a job job Duty or right to someone so they can do it for you and and this verb is often used in the

Speaker A

context of work because you can't do everything so you may delegate certain responsibilities to other people and you may also say that a boss or supervisor is good at delegating and and they tell others what they need to do or perhaps

Speaker A

someone is bad at delegating because they try to do everything themselves and yeah that may not be a good situation so this is a very useful verb when talking about work this verb has three syllables the stress is on that first syllable

Speaker A

delegate now don't confuse this with the noun because that third syllable is pronounced differently when you say the noun delegate with the verb you're going to use that long a sound delegate now I'd also like to point out that when you

Speaker A

use this verb in the continuous tense it's going to change from a stop T to a flap T at least with with the American accent and you'd say that someone is delegating something and you're going to use that flap T once again just listen

Speaker A

for it I'm delegating he's delegating don't shy away from delegating reconcile great verb this means to find a way in which two situations or beliefs that are opposed to each other can agree or exist together and you could hear somebody say

Speaker A

something like we need to reconcile our differences that's a great collocation with this verb the boys appear to have reconciled their differences a rose and her daughter reconcile their differences that's why it's important for you to reconcile your differences you could

Speaker A

also reconcile something with something I could say research is being done to reconcile the world's population growth with sustainability so these two things they seem opposed but we need to reconcile them and find a way for them to exist together growth and

Speaker A

sustainability for pronunciation the verb has three syllables the stress is on that first syllable and keep in mind that the C has more of an S sound reconcile reconcile and then there's loathe which is a pretty powerful verb

Speaker A

because it means to hate someone or something so loathe just like hate it's it's a strong word so be careful how you're using it but of course there are probably things that I'm sure you loathe I know there are things that I loathe

Speaker A

like I loathe sitting at an airport when my flight has been delayed or I loathe anchovies I just don't like eating them or I loathe driving in really bad weather conditions for pronunciation it's just the one syllable but make sure

Speaker A

you're using that voice th at the end loathe let's say it together loathe loathe nice now for a little review I'm sure that you do not loathe building your vocabulary and I hope that I can lure you into

Speaker A

watching another video Lesson because even though I'm not a doctor that is what I would prescribe in order for you to develop your English fluency and to be honest I know it's not good to watch a lot of videos and be in front of a

Speaker A

screen but in this case of course I think it's okay for you to indulge a little bit and watch many different video lessons I have a lot on this channel especially vocabulary lessons in which you will find me Doling out words

Speaker A

left and right but in all seriousness I just want you to keep practicing keep improving and I'm not going to linger around any longer I'm going to say goodbye but as always I hope that you learn something new if you enjoy the

Speaker A

lesson please hit that like button thank you so much for watching and I will see you next time so long

Topics:C2 vocabularyadvanced English verbspronunciationphrasal verbsEnglish collocationslinking soundsflap TIELTS preparationInteractive EnglishElsa Speak

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