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Year 3 - English

Rich vocabulary associated with shy or uncertain words

Character: small, confident and shy words

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils learn a wider range of vocabulary to support writing about characters, including ambitious vocabulary for small, confident and shy words that can be applied to descriptive writing passages.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to use the words 'diffident', 'hesitant' and 'reticent' effectively in multiple contexts.

Key Notes

  • 'Diffident' is an adjective which means modest or shy.
  • 'Hesitant' is an adjective which means nervous or uncertain.
  • 'Reticent' is an adjective which means shy and reserved.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • noun: a naming word for people, places or things
  • adjective: a word that describes a noun
  • synonym: a word that has the same or similar meaning to another word
  • word pair: words that often appear together

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • These words are very similar and can often be used interchangeably.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

'Diffident' is an adjective which means modest or shy. 'Hesitant' is an adjective which means nervous or uncertain.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'noun'

a naming word for people, places or things.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: These words are very similar and can often be used interchangeably. Correction: These words have subtle differences in meaning and usage and are used in different contexts; so one can't always be replaced by another.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 3 English guide library.