Understanding ‘Criminal’ for IELTS: Noun and Adjective Usage
Learn the meaning, usage, and importance of the word ‘criminal’ for your IELTS exam. This video covers its use as both a noun and an adjective, provides examples, and highlights common mistakes to avoid.
Imagine walking down a dark alley and suddenly hearing police sirens. The word criminal might come to mind.
Today, we’re going to learn about this important word for your IELTS test.
Word type: Criminal can be both a noun and an adjective.
Meaning: As a noun, a criminal is a person who has committed a crime. As an adjective, criminal describes something related to crime or against the law.
Word history: The word criminal comes from Latin. It’s related to the word crime, which means an illegal act.
Antonyms: Some opposites of criminal are law-abiding, honest, and innocent.
Synonyms: Words with similar meanings include lawbreaker, offender, and wrongdoer.
Examples use in sentences: The police arrested the criminal after a long chase. The lawyer specializes in criminal law.
Many countries have strict criminal justice systems. Common errors in use: Some people confuse criminal with illegal.
While all criminal acts are illegal, not all illegal acts are criminal. For example, parking in a no-parking zone is illegal but not usually considered criminal.
Understanding and using the word criminal correctly can help you discuss topics related to law and society in your IELTS speaking and writing tasks.
Remember, it can be both a person who breaks the law and a description of actions against the law. Practice using this word in different contexts to improve your vocabulary skills for the IELTS test.
