🎯 Objective
To help learners master 10 essential vocabulary words related to crime, investigation, and problem-solving through comprehensive practice with definitions, pronunciation, usage, and context.
📚 Today's Vocabulary Words
These words are commonly used in mystery stories, detective work, medical contexts, and academic writing. Master them to improve your reading comprehension and writing skills!
| Word | Part of Speech | Pronunciation | Main Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| analysis | noun | /əˈnæl.ə.sɪs/ | detailed examination of something |
| determine | verb | /dɪˈtɜːr.mɪn/ | to find out or decide something |
| mystery | noun | /ˈmɪs.tər.i/ | something difficult to understand |
| suspect | verb/noun | /səˈspekt/ (v) /ˈsʌs.pekt/ (n) | to think someone is guilty (v); person believed guilty (n) |
| commit | verb | /kəˈmɪt/ | to do something (especially wrong) |
| examine | verb | /ɪɡˈzæm.ɪn/ | to look at something carefully |
| prove | verb | /pruːv/ | to show that something is true |
| detective | noun | /dɪˈtek.tɪv/ | person who investigates crimes |
| heal | verb | /hiːl/ | to become healthy again |
| reveal | verb | /rɪˈviːl/ | to show or tell something hidden |
📚 Complete Word Study Guide
Word #1: ANALYSIS
📋 Definition & Usage
Meaning: A detailed examination or study of something to understand it better
Part of Speech: Noun (plural: analyses)
Related words: analyze (verb), analytical (adjective), analyst (noun)
Example Sentences:
- The detective's analysis of the crime scene revealed important clues.
- Her analysis of the data showed surprising results.
- The doctor ordered a blood analysis to check for diseases.
Word #2: DETERMINE
📋 Definition & Usage
Meaning: To find out facts or make a decision about something
Part of Speech: Verb
Related words: determination (noun), determined (adjective)
Example Sentences:
- Scientists are trying to determine the cause of the mysterious illness.
- The judge will determine the punishment for the crime.
- Tests will determine whether the student passes the course.
Word #3: MYSTERY
📋 Definition & Usage
Meaning: Something that is difficult to understand or explain; a puzzle
Part of Speech: Noun (plural: mysteries)
Related words: mysterious (adjective), mysteriously (adverb)
Example Sentences:
- The disappearance of the valuable painting remains a mystery.
- She loves reading mystery novels about detectives solving crimes.
- It's a mystery how he learned to speak five languages so quickly.
Word #4: SUSPECT
📋 Definition & Usage
As a verb: To think that someone might be guilty of something
As a noun: A person believed to be guilty of a crime
Related words: suspicion (noun), suspicious (adjective), suspiciously (adverb)
Example Sentences:
- Verb: Police suspect the man stole the car.
- Noun: The main suspect was arrested yesterday.
- Verb: I suspect that she knows more than she's telling us.
Word #5: COMMIT
📋 Definition & Usage
Meaning: To do something (often something wrong or serious); to promise to do something
Part of Speech: Verb
Related words: commitment (noun), committed (adjective)
Example Sentences:
- The criminal decided to commit robbery at the bank.
- She will commit to studying harder this semester.
- Did he commit the crime, or is he innocent?
Word #6: EXAMINE
📋 Definition & Usage
Meaning: To look at something very carefully to learn about it
Part of Speech: Verb
Related words: examination (noun), examiner (noun)
Example Sentences:
- The doctor will examine your throat to see if it's infected.
- Forensic experts examine evidence at crime scenes.
- Students must examine the poem carefully to understand its meaning.
Word #7: PROVE
📋 Definition & Usage
Meaning: To show that something is definitely true using facts or evidence
Part of Speech: Verb
Related words: proof (noun), proven (adjective)
Example Sentences:
- The DNA evidence will prove the suspect's guilt.
- She wants to prove that she's the best student in the class.
- Can you prove that your theory is correct?
Word #8: DETECTIVE
📋 Definition & Usage
Meaning: A person whose job is to investigate crimes and find criminals
Part of Speech: Noun
Related words: detect (verb), detection (noun), detective work (noun phrase)
Example Sentences:
- The detective questioned all the witnesses about the robbery.
- Sherlock Holmes is a famous fictional detective.
- The detective used fingerprints to solve the case.
Word #9: HEAL
📋 Definition & Usage
Meaning: To become healthy again after being sick or injured; to cure
Part of Speech: Verb
Related words: healing (noun/adjective), healer (noun), healthy (adjective)
Example Sentences:
- The cut on his hand will heal in a few days.
- Time can heal emotional wounds.
- The medicine helped heal her infection quickly.
Word #10: REVEAL
📋 Definition & Usage
Meaning: To show something that was hidden; to tell a secret
Part of Speech: Verb
Related words: revelation (noun), revealing (adjective)
Example Sentences:
- The investigation will reveal the truth about the accident.
- She decided to reveal her secret to her best friend.
- The x-ray revealed a broken bone in his arm.
Memory Tips & Word Families
🧠 Memory Techniques:
- Analysis: Think "analyze" - break something apart to study it
- Detective: Think "detect" - find hidden things
- Reveal: Think "re-veal" - remove the veil to show what's hidden
- Mystery: Think "mist" - something unclear and hard to see
- Heal: Think "health" - becoming healthy again
⚠️ Common Mistakes:
- Don't confuse "suspect" (verb) vs "suspect" (noun) pronunciation
- "Commit" can mean both "do wrong" and "promise" - check context
- "Prove" needs evidence - don't use for opinions
- "Examine" is more careful than just "look at"
- "Reveal" means showing something hidden, not just "tell"
🧩 Quick Vocabulary Quiz
Test your understanding of the vocabulary words. Choose the best answer for each question.
1. What does a detective do when investigating a crime?
2. Which sentence uses "suspect" correctly as a NOUN?
3. Complete the sentence: "The doctor will _____ your symptoms to _____ what disease you have."
4. Which word means "to show something that was hidden"?
5. Fill in the blank: "After a detailed _____ of the evidence, scientists hope to _____ their theory about the _____ disease."
6. Match the word to its correct part of speech:
✅ Quiz Answer Key & Explanations
1. ✅ Correct Answer: B
"Examines evidence and analyzes clues"
Explanation: Detectives investigate crimes by carefully examining evidence and doing analysis to solve mysteries.
2. ✅ Correct Answer: B
"The main suspect was arrested."
Explanation: Here "suspect" is used as a noun (a person). The other options use "suspect" as a verb.
3. ✅ Correct Answer: B
"examine, determine"
Explanation: Doctors examine (look at carefully) symptoms to determine (find out/decide) what disease someone has.
4. ✅ Correct Answer: C
"reveal"
Explanation: "Reveal" means to show or tell something that was previously hidden or secret.
5. ✅ Correct Answer: B
"analysis, prove, mysterious"
Explanation: After detailed analysis (examination), scientists hope to prove (show is true) their theory about the mysterious (hard to understand) disease.
6. ✅ Parts of Speech Answers:
analysis = noun, determine = verb, mystery = noun, suspect = verb/noun, commit = verb, examine = verb, prove = verb, detective = noun, heal = verb, reveal = verb
🏆 Additional Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Complete the Story
Fill in the blanks with the correct vocabulary words:
The famous _______ was called to investigate a strange _______. A valuable painting had disappeared, and no one could _______ how it happened. She decided to _______ the crime scene carefully, looking for clues that might _______ the truth. After her detailed _______ of the evidence, she began to _______ the security guard. She was determined to _______ that he had _______ the crime. However, the guard claimed he was innocent and that time would _______ his reputation.
Exercise 2: Sentence Creation
Write your own sentences using each vocabulary word. Make sure to use the correct part of speech!
- Analysis: ________________________
- Determine: ________________________
- Mystery: ________________________
- Suspect (as verb): ________________________
- Suspect (as noun): ________________________
Exercise 3: Word Associations
Match each word with related concepts:
Detective: investigation, clues, crime, solve
Heal: medicine, recovery, doctor, health
Reveal: secret, show, hidden, discovery
Mystery: unknown, puzzle, confusing, solve
Story Exercise Answer Key:
detective, mystery, determine, examine, reveal, analysis, suspect, prove, committed, heal