Basic Details
Word: Again
Part of Speech: Adverb
Meaning: Once more; another time. It can also mean back to how things were before, as in she was well again.
Synonyms: once more, afresh, anew
How to Spell Again
Syllables: a - gain
Tricky part: The ai is often said like the e in pen, so students write agen or swap the letters to agian.
Watch out for: agian, agen, agin
Memory tip: Again is a + gain. Every time you try again, you gain a little more practice.
Idioms and Phrases
- now and again: sometimes, but not often. Example: "We eat out now and again, usually on birthdays."
- time and again: many times, repeatedly. Example: "I have told you time and again to switch off the fan."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The bus broke down again on the ghat road.
Example 2: After two weeks of fever, Ammu is well again and back at school.
Example 3: Could you play that song again, please?
Fun Fact
Against grew out of again. In Old English again could also mean opposite or towards, and over time an -s and then a -t were added to make against.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. again 2. wierd 3. neccessary 4. reciept
a) once more; another time
b) a piece of paper showing that you have paid
c) very strange
d) needed; essential
Show answer
a) once more; another time. Again is a + gain, which you can check at a glance; receipt, necessary and weird are classic traps that catch even adults.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
After losing the first two matches of the tournament, our team practised harder and was ready to play agian on Saturday.
a) Saturday
b) agian
c) tournament
d) practised
Show answer
b) agian. The a and i are the wrong way round; the word ends in gain.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
Read the instructions ngaia before you begin the test.
a) again
b) aging
c) gain
d) against
Show answer
a) again. Two a's, a g, an i and an n, with nothing else: again.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word again as used in the sentence:
The coach asked the relay team to run the last lap again.
a) at first
b) rarely
c) never
d) once more
Show answer
d) once more. To run it again is to run it once more.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Add st to the end of again and you get ____.
a) agains
b) against
c) agenst
d) aganst
Show answer
b) against
2. Fill in the blank: I forgot my water bottle ____ today.
a) ago
b) against
c) gain
d) again
Show answer
d) again
