Basic Details
Word: Verbal
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Spoken in words rather than written; also, to do with words in general.
Synonyms: spoken, oral
Antonyms: written, non-verbal
How to Spell Verbal
Syllables: ver - bal
Tricky part: The ending is al, not el or le, so verbel and verble are wrong. The first syllable is ver, not var.
Watch out for: verbel, verble, varbal
Memory tip: Take the word verb and add al: verb + al. The al ending is the same as in oral, its close partner.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The umpire gave the bowler a verbal warning for wasting time.
Example 2: Puzzles help build verbal and number skills.
Example 3: We had only a verbal agreement with the painter, nothing on paper.
Fun Fact
Under Indian law, many agreements made only by word of mouth are still valid contracts, though they are much harder to prove than written ones.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word verbal as it is used in the sentence:
The two captains made only a verbal promise to replay the match next Saturday.
a) written
b) oral
c) voiced
d) spoken
Show answer
a) written. Spoken, oral and voiced all mean said aloud; a written promise is on paper.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
Her lbvera answer in the interview was clear, but the written test was full of slips.
a) gerbil
b) marble
c) herbal
d) verbal
Show answer
d) verbal. Herbal, gerbil and marble each need a letter the jumble does not have; verbal uses all six letters exactly.
Spell-o-Spell
Read the four words. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word:
1. personal 2. verbel 3. original 4. criminal
a) existing from the beginning; first
b) a person who breaks the law
c) expressed in spoken words
d) belonging to one particular person
Show answer
c) expressed in spoken words. Like personal, original and criminal, verbal ends in al.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these is verbal communication?
a) a warm smile
b) a phone call
c) a wave of the hand
d) a nod of the head
Show answer
b) a phone call
2. When a teacher gives a verbal warning, she ____.
a) takes away a book
b) sends a letter home
c) writes a note in the diary
d) tells the student off in words
Show answer
d) tells the student off in words
