Essential English Vocabulary for News, Law, and Verb Structures

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Crimes and Criminal Acts Vocabulary

  • blackmailcoercion by threat of revealing embarrassing information
  • briberyoffering money or gifts to influence someone
  • burglaryillegal entry into a building with intent to commit a crime
  • drug dealingselling or distributing illegal drugs
  • frauddeception for personal or financial gain
  • hackinggaining unauthorized access to computer systems
  • hijackingillegally seizing control of a vehicle, especially an aircraft
  • kidnappingabducting and holding someone captive
  • mugginga street robbery, often involving violence
  • murderthe unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another
  • rapenon-consensual sexual penetration
  • robberytaking property from a person by force or threat
  • smugglingillegally importing or exporting goods
  • stalkingharassing or pursuing someone persistently
  • terrorismunlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims
  • theftdishonestly taking property belonging to another
  • vandalismwillful destruction or damage to property

Legal System Vocabulary

  • arrestedtaken into custody by police
  • caughtapprehended while committing a crime
  • chargedformally accused of a crime
  • committedperformed or carried out (a crime)
  • investigatedexamined thoroughly to discover facts
  • questionedinterrogated by police or lawyers
  • accusedblamed for a wrongdoing
  • acquitteddeclared not guilty of a criminal charge
  • courta place where legal cases are heard
  • evidencefacts or information indicating whether a belief is true or valid
  • guiltyresponsible for a specified wrongdoing
  • judgea public official appointed to decide cases in a court of law
  • jurya body of people sworn to give a verdict in a legal case
  • proofevidence or argument establishing a fact or the truth of a statement
  • punishmentthe infliction or imposition of a penalty as retribution for an offense
  • sentenceddeclared the punishment decided for an offender
  • verdicta decision on a disputed issue in a civil or criminal case
  • witnessespeople who see an event and can give a firsthand account

Newspaper Headline Verbs

  • backssupports or endorses
  • axedcut, removed, or dismissed
  • hitaffected negatively or attacked
  • bidsattempts or makes an effort
  • clashconflict or disagreement
  • vowspromises solemnly
  • quizquestions or interrogates
  • rowsserious disagreements or disputes

Media Professionals Vocabulary

  • agony aunta newspaper columnist who gives advice to readers about personal problems
  • commentatora person who provides a spoken commentary on an event or subject
  • critica person who judges and assesses the merits of literary or artistic works
  • editora person who prepares material for publication or broadcast
  • freelance journalista journalist who works for various organizations rather than being employed by one
  • newsreadera person who reads the news on television or radio
  • paparazzifreelance photographers who pursue celebrities to take candid pictures
  • presentera person who introduces and hosts a television or radio program
  • reportera person who reports news for a newspaper or broadcast

Common Verb Patterns in English

Verbs followed by Infinitives or Gerunds
VerboEstructuraEjemplo sencillo
agreeto + verboHe agreed to help me.
offerto + verboShe offered to cook dinner.
refuseto + verboHe refused to go.
promiseto + verboI promised to be good.
threatento + verboHe threatened to call the police.
adviseperson + to + verboShe advised me to study.
persuadeperson + to + verboHe persuaded me to come.
askperson + to + verboI asked her to help me.
remindperson + to + verboShe reminded me to call him.
convinceperson + to + verboHe convinced me to stay.
tellperson + to + verboShe told me to wait.
encourageperson + to + verboThey encouraged me to try again.
warnperson + to + verboHe warned me not to go.
inviteperson + to + verboShe invited me to the party.
apologizefor + verbo-ingHe apologized for being late.
insist onverbo-ingShe insisted on paying.
accuse sb ofverbo-ingHe accused her of lying.
recommendverbo-ingI recommend reading this book.
admitverbo-ingShe admitted cheating.
regretverbo-ingI regret saying that.
blame sb forverbo-ingHe blamed me for losing the keys.
suggestverbo-ingShe suggested going to the park.
denyverbo-ingHe denied taking the money.

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