ATI TEAS Version 7 English & Language Usage section.
Answers are not included, so you can use this as a worksheet or quiz.

Denotation
Denotation is the literal, dictionary definition of a word. It is the objective, factual meaning that does not change based on emotion or personal interpretation.

Key features:

Neutral and universal
What you would find in a dictionary
Free from emotion, opinion, or cultural bias

Examples of Denotation

Word	Denotation (Literal Meaning)
Home	A place where someone lives
Childish	Like a child
Thrifty	Careful with money
Aroma	A smell (any smell)
Aggressive	Ready or likely to attack

Connotation
Connotation is the emotional or cultural association attached to a word beyond its literal meaning. It is the feeling, attitude, or judgment that a word suggests.

Key features:

Subjective and context-dependent
Can be positive, negative, or neutral
Varies by culture and experience

Types of Connotation

Type	Meaning	Example
Positive connotation	Good or favorable feeling	Home (warmth, safety, belonging)
Negative connotation	Bad or unfavorable feeling	Childish (immature, annoying)
Neutral connotation	No strong emotion	House (just a building)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Word	Denotation (Literal)	Connotation (Emotional)
Home	A place where someone lives	Positive (warm, safe, comfortable)
House	A place where someone lives	Neutral (just a structure)
Slender	Thin in an attractive way	Positive
Skinny	Very thin	Negative (too thin, unhealthy)
Scrawny	Thin and weak	Negative
Frugal	Careful with money	Positive (wise)
Cheap	Careful with money	Negative (stingy, miserly)
Curious	Eager to learn	Positive or neutral
Nosy	Eager to learn about others	Negative (invasive)
Odor	A smell	Neutral
Aroma	A smell	Positive (pleasant)
Stench	A smell	Negative (bad smell)

Practice

Questions 1–5: Identifying Denotation

1. The denotation of the word aroma is:

A) A pleasant or distinctive smell
B) A foul odor
C) Any smell, whether pleasant or unpleasant
D) A memory triggered by a smell

2. Which of the following best defines the denotation of the word thrifty?

A) Careful with money
B) Stingy and miserly
C) Generous with others
D) Wasteful but intentional

3. The literal, dictionary definition of observe is:

A) To watch carefully with suspicion
B) To see, notice, or watch
C) To celebrate with enthusiasm
D) To criticize silently

4. Which option gives the denotation of the word aggressive?

A) Hostile and violent
B) Assertive in a harmful way
C) Ready or likely to attack
D) Energetic and motivated

5. The denotation of childish is:

A) Immature and annoying
B) Like a child
C) Playful in an endearing way
D) Innocent and naive

Questions 6–10: Identifying Connotation

6. The word slender has a:

A) Positive connotation
B) Negative connotation
C) Neutral connotation
D) Technical denotation only

7. Which word has a negative connotation?

A) Frugal
B) Economical
C) Cheap
D) Prudent

8. The word curious generally carries a:

A) Strongly negative connotation
B) Neutral or slightly positive connotation
C) Completely negative connotation
D) Strictly scientific denotation

9. Which of the following pairs has the same denotation but different connotations?

A) Happy / Joyful
B) House / Home
C) Run / Sprint
D) Eat / Consume

10. The word notorious has a:

A) Positive connotation
B) Negative connotation
C) Neutral connotation
D) Literal meaning only

Questions 11–15: Choosing the Best Word Based on Context

11. The nurse described the patient’s wound using a word with a neutral connotation. Which is best?

A) Festering
B) Injury
C) Gaping
D) Disgusting

12. To describe someone who is careful with spending in a positive way, choose:

A) Stingy
B) Frugal
C) Cheap
D) Miserly

13. Which word has a more positive connotation than talkative?

A) Chatty
B) Garrulous
C) Conversational
D) Loudmouthed

14. A writer wants to emphasize that a large crowd gathered without negative judgment. Which word works best?

A) Mob
B) Horde
C) Gathering
D) Throng

15. To describe a persistent person in a negative way, use:

A) Determined
B) Stubborn
C) Resolute
D) Diligent

Questions 16–20: Distinguishing Connotation from Denotation in Sentences

16. Which sentence uses a word with a negative connotation?

A) The child was curious about the new medical equipment.
B) The child was nosy about the new medical equipment.
C) The child was interested in the new medical equipment.
D) The child was inquisitive about the new medical equipment.

17. In the sentence, “The politician was ambitious in pursuing healthcare reform,” the word ambitious has a:

A) Negative connotation
B) Positive connotation
C) Neutral connotation
D) Literal meaning only

18. Which sentence contains a word with a positive connotation?

A) The old building had a distinctive odor.
B) The old building had a stench.
C) The old building had a fragrance.
D) The old building had a smell.

19. The sentence, “She was skinny after her illness,” uses a word with a:

A) Positive connotation
B) Negative connotation
C) Neutral connotation
D) Humorous connotation

20. Which sentence uses a word with a neutral connotation?

A) The researcher made a mistake in the data entry.
B) The researcher blundered badly in the data entry.
C) The researcher botched the data entry completely.
D) The researcher fumbled the data entry carelessly.

Questions 21–25: Connotation in Clinical & Professional Contexts (TEAS Focus)

21. A nurse writes in a chart: “The patient refused to take the medication.” The word refused has a:

A) Positive connotation
B) Negative connotation implying defiance
C) Neutral connotation
D) Purely factual denotation

22. Which word would be most neutral and professional in a nursing note?

A) The patient complained of pain.
B) The patient reported pain.
C) The patient whined about pain.
D) The patient griped about pain.

23. Describing a patient as noncompliant has a:

A) Positive connotation
B) Negative connotation (blaming)
C) Neutral clinical meaning only
D) Encouraging connotation

24. To describe a patient who asks many questions in a neutral, factual way, write:

A) The patient was demanding.
B) The patient was inquisitive.
C) The patient was annoying.
D) The patient was persistent with questions.

25. The word slender versus scrawny — when describing a post-surgical patient — shows:

A) Same denotation, same connotation
B) Different denotation, same connotation
C) Same denotation, different connotation
D) Different denotation, different connotation

Questions 26–30: Mixed Practice (Choose the Best Answer)

26. Which word has a denotation meaning “to taste or eat sparingly” but a negative connotation?

A) Savor
B) Nibble
C) Pick at
D) Sample

27. Which sentence uses a word with a more positive connotation than the others?

A) The team devised a clever solution.
B) The team devised a cunning solution.
C) The team devised a sly solution.
D) The team devised a sneaky solution.

28. The denotation of assertive is “confident and forceful.” The connotation is generally:

A) Negative (aggressive)
B) Positive or neutral depending on context
C) Always negative
D) Completely neutral

29. A hospital administrator writes: “We must control costs this quarter.” Replacing control with which word would add a positive connotation?

A) Slash
B) Manage
C) Limit
D) Curb

30. Which statement about connotation and denotation is true?

A) Connotation is the same as the dictionary definition.
B) Denotation can change depending on the reader’s feelings.
C) Two words can have the same denotation but different connotations.
D) Connotation applies only to adjectives, not nouns or verbs.

Answer Key & Short Reasons

1. A

Reason: Aroma means a pleasant or distinctive smell.

2. A

Reason: Thrifty literally means careful with money.

3. B

Reason: Observe means to see, notice, or watch.

4. C

Reason: The dictionary meaning is “ready or likely to attack.”

5. B

Reason: Childish literally means “like a child.”

6. A

Reason: Slender usually has a positive meaning (attractively thin).

7. C

Reason: Cheap often suggests poor quality or stinginess.

8. B

Reason: Curious is generally neutral or slightly positive.

9. B

Reason: Both relate to a place to live, but home is warmer emotionally.

10. B

Reason: Notorious means famous for something bad.

11. B

Reason: Injury is the most neutral term.

12. B

Reason: Frugal positively describes careful spending.

13. C

Reason: Conversational is more positive than talkative.

14. C

Reason: Gathering is neutral and nonjudgmental.

15. B

Reason: Stubborn gives a negative view of persistence.

16. B

Reason: Nosy has a negative connotation.

17. B

Reason: Ambitious is generally viewed positively here.

18. C

Reason: Fragrance has a pleasant, positive connotation.

19. B

Reason: Skinny often implies being too thin.

20. A

Reason: Mistake is the most neutral word.

21. B

Reason: Refused can imply resistance or defiance.

22. B

Reason: Reported is objective and professional.

23. B

Reason: Noncompliant can sound blaming or negative.

24. B

Reason: Inquisitive is neutral and factual.

25. C

Reason: Both mean thin, but slender is positive and scrawny is negative.

26. C

Reason: Pick at often suggests reluctance to eat.

27. A

Reason: Clever has the most positive connotation.

28. B

Reason: Assertive is usually positive or neutral depending on context.

29. B

Reason: Manage sounds more positive and constructive.

30. C

Reason: Words can share denotation but differ in emotional meaning (connotation).

Monday, 1 June 2026

ATI TEAS Version 7 English & Language Usage section. Answers are not included, so you can use this as a worksheet or quiz