The PCM Method is very
easy. Some words have more than one meaning. When you look up such a word in
the Macmillan
English Dictionary [MED], look for a sample sentence with the same
grammar pattern and similar collocates. This will help you find the correct
meaning.
1. pay
2.6 These are my
friends now, Dad ... And they're going to help me pay back [the buzzard] who
bushwhacked you! That's a *PROMISE*!
 |
| None of these five meanings fits. The patterns and collocates are wrong. |
 |
| pay back (2) is just right: same pattern, same collocates |
PATTERN: pay
[somebody] back = VB + [N] + ADV
COLLOCATE: them ~ buzzards (= bad
guys)
MED: She was determined to pay [them] back for the trouble they had caused.
MEANING: to
do something bad to someone because they have done something bad to you
2. happy
4.4 I get a lump in my throat when I think of the happy [years] when Dad
and I lived back of the sheriff's office!
 |
| Meaning (3) has the right pattern and the right collocates |
PATTERN:
happy years = ADJ + [N]
COLLOCATE: a
happy marriage/childhood/life (these nouns all refer to time)
MEANING: making
you feel happy, or showing that you feel happy
3. case
6.5 Now, Bunco ... I'm
paying you off for back-shooting my Daddy!
No! No! I didn't do it!
... Honest! Cade done the shooting! *I SWEAR HE DID IT*! I only stood by in case of trouble.
PATTERN: in
+ case + of + [N]
COLLOCATE:
trouble ~ bad weather (things that make people unhappy)
MEANING: If
there is [N]
4. know
2.5 {Now I know why you made me learn to shoot!}
know what/why/who etc.:
None of us really knew what had gone wrong.
PATTERN: know + WH (who/what/when/where/why/how) + sentence
COLLOCATE: you made me learn ~ [something went wrong]
MEANING: to have information about something, or to understand something
