What is motivation? Pronunciation and usage in English

motivation means . Learn how to pronounce and use motivation through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of motivation

motivationnoun

/ˌməʊtɪˈveɪʃn//ˌməʊtɪˈveɪʃn/

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "motivation" in English. Here's a breakdown:

1. Syllables:

The word is broken down into three syllables:

  • mo - like the beginning of "more"
  • ti - like the beginning of "time"
  • va - like the beginning of "value"

2. Sounds:

  • mo: Pronounced like "moe" (rhymes with "toe")
  • ti: Pronounced like "tee"
  • va: Pronounced like “vah” (like in "father")
  • tion: This is the tricky part! It’s pronounced like "shun" (rhymes with "fun").

3. Putting it all together:

It sounds roughly like: moe-TEE-vah-shun

Resources to Help You Hear It:

Tips for getting it right:

  • Stress: The stress is on the first syllable ("mo").
  • The "shun" sound: Really focus on making the "shun" sound at the end. It's a common point of difficulty for learners.

Would you like me to:

  • Repeat the pronunciation slowly?
  • Focus on a particular part of the word (like the "shun" sound)?

Usage and examples with the word motivation in English

Let's break down how to use the word "motivation" in English. It's a really versatile word with several related meanings. Here's a breakdown with examples:

1. As a Noun (The thing that drives you):

  • Definition: This is the most common usage. "Motivation" refers to the reason why you do something, the force that pushes you to act.
  • Examples:
    • "Her motivation for learning French was to travel to Paris." (What drove her?)
    • "He lacked motivation at work and wasn't performing well." (What was missing?)
    • "Exercise is a great way to boost your motivation." (What's the benefit?)
    • "Finding your motivation can be difficult sometimes." (Referring to discovering why you want to do something.)

2. As a Verb (To cause to do something):

  • Definition: "To motivate" means to inspire or encourage someone to do something.
  • Examples:
    • "The teacher tried to motivate her students to study harder."
    • "A good leader can motivate their team to achieve great things."
    • "Positive feedback can motivate employees."
    • "The company uses incentives to motivate its sales staff."

3. Types of Motivation (Breaking it down further):

You can describe what kind of motivation you're talking about:

  • Intrinsic Motivation: This comes from within – you do something because you enjoy it, find it interesting, or feel a sense of accomplishment.
    • Example: "I'm intrinsically motivated to write because I love telling stories."
  • Extrinsic Motivation: This comes from external rewards or pressures. You do something to get something else – a prize, praise, or to avoid a negative consequence.
    • Example: "The students worked hard to get good grades (extrinsic motivation)."
  • Extrinsic Rewards: These are the things that motivate someone (money, praise, grades, etc.)
  • Intrinsic Rewards: These are the feelings or satisfaction you get from doing something itself (the joy of learning, the satisfaction of completing a task).

4. Phrases Using "Motivation":

  • “Driven by motivation”: (He is driven by motivation to succeed.)
  • “Lack of motivation”: (She’s experiencing a lack of motivation.)
  • “Boost your motivation”: (Try doing something you enjoy to boost your motivation.)
  • “Motivational speaker”: (A person who inspires others.)

Tips for Using "Motivation" Correctly:

  • Context is key: Make sure you're using it in the right sense (noun or verb) and clarifying if you're referring to a specific type of motivation.
  • Synonyms: Consider using synonyms like "drive," "inspiration," "incentive," or "urge" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What are you trying to write or say that you’re using the word “motivation” in? (e.g., an essay, a conversation, an email?)
  • What specific aspect of "motivation" are you interested in? (e.g., how to find it, how to increase it, different types of motivation?)

Synonyms for the word motivation

Practice with vocabulary motivation

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. A clear career path can significantly improve employee ______ and engagement within an organization.
  2. The management recognized that a lack of ______ was hindering the team's progress on the complex project.
  3. The new project received a substantial financial ______ to encourage innovative solutions and early completion.
  4. Despite numerous rejections, her unwavering ______ to become a published author kept her writing every day.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (Select all that apply)

  1. Which of the following can typically serve as a strong source of internal ______ for an individual? a) Fear of failure b) Sense of purpose c) Monetary bonuses d) Personal interest in the task e) Public recognition

  2. Effective leadership often focuses on fostering a high level of ______ among team members to achieve collective goals. a) Apathy b) Consensus c) Motivation d) Indifference e) Collaboration

  3. To boost staff ______, companies might offer professional development opportunities or performance-based rewards. a) Disengagement b) Enthusiasm c) Drive d) Resignation e) Motivation

  4. Which word best describes an external factor designed to encourage a specific action or behavior? a) Deterrent b) Incentive c) Obstacle d) Sanction e) Penalty

  5. Her profound ______ for scientific discovery led her to pursue challenging research for decades. a) Indifference b) Passion c) Aversion d) Disinterest e) Apathy

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: His strong desire to achieve success in the corporate world propelled him to work tirelessly. Rewrite using "motivation" or a related form:

  2. Original: The positive feedback from the client made the team feel more enthusiastic about their next project. Rewrite using "motivation" or a related form:

  3. Original: What truly pushes individuals to overcome significant obstacles and pursue ambitious goals? Rewrite without using "motivation" or any related forms:

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. motivation
  2. motivation
  3. incentive
  4. determination

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. b) Sense of purpose, d) Personal interest in the task
  2. c) Motivation, e) Collaboration
  3. b) Enthusiasm, c) Drive, e) Motivation
  4. b) Incentive
  5. b) Passion

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. His strong motivation to achieve success in the corporate world propelled him to work tirelessly.
  2. The positive feedback from the client motivated the team to feel more enthusiastic about their next project.
  3. What truly drives individuals to overcome significant obstacles and pursue ambitious goals?

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