UNIT 10

The world of work

Language Focus: Vocabulary

Adverb + adjective collocation

Adverbs

your first day at secondary school the education system in your country. hopelessly incredibly _

are often used t o intensify the meaning of

A _deadly extremely _ fantastically --utt ed y - relatively - t otally

-adjectives.forexample:

A: Very hot today, isn't it? B; Yes, absolutely boiling.

The adverb you canusedependsonthe type of
_a djecti"e that follows it.

boring .co nceited _competitive dull co nfusing enjoyable funny goode-looking (in) efficient progressive rich successful

-1 Match the sets of adverbs 1-2 below to the three

sets of adjectives A, Band C. Can you explain the reason
for your answer?

1 very/extremely/incredibly/fairly/rather
2 absolutely/completely/totally
A terrified/amazed/exhausted/ruined
B large/important/old/happy
C perfect/frozen/extinct
--. ~ Gnimmar ~efe rence p,223
Some intensifiers collocate strongly with particular _ adjectives. Complete the sentences using intensifiers from the box.

- 4 Re-express the following sentences using the intensifier given in brackets, so that they mean almost the same.You will need to change the adjective used in the original sentence, and you may need to make other changes as a result.

2 3 4 S 6

The carpenters we re very clever at their job . (highly) The weather could not have been better. (absolutely) They had no idea where they were. (completely) I found the film absolutely terrifying. (extrem ely) I was absolutely amazed when I heard I'd passed the exam. (exceedingly) When her boyfriend left her she was extremely unhappy. (utterly )
~

i.

Exam Maximiser _

-deep ly Closely entirely _ .highly widely wildly The whereabouts of the exiled president remains a ............ guarded secret. . English language newspapers are not available outside the main tourist centres. skilled The company employs a team of designers. I was moved by the experience of visiting the refugee camp. We were not convinced by his argum ents. exaggerated His description of the accident is - it was far less dangerous than he suggests.

Adjective + noun collocation

In the following sentences, only two of the three adjectives collocate with the noun. Cross out the adjective that doesn't collocate.

2 3 4 _S 6

2 3 4 S

3; Work in pairs.Take turns to ask and answer the

faJkJtVtng (j\:I'eSliom. lJ'sf! an adverb from box A ana an

adjective from box B in your answers.

Say what you think of:

a film/play you have seen recently a well-known personality at home and/or abroad the public transport System in your country your first job /the worst job you have ever done

7 8

The high /large/increasing incidence of heart disease may be due to poor diet . The pass rate in the exam is higher/lower!smaller in some areas than in others. A large/considerable/big number of companies are reducing their workforces. Tourism is the most major/important/significant source of income in the area. We have invested expanding/even greater/ ever-increasing sums of money in improving our equfpmem. A high/considerable/n'sing ratio of pupils to teachers is bound to lead to falling standards in education. . This town has a larger/greater /higher proportion of older residents than its neighbour. Counterfeit goods are being produced in larqelenormoustqrand quantities,

ii I
I
I

143