Practice
Check that you know the meaning of each of the verbs below. They all describe different ways of looking. Then choose the appropriate verb to complete each sentence. Finally, make sure you understand the other words and phrases in bold print in the sentences.
glanced gazed peeped peered stared
1 He ……………………. intently at the piece of paper in front of him, wringing his hands in despair.
2 He stretched to his full height and ……………………. over the wall to see what Lady Thackeray-Smythe's daughter was doing.
3 We …………………….through the fog, blinking, trying to catch a glimpse of a moving light.
4 She stopped fidgeting and fiddling with her dress. She just sat, absolutely still, and…………………….out of the window, miles away, just occasionally pursing her lips, then biting them hard.
5 The referee …………………….at his watch again, made a sign to the linesmen, then blew the final whistle.
Write the opposite of the adjectives in the list, then make sentences.
quiet ≠ noisy
My neighbourhood is so noisy, I can't sleep at night.
tidy ≠ ……………….
friendly ≠ ……………….
beautiful ≠ ……………….
cramped ≠ ……………….
dark ≠ ……………….
Put the words in brackets in the comparative or superlative.
This café is much …………………………………..(noisy) that one.
Which is ………………………………….. (deep) ocean in the world?
Is New York ………………………………….. (expensive) Los Angeles?
Is the Nile ………………………………….. (long) the Mississippi?
Bombay ………………………………….. (crowded) city in the world.
Read the email and fill in the missing words.
Susan,
Hi - how are you? I hope everything 0) is OK back home. I really love my new place here in Colchester. It's a bit more expensive than my previous one but is cosier. It's quieter too.
The best think about 1)________ is the garden. It's really beautiful. The cottage itself is not very spacious. It has only one bedroom and 2) _________ small living room. The kitchen has very small windows so 3) ________ is quite dark. My bedroom faces onto 4) ________ garden so, as well as having a lovely view, it is 5) ________ very quiet. Thank goodness for that because I have a lot of studying to do 6) ________ year. The bedroom doesn't have 7) ________ storage space so I have to keep in neat and tidy. There isn't a book out of place! The bedroom is bright and airy but is simple, with basic fittings and plain white walls. It's not as luxurious 8) ________ the previous one but I don't mind. The neighbours 9) ________ very friendly and helpful. They gave me the warmest welcome ever.
That's all for now. Do come 10) ________ visit me. Remember, I have a spare bed! You're welcome any time!
Ann
Match the adjectives to their opposites.
e.g. expensive ___F__ A cramped
1. beautiful ______ B noisy
2. quiet ______ C ugly
3. spacious ______ D messy
4. tidy ______ E dark
5. bright ______ F cheap
Prepositions
Put in the missing prepositions in the following sentences.
1 I'm very disappointed ……………….. him.
a on b in c of
2 Who else was ……………….. the party on Saturday?
a at b on c to
3 He had difficulty ……………….. starling the car.
a with b to c in
4 What do English people eat……………….. Christmas?
a to b at c under
5 That music was written ……………….. Beethoven.
a of b with c by
6 I'm very conscious……………….. my big nose.
a of b at c with
7 The police car chased the robbers ……………….. the streets.
a among b in c through
8 I'm looking……………….. my lighter. Have you seen it?
a to b after c for
9 I haven't smoked……………….. ages.
a for b since c at
10I'm tired……………….. learning English.
a on b of c with
11 Here - divide this bar of chocolate ……………….. yourselves.
a in b among c with
Synonyms - verbs
Give a synonym for each of the words in brackets in the following sentences. Choose from the ones below. (Make any other necessary changes.) Number 1 has been done for you.
detest purchase spoil trip
inform accomplish put off alter
enter moan recollect occur
brag vanish scare
1 Being a gentleman, I allowed the women to (go in) ……enter….. first.
2 They were all watching the U.F.O. when it suddenly (disappeared)……………………….. .
3 This is something I (bought) ………………………..from an antique dealer in Chelsea.'
4 I love watching football, but my wife (loathes) .......................................it.
5 He (stumbled) ........... ..........................and fell as he was leaving the church.
6 You won't (achieve) .......................................anything if you don't work harder.
7 The manuscript is basically good - but there are still parts of it that need to be (changed) ………………………..
8 I couldn't (remember).......................................where I had first met her.
9 The match has been (postponed).......................................until next week.
10 Alfred Hitchcock's films really (frighten) .......................................me; especially the one he made about a lot of birds attacking people.
11 Bad weather completely (ruined) .......................................the Garden Party.
12 I don't like the new secretary very much - she's always (complaining) ................................... about something or other.
13 Can you tell me in your own words exactly what (happened) ...........................?
14 Would you please (notify).......................................me the moment Miss Baker gets back?
15 I can't stand Doreen. She's always (boasting) ......................................about the places she's been to.
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