Vocabulary Notes. Essential Vocabulary I
Exercise 1. A) You can keep a record of common collocations and combinability by using ‘spidergrams’. These are very clear on the page and you can add to them. Complete these.
B) Write sentences supplying context for the phrases from ‘spidergrams’ using literary works by English or American authors or English English dictionary.
Example: Shall I make a guess? You are M. Hercule Poirot (Christie).
Elinor could not now be made unhappy by this behaviour (Austen).
Exercise 2. Write the opposite of these phrases and expressions. The first is done for you.
1 find the destination lose one’s way 2 go in the tail of the group 3 be out of smb.’s way 4 agree with smb. (to consent to) 5 use no cosmetics 6 have natural smell 7 do everything correctly 8 keep silent 9 quarrel with anew group mate 10 feel uncomfortable as a guest 11 walk without support 12 catch (get) hold of smth. |
13 new property worn property 14 dull conversation
15 way to suffering
16 weather will change
17 clothes for holiday wear
18 calm eyes
19 be unable to decide |
Exercise 3. Finish these questions with the correct preps, then write a short answer for each one.
1. A: What exactly is she worried …? B: ……………………………………………
2. A: What streets did they make their way …? B: ……………………………………………
3. A: What lady did she have to attend …? B: ……………………………………………
4. A: Whose health is she anxious …? B: ……………………………………………
5. A: Whom did he make friends …? B: ……………………………………………
6. A: I’ve climbed very high, is here anything to hold …? B: …………………………………
7. A: Weren’t the ropes too slippery to keep hold …? B: …………………………………….
8. A: What tricks were you entertained …? B: ……………………………………………
Exercise 4. Match the sentence beginnings on the left with the endings on the right.
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Much, many
Grammar Check
Underline the correct items.
1 There were (much, lots of, few, a little) people at the concert yesterday.
2 The director spent (many, a good deal of, several, little) time casting young actors for the leading role in the play.
3 They have had (a few, several, great, a lot of) success with their avant-garde performance.
4 I've enjoyed (a little, a few, much, several) of his productions.
5 There was (no, any, many, much) information about the rising star of absolutely distinguished talent who played the main part in the play.
6 Simon spends (many, much, no, hardly any) of his time rehearsing at the amateur drama society.
7 He's spent (a few, a little, a good deal of, some) weeks in Madrid.
8 Can I borrow (several, a little, a few, some) money from you?
9 (All, Little, A few, Lots of) employees attended the meeting.
10 I've seen this prominent actor (a little, a few, several, hardly any) times but I've never spoken to him.
Vocabulary work
Study the differences between the following words.
Make, do, have, take
There are many common expressions with these verbs, and often they are different in other languages, so you need to learn them. Make usually means to create, bring into existence, or produce a result, do usually means to perform an action.
A Things we make
a mistake (= an error) a meal (= prepare and cook something to eat) money (= become rich) friends a decision
a noise progress (U) (= improvement) |
He made a few mistakes in the exam. I had to make my own dinner last night.
He made a lot of money when he worked in America. It's not always easy to make friends in a foreign country. We can have the red ones or the green ones, but we must make a decision (choose the red or green) before 6 p.m. I can't work when the children make a lot of noise. Her English is good now; she has made a lot of progress. |
Things we do
homework (U) the housework (U) (= cleaning) subjects (= study subjects) a course the shopping (= buy food) research (U) (= detailed study in one subject) (someone) a favour (= do something to help someone) something/anything/nothing
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I forgot to do my English homework last night. My mother does all the housework in our house. Did you do English at school? I did a one-week course in word processing. I always do the shopping at the weekend. He's doing research in physics at Rome University.
I don't have any coffee. Could you do me a favour and lend me some? I didn't do anything last night. That boy has done nothing all day |
C Things we have
a rest (= relax / do nothing) food (= eat food) and drink a drink (= drink something) a bath/shower a party a baby (=be pregnant or give birth) a (nice/great/terrible) time
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They had a long rest after the game. I had steak but Paul just had a cup of tea. Let's have a drink before dinner. I always have a bath when I get up. I'm having a party for my birthday. Mary is having a baby next month. We had a very nice time in Switzerland last year. |
D Things we take
an exam (also 'do an exam') a photo a decision (also 'make') a shower (also 'have') a bus/train/plane/taxi
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I'm going to take four exams next month. She took lots of photos on holiday. I'm not very good at taking decisions. I'm just going to take a shower before lunch. We were late, so we took a taxi to the airport
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Note:
Notice
the use of be + adjective [not
have
+ noun]
in these expressions:
She was lucky I'm hungry (= I want to eat) I'm thirsty (= I want a drink)
Task1. Cross out the incorrect verbs in these sentences. Both verbs may be correct.
I couldn't do/make the homework last night.
She's going to make/have a party for her birthday.
Did he do/make many mistakes?
I often make/do the housework.
Did you make/take many photos?
When do you take/do your next exam?
I want to do/make a course in English.
We must take/make a decision soon.
He is doing/making research in chemistry.
10 They did/made a lot of noise during the party.
Task2. Replace the underlined word(s) with a suitable word or expression from the above-given rule.
Example: I want to eat something. I’m hungry.
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Task 3. Look at the four split pictures. Describe what happened using at least two expressions from the opposite page in each one. Look at the example first.
