Use of english Unit 5-15

the United States / the US(A)

Plural name country requiring 'the'

the United Kingdom / the UK

Kingdom requiring 'the'

the Netherlands

Plural name country in Europe requiring 'the'

the Philippines

Plural name island country requiring 'the'

the European Union / the EU

Political and economic union taking 'the'

a Finn / Swede / Turk / Spaniard / Dane / Pole

Nouns used to refer to individuals from Finland, Sweden, Turkey, Spain, Denmark, Poland

a Dutch man / French woman / Irish person

Compound noun forms required with man/woman/person

dialect

A regional variety of a language with differences in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation

native language / first language (mother tongue)

The primary language spoken from earliest childhood

bilingual / multilingual / monolingual

Speaking two / several / only one language fluently

daytime

During the day (opposite of nighttime)

misty / damp / frost

Water droplets in air / slightly wet / thin ice layer on surfaces

thaw / melt

Change from frozen to soft/liquid state / change from solid to liquid under heat

stifling / muggy / humid / boiling

Hard to breathe hot / warm & damp / hot & damp causing sweat / extremely hot

heatwave

A period of unusually hot and dry weather

shower → heavy rain → pour down / downpour → torrential rain → flood

Scale of rainfall from brief light rain to overflowing water

overcast / drought

Very cloudy sky / long period with little or no rain

gentle breeze / gale / hurricane

Light pleasant wind / very strong wind / violent tropical storm wind

complexion

Natural color and texture of the skin on a person's face

crew-cut / bald / receding hair

Very short cut / no hair / hair line moving backwards

freckles / wrinkles

Small brown spots from sun / lines on skin from aging

plump / stout / stocky

Polite terms for slightly fat / short and solid build

slim vs skinny

Slim = thin in an attractive way (+) / Skinny = too thin (-)

smart / elegant vs scruffy / untidy

Stylish & clean appearance vs messy appearance

stunning / feature / first impressions

Extremely attractive / prominent facial part / initial reaction when meeting someone

shrewd / bright / sharp

Clever, quick at understanding things (positive)

brainless / daft / dumb / dim / thick

Lacking ability; foolish or stupid (informal/offensive)

cunning / crafty / sly

Clever in a deceitful or tricking way

pessimistic vs optimistic

Expecting the worst vs looking on the bright side

sensible vs sensitive

Practical and down-to-earth vs easily hurt or upset by criticism

gregarious / sociable

Enjoying the company of others

quarrelsome / argumentative

Liking to argue or fight with others

easy-going / even-tempered / laid-back

Calm, relaxed and not easily upset

determined vs stubborn / pig-headed

Unwilling to change mind (positive vs negative connotation)

thrifty / economical vs stingy / tight-fisted

Careful with money (positive vs negative connotation)

frank / direct vs blunt / abrupt

Speaking directly without filter (positive vs negative connotation)

enquiring vs inquisitive / nosy

Interested in learning (positive vs negative connotation)

assertive vs aggressive / bossy

Stating opinions forcefully (positive vs negative connotation)

casual acquaintance

A person you have met but do not know well

housemate / flatmate / roommate / workmate

Person you share a house/flat/room or work with (informal: mate)

steady relationship

Fixed and stable romantic relationship not changing suddenly

partner

Person you live with unmarried, or business co-owner

colleague

Professional workmate (more formal)

parents-in-law

Your spouse's parents (mother-in-law and father-in-law)

acquire friends / list of contacts

Gain contacts and build social network connections

interact / share photos / tag / unfriend

Exchange messages, upload pictures, label friends, remove from friends list

adore / idolise / look up to

Strong positive feelings: love deeply / admire intensely / respect greatly

loathe / despise / look down on

Strong negative feelings: hate completely / feel contempt / feel superior to

fancy / leave someone cold

Be attracted to (infml) / produce no emotion or excitement in someone

get on well (with each other)

Have a good, harmonious relationship

see eye to eye

Agree with each other on issues

fall out with someone

Have an argument and stop being friendly

have an affair

A secret romantic or sexual relationship outside marriage

make it up

Become friends again after a quarrel

see each other / get together

Date regularly / start a romantic relationship

make friends

Correct expression (NOT 'get friends' or 'find friends')

detached house

A house not joined to any other building

terraced house

A house joined to several houses in a continuous row

bungalow

A house with only one storey (no upstairs)

semi-detached house

A house joined to one other house on one side

self-contained flat

Flat that does not share facilities (kitchen/bathroom) with others

cottage / studio flat / villa

Small country house / 1-room flat / large luxury house in holiday resort

master bedroom / utility room

Largest main bedroom / room for washing machine, freezer etc.

shed / attic / loft / conversion

Garden storage building / space under roof / converting roof space to living area

cellar / basement

Room below ground level without windows / with windows for living/working

landing / hallway / porch

Flat area top of stairs / entrance space / covered area outside entrance door

terrace / patio / drive

Paved outdoor seating area / short private road leading to house or garage

corkscrew / peeler / grater / chopping board

Wine bottle opener / vegetable skin remover / shredder / wooden board for cutting

ironing board / socket / dustpan and brush

Flat padded board for ironing / electrical wall outlet / tray and broom for sweeping

leaking / smashed / cracked

Water escaping / broken into pieces / surface line break without falling apart

run out / dead (batteries)

Used up / no electric charge left

chipped / power cut

Small piece broken off edge / interruption of electricity supply

break down / crash (computer)

Stop functioning (machines) / suddenly stop working (software)

twist ankle / bump head / bruise

Injure joint by turning / hit head against object / dark skin mark from injury

trip and fall down / graze knee

Catch foot and fall / scrape skin causing redness

mislaid / stain / blocked sink

Put somewhere and lost / permanent mark / water cannot drain away

dented / locked myself out

Bent metal slightly by hitting / shut outside without key

earthquake / flood / drought / volcano

Ground shaking / excessive water / no rain / mountain erupting hot lava

famine / landslide / epidemic

Extreme food shortage / earth moving down slope / rapid spread of disease

hurricane / tornado / typhoon

Violent tropical storm winds

injure vs damage

Injure = used for people / Damage = used for things

casualties / victims / survivors

Dead and injured people / those who suffer / people who live through disaster

refugees / migrants / wounded

Fleeing country due to war/disaster / moving for work / injured in battle

Rabies / AIDS / Malaria / Cholera / Typhoid

Disease from animal bite / immune virus / mosquito bite disease / waterborne bacterial diseases

crèche / nursery school

Childcare for youngest children / preschool (ages 3-5)

primary / comprehensive / grammar school

Ages 5-11 / state secondary all abilities / selective academic secondary school

public school / sixth-form college

Private fee-paying school in UK / college for ages 16-18 preparing for A-levels

compulsory education

Education required by law

resit exam / A levels

Take exam again after failing / UK national exams at age 18

pass / fail / skip classes

Get required grade / fail grade / deliberately miss classes

LMS / VLE / distance learning / blended learning

Learning management system / virtual learning env. / online study / mix of online & classroom

undergraduate / bachelor's degree / credits

First degree studies / 3-4 year degree / study modules point value

dissertation / master's / PhD / thesis

Long written research paper / postgraduate degree / doctorate / doctoral dissertation

campus / lecture theatre / seminar / tutorial

University grounds / large presentation hall / small discussion group / 1-on-1 or tiny group teaching

halls of residence

University student accommodation buildings

admissions / entry requirements / tuition fees

Department handling applications / needed qualifications / cost of university courses

student loan / scholarship / student union

Borrowed money for studies / merit grant / student organization and club centre the United States / the US(A)

the United Kingdom / the UK

Kingdom requiring 'the'

the Netherlands / the Philippines / the UAE

Plural name countries / unions requiring 'the'

the European Union / the Commonwealth

International bodies / unions taking 'the'