Advanced English Collocations in Use | Unit 8

Itensifying and Softening Adverbs

What’s the function of adverbs in collocations ‘deeply offensive’ and ‘slightly offensive’?

‘Deeply is used as an intensifier (very/extremely). ‘Slightly’ is used as a softener (a little bit).

What’s the advanced collocation for ‘very clean’?

Jane really enjoys doing housework. You should see her flat - it's always spotlessly clean.

What are the advanced collocations for ‘very rude’ and ‘completely ashamed’?

It was downright rude of Antonio to tell Paula that she looked older than her own mother. I hope he feels thoroughly ashamed.

What are the advanced very informal collocations for ‘completely obvious’ and ‘very rich’?

It's blatantly obvious that Olga is only interested in Richard because he's stinking rich. (very informal)

What’s the advanced collocation for ‘extremely exaggerated’?

I wonder what she'll do when she finds out he's wildly exaggerated how rich he really is!

What’s the advanced very informal collocation for ‘very easy’?

I don't know what I was worrying about! The exam turned out to be dead easy! (very informal)

What’s the advanced very informal collocation for ‘completely inaccurate’?

This celebrity website is good fun but most of the information is wildly inaccurate.

Is ‘slightly different’ a strong or weak collocation?

‘slightly different’ is a strong collocation because it can be used with a wide range of adjectives

Name at least three collocation with ‘mildly’.

• mildly surprised

• mildly amusing/ed

• mildly irritating/ed

• mildly offensive

Name at least three collocation with ‘loosely’.

• Alfredo Scaluzzi's new film is loosely based on a nineteenth century novel.

• loosely centred

• loosely structured

• loosely related

• loosely connected

Name at least three collocation with ‘fairly’.

• Ms Giroa said she regarded reports that she was about to seek a divorce as fairly ridiculous.

• fairly formal

• faintly also collocates with amused

• fairly surprised

• fairly patronising

• fairly absurd

Does ‘absolutely’ collocate with ‘happy’?

No, because ‘absolutely’ collocates only with adjectives which have strong meanings, e.g. absolutely delighted.

Choose three words ‘highly’ collocates with.

• interesting

• unlikely

• appreciate

• educated

• recommended

• influence

highly unlikely

highly recommended

highly educated

Choose a word ‘strongly’ collocates with.

• influence

• appreciate

strongly influence

Does ‘greatly’ collocate with ‘appreciate’ and ‘influence’?

Yes, it does.

• grealy appreciate

• greatly influence

Choose two words ‘utterly’ collocates with.

• sorry

• absurd

• busy

• glad

• lonely

• ridiculous

• utterly absurd

• utterly ridiculous

Does ‘thoroughly’ collocate with ‘enjoy’?

Yes, it does.

• thoroughly enjoy

Match a word from each box to form collocations.

•  blatantly, downright, spotlessly, stinking, thoroughly, wildly

• ashamed, clean, inaccurate, obvious, rich, rude

• blatantly obvious (blatantly = in a way that is very obvious and intentional, when this is a bad thing)

• downright rude

• spotlessly clean

• stinking rich

• throroughly ashamed

• wildly inaccurate

Complete each sentence using a collocation from the list.

• blatantly obvious

• downright rude

• spotlessly clean

• stinking rich

• throroughly ashamed

• wildly inaccurate

He's just bought a 200,000 dollar yacht - he must be __ __!

stinking rich

Complete each sentence using a collocation from the list.

• blatantly obvious

• downright rude

• spotlessly clean

• stinking rich

• throroughly ashamed

• wildly inaccurate

I'm amazed you didn't realise she was lying! It was __ __ to me!

blatantly obvious

Complete each sentence using a collocation from the list.

• blatantly obvious

• downright rude

• spotlessly clean

• stinking rich

• throroughly ashamed

• wildly inaccurate

It was __ __ of him not to say hello to the secretary.

dowright rude

Complete each sentence using a collocation from the list.

• blatantly obvious

• downright rude

• spotlessly clean

• stinking rich

• throroughly ashamed

• wildly inaccurate

I've been hoovering and dusting all day, so now my flat is __ __.

spotlessly clean

Complete each sentence using a collocation from the list.

• blatantly obvious

• downright rude

• spotlessly clean

• stinking rich

• throroughly ashamed

• wildly inaccurate

Most of the facts were wrong in that news report. It was __ __.

wildly inaccurate

Complete each sentence using a collocation from the list.

• blatantly obvious

• downright rude

• spotlessly clean

• stinking rich

• throroughly ashamed

• wildly inaccurate

You should be __ __of yourself. Your behaviour was appalling!

thoroughly ashamed

Rewrite the underlined part of each sentence using a collocation from the opposite page.

The American writer Mark Twain is famous for commenting that reports of his death had been over-exaggerated.

wildly exaggerated

Rewrite the underlined part of each sentence using a collocation from the opposite page.

This restaurant is recommended by many different people.

highly recommended

Rewrite the underlined part of each sentence using a collocation from the opposite page.

The exam was extremely easy; everyone got high marks. (make this informal)

dead easy

Rewrite the underlined part of each sentence using a collocation from the opposite page.

The musical West Side Story is kind of based on the plot of Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. (make this less informal)

loosely based on

Rewrite the underlined part of each sentence using a collocation from the opposite page.

The idea of the boss singing Happy Birthday to me struck me as a little bit ridiculous.

faintly/mildly ridiculous

Rewrite the underlined part of each sentence using a collocation from the opposite page.

The success of the Wimbledon tennis tournament is 100% dependent on the weather. (give two answers)

completely/totally/entirely dependent

Rewrite the underlined part of each sentence using a collocation from the opposite page.

I really enjoyed the days I spent at your lovely house in the country.

thoroughly enjoyed

Rewrite the underlined part of each sentence using a collocation from the opposite page.

I was just a little surprised by her decision to quit her job so soon.

mildly surprised

Rewrite the underlined part of each sentence using a collocation from the opposite page.

I was really delighted when they told me I'd got the job.

absolutely delighted

Rewrite the underlined part of each sentence using a collocation from the opposite page.

The new model of this camera is a little bit different from the old one.

slightly different

Add intensifying adverbs to these sentences to make the words in bold stronger.

I appreciate the fact that you have given me so much of your time.

greatly appreciate

Add intensifying adverbs to these sentences to make the words in bold stronger.

Sometimes Tony says ridiculous things.

utterly ridiculous

Add intensifying adverbs to these sentences to make the words in bold stronger.

The crossword in today's newspaper is difficult. I can't even start it!

teriibly/extremely/incredibly difficult

Add intensifying adverbs to these sentences to make the words in bold stronger.

It's sweet of you to offer to help.

awfully/extremely/incredibly sweet

Add intensifying adverbs to these sentences to make the words in bold stronger.

I found his remarks offensive; he should apologise.

deeply/slightly offensive

Add intensifying adverbs to these sentences to make the words in bold stronger.

She leads a lonely life in a tiny house on a remote island.

awfully/terribly/extremely/incredibly lonely

Add intensifying adverbs to these sentences to make the words in bold stronger.

We should try to keep the two groups separate from each other.

totally/entirely/completely separate

Add intensifying adverbs to these sentences to make the words in bold stronger.

She is an educated person.

a highly educated

Add intensifying adverbs to these sentences to make the words in bold stronger.

I've been busy all week.

awfully/terribly/incredibly/extremelu busy

Add intensifying adverbs to these sentences to make the words in bold stronger.

That meal was expensive! I'm not eating there again.

terribly/incredibly/extremely expensive

Is the adverb collocation correct or not? Correct it if it wrong.

I thoroughly enjoyed the film.

correct

Is the adverb collocation correct or not? Correct it if it wrong.

Your help would be strongly appreciated.

Incorrect. We say ‘greatly appreciate’.

Is the adverb collocation correct or not? Correct it if it wrong.

The song is highly influenced by Brazilian folk rhythms.

Incorrect. We say ‘strongly influenced’.

Is the adverb collocation correct or not? Correct it if it wrong.

I find the situation utterly absurd.

Correct