RELATIONSHIPS – USEFUL EXPRESSIONS

Types of family Marital relationships Verbs

Extended Single (to) get divorced (from)
Nuclear Engaged engaged (to)
Single – parent Married married (to)
Cohabiting Unmarried (to) get on (well) with s.o
Blended Separated (to) start/ end a relationship with s.o
Divorced (to) marry s.o
Widowed (to) look up to s.b
(to) be in touch with s.b
(to) fall out with s.b
(to) grow apart from s.b
(to) take after s.b
(to) grow up together/with s.b
(to) be close to s.b
(to) bring up childcare upbringing adolescence
birth rate dependant
A. Use the above words to complete the following sentences.
1. Mr and Mrs Smith live at home with their two children. They are a typical
example of a modern…nuclear……………family.
2. Mr and Mrs Popatlal live at home with their aged parents, children and
grandchildren. They are a typical example of a traditional …extended...family.
3. Mrs Jones lives on her own and has to look after her two children. There
are a lot of …single - parent……. families like hers.
4. Some parents need to …bring up………. their children more strictly.
5. When I was a child, I had a very turbulent …upbringing…………
6. Mrs Kelly is …separated…… and finds it difficult to look after her children
on her own.
7. Many men believe that …childcare…… is the responsibility of a woman.
8. …Adolescence……. is a particularly difficult time of life for a child.
9. The country has seen a sharp drop in the …birth rate………. in the last few
year.
10. She has five …dependants……. who rely on her to look after them.
 B. Match words from column A and B to make the common expressions used in
describing families and relationships. Then continue to match the expressions
with the pictures.

A B 5
1. wedding a) family
3 2. married b) status
3. best c) parent
4. maternity d) ring
5. extended e) couple
6. family f) leave
7. marital g) friend
8. single h) tree
4
7
2

1 6
8