Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Collocations (2)
Complete the sentences with the correct preposition(s).
They used to be very common birds but their numbers are …………….
decline.
That problem is very common. Your brother's experience is a case
…………….. point.
He was a rebel, ………………… contrast to his father, a judge.
The ship hit a rock and sank ………………… trace.
It’s the first time that these animals have been bred …………….
captivity.
They set off ………………. pursuit of the thieves.
They insist on the rent being paid ……………. advance.
You are ………………. arrest and anything you say may be used against
you.
It seemed right at the time, but …………… retrospect was clearly an
error.
His novels were once very popular but now they are all …………………..
print.
Verb + preposition (1)
Complete the sentences with the correct preposition.
The children vie …………… each other ………. their mother’s attention.
The evidence conflicts ………………. the official explanation.
Products must conform ……………… European safety standards.
Their research contributed …………… the success of the project.
He gets very angry whenever anyone disagrees ………………… him.
He is very reliable so I have no hesitation in entrusting the task
…………… him.
I'm not sure if that law applies …………… foreigners.
I don't think this is the right moment to invest …………. shares.
I like going to the theatre, but that play didn't appeal ……………. me.
Ever since he disappeared, the newspapers have indulged ……………
speculation.
Common combinations (adjectives and nouns)
Complete the sentences, choosing the correct adjective or noun used
adjectivally from the list below.
That would never have happened in the past, when things were better.
That would never have happened in ……………………………………. .
When the news came through, he resigned and his colleagues did the same
thing.
When the news came through, he resigned and his colleagues
……………………………………………. .
All the members of staff have made a contribution to buy her a leaving
present.
All the members of staff have ………………………… to buy her a leaving present.
I've been successful as a writer, and now my son is pursuing the same
career.
I've been successful as a writer, and now my son is ……………………………………. .
I thought it would upset her but she wasn't in the least worried.
I thought it would upset her but she didn't …………………………………………. .
The bad trade figures indicate possible risks for the economy.
The bad trade figures sound ………………………………. for the economy.
Rewrite the sentences, using the correct phrase from those given. Where
necessary, put the verbs into the correct form. Note that the sentences will
have the same meaning as those printed but the order of words may
change.
Once we got out of the city, the journey was free from trouble.
Once we got out of the city, it was all ………………………… .
What a pleasure to see you again! It's just like the way things used to be.
What a pleasure to see you again. It’s just like ……………………………… .
The plan is satisfactory up to a point but it doesn't get to the roots of the
problem.
The plan is all right ………………………………… but it doesn't get to the roots of
the problem.
The children were bored, with nothing to do, until I found this old game
upstairs.
The children were ………………………… until I found this old game upstairs.
The explanation they gave was very far from a true account.
The explanation they gave was …………………………… away from a true account.
When they choose a new leader, he'll be the first one to be considered.
When they choose a new leader, he'll be …………………………………… .
Life in the desert was a very different experience from life in the city.
Life in the desert was ……………………………………………… from life in the city.
They were discovered at the scene of the crime, holding the jewels.
They were …………………………………………. holding the jewels.
He was so far ahead of the rest of us that we couldn't compete with him.
He was so far ahead of the rest of us that we ………………………………….. .
He's been looking for a chance to get his revenge ever since it happened.
He's been looking for a chance to ………………………………………. ever since it
happened.
Rewrite the sentences, using the correct phrase from those given. Where
necessary, put the verbs into the correct form. Note that the sentences will
have the same meaning as those printed but the order of words may
change.
He won the law case but the contrasting aspect of the matter is that he'll
have to pay his own costs.
He won the law case but ……………………………………… is that he'll have to pay
his own costs.
There's not much daylight left, so we'd better take full advantage of it.
There's not much daylight left, so we'd better ………………………………………… it.
He's employed as an expert adviser, but no one takes much notice of what
he says.
He's employed as an expert adviser, but what he says doesn't
……………………………. much …………………. .
It was a disappointment, but the only thing to do was to take what we could
out of the situation.
It was a disappointment, but the only thing to do was to
………………………………. it.
Trying to please both sides in the conflict could prove to be a weapon that
would turn against him.
Trying to please both sides in the conflict could prove to be ………………………….
It's no good trying to compromise. You must try your hardest to win.
It’s no good trying to compromise. You must ……………………….. for victory.
It's time they intervened, instead of avoiding taking sides and doing nothing.
It’s time they intervened, instead of ………………………………… .
When people promise to make you a fortune, they're usually deceiving you.
When people promise to make you a fortune, they're usually ……………………. .
They're sure to want to become involved in the business, now they can see
the profit.
They're sure to want to ………………………………….. , now they can see the profit.
The team are not having the best of luck at the moment, but that will pass.
The team are …………………………………….. at the moment, but that will pass.
When I come back to work after the holiday, it takes me some time to get
back to the normal routine.
When I come back to work after the holiday, it takes me some time to
…………………………………….
Rewrite the sentences, using the correct phrase from those given. Where
necessary, put the verbs into the correct form. Note that the sentences will
have the same meaning as those printed but the order of words may
change.
The best plan is to sell your shares while you're still making a profit.
The best plan is to get out of the market while ………………………………………. .
I'll try and open it with this knife. That should prove successful.
I’ll try and open it with this. That should …………………………….. .
Good fortune rather than skill was the reason why I won.
I won rather more …………………………………………………. .
I can't understand how you came round to believing that I was responsible.
I can't understand how you …………………………………… that I was responsible.
He says he's delighted with it but I reckon he'll express a different opinion
when he sees the bill.
He says he's delighted but I reckon he'll ………………………………… when he sees
the bill.
When the news came through, there was no limit to his delight.
When the news came through, his delight ………………………………. .
I'm going to dispose of this armchair. It doesn't match the rest of the
furniture.
I'm going to ………………………………….. this armchair. It doesn't match the rest
of the furniture.
If the Prime Minister takes charge of the Queen's jubilee celebrations, he'll
elbow her out of the way and try to be the centre of attention!
If the Prime Minister takes charge of the Queen's jubilee celebrations, he'll
elbow her out of the way and try to …………………………………….. .
The team were too slow to take advantage of their chances in the game.
Chances in the game …………………………………. because the team were too slow.
The magazine photographer was the one thing that spoilt the wedding.
The magazine photographer was the only ………………………………… at the
wedding.
People are tired of hearing the same arguments so they're wasting their
efforts.
People are tired of hearing the same arguments so they’re ……………………….. .
Being offered that part in the film was her great opportunity.
Being offered that part in the film was …………………………………….. .
He has no cause to think himself superior. He's no better than the rest of us.
He has no cause to ………………………………… at us. He's no better than we are.
You can't drive a car in that state, sir. You've drunk more than is permitted.
You can’t drive a car in that state, sir. You’re …………………………………….. .
Rewrite the sentences, using the correct phrase from those given. Where
necessary, put the verbs into the correct form. Note that the sentences will
have the same meaning as those printed but the order of words may
change.
It's strange that people like hearing stories that make them feel nervous.
It's strange that people like hearing stories that …………………………………. .
People imagine film stars live in great comfort, but they work very hard.
People imagine film stars live in …………………………… but they work very hard.
The news was so surprising that everyone was lost for words.
The news was so surprising that everyone was ……………………………….. .
I need some aspirin so the first place I need to visit is the chemist's.
I need some aspirin so the first ……………………………………. will be the chemist’s.
Politicians avoid saying what they really think. They never speak plainly.
Politicians avoid saying what they really think. They never ………………………… .
We're determined to take a firm line with people who break the law.
We're determined to ……………………………………………. people who break the law.
People were leaving the office early but the new boss soon brought that to
an end.
People were leaving the office early but the new boss soon
…………………………………… .