Cambridge Advanced [[EH13]

Learner's
EH13] Dictionary, 3rd edition
common mistakes

Common mistakes
The following pages show you the type of Spelling words in English can be difficult for
mistakes that advanced learners of English learners because sometimes a word is very
make when they write exam papers. All our similar to a word in their own language but
information on the type of mistakes that is not spelled the same. This is why French
students
Important make words to inlearn:writing . comes from
E Essential . I Improver .
the A Advanced learners of English, for example, spell success friend
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .
Cambridge Learner Corpus. The Cambridge with only one ‘s’, or colleague without an ‘a’.
ger and cooler: The wind is expected to freshen as it friary /"fraI@.ri/ /"fraI .i/ noun [C] a building in which
Learner moves in Corpus
from the(CLC) east. drink is based k 3 [Ton ] (also a large freshen up) Another friars live thing that makes spelling difficult
collection
mainly us of If you exam freshen papers someone’s that have especially beenalcoholic isfricassee that some wordsnoun
/"frIk.@.si;/ in English
[C or U] ado dish not made sound of pieces
drink, you add more to it: Here, let me freshen your of meat, especially chicken or veal (= meat from young
written drink. by students taking Cambridge ESOL exactly as they are spelled. In the word
cows) cooked and served in a white sauce
English "phrasal exams. verbs freshen At the(sb/sth) moment up this[M] to corpus
make some- definitely, for@ example, the second ‘i’ sounds
friction /"frIk.S n/ noun [U] forcek 1 the force which
one or something clean and pleasant: Would you like to
containsfreshen up nearly after your 28 millionjourney? * words
[R] I’mof just English
going to have more makes likeit difficult
an ‘a’. Itforisone important
object to slide that along students the sur-
face of another or to move through a liquid or gas:
written a shower by tolearnersfreshen myself and itup.is growing all of When English learn these differences.
you rub your hands together the friction produces
the
Importanttime.. . .sth
freshenwords
. . . .more
. . . . . . .interesting
upto [learn:
. . . . . . . . . . .or
.
M] to Emake
. . .attractive:
Essential
. . . . . . . . . . . . .The
.
something
. . . . .Prime
.
different and
I Improver A Advanced
. . . . . . . .Minister
. . . . . . . . . . .has
. . . . . .The
heat. disagreementk 2 disagreement or unfriendliness
. . . caused
. . . .Top
. . . . . .by
.10
. . people
. . .Uncountable
. . . . . .having
. . . . . . . . .different
. . . . . .Noun
. . . . . .opinions:
. . . .Mistakes
water
. . . . . .. There’s
. . . . . . . . . .a
freshened up her Cabinet with a few new faces.
lot ofisfriction betweenIt’s mynot wifethe andmost my mother.
The obj +mistakes
-ing verb] rbelow have been grouped into as *Politics
*
I sit by the that entertaining: profound series
fresher /"freS.@ / /- / noun [C] uk informal a student An is uncountable
exercise a source of but
considerablenoun isfriction
a noun in our such family. Important words
Border
window
different
who hastypes,
and watch
recently for people
example
started studying a learner
at a may
college have
or uni- . I’ve. . . ever
.furniture,
. .clashes seen
. . . . . .have
. . .music, . . . .it’s
. . .led .to very
. . . . .watchable.
. . .health
.increased . . . . or
. .friction
. . happiness
. . . . . . . between
. . . . . . . . . .that
. the
. . . . .two
.................
walking
versity past. * [+ watchdog /"wQtS.dQg/ /"wA;tS.dA;g/ noun [ C ] organi-
spelled a word wrongly, or they may have used countries. . frictional /"frIk.S @ @
n. l/ adjective
question word] Just watch has "
zation no k
adjective plural 1 with form
a person special and is not a singular
or permission
organization not to donoun.
responsible or pay for exfoliat
a fresh-faced
how he slides
regular
faced 18-
past the goalkeeper.
tense
and
/"freS.feIst/
that for ball
19-year-old an adjective looking young: fresh- Friday
inirregular
soldiers verb. Many of
.
something:
making
Because
dardsE the
and children’s
/"fraI.deI/
certain Goods
uncountable
day
and do not of
noun
that
the
clothes.
exempt [C or from
companies
week
act illegally:* nouns
U] (written
after
Pregnant
this
obey
have
Thursday
The Countryside
tax abbreviation
include books
particular
no
women areCommis- singular
and
stan-
before
exempt F
Fri) dead s
improv
these
freshly
* Bonnermistakes watched
/"freS.li/ are well-known to
adverb recently done: freshly baked bread orsion teachers. Saturday:
plural
from wasdental set Shall
form, charges
up we
asthey go
theunder to
cannotthe
government’s theatre
the current be officialon
used healthFriday?
with system.
watchdog
* I love
a, on /-%fo
helplessly
* freshly as made the ball sandwiches * freshly washed hair Fridays
conservation. because dog Ik leave
2 usfor work
for early.
guard dog ex grat
an, many, Word few, several
partners etc.
exercise At healthy
an entry activity
for an
The sneaked
freshman Cambridge in/"freS.m@n/
at the near Learner noun [CCorpus ] us 1 (informal has been frosh) a stu- -watcher fridge /frIdZ/ nounr [C] (also refrigerator, us old-fashioned gratia
dent inShe’ll
post.
developed
she
*
hasn’tHe’s
theinfirstpretend yearthat
partnership
seenausfreshman - you
of high with school, Cambridge college, or uni- uncountable toice-box .
do/get/take
describe
regular
electricitya to
/-wQtS.@
) A a aperson noun
exercise
/
exercise
piece in
preservething: .
/-wA;.tS
of
who this / suffixexercise
good
be dictionary
.kitchen
is interested
strenuous/vigorous
food atRoyal-watchers
equipment
used with
a cold temperature:
in you and
. will
which
nouns
daily/
enjoys
exercise
uses
Don’t
is mad
were m
versity: at Harvard. * Greg and Jody see the grammar code [ U ] and at an entry for
ESOL, met inwhose
watch. .
2their [Texams
A freshman ] to stay are
year with taken something
at college byand students or
marriedsomeone soon
that a countable
watching
again
.
. an been
exercise
the Kitchen on
particular
gentle/light/moderate
forget to put the milk back in the fridge. c See picture In
speculating
noun, page P1
exercise
on the health of the princess.
class/programme/routine
you will see the grammar
. a form of have
exercise once
lage.
allsuch over
after
they
asthey
the
are any
a child world.
graduated.
safe:particular
for a short
If you want
2 someone time to make who has certain recently watcher /"wQtS.@ r
/ /"wA;.tS / noun [ C ] a person who exhale /
started jobme or toactivity:
watch the kids for ain fridge-freezer /%frIdZ"fri;.z@r/
a freshman codewatches [C].Word At an partnersentry forfor a noun
exercise /-z that
newpractice
/ noun can [Cbe ] (us of you
couple
Congress of * hours
a freshman while you football go out, player just let me know. usually television refrigerator-freezer or films: The
) a piece channel
of kitchen is certainlyequip- mouth
The * Could Topyou 10watch Spelling my bags Mistakes
for me, while I go to the toilet? both good news
countable
perform/take
ment for
divided into the movie
and
part two watcher.
inuncountable,
an partsexercise c
which See . thealso
areyou viewer
used willtosee
aim/object/ keep S@n/ no
The
freshwater
be careful
noun list]
to watch my weight
below
living .
k/"freS%wO;.t@
3 shows
in or
r

containing
/
you
/-%wA;.8 / adjective [before watchful
A [T] to be careful of something: I have
the water ten
(= be careful not to become too
words
that is that
not salty: the point/purpose
foodgrammar
exerciseand
attention
freezer
/"wQtS.f
fresh, one
. a readycode
@ of the exercise . a futile/pointless
l/of which
useful/worthwhile[ /"wA;tS-/
C or isUa].
to deal withexercise
adjective
fridge
For
problems:
paying
and
examples
. an
the careful
Under
other
exercise ofthe
a exhaust
freshwater fish * a freshwater lake/river cCompare salt "verb
advanced
heavy) now students
I’m not mostsooften
doing much spell sport. * Watch your these,
wrongly Lfridge in sth
watchful see
Kmagneteyetheofentriestheir
noun [mother, C] below:
a small thedecorative
two boys played magnet onused the
tired:
water
language (= Do not use rude words) in front of ladies, shore. * She keeps a watchful eye on her husband to see
infret the/fret/ Cambridge Learner Corpus. The bold for fastening messages/-s
exercise
that he /"ek.s@.saIz/
and notes to a fridge
behaves himself. .-/ watchfully /"wQtS.f@l.i/
exhaus
young
letters
on "verbyour
man! * [+ (that)] Watch (that) you don’t get glue
in[fingers,
I]these
(-tt-) to words
be nervous
won’t you? show * or [+you
worried:
question which wordparts
Don’t ]fretWatch - I’m fried "noun
/"wA;tS-/ healthy
/fraId/
ity that you
adjective
adverb
do
activity
to
.cooked . k 1 inE hot
watchfulness [C oil Uor
or/"wQtS.f] physical
fat: @al.n@s/fried activ-
egg someth
world’s
sure words he’s OK. * She withspent theoften day fretting about/over /"wA;tS-/ noun
Word ] makefor
[Upartners your friendbody strong and healthy:
ofwhat the
whattoshe’d
you’re doing
learners
saidshould)to Nicky.
that
most knife, Jim, getit’s wrong.
sharp. * You
Swimming is my favourite form of exercise. * You really exhaus
want (= You watch him - he’s a bit of a strange watchman shouldhavetake / find/"wQtS.m@n/
more / make exercise. friends /"wA;tS-/
I.do bestomach noun exercises
/ become [Cfriends
] a person with
most this to
Tocharacter.
helpnoun you [C] any spell of the these smallwords raised metal correctly, bars across pay the who *

special
"
"
long
idioms thin
attentionpart of
watch yourato stringed
back
these tomusical
be careful
letters instrument
in of the
the correct such as
people
days.
ings
sbis. employed
sb’s
practice best . toEguard
k/2closest
to improve something or make something happen:
[C]/an a building
oldest
action friendoror several
actions build-
intended say abo
"noun
a guitar, that show you where
around you, making certain that they do nothing to watchstrap to put your fingers on the friend /frend/ car’s, o
spellings:
strings in order to produce
harm you: I have to watch my back at work - there are a
Music
lot on page
of people whoP25 . fretted
would like my /"fret.Id/
job. . watch
different
your adjective
/"fre8-/ step to
(in
notes
watchband
usthe Pacific to
c See
) aimprove
picture
strip of theirleather or other
efficiency
know well and who you like a lot, but who is usually not
Ships
" noun
inmaterial
from /"wQtS.str&p/
[
combat. or It
C ]
a
eight navies will be
person you like . k
takingnoun
/"wA;tS-/
1 E
part [inC]an
a person
mainly
exercise
who *
uk
you
Car on
the ma
Guitars and lutes are fretted musical instruments. metal
wouldchain whichexercise
be a useful fastensfor a watch
you to onto your
say the wristaloud
speech
be very careful about how you behave: He’ll have to
Correct
fretboard
watch spelling
his /"fret.bO;d/
step if he wants/-bO;rd/tonounkeep[Cthat
] a fingerboard
a
job of his! watchtower
member
short piece
tower built
of your family:
* an exercise
several times./"wQtS%taU@
friend - we’ve known each
of writtenaround
especially
r
She’s
in public
/ other
work which
my best/oldest/closest
relationsnoun
/"wA;tS%taUr/
since we were
the you
edges
3five.
doprisons
of
[C] ] aa
E [*C
to practise
He’s
and
. exhaust
tired:
1 .(=watch
accommodation
long it informal
strip of wood usedonto tell someone
a stringed musical to be careful:
instrument a family friend/friend of the family. * This restaurant
something
army you are
camps, the toptoofme learning:
which The book has exercises at reache
against
Watch it,which the strings
you nearly knocked aremypressed)
head offwithwithfrets
that such
plank!as was recommended by aprovides
friend ofa goodmine. position
* We’ve
the end
from of every
which to chapter.
see anyone usewhok4 is [coming
U] formal close the use of exhaust
2 .onwhich
a guitar
watch paintcdry picture Music
Seeinformal humorous on page
usedP25 to refer to an been friends
something:
for years. * José and Pilar are
The exercise of restraint may well be difficult.
(good) friends
of ours. * We’re (good) friends with José and Pilar. * She supplie
activity/"fret.f
that @you consider extremely in aboring: you watchword
"Soshows ceremony /"wQtS.w3;d/
5and /"wA;tS.w ;d/ noun [C usually
3fretful
government
don’t wantunhappy,
l/ adjective
to watch worried
behaving
the football?"
way that
"To be honest IBy would said
singular that
k
she
] (a word
exercises [plural
orPeter
phrase were which
] us formal
just represents)
(good) friends
a ceremony
the(= they
main so ther
you are or uncomfortable: mid- which includes speeches and usually traditional music resourc
were or
ideas notprinciples
having a sexual relationship)
directing the way. *that I’ve made
someone a lot
4 rather
beginning
night watch paint dry".
the children were.tiredwatch and thefretful
clock (=disapproving
complaining to or activities:
of friends
graduation
in this
exercises
to make exhaust
often
a lot notice
becausethe time
they wereandunhappy)
wish that . .itfretfully
was later, espe-
/"fret.f@
l.i/
behaves or the way job.that * He findsisitdone:
something difficult
And remem-
5 cially
definitely
when you are doing work that you do not like friends.
ber,Common cSee
let caution also
mistake:
be befriend
yourexercise
watchword.2 someone who is not an you fee
adverb enemy andCheck
rwho you can trust: You don’t have to pretend exhaust
. watch
6fretsaw the
successful world go by to look at people as they go waterWarning:
/"wO;.t@ / your
/"wA;.8 spelling!
/

7 gocurves
/"fret.sO;/
past: I love /-sA;/ noun [C] a saw for cutting
sitting in outdoor
and inside corners in wood
environment
cafes watching the world
by. . watch this space If someone says watch this
" anymore - you’re among friends now. person giving
noun 1 Eis [one
Exercise
money
which
wrongly
k 3 someone
fallsbyfrom
U] a of
learners.
clear
thewholiquid,
50 gives without
words mostcolour
money
the sky as rain and is necessary for
often . or taste,
to a spelled
theatre,
are ext
exhaust
fretwork other arts organization or charity in order to support
willnoun
very[Usoon
] decorative open
space, they
8 ing
/"fret.w3;k/
advertisement
patterns
mean that there
changeespecially
/-w ;k/ be an excit-
cut out of wood or metal or made in
in their situation.
animal
"it:verb
and
ThedoFriends
plant
healthy
life:
of activity
the Royal
a bottle/drink/glass
k 1Academy
* bottled/mineral/tap water * hot/cold water * Can I
I [I or T raised
of
] to do£10
water
000
physi- . thorou
/Ig"zO;.
embroidery
phrasal
9 danger
" verbs watch
Freudianor/"frOI.di.@n/
out used to warn
believe an accident that seems likely to happen: water
I . someone
adjective relating to the ideas or
of
towards
cal
have a
"idiomsmost
exercises
the
activities
drop
cost
to
of
A friend
hot enough
of
make
water
the
in need
evenings
exhibition.
your
in my
body strong
whiskey,
(is a friend indeed).
for ausually
bath?by*running.
and
please?
The human
healthy: She
* Is the
* Asaying This
work-out
body is
tively d
exLhaus
10"Watch
colleague
out!" he shouted, but it was
methods of Sigmund Freud, especially his ideas about
knocked the whole tray of drinks on the
too
the way in which people’s hidden thoughts and feelings
late
floor.
- she had
means
in
aboutthe gym
Ifneed
the you
50%
that
help
sea, a
will a exercise
water.
friend who
is a true
exercise
lake or
2 E
all[U the
friend. you
anaanimal,
swimming
]
helps
major
an
. have area
make
pool:
you
of
when
muscle
friends
The
groups.
water,
in high
it walk
water’s
such
or run
2 [as
you really T]
places
much so . the bac
from t
to know
that important
it stays strong people who can help*youretired
get what
to be careful © Cambridgesomeone University Press youand
2008 healthy:
for a Nowswim?he’s he
watch out for
influence sb/sth
their behaviour to notice
something interesting: Watch out for his latest movie,
or warmer
you want
spends
ming but
today
most
- are
What
.afternoons
I don’t
coming
are exercising
like getting
friends for?
my head hisunder
dogs.
I like swim-
(also useThat’s
(= in) 3what
kwater. A . exhibit
"verb
 chicane /SI"keIn/ noun [C] specialized a piece of road with me, chief?
severe bends like an ‘S’, which forces drivers to go more "idiom too many chiefs and not enough Indians informal
slowly, especially in Cambridge
motor racing Advanced Learner's Dictionary, 3rd edition
too many managers and not enough people to do the
chicanery /SI"keI.n@r.i/ /-n -/ noun [U] formal clever, work
Here are some
dishonest talk or examples
behaviourofwhich typical mistakes
is used to deceive do not follow this rule and have an irregular
people: The investigation revealed political chicanery Kchief Lconstable noun [C usually singular] in Britain, the
that students make with
and corruption at the highest levels. uncountable nouns, policeform.
plural officer The
in charge of the police
following in a particular
list shows the ten area
followed
Chicano /tby the correct
SI"kA;.n@U/ waynoun
/-noU/ to say plural Chicanos) Kchief
[C] (each nouns exLecutive
with noun [C usually
irregular plural singular
forms ] the person
that cause with
informal someone living in the US who was born in the most important position in a company: She’s the
sentence:
Mexico or whose parents came from Mexico the most
chief difficulty
executive of one for advanced
of the learners
country’s largest charities.
✗ He /"Si;.Si/
✗chichi gave me an advice.
adjective informal disapproving trying too of
theEnglish.
KChief The
ELxecutivewords noun on [S ]the
us left
the show
presidenttheof the
hard to be decorated in a stylish or attractive way and singular United States
✓✓therefore
He gavehaving me some advice. form of the noun and the words on
no real style or beauty: They live in a Kchief eKxecutive Lofficer noun [C] (abbreviation CEO) the
rather chichi part of town. the right show the correct plural
person with the most important position in a company form:
✓ *He
✓chick gave me a piece of advice.
/tSIk/ noun [C] birdk 1 a baby bird, especially a Kchief Ljustice noun [C usually singular] the most impor-
young chicken womank 2 slang a young woman. This Singular
tant judge of a court of law, Plural
especially a very important
✗✗ wordHe gave me a lotoffensive
is considered of advices.by many women. court in a country
1 life lives
✗chicken
✗ "Henoungave
/"tSIk.In/
birdk me1 many
. E [C or advices.
U] a type of bird kept on a farm
chiefly /"tSi;.fli/ adverb mainly: The island chiefly attracts
2 child tourists. * magazines
upmarket children intended chiefly for teen-
✓✓for He its eggs or its meat, or the meat of this bird which is
gave me a lot of advice.
cooked and eaten: A male chicken is called a cock and a 3 belief
agers
beliefs
female chicken is called a hen. * We’re having roast/fried Kchief of Lstaff noun [C] one of the highest-ranking offi-
*Note that you can make some
chicken for dinner. personk 2 [C] informal a cowardof these nouns 4 country
cers in the armed forces countries
(= person who
countable is not brave):
by adding a phraseJump,suchyou chicken!
as ‘piece chieftain /"tSi;f.t@n/ noun [Ccompanies
] the leader of a tribe
"idioms a chicken and egg situation informal a situation 5 company
of in’ orwhich
‘itemitofis ’impossible
before thetonoun, e.g. She gave
say which of two things 6 " hero chiffon /"SIf.Qn/ /SI"fA;n/
noun [U] a very thin, almost heroes transparent cloth of silk
meexisted
two very firstuseful
and which
pieces caused the other one . play
of advice.
chicken slang to play dangerous games in order to dis- 7 " wife or nylon wives
cover who is the bravest adjective [before noun] us describes food which is
The words[numbered
"adjective 1–10 below, taken from
after verb] child’s word not brave; cowardly: 8
madecitylight, especially by citiesadding the clear part of eggs
which have been beaten: lemon chiffon pie
theWhy Cambridge
won’t you jump? LearnerAre you Corpus,
chicken? are the ten 9 sheep sheep
"phrasal verb chicken out slang disapproving to decide chignon /"Si;.njQ/ /-njA;n/ noun [C] a woman’s hair-
uncountable
not to do something nouns because
that advanced
you are too students
frightened: I 10style
activity
where the hair is arrangedactivities in a knot or roll at the
most was often
going to use wrongly
go bungee as if but
jumping, they were out.
I chickened back of her head
chickenfeed /"tSIk.In.fi;d/ noun [U] informal a small and Note
countable. chihuahuathat in this dictionary
/tSI"wA;.w@/ noun [C] an entry
a very fordog
small a with
not important amount of money: They’re losing $200 large with
eyes and smooth hairplural form will show
noun an irregular
000 on this deal, but that’s chickenfeed to/for a company chilblain /"tSIl.bleIn/ noun [C] a painful red swelling on
Uncountable
with yearly profits nounof $25 million. the
theplural
toes orform
fingers,atcaused
the startby coldof the entry:
weather
chickenpox /"tSIk.In.pQks/ /-pA;ks/ noun [U] an infec-
1 tious information
disease that causes pieces of information
and red spots on child /tSaIld/ (plural children)

2 theadviceskin: Chickenpox is common

a slight fever
piecesamongof advicechildren. .
"noun [C] 1 E a boy or girl from the time of birth until
he or she is an adult, or a son or daughter of any age: an
chickenshit /"tSIk.In.SIt/ noun [C], adjective us slang dis- eight-year-old child * As a child I didn’t eat vegetables.
3 approving
transport for chicken (PERSON) methods (= aof transport
person who is not * A small group of children waited outside the door.
4 brave) C’mon, don’t be such
equipment a chickenshit
pieces - just go up and
of equipment * Both her children are now married with children of
The
ask her to dance. theirTopown.10 Irregular
* Jan is married Verb withMistakes
three young children.
behaviour*
5Lchicken types of behaviour
Kwire noun [U] netting (= material in the form The * They campaign for the rights of the unborn child.
following list from the Cambridge
6 of a net) made of metal wire, which was originally used
research* pieces of research cSee also brainchild 2 disapproving an adult who behaves
to make closed areas for chickens Learner
badly, like Corpus
a badlyshows
behavedthe tenHe’s
child: irregular verbs
such a child if he
7Lchicktraining
Kflick noun [C] informal humorous a film about rela- that doesn’t
cause get the
his own
most way. 3 a child for
difficulty of sth someone who
advanced
has been very influenced by a particular period or situa-
8 tionships,
knowledge romance, etc. that attracts mainly women
students
tion: Me, of I’mEnglish. The
a child of the bold letters in this
sixties.
Lchick Klit noun [U] informal humorous stories written by "idioms be child’s play informal to beverbs
very easy: Using
9 women,
software about women, for pieces
women oftosoftware
read list show you the letters in these forms
computers nowadays is child’s play compared to how dif-
chickpea
10pale /"tSIk.pi;/
accommodation noun [ C ] uk ( us garbanzo bean ) a hard that students
ficult they weremost often years
to use twenty get wrong:
ago. . Children should
brown round bean which can be cooked and eaten be seen and not heard. saying said to emphasize that you
chicory /"tSIk.
*These words @
-/ noun
r.i/also/-have [U] 1 (us also
meanings thatendive,
can beaus- think children should behave well and be quiet
tralian also witlof) a vegetable with white leaves that Verb with child old useCorrect
. (great) inflection
(very) pregnant
made plural. See the main dictionary for these. 1 write writing
234
Although a lot of languages have words that 2 pay paid
do not have a plural form, these are not always 3 occur occurred
the same words in different languages. The 4 study studying
words for furniture in German, Russian and 5 develop developed
Italian, for example, all have a plural form.
6 choose chosen
Therefore it is easy for learners of English to
make mistakes with uncountable nouns. 7 be being
8 happen happened
The Top 10 Mistakes Using Nouns 9 rise rose
With Irregular Plurals 10 prefer preferred
To make most countable nouns plural in
English, you usually add an ‘s’ at the end, for
example, dog – dogs. However, some nouns
© Cambridge University Press 2008
 ments.
approving
tonously
GNP /%dZi;.en"pi;/ nounCambridge
[U] specializedAdvanced Learner's Dictionary, 3rd edition
abbreviation for
Gross National Product: the total value of goods and
services produced by a country in one year, including
ng when Note that
profits madein this dictionary
in foreign countriesancCompare
entry forGDP
an ‘do a mistake’, but in English, you ‘make a
hey treat
gnu /nu;/ noun
irregular verb[will showgnutheorirregular
C] (plural forms
gnus) a large at mistake’. On the other hand, while in some
African
animal with a long tail and horns that curve to the
the start of the entry. languages you ‘make your homework’, in
stem for
rease the Writing
go
sides,
essays
which
/g@U/
lives
/goU/
in areas covered with grass
English you ‘do your homework’. Use the lists
"verb (going, went, gone) below to learn how to avoid the most common
/- .rIn/
h is used hourglass
. .move
. . . . . . .to
. . .another . . .place:
.
move/travelk 1 E [I usually + adv/prep] to travel or
. . . . . . . .We
. . . .went
. . . . . . into
. . . . . the
. . . . .house.
Important words
. . . . . . . . . .mistakes
. . . . . . . . . .I. went . . . . . . . . . . . . .with
.
to learn: E collocations. .
Essential I Improver A Advanced .
making . . .Collocation . . . . . . .Mistakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .
*
to Paris last summer. Have you ever been there? * We
night)
A don’t ? go
collocation * to Hethe returned
cinema in the
very
is a combination often early/small
theseof days. two hours
* Wouldn’t
or more (= at it sports 1 Verb and+other nouncompetitions: an inter-house football
d glycer- night, be quicker after midnight)
to go by train? . 4 work * Does long/regular/unsocial,
this train go to New- match
words
etc. castle? that
hours used * Where are to do frequently
describe
you think how used
manygoing?
you’re together.
hoursShouldn’t in the day In you family ThisThe k 8 [C] an important family, especially a royal
listBritish
shows you the ten mistakes that
you
cialized a raiment
this
ch stores .nurse
be workat school?
dictionary,
. . . . .so
. .process
or what
. . . .she
.of .often
2 collocations
Epart
. . . . . . .works
. . .moving:
.
[I of the day
usually
. . . . .unsocial
. . .Can’t . .we
. . . .go
+ are you
adv/prep
. .hours.
. . . any
shownwork:
] to be
. . . . . . . .He’s
. . . faster? *
She’s
in
. . .paid
. . . .We
*
the one:
a
inImportant
.advanced
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . students
. . . . . . . . .Windsor.
. were
.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .most
.
Royal Family belong to the House of
words to learn: E Essential I Improver A Advanced
. . . . . . . .often
. . . . . . . .make
.
. . . . . . . . when
. . .. . . . . . . . . . .
ng sugar the well goingexample
butalong he works atsentences
about long50 hours.
miles that 5anfor come
hour.hours * after(and
to gothe hours)the politicsk 9 [C] an organization which makes laws, or
down they choose a verb to go with a noun. In most
tions,
I road .
informal
definitions.
goThomas
hours.
*
* trains,
to gofor
6 at all
through Grant
etc:
You
ahours
a very
up/down a
worked
tunnel
railway
will*long
(of the
stairs
see
onday
station/timetable/siding,
time:
them
*
theand
figurative
to go I waited
railway(s)
over the
clearly
night)
I’ve
for
for
bridge
because
fifty years.
gotdisapproving
a tune
* etc.
going organization
rainy
him for to its meeting place 10 the House the members of the
cases
"adjective
/"reI.ni/
it is raining
clear
whichwhat amakes
lot: We the had
laws: student
three
The House means,
rainy days
began but
on holi-
sit-
they
repeatedly are/"reI.m@nt/
around/round
raiment shown
duringinthe inmy
nounbold
day head U]letters:
[and (=the
old I usenight:
am They keephearing
continually
clothes ring- tingday, atbut otherwiseatit2was
3 p.m./rose
the problem is that the combination of verb + a.m.sunny. 11 [S] the group of people
tion for ingit)me
rain upIatjust
and
/reIn/
allcan’t
hoursremember
(of the daythe
and of it. 3 E [I] to
night).
name
noun that they have used
.
is not a collocation,
"idiom
who save/keep
suggest money
a subject for for a rainy day
a debate: Thetomotion
save money
for

..
"move after
idioms or hours
travel after the usual
somewhere hourstoofdo
in order work . hour
something: for a time
tonight’s when
debate is,it"This
might be needed
house unexpectedly:
believes that Luck-
capital pun-
od: food noun [U] 1 E drops of water from clouds: Rain
" is ily she should
had saved some money for a rainy day.
after hourverb
[+ -ing A for Wemany hours without stopping: I sat I’ve ishment
* by be abolished."
lly chan- forecast for ]tomorrow. go shopping every Friday
* Come inside out of the rain.
. your
night. does
theatre not sound natural, and is considerd to be
k 12 [C] the people watching a performance,
her bedside
never gonefor hour *
skiing. after hour.gone
They’ve
* We had heavy/light rain all day. * We got caught in
forhoura walk, hasbutcome they raise /reIz/
ince con- literary
you
should Ifbeyouback
pouring/torrential (= *
Brianare going
at the
think
soon.
tostation.
your
* [+ to hour has ]come,
infinitive She’s you think
gone
a lot of) rain without either rain- house.
die: *I thought There’s my hour
a good hadfilm come on
to meet
when
at the
incorrect.
especially
" verb
tion:
noun
[ T
Would
in
] aIn
lift
combination
k
all
each
theatre:
1
those
case,
E The
in
opera
to lift
favour
with
asomething
the
more
playednatural
please
same raise
. verb
totoa afull/packed
higher +
posi-
their hands?
meaning is
tion for he
animal thing
coats or umbrellas. There
pointed
Odeon. Shall
showers
saidrainchanges
when
his gun
(= short we go? at me.
periods
from hourfind
4 where
. (from)
will be showers of rain/rain "
of rain)
hour
has/have to hour
in the east.
to hour, it is different
If
sth gone?some-
* It looks
A
everymy ple
idioms get on .like a house on
* He raised the window and leaned out. * Mary Quant
showngettheonunder
like afashion the incorrect
house on fire, they
fire informal
to combination.
like hemlines.
If two
each otherincrea-
peo-
very
like (= you
as if cannot
rain is goingsomething:to fall). 2 the Where
rainshave[plural ] much was first designer raise
hour.
eenwich urgently
keys
is
. in
gone?
a lotkof5rain:
leave needs
sb’s hour
E help: .
I] toShe
[Villagers
of
leave
need
helped
literary when
me especially
a place,
someone
in my hourinoforder need.to 1bigger,
se k and
2
the season of the year in tropical countries when there that they wouldn’t like each other but in fact they’re get-
Noun
E become
to cause
: experience
better,
friends
something .
very quickly:to increase
higher, etc: The government plan to raise
I wasorworried
become
. out
travel of hours
tothat mainly ukelse:
somewhere (usareafter
now waiting
hours
Is it midnight ) If you for the rains to
drinkI in
already? a
really ting on like
taxes. * Ia hadhouse on fire.
to raise my . get/put
voice (= speakyour moreown houseloudly) into
come so the rice will*grow. * This is the third year in
order Example:
to solve your own problems: You should put your
barmustout of hours,
go/must you
be going. drink alcohol at a time when
She wasn’t feeling well, so she it is make myself heard over the noise. * The inspector said
a row that the rains have failed.
twisted, not allowed by law .*till all hours disapproving very late:
went
rom bad He"stays idiom home come rain* ormainly
early. shine uk What time
whatever does the
happens: Comelast own thathouse I know
✗standards in order several
atbefore
the schoolpeople
you start
had to who
telling have
me what
be raised. made
* Ourto do!
little
trainortoup Bathdrinking
go?see till
I’m hours.he’ll have to go (= be dis- . chat
allafraid go (all) has round
raised themy houses
spirits uk(= tomade
waste me time
feel doing or .
happier)
ew a long rain shine, I’ll you on Thursday. the same experience.
missed
hourglass
"
working
/"aUr.gl&s/
from
] E his
verb [I/"aU@.glA;s/
for
If it
us.
noun
.
job)
rains, - he’s
water farfalls
too inefficient
from
* This carpet’s terribly old and worn - it
[starting
C]
the to continue
sky in small
asking
cards
something
I know several
✓a complicated
doubts/fears/suspicions
in a very complicated
existk 3 E to cause to exist: Her answers raised
people
organization
in my mind. who .
or plan
way
have
. house
thathad
This
of
the
is very
discussion
.
*
drops:
hat bites a glass I think it’s to rain. * It’s raining hard/
weak and canmany easilyimportant
be destroyed or easily go wrong
reallycontainer
will(= have to go
filled (= be got rid of) . 6 to go . A mainly . hassame raised issues/problems. * The
heavily
If youthat
a large amount of rain is falling) on the house experience.
Ifraised
you have something on * Ithe house, it
usidioms
with
" sand Itasknever forrains
takes some
onebut food to go uk
it pours. at (ausrestaurant,
When it rains, you
is
announcement
given to you free by a
a cheer/laugh.
business: All the
want
drinks
to raise
were on
itwant
hour to it
pours. move)wrapped fromsaid
saying up when
an so thatone youbadcanthingtakehappens,
it away with fol- the (=
2want talk about)
Noun: friend two problems/questions with you. * I
you to instead ofof eating house.
mething upper lowed bya lower
a lot part other itbad in things,
the restaurant:
which make I’d alike
bada to start my own business if I can raise (= obtain)
verbExample:
[T] /haUz/ to give a person*or animal
radually through
cheeseburger
situation a narrow
worse and. strawberry
It’s raining milk cats and shakedogs! to go, please. "the
old-fash- money/cash/capital/funds. formal Theachapel
place to was
opening
ioned in the middle,
something
612used especially in the that you say when
. rain on sb’s parade to do something that spoils some- gest take
it is raining heavily
live,
raised (=provide
toto
or
✗
house
to
I all
built) asspace
found
the it
refugees.
for something:
a memorial
difficult
* Theto
to her son.
find
museum
care of a person, or an animal or plant, until they
It develop
will be difficult
friends
houses
k4 E
and
the big-
.
past
one’sto measure
plans: I’m timesorry to rain on your parade but you’re felt
arecollectionveryoflonely.
completely antique
grown: toys Her in Europe.
parents died when she was a
not allowed
Lhourglass Kfigure noun [C to have alcohol on the premises. Lhouse
baby
✓arKrest
and
I she
found nounwas
it raised
under house
difficult by her
toarrest
makegrandparents.
legally forced
friends
* toThe
"phrasal
usually singularverbs ] Ifraina (sth) down to fall in large amounts, stay lambs
in yourhad house as if itby
to be raised hand
were (= fed artificial
a prison: The oppositionmilk by
or to direct
woman has ansomethinghourglass in large amounts, usually force- leader and
people) has justfelt been
when very
their lonely.
mother died.
put/placed under*house The arrest.
farmer raises
fully she
figure, has a veryBombs rained down on the besieged houseboat
or violently: (= breeds) chickens and/-boUt/
/"haUs.b@Ut/
pigs. * nounThe[Csoil around
] a boat whichhere
* Her attacker rained down blows on her.
city. waist.
small 3isn’tNoun:
people use asresearch
good enough
their home, often (=
for raising keptgrowing)
in one place crops.on carda
rain sth off uk (us rain sth out) If an event is rained off, it river games k 5 If you raise another player in a game of
or canal
Lhour Khand noun [C usually Example:
cards, you risk more money than that player has risked:
cannot start or continue because it is raining: His
As well] the
singular as thepart collocations
hockey match was rained off.
on a that you see in the housebound I’ll ✗ It you.
raise is/"haUs.baUnd/
impossible
* [+ two objects adjective
to make ] I’llunable
anyyou
raise to leave
research yourk
$50. stop
clock or watch which points to the hours. It is shorter home,
6 formal especially
to endbecause or stop:you They areagreed
ill: She’s beenthe
to raise house-
trade
example
rainbow
than the minute sentences,
/"reIn.b@U/ hand. you will find collocations bound without
sinceifthe the Internet.
accident.
in
hourly small
/-boU/
arch
noun
/"aU@.li/blue [C]boxes
(= curved/"aUr-/ shape) of
.
A an in the main dictionary.
embargo
the ✓ siege
housebreaker It was
three conditions
is /"haUs%breI.k@
impossible
raised. communicate to
r
were met. * After three weeks
/ do/-k any k 7research
/ noun to [communicate
C] a person
These
"adjective
different
anthe hourly
blue 1colours
Aboxes
bus service
done .
seen have
or the words
happening
in every ‘Wordhour: There’s whowith someone,
illegally
without
been trying to raise
enters
the
especially
a house in
Internet.
byorder
Jack/Tokyo noun
telephone
to stealorsomething
all day.
radio: I’ve
partners sky when for .rain
. .’ atis into
the
town. * Take two tablets at
top. Here is an example
. housebreaking /"haUs%breI.kIN/
"idioms raise (a few) eyebrows
[U]
to cause surprise or
hourly
falling and the 2sun
intervals. hourly
is fee/rate, etc. the amount that housebroken 4shock:Noun: work
/"haUs%br@U.k@n/ /-%broU-/ adjective us
of a Word
is shining:
charged orpartner
earned boxhour for the word house: Jemma’s miniskirt raised a few eyebrows at the
The tropicalevery
.
"adverb A once every hour: Trains call here hourly.
butterfly’s wings were
for house-trained
board
housebuyer
improve the
meeting. . raise your game to make an effort to
Example:
way thatr/you/-do/ something:
/"haUs%baI.@ noun [C usually ]a
pluralgoing
They’re
shimmering Word with partners all the for house person ✗ Francesca
who tomakes orher work a very
to have to wishes
raise their buy,
game isifbuying
they want house or other
to stay in the
colours of the rainbow. form of place to live in . raise your hand to/against sb
build / buy / rent / sell a house . a beautiful / fine / Premiership
efficiently. this season.
Lrain Kcheck/ usrambling house . a terraced / semi- Lhouse
derelict to hit someone:
Kcall noun [Never C] when raiseayour doctor handortoother a child.health
" noun [ C ] 1
detached / detached house a piece of paper that you are given by a ✓
"nouncomes
worker Francesca
[C] usto foryour does
rise her
(= increase
home, work
usually very
intopay)
giveShe asked the
treatment
shop when something which is advertised for sale at a bossefficiently.
for a raise.
housecertain price is not available. This piece of paper allows LHouse ComKmittee noun [ C ] in the US, a group of
If
"you youto/haUs/
noun use
buy common (plural
the product housescollocations
at the ) when
advertised
/"haUzIz/ priceyouwhen areit -raiser
people chosen
5
/-reI.z@r/by the
mistake
/ suffix of
/-z House a person or thing that
Representatives to
home
becomes
writing
family,
k 1and
eventlive at ain:later
.
E [C] a building
available.
speaking, 2 a ticket
a detached/semi-detached
which
your that
time if bad weather house
people,
allows you
English usually
will
stops *
tosound
see
Noun:
causes
onean consider a particular
money-raiser
event HouseExample:
to buy/
that
the
Committee
stated thing to exist or
matter: He appeared before the a
* These new taxes are designed to be a rev-
on Space, Science and Technology.
be obtained:

more natural andprices be easier to understand. enue-raiser.

rent
from a house
happening * house * She lives in a little house uk housefly /"haUs.flaI/ noun [C] a small common fly often
in/us
"idiom on Cross
take aStreet. rain check cSee(on alsosthfarmhouse;
) informalroadhouseused to tell raisin found in
People
✗/"reI.z
houses
@ often[Cdo
n/ noun ] a the
dried sameblackmistakes.
grape
2
Remember that collocations exist in all
[
someone
C usually that
singular you ] all the
cannot people
accept living
their in a house:
invitation Try
now, raison
houseful People
d’être
✓ /"haUs.fUl/ often
/%rez.A make
~ ;"det.r@/
noun a lot of the same
/%reI.zA;n-/
people mistakes.
noun [in
or things C usually
your
notbut wake the
towould likewhole to do houseso at awhen lateryoutime: comeMind in!if3I[take
C] a a singular] (plural raisons d’être) a reason for existence:
languages,
building
rain check where onbut different
animals
that drink? areI’ve words
kept:gotthe go together
to monkey/lion
work in
house
late tonight. house: We’ve got a
Her job is her raison d’être.
houseful of visitors at the moment.
different * a hen house 4 [C] a building or part of a
languages. In/-koUt/
at the zoo/"reIN.k@Ut/
raincoat somenoun languages
[C] a coat you which houseguest
the Raj /D@"rA; /"haUs.gest/ noun [C] mainly us a person
dZ/ noun [S]
building
protects which
the wearer is usedagainstfor a specialrain: apurpose: the Sydney
plastic raincoat whothe stays
periodatofsomeone British rule else’s house for one or more
Opera House * Broadcasting House nights
raindrop /"reIn.drQp/ /-drA;p/ noun [ C ] a single drop of in India: the days of the
businessk 5 a business or organization of the stated household
rain especially one that produces©books Cambridgeor designs University
Raj Press
/"haUs.h@Uld/ 2008 /-hoUld/ noun [C; + sing/pl
type,
rainfall /"reIn.fO;l/ /-fA;l/ noun *
verb] A a group of people, often a family, who live
[U] rain, or the*amount rajah /"rA;.dZ@/ noun [C] a .
 Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary, 3rd edition
6 Noun: survey
Example:
✗ I made a survey of the level of job
satisfaction in our department.
✓ I carried out/did a survey of the level
of job satisfaction in our department.
7 Noun: effort
Example:
✗ It is worth doing an effort to live a
healthier life.
✓ It is worth making an effort to live a
healthier life.
8 Noun: child/children/baby
Example:
✗ They married young, got two children,
and led an ordinary life.
✓ They married young, had two
children, and led an ordinary life.
9 Noun: business
Example:
✗ I spent two days in the office making
business by phone.
✓ I spent two days in the office
conducting /doing business by phone.
10 Noun: change
Example:
✗ They suggested doing some changes to
the schedule.
✓ They suggested making some changes
to the schedule.
2 Adjective + Noun
5 Noun: pressure
This list, from the Cambridge Learner Corpus,
shows the ten mistakes that students make
most often when they choose an adjective
to go with a noun. In most cases it is clear
what the student means, but the problem is
that the combination of adjective + noun that
they have used does not sound natural and 6 Noun: importance
is considered to be incorrect. In each case, a
more natural adjective + noun combination
with the same meaning is shown under the
incorrect combination.
1 Noun: number/amount/quantity 7 Noun: amount
Example:
✗ a big number of tourists/students/
customers etc.
✓ a large number of tourists/students/
customers etc.
© Cambridge University Press 2008
✗ a big amount of money/food/
information etc.
✓ a large amount of money/food/
information etc.
✗ In my country we eat a big quantity of
pasta.
✓ In my country we eat a large quantity
of pasta.
2 Noun: choice
Example:
✗ They offer only a little choice of cold
snacks.
✓ They offer a limited/narrow choice of
cold snacks.
3 Noun: range/variety/choice
Example:
✗ There is a big range of study materials
available.
✓ There is a wide range of study
materials available.
✗ They provide a big variety of hot meals
every day.
✓ They provide a wide variety of hot
meals every day.
✗ They offer a bigger choice of meals.
✓ They offer a wider choice of meals.
4 Noun: noise
Example:
✗ Suddenly there was a big noise.
✓ Suddenly there was a loud noise.
Example:
✗ I am already overworked and under
high pressure.
✓ I am already overworked and under
great/a lot of pressure.
Example:
✗ This fact is of very big importance to me.
✓ This fact is of very great importance
to me.
Example:
✗ They earn a high amount of money.
✓ They earn a large amount of money.
 Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary, 3rd edition
8 Noun: tree/building/person
Example:
✗ It is a high building.
✗ He is not very high.
✓ It is a tall building.
✓ He is not very tall.
9 Noun: progress
Example:
✗ I have made quite big progress in
speaking English.
✓ I have made great/a lot of progress in
speaking English.
10 Noun: decrease
Example:
✗ There was a little decrease in profits in
the second year.
✓ There was a slight decrease in profits
in the second year.
The Top 10 Verb + Verb
Combination Mistakes
This list shows the ten mistakes that advanced
students most often make when they put one
verb after another verb. In each case the form
of the second verb is incorrect.
1 Main Verb: suggest
✗ suggest (sb) to do sth
✗ I suggest to send our colleagues
on a similar course.
✓ suggest (that) sb do sth
✓ I suggest (that) we send our colleagues
on a similar course.
2 Main Verb: recommend
✗ recommend to do sth
✗ I recommend to employ a part-time
assistant.
✓ recommend doing sth
✓ I recommend employing a part-time
assistant.
3 Main Verb: look forward to
✗ look forward to do sth
✗ I look forward to hear from you.
✓ look forward to doing sth
✓ I look forward to hearing from you.
4 Main Verb: need
✗ need do sth; need doing sth
✗ We need resolve a lot of other important
problems.
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✓ need to do sth
✓ We need to resolve a lot of other
important problems.
5 Main Verb: consider
✗ consider to do sth
✗ I would like you to consider to refund at
least some of my money.
✓ consider doing sth
✓ I would like you to consider refunding
at least some of my money.
6 Main Verb: want
✗ want do sth
✗ If you want have the body you have
always dreamed of, you must join a gym.
✓ want to do sth
✓ If you want to have the body you have
always dreamed of, you must join a gym.
7 Main Verb: be used to
✗ be used to do sth
✗ You should be used to work in teams and
be computer literate.
✓ be used to doing sth
✓ You should be used to working in
teams and be computer literate.
8 Main Verb: (would) like
✗ would like do sth
✗ I would like thank the families for their
help.
✓ would like to do sth
✓ I would like to thank the families for
their help.
9 Main Verb: can
✗ can to do sth
✗ We need to find new markets where we
can to sell our products.
✓ can do sth
✓ We need to find new markets where we
can sell our products.
10 Main Verb: help
✗ help (sb) doing sth
✗ My job was to help operating the roller-
coaster.
✓ help (sb) to do sth; help (sb) do sth
✓ My job was to help (them) to operate
the roller-coaster.• My job was to help
(them) operate the roller-coaster.