1) Explain the differences in meaning between each of these pairs of words.
Anniversary – birthday
Cancel – postpone
Collaborate – cooperate
Complement – compliment
Cook – cooker
Desert – dessert
Economic – economical
Experience – experiment
Fantasy – imagination
Historic – historical
Homework – housework
Immigration – emigration
Memory – souvenir
Menu – set meal
Noise – sound
Personal – personnel
Principal – principle
Receipt – recipe
Rob – steal
Satisfactory – satisfying
Stationary – stationery
Stranger – foreigner
Sympathetic – likeable
Tasteful – tasty
FORMAL LANGUAGE
1) Formal vs. informal writing. Look at these sentences and rewrite them into a more formal
style.
a) It’s important to do your homework
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b) Going to the amusement park was so cool!
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c) It doesn’t take a genius to get this joke, Břeclav!
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d) Thanks for the package. That was a good idea.
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e) When you are preparing to cook a meal, wash your hands first.
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f) Lunch in the cafeteria today was horrible. It looked, smelled, and tasted real bad.
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g) Hey teach! I don’t have no homework today, bro!
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h) I’m really sorry I forgot your birthday!
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i) I think that’s fantastic news!
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j) You really must go to that Spanish restaurant.
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2) Look at the following sentences and find the correct answer.
a) Which phrase is a formal apology?
1) I’m really sorry I forgot your birthday.
2) Look, I just forgot, okay.
3) I would like to apologize for forgetting
your birthday.
b) Which of the following is an informal
request for information?
1) Send it to me immediately by attachment.
2) Can you send me a copy by email
attachment?
3) I would really appreciate it if you could
send me a copy by email attachment.
c) Which sentence is a formal suggestion?
1) We are having lunch in this Chinese
restaurant.
2) I recommend having lunch in this Chinese
restaurant.
3) Let’s have lunch in this Chinese
restaurant!
d) Which sentence expresses formal
enthusiasm?
1) That’s fantastic! Well done!
2) You’re so lucky.
3) I would just like to say how pleased I am
for you.
e) Which of the following is an expression of
thanks in an informal way?
1) I would like to express my sincerest
gratitude.
2) You shouldn’t have bothered.
3) Thanks a lot. I’m much obliged.
f) Which of the following is used to give
instructions in a formal way?
1) The first step would be to make a plan.
2) Now make a plan.
3) First you need to make a plan.
g) Which phrase is for expressing a
preference in a formal way?
1) I would rather not do that.
2) I’m not doing that.
3) I don’t want to do that.
GET – Phrasal Verb
1) Match the synonyms below to these sentences with get.
Annoy, arrive, attain, become, earn, fetch, have, manage, obtain, persuade, prepare, receive, start,
understand.
1) I must get my hair cut.
2) He got someone else to do the work.
3) We all get old eventually.
4) It’s upstairs, can you get it for me?
5) How much does she get a week?
6) It may be hard to get to see him.
7) He didn’t get the joke.
8) Did you get my letter?
9) Will you get the meal ready?
10) When did you get there?
11) I’m trying to get a new car.
12) Did she get an A in the exam?
13) It’s time to get going.
14) His attitude really gets me.
2) Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined phrases with the correct form of the
appropriate expressions listed below.
GET: ahead, along/on with, at, at, away, back, going, into, down, me down, nowhere, on for, one’s
own back, out of, over, over/across, round to, through, together
1 She’s a difficult person to have a friendly relationship with.
2 I tried phoning several times but I couldn’t make contact.
3 It may be difficult to communicate these ideas to everyone.
4 I don’t understand what you’re implying.
5 Try not to let it depress you if someone criticizes you.
6 The lecturer spoke so fast that we couldn’t write everything he said.
7 I don’t want to take part in the show, but how can I avoid it?
8 They were unable to recover from the setback.
9 I hoped we could meet but we never managed to find the time.
10 It may take you a while to become involved in the book.
11 I haven’t got time for a holiday but I hope to escape for a long weekend.
12 The only way to succeed in politics is to have the right connections.
13 We’d better start moving - it’s nearly lunchtime.
14 Leave a message and I’ll return your call.
15 Look, it’s clear we’re having no success, let’s try a different plan.
16 He got his revenge by letting her car tires down.