Collocation In Use 6 Flashcards
Highly
(Un)likely, unusual, successful, competitive, profitable, effective, controversial, recommended, educated
Highly is used
With some probability words (likely, unusual). With exception of highly controversial, it usually combines with very positive words extremely can also be used with all the opposite adjectives except recommended.
Absolutely, utterly
ridiculous, stupid, impossible, wrong, alone, appalled, convinced, devastated, miserable, absurd
Absolutely and (slightly more formal) utterly …
combine with adjective with very extreme meanings where we can’t use very. For example, we say absolutely/utterly exhausted, not very exhausted, whereas we say very tired, but not absolutely or utterly tired. Often, but not always, these words have negative connotations.
Bitterly
Disappointing/ disappointing, resent, criticize, regret, complain, cry, weep
Bitterly
Carries a feeling of deep sadness; used a slightly more in writing, than in conversation.
Deeply
Ashamed, concerned, shocked, committed, moved, affected, hurt (of feelings), regret, care, religious, unhappy
Deeply
Collocates mainly with words associated with feelings; used slightly more in writing than in conversation.
Ridiculously
cheap, expensive, easy, low, high, long, short, small, large, early
Ridiculously
Suggests something extreme, which seems unbelievable or unreasonable
strongly
Oppose, influence, believe, deny, recommend, support, condemn, suggest, feel, argue, object
Strongly
Collocates with verbs, particularly verbs that relate to having an opinion.
Controversial
causing disagreement or discussion:
a controversial issue/decision/speech/figure
The book was very controversial.
Appalled
having strong feelings of shock or disapproval:
an appalled silence/fascination
I am absolutely appalled by/at the state of our cities.
Devastated
completely destroyed:
Thousands of people have left their devastated villages and fled to the mountains.
Resent
to feel angry because you have been forced to accept someone or something that you do not like:
She bitterly resented her father’s new wife.
[ + -ing verb ] He resents having to explain his work to other people.
Weep
to cry tears:
People in the street wept with joy when peace was announced.
He wept tears of rage/joy when he heard the news.
UK She wept buckets (= cried a lot) when Paul left.
Condemn
to criticize something or someone strongly, usually for moral reasons:
The terrorist action has been condemned as an act of barbarism and cowardice.
The film was condemned for its sexism.
Absurd
stupid and unreasonable, or silly in a humorous way:
What an absurd thing to say!
Don’t be so absurd! Of course I want you to come.
It’s an absurd situation - neither of them will talk to the other.
Do I look absurd in this hat?
