Wordzone: Adjectives

LEVEL: B1 (Intermediate)

Word Formation

Do you want to make a noun or a verb into an adjective?
Add a new ending: – able, -ible, -ous, -ful, -y.

enjoy (v) – enjoyable (adj)
terror (n) – terrible (adj)
fame (n/v) – famous (adj)
hope (n/v) – hopeful (adj)
sleep (n/) – sleepy (adj)

I. Complete the sentences with the correct adjective.
Use the words in capitals:

  1. Be careful! Don’t scratch the DVD! …… CARE
  2. There’s a pen mark on this cushion, but it’s not very….. NOTICE
  3. He tried to paint his bedroom but he wasn’t very ….. SUCCESS
  4. Thomas is very ………. –he usually saves his pocket money…….SENSE
  5. Never use electronic gadgets near water – it’s really …………DANGER
  6. Sam’s room is…………! It’s a real mess…… HORROR
  7. When I’m tired I sometimes feel cross and ………….. MOOD
  8. I think watching too much TV can be ……………for young children……..HARM
  9. I’ll buy a cheap second-hand computer game. They are really ………AFFORD
  10. I never watch thrillers late at night because they’re too…………….!SCARE

Opposite adjectives

Do you want to make an adjective negative? Add a new beginning (prefix).

tidy– untidy
possible – impossible
expensive – inexpensive

II. Choose the correct negative prefix (un-, im-, in-) for each group of adjectives:

  1. …dependent, …formal, …visible
  2. …comfortable, …fit, …usual
  3. …mature, …practical

III. Choose the correct form to complete the sentences making them true for you:

  1. I’m usually able/unable to go to sleep before midnight.
  2. I think it is acceptable/inacceptable to stay up late on school nights.
  3. In my opinion, it is appropriate/inappropriate to have a TV in every room.
  4. My teacher would say I’m reliable/unreliable.
  5. Normally I’m a very patient/impatient person.
  6. I find it possible/impossible to get up very early if I need to.

Order of adjectives

Do you want to use more than one adjective to describe a noun? Put them in this order:

your opinion: dynamic/exciting
size: huge/tall
shape: round/square
age: modern/old
colour: yellow/silver
nationality: English/Greek
material: leather/metal

IV. Complete the sentences with the adjectives in brackets in their correct order.

Example: Nadia Vole has a ……..blank, moon-shaped face…….. (moon-shaped, blank)

  1. Alex Rider is wearing a ………………….. jacket. (black/cool/leather)
  2. He’s got ……….… hair. (black/untidy/long)
  3. He’s riding a ………………… quad bike. (metal/silver and black)

Synonymic adjectives

V. Underline the adjective in each group which does not have the same general meaning, as in the example.

Example:…..large…….huge…….friendly……..big

  1. …….unhappy…….displeased…….sad…….pleasant
  2. rare…….average…….typical…….usual
  3. far-off…….bright…….foreign…….overseas
  4. content…….frightened…….terrified…….afraid
  5. uncomplicated…….simple…….confused…….basic
  6. rude…….dull…….impolite…….disrespectful
  7. peaceful…….quiet…….tranquil…….complex
  8. luxurious…….grand…….sympathetic…….five-star
  9. confident…….positive…….certain…….general
  10. excessive…….standard…….average…….normal

Key

I. 2. noticeable; 3. successful; 4. sensible; 5. dangerous; 6. horrible; 7. moody; 8. harmful; 9. affordable; 10. scary
II. 1. in; 2. un; 3. im
III. Students’ own answers.
IV. 1. cool black leather; 2. untidy long black; 3. silver and black metal
V. 1. pleasant; 2. rare; 3. bright; 4. content; 5. confused; 6. dull; 7. complex; 8. sympathetic; 9. general; 10. excessive

References:

  • Activate! B1 – Pearson, 2008
  • PTE Skills Booster Level 2.- Pearson, 2010.

Материалы предоставлены компанией S2A – эксклюзивным представителем Pearson Test of English в Украине.