Key adjectives

For any adjective it is useful to knorv r.vhether ii is o'picallv followed by a specific prepositionand whether it has any synonyms (adjectives rvirli a simiiar meaning) or antonyms (adiectives

of opposite meaning).

Adjectives and prepositionsHere are some extracts from academic texts, with adjectives followed by to or of.

i-ILLLLLl.-ILI

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I true to a particular degree when it is being compared with other things 2 connected with whatis happening or being discussed 3 (rather formal) typical of a only found in s belonging to orshared by rwo or more people or things 6 suitable or right for a particular situation or occasion

Adjectives and their oppositesLook at this abstract from a dissertation on drug abuse. In most cases you can work out themeanings of the opposites (which follow each numbered adjective), based on the definitions.

s o m.e o f * e re.i.F'c.ii ito !trt.-@ s t i o r n a i r e .v,,ere specifica to young male respondents.

Others were commons to all the respondents.

notionotabuie;'and'the m ahavfullofe whl0h,iselsd,:no1.'in$nificani in pr-.omot!ng such fears.

The disserlation concludes tnat .ortns estimates of the number of drug addicts need io be made

more precise by properly defining addiction.

I existing as an idea, not as a material object; opposite: existing in a form that can he seen or felt2 having or made of only one or a few parts 3 based on numbers and statistics; opposite: usuallyresearch using non-number-based methods such as interviews, focus groups, etc. 4 important ornoticeable s fairly correct but not exact or detailed; opposite: exact and accurate

Other important, frequent adjectives and typical combinations with nouns

There was an apparentl discrepancy between the rwo sets r:f results.'We noted a parc!flallprqblcxs with the experimental design which we had to deal with first.The principal3 cause of the failure was a sudden temperature change.The research used a rigorousa methodo]ogy which had been tested on many occasions.

I seeming to exist or be true 2 possible when the necessary conditions exist 3 first in order ofimportance a careful to look at or consider every part of something to make certain it is correcr

!f Remember to say tlpicol ofi NOT Spicol for. Learn adiectives with the prepositions that

#n often follow them, as in A.

.=...w;&i,, $.ilil j$1'..fi,',te.,e e$1SH$!r ale,- appiopriate6 to,the n,eeds of small faLnrers.

.i1:ia-iiH.. il,fi*r.F iii{,s}$,fli ihffi=+=,t liu l,fi*r,1{$iire;$}$dv. t

= .

attittld4;o 1rqr,Jfi6

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l6 AcodemicVocabulary in Use

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l [n'rqu."=oill lfirr=""y,,, ir'" t*i "ai"..iv=*itipm

tt'i*, g,fq,y-."ur'i.aiaing; .,itr{o;; i" "

Exercises

4.1 Look at A. Correct the preposition errors in these sentences.

1 A lengthy discussion of the advantages of solar power is not relevant with an essay thatrequired you to focus on wind turbines.

2 It is typical to the disease for it to start with an itchy rash.3 This rnethodology is not appropriate about the kind of research you are planning.4 The use of original metaphors is characteristic from the writer's style.5 Relative with previors attempts to explain the phenomenon, this interpretation is quite

persuasive.6 The dark hair and eyes are common for all people from the region.

4.2 Rewrite each sentence using the opposite of the adjective in italics.

1 Karlsson checked the figures and agreed with me that they were dccurdte.2 The solution to the problem is a simple one.3 Make rough calculations before you begin to lvrite up your results.4 The army played a significant rcie in events.5 Hernandez prefers to discuss ideas in abstract terms.

4.3 Match the adfective on the left with the noun it often combines rvith on the right.

1 apparent methodology2 rigorous problem3 principal discrepancy4 potential cause

4.4 Now use one of the combinations from 4.3 to complete these sentences.

1 There is an...... ".,.... in your figures.2 Management's refusal to listen to the workers' demands was the .. of the riots.3 Lamaque devised a............,.......,. which has since been used successfully by many other

researchers in the field.4 'We spotted a -.-....................."........ with our procedure and so we changed it in two areas.

4.5 Choose the best adjective from the box to complete these sentences.

I

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eetne

1 The plant is difficult to grow and needs very. ,.. .. .... conditions to survive.2 His tutor was critical of his work for not being enough.3 In the past the northern tribes looked on the tribes of the south as ... . enemies.4 We chose a -..... .......,..... .. approach to our research and interviewed individuals personally.5 A set of circumstances led to a civil war in 7897.

AcademicVocobulory in Use 17

ffiKey adverbs

This unit deals with just some

context. You will find more in

Adverbs that compare

ffi)IE

ffiiilF

L-

L-

L-

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L-

L-

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i

of the adverbs thar are particularly frequent in an academic

orher unirs rhroughout this book.

A

Adverbs that relate to numbers or timeThere are approximately 20 varieties of bird in this species. [roughlS about]There are precisely 48 different managerial posts in the company. [exactly]Interviewees frequently misunderstood one of the questions. [often]'We eventually obtained the results we were hoping for. [in the end, after some time]Ultimately we plan to repeat the experiment. [finally, after other things have lreen completedl

Adverbs that relate to how things are stated

I referring to irs rnain characteristics; also basicalty 2 openly 3 usually, also on the wholea not directly, suggested or implied rather than stated

Adverbs that restrict or limitmerely = exacrly and nothing more: Tbe medication will merely make tbe syr?tptoms

bearable; it will not cure tbe disease.

simply Note that simply can have different meanings. To pnt it simply, the risks af this

approach would seem to outtueigh its aduantages. [plainlyl The book presents difficult ideas

simply, in a ruay dppropridte for tbe layman. [easily; someone who isn't a specialist in thefreld) The exam results tuere simply dreadful. [absolutely, without doubt]hardly ever = almost never: The tribe has hardly euer had cantact with tbe outside world.

Eventuoily mean-..ljn, the end'. [t, does not mean'perhaps/poitibly'.',.,, :

We will pertropsfpassibly.(N0T eventua+tv) discover /ife on otfi.er p,aneE in the future.Eventually [in the end],we were oble to intervlew olt 20 children involved in thC iist

adverb meontng exomple

comparatively/

relatively

in comparison wich something else Our sample was relatively/comparatively small.

especially/particularly more than usual The process was not especially/particularly difficult

specially more than usual (spoken English only)

for a specific purpose

The exam was specially hard this year.

We used specially designed equipment.

somewhat (opposite:

considerably)

(slightly formal) a little, slightly When we tested younger boys, we

obtained somewhat/considerablydifferent results.

primarily mainly Amir is primarily interested in bio-physics.

mostlyllargely almost completely (but not toully so) The research was largelylmostlysuccessful.

directly (opposite:

indirectly)

without anything else being involved The illness is (in)directly linked to poorhousing.

l8 AcodemicVocobulory in Use

l/-,

Exercises

5.1 Look at A and B. Explain the difference betrveen rhe senrences in each pair.

1 Heinrich's experiments were mostly successful.Heinrich's experiments were most successful.

2 The resulrs were somewhat surprising given rhe circumstanccs.The results were especially surprising given the circumstances.

3 First-year students are diremly affected by the new rules relating to tuition fees.First-year students are particularly affected by the new rules relating ro tuition fees.

4 The study is primarily concerned with urban alienation.T'he study is rrltimately concerned with urban alienation.

5 The ream evenrually obtained unpredicted results.The team frequently obtained unpredicred results.

5.2 Choose the more appropriate adverb from the options.

Whal you f,ii.sayi4 is eiseitliblli'l:ierilfuae.To' ir-b;'iicnt$Rilpty,,there iispecially / basic;ally no significant difference bet*een thi two wrirers'rh.oii.r. However,one of them'w,riie:s'in a iim;;pU / preciselyidreaafut'styl hile tffithir hii'ili|erlt;"qi$'j',pi,ossibly a more impressive sryte tt',an a.,y oth., .on,.*porrry r.i;;i;;. -- - - /

5.3 Change the sentences using adverbs which mean the opposite of the underlined ones.

1 There were roughly 350 people living in the village in 1958.2 Parents seldom complained that rhe school authorities failed to inform them of changes.3 We investigated the problem and initially found some small errors in the calculations.4 The remperarure was exactlx half a degree lower than the average.5 Singh (1998) is explicitlg critical of existing theories of economii growth.6 Soil erosion is sBeedeaXy caused by water or wind.7 Senior citizens almost always use the internet to communicate with one anortrer.8 The disease is directly linked to environmental factors.

5.4 underline the advcrbs in these texts, Then answer the questions.

Marine conservationists are currently attempting Scientrsts have recently discovered that ants " j

to save the world's coiat reefs. One plan is to -

can remembei f,o* rnrny steps thef h";;literaliy glue the damaged reefs back together, 'taken. ny iarefufly it,o,tening or leigthening

labs. Reefs are increasingly under attack from sho*:legged anti apparently became lost andhuman activity as well as from events occurring . could no[ easily tind their way home to thenaturally, such as hurricanes and tsunamis nest. Similarly, ants with longer lcgs tpiaallyA recent UN report warns ihat 30% of the travelled 50% further than they needed to and

world's coral reefs have been completely w€{e also temporarily. unable to find the nest.

destroyed or are severely damaged. li seems ants canidefihitely count their steps.

1 \fhich adverb means 'in the same way,?2 Find two pairs of adverbs that mean the opp.site of each other.3 Which adverb means the opposite of ,a long time ago,?4 Which adverb means 'rnore and more'?5 Which adverb could be substitured by seriously?5 Which adverb rneans'for a limited time,?

Find:an artlcle of ihterest to-ybu in your discipline ana unJeitlne'-ill: the key adverbs.Then chec*

-_Ir

s

a

AcodemicVacobulory in Use 19

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Phrasal verbs in academic English

Although phrasal verbs occur rnosr freqrcndy in more informal spoken and written English,they are also not uncommon in an acadsaic contexr, You will hear them used in lectures andwill read them in serious iournals. From this unit only goAook back over and work out arenot appropriate for a formal wriffen assignment.

Phrasal verbs and one-word synonymsPhrasal verbs often have one-word synonyms. These are usually of Latin origin and soundmore formal than their phrasal verb equivalent but both are appropriate when writing ortalking about.academii subjects. Vary your language by using both.

phrosal verb synoflym example

put forward (an idea/view/opinionl

theory/plan)Present ln her latest article Kaufmann puts forrvard a

theory which is likely to prove conrroversial.

carry out (an experiment / r,esearch) conduct I intend to carry out a series of experimenc.

make up constttute Children under the age of l5 make up nearlyhalf of the country! population.

be made up of consist of Parliament is made up of rwo houses.

point out observe Grenne points out that the increase in lifeexpectancy has led to some economic problems.

point up highlight The study points up the weaknesses in thecurrent school system.

set out (to do something) alm ln his article Losanov sets out to prove rhat ,

set out describe The document sets out the terms of the treaty.

go into discuss ln this book Sergeant goes into the causes of theCivilWar in some depth.

go/look back over revise, review * Please go/look back over this term's notes.

go through check Go through your calculations carefully.

* R.euise is the BrE synonym and reuiew the AmE synonym.or change something to make it better; reuie* is not used ina test as focused on here.)

Carrying out research

(Reuise in AmE only means to editBrE in the context of preparing for

I do something after doing something else 2 study, work in the field of 3 prepared, arranged4 come to a conclusion about s not be in ag:eement with 6

1of an important document) write ina final form

f Lonsult a good oictionlry when you use phrasal 1g!s in your+rriting. For-example,a good ':-$t..*i

E diaiiontry tells you when the oblJct can be used befrre ttre paniaer(e;g;_wlite ygrr:.*rLlei ,n'd++ll

! when it Cannot:(e.g. this goes oeornsf cunern d-reoriesl. _,i ::::::: ''' .

2A AcodemicYocobulary in llse