Topic: Word class

Complete the examples with nouns which are derived from the highlighted adjectives. The first answer is provided for you.

Anna was late. It annoyed me. → Anna's lateness annoyed me.

Jeff is shy. I didn’t notice this until the party. → I didn’t notice Jeff’s ___ until the party. AnswerI didn’t notice Jeff’s shyness until the party.

There are many phrasal verbs that you won’t find in any dictionary. This is because we commonly create new phrasal verbs based on the meanings of existing phrasal verbs. Usually, new phrasal verbs are either transparent or aspectual – new idiomatic phrasal verbs would usually be too difficult for listeners to decode. Perhaps you’ve heard examples like the following:

Non-native speakers are often told that their only option is to memorise each phrasal verb individually. Is it really necessary to do all that work? No. Not only is it unnecessary, it’s inefficient. And it’s inefficient for three reasons:

Read this extract from a novel and think about the ways in which the writer has chosen specific words to convey his description.

_{From Michael Morpurgo, Warhorse}

What word would you place in the blank slot?

The feeling of hopelessness she'd experienced earlier that afternoon swept over her again.

Is earlier an adverb?

Which words do you think are adverbs? Remember the following clues: