English collocations are two words together that equal one meaning- they almost always combine NOUNS or ADJECTIVES together. Some popular collocations have the feeling/meaning of ‘absolutely’ for the first word.

Adjective collocations exercise 1

In the following exercises these kind of collocations are used. Their function is as an adjective.

Exercise 1: Read the sentences, decide on the correct second word in the collocation (which is the main word) and then check at the end.
1. My brother just sits around the house all day and does nothing. He’s so lazy… he’s bone _____!
a) idle b) dead

2. It’s impossible to see anything in here! It’s pitch _____.
a) dark b) night

3. I’m going to buy a used car. I can’t afford a brand _____ one.
a) new b) shiny

4. Breakfast is ready, where’s Tom? I’ll check- oh dear, I can’t wake him…he’s fast _____!
a) snoring b) asleep

5. Becky usually looks sleepy at breakfast time, but today she looks wide _____.
a) happy b) awake

Adjective collocations exercise 2

Exercise 2: Put a completed, correct collocation from Exercise 1 into each gap in the following dialogue and then check your answer.

brand new  |  fast asleep |  pitch dark |  bone idle |  wide awake

A: “Come on, wake up. You’ll be late for work. You really need a _____ alarm clock – your old one is not loud enough!”.

B: “Leave me alone…I was_______ and you woke me up! It must be only 6.00am…the room is still ________!

A: “Wrong! It’s after 7.00. The room’s dark because it’s raining hard outside. Anyway, you should be ________ now so just go and have breakfast”.

B: “Not now thanks, I’m not hungry, just sleepy…I’m going back to bed for a bit longer”.

A: “Oh my goodness, you really are _______ , aren’t you”?!