Home 9 Adjective collocations

Adjective collocations

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

click here to see the answer
The correct answer is bone idle (meaning extremely lazy)

 

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

click here to see the answer
The correct answer is pitch dark (meaning there is no light)

 

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

click here to see the answer
The correct answer is brand new (meaning it’s completely new)

 

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

click here to see the answer
The correct answer is fast asleep (meaning sleeping heavily, not easily woken up)

 

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

click here to see the answer
The correct answer is wide awake (meaning there is she’s completely alert)

 

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”?!

Show the answers
ANSWERS: 1. brand new 2. fast asleep 3. pitch dark 4. wide awake 5. bone idle

OTHER POSTS

Academic IELTS free reading test 2

Try this free IELTS reading practice test with instant band score. Passage 1: Base Erosion and Profit Shifting Passage 2: Cough Medicines and Cough Syrups Passage 3: The Tempest: Shakespeare’s Final Play

read more

Academic IELTS free reading test 1

Try this free IELTS reading practice test with instant band score. Passage 1: A running controversy Passage 2: The development of the magazine Passage 3: The dawn of culture

read more

Adjective collocations

We hope you found this page useful! If you did, please share it with your friends 🙂

Go back to the homepage here.

Adjective collocations