D Write: Refer to the words in brackets and put in the right adjectives. EAGER DRIVER

It's (legal)1 illegal to drive under the age of seventeen in Britain, but a (boy of seventeen years old)2... managed to pass his driving test on the day of his seventeenth birthday. Most people would consider this (possible)3... because you need a lot of lessons to pass the test. David Livesey arranged to have (a lesson of eight hours)4... beginning at dawn on his birthday. At first he was very (care)5... and (hesitate)6... but he had a (wonder)7... teacher and his driving improved amazingly during the day. By four in the afternoon, still feeling (energy) 8... he was ready to take his test and he passed first time! He was almost in a state of shock after the test, and he drove home very slowly in the (red)9... light of the (set)10... sun. David's driving attracted the attention of two policemen, but they broke into smiles and congratulated him warmly when he showed them his certificate and told them his story.

6.2 Position of adjectives 6.2A Form and position of most adjectives [> LEG 6.4,6.7]

1 Adjectives have the same form whether they refer to people or things in the singular or plural: He's a tall man. She's a tall woman. It's a tall building. They're tall men. They're tall women. They're tall buildings.

2 Most adjectives are used in two ways in English:

- before a noun: He is an old man. This is an old ticket. Function of attribute - означення

- after be, seem, etc. the adjective stands on its own as a complement - доповнення: The man is old / young. The ticket is old / new.

Write: Rewrite these sentences so that the adjectives come after be:

1 This is a big/small company. This company... 2 Kevin and Matthew are clever boys. Kevin and Matthew … /nerds 3 Nina is a hardworking girl. Nina.../lazy 4 These are busy streets. These streets.../idle 5 They're well-behaved children. The children.../naughty.

6.2B Adjectives that can change in meaning before a noun or after 'be' [> LEG 6.7, 6.8]

- before a noun: John is an old friend of mine. (= I've known him for a long time);

- after be: My friend, John, is very old. (= old in years) Some other common adjectives that can change meaning according to their position are: early, faint, fine, heavy, ill, late, sick. Note: that sick can go before a noun or after be, but ill (like well) comes after be. Sick means 'ill’ and also means 'upset in the stomach'.

Write 1: Rewrite these sentences using adjectives with the same meaning as the words in italics.

1 John is a friend whom I have known for a very long time. John is… an old friend 2 Some money was left to me by my uncle who is dead. Some money was left... 3 She drew a line which I could hardly see. She drew... 4 Your suitcase weighs a lot. Your suitcase is... 5 Susan smokes a lot. She's...

Write 2: Which words or phrases in B will replace words or phrases in A? A: 1 Her wedding dress is made of beautiful silk. a fine silk 2 The weather is good today. _ 3 Something's upset me. I think I'm going to throw up. _ 4 John is extremely unwell. _ 5 I was born at the beginning of the 1960s. _ 6 Martha is not a healthy woman. _

B: a) a sick; b) fine (twice); c) very ill; d) in the early; e) be sick.

 

6.2C Adjectives before and after nouns with a change of meaning [> LEG 6.11.2]

Adjectives go before nouns in English [> 6.2A), but there are a few adjectives which go before or after nouns and they change in meaning according to their position: This elect body meets once a year, (before the noun = 'specially chosen') The president elect takes over in May. (after the noun = 'who has been elected’)

Write: Which words or phrases in B best explain the words or phrases in A? A: 1 The concerned doctor phoned for an ambulance. b 2 The doctor concerned is on holiday at the moment. _ 3 It was a very involved question. _ 4 The person involved has left the company. _ 5 Present employees number 3,000. _ 6 The employees present should vote on this. _ 7 It was a proper question. _ 8 The question proper has not been answered. _ 9 Janet is a responsible girl. _ 10 The girl responsible has been expelled. _

B: a) correct; b) worried; c) who was blamed; d) complicated; e) with a sense of duty; f) now employed; g) here now; h) connected with this (twice); i) itself

 

D Write: Put in the missing adjectives. Alternatives are sometimes possible: alive, asleep, beautiful, big, complete, fast, fresh, lovely, pleased, polished, poor, quick-drying, shiny, tall, young. NOT A FAST LIFE!

Three and a half years ago Mr Bell received a beautiful\lovely present from his2...grandson. The boy had had a3... holiday by the seaside and had bought his grandfather a present. It was a4... sea-snail which had been stuck on top of an oyster and another shell. Mr Bell was very5... with his gift and put it on a shelf. While he was dusting one morning, he accidentally knocked the6... snail off the oyster. He went to find some7... glue. When he came back, he couldn't believe his eyes. The snail had moved along the shelf. It was8...! 'It must have been 9... all these years and the shock woke it up.' Mr Bell said. He put the snail in a paper bag to show his friends. At first they thought the story was 10... nonsense, until they saw the snail. The 11... creature was so hungry, it had eaten a hole in the bag. Mr Bell gave it a12... meal of13... cabbage leaves which it really enjoyed. 'It's not such a14... story,' a scientist explained. These creatures live on the seashore and don't lead a 15... life. They can hibernate for years without eating.'