Adverb-adjective collocations – C1 English Vocabulary

Adverb-adjective collocations

Exercise 3

Complete each gap using a word from the box. You can use each option ONLY ONCE.

badly – clearly – deeply (x2) – highly – increasingly – largely – poorly – seriously – strongly

Adverb-adjective collocations

In this Advanced Vocabulary lesson, you will learn common adverb + adjective/past participle collocations. These combinations are very frequent in essays, reviews and reports, but learners often use unnatural alternatives such as very + adjective. Check the table below and read the sentence examples to learn how to use them naturally in context.

Adverb + adjective collocations

1 deeply concerned

• The local residents are deeply concerned about the environmental impact of the project.

2 highly unlikely

• It is highly unlikely that the proposal will be approved without major changes.

3 utterly ridiculous

• The idea that technology can solve every problem is utterly ridiculous.

4 virtually impossible

• Under the current conditions, meeting the deadline is virtually impossible.

5 perfectly clear

• It was perfectly clear from his response that he disagreed.

6 strongly opposed

• Several experts are strongly opposed to the proposed reforms.

7 firmly convinced

• She is firmly convinced that education is the key to long-term change.

8 fully aware

• The company is fully aware of the risks involved.

9 deeply disappointed

• Many supporters were deeply disappointed by the final decision.

10 clearly defined

• The roles and responsibilities must be clearly defined from the start.

11 closely related

• Language and culture are closely related and cannot be studied in isolation.

12 widely recognised

• Climate change is a widely recognised global challenge.

13 clearly evident

• The improvement in her confidence was clearly evident.

14 largely responsible

• Human activity is largely responsible for the decline in biodiversity.

15 increasingly common

• Remote working has become increasingly common in recent years.

16 badly affected

• Small businesses were badly affected by the economic downturn.

17 seriously injured

• Several passengers were seriously injured in the accident.

18 deeply rooted

• These attitudes are deeply rooted in the country’s history.

19 heavily criticised

• The policy was heavily criticised by both the media and the public.

20 poorly managed

• The project failed because it was poorly managed from the outset.

After completing the exercises in this lesson on Adverb-adjective Collocations, you can use the unit’s Vocabulary Flashcards to revise and help you memorize the terms.