English Vocabulary in Use Elementary » Unit 56: Common adjectives: Good and bad things

Word List
  • awful
  • bad
  • dreadful
  • excellent
  • good
  • great
  • horrible
  • How (awful)
  • lovely
  • nice
  • not bad
  • perfect
  • terrible
  • very (bad / good)
  • wonderful
Exercises

56.1 ‣ Complete the sentences.

  1. My hair’s . I must go to the hairdresser’s.
  2. The weather’s _____. I don’t want to go out.
  3. The traffic is _____ in the city centre. Take the train.
  4. That’s a(n) _____ idea! Let’s do it!
  5. How _____! Three exams on the same day!
  6. What a _____ house! The sea is only 100 metres away!
  7. My timetable’s not _____. I’m free on Wednesdays and Fridays.
  8. We have a _____ view of the mountains from our hotel room.

56.2 ‣ What can you say? Someone says to you ...

  1. Do you like my new skirt?
  2. I have to get up at 4.30 tomorrow morning.
    _____
  3. Do you want to go out for dinner tonight?
    _____
  4. (in your town) Excuse me. Is there a good restaurant in this town?
    _____
  5. What do you think of your English lessons?
    _____
  6. Is it OK if I come to your house at 6.30 tomorrow evening?
    _____

56.3 ‣ Match the words on the left with an expression from the right.

  1. Blue sky, sun 25°
  2. Five stars (*****) _____
  3. I don’t want to walk. Let’s take a taxi. _____
  4. 90 out of 100 in an exam _____
  5. (in summer) Grey sky, wind, rain, 4° _____
  1. a) Wonderful news
  2. b) Awful weather
  3. c) Lovely weather
  4. d) A very good idea
  5. e) An excellent hotel

56.4 ‣ Put these words into the good or bad column. Use a dictionary.

  1. dreadful
    • good
    • bad
  2. brilliant
    • good
    • bad
  3. marvellous
    • good
    • bad
  4. nasty
    • good
    • bad
  5. fine
    • good
    • bad

56.5 ‣ Now think of two nouns to go with each of the adjectives in 56.4. Use a dictionary to help you.

  • dreadful
  • brilliant _____
  • marvellous _____
  • nasty _____
  • fine _____
Answer Key
A ‣ Good adjectives

a good restaurant

an excellent restaurant

a wonderful view /ˈwʌndəfəl/

A: That’s a nice jacket.
B: Thank you.

A: It’s a lovely day today! /ˈlʌvli/
B: Yes, it is.

It’s a great film. We all loved it.

A: Do you want to go to London on Saturday?
B: That’s an excellent idea! [very good]

B ‣ Bad adjectives


bad weather
The weather this summer was very bad.

Other words that mean very bad are dreadful, horrible, terrible:
The food in that café was horrible. Nobody liked it.
What’s that dreadful smell?
I had a terrible day at work today.
The traffic’s terrible at 5 o’clock on Fridays.

C ‣ Expressions


My hair is awful!
A: The train arrives at 7 o’clock; dinner is at 8 o’clock.
B: Excellent! / Great! / Wonderful! / Lovely! / Perfect!

Note: We often say not bad when we are speaking.
A: I get $500 a week in my job.
B: That’s not bad! (= good!)

We use these adjectives with how:
A: I have to get up at 5.30 tomorrow.
B: Oh, how awful! / how horrible!

A: I’ve got a great new job in New York!
B: How nice! / How wonderful! / How lovely!

Common mistakes

How awful! / How horrible! [NOT How bad!]

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