Page 200 - English Vocabualry In Use 3 (Upper Intermediate)

Exercises

96.1 Make this conversation more informal by changing some of the words. Refer to the
opposite page if necessary.

JIM: Annie,canyoulendmetenpounds?quid
ANNIE: Whatfor?
JIM: I’vegottogoandseemyparents,andmybicycle’snotworking,soI’llhavetogetataxi.
ANNIE: Can’tyoutelephonethemandsayyoucan’tcome?
JIM: Well,Icould,butmymobilephone’snotworking,andIwanttogobecausetheyalwayshave
lotsoffood,andtherefrigeratoratourflatisempty,asusual.

ANNIE: Can’tyougobyunderground?Anyway,you’reinluck,I’vegotsomemoney,sohereyouare.

96.2 Replace the underlined words with more formal equivalents.

1 Thetrainwasfullofsquaddiesgoinghomefortheweekend. soldiers
2 I’vegotabadstomachache-IthinkI’llmakeanappointmentwiththequack.
3 Hespenttwoyearsinthenickforstealingcars.
4 Thecopsarrivedshortlyaftertheaccident.
5 There’llbeplentyofnoshatthepartysowedon’tneedtoeatbeforehand.
6 He’squiteacelebintheworldofpoetry.
7 I’mdyingforacuppa.Ihaven’thadonesincebreakfast.
8 I’dlovetogetamotorbikebutIjustdon’thavethemoolah.

96.3 Replace the informal words in these sentences with more formal words.
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1 (formalemail)Ishouldliketoenquireaboutthecostofadsonyourwebsite.
2 (examessay)TheInternetandtellyareprobablythebiggestinfluencesonyoungpeopletoday.
3 (recipeinacookerybook)Next,slicethespudsandplacethemontopofthemeat.
4 (examessay)PapersfacestiffcompetitionthesedaysfromTVandinternetnews.
5 (formaluniversitypublicity)TheFacultyofferscoursesinvetscience.Labfacilitiesareavailable24
hoursaday.

96.4 Another way of making informal words is by using short forms ending in -y or -ie. Can you
work out the meanings of the following underlined words?

1 Let’shavebrekkiebeforeweleavetomorrow. breakfast
2 It’saniceday.Let’shaveabarbieandeatinthegarden.

3 D’youwantabiccywithyourcoffee?
4 Jennyturnedupatthepartywithhernewhubby.

5 Oh,letmeseeyourholidaypiccies!…Isthatyouinthebig
strawhat?
6 Theyservereallyniceveggiefood.

He’sabrickie.

96.5 Over to you

Which English words do you know that are very informal or are slang? Where did you read or hear
them? If possible, compare with a friend or classmate.

English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate 199