1.MAYBE
/ˈmeɪbi/ adverb, noun
■ possibly /ˈpɒsəbli/ adv。
■ conceivably /kənˈsiːvəb(ə)li/ adv。
■ perhaps /pə(r)ˈhæps/ adv。
■ perchance /pə(r)ˈtʃɑːns/ formal, adv。 (more suitable for writing)
■ apparently /əˈpærəntli/ adv。
■ in all likelihood /ˈlaɪklihʊd/ phr。 = almost certainly
■ in all probability /ˌprɒbəˈbɪləti/ phr。
■ most likely /məʊst ˈlaɪkli/ phr。
■ one can assume that… /əˈsjuːm/ phr。
■ presumably /prɪˈzjuːməbli/ adv。
■ to all appearances /əˈpɪərənsiz/ phr。
■ probably /ˈprɒbəbli/ adv。
■ for all I know = phr。 used to emphasize that you do not know something
2。 ADVANTAGE VS。 DISADVANTAGE /ədˈvɑːntɪdʒ/ vs。 /ˌdɪsədˈvɑːntɪdʒ/ noun
NOTE: advantages and disadvantages of sth
e。g。 There are multiple advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad。
PAY ATTENTION TO PREPOSITIONS!!!
All pairs below can be used instead of advantage/disadvantage:
■ reasons for sth vs。 reasons against sth /ˈriːz(ə)nz/
■ arguments for sth vs。 arguments against sth /ˈɑː(r)ɡjʊmənts/
■ strengths of sth/to do sth vs。 weaknesses of /in sth /streŋθs/ vs。 /ˈwiːknəsɪz/
■ pluses of sth vs。 minuses of sth /plʌsɪz/ vs。 /ˈmaɪnəsɪz/
■ plus factors of sth vs。 minus factors of sth /ˈplʌs fæktə(r)z/ vs。 /ˈmaɪnəs fæktə(r)z/
■ pros of sth vs。 cons of sth /prəʊz/ vs。 /kɒnz/
■ benefits of sth vs。 drawbacks of sth /ˈbenɪfɪts/ vs。 /ˈdrɔːˌbæks/
■ good points of sth vs。 bad points of sth /ˈɡʊd pɔɪnts/ vs。 /ˈbæd pɔɪnts/
■ profits in sth/doing sth vs。 hindrances to sth /ˈprɒfɪts/ vs。 /ˈhɪndrənsɪz/
■ assets to sth vs。 impediments to sth /ˈæsets/ vs。 /ɪmˈpedɪmənts/
■ conveniences of sth vs。 inconveniences of sth /kənˈviːniənsɪz/ vs。 /ˌɪnkənˈviːniənsɪz/
■ strong points of sth vs。 weak points of sth /ˈstrɒŋ pɔɪnts/ vs。 /ˈwiːk pɔɪnts/
Words below are to be used separately (not as a pair) and can be used both in singular and plural forms:
Advantage:
■ blessing of sth /ˈblesɪŋ/
■ value of sth /ˈvæljuː/
■ plus point of sth /ˈplʌs pɔɪnt/
■ virtue of sth/in doing sth /ˈvɜː(r)tʃuː/
■ boon to/for sth /buːn/
■ fruit of sth /fruːt/
■ aid to sth /eɪd/
■ gain to sth /ɡeɪn/
■ perquisite of sth /ˈpɜː(r)kwɪzɪt/ (formal)
■ perk of sth /pɜː(r)k/
■ pay-off of sth /ˈpeɪɒf/ (informal)
■ beauty of sth /ˈbjuːti/
Disadvantage:
■ liability to sth /ˌlaɪəˈbɪləti/
■ handicap to/of sth /ˈhændiˌkæp/
■ limitation of sth /ˌlɪmɪˈteɪʃ(ə)n/
■ disamenity /ˌdɪsəˈmiːnɪti/ (best used at the end of the phrase, e。g。 Two main sources of disamenity are tourism and weather。)
■ flaw in sth /flɔː/
■ defect in sth /ˈdiːfekt/
■ trouble with sth /ˈtrʌb(ə)l/
■ catch in sth /kætʃ/
■ disbenefit of/to sth /dɪsˈbɛnɪfɪt/ (formal)
■ downside of sth /ˈdaʊnˌsaɪd/ (informal)
■ hang-up in sth /ˈhæŋ ʌp/ (AmE, informal)
■ weak link in the chain (informal)
3。 DELICIOUS /dɪˈlɪʃəs/ adjective
NOTE: You cannot say ‘very delicious’,
e。g。 French food is very delicious。
Instead say: French food is very tasty。
■ tasty /ˈteɪsti/
■ palatable /ˈpælətəb(ə)l/
■ appetizing /ˈæpəˌtaɪzɪŋ/
■ mouth-watering /ˈmaʊθ wɔːtə(r)ɪŋ/
■ juicy /ˈdʒuːsi/
■ succulent /ˈsʌkjʊlənt/ = tender, juicy and tasty
■ toothsome /ˈtuːθs(ə)m/
■ savoury /ˈseɪvəri/
■ tempting /ˈtemptɪŋ/
■ melting in the mouth
■ delectable /dɪˈlektəb(ə)l/ (formal)
■ nectareous /nekˈtɛːrɪəs/ (formal)
■ ambrosial /æmˈbrəʊziəl/ (formal)
■ delish /dɪˈlɪʃ/ (informal)
■ scrumptious /ˈskrʌmpʃəs/ (informal) = extremely appetizing
■ yummy /ˈjʌmi/ (informal)
■ lip-smacking /ˈlɪp smækɪŋ/ (informal)
■ flavoursome /ˈfleɪvə(r)səm/
■ inviting /ɪnˈvaɪtɪŋ/
■ very enjoyable /ˈɪnˈdʒɔɪəb(ə)l/
■ yum-yum /jʌm ˈjʌm/ (informal)
■ moreish /ˈmɔːrɪʃ/ (BE, informal)
■ sapid /ˈsæpɪd/ = having a strong, pleasant taste
4。 TO RELAX /rɪˈlæks/ verb
Note: This verb is intransitive, which means you cannot say: Relax yourself/myself! (x)
e。g。 Jogging relaxes me。
■ to rest /rest/
■ to unwind /ʌnˈwaɪnd/
■ to wind down /waɪnd ˈdaʊn/
■ to loosen up /luːs(ə)n ˈʌp/
■ to de-stress /diːˈstres/
■ to tranquilize /ˈtræŋkwɪlaɪz/
■ to unbend /ʌnˈbend/ (informal)
■ to take things easy
■ to let your hair down
■ to put your feet up
■ to chill (out) /tʃɪl/ (informal)
■ to veg out /vedʒ ˈaʊt/
■ to chillax /tʃɪlˈæks/ (informal)
■ to ease up /iːzˈʌp/
■ to calm down /kɑːm ˈdaʊn/
■ to become less tense
■ to slack off /slækˈɒf/ (informal)
■ to sit back /sɪt ˈbæk/
■ to unbutton /ʌnˈbʌt(ə)n/
■ to kick back /kɪkˈbæk/ (AmE, informal)
5. SCHOOL /skuːl/ noun
■ college /ˈkɒlɪdʒ/ = after high school
■ academy /əˈkædəmi/ = place of study in a specific field e。g。 a police academy
■ institute /ˈɪnstɪˌtjuːt/ = an educational organization e。g。 the Institute of Social Studies
■ educational institution /ˌedjʊˈkeɪʃ(ə)nəl ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃ(ə)n/
■ university /ˌjuːnɪˈvɜː(r)səti/
■ alma mater /ˌælmə ˈmɑːtə(r)/ = a school that one once attended
6. A SKILL /skɪl/ noun
■ ability to do sth /əˈbɪləti/
■ skillfulness of sth /ˈskɪlf(ə)lnes/
■ aptitude for sth /ˈæptɪˌtjuːd/
■ handiness for sth /ˈhændines/
■ adeptness at sth /əˈdeptnəs/
■ deftness /ˈdeftnes/ = quick and neat skill
■ adroitness /əˈdrɔɪtnɪs/ = cleverness or skill
■ talent for sth /ˈtælənt/
■ knack for sth /næk/
■ technique for sth /tekˈniːk/
■ expertise /ˌekspə(r)ˈtiːz/ = an expert skill in a particular field
■ expertness /ˈekspɜː(r)tnɪs/
■ finesse /fɪˈnes/ = a skill of being able to handle delicate situations
■ mastery of sth /ˈmɑːstəri/
■ artistry /ˈɑː(r)tɪstri/ = a creative skill
■ competence in sth /ˈkɒmpɪtəns/
■ dexterity in sth/with sth /dekˈsterəti/ = a skill in performing tasks, especially with hands
■ prowess /ˈpraʊes/ = a great skill or ability
■ capability of doing sth/to do sth /ˌkeɪpəˈbɪləti/
■ virtuosity /ˌvɜː(r)tʃʊˈɒsəti/ = a great skill in music or another artistic pursuit
■ strength /streŋθ/
■ skill set /ˈskɪl set/
7. ENVIRONMENT /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/ noun
■ habitat /ˈhæbɪtæt/ = a natural home of plants and other organisms
■ territory /ˈterət(ə)ri/ = an area (both physical and mental)
■ surroundings /səˈraʊndɪŋz/
■ environs /ɪnˈvaɪrənz/ = the surrounding area
■ conditions /kənˈdɪʃ(ə)nz/
■ the natural world /ðə ˈnætʃ(ə)rəl wɜː(r)ld/
■ nature /ˈneɪtʃə(r)/
■ the Earth /ðiː ˈɜː(r)θ/
■ the planet /ðə ˈplænɪt/
■ the ecosystem /ðiː ˈiːkəʊˌsɪstəm/
■ the biosphere /ðə ˈbaɪəʊˌsfɪə(r)/
■ Mother Nature /ˈmʌðə(r) ˈneɪtʃə(r)/
■ wildlife /ˈwaɪldˌlaɪf/
■ flora and fauna /ˈflɔːrə ənˈfɔːnə/
■ domain /dəʊˈmeɪn/ = a physical area or sphere of knowledge
8. CITY /ˈsɪti/ noun
■ metropolis /məˈtrɒpəlɪs/ = a capital/chief city of a country or region
■ town /taʊn/ = smaller than city
■ conurbation /ˌkɒnɜː(r)ˈbeɪʃ(ə)n/ = an extended urban area
■ megalopolis /ˌmeɡəˈlɒpəlɪs/
■ metropolitan area /ˌmetrəˈpɒlɪt(ə)n ˈeəriə/
■ concrete jungle /ˈkɒŋkriːt ˈdʒʌŋɡ(ə)l/ = has high density of modern buildings
■ urban sprawl /ˈɜː(r)bən sprɔːl/ = an uncontrolled expansion of urban areas
■ micropolis /maɪkrəʊˈpəlɪs/ = a small city
■ cosmopolis /ˌkɒzməˈpəlɪs/ = a city occupied by people from many different countries
■ municipality /mjuːˌnɪsɪˈpæləti/ = a city with local government
■ metroplex /ˈmetrəʊpleks/
■ the big smoke /ðə bɪɡˈsməʊk/ (informal)
9. NOWADAYS /ˈnaʊəˌdeɪz/ adverb
■ These days, … /ˈðiːz deɪz/
■ At the present time, …
■ In this day and age, …
■ Currently, … /ˈkʌrəntli/
■ Presently, …
■ In modern times, …
■ Contemporarily, …
■ In these times, …
■ In this present climate, …
■ In the present circumstances, …
■ Things being what they are, …
10.LITTLE & FEW /ˈlɪt(ə)l & ˈfjuː/ determiner
NOTE: Remember to use ‘little’ with uncountable nouns,
whereas ‘few’ with countable ones。
UN = Uncountable Noun
CN = Countable Noun
■ hardly any + UN/CN /ˈhɑː(r)dli ˈeni/
■ not much + UN /nɒt mʌtʃ/
■ slight + CN /slaɪt/
■ scant + UN/CN /skænt/
■ limited + UN/CN /ˈlɪmɪtɪd/
■ minimal + UN /ˈmɪnɪm(ə)l/
■ negligible + UN/CN /ˈneɡlɪdʒəb(ə)l/
■ scarcely any + UN/CN /ˈskeə(r)sli/
■ a small number of + CN /ə smɔːl ˈnʌmbə(r) əv/
■ one or two + CN /wʌn ɔː(r)ˈtuː/
■ a handful of + CN /ə ˈhæn(d)fʊl əv/
■ a couple of + CN /ə ˈkʌp(ə)l əv/
■ a bit of + UN /ə ˈbɪt əv/