Personality and behaviour ENGLISH COLLOCATIONS IN USE (ADVANCED)

 

ENGLISH COLLOCATIONS IN USE (ADVANCED)

UNIT 45

Personality and behaviour

A		Describing people’s personality Note the collocations in these interviews where famous people discuss their own or other people’s personality traits (or personal characteristics) Singer Tanya Stewart Interviewer: You always had a troubled relationship with your drummer, Brett Porter, when you were in the band The Loop. Brett died in 2009. How do you remember him now? Tanya: Well, Brett was not an easy person to work with. He had a very thinly disguised1 dislike of the music industry and the people in it. Politeness wasn’t his strong point! He had a real stubborn streak2 that made him unpopular with managers and agents. But, you know, beneath that gruff3 exterior he had a sharp wit4. Interviewer: You say gruff, some would say downright rude. Would that be too harsh? He always seemed full of pent-up anger5 towards the world in general. Tanya: Well, ‘rude’ is a bit unfair. Yeah, he had a forthright6 manner, and he was capable of open hostility if he thought we were being manipulated. Interviewer: Yes, he did display some rather intimidating characteristics. 1 barely hidden 2 a stubborn side to his character 3 rude and unfriendly 4 was very amusing in a clever way 5 anger he didn’t express 6 direct Film star Jerry Bowen Interviewer: You seem to have had such a special relationship with Kara Hanson over many years. What is it about working with her? Bowen: Kara’s wonderful. She just seems to have boundless energy7 and she’s always been able to boost people’s confidence8, especially new young actors. She has a wonderful, bubbly9 personality and she’s got a dazzling smile. She bears a striking resemblance to10 Ingrid Bergman, one of the great cinema beauties. She has some wonderful personal qualities that are so rare in stars nowadays. 7 lots of energy 8 make more confident 9 lively 10 looks very like Retired golfer Andy Barstow Interviewer Andy, you’re retired, you’re a senior citizen, but everyone would agree you certainly don’t look your age11. What’s your secret? Barstow: Well thanks. I’m sure some people would say I don’t act my age12 either! Interviewer Oh, that’s not necessarily a bad thing! You do always seem to be bursting with energy! Barstow: That’s what golf does for you! 11 look as old as you are 12 behave in a manner expected of my age
B	Other useful collocations for behaviour She had a blank expression on her face. [showing no understanding or emotion] He always gave everyone a warm, friendly smile. Tracy’s new colleagues gave her a rather cool reception. [unfriendly welcome] You have been guilty of unacceptable behaviour. I’m surprised you find Jack unfriendly. He’s always been perfectly friendly to me. Chloe has a rather abrasive manner. [rude and unfriendly manner]

 

EXERCISES

 

45.1	Match words from each box to form collocations from the opposite page. Then match them to 1–6 below. 1 two things or people which look very similar 2 a very lively person 3 a person’s face which shows no emotion 4 when someone is being inflexible 5 an apparently rude and unfriendly personality 6 a rather unfriendly welcome
45.2	Which of these things that people say would usually be compliments? 1 He/She certainly looks his/her age. 2 He/She’s downright rude. 3 He/She’s bursting with energy. 4 He/She has a bubbly personality. 5 He/She has a very abrasive manner. 6 He/She has a warm smile. 7 He/She’s full of pent-up anger. 8 He/She has boundless energy.
45.3	Complete this conversation using collocations from the box in the appropriate form so that Nell always agrees with Zoë. bear striking resemblance to boost your confidence burst with energy forthright manner have a lot of admirable qualities strong points   1 Zoë: Tom looks a bit like Brad Pitt, doesn’t he? Ola: Yes, he does. He __________________ him. 2 Zoë: And he’s very good at making you feel more confident, isn’t he? Ola: Yes, he’s great at __________________. 3 Zoë: Though of course he does say what he thinks directly to you. Ola: Yes, he sometimes has a rather __________________ but I like that. 4 Zoë: Me too. In fact, I think that it might be one of his best characteristics. Ola: Yes, you could say it is one of his__________________ , I suppose. 5 Zoë: Well, he has a lot of good points. Ola: Yes, I’d certainly agree that he _____________________. 6 Zoë: He’s very energetic, for example. Ola: Yes, I love the way he’s always _____________ . It’s very attractive.
45.4	Complete each sentence using the word in brackets in the appropriate form. 1 I don’t find Emily unfriendly at all. She is always ________________ friendly towards me. (PERFECT) 2 Can you see how Holly is looking at him with open ________________? (HOSTILE) 3 I refuse to put up with such ________________ behaviour. (ACCEPT) 4 He displays a lot more attractive ________________ than his brother does. (CHARACTER) 5 The woman looked at the official with ________________ disguised contempt. (THIN) 6 The star was upset that his home town gave him such a cool ________________. (RECEIVE)

 

ANSWER KEY

 

45.1 blank expression               1 striking resemblance gruff exterior                     2 bubbly personality striking resemblance         3 blank expression cool reception                    4 stubborn streak stubborn streak                 5 gruff exterior bubbly personality            6 cool reception   45.2 Sentences 3, 4, 6 and 8 are complimentary.   45.3 1 bears a striking resemblance to 2 boosting your confidence 3 forthright manner 4 strong points 5 has a lot of admirable qualities 6 bursting with energy   45.4 1 perfectly 2 hostility 3 unacceptable 4 characteristics 5 thinly 6 reception