Quantity and size ENGLISH COLLOCATIONS IN USE (ADVANCED)

 

ENGLISH COLLOCATIONS IN USE (ADVANCED)

UNIT 50

Quantity and size

A	Countable and uncountable expressions of quantity The expressions in the table all mean quite a large number or amount. collocation example comment a good/fair few A good few students are likely to get a first-class degree. (informal) used with countable nouns a good/fair number We spent a good number of weeks planning the project. (informal) used with countable nouns a substantial/significant number A significant number of people pledged their support. (informal) used with countable nouns a substantial/significant quantity We took a significant quantity of provisions with us. (formal) used with uncountable nouns a substantial/significant amount He’ll get a substantial amount of money when his father dies. (formal) used with uncountable nouns
B	Other expressions about size and quantity We couldn’t believe the sheer quantity of food on the table. [the surprisingly large amount] There’s only a finite number of days until the exam. [limited number] The room is a good size. [quite large] A teacher needs to possess unbounded enthusiasm as well as infinite patience and an endless supply of good jokes. They charge astronomical fees for the course. [very high] We had a bumper crop of tomatoes last year and I gave masses away to our neighbours. [informal; very large crop] Unemployment reached epic proportions and this led to social instability. The rock star died from a massive overdose of barbiturates. An overwhelming majority of the population are in favour of reform. I visited a lot of different relatives yesterday and drank an inordinate amount of tea. Try to use a wide range of vocabulary in your essay. There is a wide variety/choice of things to do here in the evenings. The new maths teacher is an unknown quantity. I hope she’ll get on well with the students. [a person or thing whose characteristics are not yet clear]
C	Common errors There are a number of errors often made by learners when talking about quantity or size. correct word(s) collocates with ... wrong word(s) small minority, amount, number, quantity, percentage little large quantity, amount, number, majority great, big, high large, high percentage great great importance, significance high, big

 

EXERCISES

 

50.1	Rewrite each sentence using the word in brackets. 1 We had a large number of apples from our trees last year. (BUMPER) 2 A lot of their income comes from the apartments they rent out. (SUBSTANTIAL) 3 I feel confident that quite a few people will vote for Mac. (NUMBER) 4 Sofia’s room at college is quite big. (GOOD) 5 We don’t have an unlimited number of tickets, so we’re offering them on a first-come-first-served basis. (FINITE) 6 I was terrified when I saw how big the dog was. (SHEER) 7 I still don’t know what my new colleague is like. (QUANTITY) 8 There were rather a lot of careless mistakes in your homework. (FAIR)
50.2	Complete each sentence using a word from the opposite page. 1 The Green Party won the election with an overwhelming __________________. 2 He did not realise how strong the tablets were and died of a massive __________________. 3 Some lawyers are known to charge astronomical __________________. 4 The government didn’t take action until inflation had reached epic __________________. 5 I have a profound admiration for your sister’s infinite __________________. 6 We didn’t have many plums last year but this year we enjoyed a bumper __________________. 7 Paul doesn’t really like coff ee but I drink a substantial __________________. 8 There never used to be any nightclubs here but now there are a good __________________.
50.3	Match the two parts of these collocations from the opposite page. 1 unbounded quantity 2 bumper amount 3 astronomical enthusiasm 4 infinite patience 5 fair fees 6 endless few 7 inordinate supply 8 sheer crop
50.4	Put a tick in the box if the collocation is possible.
50.5	Use a dictionary such as the Cambridge Online Dictionary to find two other collocations for each of these words. 1 infinite 2 epic 3 overwhelming 4 endless 5 massive

 

ANSWER KEY

 

50.1 1 We had a bumper crop of apples from our trees last year. 2 A substantial amount of their income comes from the apartments they rent out. 3 I feel confident that a substantial/significant/good/fair number of people will vote for Mac. 4 Sofia’s room at college is a good size. 5 We have a finite number of tickets, so we’re offering them on a first-come-first-served basis. 6 I was terrified by the sheer size of the dog. 7 My new colleague is still an unknown quantity. 8 There were a fair few / a fair number of careless mistakes in your homework.   50.2 1 majority           3 fees                 5 patience              7 amount 2 overdose          4 proportions   6 crop                    8 few/number   50.3 1 unbounded enthusiasm         5 fair few 2 bumper crop                        6 endless supply 3 astronomical fees                 7 inordinate amount 4 infinite patience                    8 sheer quantity   50.4   50.5 1 infinite wisdom / variety / number             4 endless arguments / possibilities / succession 2 epic film / journey / struggle                      5 massive house / scale / heart attack 3 overwhelming urge / desire / need