Collocations 3 (verb/adjective+noun)

Choose the best verb or adjective from the table below to go with the nouns and complete the sentences.

abandon burned out

waive

open

honour

secret

evade

utter overcome

alleviate

canvassing

broke out

ducking

blatant

1. I got a letter off a _________ admirer! I have no idea who it is, but I would like to!

2. This decision will be by _________ ballot. Everyone will know how everyone else voted.

3. I think we should _________ caution and get married straight away!

4. The Ebola epidemic _________ in parts of Africa.

5. I had to _________ a lot of hardships before the company finally succeeded.

6. Why did John say he was seeing Julie this evening? That was a _________ lie - I have just seen Julie out with her mother.

7. The lawnmower motor has _________. I guess the grass was just too long!

8. Two new prisons are being built in the south of the area to _________ overcrowding at the existing ones.

9. I have asked you three times where you were yesterday evening. Are you _________ the question?

10. Because this is a private party and we all know each other, I think we should _________ the rule about having to smoke outside. What does everyone else think?

11. I want absolute silence during this exam. Nobody _________ a single sound!

12. The famous singer moved to an island in Africa to _________ taxes.

13. You said you would invest in the company and I think you should _________ that undertaking.

14. The Prime Minister was in the capital today, _________ for votes in the upcoming election.

KEY

1. I got a letter off a __SECRET__ admirer! I have no idea who it is, but I would like to!

2. This decision will be by __OPEN__ ballot. Everyone will know how everyone else voted.

3. I think we should __ABANDON__ caution and get married straight away!

4. The Ebola epidemic __BROKE OUT__ in parts of Africa.

5. I had to __OVERCOME__ a lot of hardships before the company finally succeeded.

6. Why did John say he was seeing Julie this evening? That was a __BLATANT__ lie - I have just seen Julie out with her mother.

7. The lawnmower motor has __BURNED OUT__. I guess the grass was just too long!

8. Two new prisons are being built in the south of the area to __ALLEVIATE__ overcrowding at the existing ones.

9. I have asked you three times where you were yesterday evening. Are you __DUCKING__ the question?

10. Because this is a private party and we all know each other, I think we should __WAIVE__ the rule about having to smoke outside. What does everyone else think?

11. I want absolute silence during this exam. Nobody __UTTER__ a single sound!

12. The famous singer moved to an island in Africa to __EVADE__ taxes.

13. You said you would invest in the company and I think you should __HONOUR__ that undertaking.

14. The Prime Minister was in the capital today, __CANVASSING__ for votes in the upcoming election.

Teacher: Mara Soler