1. DESCRIBING PEOPLE .

AIM: Learning personality adjectives and adjectives used for describing holiday resorts and
other places.
TYPE OF EXERCISES: synonyms, opposites, match the meaning, fill in the gaps, find the word
in the text, and add the correct suffix to make a suitable word.
WORD-FORMATION: ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS.
We can make adjectives from nouns or verbs with the suffixes -er / -ous / -able / -ive/ -ate / -ing.
Likewise, we can make adverbs from adjectives by adding -ly.
write > writer
fury> furious
drink> drinkable
produce > productive
consider> considerate
amaze > amazing
happy > happily
Be careful! Sometimes the spelling changes when you add a suffix. If necessary, use a dictionary to
help you find the correct spelling.
1.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Write the related adjectives.

read _______________
mischief ______________
depend _____________
rely ______________
wash ______________
comfort ______________
act _______________
love ____________
shop _______________

10. interest ______________

11. pass _______________
12. enormity ______________
13. courage _____________
14. passion _____________
15. care _____________
16. affection _______________
17. enjoy ______________
18. support ____________

2. Complete the following text describing Johnny, a teenager, by making correct adjectives
or adverbs. Choose from the suffixes above.
I quite liked Johnny when we first met. However, although lots of my friends said they
found him 1_____________ (attract), I didn't fancy him at all. He invited me out and I must
admit that I found more 2_____________(tempt) his sports car than himself. However, it was
really 3_______________(enjoy) to spend time with him. The stories of his travels around the
world were4___________(fascinate) and there was something 5____________(mystery) about
his past that also attracted me. Moreover, we were both very keen on sailing . Soon I realised I
was 6_____________(deep) in love with him. His sense of humour and his gift for poetry were
so 7_____________(captivate). Now, three years later I 8____________ (absolute) adore him
and I cannot understand why I didn't fall for him the moment we first set eyes on each other. He
is a very 9______________(care) person and an animal 10______________(love). He is always
11__________(affection) and 12___________ (love) towards me and 13_________(passion)
about the causes he believes in and the people he cares for. I hope we shall always love each
other as much as we do now.

3. Complete these sentences with the correct adjective.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

gossip
chatterbox
trouble-maker
wet-blanket
loner

6. killjoy
7. Don Juan
8. bore
9. jet-setter
10. eccentric

a. He knows he's attractive to women. They always fall for him. He's got lots of girl friends.
He's a _______________
b. He just can't stop talking. He goes on and on excitedly, about totally unimportant things. He's
a ______________.
c. He likes to spend a lot of time alone. He's not keen on parties and usually does things on his
own. He's a ______________.
d. She's very rich and spends her time between grand social occasions and luxury holidays in
different parts of the world. She's a ______________.
e. He's always been a bit peculiar. He doesn't do normal or conventional things and he doesn't
mind. He's an _____________.
f. He loves to discuss and pass on news or rumours about people's private lives. He's a
________________
g. She goes on and on telling people about her children, her house , her job, and her opinions. I
could go to sleep when I'm with her. She's a _______________.
h. He's very strict and correct. I think he doesn't like other people to enjoy themselves. He's a
______________.
i. She's always causing difficulties for other people by interfering in their lives. She's a
______________.
j. She's so negative and boring. She has a depressing effect on any group of people she's with.
She's a _______________.
4. Match the opposites.
1. clever, bright, smart
2. extroverted
3. rude, impolite
4. cruel
5. generous
6. unsociable
7. faithful, loyal
8. tidy

a. introverted
b. tight-fisted, mean ,thrifty
c. courteous, well-mannered, polite
d. gregarious , sociable
e. unfaithful, unloyal
f. half-witted, stupid , dumb
g. untidy
h. kind-hearted

5. Fill in the gaps with the adjectives in the box.

BRIGHT
MEAN
FAITHFUL

SOCIABLE
KIND-HEARTED
DUMB

RUDE
POLITE

1. Sam's really _____________. He always cares about everyone and has the best intentions
possible.
2. I didn't like Jake's ____________ behaviour. He shouldn't have insulted Robert that way.
1. If the police ask you about the robbery, act ____________.
2. Lina was never _____________ to her husband, poor chap!. She didn't stop seeing other men
when she married.
3. Sarah was a very ____________ student. All her marks were "excellent".
4. My grandfather was a loving man but so____________! He didn't even give me a present on
my birthday.
5. I made a few ____________ remarks about her dress just to make her happy.
6. I want to be alone, please. I'm not in a ___________ mood.
6. Odd one out. Two of the words are synonyms, the third one is not.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.

innocent / peculiar / naive

confident / ambitious / pushy
bossy / despotic / weird
inquiring / confident / nosy
sensitive / permissive / broad-minded
frank / direct / obstinate
weird / pig-headed / eccentric
stubborn / big-headed / obstinate
self-assured / confident / peculiar
sensitive / sensible / down-to-earth
relaxed / tense / calm
pig-headed / reliable / trustworthy

7. STEREOTYPES. Choose one adjective for each nationality, according to the

stereotype.
-

SPANISH .
BRITISH.
ITALIANS.
DUTCH.
FRENCH.
AMERICANS.
IRISH.

Clever / passionate / cold

Reserved / cheerful / chic
Hard-workers / meticulous / charming
Tolerant / chic / fiery
Warm / hedonistic / friendly
Materialistic / affectionate / calm
Adventurous / humorous / stylish

8. Read these advertisements from a "Lonely hearts" and "sits. wanted" column
in a newspaper.
A)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

I'm looking for Mr Right, is that you? Are you a non-smoker,

non-drinker, intelligent, smart, romantic, easy-going, funloving, mature, good-looking, generous, sensitive and into
soul music, dancing, cinema and most racquet sports? If so,
write to Jenny soon. Box n DD2211
Find words that mean:
Well-dressed and with a good appearance. ____________
Concerned about and looking after others. ____________
Isn't complicated and doesn't make any problems. ______________
Sensible and well balanced. _______________
Understanding and aware of other people's problems. ____________

B)
THE FEMININE TOUCH
Trustworthy, sociable cleaners available to clean your
villas and apartments. Denia and Benidorm.
Family run, reasonable rates. Excellent service.
Tel. Andy (0064) 550123174

1.
2.
3.

Find words that mean:

Out-going, gregarious. ____________
Reliable. ____________
Moderate. _____________

C)
Qualified English electrician. Honest, reliable, well
mannered and friendly.
All electrical work undertaken, also alarms. Torrevieja
and surrounding areas.
Tel. 646230769
Find words that mean:
1. Not telling lies; not cheating or stealing. ______________
2. Polite. ______________
D)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Gentleman, easy-going. 5'11'', 13 stone, smart, calm, goodnatured, home loving. Likes wining, dining, dancing, diving,
trekking. Looks for slim lady, mid-fifties, cheerful, stylish,
sporty, adventurous, about 5'6'' tall for long term relationship.
Call me now. 639625769.
Find words that mean:
Kind; ready and willing to help others, even by sacrificing one's own
interest.____________
Bringing or suggesting happiness. _____________
Fashionable. ____________
Going out for a drink of wine. _____________
Going walking in the mountain. _____________