Positive Negative

determined obstinate, stubborn, pig-headed;

thrifty, economical miserly, mean, tight-fisted;

self-assured self-important, arrogant,

full of oneself (coll.);

assertive aggressive, bossy (coll.);

original peculiar, eccentric, odd;

frank, direct, open blunt, abrupt, brusque, curt;

broad-minded unprincipled, permissive;

inquiring inquisitive, nosy (coll.);

generous extravagant;

innocent naive;

ambitious pushy (coll.).

D Match these words with their opposites.

1. intelligent a. courteous

2. extroverted b. smart

3. generous c. nervous

4. comfortable d. cunning

5. rude e. tight-fisted

6. cruel f. conscientious

7. honest g. sympathetic

8. quarrelsome h. tense

9. friendly j. self-centered

10. simple k. kindly

11. relaxed l. half-witted

12. idle m. hostile

E Match the words similar in meaning.

1. thrifty a. optimistic

2. shrewd b. gregarious

3. gloomy c. brainy

4. diligent d. economical

5. reasonable e. covetous

6. cheerful f. quarrelsome

7. harsh g. reliable

8. envious h. depressed

9. carefree j. rough

10. sociable k. industrious

11. argumentative l. rational

12. trustworthy m. tranquil

F The words given below come from Greek and Latin. They describe people’s attitudes, mental and emotional states. These borrowings usually have academic and literary associations and have long become international words in many European languages. Make sure you know their meanings and use them correctly.

1) Try to match the adjectives in the left column with their definitions on the right. Supply these adjectives with the corresponding nouns.

1. cynical a. inclined not to believe; doubting state of mind

2. elegiac b. using bitter remarks intended to wound the

feelings

3. sarcastic c. feeling wistful longing for smth. one has

known in the past; homesick

4. melancholic d. touching, affecting, moving; sad, pitiful

5. sceptical e. sorrowful; mournful; funeral

6. nostalgic f. seeing little or no good in anything; showing

this by sneering and being contemptuous

7. pathetic g. low-spirited; sad; depressed; unhappy

G A person’s character can be described with compound adjectives:

absent-minded (forgetful) easy-going (relaxed)

good-tempered (cheerful) warm-hearted (kind)

quick-witted (intelligent) big-headed (proud of

oneself)

two/double-faced (hypocritical) self-centred (egotistical)

The family of compound adjectives with the second part

“ - minded ” is quite numerous, e.g. noble-minded. The first

part cannot only be an adjective but also an adverb and a noun.

e.g. a. technically techniques

commercially - minded (mind keen on commerce

historically history

b. career

business - minded (conscious of the value or

money importance of career, etc.)

Some of these adjectives make up pairs with opposite meanings:

broad single strong

- minded - minded - minded

narrow double feeble

serious high

- minded - minded

light low

1) Now study the meanings of the ten two-part words above and try to express them in one word:

e.g. broad-minded = tolerant; evil-minded = wicked; bad;

open-minded = unbiased.

2) Try to complete each of these word forks as shown in the examples. Explain the meaning of the words you have written down.

1. possessed 2. short 3. good

self- _______ ____ - tempered ____ - natured

________ ____ ____

________ ____ ____

4. clear 5. bitter 6. warm

____ - headed ____ - tongued _____ - hearted

____ ____ _____

____ ____ _____

3) Translate the following words and expressions into English using compound adjectives with the parts - faced, - blooded,

- tongued, - witted, -fisted:

1. двуличный, двоедушный, лицемерный;

2. наглый, бесстыжий, бесстыдный;

3. безжалостный, жестокий, бесчувственный;

4. вспыльчивый, горячий, страстный;

5. красноречивый, льстивый;

6. болтающий без удержу, с развязанным языком;

7. находчивый, смышленый;

8. скупой, прижимистый.

H People are often compared to animals.

1) Study the meanings of the following adjectives and the patterns of their formation from the corresponding nouns. Mind that these adjectives are mostly used in spoken English.

cattish, catty or bitchy (malicious-tongued);

cocky (arrogant);

dogged (stubborn);

mousy (dull, uninteresting, shy, quiet);

foxy (crafty, cunning);

ratty (bad-tempered);

sheepish (awkward, self-conscious);

wolfish (cruel, brutal).

2) Use the adjectives above to name someone who behaves as is described below:

If someone 1. is timid, feels uncomfortable, not knowing what to do with himself;

2. seems to hide his thoughts, intentions, plans to get what he wants;

3. looks too much/very sure of himself, pert and conceited;

4. does not easily give way to argument or persuasion, obstinate;

5. speaks of other people using cruel, hateful words;

6. is cross, irritated, annoying;

7. keeps very still, attracts no attention to

himself.

3) There are also similes comparing people to animals, birds and fish. Here are some of them. Can you complete the phrases with proper adjectives, selecting them from the list below?

cunning meek stupid cross timid

dumb obstinate mad prickly still

brave stubborn quiet blind tender

N.B. In 1 and 2 two adjectives are possible, but the meaning remains the same. In 4 two different adjectives supply different meanings.

I There are many colourful idioms in English describing people, their feelings and moods. Read the sentences below and match the idioms in bold with their meanings on the right.

N.B. There is an element ofexaggeration in these idioms; they make comments on the situation and lighten the tone of what you are saying. So use them only informally.

J Complete these sentences with the idioms from above.

1. Don’t creep up behind me like that! You scared me...................

2. I don’t need a doctor, I just feel a bit under................................

3. I’ve had nothing since lunch; I could..........................................

4. When I met Jo again his face was smiling and he seemed to be

in..................................................................................................

5. Whatever happens, I try not to lose heart and keep my..............

6. John turned back so abruptly that he felt as if.............................

7. The illness got Tim in so violent a grip that a month later he

found himself at...........................................................................

8. On hearing the news Jill got so upset that her face became as

long..............................................................................................

K Match the explanations on the right with the idiomatic expressions on the left? They are all connected with different kinds of people.

1. a new broom a. someone who expresses opinions

about things he/she knows very little

2. a wet blanket b. someone who has no fixed roots

3. a stuffed shirt c. a pompous, self-opinionated person

4. a couch potato d. a gossip who wants to know

everything that happens to other people

5. an armchair critic e. someone who stands by you only

when things are going well

6. a fair weather friend f. someone who likes to sit in comfort

and do nothing

7. a nosy parker g. a new person in charge who makes

changes

8. a rolling stone h. someone who does not want to join in

and spoils the fun for everybody else

9. a slow-coach i. someone who is distant, unfriendly

10. an odd-ball j. someone who is slow in action or dull

11. a pain in the neck k. someone who is peculiar, strange

12. a cold fish l. someone who is nuisance, difficult

L Work in pairs. Write a short dialogue using the expression you have chosen above to act out in front of the class.