PATTERNS Flashcards
I admire his ABILITY __ listen.
ABILITY to do sth
Ex.: I admire his ability to listen.
I’ve always wanted to BE ABLE ___ speak Japanese.
I haven’t BEEN ABLE ___ read that report yet.
be ABLE to do sth
a) to have the skill, strength, knowledge etc needed to do something
Ex.: I’ve always wanted to be able to speak Japanese.
b) to be in a situation in which it is possible for you to do something
Ex.: I haven’t been able to read that report yet.
She will be in charge __/____ my ABSENCE.
in/during sb’s ABSENCE
Ex.: She will be in charge during my absence (= while I am away).
Her work involved repeated ABSENCES ___ home.
ABSENCE from sw/sth
Ex.: Her work involved repeated absences from home.
Water and salts are ABSORBED ___ our bloodstream.
We were soon ABSORBED ___ local village life.
ABSORB sth into sth
1) to take in liquid, gas, or another substance from the surface or space around sth
Ex.: Water and salts are absorbed into our bloodstream.
2) to become part of something larger
Ex.: We were soon absorbed into local village life.
Judith lay on the sofa, ABSORBED ___ her book.
be ABSORBED in sth
= to interest someone so much that they do not pay attention to other things
Ex.: Judith lay on the sofa, absorbed in her book.
He ACCEPTED a glass of water ___ Helen.
ACCEPT sth from sb
= to take sth that sb offers you, or to agree to do sth that sb asks you to do
Ex.: He accepted a glass of water from Helen.
OBS.: In everyday English, when talking about accepting a job, accepting responsibility or blame, or accepting a method of payment, people usually use take:
They offered me the job and I accepted. → They offered me the job and I took it.
They have ACCEPTED him __ the representative of the company.
Random House ACCEPTED the book __ publication.
ACCEPT sb/sth as sth
ACCEPT sb FOR sth
= to decide that someone has the necessary skill or intelligence for a particular job, course etc or that a piece of work is good enough
Ex.:
They have accepted him as the representative of the company.
Random House accepted the book for publication.
The children gradually began to ACCEPT her ___ one of the family.
It often takes years for immigrants to be ACCEPTED ___ the host community.
ACCEPT sb/sth as sth
ACCEPT sb into sth
= to allow someone to become part of a group, society, or organization, and to treat them in the same way as the other members
Ex.: The children gradually began to accept her as one of the family. It often takes years for immigrants to be accepted into the host community.
Let’s vote for sth ACCEPTABLE __ all/both sides.
ACCEPTABLE to sb
Ex.: acceptable to all/both sides
ACCESS to the papers is restricted __ senior management.
Cats should always have ACCESS __ fresh, clean water.
ACCESS to sth/sw
Ex.: Access to the papers is restricted to senior management.
Cats should always have access to fresh, clean water.
We’re trying to improve ACCESS __ disabled visitors.
The hotel has rooms with ACCESS __ wheelchairs.
ACCESS for sb
Ex.: We’re trying to improve access for disabled visitors. The hotel has rooms with access for wheelchairs.
It is seen as an effective means of business communication where relevant staff have ACCESS __ a computer network.
have ACCESS to a car/computer etc
= to have a car, a computer etc that you can use
Ex.: It is seen as an effective means of business communication where relevant staff have access to a computer network.
I met her quite __ ACCIDENT.
by ACCIDENT
= It is seen as an effective means of business communication where relevant staff have access to a computer network.
Ex.:
I met her quite by accident (=completely by accident).
The pilot, WHETHER BY _____ __ DESIGN, made the plane do a sharp turn.
WHETHER by ACCIDENT or DESIGN
= whether it was planned or not planned
Ex.: The pilot, whether by accident or design, made the plane do a sharp turn.
ACCORDING __ the police, his attackers beat him with a blunt instrument.
You will be paid ACCORDING __ the amount of work you do.
The game will be played ACCORDING __ rules laid down for the 1992 Cup.
Everything went ACCORDING __ plan, and we arrived on time.
ACCORDING to sb
1) as shown by sth or stated by sb
Ex.: According to the police, his attackers beat him with a blunt instrument.
2) in a way that depends on differences in situations or amounts
Ex.: You will be paid according to the amount of work you do.
3) in a way that agrees with a system or plan, or obeys a set of rules
Ex.: The game will be played according to rules laid down for the 1992 Cup.
Everything went according to plan, and we arrived on time.
He was too shocked to ____ an ACCOUNT __ what had happened.
give/provide/write/read an ACCOUNT of sth
give a good/poor ACCOUNT of sth
= a written or spoken description that says what happens in an event or process
Exs.: He was too shocked to give an account of what had happened.
Can you ACCOUNT __ your movements on that night?
Recent pressure at work may ACCOUNT __ his behaviour.
ACCOUNT for sth
= to give a satisfactory explanation of why something has happened or why you did something; to be the reason why sth happens
Ex.: Can you account for your movements on that night?
Recent pressure at work may account for his behaviour.
It has, ___ all ACCOUNTS, been a successful marriage.
by/from all ACCOUNTS
= according to what a lot of people say
Ex.: It has, from all accounts, been a successful marriage.
Carrie decided to do a little research __ her ___ ACCOUNT.
Please don’t change your plans __ __ ACCOUNT.
on one own ACCOUNT
= according to what you say yourself
Ex.: Carrie decided to do a little research on her own account.
on sb’s ACCOUNT
= because of what you think somebody wants
Please don’t change your plans on my account.
There needn’t be any more worries ___ that ACCOUNT.
on that/this ACCOUNT
= concerning a particular situation
Ex.: There needn’t be any more worries on that account.
__ no ACCOUNT must you disturb me.
on no ACCOUNT/not on any ACCOUNT
= used when saying that someone must not, for any reason, do something
Ex.: On no account must you disturb me.
As she grew up, her father was of __ ACCOUNT __ her.
of no/little ACCOUNT
= formal: not important
Ex.: As she grew up, her father was of no account to her.
The people responsible for the accident have never been _____ to ACCOUNT.
bring/call sb to ACCOUNT
= formal to force someone who is responsible for a mistake or a crime to explain publicly why they did it and punish them for it if necessary
Ex.: The people responsible for the accident have never been brought to account.