COLLOCATIONS
Social fond candle-lit family warm
distant unkind kind wedding sunny
relaxed close firm prior
Dinner remark climber handshake get-together
farewell welcome engagement invitation relative
atmosphere smile friend reception
1. Regretfully, we will be unable to attend the Reunion Diner due to a prior engagement
2. Thank you so much for your kind invitation. We’d love to come.
3. Fred is rather two-faced – he’s always got some unkind remark to make about his
so-called friends.
4. Apparently, the famous composer William Walton is a distant relative of Richard’s,
although they’ve never met.
5. And now ladies and gentleman would you please give a very warm welcome to our
next gust, Mr Danny Muller!
6. I’m dreading it. I’m best man and I’ve got to make a humorous speech at the
wedding reception.
7. Vincent is a terrible social climber He’s always trying to get himself invited to the
most exclusive parties.
8. As they parted, they whispered a fond farewell knowing they would never meet
again.
9. I always try and greet business contacts with a firm handshake and a sunny smile.
10. My mother’s birthday is a chance for us all to meet up and have a family get-
together
11. I’d rather you didn’t speak like that about Rachel, se happens to be a close friend
12. I love going round to Roddy’s – there’s always such a relaxed atmosphere.
13. Gerry proposed to Amanda halfway through a romantic candle-lit dinner.
POSSIBILITY, PROBABILITY AND CERTAINTY
a. He has no chance of ever persuading her to marry him.
b. They stand as much change of getting a grade A as I do of becoming the Prime
Minister.
c. There a chance that my company will send me to the United States for a year.
