Improve your Vocabulary in IELTS Speaking & Writing – Key Word : Thing

Key Word : Thing

1     Verb + thing

Use the correct form of these verbs :

make               need               pack                wash up

1. We’ll have to stop at the supermarket. We _____________ a few basic things like bread and milk.
2. My dad’s a sculptor. He _____________ things out of wood he finds on the beach.
3. Peter, you haven’t _____________ the breakfast things yet. Do them before you go to school, please.
4.  _____________  your things. We’re leaving in 10 minutes.

accept              look at             make               think                turn out

5. He’s not sure what he’s going to do, so he’s taken a few days off to _____________ things over.
6. You should try to change the situation rather than _____________ things as they are.
7. I don’t know if things are going to work out between John and me. => Don’t worry. I’m sure things will_____________ OK.
8. You’re only _____________ things worse by ignoring her. I think you two need to talk things over.
9. Try to _____________ things from my point of view for a change.

Also check :

• IELTS Speaking
• IELTS Writing

2     Do + thing

Match the halves of these situations :

1. I’ll be late home tonight.
2. Philip is definitely different!
3. The phone never stops ringing!
4. I’m sorry I’ve got to get on with some work.
5. I know people who cheat in exams.

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a          That’s why it’s impossible to get things done.

b          I’d never do a thing like that.

c          Yes, he does have a funny way of doing things.

d          I’ve got loads of things to do at work.

e          I’ve got better things to do than stand chatting!

6. I can’t get the video to work.
7. I rang and told him what I thought of him!
8. I wish I had listened to you!
9. The Minister’s resigned!
10. He asked me how much I earned.

f           It’s just not the done thing to ask that.

g          Good. It was the proper thing to do.

h          Yes, it was a foolish thing to do.

i           I would have done the same thing myself.

j           I’ve done all the right things! I think it’s broken.

3     Verb + not + thing

Use the correct form of these verbs :

do                    eat                   miss                 say                   see

1. I’m sorry, I can’t ___________ a thing without my specs. Could you read the menu out to me?
2. I’m going to the party as early as I can. I don’t want to ___________ a thing.
3. They have cheated you out of your money, but I’m afraid you can’t ___________  a thing about it.
4. I’m absolutely starving. I haven’t ___________ a thing all day.
5. I heard that Frank is losing his job. I haven’t ___________ a thing about it to anyone.

4     Common adjective collocations

Use these adjectives to complete the sentences :

bad                  funny             good

last                   main                slightest

1. It’s a____________ thing you remembered to bring the bottle opener! I completely forgot!
2. He’s easily upset. He loses his temper at the ____________ little thing.
3. Too much exercise can be a ____________ thing. You can easily damage your body.
4. The____________ thing in this type of situation is to remain calm.
5. A ____________ thing happened to me on the way to work this morning.
6. I only want to help you. The____________ thing I want to do is to make you unhappy.

Answer Key

Ex 1 :

l need              2. makes          3. washed up   4. Pack            5. think

6 accept           7. turn out       8. making        9. look at

Ex 2: l-d          2-c       3-a       4-e       5-b       6-j        7-i        8-h       9-g       10-f

Ex 3: l. see       2. miss             3. do    4. eaten            5. said

Ex 4: l. good   2. slightest       3. bad 4. main            5. funny           6. last