Unit 4 Wordlist Language Hub Upper Intermediate 

Part of
Word/Phrase speech IPA (UK) IPA (USA) Definition Sample sentence
Noun + preposition collocations
congratulations noun + kənˌɡrætʃʊˈleɪʃ(ə)nz kənˌɡrætʃəˈleɪʃ(ə)nz used for telling someone Congratulations on
on preposition ɒn ɑn that you are pleased the new job – it sounds
about their success, good perfect for you.
luck, or happiness on a
special occasion
course in noun + kɔː(r)s ɪn kɔrs ɪn a series of lessons or lectures Have you thought about
preposition in an academic subject or a taking a course in first
practical skill aid?
places in noun + ˈpleɪsɪz ɪn a particular town, country, I’m hungry; let’s go to
preposition building, shop etc the new Italian place in
town.
possibility of noun + ˌpɒsəˈbɪləti ɒv ˌpɑsəˈbɪləti ɒv the chance that something Is there any possibility
preposition might happen or be true of seeing someone
about it today?
risk of noun + rɪsk ɒv rɪsk ɑv the possibility that something The company is at
preposition unpleasant or dangerous serious risk of going out
might happen of business.
time for noun + taɪm fɔː(r) taɪm fɔr a particular point when Could you call me when
preposition something happens it’s time for lunch?
Nouns and verbs with the same spelling
balance verb ˈbæləns to create or preserve a good We have to balance the
or correct balance between needs and tastes of all
different features or aspects our customers.
balance noun ˈbæləns a situation in which different At the moment, I just
aspects or features are treated don’t seem to have a
equally or exist in the correct good work–life balance.
relationship to each other
benefit verb ˈbenɪfɪt ˈbenəfɪt to get help or an advantage Thousands of
from something households could
benefit under the
scheme.
benefit noun ˈbenɪfɪt ˈbenəfɪt an advantage you get from a The new sports centre
situation will bring lasting benefit
to the community.
challenge verb ˈtʃælɪndʒ ˈtʃæləndʒ to test someone’s skill and This class just isn’t
abilities challenging enough
for her.
challenge noun ˈtʃælɪndʒ ˈtʃæləndʒ something that needs a lot of I’ve been at my current
skill, energy, and determination job for a long time and
to deal with or achieve need a new challenge.
control verb kənˈtrəʊl kənˈtroʊl to make people behave in the Does your teacher find
way that you want them to it difficult to control the
behave class?
control noun kənˈtrəʊl kənˈtroʊl the power to make decisions When Noah retired, his
about something and decide daughter took control
what should happen of the business.
influence verb ˈɪnfluəns to affect the way that someone Claims in advertising
thinks or behaves, or to affect can influence people’s
the way that something shopping habits.
happens
influence noun ˈɪnfluəns a person or thing that has I’ve always thought you
an effect on someone or were a good influence
something on Emily.

Language Hub Upper Intermediate Teacher’s Resource Centre.

Part of
Word/Phrase speech IPA (UK) IPA (USA) Definition Sample sentence
produce verb prəˈdjuːs prəˈdus to make or grow something, The factory will produce
especially in large quantities an extra 100,000 cars
and in order to be sold each year.
produce noun ˈprɒdjuːs ˈproʊˌdus fruit, vegetables, and other The farm sells its
things that farmers grow produce at the market
every Saturday.
Intensifiers
considerably adverb kənˈsɪd(ə)rəbli a lot The bill was
considerably more than
he expected.
disastrously adverb dɪˈzɑːstrəsli dɪˈzæstrəsli in a way that causes a lot of The company was
damage, harm or failure disasterously
mismanaged for several
years.
entirely adverb ɪnˈtaɪə(r)li ɪnˈtaɪrli completely, or in every way People born a few miles
apart can have entirely
different accents.
especially adverb ɪˈspeʃ(ə)li used when mentioning It is a very hot country,
conditions that make especially in summer.
something more relevant,
important or true
extremely adverb ɪkˈstriːmli ɪkˈstrimli very: used for emphasising an She’s extremely good at
adjective or adverb Arabic and French.
firmly adverb ˈfɜː(r)mli ˈfɜrmli strongly I firmly believe that
we must support each
other.
greatly adverb ˈɡreɪtli very much Tickets vary greatly in
price depending on
where you sit.
incredibly adverb ɪnˈkredəbli extremely It was incredibly
difficult to find a time
that everyone was
available.
intensely adverb ɪnˈtensli very great or extreme It’s an intensely
competitive industry to
work in.
significantly adverb sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəntli in a way that is relevant or that Unemployment has
has an important effect on risen significantly over
something the past decade.
totally adverb ˈtəʊt(ə)li ˈtoʊt(ə)li completely Oh no! I totally forgot
Simon’s birthday.
undoubtedly adverb ʌnˈdaʊtɪdli ʌnˈdaʊtədli used for saying that something Stress has undoubtedly
is certainly true or is accepted contributed to her
by everyone decision to leave.
utterly adverb ˈʌtə(r)li ˈʌtərli completely: often used He’s still utterly
for emphasising how bad dependent on his
someone or something is parents.
widely adverb ˈwaɪdli by a lot of people, or in a lot of Organic foods are now
places much more widely
available.

Language Hub Upper Intermediate Teacher’s Resource Centre.