CAE - WRITING AND VOCABULARY

1) FORMAL WRITING (Reports and proposals)

Introduction
-The main purpose/aim of (this report) is
to outline/
present / discuss / examine / evaluate
-This report (outlines/looks at)
-This report is based on
Generalising
-On the whole,
-In eneral,
Making recommendations and concluding
-It is clear from customer feedback that
-!ith reard to, the eneral view seems
to be
-In the liht of (this "ear#s experience),
-$erhaps the most e%ective wa" of
-If the (centre) is to attract more
customers, it is
vital that
-It would be a ood idea to
-It is (therefore) believed / obvious that
would be
ideal for
-It would (not) be advisable / practical
to
-!e suest/propose that
-!e suest/propose & ing
-' (more spacious area) would be the
solution/
an e%ective wa" of
-In liht of the above, we believe the
followin
measures should be adopted
-In the short/lon term, we suest "ou
should
consider
-(" recommendations are as follows)
-In m" view, in future, we should
-To improve the situation, we
recommend
-It is recommended that
-To sum up,To conclude,
-I hope that the plan outlined/presented
in this
report meets with "our approval
-I hope that the recommendations
outlined/
presented in this report will receive "our
serious
consideration*
t!le
"+o not use contractions*
-,se passive forms whenever possible*
-,se relative clauses to -oin ideas) The period during which he lived was full of
uncertainty.
-,se these formal words) like such as / kids children
a lot (of) man" / a lare number of & countable noun
a lot (of) much / a reat amount of / a reat deal of &
uncountable
a lot (intensit") ver" much / sini.cantl" / dramaticall"
- 'void usin the word things / something, etc* ,se a more speci.c word (problems,
situation, solutions,
subjects, and so on)*
#) $MI"FORMAL WRITING
Addressing t%e reader
-/ave "ou ever wondered (what the collee would be like if)0 If the answer is ("es)
, "ou
--If "ou want a di%erent kind of experience, / 's "ou know,
-+oesn#t it -ust make ever"one feel (positive about)0
-If "ou have a few hours to spare,is worth seein*
&escri'ing location
-1ocated / 2ituated (-ust a few miles awa"
from), 3
Gi(ing !our opinion
-3 is intended for "oun(er) people
-3 is popular with (children)
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is
-:uilt (-ust next to), 3 is
-2ome minutes from, 3 is
Gi(ing in)ormation
-Throuhout it histor", 3
-3 is b" far the oldest
-; is the best known
-!hat is particular spectacular is
-6ecent additions/chanes include
-In fact, (758'TI95 O$I7IO7)
-It#s clearl" been a ood idea to
Gi(ing practical in)ormation
-'n"one wishin to (appl")
can/should
-(!e) participate in/oranise/run
-(The club) o%ers/provides a rane of
(competitive
matches for)
-One of the most popular (features of
our club is)
-(embers have the opportunit" to/
are able to
Accurac!
-7ever omit the sub-ect pronoun) Many people believe IT is important to... I believe
IT is a good idea
study...
- +o not use unnecessar" sub-ect pronouns) This is a problem which it is essential to
solve.
-(ake sure the sub-ect and the verb aree) Attracting tourists involves improving local
facilities.
(2I78,1'6 2,:=54T attractin tourists & 2I78,1'6 956: involves)
Attitude clauses and p%rases
8enerall" speakin,
'nno"inl", 7aturall", 2tranel", 2urprisinl", 5videntl",
Indeed, In fact, 'dmittedl", $resumabl",
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
R$LAT$& WOR& AN& *+RA$
AGR$$M$NT
-' reat number of people share the view that tourism will have a neative impact on
the island*
-Toda" there is eneral / widespread areement that pollution from cars and planes is
threatenin the
future of our planet*
-It is now widel" accepted that the universe bean with the so-called >bi ban>*
&IAGR$$M$NT
-Opinions di%er about the proper relationship between the mass media and societ"*
-There is considerable disareement amon experts about the usefulness of these
tests*
-There has been a reat deal of controvers" over abortion in the ,2*
A&,ANTAG$ AN& &IA&,ANTAG$
-6eular exercise has man" bene.ts, includin reducin the risk of heart disease*
-+espite a few problems with the desin, the car>s advantaes clearl" outweih its
disadvantaes*
-The ma-or drawback of this method is that it can be ver" time-consumin*
-The downside of runnin "our own business is that "ou are responsible if an"thin
oes wron*
-A.$
-lead to) The research could lead to a cure for man" serious illnesses*
-result in) The .re resulted in damae to their propert"*
-be responsible for) /e was responsible for the accident*
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'65
-brin about)The war brouht about enormous social chane*
-ive rise to) $oor performance in exams can ive rise to depression and even
thouhts of suicide*
-trier)to make somethin suddenl" start to happen, especiall" a bad situation such
as a crisis or a war, or
a medical condition) 4ertain foods can trier alleries*
-contribute to) $assive smokin could contribute to the development of respirator"
diseases amon
nonsmokers*
-factor) 4ost is often the decidin factor when choosin an" product*
$FF$-T
-impact on) /is work has had an enormous impact on the stud" of enetics*
-in@uence on) In his book, he examines the in@uence of the media on our societ"*
-a%ect) (v) The disease a%ects women more than men*
-in@uence) (v) 2he has in@uenced him a lot*
-implications) The results of the stud" could have important implications for future
educational polic"*
$M*+AI/ING
-I would like to stress that the research is still at an earl" stae*
-It should be noted that there are a number of alternative methods available*
-It is worth bearin in mind that ABC of the scientists researchin herbicides in the ,2
are emplo"ed b"
chemical companies*
-Dactors such as temperature and acidit" pla" a crucial role in determinin how well
the process works*
-These insects pla" a vital part in the food chain*
-It is essential that the work is carried out as soon as possible*
-The climate is much colder, especiall" in the far north*
*RO0L$M
-issue) Issue is used especiall" about problems that a%ect a lot of people in societ")
International terrorism
is the biest issue (Ethe most important issue) facin the world toda"* $revious
overnments failed to
address (Etr" to deal with) social issues such as unemplo"ment and homelessness*
-challene) somethin diFcult that "ou must do or deal with, which needs a lot of skill,
e%ort, and
determination) 2he said she was lookin forward to the challene of startin up a
new business on her
own*
-diFcult") The compan" has manaed to overcome (Edeal with) its recent .nancial
diFculties*
(an" people experience diFcult" in sleepin at some time in their lives*
- trouble) a problem or several problems that make somethin diFcult, spoil "our
plans etc) 2tudents of
5nlish often have trouble with phrasal verbs* The compan" ran into trouble
(Estarted to have problems)
when it tried to expand too Guickl"*
-setback) somethin that happens which stops "ou makin proress or which makes
thins worse than
the" were before) +espite some earl" setbacks, his campain for the presidenc" was
successful*
-obstacle) 4riminal ans are the biest obstacle to democratic reform*
-dilemma) The doctors were faced with a moral dilemma*
4'5 !6ITI78 '7+ 9O4':,1'6;
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-vicious circle) 2ome developin countries et cauht in a vicious circle* The" cannot
a%ord to pa" their
debt repa"ments, and so the debts et even bier*
-complication
IN-R$A$
-increase b" (percent)) 1ast "ear, the number of burlaries increased b" <I percent*
-o up) 1ast month unemplo"ment went up from <*J million to -ust over <*K million*
-row) The volume of traFc on our roads continues to row*
-expand) 'fter two "ears of no rowth, the econom" started to expand aain in ?BBH*
-double/triple/Guadruple) 2ince <AIB, the number of people d"in from cancer has
almost doubled*
-rowth) (n) There has been a hue rowth in sales of bi L-wheel-drive vehicles*
&$-R$A$
-decrease b" (percent)) The averae rainfall has decreased b" around HB percent*
-o down) The percentae of fat in our diets has one down*
-fall) The number of tiers in the wild has fallen to -ust over <B,BBB*
-drop) 't niht, the temperature drops to minus ?B derees*
-decline) decline is used about numbers or amounts, and also about the level or
standard of somethin)
In rural areas, the standard of livin continued to decline*
A&MIR$
-respect /
look up to) The children need someone the" can look up to*
-think hihl" of) (ost of the students and sta% think ver" hihl" of +r* 2mith*
-
have a hih opinion of
-
hihl" rearded/respected) a hihl" respected sureon
A&,AN-$&
-sophisticated / hih-tech (eGuipment) / state-of-the-art (technolo")
.R*RIING (Avoid using colourful! vocabulary in formal writing"#
-amaMin / unbelievable / incredible / astonishin / staerin
-come as a surprise / come as a shock / amaMe / astonish
.R*RI$& (Avoid using colourful! vocabulary in formal writing"#
-amaMed / astonished / speechless / be taken aback (/e was taken aback b" the news)
$1-ITING (Avoid using colourful! vocabulary in formal writing"#
-thrillin / rippin / exhilaratin / action-packed
0ORING
-dull / tedious / monotonous / uninspirin
0$A.TIF.L *$O*L$ (Avoid using colourful! vocabulary in formal writing"#
-attractive / ood-lookin / oreous / strikin / stunnin
0$A.TIF.L *LA-$ (Avoid using colourful! vocabulary in formal writing"#
-breathtakin / stunnin / awe-inspirin / strikin / spectacular
-spotless) ver" clean
.GL2 *LA-$ 3 *$O*L$ (Avoid using colourful! vocabulary in formal writing"#
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-unattractive / unpleasant / unsihtl" / hideous (Eextremel" ul")
-.lth") ver" dirt"
IN 0A& -ON&ITION (*LA-$)
-in bad condition / dilapidated / run-down
N$W
-latest / brand-new / innovative (idea or s"stem)
OL&
-old-fashioned / outdated / obsolete
,$R2
-absolutel" / extremel" / hihl" / incredibl" / remarkabl"
GOO& *$RFORMAN-$ 3 *I$-$ OF WOR4
-excellent / outstandin / impressive / exceptional
GOO& FOR A *ARTI-.LAR 5O06 *.R*O$6 $T-
-suitable / riht / proper / appropriate / be suited to
WRONG INFORMATION 3 N.M0$R
-incorrect / inaccurate / misleadin
NOT R$AONA0L$ 3 N$-$AR2
-un-usti.ed / unreasonable / without ood reason
R$LA1
-unwind / wind down) 2et in spectacular countr"side, the 2hia /otel is the perfect
place to unwind*
-make someone feel at ease
-relaxed / feel at ease / laid-back (not easil" worried or anno"ed) /
N$R,O.
-tense / uneas" / anxious / be under stress
*.0LI- $R,I-$
-facilities) The facilities at the hotel were excellent -- tennis courts, swimmin pool,
several bars and a ood
restaurant*
-amenities) thins such as shops, parks, or restaurants that make livin or workin in a
place more pleasant
I prefer this part of the cit" because there are plent" of ood amenities*
-OM*ARION
-a reat deal / far / much & comparative (cheaper / more economical than)
-a bit / slihtl" / barel" & comparative (cheaper / more economical than)
-b" far / easil" the & superlative (This is easil" the best solution we can think of)
,$R2 M.-+ 3 NOT ,$R2 M.-+
-dramaticall" / sini.cantl" / slihtl"
AN&
-'s well (as) / in addition to) Over JBB people will lose their -obs, in addition to the
LBB people who left
the compan" last "ear*
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-In addition) ' .fth of the world>s population lives on less than N< a da"* In addition,
over <BB million
children are livin on the streets*
-Durthermore / (oreover) used at the beinnin of a sentence when addin an
important fact that is
connected with what "ou have -ust said) The dru has stron side e%ects*
Durthermore, it can be
addictive*
IF
-as lon as / on condition that / provided that
OR
-alternativel") ;ou can o up into the mountains* 'lternativel", "ou can stroll around
one of 2witMerland>s
delihtful cities where the old mixes with the new*
-on T+$ one hand *** on the other (hand)
0$-A.$
-'s / since) 's it was a hot da", the" decided to leave all the windows open* 2ince it
is diFcult to predict
how the climate will chane, it is not possible to sa" which countries will su%er the
most*
-thanks to
-+,5 TO/O!I78 TO & 7O,7
The dela" was due to a problem with the ship>s enines*
-+,5 TO/O!I78 TO & T/5 D'4T T/'T & sub-ect & verb
The men did most of the work in the .elds* This was partl" due to the fact that the
men were stroner*
0.T3ALT+O.G+
-!hile / whereas / b" contrast
-/owever) $owever is usuall" used in the middle of a sentence, separated from the
rest of the sentence b"
commas) =ack and his famil" manaed to escape before the soldiers arrived* Other
families in the villae,
however, were less luck"* Or it comes at the beinnin of a sentence) /e bean his
academic career as a
mathematician* /owever, his main achievements were in the .eld of nuclear ph"sics*
-7evertheless) 7evertheless is usuall" used at the beinnin of a sentence, or at the
end*
-I7 2$IT5 OD/+52$IT5 & 7O,7
+espite his lack of formal education, he became one of the world>s leadin
mathematicians*
-I7 2$IT5 OD/+52$IT5 & verb & I78
This was a dinosaur that weihed onl" <B tons, in spite of bein some ?O metres
lon*
-I7 2$IT5 OD/+52$IT5 & T/5 D'4T T/'T & sub-ect & verb
(an" people are worried that cellphones ma" be danerous to health, despite the
fact that most of the
research suests that there is little risk*
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