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Class 9 English — Choosing the precise word

Replace a vague intensifier and a weak adjective with the single word that says it properly.

Name: ________________________

  1. 1."The room was very clean." Write the one word beginning with s that replaces "very clean".

  2. 2."The manuscript was VERY OLD." Which single word says the same thing?

    • a) ancient
    • b) previous
    • c) elderly
    • d) former

  3. 3.Which sentence uses its precise word correctly?

    • a) The hall was enormous, and it held two thousand people.
    • b) The hall was enormous, because it was so small.
    • c) The hall was enormous, so we squeezed in with difficulty.
    • d) The hall was enormous, so the five of us filled it easily.

  4. 4.Sort each phrase by whether a stronger single word could replace it.

    Groups: Vague — a stronger single word exists · Already precise

    • very big
    • silent
    • drenched
    • very quiet
    • gigantic
    • very wet

  5. 5.Match each vague sentence to its sharper version.

    • The stew was very tasty.
    • The joke was very funny.
    • The task was very easy.
    • The noise was very loud.
    • The water was very cold.
    • The joke was hilarious.
    • The water was icy.
    • The noise was deafening.
    • The task was effortless.
    • The stew was delicious.

  6. 6.Match each two-word phrase to the single word that replaces it.

    • very tired
    • very hungry
    • very angry
    • very cold
    • very frightened
    • very dirty
    • terrified
    • filthy
    • freezing
    • furious
    • exhausted
    • famished

  7. 7.In which pair has the sentence been made weaker rather than sharper?

    • a) It was very cold. → It was freezing.
    • b) He was very hungry. → He was famished.
    • c) She was furious. → She was very angry.
    • d) She was very angry. → She was furious.

  8. 8.Replace the words in capitals with one precise word: "After the climb we were VERY TIRED."

    • a) exhausted
    • b) so very tired
    • c) rather sleepy
    • d) quite tired

Answer key — Class 9 English — Choosing the precise word

  1. 1.
    • spotless
    • sparkling
  2. 2. a) ancient
  3. 3. a) The hall was enormous, and it held two thousand people.
  4. 4. very big → Vague — a stronger single word exists; gigantic → Already precise; very quiet → Vague — a stronger single word exists; silent → Already precise; very wet → Vague — a stronger single word exists; drenched → Already precise
  5. 5. The stew was very tasty. → The stew was delicious.; The joke was very funny. → The joke was hilarious.; The task was very easy. → The task was effortless.; The noise was very loud. → The noise was deafening.; The water was very cold. → The water was icy.
  6. 6. very tired → exhausted; very hungry → famished; very angry → furious; very cold → freezing; very frightened → terrified; very dirty → filthy
  7. 7. c) She was furious. → She was very angry.
  8. 8. a) exhausted