The Company A Word Keeps

concepts · 6

1. 01

   Verbs That Only Take Bad Things

   Verbs that almost always come with something bad, like commit, and why they sound wrong next to something good.

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2. 02

   Verbs That Only Take Good Things

   Verbs that come with good things, when they genuinely fit, and when the plainer verb is better.

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3. 03

   Intensifiers With Hidden Polarity

   Words like very and utterly only fit certain adjectives. Learn the pairings that sound natural, and the mismatches that don't.

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4. 04

   Verbs That Disapprove Of Their Subject

   Verbs that criticise the person while describing what they did, and when you have earned the right to use them.

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5. 05

   Neutral-Looking Nouns With A Charge

   Nouns that look neutral but usually introduce something negative, and how to use them in line with your argument.

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6. 06

   Review: The Fourth Check

   All the word-company patterns from this chapter. Test yourself until checking a word's usual company becomes a habit.

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