Do you remember the song “Everything Is awesome (ifml.)toll, spitzeAwesome!” from the 2014 LEGO Movie? Back then, it seemed as if everything was indeed “awesome”. The informal use of this word had spread from the US across the whole English-speaking world and was being used to describe anything that was in any way positive.
Now, four years later, everything is “super good”. We’re all “super excited” and “super happy” when things are “super easy”. Not everyone wants to follow trends, of course. Perhaps you’re one of those people for whom everything is “great” or “fantastic”? However, most of us don’t want to use the same small group of words and phrases all the time. We would like to apply a variety of expressions in different situations.
In the February issue of Spotlight, we showed you how to avoid the ten most frequently overused verbs in the English language and gave you practical alternatives. This month, we’re doing the same for adjectives.
good/ awesome
His work is outstanding.
The results were excellent.
She gave an impressive performance.
I had a very rewarding experience.
It’s a first-class university.
It’s a high-quality product.
OK
He couldn’t give a satisfactory answer.
I think my comments were fair.
Her fears were justified.
Your opinion is understandable.
I think that’s a reasonable suggestion.
Is that an acceptable price?
new
She bought a brand-new car.
We need innovative solutions.
They want fresh ideas.
This is cutting-edgetop-aktuell, Spitzen-cutting-edge technology.
We offer state-of-the-arthochmodernstate-of-the-art software.
It’s a traditional design with a contemporary twistDreh; hier: Einschlagtwist.
old
She’s caring for her elderly parents.
I’m interested in ancient Greek art.
The house was full of antique furniture.
A senior clarinettist was leader of the band.
Their ideas are so behind the times.
You’re using an outdated operating system.
big
The house is enormous.
The book was a huge success.
It’s an immense problem for us.
He controls a vastenorm, riesigvast business empire.
She lost a sizeablebeträchtlich, erheblichsizeable amount of money.
I made a colossal mistake.
small/little
The baby has such tiny hands.
Microscopic traceSpurtraces of drugs were found.
They suffered only minor injuries.
The effect was negligiblevernachlässigbarnegligible.
Their opportunities are limited.
This is a trivial problem.
beautiful
It’s an attractive image.
They live in a picturesquemalerischpicturesque village.
The view was breathtakingatemberaubendbreathtaking.
Wow! You look stunningumwerfendstunning!
What pretty flowers!
The brideBrautbride was radiantstrahlendradiant.
happy
We’re really pleased with our new kitchen.
I was glad to help.
We’re delightedhocherfreutdelighted to announce the winner.
I’m quite content with my life.
She’s always cheerful.
He was over the moonüberglücklichover the moon.
important
He’s a leading expert in his field.
She plays a key role in the firm.
This is a historic day.
It’s a life-changing moment.
It’s vitalentscheidend, unerlässlichvital that we act quickly.
He’s a significant person in the case.
different
It was an unusual event.
She’s unlikeanders alsunlike anyone else.
He has a very distinctiveunverwechselbar, eigendistinctive style.
Players in our team are quite diversevielfältigdiverse.
We have opposite opinions.
We’re like chalk and cheese (UK)wie Tag und Nachtlike chalk and cheese.
Test yourself
Test yourself
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Dann nutzen Sie die Möglichkeit und stellen Sie sich Ihr optimales Abo ganz nach Ihren Wünschen zusammen.
