logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2025
21m 27s

229. B1 adjectives with hyphens (with di...

M. A. Bilbrough
About this episode

Write to Mike Bilbrough to ask a question or give an opinion.

Adjectives with hyphen at B1 level

good-looking (only with hyphen) - attractive (for people, often men)

well-known - a lot of people have heard of it and know it/him/her

old-fashioned (only with hyphen) - (often criticising something) not new, not in fashion

well-dressed - dressed in attractive clothes, smart, elegant

up-to-date - (usually technology) the newest in software, hardware, computers etc.

middle-aged - around 50 years old

face-to-face (only with hyphen) (also adv. came face-to-face with the burglar) - talk to somebody while looking at them in the same room.

out-of-date - (fashion, technology) not new, there are more up-to-date versions, or a more recent fashion, or more modern.

hand-held  (only with hyphen) - held in the hand e.g. like a mobile phone. 

next-door (adv. next door) - referring to your neighbours. They live next to you. A house with is next to another.

full-time - (work) a complete schedule. 40 hours a week, for example. Compare with 'part-time'.

self-service  (only with hyphen) - (usually a restaurant) where you get your own food from the counter, no waiters or waitresses.

first-floor - on the first floor of a building.

second-hand  (only with hyphen) - not new, has been used before.

We can also invent words by putting the adjective and noun together to make another adjective: dark-haired, short-haired, short-sleeved shirt, long-sleeved shirt.

Young people's slang in Great Britain

Ace - really good

Bog off - go away and leave me alone.

Bonkers - crazy

Chippy - fish-and-chip shop

Chuffed - really pleased

Fancy - want to do something

Snog - kiss

dead wealthy / dead boring

go for a spin


To see the dialogue, go to: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-229.htm

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.

https://www.practisingenglish.com/english-grammar/

My novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!

Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

 

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

Up next
Jul 8
248. The Unexpected Visit (animal vocabulary) B2 Story
This is a B2-level recording and story with vocabulary about animal sounds and movement:Animal words:warren - where rabbits live together in the groundroar - sound like a lion makesthunder - sound like large animals running pastscream - high pitched sound that sounds angry or sca ... Show More
19m 29s
Jul 1
247. Future Continuous for B1 (and B2) with story
Hello, dear students!Future continuous for fixed events, which are expected to happen. (This is B1 grammar with interest for B2 students too!)will + be + verb+ingI'll be giving a talk at that time, but I could see you afterwards for a coffee.This time next week I'll be flying int ... Show More
20m 6s
Jun 22
246. There is / are and extended family
Today, I’m going to talk about the family of ‘there is’! At first, that might seem very basic English grammar. Indeed, the phrase ‘there is’ is A1 level. However, at B1 and even B2 level, I must admit there are few students who talk about this family. Why? Because it’s not a stru ... Show More
13m 51s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
Top Advanced English Adjectives
 In this video, I’ll teach you some powerful advanced adjectives that will make your speech and writing sound more polished, expressive, and natural.  These adjectives aren’t just fancy words—they’re ones native speakers actually use in conversations, emails, and storytelling. Vi ... Show More
20m 14s
Nov 2024
When to Use "Turn On," "Turn Off," "Close," "Shut," and "Open" – Everyday English Words Explained!
高雄美術特區2-4房全新落成,《惟美術》輕軌C22站散步即到家,近鄰青海商圈,卡位明星學區,徜徉萬坪綠海。 住近美術館,擁抱優雅日常,盡現驕傲風範!美術東四路X青海路 07-553-3838 ----以上訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供---- In this episode of English for Kids, Teacher Tim breaks down the meanings and uses of some common but confusing English phrases: "turn on," "turn off," ... Show More
6m 35s
Mar 2025
Top 25 Advanced English Phrases for Eating at a Restaurant
Want to sound natural when ordering food in English? In this lesson, you'll learn 25 must-know restaurant phrases that will help you order food, ask for the bill, make special requests, and more—just like a native speaker! ✨This lesson is perfect for travelers, English learners, ... Show More
15m 31s
Jan 2025
Chatterbox #331 – Modern identity labels
Andrew and Anna talk about modern identity labels that people use in their daily lives. They look at labels for work, relationships, finances, and more. Some examples include WFH (work from home), solopreneur (running a business alone), and dink (double income, no kids). They als ... Show More
34m 46s
Jun 26
9 Idioms that Confuse English Learners
Confused by English idioms that don’t make literal sense? In this lesson, we’re breaking down 9 tricky expressions that often confuse English learners. You’ll learn what they mean, when to use them, and how to sound more natural and confident when you speak. From "right out of th ... Show More
15m 26s
Mar 2023
1000 ENGLISH ADJECTIVES 1-20 (With Illustrated Examples)
Learn English Adjectives Click here for the 3000 English Words Playlist 3000 Words Playlist Enlarge your English vocabulary with this 1000 English adjectives list of the most common adjectives in English. The goal of the playlist is to provide 3000 English words that are importan ... Show More
10m 57s
Jun 10
20 Adjectives to Instantly Upgrade Your English
Want to sound more fluent and expressive in English? In this lesson, you'll learn 20 powerful adjectives that native speakers use every day in conversations, podcasts, and movies. Perfect for advanced learners who are ready to take their vocabulary to the next level!📩 Get a FREE ... Show More
32m 38s
Jul 2019
Speak Better English with Harry | Episode 15
Welcome back to my podcast on English language and grammar points that are relevant for those of you who are studying English at an intermediate level. After they had finished their work they headed off to the cafe for some refreshments. The past perfect tense. Possessive pronoun ... Show More
4m 57s
Aug 2024
Speak Advanced English like an American (213+ phrases)
Learn 213 English phrases that you can use formally and informally in everyday English conversations. Visit https://englishwithkayla.com/ to upgrade your English conversations with my new six-week conversation course //JOIN MY EMAIL LIST https://englishvocabularyhelp.com/join-my- ... Show More
2h 25m
Feb 2025
Idioms and Expressions that Native Speakers Actually Use
Some formal or textbook English phrases sound unnatural in casual conversations. The goal of this lesson is to teach you how to replace your textbook phrases with idiomatic, natural-sounding expressions that native speakers actually use.Visit https://englishwithkayla.com/ to upgr ... Show More
20m 41s