C1 English Adjectives: Scale, Time & Abstract Relations
This final section of our C1 adjectives list equips you with the vocabulary to articulate complex relationships and qualities. You will master words for expressing Scale, Amount & Importance, from profound to marginal. It also covers adjectives related to Time & Sequence, like subsequent and timely, as well as terms for describing Relational & Positional concepts. Further sections include vocabulary for Physical & Environmental states and nuanced words for Emotional & Psychological descriptions.
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Scale, Amount & Importance
| Word | Example Sentence | IPA (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| acute | There is an acute shortage of nurses.
Word Partners: acute shortage, acute pain
|
/əˈkjuːt/ |
| immense | The project faced immense challenges.
Word Partners: immense pressure, immense difficulty, immense challenges
|
/ɪˈmens/ |
| intensive | The course provides intensive training.
Word Partners: intensive care, intensive training
|
/ɪnˈtensɪv/ |
| large-scale | The government launched a large-scale investigation.
Word Partners: large-scale study, large-scale operation, large-scale investigation
|
/lɑːdʒ skeɪl/ |
| marginal | There has been only marginal improvement. | /ˈmɑːdʒɪnl/ |
| minimal | The policy had a minimal impact on sales.
Word Partners: minimal impact, minimal risk
|
/ˈmɪnɪəl/ |
| notable | There has been notable progress in recent months. | /ˈnəʊtəbl/ |
| partial | The project was only a partial success. | /ˈpɑːʃl/ |
| profound | The book had a profound effect on my thinking.
Word Partners: profound effect, profound impact
|
/prəˈfaʊnd/ |
| prominent | She played a prominent role in the campaign. | /ˈprɒmɪnənt/ |
| pronounced | There has been a pronounced shift in public opinion. | /prəˈnaʊnst/ |
| radical | They are calling for radical change.
Word Partners: radical change, radical reform
|
/ˈrædɪkl/ |
| substantial | The company made a substantial profit.
Word Partners: substantial amount, substantial increase, substantial profit
|
/səbˈstænʃl/ |
| subtle | There was a subtle change in his attitude. | /ˈsʌtl/ |
| tremendous | The team made a tremendous effort.
Word Partners: tremendous pressure, tremendous success, tremendous effort
|
/trəˈmendəs/ |
| unprecedented | The floods were on an unprecedented scale.
Word Partners: unprecedented level, unprecedented scale
|
/ʌnˈpresɪdentɪd/ |
Time & Sequence
| Word | Example Sentence | IPA (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| consecutive | It rained for five consecutive days.
Word Partners: consecutive days, consecutive years
|
/kənˈsekjətɪv/ |
| corresponding | Sales increased, with a corresponding rise in profits.
Word Partners: corresponding increase/rise
|
/ˌkɒrəˈspɒndɪŋ/ |
| imminent | The government has warned of an imminent threat.
Word Partners: imminent danger, imminent threat
|
/ˈɪmɪnənt/ |
| interim | An interim report will be published next month.
Word Partners: interim period, interim government, interim report
|
/ˈɪntərɪm/ |
| lengthy | After a lengthy discussion, they reached an agreement. | /ˈleŋθi/ |
| successive | The team won three successive championships.
Word Partners: successive years, successive governments, successive championships
|
/səkˈsesɪv/ |
| timely | Your timely intervention prevented a disaster.
Word Partners: timely reminder, timely intervention
|
/ˈtaɪmli/ |
Relational & Positional
| Word | Example Sentence | IPA (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| adjacent | Our office is adjacent to the conference room. | /əˈdʒeɪsnt/ |
| collective | We need to make a collective effort to solve this.
Word Partners: collective effort, collective responsibility
|
/kəˈlektɪv/ |
| integrated | The school has a fully integrated approach to learning.
Word Partners: integrated approach, fully integrated
|
/ˈɪntɪɡreɪtɪd/ |
| intermediate | The course is suitable for intermediate level students.
Word Partners: intermediate level
|
/ˌɪntəˈmiːdiət/ |
| parental | Children need parental consent for the trip.
Word Partners: parental consent, parental responsibility
|
/pəˈrentl/ |
| prospective | The company is meeting with prospective investors. | /prəˈspektɪv/ |
| superior | The company is known for its superior quality.
Word Partners: superior quality
|
/suːˈpɪəriə(r)/ |
Physical, Sensory & Environmental
| Word | Example Sentence | IPA (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| coastal | They live in a small coastal town. | /ˈkəʊstl/ |
| dense | The dense fog made driving dangerous.
Word Partners: dense forest, dense fog
|
/dens/ |
| marine | The area is rich in marine life.
Word Partners: marine life, marine environment
|
/məˈriːn/ |
| scattered | There were scattered showers throughout the day.
Word Partners: scattered showers
|
/ˈskætəd/ |
| vibrant | The city has a vibrant nightlife.
Word Partners: vibrant colour, vibrant atmosphere, vibrant nightlife
|
/ˈvaɪbrənt/ |
Emotional & Psychological
| Word | Example Sentence | IPA (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| behavioural | The study focuses on behavioural patterns in children.
Word Partners: behavioural problems, behavioural change, behavioural patterns
|
/bɪˈheɪvjərəl/ |
| disturbing | The documentary contained some disturbing images. | /dɪˈstɜːbɪŋ/ |
| encouraging | The latest sales figures are a very encouraging sign.
Word Partners: encouraging sign, encouraging news
|
/ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒɪŋ/ |
| hopeful | Despite the setbacks, we remain hopeful.
Word Partners: remain hopeful
|
/ˈhəʊpfl/ |
| intimate | They shared an intimate conversation. | /ˈɪntɪmət/ |
| meaningful | We need to have a meaningful discussion about this. | /ˈmiːnɪŋfl/ |
| sceptical | Despite the promises, I remain sceptical.
Word Partners: remain sceptical
|
/ˈskeptɪkl/ |
| supportive | It's important to have a supportive environment at work. | /səˈpɔːtɪv/ |
| troubled | She had a troubled childhood.
Word Partners: troubled childhood, troubled past, troubled relationship
|
/ˈtrʌbld/ |
| vulnerable | He was part of a vulnerable group in society. | /ˈvʌlnərəbl/ |
