Hedging/ generalising phrases brainstorm into the gaps
Brainstorm at least three different words or expressions which could go into the gaps below to make general statements about people, places, times, things etc. The same words or expressions can sometimes go in more than one gap below.
Section 1
1. _______________________________________ 2,000,000 people live in East Sussex
2. ______________________________________________________________ people
3. ________________________________________________________________likely
4. a/ an __________________________________________________ amount/ number
5. almost ______________________________________________________________
6. very ________________________________________________________________
7. in ____________________________________________________________ places
Section 2
8. It happens ____________________________________________________ often
9. _______________________________________________________________ all
10. ______________________________________________________________ many
11. a/ an ________________________________________________________ minority
12. a _________________________________________________________ proportion
13. according to ________________________________________________________,…
14. fairly _______________________________________________________________
15. virtually _____________________________________________________________
16. there is _______________________________________________________ chance
17. _____________________________________________________________ always
18. could ______________________________________________________________
19. It is usually true that… but ______________________________________________
Mixed up answers
Section 1
a couple of/ a few/ few/ several/ many/ very many
absolutely huge/ massive/ huge/ vast/ very large/ large/ good/ considerable/ sizeable/ substantial/ reasonably large/ reasonable/ fair/ fairly limited/ limited/ fairly small/ small/ very limited/ tiny/ absolutely tiny
all too/ very/ really quite/ quite/ fairly/ not very/ un/ quite un/ fairly un/ very un/ really quite un
all/ always/ certainly/ every/ never/ no
around/ approximately/ in the area of/ under/ just under/ nearly/ almost/ fewer than/ more than/ over/ just over
common/ few/ likely/ little/ many/ occasionally/ often/ probably/ rarely/ seldom/ typical/ typically/ widespread
one or two/ a couple of/ a few/ several/ many/ a large number of/ very many/ a very large number of/ a huge number of/ the majority of/ the vast majority of/ almost all/ all
Section 2
absolutely/ almost/ by no means
absolutely/ virtually/ practically/ basically/ almost/ by no means/ nowhere near
all/ every/ everyone/ everywhere/ all the time/ every day
certain/ sure/ large/ small/ common/ often
every/ a great/ a very good/ a good/ little/ very little/ next to no/ no/ absolutely no
fairly/ so/ very/ not so
fairly/ very/ extremely
it depends on…/ it can also be said that…/ there are exceptions, such as…/ it is occasionally the case that…/ there are also other possibilities, such as…
large/ substantial/ considerable/ small but significant/ insignificant/ small/ tiny
many people/ the majority of experts/ the (leading) authority on this topic/ most researchers in the field/ a large number of academics/ a significant number of researchers
possibly/ potentially/ conceivably
tiny/ small/ considerable/ substantial/ large/ very large/ huge
Suggested answers
Section 1
1. _________ around/ approximately/ in the area of/ under/ just under/ nearly/ almost/ fewer than/ more than/ over/ just over _______________ 2,000,000 people live in East Sussex
2. _ one or two/ a couple of/ a few/ several/ many/ a large number of/ very many/ a very large number of/ a huge number of/ the majority of/ the vast majority of/ almost all/ all ______________________ people… every hour of every day.
3. _____all too/ very/ really quite/ quite/ fairly/ not very/ un/ quite un/ fairly un/ very un/ really quite un ______________likely
4. a/ an ______absolutely huge/ massive/ huge/ vast/ very large/ large/ good/ considerable/ sizeable/ substantial/ reasonably large/ reasonable/ fair/ fairly limited/ limited/ fairly small/ small/ very limited/ tiny/ absolutely tiny______________ amount/ number
5. almost _________________all/ always/ certainly/ every/ never/ no___________________
6. very ________________ common/ few/ likely/ little/ many/ occasionally/ often/ probably/ rarely/ seldom/ typical/ typically/ widespread ____________________
7. in ________________ a couple of/ a few/ few/ several/ many/ very many_________ places
Section 2
8. It happens ____________ fairly/ very/ extremely_____________ often
9. ________________absolutely/ virtually/ practically/ basically/ almost/ by no means/ nowhere near_________ all
10. ______fairly/ so/ very/ not so_________________________ many
11. a/ an _______________________ large/ substantial/ considerable/ small but significant/ insignificant/ small/ tiny _____________________ minority
12. a ___________ tiny/ small/ considerable/ substantial/ large/ very large/ huge_______ proportion
13. according to _______many people/ the majority of experts/ the (leading) authority on this topic/ most researchers in the field/ a large number of academics/ a significant number of researchers _____________,…
14. fairly ___________ certain/ sure/ large/ small/ common/ often____________
15. virtually _______________ all/ every/ everyone/ everywhere/ all the time/ every day ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
16. there is _____________every/ a great/ a very good/ a good/ little/ very little/ next to no/ no/ absolutely no _____________ chance
17. _______absolutely/ almost/ by no means __________ always
18. could _____possibly/ potentially/ conceivably _________________
19. It is usually true that… but ______it depends on…/ it can also be said that…/ there are exceptions, such as…/ it is occasionally the case that…/ there are also other possibilities, such as…_________
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