English Vocabulary for Entertainment and Grammar
English Vocabulary for Entertainment
Phrasal Verbs
- Break out: To erupt, to break loose
- Bring along: To bring with
- Come down with: To fall ill
- Come on: To turn on (lights)
- Go out: To turn off (lights)
- Sign up for: To register, to sign up
- Tell (sb) off: To scold someone
Nouns
- Applause: Clapping
- Audience: Spectators
- Box office: Ticket office
- Encore: Extra song
- Highlight: Most important aspect
- Household name: A very well-known name
- Limelight: Center of attention, fame
- Ovation: Standing applause
- Performer: Artist, interpreter
- Row: Line of seats
- Spotlight: Center of attention, focus, projector
- Wings: Backstage
Adjectives
- A bit better/ A little better/ Slightly better: A little better
- Any better: Not better (with negative verb)
- Best-selling: Most sold
- Better by far/ Far better/ Much better: Much better
- Catapulted: Launched into fame
- Cult: Cult classic
- Cutting-edge: Avant-garde
- Dimmed: Blurred
- Enthralling/ Gripping/ Spellbinding: Fascinating, captivating
- Full-length: Complete
- Hilarious/ Rib-tickling: Very funny
- Iconic: Symbolic
- Laid-back: Relaxed, calm
- Largest: The biggest
- Mind-numbing: Boring
- Most exciting/ Most popular/ Most relaxed: The most exciting/ popular/ relaxed
- No better: Not better (with affirmative verb)
- Page-turning: Gripping, can’t put it down
- Quick-witted: Sharp, clever
- Run-of-the-mill: Ordinary, average
- Sell-out: Sold out (tickets)
- State-of-the-art: Latest model/generation
- Tear-jerking: Makes you cry
- Topical: Current, relevant
- Top-quality: Of the best quality
- Toughest: The most difficult
- Well-known: Famous
- Wheelchair-friendly: Accessible for wheelchairs
Expressions
- A buzz of excitement: A feeling of excitement in the air
- A polished performance: An excellent performance
- A standing ovation: Applause where the audience stands up
- Center-stage: Center of the stage, in the spotlight
- Rapturous applause: Enthusiastic applause
- The front row: The first row of seats
Grammar: Passive Voice
Verb Forms
- Present Simple: is/am/are written
- Present Continuous: is/am/are being written
- Past Simple: was/were written
- Past Continuous: was/were being written
- Present Perfect: has/have been written
- Past Perfect: had been written
- Future Simple: will be written
- Be going to: is/am/are going to be written
- Modals: can/must/should be written
- Modals (perfect): can/must/may have been written
Examples
- Active: They make hundreds of films in Hollywood every year.
Passive: Hundreds of films are made in Hollywood every year. - Verbs with two objects:
Active: They gave the presenter a long script.
Passive (indirect object): The presenter was given a long script.
Passive (direct object): A long script was given to the presenter. - Causative passive:
I had my car repaired. - Impersonal passive:
Active: They say that the writer is working on a new TV series.
Passive: The writer is said to be working on a new TV series.
Grammar: Comparatives and Superlatives
Comparatives
- Short adjectives: add -er (e.g., faster, taller)
- Long adjectives: use “more” (e.g., more expensive, more interesting)
- Irregular adjectives: good/better, bad/worse, far/farther, well/better
- Equality: use “as + adjective + as” (e.g., The apple is as heavy as the banana)
- Gradual change: use “getting + comparative + and + comparative” (e.g., The train got more and more crowded)
Superlatives
- Short adjectives: add -est (e.g., fastest, tallest)
- Long adjectives: use “most” (e.g., most expensive, most interesting)
- Irregular adjectives: good/the best, bad/the worst, far/the farthest
Irregular Verbs
(List of common irregular verbs with their base, past simple, and past participle forms)