(1) I couldn't stop coughing.
(2) to cough nervously/politely/discreetly
(3) Sometimes she coughed (up) blood.

(1) Cut the vegetables into thin strips.
(2) A number of thin cracks appeared in the wall.
(3) The body was hidden beneath a thin layer of soil.

(1) The modern hotels here have no real character.
(2) a face with a lot of character
(3) There were some really strange characters hanging around the bar.

(1) a dirty brown carpet
(2) Profit is not a dirty word around here.
(3) I'd never do the dirty on my friends.

(1) They're both in their twenties and both married with children of their own.
(2) It was written in the Twenties, but it still really stands out.
(3) Rotary Foundation alumnus , Hahn led a Group Study Exchange team to Turkey in 2000.

(1) They use puppets to capture the imagination of younger audiences.
(2) The article captured the mood of the nation.
(3) The attack was captured on film by security cameras.

(1) a tape/cassette/video/DVD recorder
(2) Rodney put the recorder on the desk top and pushed the play button.
(3) Data recorders also pinpoint mechanical faults rapidly, reducing repair times.

(1) An active volcano may erupt at any time.
(2) a dormant volcano (= one that is not active at present)
(3) an extinct volcano (= one that is no longer active)

(1) to construct a triangle
(2) a contrast between lived reality and the construct held in the mind
(3) a well-constructed novel

(1) with her were her son and daughter-in-law...
(2) She is currently staying with her father at his home.
(3) Serve hot, with pasta or rice and French beans...

(1) Can you give me a definite answer by tomorrow?
(2) Is it definite that he's leaving?
(3) I've heard rumours, but nothing definite.

(1) all the colours of the rainbow
(2) Oh look, a rainbow!
(3) ...silk brocade of every colour of the rainbow.

(1) They keep chickens in the back yard.
(2) free-range chickens
(3) fried/roast chicken

(1) I promised him that I'd stay sober tonight.
(2) He was as sober as a judge (= completely sober ) .
(3) a sober assessment of the situation

(1) new equipment for the sports club
(2) The equipment of the photographic studio was expensive.
(3) a useful piece of equipment for the kitchen

(1) ‘Better ’ is the comparative of ‘good ’ and ‘more difficult ’ is the comparative of ‘difficult ’.
(2) The company is a comparative newcomer to the software market (= other companies have been in business much longer) .
(3) a comparative study of the educational systems of two countries

(1) jams made with fruit juice concentrate
(2) mineral concentrates found at the bottom of rivers
(3) In this lecture I shall concentrate on the early years of Charles's reign.

(1) The sauce is mostly cream.
(2) We're mostly out on Sundays.
(3) I am working with mostly highly motivated people...

(1) a computer screen
(2) a monitor with a 21 inch screen
(3) They were staring at the television screen.

(1) Your dishcloth can harbour many germs.
(2) She began to harbour doubts about the decision.
(3) The arsonist may harbour a grudge against the company.

(1) to stay in bed
(2) ‘Do you want a drink? ’ ‘No, thanks, I can't stay. ’
(3) stay there and don't move!

(1) The government has imposed export restraints on some products.
(2) wage restraint
(3) The police appealed to the crowd for restraint.

(1) a pint of beer/milk
(2) We'd better get a couple of extra pints (= of milk) tomorrow.
(3) Add half a pint of cream.

(1) a spelling mistake
(2) the differences between British and American spelling
(3) My spelling is terrible.

(1) to work in pleasant surroundings
(2) The buildings have been designed to blend in with their surroundings.
(3) Schumacher adapted effortlessly to his new surroundings.

(1) to be crowned queen
(2) kings and queens
(3) the queen of Norway

(1) soft margarine
(2) soft feather pillows
(3) The grass was soft and springy.

(1) members of the jury
(2) to be/sit/serve on a jury
(3) The jury has/have returned a verdict of guilty.

(1) science and technology
(2) recent advances in medical technology
(3) to make use of the most modern technologies

(1) the timber industry
(2) houses built of timber
(3) roof timbers

(1) a debate that has split the country down the middle
(2) The committee split over government subsidies.
(3) She split the class into groups of four.

(1) We won our match, so we're still in the frame for the championship.
(2) The photograph had been framed.
(3) Her blonde hair framed her face.

(1) the downward slope of a hill
(2) the downward trend in inflation
(3) She was trapped in a downward spiral of personal unhappiness.

(1) an electronic calculator
(2) electronic music
(3) This dictionary is available in electronic form.

(1) He was heavily dosed with painkillers.
(2) a high/low/lethal dose
(3) Repeat the dose after 12 hours if necessary.

(1) a sudden change
(2) Don't make any sudden movements.
(3) His death was very sudden.

(1) The best students were creamed off by the grammar schools.
(2) We got creamed in the first round.
(3) cream the butter and sugar together.

(1) I filled the kettle while she was talking and plugged it in.
(2) Well then, I'll put the kettle on and make us some tea.
(3) I'll put on the kettle for tea. Or boil up some coffee.

(1) How many pupils does the school have?
(2) She now teaches only private pupils.
(3) The painting is by a pupil of Rembrandt.

(1) This was the moment he had been dreading.
(2) I dread being sick.
(3) She dreads her husband finding out.