(1) The word " person " is a countable noun.
(2) The noun " mouse " is the singular form of " mice " .
(3) The noun that follows each of these words governs the verb.

(1) to tie a knot
(2) Tie the two ropes together with a knot.
(3) (figurative)hair full of knots and tangles (= twisted in a way that is difficult to comb )

(1) Pull the lever towards you to adjust the speed.
(2) The threat of sanctions is our most powerful lever for peace.
(3) I levered the lid off the pot with a knife.

(1) Can I have a receipt, please?
(2) to make out (= write) a receipt
(3) to acknowledge receipt of a letter

(1) the heavy steel rollers under the conveyor belt
(2) Flatten the surface of the grass with a roller.
(3) a paint roller

(1) I don't know the name of the place...
(2) I know that you led a rifle platoon during the Second World War...
(3) Gifford was a friend. I'd known him for nine years...

(1) How much money do we need to do the job properly?
(2) The television isn't working properly.
(3) Make sure the letter is properly addressed.

(1) an armoured personnel carrier
(2) Aquarius, the Water carrier
(3) a baby carrier (= for carrying a baby on your back or in front of you)

(1) Planes flew overhead constantly.
(2) Thunder boomed in the sky overhead.
(3) overhead power lines

(1) Many problems, however, escape detection.
(2) Early detection of cancers is vitally important.
(3) crime prevention and detection

(1) White has always been a symbol of purity in Western cultures.
(2) Mandela became a symbol of the anti-apartheid struggle.
(3) What is the chemical symbol for copper?

(1) The idea of fighting against men of their own race was hateful to them.
(2) a hateful person/place/face
(3) ...a lying, hateful and racist campaign.

(1) Chop the onions finely.
(2) French onion soup
(3) Will you chop an onion up for me?...

(1) Every player gave a hundred per cent tonight.
(2) I still don't feel a hundred per cent.
(3) My family supports me one hundred per cent.

(1) a victim of racial prejudice
(2) Their decision was based on ignorance and prejudice.
(3) There is little prejudice against workers from other EU states.

(1) You little cheat!
(2) It's really a cheat, but you can use ready-made pastry if you want.
(3) There's a cheat you can use to get to the next level.

(1) a beach hut
(2) a wooden hut
(3) We walked across the bridge and soon came to a hut.

(1) (British English)walking boots
(2) (North Amercian English)hiking boots
(3) a pair of black leather boots

(1) We had an exceedingly good lunch...
(2) This was an exceedingly difficult decision to take...
(3) Some nebulae appear to be completely engulfed by exceedingly large molecular clouds.

(1) The firm has over 500 employees.
(2) government employees
(3) employee rights/relations

(1) a furious debate
(2) She drove off at a furious pace.
(3) furiously angry

(1) The government is ducking the issue.
(2) The kids were ducking each other in the pool.
(3) It's his turn to cook dinner, but I bet he'll try to duck out of it.

(1) St Paul's cathedral
(2) (British English)a cathedral city
(3) ...St. Paul's cathedral.

(1) The benefits are immense.
(2) a project of immense importance
(3) There is still an immense amount of work to be done.

(1) She gave him a quick glance.
(2) These cakes are very quick and easy to make.
(3) Would you like a quick drink?

(1) to treat sb with kindness and consideration
(2) I can never repay your many kindnesses to me.
(3) We have been treated with such kindness by everybody.

(1) a research institute
(2) the institute of Chartered Accountants
(3) institutes of higher education

(1) I asked him if he would help me and he nodded.
(2) Her head nodded in agreement.
(3) He nodded his head sympathetically.

(1) pen and ink
(2) a new book from the pen of Martin Amis
(3) a sheep pen

(1) In all our products the accent is on quality.
(2) In ‘today ’ the accent is on the second syllable.
(3) Canapé has an accent on the ‘e ’.

(1) The problem won't just disappear.
(2) Our countryside is disappearing at an alarming rate.
(3) I can never find a pen in this house. They disappear as soon as I buy them.

(1) I have been fortunate enough to visit many parts of the world as a lecturer.
(2) I was fortunate in having a good teacher.
(3) Remember those less fortunate than yourselves.

(1) The following is a summary of our conclusions.
(2) a news summary
(3) a two-page summary of a government report

(1) The company profits grew by 5% last year.
(2) The family has grown in size recently.
(3) She is growing in confidence all the time.

(1) John Major and the Duke of Edinburgh led the mourners...
(2) He walks with a stick but still leads his soldiers into battle...
(3) He took Dickon by the hand to lead him into the house...

(1) The students were asked to interpret the poem.
(2) I didn't know whether to interpret her silence as acceptance or refusal.
(3) The data can be interpreted in many different ways.

(1) an indignant letter/look
(2) She was very indignant at the way she had been treated.
(3) They were indignant that they hadn't been invited.

(1) an unpleasant experience
(2) The minerals in the water made it unpleasant to drink.
(3) He was very unpleasant to me.

(1) Troops have been sent to protect aid workers against attack.
(2) They huddled together to protect themselves from the wind.
(3) Each company is fighting to protect its own commercial interests.

(1) a letter of complaint
(2) a skin complaint
(3) (formal)to file/lodge (= make) a complaint