(1) We waited until the traffic had eased off.
(2) Share prices eased back from yesterday's levels.
(3) ease your grip on the wheel a little.

(1) a grammatically correct sentence
(2) That sentence is not grammatical.
(3) a grammatical error

(1) knives and forks
(2) a sharp knife
(3) a bread knife (= one for cutting bread)

(1) We found out he'd been stealing from us for years.
(2) My wallet was stolen.
(3) I had my wallet stolen .

(1) The job involves a lot of entertaining.
(2) Barbecues are a favourite way of entertaining friends.
(3) He entertained us for hours with his stories and jokes.

(1) The building was completely destroyed by fire.
(2) They've destroyed all the evidence.
(3) Heat gradually destroys vitamin C.

(1) (formal)The people rose in revolt .
(2) the Peasants' revolt of 1381
(3) to lead/stage a revolt

(1) Those responsible for this crime will be severely punished.
(2) He was punished for refusing to answer their questions.
(3) My parents used to punish me by not letting me watch TV.

(1) The book began with a quotation from Goethe.
(2) a dictionary of quotations
(3) The writer illustrates his point by quotation from a number of sources.

(1) He had been a talented musician in his youth.
(2) She brings to the job a rare combination of youth and experience.
(3) The fight was started by a gang of youths.

(1) There was no light except for the occasional glow of a cigarette.
(2) The fresh air had brought a healthy glow to her cheeks.
(3) the glow of autumn leaves

(1) a colour television
(2) a widescreen television
(3) a plasma screen television

(1) We are concerned about the child's welfare.
(2) The state is still the main provider of welfare.
(3) child welfare

(1) She's gunning for the top job.
(2) He gunned the cab through the red light.
(3) a line of motorcycles with their engines gunning

(1) She's broken her wrist.
(2) He wore a copper bracelet on his wrist .
(3) Is there an updated daily record of inspector checking the ESD wrist strap continuity?

(1) I get off at the next station.
(2) the main station
(3) Penn station

(1) a jet aircraft/fighter/airliner
(2) The accident happened as the jet was about to take off.
(3) The pipe burst and jets of water shot across the room.

(1) a parish priest
(2) the ordination of women priests
(3) He had trained to be a Catholic priest.

(1) Gatwick airport
(2) waiting in the airport lounge
(3) ...Heathrow airport, the busiest international airport in the world.

(1) What's for pudding?
(2) I haven't made a pudding today.
(3) treacle pudding

(1) the German invasion of Poland in 1939
(2) the threat of invasion
(3) an invasion force/fleet

(1) bullet wounds
(2) There were bullet holes in the door.
(3) He was killed by a bullet in the head.

(1) The law can compel fathers to make regular payments for their children.
(2) I feel compelled to write and tell you how much I enjoyed your book.
(3) Last year ill health compelled his retirement.

(1) They live in a great barn of a house.
(2) They live in a converted barn (= a barn that has been turned into a house) .
(3) a hay barn

(1) a lace handkerchief
(2) a tablecloth edged with lace
(3) lace curtains

(1) the refusal of a request/an invitation/an offer
(2) a blunt/flat/curt refusal
(3) His refusal to discuss the matter is very annoying.

(1) The marriage ended in divorce in 1996.
(2) an increase in the divorce rate (= the number of divorces in a year)
(3) They have agreed to get a divorce .

(1) She wandered aimlessly around the streets.
(2) We wandered back towards the car.
(3) The child was found wandering the streets alone.

(1) She's been off work since Tuesday.
(2) We've lived here since 1994.
(3) I haven't eaten since breakfast.

(1) a storage jar
(2) a jar of coffee
(3) a water jar

(1) a piece of metal
(2) a metal pipe/bar/box
(3) The frame is made of metal.

(1) ...a two-week period of time...
(2) time passed, and still Ma did not appear...
(3) 'What time is it?' — 'Eight o'clock.'...

(1) He has a high fever.
(2) Aspirin should help reduce the fever.
(3) She caught a fever on her travels in Africa, and died.

(1) ...invite the children round to play...
(2) They played in the little garden...
(3) While the twins played cards, Francis sat reading...

(1) the health of your marriage/finances
(2) health and safety regulations (= laws that protect the health of people at work)
(3) health insurance

(1) a candidate for the degree of MPhil
(2) Our team is a prime candidate for relegation this year.
(3) Your father is an obvious candidate for a heart attack.

(1) If they entered the building they would be breaking the law .
(2) In Sweden it is against the law to hit a child.
(3) Defence attorneys can use any means within the law to get their client off.

(1) a strong/weak pulse
(2) an abnormally high pulse rate
(3) The doctor took/felt my pulse .

(1) If you suspect a gas leak, do not strike a match or even turn on an electric light.
(2) suspecting nothing, he walked right into the trap.
(3) I began to suspect (that) they were trying to get rid of me.

(1) highly productive farming land
(2) productive workers
(3) a productive meeting