(1) a population of half a million
(2) tens of millions of dollars
(3) It must be worth a million (= pounds, dollars, etc.)

(1) I can't swim.
(2) The boys swam across the lake.
(3) They spent the day swimming and sunbathing.

(1) She taught history at a secondary school...
(2) One in four pupils leaving secondary school can't read or write properly.
(3) It is all from the start of secondary school to the second year of university.

(1) Weiner works for the US Department of Transport...
(2) I started working in a recording studio...
(3) Fewer and fewer people are in work...

(1) We visited towns and villages all over Spain.
(2) a fishing/mountain/seaside village
(3) (especially British English)the village shop

(1) adventure/detective/love, etc. stories
(2) a story about time travel
(3) Shall I tell you a story ?

(1) There was a big moon and hundreds of stars were shining overhead.
(2) Sirius is the brightest star in the sky.
(3) We camped out under the stars .

(1) Children must be accompanied by an adult.
(2) Why can't you two act like civilized adults?
(3) The fish return to the river as adults in order to breed.

(1) farm/factory/office workers
(2) rescue/aid/research workers
(3) temporary/part-time/casual workers

(1) to laugh loudly/aloud/out loud
(2) You never laugh at my jokes!
(3) The show was hilarious─I couldn't stop laughing.

(1) He told the news to everybody he saw.
(2) He told everybody he saw the news.
(3) Why wasn't I told about the accident?

(1) I start work at nine.
(2) He's just started a new job.
(3) I only started (= began to read) this book yesterday.

(1) The next train to Baltimore is at ten.
(2) The next six months will be the hardest.
(3) the next chapter

(1) Liz settled back in her seat, comfortably relaxed, enjoying being driven for a change.
(2) Now let me ask you a question, for a change...
(3) The courier had change for a £10 note.

(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) They are making a sandcastle.
(2) The children are building a sandcastle on the beach.
(3) I drew a giant sandcastle myself.

(1) to learn a language/a musical instrument/a skill
(2) I learned a lot from my father.
(3) You can learn a great deal just from watching other players.

(1) Students often travel hundreds of miles to get here.
(2) hundreds of tightly rolled newspapers were set aflame among the 50,000 crowd.
(3) Their soldiers had to retreat ignominiously after losing hundreds of lives.

(1) a shipbuilder
(2) a confidence builder
(3) The builders have finished the roof.

(1) Mexico city
(2) the city of York
(3) The city turned out to welcome the victorious team home.

(1) a university town
(2) They live in a rough part of town.
(3) The nearest town is ten miles away.

(1) tall/old/historic buildings
(2) the building of the school
(3) There's building work going on next door.

(1) Another mistake like that and you're history.
(2) a patient's medical history
(3) There is a history of heart disease in my family.

(1) a wonderful surprise
(2) We had a wonderful time last night.
(3) You've all been absolutely wonderful !

(1) Their replies were no more than grunts of acknowledgement.
(2) Jovial ladies chivvy you into ordering more than you can eat!
(3) In 1986 more than three million were receiving unemployment benefit.

(1) more and more people are surviving heart attacks...
(2) He spent more time perfecting his dance moves instead of gym work.
(3) The Afghan authorities say the airport had been closed for more than a year.

(1) a car factory
(2) factory workers
(3) He owned furniture factories in New York State.

(1) ...eight-to-nine-year-olds in their third year at primary school...
(2) Greenside primary school.
(3) There are only a few elementary lessons in primary school.

(1) They often go fishing .
(2) deep-sea fishing
(3) a fishing boat

(1) a magazine aimed at teenagers
(2) As a teenager he attended Tulse Hill Senior High School.
(3) Unfortunately, lots of people do not have, teenager especially.

(1) Mr Harris and Mrs Bate and three other teachers were there.
(2) Are there any other questions?
(3) I can't see you now─ some other time , maybe.

(1) Some people like to strip themselves naked while they have a swim in a secluded place.
(2) Will you watch over my clothes while I have a swim?
(3) Certain fishes have a swim bladder which aids in diffusion of gases.

(1) a child of the 90s
(2) They can't have children .
(3) a support group for adult children of alcoholics

(1) to lie on your back/side/front
(2) The cat was lying fast asleep by the fire.
(3) Clothes were lying all over the floor.