Word Pairs

Name: ________________________ Class: _________

Practice 1

Complete the word pair in each of the following sentences.

1. The beautiful twin daughters are their mother's pride and _______.

2. I searched every nook and ______ but could not find my pet.

3. There must first be law and ______ in the country before elections can be held.

4. Mr. Bush is a seasoned campaigner, used to the rough-and- ______ of politics.

5. The masses are more concerned with bread-and- ______ issues rather than with democratic
ideals.

6. Mr. Mansfield, a victim of the hit-and- ______ accident, is still in a coma.

7. I am prepared to die for my country if and ______ the need arises.

8. Mr. Smith's boneshaker is moving in fits and ______ up the road.

9. The aim of the campaign was, first and ______ to make the public aware of the dangers of obesity.

10. Bob is a happy-go-lucky person and leads a free and ______ life.

1 SAALENI MURUGIAH SMKBBP

 Word Pairs

Practice 2

Complete the following sentences with words pairs being used as nouns .

1. There was a great _________________________ among the residents when the authorities
decided to close down the public swimming pool

2. The __________________________ of the island were almost wiped out by the catastrophic
volcanic eruptions.

3. Working irregular hours is ________________________ of a journalist's job.

4. One of the unsavory features of many big cities is the large number of _______________________
on the streets.

5. Life is rarely easy. Most of us at some time or other have to go through _____________________.

6. Mrs Robinson, despite her ______________________, is actually a shallow and uncultured

person.

7. I am not interested in the _____________________________; I just want to know the plain facts.

8. Under the new leadership, there is a new sense of participation among the ___________________
of the trade union.

9. The new housing estate will not be just ______________________; it will come with parks and
fields.

10. The ___________________________ of the debates have helped to sharpen the students' wits
and intellect.

2 SAALENI MURUGIAH SMKBBP

 Word Pairs

Practice 3

Complete the following sentences with word pairs being used as verbs.

1. Although the prices of houses have dropped, many people prefer to ________________________
before committing themselves.

2. He could not sleep a wink as he _________________________ the whole night, thinking about the
impending trial.

3. It is difficult to work with someone who ______________________ and cannot make up his mind.

4. There will be a solution to the problem only if both parties are prepared to ___________________.

5. Peter is not one of those who will __________________________ when the company runs into
dire straits.

6. The speaker stood on the platform _____________________ away about the high cost of living
and the scarcity of jobs.

7. He ________________________ as he delivered his speech and the audience found it extremely

annoying.

8. Even though she has hurt you, you should _________________________ if you want to be happy.

9. I would not _________________________ to him even if he were a member of the royal

household.

10. By the time he reached the third floor, the old man was already ____________________________.

3 SAALENI MURUGIAH SMKBBP

 Word Pairs

Practice 4

Complete the following sentences with word pairs being used as adjectives .

1. As the contract had been signed under duress, it was declared ____________________________.

2. Albert's unorthodox views on how to tackle the problem were not considered _________________
by the conservative management.

3. It was greed, ______________________, that caused them to fall into the conman's trap.

4. Andy is too ______________________ to appreciate your dirty jokes.

5. When all is _________________________, you will have legal possession of the house.

6. Alice will never stand up for herself as she is too _______________________________.

7. The ordinary citizens are more concerned about ______________________________ issues than
about democratic ideals.

8. Officials at the Defence Ministry are getting all ___________________________ about secrets
being leaked out.

9. Those who are ________________________ in big cites manage to survive only by begging and
stealing.

10. Some candidates have resorted to ______________________ tactics to get the people to vote for
them in the elections.

4 SAALENI MURUGIAH SMKBBP

 Word Pairs

Practice 5

Complete the following sentences with word pairs being used as adverbs .

1. With 80% of the votes counted, the two contending politicians were still ______________________
in the presidential election.

2. The producer of the popular current affairs programs believes in presenting a complete picture of a
topic, _______________________.

3. The frightened little girl was seen running ________________________, screaming for her mother.

4. I really admire Nancy for devoting herself _____________________ to the mission of saving lives.

5. The population, _________________________, are supportive of the government's new economic

policies.

6. We searched ___________________________ for the ring, but all our efforts proved futile.

7. People came from _____________________ to see the exhibition of the famous paintings.

8. I firmly believe that Nick has no part in the underhand dealings, because he is a gentleman,
_________________________________.

9. In a game, the players must play ___________________________.

10. The shuttle bus runs _______________________, ferrying passengers between the airport and the
downtown area.

5 SAALENI MURUGIAH SMKBBP

Word Pairs

Practice 6

Complete the word pair in each of the following sentences.

1. The result of the election was declared ______ and void because of massive vote-buying.

2. Why bring up old quarrels that have lain ______ and buried all these years ?

3. They are my ______ and kin and i have an obligation to help them.

4. I took time for the farmer to get used to the ______ and bustle of city life.

5. Mr. Cunningham's collection of priceless antiques is his ______ and joy.

6. The book gives no ______ -and-fast rules about how to start your own business, but it does point
out the possible pitfalls.

7. The dispute could be amicable settled in the spirit of ______ and take.

8. It is grossly unfair that only the senior staff and not the ______ and file, are entitled to paid leave.

9. Roger is ______ and about again, signaling that he has totally recovered from his illness.

10. "I'm telling you all ______ and now that you are all fired," bellowed the boss.

6 SAALENI MURUGIAH SMKBBP

 Word Pairs

Practice 7

Complete the word pair in each of the following sentences.

1. You can trust Sandra to do a good job as she is a professional ______ and through.

2. Although he has owed me a few thousand dollars, he is paying me back in dribs and ______ as
he has just started working.

3. The people are by and ______ supportive of the government's new economic policies.

4. You'd better keep William at arm's length for he is an ______-and-out villain.

5. It is simply unthinkable that he could have committed such a hideous crime against his own ______
and blood.

6. To save their marriage, both the wife and husband must be prepared to forgive and ______ all
past wrongdoings.

7. Initially, the people were against the idea of having a casino, but by and ______ they had come to
accept it.

8. The relevant authorities are still mulling over the pros and ______ of building another airport in the
city.

9. The children were having a rough-and-______ when one of them hurt his hand.

10. It was greed, ______ and simple that induced them to speculate in the stock market.

7 SAALENI MURUGIAH SMKBBP

 Word Pairs

ANSWERS
Practice 1

1. joy
2. cranny
3. order
4. tumble
5. butter
6. run
7. when
8. starts
9. foremost
10. easy

Practice 2

1. hue and cry

2. flora and fauna
3. part and parcel
4. waifs and strays
5. trials and tribulations
6. airs and graces
7. ifs and buts
8. rank and file
9. bricks and mortar
10. cut and thrust

Practice 3

1. wait and see

2. tossed and turned
3. chops and changes
4. give and take
5. cut and run
6. ranting and raving
7. hemmed and hawed
8. forgive and forget
9. bow and scrape
10. huffing and puffing

8 SAALENI MURUGIAH SMKBBP

 Word Pairs

Practice 4

1. null and void

2. right and proper
3. pure and simple
4. prim and proper
5. signed and sealed
6. meek and mild
7. bread-and-butter
8. hot and bothered
9. down and out
10. cloak-and-dagger

Practice 5

1. neck and neck

2. warts and all.
3. hither and thither
4. body and soul
5. by and large
6. high and low
7. far and near
8. first and last.
9. fair and square
10. back and forth
Practice 6

1. null and void

2. dead and buried
3. kith and kin
4. hustle and bustle
5. pride
6. hard-and-fast
7. give and take
8. rank and file
9. up and about
10. here and now
Practice 7

1. through and through

2. dribs an drabs
3. by and large
4. out-and-out
5. flesh and blood.
6. forgive and forget
7. by and by
8. pros and cons
9. rough-and-tumble

9 SAALENI MURUGIAH SMKBBP

 Word Pairs

10. pure and simple

10 SAALENI MURUGIAH SMKBBP