Club Profiles

AFC Bournemouth club badge
Arsenal
Aston Villa Club badge
Brentford badge
Brighton and Hove Albion club badge
Burnley FC club badge
Chelsea club badge
Crystal Palace badge
Everton
Liverpool badge
Manchester City badge
Manchester United badge
Newcastle United club badge
Nottingham Forest club badge
Sheffield United badge
Spurs badge
West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arsenal win the 2015 FA Cup.

Premier Skills English Podcast 5

Premier Skills English Podcast 5

Arsenal won the 2015 FA Cup after beating Aston Villa 4-0 in the final, so this week Jack and Rich are going to take a look back at the match. They also speak about different types of adjectives and how to use them.

How much did you understand?

Activity 1: How much did you understand? Listen again and have a go at this activity.
Complete the gaps with words from the podcast.

Activity 2: Can you match the gradable adjectives to the extreme adjectives.?
Match the adjectives.

If the listening was a bit difficult, you can listen again and read the transcript at the same time.

Jack: Hello and welcome to our new Premier Skills English podcast.

Rich: Hi everyone! In this week’s podcast we’re going to look back at the FA Cup final and talk about how to use different types of adjectives.

Jack: Did you see the cup final on Saturday, Rich? Arsenal were fantastic!

Rich: Yes, they were very good, Jack.

Jack: Very good? They were more than very good. They were absolutely sensational.

Rich: Absolutely sensational... come on, you’re going to have to explain that. What does that mean?

Jack: Sensational is like fantastic, we use it to describe something that is very, very good or exciting.

Rich: But we can’t say very fantastic or very sensational, can we Jack?

Jack: No, we can’t Rich. Fantastic or sensational are what we call extreme adjectives.

Rich: What are they?

Jack: Well, they are special strong adjectives so the adjective fantastic for example means very, very, very, very good. Can you think of another example to help explain this?

Rich: What about tired? A player is tired at half-time, he’s very tired after full-time but if a match goes to extra-time he’s absolutely exhausted.

Jack: So you can be tired or very tired but exhausted is an extreme adjective so you can’t be very exhausted..

Rich:  And tired is a gradable adjective so we use words like very or a little bit to change how strong the adjective tired is. But with extreme adjectives we only use words like absolutely or really.

Jack: That’s right, Rich. So we can say Theo Walcott’s goal was very, very good or Alexis Sanchez’s goal was absolutely stunning.

Rich: They were both good goals, but Sanchez’s was one of the best ever Cup final goals!

Jack: Yes, so I used an extreme adjective to describe that one.

Rich: So instead of saying, Arsenal were very, very, very, very good I can say Arsenal were absolutely sensational.

Jack: Yes, but you can’t say it like that, you need to think about how you say it - you need to think about your pronunciation. You say it like absolutely sensational.

Rich: Maybe I should try a different sentence. I would love it if Liverpool won the Premier League next season it would be absolutely fantastic.

Jack: See, that’s much better.

Rich: Right, this week’s challenge for listeners is to find some extreme adjectives.

Jack: Can you tell us the extreme adjectives for something that is very, funny, very hot and very big.

Rich: Write your answers in the comments section below and see if you can be the first with the right answers.

Jack: Well that’s all for now. Thanks for listening.

Rich: If you’re listening to this on itunes or elsewhere, come back to Premier Skills English for some language activities, a quiz and lots more. You can find us at www.britishcouncil.org/premierskillsenglish

Jack: Don’t forget if you sign in, you can score points to see if you can get your club, your country and your name to the top of our leaderboard.

Rich:  Bye for now and enjoy your football.

Quiz

Please login to take this quiz.

Log in

What do you think?

Did you watch the Cup final? What adjectives can you use to describe the match, the teams or the players?

Do you know the extreme adjectives that you can use instead of:

  • very, very big
  • very, very funny
  • very, very hot 

Let us know your answers in the comments section below.

Leave a comment

Log in to leave a comment

Comments

Najib
24/12/2020
ID
124
points

I didn't watch the match, but of course, I am happy with the result. Arsenal is my favorite team in the Premier league

very, very big = huge
very, very funny = hilarious
very, very hot = boiling


Najib
24/12/2020 01:57
Indonesia
Arsenal
124

I didn't watch the match, but of course, I am happy with the result. Arsenal is my favorite team in the Premier league

very, very big = huge
very, very funny = hilarious
very, very hot = boiling

Najib
24/12/2020
ID
124
points

Huge
Hilarious
Boiling


Najib
24/12/2020 01:50
Indonesia
Arsenal
124

Huge
Hilarious
Boiling

Alex_from_Ukraine's picture
Alex_from_Ukraine
20/09/2020
UA
6559
points

massive

comical

red-hot


Alex_from_Ukraine's picture
Alex_from_Ukraine
20/09/2020 23:11
Ukraine
Liverpool
6559

massive

comical

red-hot

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
02/05/2020
TR
6524
points

Regarding very , very big we can say
Huge or enormous or gigantic

very , very funny
Sarcastic or hilarious

very , very hot
boiling or summery or tropical


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
02/05/2020 00:40
Turkey
Manchester United
6524

Regarding very , very big we can say
Huge or enormous or gigantic

very , very funny
Sarcastic or hilarious

very , very hot
boiling or summery or tropical

recocolak
29/03/2020
TR
37
points

very big:huge
very funny:hilarious
very hot:piping hot


recocolak
29/03/2020 12:55
Turkey
Chelsea
37

very big:huge
very funny:hilarious
very hot:piping hot

Emerick
28/06/2019
FR
24
points

Hi guys,
sorry I didn't so this match. Maybe the upcoming one.
I think about theses similar word for :
very, very big : enormous
very, very funny : uproarious
very, very hot : torrid
Is it correct ?
Cheers


Emerick
28/06/2019 05:34
France
Chelsea
24

Hi guys,
sorry I didn't so this match. Maybe the upcoming one.
I think about theses similar word for :
very, very big : enormous
very, very funny : uproarious
very, very hot : torrid
Is it correct ?
Cheers

Rich's picture
Rich
28/06/2019
ES
594
points

Hi Emerick,

Thanks for your comment. Maybe you want to listen to our most recent podcast. You can find them all here: https://premierskillsenglish.britishcouncil.org/skills/listen/podcasts

The vocabulary: enormous is correct but 'scorching or boiling' is better for very hot and 'hilarious' for very funny.

It's scorching in France at the moment, isn't it?

Hope that helps!

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
28/06/2019 08:51
Spain
Liverpool
594

Hi Emerick,

Thanks for your comment. Maybe you want to listen to our most recent podcast. You can find them all here: https://premierskillsenglish.britishcouncil.org/skills/listen/podcasts

The vocabulary: enormous is correct but 'scorching or boiling' is better for very hot and 'hilarious' for very funny.

It's scorching in France at the moment, isn't it?

Hope that helps!

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

heinerrene
27/02/2019
CO
112
points

Did you watch the Cup final? Yes, I did. The match was really fantastic, the teams played a very good game and the players were absolutely brilliant.

Huge/ Hilarious / Boiling


heinerrene
27/02/2019 16:56
Colombia
Arsenal
112

Did you watch the Cup final? Yes, I did. The match was really fantastic, the teams played a very good game and the players were absolutely brilliant.

Huge/ Hilarious / Boiling

Asurada's picture
Asurada
09/03/2017
CN
386
points

very, very big - huge, giant, gigantic, enormous
very, very funny - hilarious
very, very hot - boiling


Asurada's picture
Asurada
09/03/2017 17:57
China
Arsenal
386

very, very big - huge, giant, gigantic, enormous
very, very funny - hilarious
very, very hot - boiling

Barrilete Cósmico's picture
Barrilete Cósmico
19/11/2016
CO
72
points

I think Alexis Sanchez is an awesome player, Arsenal made a great work when they decided to select him!!


Barrilete Cósmico's picture
Barrilete Cósmico
19/11/2016 23:07
Colombia
Liverpool
72

I think Alexis Sanchez is an awesome player, Arsenal made a great work when they decided to select him!!

englishman
29/06/2016
DZ
1734
points

the hotest


englishman
29/06/2016 15:28
Algeria
Manchester City
1734

the hotest

englishman
29/06/2016
DZ
1734
points

the bigest


englishman
29/06/2016 15:27
Algeria
Manchester City
1734

the bigest

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
11/06/2016
GH
4779
points

Very, very big------hugely
Very,very funny-------hilariously
Very, very hot-------- high temperature


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
11/06/2016 07:53
Ghana
Manchester United
4779

Very, very big------hugely
Very,very funny-------hilariously
Very, very hot-------- high temperature

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
11/06/2016
GH
4779
points

The arsenal team looked committed


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
11/06/2016 06:41
Ghana
Manchester United
4779

The arsenal team looked committed

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
11/06/2016
GH
4779
points

The arsenal team looked committed


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
11/06/2016 06:32
Ghana
Manchester United
4779

The arsenal team looked committed

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
11/06/2016
GH
4779
points

Very, very big------hugely
Very,very funny-------hilariously
Very, very hot-------- high temperature


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
11/06/2016 06:30
Ghana
Manchester United
4779

Very, very big------hugely
Very,very funny-------hilariously
Very, very hot-------- high temperature

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
11/06/2016
GH
4779
points

I did


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
11/06/2016 06:06
Ghana
Manchester United
4779

I did

assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
04/04/2016
PS
3705
points

I did not watch a lot of it.


assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
04/04/2016 20:46
Palestinian Territory
Liverpool
3705

I did not watch a lot of it.

HakanUslu1881's picture
HakanUslu1881
08/03/2016
TR
1761
points

instead of very big,huge
instead of,very funny,side splitting
instead of very hot,boiling


HakanUslu1881's picture
HakanUslu1881
08/03/2016 07:40
Turkey
Leicester City
1761

instead of very big,huge
instead of,very funny,side splitting
instead of very hot,boiling

juliomariodaza's picture
juliomariodaza
11/01/2016
CO
53
points

I am sorry, I did not see the match, but about the Rich comments, I suppose that was very exciting.


juliomariodaza's picture
juliomariodaza
11/01/2016 22:00
Colombia
Manchester United
53

I am sorry, I did not see the match, but about the Rich comments, I suppose that was very exciting.

haydi's picture
haydi
30/12/2015
TN
3189
points

Winning a prize is an absolutely fantastic event in one's life! Isn't it?

Please Rich, Jack, I don't understand what's wrong with "absolutely sensational". you already used it in the beginning of conversation. It's better to say "absolutely fantastic" because it's lighter in pronunciation ?
[Rich: So instead of saying, Arsenal were very, very, very, very good I can say Arsenal were absolutely sensational.
Jack: Yes, but you can’t say it like that, you need to think about how you say it - you need to think about your pronunciation. You say it like absolutely sensational.
Rich: Maybe I should try a different sentence. I would love it if Liverpool won the Premier League next season it would be absolutely fantastic.]


haydi's picture
haydi
30/12/2015 16:17
Tunisia
Newcastle United
3189

Winning a prize is an absolutely fantastic event in one's life! Isn't it?

Please Rich, Jack, I don't understand what's wrong with "absolutely sensational". you already used it in the beginning of conversation. It's better to say "absolutely fantastic" because it's lighter in pronunciation ?
[Rich: So instead of saying, Arsenal were very, very, very, very good I can say Arsenal were absolutely sensational.
Jack: Yes, but you can’t say it like that, you need to think about how you say it - you need to think about your pronunciation. You say it like absolutely sensational.
Rich: Maybe I should try a different sentence. I would love it if Liverpool won the Premier League next season it would be absolutely fantastic.]

admin's picture
admin
31/12/2015
GB
560
points

Hi Haydi

There's nothing wrong with 'absolutely sensational' - it's a great phrase. However, it's really emphatic; it's really strong and so you shoudl only use it when you are excited about something. That's why the pronunciation is tricky. If you don't get the energy right, it can sound like you are joking.

Thanks

Jack


admin's picture
admin
31/12/2015 11:36
United Kingdom
Arsenal
560

Hi Haydi

There's nothing wrong with 'absolutely sensational' - it's a great phrase. However, it's really emphatic; it's really strong and so you shoudl only use it when you are excited about something. That's why the pronunciation is tricky. If you don't get the energy right, it can sound like you are joking.

Thanks

Jack

haydi's picture
haydi
03/01/2016
TN
3189
points

ok! I get! thank you


haydi's picture
haydi
03/01/2016 22:23
Tunisia
Newcastle United
3189

ok! I get! thank you

Rich's picture
Rich
04/01/2016
ES
594
points

Hi Haydi, 'I get it!' is a great informal phrase to use instead of 'I understand' smiley


Rich's picture
Rich
04/01/2016 11:43
Spain
Liverpool
594

Hi Haydi, 'I get it!' is a great informal phrase to use instead of 'I understand' smiley

haydi's picture
haydi
04/01/2016
TN
3189
points

Thank you Rich ! Happy new year 2016


haydi's picture
haydi
04/01/2016 15:58
Tunisia
Newcastle United
3189

Thank you Rich ! Happy new year 2016

MUGEMANYI's picture
MUGEMANYI
16/11/2015
RW
2320
points

It was awesome


MUGEMANYI's picture
MUGEMANYI
16/11/2015 14:03
Rwanda
Arsenal
2320

It was awesome

urimosss
09/11/2015
XK
46
points

Arsenal were apsolutely amazing in the fa cup final.


urimosss
09/11/2015 18:43
Kosovo
Liverpool
46

Arsenal were apsolutely amazing in the fa cup final.

almirpereira's picture
almirpereira
23/10/2015
BR
1335
points

Very good.


almirpereira's picture
almirpereira
23/10/2015 00:05
Brazil
Chelsea
1335

Very good.

alimiloud's picture
alimiloud
15/10/2015
DZ
160
points

wounderful


alimiloud's picture
alimiloud
15/10/2015 22:56
Algeria
Chelsea
160

wounderful

elghoul's picture
elghoul
14/10/2015
DZ
3988
points

Huge is extreme to big
Ridiculous for funny
Crazy perhaps for hot?


elghoul's picture
elghoul
14/10/2015 16:57
Algeria
Manchester City
3988

Huge is extreme to big
Ridiculous for funny
Crazy perhaps for hot?

Abdallah
20/09/2015
KW
1814
points

I saw the fa cup , I'm a Chelsea fan , they were absolutely awful , maybe because the weather was very hot .


Abdallah
20/09/2015 14:08
Kuwait
Chelsea
1814

I saw the fa cup , I'm a Chelsea fan , they were absolutely awful , maybe because the weather was very hot .

hachani mostapha
18/09/2015
DZ
241
points

huge helirours dinamyque


hachani mostapha
18/09/2015 14:31
Algeria
Tottenham Hotspur
241

huge helirours dinamyque

Rema's picture
Rema
02/06/2015
RS
538
points

I was watched goals and highlights from FA Cup final.
I can say that Arsenal was absolutly amazing and Aston Vila was absolutly horrible.
very, very big- huge, giant, gigantic, enormous
very, very funny- hilarious
very, very hot- boiling
To be honest, I don't solve this problem alone, I look for help on the internet (I think that researching is the good way to study).
I found something that confused me: 1.) '' The adverbs a bit, very, really, extremely and quite can all be used with gradable adjectives (http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/quick-grammar/adjectives-grada...),
2.) But with extreme adjectives we only use words like absolutely or really. (Rich in this podcast).
Akcent is on the adverb really.


Rema's picture
Rema
02/06/2015 22:37
Serbia
West Ham United
538

I was watched goals and highlights from FA Cup final.
I can say that Arsenal was absolutly amazing and Aston Vila was absolutly horrible.
very, very big- huge, giant, gigantic, enormous
very, very funny- hilarious
very, very hot- boiling
To be honest, I don't solve this problem alone, I look for help on the internet (I think that researching is the good way to study).
I found something that confused me: 1.) '' The adverbs a bit, very, really, extremely and quite can all be used with gradable adjectives (http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/quick-grammar/adjectives-grada...),
2.) But with extreme adjectives we only use words like absolutely or really. (Rich in this podcast).
Akcent is on the adverb really.

admin's picture
admin
04/06/2015
GB
560
points

Hi Rema - This is a great answer. You have done an absolutely brilliant job! Rich and I are big fans of using the internet to find out information and the LearnEnglish website's grammar section is really fantastic.

Thanks for your comment.

Jack


admin's picture
admin
04/06/2015 09:09
United Kingdom
Arsenal
560

Hi Rema - This is a great answer. You have done an absolutely brilliant job! Rich and I are big fans of using the internet to find out information and the LearnEnglish website's grammar section is really fantastic.

Thanks for your comment.

Jack

haydi's picture
haydi
08/05/2016
TN
3189
points

Yes, all the four sections of the website (learnenglish.britishcouncil.org) are useful even the kids one! There are many treasures there, especially for those who make their debut in learning English at old age. It’s really a big effort to build such a site web.


haydi's picture
haydi
08/05/2016 22:32
Tunisia
Newcastle United
3189

Yes, all the four sections of the website (learnenglish.britishcouncil.org) are useful even the kids one! There are many treasures there, especially for those who make their debut in learning English at old age. It’s really a big effort to build such a site web.

Rema's picture
Rema
04/06/2015
RS
538
points

Thanks for answer Jack.
You used extreme adjectiv brilliant with adverb absolutely to describe my word.
I can use one extreme adjectiv to say something- You and Rich done an absolutely excellent job with this website.
If you can continue with this grammar lessons inside every topic (just a little, something similar like this podcast) that would be great.


Rema's picture
Rema
04/06/2015 12:02
Serbia
West Ham United
538

Thanks for answer Jack.
You used extreme adjectiv brilliant with adverb absolutely to describe my word.
I can use one extreme adjectiv to say something- You and Rich done an absolutely excellent job with this website.
If you can continue with this grammar lessons inside every topic (just a little, something similar like this podcast) that would be great.

Leaderboard

Top Scorers
RankNameScore
1Alex_from_Ukraine6559
2mobeckham6524
3hsn5551
4wsanta5086
5kwesimanifest4779
6Liubomyr4417
7elghoul3988
8assemjuve3705
9aragorn19863557
10Gergő Nagy3396
Country ranking
RankNameScore
1Colombia71666
2Ukraine33797
3Spain29271
4Serbia27426
5Brazil23321
6Albania20578
7Vietnam20405
8Turkey20001
9Macedonia19074
10Bosnia and Herzegovina16333
Club ranking
RankNameScore
1Manchester United143452
2Liverpool111002
3Chelsea89957
4Arsenal86174
5Manchester City58586
6Tottenham Hotspur19327
7Newcastle United10545
8West Ham United7637
9AFC Bournemouth4870
10Crystal Palace4491

Level

3
Average: 3 (1 vote)

Goals

Practise your listening skills.

Learn more about different types of adjectives.