Unit 2c Book

In this unit, a group of designers discusses properties of a new roof. They agree that the roof must be strong, non-flammable, and translucent. The other properties they discuss are listed in Task 2 on p. 14 in your book. Match them with the CAPITALIZED phrases in the full description of the material properties in this task.

In general, you can talk about material properties using adjectives or nouns. In other words, it is possible to convert an adjective into a noun by adding (or changing) the suffix while the root of the word remains the same. This means that both the adjective and the noun belong to the same word family. This property of words can also help you figure out the meaning of unknown words while reading. Thus, by applying your basic knowledge of English morphology, you can limit the cases when you need to use a dictionary. Now, try to convert the adjectives in this task into nouns by adding a correct suffix.

Finally, there are also some other ways to talk about material properties. For example, you can describe the property by using other, everyday descriptive words or phrases. Thus, instead of saying that a material is durable, you can simply say that it can last a long time and withstand harsh conditions. Practise this in this task.