Page 135 - English Vocabulary In Use upper intermediet and advance

Success, failure and difficulty

Succeeding
I managed to contact him just before he left his office.
I don't think I can manage the whole walk. I think I'll turn back. [manage, but not
succeed, may have a direct object in this meaning]
We succeeded in persuading a lot of people to join our protest. [in + -ing]
We've achieved/accomplished a great deal in the last three years. [both are used with
quantity phrases such as 'a lot'/'a little']
The company has achieved all its goals/aims/targets for this year [achieve is more
common than accomplish with nouns expressing goals and ambitions]
D'you think his plan will come off? [succeed; informal]

Matrix for some typical collocations with 'succeeding' verbs
reach attain secure realise fulfil achieve

an ambition d d d d
a dream d d
an agreement d d
an obligation d
a target d d d
a compromise d d

A plan or project may falter, even if it finally succeeds. [go through ups and downs]
All your plans and hard worklefforts may come to nothing.

Difficulty
I have great difficulty in getting up in the morning. I find it difficult to remember the
names of everybody in the class. [hard can be used here; it is more informal]
It's hard/difficult to hear what she's saying.
I often have trouble starting the car on cold mornings.
We've had a lot of bother with the neighbours lately.
Can you cope with three more students? They've just arrived.
I've no money, my girl-friend's left me; I need help; I just can't cope any more.

verb noun adjective adverb
I succeed success successful successfully 1
accomplish accomplishment accomplished -
achieve achievement achievable -
attain attainment attainable -
fulfil fulfilment fulfilling -
- - hard hard

130 English Vocabulary in Use