Lesson 35 – Movement & Speed

English has a number of words that mean “fast” – but each one has different collocations.

Use fast to describe a vehicle, person, or action: a fast car, a fast train, a fast runner, work fast, drive fast, learn fast

Use quick to describe an event or action: a quick lunch, a quick glance, a quick shower, a quick decision

Use rapid to describe a change: a rapid increase/decline, a rapid change, rapid growth, rapid progress

The word speedy is often used with recovery and resolution: a speedy recovery from surgery, a speedy resolution to the problem.

The word swift is often used with action, response, and reaction: The swift action of the police enabled the criminal to be caught immediately; we received a swift response to our request for information.

The word prompt means “fast and punctual” – it is often used with information and payment or customer service. For example, you can give a prompt reply to an e-mail, and receive prompt delivery of a product you ordered.

The word hasty means “fast and in a rush” – He made a hasty exit from the party when he saw his exgirlfriend walk in. This word often has connotation of doing something without sufficient consideration. You might come to a hasty conclusion before considering all the evidence, and make a hasty decision that you’ll regret later.

When you’re driving, you need to pay attention to the speed limit – the maximum velocity permitted. If you’re driving at breakneck speed (extremely fast), then you might need to slow down. If you get caught in a speed trap (where the police measure the velocity of passing cars), you might have to pay a speeding ticket (penalty for driving too fast).

Of course, you might need to put on a burst of speed (sudden increase in speed) to pass a car that’s moving at a snail’s pace (very slowly). If major construction is being done on the road, then traffic might slow to a crawl (slow down to a very slow speed) and eventually come to a standstill (stop completely). To talk about changes in speed, we can say something is gaining speed or speeding up (to describe moving faster) or losing speed or slowing down (to describe moving slower).

Finally, to talk about eating or walking in a slow and relaxed way, you can use the word “leisurely” – After a leisurely breakfast, we took a leisurely stroll through the park.