Converse of object

• engage: The difficulty of engaging 13-14 year olds was highlighted - exacerbated in rural areas by limited availability of public transport.

Modifies a noun

• people: Have you failed to offer old people your help?

• man: Spike shouted, " Right, old man, go for the nose!

• age: Through no fault of mine I am now looking for my 3rd home at the ripe old age of 9 months.

• lady: I'm a 2 yr old lady Collie who is a bit of a control freak.

• boy: A few years ago a three year old boy called Benny wandered off alone onto an electric railroad line.

Adjective modifier

• 11-year: One in five 9-year-olds and one in three 11-year olds is now seriously overweight.

Modifying Another Word

• too: She says, " You are never too old to learn something new.

• slightly: Slightly old news, but as I finally caught up with it today I may as well put it here!

• very: Then, turning to Bladud, " A very old friend of mine, who helped me once in a time of great distress.

Noun used with modifier

• year: Most 21 year olds are already earning at or above the level of the full minimum wage.

• eleven: The roadshow is aimed mainly at Key Stage 2 of the National Curriculum which focuses on seven to eleven year olds.

• fourteen: I get interviewed by fourteen year olds and they're always very suspicious of my dual writing identity.

• twelve: Next exciting turn was some English poetry - well, let's call it verse - recited phonetically by some twelve year olds.

Used with adjective complement

• grow: Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional!