Modifying Another Word

• potentially: But for the biggest, potentially ruinous, buys of our lives, most of us are poorly advised lambs ready to be fleeced.

• largely: Now largely ruinous, the south gate still shows the slot for the portcullis on the west side.

• very: There is a clear entrance, flanked by an outer protective work, now very ruinous.

• so: A structure in the countryside that is so ruinous that it has to be substantially or entirely re-built will not be suitable.

• now: Toward Castle The castle now ruinous was the principal castle of the Lamont family.

• almost: By 1887 the church was in an almost ruinous condition.

Preposition: for

• country: Its professed aim is to save the environment, but its practical effect in many instances may be ruinous for poor countries.

Modifies a noun

• castle: In Leland's time, Appleby " was but a poor village, having a ruinous castle, wherein the prisoners were kept.

• state: The castle could have given them no shelter being in its ruinous state.

• war: Iraq and Iran blame each other for their ruinous war and each sees the outcome as a victory.

• condition: By 1887 the church was in an almost ruinous condition.

• competition: It is the opposite of Oxfam's emphasis on the path of ruinous competition between countries seeking market access.

• building: The inner court contains a range of ruinous buildings dating from the 12th to the 16th century, including Leicester's Building.

Used with adjective complement

• prove: For smaller farmers, however, the increased costs of seeds could prove ruinous.

• become: The 10 th Earl had removed the roof in 1746, allowing the property to become ruinous ( Coventry, 2001 ).