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B2 Grammar • 12 Mins Population & Census

Approximation Language

Learn the words we use when a number is not exact, such as about, nearly and at least.

💡 How to Use This Lesson

For Teachers

Use this 12-minute lesson to teach words such as about, nearly and at least. Learners see feedback after each answer, and you can check the rewrite tasks together.

For Learners

Read the four simple rule cards below first to understand how to approximate numbers correctly. Then complete the twelve practice questions ranging from easy multiple choice to error correction.

A modern brutalist vector illustration of researchers conducting a population census survey with clipboard, counting cit

📚 Approximation Rules

RULE 1 Close Figures

about, around, roughly, approximately

Use about, around, roughly, or approximately before a number to show that a count is close to the real figure. Everyday speech uses about, around, and roughly, while approximately is used in formal writing.

📌 Around 8,000 people live in the old part of the town.

📌 The official census registered approximately two million householders.

RULE 2 Above or Below

nearly, almost, just over, well over

Use nearly or almost when the real count is a little lower than your number. Use just over or well over when it is slightly or much higher, and just under or well under when it is lower or far lower.

📌 Nearly a quarter of the flats on this street are empty.

📌 The population growth in the city was well over five percent.

RULE 3 Setting Limits

at least, at most, up to

Use at least to state the lowest possible figure (this figure or higher). Use at most or up to to state the highest limit (this figure or lower). These phrases set boundaries rather than giving simple estimates.

📌 At least one adult in each household must sign the form.

📌 The new rural settlement can house up to five hundred families.

RULE 4 Word Order

Placement & Restrictions

Put the approximation word directly before the number or fraction. Use only one approximation word at a time, and never combine them. Never use them with exactly.

📌 Roughly a third of the residents were born in other regions.

📌 A small minority of residents, just under ten percent, missed the survey.

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Double approximation: Do not combine two words (e.g., "around nearly 300 families" → ✅ "around 300 families").
❌ Conflict with exactness: Do not combine approximation words with exactly (e.g., "roughly exactly 700 voters" → ✅ "exactly 700 voters").
❌ Wrong word order: Place the approximation word before the number, not after (e.g., "200 families around" → ✅ "around 200 families").

Interactive Practice

Complete all 12 questions below. Hints are provided in brackets.

Task 1 of 12 Choose the correct sentence (figure)

1. Select the sentence that says the number is close to the real figure.

____ a. The city council registered at least 4,000 householders this month. ____ b. The city council registered up to 4,000 householders this month. ____ c. The city council registered about 4,000 householders this month.

Task 2 of 12 Choose the correct sentence (census)

2. Select the sentence that expresses a count slightly below 5,000.

____ a. The new census counted well over 5,000 citizens in the district. ____ b. The new census counted just under 5,000 citizens in the district. ____ c. The new census counted up to 5,000 citizens in the district.

Task 3 of 12 Choose the correct sentence (region)

3. Select the sentence that sets a maximum upper limit for housing capacity.

____ a. The new settlement in this region can accommodate up to 1,200 migrants. ____ b. The new settlement in this region can accommodate at least 1,200 migrants. ____ c. The new settlement in this region can accommodate well over 1,200 migrants.

Task 4 of 12 Rewrite sentence (figure)

💡 Pattern: "The town has 4,980 residents." using nearly → "The town has nearly 5,000 residents."

4. Rewrite the sentence so the figure is not exact. Use almost.

Original sentence: "The census worker registered 995 householders in the valley."

____

Task 5 of 12 Rewrite sentence (growth)

5. Rewrite the sentence so the figure is not exact. Use well over and round to 50%.

Original sentence: "Migrant arrivals showed a growth of 52% this year."

____

Task 6 of 12 Rewrite sentence (minority)

6. Rewrite the sentence so the figure is not exact. Use at least.

Original sentence: "100 citizens or more signed the register."

____

Task 7 of 12 Fill-in-the-gap (census)

7. Complete the gap with the formal word for a close figure in official reports.

"According to the official census, ____ 15,000 migrants live in the western region."

Task 8 of 12 Fill-in-the-gap (settlement)

8. Complete the gap with the two-word phrase indicating the maximum capacity limit.

"This rural settlement can host ____ 300 householders."

Task 9 of 12 Fill-in-the-gap (majority)

9. Complete the gap with one word for a close figure that may be a little higher or a little lower.

"____ two-thirds of the registered voters supported the growth plan."

Task 10 of 12 Correct error in message (register)

💬 Message: "Hey! I checked the town register today. There are about roughly 500 householders in our section."

10. Type the corrected phrase from the message.

____

Task 11 of 12 Correct error in message (migrant)

💬 Message: "Did you see the news? Approximately exactly 2,000 migrants arrived in the region this month."

11. Type the corrected phrase from the message.

____

Task 12 of 12 Correct error in message (minority)

💬 Message: "Only 50 citizens roughly attended the community meeting on population growth."

12. Type the corrected phrase from the message.

____

Approximation Language

Approximation Language

💡 How to Use This Lesson

📚 Approximation Rules

about, around, roughly, approximately

nearly, almost, just over, well over

at least, at most, up to

Placement & Restrictions

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

Interactive Practice

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