1. COUNTRY

landscape ▪ countryside ▪ terrain ▪ land ▪ scenery

These are all words for areas away from towns and cities, with fields, woods and farms. country (often the country) an area that is away from towns and cities, especially one with particular natural features:

She lives in the country.

an area of wooded country

landscape everything that you can see when you look across a large area of land, especially in the country:

This pattern of woods and fields is typical of the English landscape.

countryside land outside towns and cities, with fields, woods and farms.

Countryside is usually used when you are talking about the beauty or peacefulness of a country area: a little village in the French countryside.

Terrain is used when you are describing the natural features of an area, for example if it is rough, flat, etc

land (usually the land) the countryside; the way people live in the country as opposed to in towns and cities:

Many younger people are leaving the land to find work in the cities.

scenery the natural features of an area, such as mountains, valleys, rivers and forests, especially when these are attractive to look at:

We stopped on the mountain pass to admire the scenery.

Patterns

mountainous/​mountain/​wild/​rugged country/​landscape/​countryside/​terrain/​scenery

beautiful/​glorious/​dramatic country/​landscape/​countryside/​scenery

open country/​landscape/​countryside/​terrain/​land

rolling country/​landscape/​countryside

to protect the landscape/​countryside/​land

 

2. ESSENTIAL

 ▪ crucial ▪ critical ▪ decisive ▪ indispensable

These words all describe somebody/​something that is extremely important and completely necessary because a particular situation or activity depends on them.

essential extremely important and completely necessary, because without it something cannot exist, be made or be successful:

Experience is essential for this job.

The police play a vital role in our society.

essential or vital?

These words have the same meaning but there can be a slight difference in tone. Essential is used to state a fact or opinion with authority. Vital is often used when there is some worry felt about something, or a need to persuade somebody that a fact or opinion is true, right or important. Vital is less often used in negative statements: It was vital to show that he was not afraid. • Money is not vital to happiness.

crucial extremely important because a particular situation or activity depends on it:

It is crucial that we get this right.

critical extremely important because a particular situation or activity depends on it:

Your decision is critical to our future.

crucial or critical?

These words have the same meaning but there can be a slight difference in context. Critical is often used in technical matters of business or science; crucial is often used to talk about matters that may cause worry.