System

reform system

The government have proposed a whole raft of measures to reform the health service.

work system

Can you explain how the security system works?

>Ask Jack. He knows the system inside out.

introduce system

When we introduced the new booking system, no one believed it would work.

devise system

We need to devise some sort of system whereby staff can meet regularly with each other.

model on system

The country’s legal system is modelled on the British system.

break down system

The recently-installed computerized system keeps crashing and the telephone system has also broken down. We can’t talk to anybody!

excellent system

Germany has an excellent rail system, making it easy to travel around the country. It is the envy of many other countries.

corrupt system

The whole system is corrupt – every official you deal with demands money before helping you.

current system

We’ve called in consultants to identify what is wrong with our current management system.

complicated system

The new system is quite complicated, I’m afraid. It takes quite a bit of getting used to.

inefficient system

Why does it take three men to do the job that one could do? What a hopelessly inefficient system!

outdated system

We still operate an outdated filing system with paper files and filing cabinets. What we need is a modern, state-of-the-art computer system.

unfair system

Something must be done to help poorer children get to university. Our system is very unfair.

sophisticated system

The museum is protected by a very sophisticated system of burglar and fire alarms. It contains priceless treasures from Ancient Greece.

injustices of system

The government report on salaries exposes the injustices of the current system of wages – with women still being paid less than men for the same job.

advantages of system

She was at great pains to stress the advantages of the new system over the old one.

overhaul of system

There are calls for a radical overhaul of the tax system.

>yes. Changes to the system are long overdue.

access to system

You need a password to gain access to the computer system.

 

Notes

• Note the following useful expression:

Under the new system, student grants have been scrapped and replaced by loans.

Pregnant women are exempt from dental charges under the current health system.

• System collocates with lots of nouns:

banking system                             alarm system

heating system                              education system

legal system                                   railway system

prison system                                road system

welfare system                              support system

digestive system                           immune system

telephone system                         sprinkler system

canal system                                  school system

public address system                 public transport system

• If you talk about your ‘sound system’, you mean your home stereo system.
• If you use a computer, you will be used to ‘installing, booting up, and re-booting the system’ and using ‘system software’.
• If you talk about ‘the system’, you mean all the rules and laws of the country:

You can’t beat the system!