Grammar Reference B 2
Grammar Reference B 2
SI RINGRAZIANO QUANTI HANNO COLLABORATO O CONTRIBUITO ALLA REALIZZAZIONE DEL PRESENTE VOLUME. EVENTUALI COMPENSI SONO A DISPOSIZIONE DEGLI AVENTI DIRITTO.
B2 GRAMMAR REFERENCE Introduction
GRAMMAR REFERENCE – LEVEL B2, apart from consolidation and revision of previous levels,
provides a thorough grammar preparation for any B2 level examination and especially for the
British Academy 1972 B2 .
The full grammar explanations and wealth of exercises appropriate for this level of the Common
European Framework Reference include also problem areas such as confusing words,
prepositions preceding or following certain expressions, verbs, nouns or adjectives, idioms,
phrasal verbs and word formation.
In Unit 8 you will find revision of the tenses and verb formations found in Unit 1 to Unit 7, while Unit
20 is a general revision of all the units.
In addition to the grammar exercises, the reading and listening comprehension exercises in many
units give the opportunity of radically improving and enriching your lexicon while practicing your
reading and listening skills. They are also intended to help you focus on what is needed to
understand in order to answer the questions even though you may not understand every single
word.
The listening scripts are to be found at the end of the book. Please do not be tempted to look at
them before listening. This would defeat the purpose of the exercise!
For those who are interesting in improving writing skills, there are many prompts for paragraph or
essay writing. These are the only parts in the book which need a teacher’s correction.
The clear grammar explanations, the examples of the grammar point or lexicon in sentences, the
transcript of the listening exercises and the answer key make GRAMMAR REFERENCE – LEVEL
B2 an excellent self-study book. The units may be studied in order or according to your need to
reinforce certain skills.
2. Past: past simple & continuous, past habits, past perfect simple & continuous, participle 11
clauses
4. Future: present continuous, present simple, future simple, going to, future continuous, future 27
perfect, future perfect continuous
5. Conditionals: zero, first, second, third; wishes about the past, present & future; it’s time, I’d 34
sooner, I’d rather
6. Passives; have / get something done; need, require, want, with passive meaning 41
16. Subject, object, direct & indirect questions; question tags; confusing words & expressions 111
17. Word formation: prefix, suffix; compound nouns; compound adjectives 119
Transcript 158
UNIT 1
PRESENT: PRESENT SIMPLE, PRESENT CONTINUOUS, VERBS NOT USED IN
CONTINUOUS TENSES
PRESENT SIMPLE:
• Use
• To talk about general truths or permanent facts:
Rain falls to the ground.
Water boils at 100° Celsius.
• To talk about things which are regular, such as routines, habits or customs:
He hardly ever bothers to let her know when he’s coming.
• For summaries of the plot of books or films and, as a rule, for live commentaries on matches or
games, although the present continuous is also used in this last case:
A politician dies in mysterious circumstances and the police arrest his wife who knows the truth but
doesn’t want to reveal it.
• For the future when speaking of timetables, schedules, concerts, etc. NOT for personal programmes:
The plane takes off at 6.00 tomorrow.
• After time expressions with a future meaning: e.g. when, after, before, unless, in case, as soon as,
by the time, the next time: As soon as she arrives, could you ask her to ring me?
• The present simple is often found with adverbs of frequency: e.g. always, constantly, continually,
forever, often, frequently, normally, regularly, usually, sometimes, occasionally, rarely, hardly ever,
seldom, never, ever: They often offer large discounts in this season. He never works late in the evening.
• The normal position of adverbs of frequency is before the main verb, but after the verb be. An adverb
of frequency is sometimes placed at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis:
He is always punctual. Sometimes he travels to Italy on business.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
• Use
• For actions which are in progress: She’s recovering from her operation.
• For temporary situations: She’s staying with her sister until she can find her own place.
• For a repeated temporary action (with a time expression): Nowadays he always seems to be
hurrying somewhere.
• To talk about the planned future: They’re moving to Scotland next month.
STATE VERBS
Some verbs are not normally used in any continuous tense. These are called ‘state’ verbs because they
describe states rather than actions: some of the most common are:
• Verbs of thinking: e.g. expect (think) think (meaning opinion) believe, doubt, imagine, know, realise,
suppose, understand: I expect he knows what he’s doing.
• Verbs of possession: belong to, have (meaning possess), possess, own, etc.: Who does this belong
to?
• Verbs of the senses: hear, smell, sound, taste, etc.: His story sounds very fishy.
• Verbs of emotion: like, dislike, hate, love, adore, regret, prefer, want, wish, etc.: He hates working
on a Saturday.
• Others: involve, mean, include, contain, depend on, require, etc.: Her new job involves travelling all
over the world.
Some state verbs, e.g. be, have, see, taste, think, can be used in the continuous but change their meaning:
She is tall. (permanent) / She’s being very silly over this matter. (temporary)
I think he’s a fool. (It’s my opinion) / I’m thinking of changing my job. (considering) Please be quiet. I’m
thinking. (mental process)
I’m tasting the sauce. (sampling) / What does it taste like? (What flavour does it have?)
He has a new car. (possession) / He’s having dinner at the moment. (eating)
I see the sea! (sight) I see what you mean. (understand) / I’m seeing Paul later. (meeting)
2. Put the verbs in brackets into either the present simple or present continuous.
1. The phone ………………………….. (ring). Why ………………………….. (not answer)?
2. It is reported that an English Member of the European Parliament ………………………….. (receive) a set
fee of £500 every time he ………………………….. (fly) to Brussels so he ………………………….. (buy)
an economy ticket for about £200 and ………………………….. (pocket) the difference. He allegedly
………………………….. (say) that he ………………………….. (see) it as a challenge to make some
profit.
3. “………………………….. (he, work) in the frozen food department now?” – “Yes, as part of his training he
………………………….. (spend) three months in each department.”
4. ‘Any Given Sunday’ ………………………….. (examine) the business of pro football, with its violence,
racial bias and drug use, but at its core ………………………….. (lie) a story about leadership and
sportsmanship. Al Pacino ………………………….. (play) a coach who ………………………….. (struggle)
against the march of time.
5. “They ………………………….. (always, deliver) promptly, I ………………………….. (believe).” – “Well,
no, actually I ………………………….. (still, wait for) something I ordered last month.”
6. The plant I bought last month ………………………….. (not grow) very fast even though I
………………………….. (water) it every day.
7. She ………………………….. (look after) her boyfriend’s sheepdog this month. …………………………..
(you, want) to come with us to take it for a walk? It’s a beautiful dog and ……….........…………………..
(usually, behave) very well but I ………………………….. (think) it ………………………….. (miss) its
owner. Every time we ………………………….. (take) it into the country it ………………………….. (run)
off and ………………………….. (try) to herd the cows.
8. Excuse me, ………………………….. (you, read) that book? Could I borrow it?
9. “What on earth ………………………….. (he, do) up that tree?” – “I ………………………….. (think) he
………………………….. (want) to prune the top branches. A man ………………………….. (usually,
come) every year to do it but he can’t come this year. However, the tree ………………………….. (shake)
so much that it ………………………….. (become) dangerous. I ………………………….. (hope) he
………………………….. (not try) to climb up too far.”
10. I can’t understand why he ………………………….. (behave) this way. He …………………………..
(normally, be) so level-headed!
11. At the moment we ………………………….. (send) all our mail by fax or e-mail because the postmen
………………………….. (be) on strike.
12. She ………………………….. (think) of moving to Newport. She ………………………….. (work) there but
………………………….. (have) a flat in Chepstow at the moment. It ………………………….. (normally,
not take) her long to get to work but she ………………………….. (come) home right in the middle of the
rush hour and all the traffic ………………………….. (sometimes, slow) down to a crawl.
13. The film ................................ (tell) the story of a burnt-out ex-military captain, John Carter, who is
transported to Mars and ........................................ (get) involved in a war amongst the inhabitants of the
planet. In this world on the brink of collapse, Carter ..................................... (rediscover) a reason to live
when he ........................................... (realise) that its survival ................................ (depend) on him.
14. He ....................................... (not think) he ...................................... (go) to the Annual Convention next
week. In fact, he ........................................ (feel) worn out and he ......................................... (think) of
taking the whole week off to chill out.
15. The price of petrol ...................................... (seem) to have risen every time I ................................ (have)
to fill the tank. It .......................................... (get) more and more difficult to make ends meet.
3. Complete the sentences with the verbs below in the correct form of present simple or present
continuous.
buy - expect – play – cook – get – hope – fall – have - wear – smoke – grow -
wait – get up to – not know – appear - look like – feel – smell
1. Carol ……………………………… a baby, it is due in September.
2. Excuse me, ………. you ……………………………… for the bus to Newcastle?
3. I can’t understand why he ……………………………… a pair of white trousers to work in the garden.
………. he ………………………… how difficult they are to get clean?
4. In ‘Mission Impossible 2’, Tom Cruise ……………..……… the part of a special agent who
…………………… in love with a beautiful thief and ………………………… all manner of scrapes.
5. I thought I’d planted a Chinese lantern plant but the more it ………………………, the more it
………………………… a tomato plant.
6. Dire Straits ……………………………… at the Palladium this week. I’d like to go.
7. Whenever she sees him, he ………………………………. She would like to know who
……………………… cigarettes for him, as he’s too young to be served with them in a shop.
8. What ………. you ………………………? It …………………… delicious! Could I have a taste?
9. I’m sorry, you can’t speak to the director now. He ……………………………… an important meeting with
the salespeople.
10. She still …………………… a little weak after her operation but she ………………………… better and
………………………… to return to work next month.
4. Fill each space with one word. Contractions (isn’t, etc.) count as one word.
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I thought I’d send you an email to tell you how I’m ………………………… on in my first job. I must say I’m
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enjoying the experience. ………………………… the whole, the people who ………………………… there
are friendly and helpful. There’s just one fly in the ointment, Janice, the girl at reception, seems to have
4 5
taken a dislike to ………………………… . She’s ………………………… making snide remarks about people
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fresh from university who ………………………… know anything about ‘real’ life. I don’t know
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………………………… she’s .................................... so unpleasant to me. She’s charming to everybody
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…………………………. It can’t be that she thinks her job is harder ………………………… mine.
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………………………… the moment, I’m ………………………… a month in every department to get a
7. Read the completed text and find words or expressions in the text which have the following
meanings.
1. …………………………………… = traveller who carries everything on a large bag, or rucksack, on his /
her back
2. .…………………………………… = route
3. .…………………………………… = dirty
4. .…………………………………… = avoids
5. .…………………………………… = very old-fashioned in one’s ideas
6. .…………………………………… = traveller who travels very cheaply
7. .…………………………………… = exchanging
8. .…………………………………… = large number of things all appearing at the same time
9. .…………………………………… = place where a particular group stays or spends a long time
10. .…………………………………… = in a place that is far away from people, houses, etc.
11. .…………………………………… = using electronic science to communicate
12. .…………………………………… = pay a casual visit
8. Read the text or listen again and choose the correct answers.
1. ‘The backpacker trail now starts at the keyboard’ means backpackers ........
a) travel by email
b) use the Internet as a means of keeping in touch
c) track their progress by computer
d) don’t bother to move from their house while travelling
3. Backpackers ........
a) are never far from access to Internet
b) are cheap
c) always go from Guatemala to Goa
d) go to 2,800 cyber cafes on their travels
9. Rewrite each sentence, beginning as shown, so that the meaning remains the same.
1. What’s your opinion of his idea?
What do ……………………………………………………….?
2. Sue has flu.
Sue is ……………………………………………………….
3. There’s a smell of old socks in the bag you use for gym.
The bag you use for gym ……………………………………………………….
4. What’s the weight of that machine?
How much ……………………………………………………….?
5. Tom and his father are exactly alike.
Tom looks ……………………………………………………….
6. I find staying with you really enjoyable.
I am ……………………………………………………….
7. The cost of food is included in the price of the holiday.
The price of the holiday ……………………………………………………….
8. What’s inside this cupboard?
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UNIT 2
PAST: PAST SIMPLE & CONTINUOUS, PAST HABITS, PAST PERFECT SIMPLE &
CONTINUOUS, PARTICIPLE CLAUSES
The PAST SIMPLE expresses:
• finished events in the past. A definite time expression is often used or implied: When she lived in Bristol
she studied a little French.
• past habits or states. A time expression is usually necessary: She went to the village school when she
was a child. (habit) They lived on a farm then. (state)
As soon as their new colleague arrived, Don Don was talking to their new colleague and Carol
introduced himself and offered to show her around was showing a client round the factory. (two actions
the factory. (a series of actions, one after the other) going on at the same time.)
PAST HABITS
Apart from the past simple, there are other ways of expressing habit in the past. These are:
• used to: this only exists in the past simple and expresses past activities or states, often in contrast
with the present. A time expression is not necessary:
She used to work in an office but now she works from home. Didn’t he use to live near you?
• Would, which is found more in descriptive writing than in speech, is used to describe a person’s typical,
repeated past activities, not states:
When he was a child he would go blackberry picking in the woods.
N.B. Do not confuse used to + infinitive, which indicates habits in the past, with be / get used to + -ing
which can be used in any tense.
• be used to + -ing means the same as be accustomed to something / doing something:
Is he used to sleeping late in the morning?
• get used to + -ing means the same as become accustomed to something / doing something:
She can’t get used to being without air conditioning.
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They phoned her before they left for work. = They had phoned her before they left for work.
rd
• in 3 conditional sentences:
If he hadn’t missed his train, he would have been on time.
Participle clauses, often with an appropriate preposition or conjunction, are used to express:
• reason and result:
Not having had any lunch, he was feeling hungry.
After appearing on television, she became a celebrity.
• time:
After finishing his homework, the boy was allowed to go and play.
On arriving at his meeting, he was told it had been cancelled.
Before setting out, she checked the level of oil in the car.
While eating, she dropped her spoon.
N.B.
• the use of participle clauses is obviously not limited to past tenses:
Since moving to the village, she has felt more at ease.
On arriving at the airport, he will be met by someone.
• state verbs can be used in participle clauses:
Hearing them speak, she realised they weren’t British.
Not understanding, she asked him to explain again.
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3. While you passed / were passing the cinema, did you notice / had you noticed / were you noticing what’s
on next week?
4. They launched / were going to launch / had been launching the new product last month but they
discovered / had discovered that their competitors already put / had already put a similar, cheaper
version on the market so they decided / had decided to modify it.
5. We travelled / were travelling / had been travelling for six hours in the hot crowded train and I looked
forward / was looking forward to getting home and having a shower. As we were drawing / had drawn
near Newport station people began / were beginning / had begun to take their suitcases down from the
racks. However, for some obscure reason the train didn’t stop / wasn’t stopping at our station. It kept on /
had kept on going for another forty miles before finally stopped / stopping at a little station out in the
middle of nowhere. All the passengers who expected / had expected to get off at Newport got / were
getting out. The station master apologised / had apologised / was apologising and we were / had been
taken back to Newport by the first available train. Strangely enough, this train was equipped for
handicapped or invalid people which I thought / had thought / was thinking was very appropriate for the
way I had felt / was feeling by that time.
6. Many years ago I would have / used to have a friend who would live / lived in a small flat in London. So,
whenever I was going / went to London I was staying / would stay with her.
7. Last night his neighbours shouted / were shouting for hours and he didn’t get / wasn’t getting to sleep
until about four.
8. I was wondering / had wondered whether you would like to come out with me.
9. He didn’t eat / hadn’t eaten all day so he was really hungry when he arrived / had arrived home.
10. He realised / was realising someone stole / was stealing his wallet when he felt / had felt / was feeling a
hand in his pocket.
2. Put the verbs in brackets into a suitable past tense or form. Sometimes more than one answer is
possible.
1. When you ……………………………… (live) in London, ……………………………… (you, travel) by
underground?
2. I ……………………………… (try) to call you all day yesterday. Where …………………… (you, be)?
3. When she ……………………… (get) up this morning she ……………………… (see) that, although it
………………………..……… (not rain) at that moment, it ……………………………… (rain) hard during
the night because there ……………………… (be) big puddles on the ground.
4. When she ……………………… (arrive) at John’s house, everybody ……………………… (have) a good
time, although not many people ……………………… (dance).
5. Joe ……………………… (admit) he ……………………… (quarrel) with Pete but he said he
……………………… (not hit) him.
6. She ……………………… (study) English for four years before she ……………………… (go) to England.
7. After ……………………… (pack) her suitcase, she ……………………… (call) a taxi.
8. He ……………………… (have) a sweet tooth when he ……………………… (be) a child but now he
prefers savoury things.
9. When he ……………………… (be) younger, he ……………………… (always, get) into trouble.
10. They ……………………… (not have) a barbecue yesterday evening because it ………………………
(rain).
11. Laura ……………………… (not come) to the party because nobody ……………………… (invite) her.
12. After ............................... (work) at her computer for over six hours without a break, she ......................
(have) a terrible headache.
13. I recently ……………………… (make) a brief shopping trip into town. The weather ………………………
(be) awful. After ……………………… (make) the few purchases I ……………………… (need) I
……………………… (come) out of the supermarket and the heavens just ……………………… (open).
……………………… (put) up my umbrella, I ........................... (decide) to finish my shopping all the
same. All I ……………………… (leave) to get was some wrapping paper so I ……………………… (dash)
into a card shop. While I ……………………… (wait) to pay, I ……………………… (glance) up and
……………………… (notice) a man looking at me holding what ……………………… (look) like my
umbrella, but the penny ……………………… (not drop) until I ……………………… (leave) the shop. It
……………………… (still, pour) down with rain but my umbrella ……………………… (disappear) from
the stand.
14. ............................... (want) to calm her down, he .................................. (agree) to phone the police and
report the noise from the neighbouring flat. However, ............................................. (do) so, he
........................ (be) worried that the neighbours would make trouble for them the next day.
15. Last night detectives ……………………… (still, question) the man they ……………………… (arrest) last
Sunday in connection with the murder. The police ……………………… (already, conduct) two identity
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parades before forensic scientists ……………………… (search) his home yesterday for anything that
might link him to the crime.
16. An archaeologist ……………………… (dig) on a dusty Syrian plain last autumn when a bright green
object in the dirt ……………………… (catch) his eye. Until then, the only cities archaeologists
……………………… (find) dating back to 4000BC ……………………… (be) Sumerian ones in southern
Mesopotamia. Yet if cities ……………………… (spring) up in the north at the same time, archaeologists
will have to consider the possibility that a culture which ……………………… (predate) the Sumerians
................................ (sow) the seeds of civilisation in both places.
17. After ........................... (travel) for more than ten hours, she ......................... (not feel) up to going out to
dinner with friends that evening. Instead, ............................. (make) herself a sandwich and a cup of tea,
she ............................ (settle) down to watch an old film on the television.
18. When the journalist ……………………… (go) back to the army camp the next morning he
……………………… (find) it was in great confusion. Soldiers ……………………… (wander) around
looking dazed; they ……………………… (carry) pieces of equipment from one place to another but there
……………………… (not appear) to be any purpose to what they ……………………… (do). He
……………………… (never, be) in an army camp before but he ……………………… (realise) that most
of the officers ……………………… (desert) the camp. He ……………………… (try) to telephone but
something ……………………… (happen) to the lines. Suddenly, a plane ……………………… (fly) low
over the camp and bombs ……………………… (drop) all around him. He ……………………… (throw)
himself to the ground. After ……………………… (fly) round three times, the plane ………………………
(disappear) again. The journalist ……………………… (rise) cautiously and ……………………… (look)
around. Buildings and piles of equipment ……………………… (burn) furiously. A dead man
……………………… (lie) on the ground next to him, the first dead person he ……………………… (ever,
see).
19. ............................................ (face) with an angry bull, he ................................. (decide) that ‘discretion
was the better part of valour’ and ....................................... (jump) over the gate. It was only later that he
................................... (realise) his mobile phone ................................. (fall) out of his pocket during his
dash to safety.
20. He ..................................... (make) the decision to phone her on the spur of the moment. However, on
.............................. (hear) her say ‘Hello?’ he ........................................... (become) aware that he really
..................................... (not know) what to say.
3. Use the verbs given before each sentence, in the correct tense or form, to complete the sentence.
Use each verb once only.
1. act - breathe – clutch – drive – give – leap – notice - phone – praise - pull – seem – sit - take
A thirteen-year-old ........................................ in a school bus when he ..............................that their bus driver
...................................... his chest and ................................... to have difficulty in .................................... He
..................................... up from his seat, and after ................................. hold of the steering wheel, he
......................................... the bus to the curb and .................................. out the key. While another boy
............................................. for help, he .......................................... the bus driver chest compressions. The
police and school authorities later ........................ the boy and said that if he ............................... so promptly,
the bus driver might have died and there could have been a serious accident.
2. arrest – be - carry – catch – drink – happen - have – hit – overturn – travel - try
A fuel tanker, which ...................................... 9,000 gallons of petrol, ...................... a guard rail and
............................... after .................................. hit by a car which ................................. to overtake it. The
tanker................................ along the M25 motorway when the accident .............................. The motorway
....................... to be closed to traffic because the spilt petrol ........................... fire. Police .......................the
driver of the car, who .......................................... heavily at a stag party until the early hours that morning.
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a public order offence. One of the race officials .................................... that the swimmer
...................................... serious injury.
6. base – develop - enjoy – escape – find – flee – get – have – hear – insult – kill – live – move – offer –
play - produce
Caravaggio ................................ tennis in Rome in 1606 when he............................. an argument with his
opponent which ................................ into a brawl. In the following duel Caravaggio .................................... his
opponent and .............................. to Naples. He .................................. and painting there when he
............................... that the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, ..................................... on the island of Malta,
........................................ him a knighthood. .............................................. there, soon he
..................................... the patronage of the rich knights. Although he ................................... several major
works there, before long he .................... into trouble again. After ....................................... one of the knights,
he ......................... himself in prison from where he eventually ............................... to Sicily.
2. Blight is .......
a) a plant disease
b) on the vegetables
c) on the lawn
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9. When the shed had been put up, Blithe said .......
a) it was ugly
b) the shed made his eyes sore
c) he had seen it with his own eyes
10. Over the next few days the two men .......
a) insulted the vegetables and herbs
b) escalated
c) made ruder and ruder remarks about each other’s gardening
5. Rewrite each sentence so that it means the same and contains the word(s) given.
1. She wasn’t very keen on classical music in the past.
(use) ………………………………………………………………………..
2. She intended to write but kept putting it off.
(going) ………………………………………………………………………..
3. She bought a new stereo but first she went round shops comparing prices.
(before) ………………………………………………………………………..
4. I might possibly go to the theatre next week.
(was) ………………………………………………………………………..
5. He worked for that firm for six years and then he resigned and set up his own business.
(had, before) ………………………………………………………………………..
6. Sam had an irritating habit of cracking his knuckles.
(always) ………………………………………………………………………..
7. She took an aspirin and then she felt better.
(after) ………………………………………………………………………..
8. John was under the shower when the phone rang.
(was) ………………………………………………………………………..
9. At one time there was a cinema in that town.
(used) ………………………………………………………………………..
10. Tom left before we arrived.
(by the time) ………………………………………………………………………..
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6. Find words or expressions from the extract with the following meanings.
a) ………………………… = wise
b) ………………………… = to start thinking about or discussing
c) ………………………… = discovered
d) ………………………… = suffering from or being killed by lack of food
e) ………………………… = supply
f) ………………………… = dealer in grain
g) ………………………… = type of flour made from oats
h) ………………………… = very thin porridge
i) ………………………… = started doing and accepted responsibility for
j) ………………………… = law case
k) ………………………… = up to then
l) ………………………… = unmarried man
[Link] examples from the extract of Dickens’s use of irony to criticise the system of the
workhouse and the board of workhouse administrators.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
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UNIT 3
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE & PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
The PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE is formed with the auxiliary verb have and the past participle. In speech
and informal writing, contractions are generally used.
Use:
• When the time of the action is before now, but not specified, and we are often more interested in the
result than in the action itself: My computer has crashed! (I don’t say when but that’s why I’m not using
it.)
Compare: My computer crashed yesterday. (specific time)
• For an action when the time is not important. When we want to ask for or give more details about when,
where, who, the past simple is used:
He has been to Egypt.
Compare: When did he go? – He went last spring.
• To describe a state or repeated event lasting until the present, and still happening. There is often a time
expression, describing how long (especially with state verbs) or how often something has happened:
How long has she known him? – She’s known him practically all her life.
How often has he been to Washington? – Twice.
• To describe experience:
She’s travelled all over the world.
• To describe the number or quantity of things completed so far:
He’s written twenty pages of the report.
How much time has he spent on the report?
• To describe very recent events with no specific time given:
There has been an accident on the M25.
• With expressions of time that are not finished, e.g. today, this week, this year, this century, etc.:
I haven’t seen him this morning. (It is still morning)
Compare: I didn’t see him this morning. (It is no longer morning)
• With expressions like the first/second/third time …, never…before:
This isn’t the first time he’s been late.
She has never driven before.
N.B.
• Have been or have gone? Both may be used as the past participle of go. Been indicates that the
person has gone somewhere and then returned. Gone indicates that the person is still away.
Compare:
She has been to Paris. (She has returned.)
She has gone to Paris. (She is still there.)
• Please notice that there are alternative structures which can be used to convey the same meaning:
I haven’t seen him for two years = It is two years since I saw him. = It’s been two years since I saw
him.
N.B.
• USA English often uses the past simple where British English uses the present perfect
19
• In journalistic use the present perfect is often used at the beginning and then the present simple is used
for
The PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS is formed with the present perfect of be + -ing form of the main
verb.
Use:
• To emphasise the length of time of an event or situation which began in the past and is still going on or
has just stopped: He has been waiting for more than an hour. They haven’t been working here long.
Things have been going badly for some time.
• For incomplete actions: I’ve been reading that book all week and I still haven’t finished.
• To describe repeated actions: He’s been commuting for years.
• For a recently completed action, often with a present result: He’s been painting his room. (That’s why
he’s covered with paint.)
• To emphasise that something is temporary: He’s been staying with his sister until he can find a place of
his own.
• To explain the cause (present perfect continuous) of a present effect (present simple). We are not
interested in knowing whether the action (cause) has finished: Her boss is furious because she hasn’t
been doing her work properly.
TIME EXPRESSIONS:
For (a period of time) N.B. The meaning of for changes according to the tense used:
present perfect - She’s been here for six days. = She arrived six days ago and she’s still here.
past simple - She was there for six days. = She’s no longer there.
Since (the beginning of a period of time): present perfect – She’s been here since Wednesday. = She
arrived last Wednesday and she’s still here.
Already (indefinite time): present perfect - She’s already eaten.
Ago, last week, in 1999, on Saturday, etc. (i.e. definite times): past simple:
They left for Berlin three hours ago.
N.B.
Do not use for or since with time expressions with all: all my life, all day, etc.:
She’s been employed there all her working life.
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2. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense; present perfect simple, present perfect
continuous or past simple.
1. I …………………………….. (just, heard) from Michael. He …………………………….. (buy) a new house,
and …………………………….. (move) in last week. He …………………………….. (not finish) settling in
yet as the furniture he …………………………….. (order) …………………………….. (not arrive) yet.
2. “…………………………….. (you, be) shopping recently?” – “No, I .................................... (not be able to)
go because I …………………………….. (be) very busy this week.”
21
3. Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word given and means the same.
1. It’s ages since I spoke to him.
(for) ……………………………………………………………………
2. This is his third visit to Spain.
22
(time) ……………………………………………………………………
3. She started working for that firm six years ago.
(has) ……………………………………………………………………
4. Surfing is new to me.
(first) ……………………………………………………………………
5. I had something to eat earlier.
(already) ……………………………………………………………………
6. They haven’t been to the cinema for months.
(since) ……………………………………………………………………
7. How long have they been married?
(get) ……………………………………………………………………
8. The last time he played tennis was in 1999.
(since) ……………………………………………………………………
9. He’s been studying Japanese since October.
(started) ……………………………………………………………………
10. This is the first time he has driven alone.
(before) ……………………………………………………………………
11. I’m on page 300 of the book I’m reading.
(so far) ……………………………………………………………………
12. There’s a deterioration in the quality of your work.
(deteriorated) ……………………………………………………………………
13. They started drilling for oil in June.
(have) ……………………………………………………………………
14. I’ve never seen such a bad film.
(worst) ……………………………………………………………………
15. We’ve never flown before.
(first) ……………………………………………………………………
16. The last time we went out was a fortnight ago.
(for) ……………………………………………………………………
4. Write suitable questions in the present perfect simple, present perfect continuous or past simple
for the following answers.
1. ………………………………………………………..?
No, never. However, I hope to go next year.
2. ………………………………………………………..?
Here? Since she got married.
3. ………………………………………………………..?
No, not yet. He got in late last night.
4. ………………………………………………………..?
Ridden a horse? Only once or twice, isn’t it obvious?
5. ………………………………………………………..?
Montreal? Yes, he went there three years ago.
6. ………………………………………………………..?
Jack? I last saw him on Monday.
7. ………………………………………………………..?
Ever since she bought the CD. I must admit I’m getting fed up with hearing the same music day-in, day
out.
8. ………………………………………………………..?
His new car? Last month.
9. ....................................................................................?
A restaurant? It’s ages since I last went to one.
10. .....................................................................................?
I’m not surprised I’m covered in white splashes. I’ve been painting the fence.
23
4. The new government plan for council housing has given equal priority in housing to ......
a) people who have been in prison or the army, as well as young single people
b) prisoners and soldiers and single homeless people
c) the families of prisoners and soldiers as well as single people
6. Campaigners have called for a ban on the export of San Bernards to the Far East because ......
a) they think people there don’t give the dogs enough food
b) they think people there use the dogs as food
c) there is evidence that the dogs miss the mountains and feel afraid
6. Read the news items and choose the correct answers to the questions.
A. The Environment Agency has warned that millions of people are now living in drought-affected areas
and that the UK is facing its most severe water shortage since 1976. Last week drought was declared
across London, East Anglia and the South after the eighth-driest year on record. This affects more than
20 million people and has led to water restrictions, including hosepipe bans. Now, a further seventeen
counties in the Midlands and in the South West, with fifteen million inhabitants, have been declared
drought-areas, although authorities do not intend introducing hosepipe bans as yet. Experts claim that
despite recent heavy rainfall, parts of the country are already drier than they were in 1976 when
standpipes, which are vertical pipes connecting temporary taps to the mains, were installed in
residential streets, water supplies to businesses were rationed and schools closed early.
1. The drought-affected areas declared so far concern ........ so far.
a) 20,000,000 inhabitants
b) 15,000,000 inhabitants
c) 35,000,000 inhabitants
d) seventeen countries
2. People .......
a) can water their gardens with hosepipes in the above areas
b) cannot water their gardens with hosepipes in the above areas
c) can water their gardens with hosepipes in the last declared drought-areas
d) cannot own a hosepipe in London, East Anglia and the South
3. Which statement is correct?
a) Recent heavy rainfall has made little or no difference to the situation.
b) Standpipes have been installed in residential areas.
c) The UK has never had so little rain.
d) In 1976 people installed standpipes to pump water to their houses.
B. A row has broken out between Austria and Slovenia over the naming of a regional sausage. Slovenia,
which claims that the sausage originated in Slovenia in the nineteenth century, wants ‘their’ sausage to
24
be awarded special protected EU status. This status identifies regional and traditional foods, the
authenticity and origin of which can be guaranteed. Under this system, a named food or drink registered
at a European level is given legal protection against imitation throughout the EU. However, the Slovenia
claim has been disputed by the Austrians, who affirm that the sausage is their very own and to rename
it would be absolutely unthinkable.
1. Austria and Slovenia .......
a) think their sausage should be awarded special protected EU status
b) want to rename the sausage
c) want to protect ‘their’ sausage from being sold elsewhere
d) cannot agree over which country invented the sausage
2. Special protected EU status .......
a) guarantees the authentic origin of a product
b) protects people who eat sausage
c) guarantees products come from Slovenia
d) improves the quality of a named food or drink
C. Airlines have advised the Home Secretary that British airports will probably be reduced to ‘gridlock’ this
bank holiday weekend as there are not enough staff to carry out checks on passports. The airlines’
report states that if arriving passengers cannot get through UK passport control efficiently, the whole
airport operation is put at risk. If there are long queues at customs, this will delay the collection of
passengers’ luggage, which in turn will make for delays in the delivery of luggage from later flights.
Furthermore, if immigration halls are overcrowded, airlines will be obliged to keep passengers aboard
planes which, apart from inconveniencing tired and restless passengers, will jeopardise the smooth
running of subsequent flights.
1. The basic cause of ‘gridlock’ at airports this weekend would be .......
a) because customs officers are not efficient
b) the lack of immigration hall staff
c) a backlog of luggage
d) delays in the delivery of luggage from later flights
2. Which statement is correct?
a) Passengers will have to go through customs in planes if immigration halls are overcrowded.
b) Luggage will not arrive if immigration halls are overcrowded.
c) Tired and restless passengers in planes jeopardise the smooth running of an airport.
d) Long delays in customs compromise the running of an airport.
D. Panic buying as a consequence of the Government’s advice to motorists to fill up tanks in preparation
for the threatened tanker drivers’ strike has led to thousands of garages running out of both petrol and
diesel. The situation is so serious that crews of emergency services, such as ambulances and fire
engines, have been struggling to get hold of fuel. The Government has come under pressure to invoke
the National Emergency Plan for Fuel, which closes designated petrol stations to all but essential
vehicles. Although the pre-arranged plan can be put into operation in less than twenty-four hours, as yet
the Government has refused to consider it.
1. The panic buying has resulted from .........
a) lack of fuel
b) a strike
c) thousands of garages running out of fuel
d) the Government’s advice
2. Which statement is correct?
a) The Government is under pressure to close all petrol stations.
b) People are demanding that the Government creates a National Emergency Plan for Fuel
c) Emergency services are demanding the implementation of an Emergency Plan.
d) The Government doesn’t want to put the National Emergency Plan into effect.
7. Look at these headlines to articles and choose the most suitable explanations.
1. CUSTOMERS WASTE £300M A YEAR ON OVERDRAFT FEES
a) Customers have over £300m overdrafts a year.
b) Banks have been charging customers by £300m every year by levying unnecessary overdraft fees.
2. THE SURGEON WAS FINE BUT THE PENPUSHERS ALMOST WROTE ME OFF
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a) A patient suffering from a serious illness was almost killed when bureaucracy and red tape delayed
his urgently needed operation, which was eventually performed by a good surgeon.
b) A patient was satisfied with the surgeon who performed his urgently needed operation but he had to
write a lot of letters to get into hospital.
8. a) Expand the headlines in your own words to express their full meaning.
b) Invent the story behind the headlines. Write about 5 lines for each.
1. 2,250 MORE STEEL JOBS TO BE AXED
a) ………………………………………………………………………………………………..
b) ………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
2. WIFE SEES LION SAVAGE HUSBAND TO DEATH
a) ………………………………………………………………………………………………..
b) ………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
3. FLASHING UFO IS SEEN AGAIN
a) ………………………………………………………………………………………………..
b) ………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
4. GOVERNMENT RENEGES ON ARMY PAY RISE
a) ………………………………………………………………………………………………..
b) ………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
5. VOTERS DEFY TERROR TO BREAK TYRANT’S HOLD ON POWER
a) ………………………………………………………………………………………………..
b) ………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
26
UNIT 4
FUTURE: PRESENT CONTINUOUS, PRESENT SIMPLE, FUTURE SIMPLE, ‘GOING
TO’, FUTURE CONTINUOUS, FUTURE PERFECT, FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
• The present continuous is generally used to talk about personal arrangements. The time (usually in
the near future) and/or place have already been arranged and/or some preparation has been made.
There is also some suggestion that other people are aware of the event.
What are you doing tomorrow? – I’m meeting Joan at ten and then we’re going shopping together.
PRESENT SIMPLE
• The present simple is used for the future when the future event is part of a programme or timetable.
The weekly meeting starts at ten. (There is a meeting every week.)
His train leaves at ten-thirty. (It is on the timetable)
• The present simple is NOT used for personal futures. He’s catching the ten-thirty train tomorrow.
FUTURE SIMPLE
The future simple is formed with will + bare infinitive.
USE
• To express predictions about the future: He will be furious when he hears what you’ve done!
• To express a decision taken at the moment of speaking: This jacket is just what I’ve been looking for. I’ll
buy it!
• To express something in the future which is independent of the speaker’s control: I’ll be 65 next March.
After verbs such as; think, expect, hope, suppose, be sure, be certain, wonder, doubt, etc.: I wonder whether
they’ll give him an interview. I suppose you’ll want the day off.
In if / when sentences with the present simple: As soon as he arrives, we’ll set off. When you see him, you
won’t recognise him!
N.B.
if, when, until, unless, as soon as, after and other time expressions are NOT normally followed by the future.
‘GOING TO’
• The ‘going to’ future is formed with the present continuous of go + infinitive. If the main verb is go, it is
normally omitted, and just going to is used.
USE:
• To express a plan or intention or decision to do something in the future:
He’s going to do his very best to get here on time. (It is his intention.)
They’re going to lay off some workers in June. (It is their intention or plan.)
• To predict a future action or situation based on something which can already be seen in the present:
The sky is very black and overcast. There’s going to be a terrible thunderstorm!
Look at his face! He’s going to lose his temper soon.
27
FUTURE PERFECT
The future perfect is formed with will/shall + have + past participle
USE
• To refer to a completed action in the future. By using this tense, we are projecting ourselves forward to
a certain time in the future and looking back at an action that will be completed at that time. It is often
used with a time expression using by + a point in future time.
He will have finished the work by the deadline.
The plumber says he will have installed the shower by this evening.
By the time we get there, the concert will have started.
By this time next year, she will have been in this country for thirty years.
FUTURE CONTINUOUS
The future continuous is formed with will / shall + be + -ing.
USE
To project ourselves into the future and see something happening at that time: This time next week, I’ll be
lying on a warm, sandy beach, sipping a long, cool drink.
• To describe something that will definitely be happening in the future because arrangements have been
made. Here the present continuous can also often be used. We’ll be having a meeting next week, so we
can discuss the matter in depth then.
They’ll be installing the software tomorrow.
• In the interrogative, to distinguish between a request for information and an invitation:
Will you be coming to the presentation? (request for information)
Will you come to the presentation? (invitation)
• To predict or guess about someone’s feelings or actions, now or in the future:
He’ll be feeling tired after such a long journey.
I suppose she’ll be complaining to the boss again.
N.B.
When we are talking about the past, we may want to refer to something that was in the future at that time
and which had not yet happened. To express this idea, we use structures which are used to talk about the
future but we make the auxiliaries past.
• He’s going to stay with his sister. (‘going to’ future)
I understood he was going to stay with his sister. (future in the past)
• I’ll be here until Monday. (future simple)
When I last saw him, he told me he would be here until Monday.
• I’ll be spending the week in Birmingham. (future continuous)
He told me he would be spending the week in Birmingham.
• He’ll have finished it by Monday. (future perfect)
I understood he would have finished it by Monday.
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10. “It’s Jim’s birthday on Monday.” – “Is it? I send / am going to send / will send / am sending him an e-
card.”
11. By the time he will retire / is going to retire / retires, he will work / is going to work / is working / will have
worked for that firm for twenty-five years.
12. We are going to send / are sending / will send you the contract for your signature as soon as it will be / is
/ is going to be drawn up.
13. “Where do you go / are you going / will you go? Do you head / Are you heading / Will you head for
town?” – “Yes, I buy / am buying / am going to buy a camcorder before we are leaving / will leave / leave
/ will be leaving on holiday. If I will find / am finding / find one that suits my pocket, of course.” – “How
much do you think you are spending / will spend?” – “They’re expensive. That’s why I will go / am going /
go to the new commercial centre. I am probably finding / am probably going to find / will probably find a
cheaper one there.”
14. Oh, no! The printer isn’t going to work / won’t work! Now, how am I going to print / will I be printing / am I
printing my CV?
15. “The steam passes through these pipes, is that right?” – “Yes, and after that it will liquefy / is going to
liquefy / liquefies in this boiler.”
16. “What would you like to drink, Carol?” – “I am having / will have / am going to have half a lager and lime,
please.”
17. The monthly meeting isn’t beginning / doesn’t begin / won’t begin until ten thirty but we have / will have /
will be having a working breakfast with Tim beforehand. He wants to go over some points with us.
18. I am not seeing / won’t see / don’t see you next week. While you are slogging / are going to slog away in
a stuffy office, I am relaxing / relax / will be relaxing on a sunny beach.
19. The decorators told me they will have finished / would have finished / will be finishing the sitting room by
the end of the week! Now, apparently, they are needing / will need / will have needed another few days.
If I’m lucky, the room will be / is going to be have been painted by Tuesday. As soon as they are finishing
/ will finish / are going to finish / have finished, I am having / will have to clean up the mess they are sure
to leave before my mother-in-law is arriving / will be arriving / arrives on Friday.
20. By the time he is getting / gets / will get his degree in three years’ time, his father will retire / is retiring /
will have retired. In fact, by next year he will work / will be working / will have been working for the same
firm for thirty-five years.
2. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense. All sentences refer to a future time.
1. “Has Tim broken off with Sue?” – Not quite, but when he ………………………….. (see) her tomorrow, he
………………………….. (tell) her it’s over. At least, that’s what he’s promised he …………………………..
(do). I have my doubts. I think he ………………………….. (just, dither) about as usual.”
2. According to some commuter experts, computers ………………………….. (soon, be able) to predict the
future; for example, how many people ………………………….. (live) in a particular area, what they
………………………….. (eat), and what jobs, if any, they ………………………….. (do). Furthermore, by
the year 2050 computers ………………………….. (replace) teachers and ………………………….. (take
over) most of air, road and rail traffic control.
th
3. “On July 25 they ………………………….. (be married) for 30 years!” – “Will they? How
………………………….. (they, celebrate)?” – “He ………………………….. (take) her to the Bahamas,
they ………………………….. (have) a second honeymoon.”
4. Unless we ………………………….. (get) there by seven, Jackie ………………………….. (leave). She
says she’s fed up with us being late and that this time she ………………………….. (go) without us if we
………………………….. (be) late.
5. “What time ………………………….. (your train, leave) tomorrow morning?” – “It …………………………..
(leave) at ten past eight but I ………………………….. (have to) set off at least half an hour before as I
………………………….. (pick up) Julie on the way.”
6. I’m sorry, I ………………………….. (negative, be able to) see you next week. I …………………………..
(stay) in Birmingham until we ………………………….. (solve) that technical problem.
7. Have you heard the news? Tony and Angela ………………………….. (come) to stay with us for a week!
8. According to the timetable, the bus ………………………….. (pass) at ten past six.
9. “………………………….. (you, read) War and Peace in time for the seminar tomorrow afternoon?” –
“Whoops! I’d completely forgotten about it. I ………………………….. (start) it when I
………………………….. (get) to my room and I ………………………….. (probably, read) it all night, if I
can keep my eyes open.” – “Well, if I ………………………….. (still, be) awake at midnight, I
………………………….. (drop by) your room and ………………………….. (make) you a cup of strong
black coffee.” – “Thanks, by that time I ………………………….. (need) it!”
10. Don’t wait up for me. I ………………………….. (work) late at the computer.
11. Some scientist have predicted that if machines can be made as intelligent as humans, it
………………………….. (be) the end for the human race. Robots ………………………….. (be able to)
29
adapt more quickly to the challenges of the universe. Humans ………………………….. (benefit) for a
time but then the robots ………………………….. (break away) and ………………………….. (take over).
12. Look out! You ………………………….. (knock) that vase off the shelf!
13. I hear you ………………………….. (go) to a party on Saturday. Who ………………………….. (look after)
little Brian?
14. It’s awfully hot in here. ………………………….. (I, open) a window?
15. When they next ………………………….. (land) on Earth again, they ………………………….. (be) in
space for over four months.
16. The President affirmed that by the year 2029, the USA ………………………….. (send) a man to Mars.
17. I ………………………….. (have) a shrimp cocktail for starters and then sole and salad. What
………………………….. (you, have)?
18. Pete says he ………………………….. (book) a flight for you, if you …………………….. (like).
19. If you ………………………….. (negative, use) the car tomorrow, I ………………………….. (take) it to be
serviced.
20. In five minutes’ time I ………………………….. (wait) here for an hour!
21. If all ………………………….. (go) well, the first Venus colonists ………………………….. (leave) next
month. They ………………………….. (sleep) for most of the journey and by the time they finally
………………………….. (arrive), their relatives and friends on Earth ………………………….. (die) some
time before.
22. The space probe ………………………….. (travel) to Mars for some months yet.
23. “I ………………………….. (do) some shopping this morning.” – “I ………………………….. (give) you a lift
to the supermarket but I ………………………….. (negative, be able to) bring you back, I’m afraid. I
………………………….. (see) my dentist at ten.” – “That’s all right. I ………………………….. (catch) the
bus home.”
24. “You still haven’t tidied your room!” – “I ………………………….. (do) it this afternoon, I promise.”
25. By Saturday he ………................………………….. (stay) with us for two weeks. Isn’t it time he went
home?
30
4. Complete each second sentence so that it means the same as the first and contains the word(s)
in brackets.
1. Oh no! We’ll get to the station after the train has left. (by)
Oh no! The train ................................................................... to the station.
2. Mary’s baby is due in May. (have)
Mary .......................................................................... in May.
3. Pete’s bus arrives at nine o’clock. (is / on)
Pete ....................................................................................... bus.
4. There’s a party at Joan’s next Saturday. (having)
Joan ............................................................................................. next Saturday.
5. We can talk about this matter face-to-face next week when you come to Rome. (going)
You ........................................................................... we can talk about this matter face-to-face.
6. “I’m going to stay here a month,” he said to me. (told)
He ....................................................................................................... a month.
7. It is their thirtieth wedding anniversary next July. (have)
They .................................................................................... by next July.
8. I can imagine her exhaustion after doing all her Christmas shopping in one day. (will / feeling)
I imagine ......................................................................... after doing all her Christmas shopping in one
day.
9. “She’ll have written the report before leaving this evening.” (would / by)
I was told .............................................................................................. this evening.
10. Look how black the sky is! There’s a thunderstorm on the way. (be)
Look how black the sky is! There ...................................................................... a thunderstorm.
5. Complete each sentence with a suitable word or phrase referring to future time.
1. Can you send me the results as soon as …………………………………
2. This time next week I ……………………………….. on the beach in Spain.
3. Look at those two cars! There …………………………………….. a crash!
4. By the time we get there, the film ………………………………… started.
5. If we don’t get there by six, Chris ……………………………….. without us.
6. You can come and stay whenever you like, except for June. My brother …………………….. with me then
and I’ve only got one spare bedroom.
7. What …………………………………… with the money you’ve won?
8. “Bother! We’ve run out of milk.” – “Don’t worry. I ……………………………… to the shop and buy some.”
th
9. Are …………………………………. anything on the 18 ? I’ve got a couple of theatre tickets.
10. Sorry, I can’t help you. I ………………………………… for Paris tomorrow.
11. They ………………………………. building the tunnel by July.
12. When he retires at 65, he ……………………………………….. for 50 years!
31
7. Fill each gap with one word taken from the group below. Careful, there are three unnecessary
words.
32
33
UNIT 5
CONDITIONALS: ZERO, FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, MIXED – WISHES ABOUT THE
PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE – IT’S TIME, I’D SOONER / RATHER
N.B.
The order of the clauses in conditional sentences can change – the ‘if’ clause can come as the first or as the
second clause. Notice the difference in punctuation:
If you press this button, the machine starts.
The machine starts if you press this button.
ZERO CONDITIONAL
Use:
The Zero conditional is used to talk about something that is generally true, often happens or is a scientific
fact - that is, the result will always occur if the conditions are met. In this case, ‘if’ has the meaning of ‘when’
or ‘every time’.
FIRST CONDITIONAL
The first conditional is formed by if + present simple + future simple
Use:
This type of sentence is used to describe future possibilities and their results:
I will have to have a serious talk with him if he causes any more trouble.
Unless (= only if / if not) or in case (= a less likely situation) can be used instead of if:
Unless you phone, he’ll go without us.
Take something to eat in case you get hungry.
Variations:
• if + present continuous + future simple: If you’re going my way, I’ll come with you.
• if + present perfect + future simple is used to emphasise that the future clause depends on whether
another action in the ‘if’ clause has finished or been completed:
If I have read it by tomorrow, I will give it back.
If he has seen the film, he won’t want to see it again.
• if + present simple + ‘going to’ future: If I see him, I am going to tell him what I think of him.
• In the main clause you often find a modal verb or imperative:
If she arrives in time, she can / may help us.
If you see him, don’t tell him what I said.
SECOND CONDITIONAL
Second conditional sentences are formed by:
• if + past simple + would + bare infinitive (no to): If he worked freelance, he wouldn’t have any
problems in finding clients.
• if + past simple + could + bare infinitive: He could organise his time better if he worked from home.
• if + past simple + might + bare infinitive: She might lose her job if the merger went through.
Use:
The second conditional is used to describe unlikely or unreal situations and their probable or hypothetical
results. Might or could are used when the result is not so certain or we wish to emphasise possibility:
He might do it if you asked him nicely enough.
If he wanted, he could help us.
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N.B:
Were instead of was is often used in formal English with I, he, she, it:
If I were you, I wouldn’t trust him.
If I was a better businesswoman, I would set up my own firm.
• Could is both past simple and conditional:
If I could use a computer well, I’d go to work there.
If I saved enough money, I could afford to fly to Australia.
Variations:
• as a variation of the second conditional, the past continuous can be used instead of the past simple:
if + past continuous + would + infinitive: If they weren’t digging up the road, there wouldn’t be
such a traffic jam.
• were to: If they were to visit the museum, they would find some interesting exhibits. = If they visited
the museum, they would find some interesting exhibits.
• if + past simple + conditional continuous: If she had time, she would be helping us.
• In formal English it is possible to put the verb at the beginning and omit if, e.g.
Should he arrive before me, ask him to wait. = If he should arrive …
Were he truthful, I’d believe him. = If he were truthful …
THIRD CONDITIONAL
Third conditional sentences are formed by:
If + past perfect + conditional perfect
If he had telephoned, I would have known where he was.
Use:
This type of conditional is often called an ‘impossible conditional’. It is used to refer to actions or situations in
the past and, as such, impossible to change. Would can be replaced with might or could.
If he hadn’t broken his leg, he might have skied for his country.
If I had known you were coming, I could have planned better.
Variations:
• for past conditions which have a result in the present, mixed third and second conditionals are used:
If he hadn’t accepted the job, he would be sorry now.
• if + past perfect + conditional perfect continuous:
If they hadn’t had to work, they would have been lying on the beach now.
• if + past perfect continuous + conditional perfect:
If she hadn’t been working, she would have gone with them.
• In formal English it is possible to put the verb at the beginning and omit if, e.g.
Had I known the true facts, I wouldn’t have lost my temper. = If I had known …
N.B.
If and unless are not the only ways of beginning a conditional clause: you can also use if only, as long as,
provided (that), providing (that), had better ... otherwise
If only we had had more reliable information about the market, we wouldn’t have made that mistake.
As long as he brings it back next week, he can take the laptop home.
Provided you stay within the budget, you can do what you like.
Providing that the manager approves, you can take your holiday next month.
You had better do as he says, otherwise he’ll lose his temper again.
WISHES
• wish + infinitive is a formal way of saying want:
I wish to see the manager. = I want to see the manager.
If you wish to make a formal complaint, please fill in this form.
• wish + past simple or wish + past continuous is used to express wishes about an ‘unreal’ present:
I wish I had more time for myself. = If I had more time for myself, I would be happier.
He wishes she weren’t living so far away.
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A B
1. If I owned a dog like that, a) if she lived nearer.
2. Unless it stops raining, b) you didn’t come home late tonight.
3. If she had known about the exhibition, c) I wouldn’t have put my foot in it when I spoke to
4. If he hadn’t been chatting on his mobile phone, him.
5. Provided you help her, d) she hadn’t told him my secret!
6. She could visit us more frequently e) I would keep it on a lead.
7. I’d rather f) he would tell you not to be so nosy.
8. I’ll lend you the CD g) she could have gone to see it.
9. Had you told me about his problem, h) he might not have had an accident.
10. If you borrow it without her permission, i) it melts.
11. Were he here, j) we went home, it’s late.
12. It’s high time k) if he’d known they were planning to spend the
13. If you put salt on ice, weekend spring cleaning it.
14. You’ll catch your death l) unless she trains harder.
15. He wouldn’t have been so keen to go with them m) she’ll be finished in time to catch the six o’clock
to their house in the mountains bus.
16. She won’t be put in the team n) we can’t go for a walk in the country.
17. If you lived on a desert island, o) if you go out in that light jacket.
18. If only p) she may get angry.
q) you would have to learn how to catch fish.
r) on the condition that you take care when using it.
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3. Put the verbs in brackets into the most suitable tense or form.
1. Why didn’t you phone? If I ……………………………………. (know) you were coming, I
……………………………………. (prepare) something to eat.
2. If you ……………………………………. (help) me with this work, I ……………………………………. (do)
the same for you one day.
3. You had better ……………………………………. (go) now, otherwise you
……………………………………. (miss) your train.
4. He refused her invitation. Now he wishes he ……………………………………. (go) with her on holiday.
5. If he ……………………………………. (negative, work) hard all his life, he
……………………………………. (negative, be) in his present position.
6. How ……………………………………. (you, feel) if we ……………………………………. (offer) you the
position of sales manager?
7. It’s a beautiful car. I ……………………………………. (buy) it if I ……………………………………. (have)
the money, but unfortunately, it’s out of the question.
8. When he ……………………………………. (tap) his fingers, it ……………………………………. (mean)
he’s on the point of losing his temper.
9. Unless something ……………………………………. (go) wrong, she ……………………………………. (be)
on the plane tomorrow.
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10. ……………………………………. (you, keep) the money if you ……………………………………. (find) it?
11. If she ……………………………………. (already, buy) a new computer, she
……………………………………. (negative, be) interested in buying your second-hand one.
12. The superstition that if you ……………………………………. (break) a mirror, you
……………………………………. (have) bad luck, comes from the belief in ancient times that the
reflection was part of their soul. As a result, people thought that if you …………………………………….
(break) anything with this reflection, you ……………………………………. (harm) the soul.
13. “What ……………………………………. (happen) if you ……………………………………. (run) out of
money while you were on holiday?” – “I ……………………………………. (use) my credit card, of course.”
14. If he ……………………………………. (negative, have to) go away this weekend, he
……………………………………. (give) us a hand painting this room now.
15. As long as he ……………………………………. (negative, lose) his temper, everything
……………………………………. (turn out) well.
16. He’s got a terrible hangover this morning. He wishes he ……………………………………. (negative,
drink) so much wine last night.
17. If the Liverpool fans ……………………………………. (negative, start) insulting supporters of the other
team, there ……………………………………. (negative, be) trouble at the end of the game last Saturday.
18. If you ……………………………………. (save) some money while you were earning a lot, you
……………………………………. (negative, be) so hard up now.
19. If I ……………………………………. (be) you, I ……………………………………. (negative, accept) that
offer. They ……………………………………. (negative, offer) so much money for so little work if there
……………………………………. (negative, be) a catch somewhere.
20. He’s not satisfied with his job. He wishes he ……………………………………. (find) one with better
prospects.
21. She’d sooner we ……………………………………. (negative, ask) Peter to come with us.
4. Complete the sentences with the most suitable tense or form of the verbs below. Use each verb
once only.
afford – arrive – ask – be - be unable – book – catch – check – distract - install – make - not be - not
crack - not go - not happen - not have - not take – spend – turn – work
1. Don’t worry! As long as he .................................. at the station by ten, he ......................... the train.
2. If you ............................... the anti-virus software I asked for, this ...............................................!
3. If he ............................................. this Saturday, he .............................................. time to help you
decorate your flat.
4. If he .................................. some unnecessary risks on the stock market, he ............................... in his
present unhappy situation.
5. Even if they offered me the job, I ........................................ it down. I don’t want to relocate to
Birmingham.
6. He wishes his colleague sitting at the next computer .................................... his knuckles while he’s
thinking.
7. He wishes she ................................................ out with his best friend. If it ..................................
someone else, he ....................................... her for a date.
8. If you ..................................... your flight and/or can’t avoid arriving at a busy time, .................................
sure you check in and select your seat early.
9. If the captain’s mobile phone messages ..................................... both the captain and the first officer,
they ....................................... that the landing gear was correctly locked for flight. As it happened, a
serious accident was narrowly avoided.
10. I wish I ........................................... a decent holiday! On what I earn, if I ....................................... my
money on holidays, I ....................................... to run a car.
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6. Complete each sentence so that it means the same as the one before it.
1. You go to bed late, that’s why you’re so sleepy in the morning.
If …………………………………………………………………
2. I didn’t hear you calling because I was listening to my iPod.
I would …………………………………………………………………
3. He didn’t go on to university and now he regrets it.
He wishes …………………………………………………………………
4. She would forgive you if you apologised.
If you were …………………………………………………………………
5. You should make your bed in the morning.
It’s high time …………………………………………………………………
6. Nobody told him about the meeting, so he didn’t come.
If …………………….............................……………………………………………
7. You press this button to start the machine.
If ………………..................................…………………………………………………
8. He didn’t remember it was her birthday so he didn’t send her a card.
Had …………..............................………………………………………………………
9. If you happen to see Tom, tell him I’m expecting to see him next week.
Should ………….........................………………………………………………………
10. Those people make a terrible noise every night and the police do nothing about it.
If only ……..........................……………………………………………………………
11. He’s got a dead-end job and he wants to find one with better prospects.
He wishes ….....................………………………………………………………………
12. Without his help, I wouldn’t have been able to solve the problem.
If ……….................................…………………………………………………………
13. He keeps telephoning at night and it annoys her.
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7. Put the word in brackets into the correct form to complete the text below.
40
UNIT 6
PASSIVES – HAVE SOMETHING DONE, NEED, REQUIRE, WANT WITH PASSIVE
MEANING
PASSIVES
Active Passive
(present simple) They make shoes there. Shoes are made there.
(present continuous) They are meeting him. He is being met.
(future simple) They will ask her. She will be asked.
(past simple) They sent an email. An email was sent.
(going to) Somebody is going to tell them. They are going to be told.
(present perfect) Someone has broken this window. The window has been broken.
(past perfect) They had arranged a loan. A loan had been arranged.
(modal) They might not allow him to go. He might not be allowed to go.
(past modal) Someone could have told me. I could have been told.
Use:
• Only transitive verbs can be made passive:
They stole the car. = The car was stolen.
• Verbs with both direct and indirect objects can be made passive in two ways. Which of the two objects
in the active sentence becomes the new subject in the passive depends on which is considered more
important:
(active) They have sent him an invitation.
(passive 1) He has been sent an invitation.
(passive 2) An invitation has been sent to him.
• By placing the object at the beginning of the sentence, the passive changes the focus of interest and
gives emphasis to important information:
The ‘Maastricht’ Treaty on European Union was signed in 1993.
• The passive is often used with say, believe, understand, know and other verbs used in reporting:
• When referring to the present, the reporting passive is followed by the present infinitive:
Bill Gates is said to be one of the richest men in the world.
• Present and past continuous infinitives can also be used after a reporting passive:
He is believed to be writing a report.
He is thought to have been driving to London.
• When referring to the past, the reporting passive is followed by the past infinitive:
She is believed to have escaped by means of inside help.
• When the reporting verb is in the past, the passive is followed by the past infinitive:
She was considered to have overreacted to the news.
• The reporting passive can be followed by a passive infinitive.
(active) They think Leonardo da Vinci designed the square.
(passive) The square is thought to have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci.
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N.B.
• If a verb is followed by a preposition and object, the preposition remains in the passive construction:
I hate people shouting at me. I hate being shouted at.
• Make (= force) is followed by the bare infinitive (no to) in the active and to + infinitive in the passive:
Her teacher made her do the test again. She was made to do the test again.
• Let (= allow), followed by the bare infinitive, is only used in the active. It changes to be allowed to in
the passive:
(active) They let her go to the party. = (passive) She was allowed to go to the party.
• Need, require and want can be followed by –ing with a passive function:
His hair needs cutting.= His hair needs to be cut.
This contract requires signing. = This contract needs to be signed.
The roof wants repairing. = The roof needs to be repaired.
1. This swimming pool ………………………………… (use) by thousands every day in the summer months.
2. The hole in the road ………………………………… (repair) when I passed. I hope it
………………………………… (finish) by tomorrow. It’s causing a traffic jam.
3. The robbers ………………………………… (arrest) as they came out of the bank.
4. If the field is too wet, the match ………………………………… (called off).
5. Three new supermarkets ………………………………… (open) in that area in the last five years.
6. A hundred machines ………………………………… (manufacture) last week.
7. How many workers ………………………………… (make) redundant this month?
8. If you had a heart attack, you ………………………………… (rush) to hospital.
9. The film star arrived at the airport and ………………………………… (welcome) by thousands of fans.
10. ………………………………… (the rooms, clean) every morning?
11. ………………………………… (you, tell) about the change of plans?
12. A new ring road ………………………………… (construct) at the moment. When it …………………………
(finish) in May, it ………………………………… (open) officially by the mayor.
13. If the police ………………………………… (send) for, there wouldn’t have been so much trouble.
14. If you’re late again, you ………………………………… (sack)!
15. By 2020, new forms of energy ………………………………… (develop), I hope!
16. I’m sorry, but the picture ………………………………… (already, sell).
17. It ................................... (announce) yesterday that the long bureaucratic process which ......................
(use) up to now to identify children with the most severe special needs ...................................... (scrap)
and replaced with a single assessment covering education, health and care.
18. It .......................................... (report) that thousands of lambs .................................... (kill) by a new virus
that is threatening the survival of many British farms.
19. Nanobots ....................................... (programme) to play tunes by buzzing up and down in unison over a
selection of musical instruments. They ................................ (fit) with wireless cameras and infrared lights
that help to plot their exact position in a precise way.
20. A stir ………………………………… (cause) at Covent Garden last week when the first night of a
production …………………………… (boo). It was the first time the opera ………………………………….
(perform) at the Opera House, and the boos were probably from traditionalists disappointed that the long
wait due to the Opera House’s renovations ………………………………. (reward) with an imported
production that set out to shock and alienate, with singers running around in their underwear.
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3. Add suitable prepositions and then change each sentence into the passive.
43
1. One of the new president’s comrade in arms during the war of independence ………………………..
(remember) him ……………………….. (horrify) by one of the raids carried out by the Rhodesian Army.
Over a thousand young guerrilla fighters ……………………….. (kill) in their training camps and hundreds
more ……………………….. (injure).
2. There ……………………….. (be) nothing faint-hearted about the present election campaign so far. It
……………………….. (conduct) from the start with a total disregard for the rights of opponents. They
……………………….. (bludgeon), not with arguments but with blows, in an attempt to frighten them away
from the polling stations this week. In the past, the British governor had the power to recommend that the
elections ……………………….. (declare) null and void if there was widespread coercion. In any case, he
……………………….. (turn) a blind eye to the evidence on the grounds that worse violence
……………………….. (ensue) if the elections ……………………….. (suspend).
3. The Isokon flats in Hampstead, north London, ……………………….. (cause) a sensation when they
……………………….. (unveil) in 1934. The block ……………………….. (commission) by a furniture
manufacturer whose company, Isokon, ……………………….. (set up) to build low-cost accommodation
for young professionals.
4. A house that ……………………….. (give) to the Norwegian royal family by the British royal family in
return for the annual Trafalgar Square Christmas tree ……………………….. (sell) as luxury apartments
in this period. Norway House ……………………….. (build) in 1890 and ……………………….. (front) onto
Trafalgar Square. It ……………………….. (live) in by first members of the British, then of the Norwegian
royal families and later ……………………….. (become) the Norwegian embassy. Now it
……………………….. (convert) into apartments with a starting price of £525,000.
5. Last week bomb experts ……………………….. (call) in to defuse a large bomb dating from the Second
World War. The bomb ……………………….. (bury) in 78-year-old Mrs May Clutterbug’s garden, who
……………………….. (actually, find) the device some twenty odd years ago when she
……………………….. (buy) the house. At the time she ……………………….. (merely, cover) it with earth
and ……………………….. (forget) about it. She only ……………………….. (remember) it when she
……………………….. (re-design) her garden. Fearing that it ……………………….. (blow) up if an
ornamental water feature ……………………….. (build) on top of it, she ……………………….. (get) in
touch with the police to see if they ……………………….. (come) round and ……………………….. (take)
it away. Army ordinance experts ……………………….. (fly) in by helicopter to examine the device, and a
mass evacuation plan ……………………….. (set) in motion to clear all residents with a mile radius of the
missile. Thirteen hours of probing amongst Mrs Clutterbug’s herbaceous borders ………………………..
(fail) to find the bomb. It ……………………….. (finally, discover) that the bomb wasn’t a bomb, after all,
but an old air-raid shelter.
44
Get (in any tense) can be used instead of have, it is more informal and can give the idea of managing to do
something:
I got the work done in the end.
How about getting the central heating repaired?
45
5. Rewrite each sentence so that it contains a form of have something done. Do not mention the
agent.
Despite rising cereal ...................................., many people will still be poorly ...................... in 2020,
according to the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Global cereal demand is expected
to reach ....................... billion tonnes in 2020, which is .................................% above ...................... .
..............% of this extra demand will be accounted for by .................................... countries while
developing countries will need far more. The population of ...................................... countries is growing
fast and a switch from substance ..................................... to grain is prompted by rising ........................
However, their output of cereals is not likely to keep up with the demand and by 2020, ...................% of
their cereals will have to be imported. IFPRI affirms that a better use of technology and freer farm trade
are needed to feed the ................ million children under ............................... who will otherwise be
........................................... in 2020.
7. Complete the second sentences so that they mean the same as the first sentences. Use the
words in bracket.
46
47
UNIT 7
VERBS FOLLOWED BY THE INFINITIVE, -ING AND/OR ‘THAT’ CLAUSE
VERBS FOLLOWED BY EITHER INFINITIVE OR –ING (no or little change in meaning)
• Some of the most common verbs which can be followed by either –ing or the infinitive, with little or no
change in meaning, include: begin, continue, fear, hate, love, not bear, prefer, start.
She began working there three months ago. / She began to work there three months ago.
He can’t bear not knowing the truth of the matter. / He can’t bear not to know the truth of the matter.
N.B.
• For some speakers there is a slight difference between like + -ing and like + infinitive:
• He likes working from home. = He enjoys it. / He likes to work from home. = It’s convenient for him.
• He likes swimming (in general)...He likes to swim every Friday (specific)
• When like, love, hate and prefer are used in the conditional (with ‘would’ etc), they are always followed
by the infinitive.
She would love to move to New York.
• You prefer one thing to another. If it is an activity, use -ing.
He prefers working from home to commuting to the office.
48
He denied stealing the money but admitted (that) he had considered the possibility. / He denied (that)
he had stolen the money. / He denied the possibility of his being promoted in the near future.
VERBS FOLLOWED BY THE BARE INFINITIVE (no to) or –ING (with a change of meaning)
• Feel, hear, notice, see, watch, etc. can be followed by either the bare infinitive or –ing, but with a
change of meaning:
She felt the ground shaking. = She felt that the ground was shaking. (continued action)
She felt the car bump into something. = She felt that the car had bumped into something. (completed
action)
I saw him waiting at the bus stop. (uncompleted action: he was probably waiting before and after being
seen)
They heard him cry out. (They heard one cry – completed action)
They heard the baby crying all night. (continuous action)
I saw him enter the room. (I saw the complete action)
• Feel, hear, see can be followed with a ‘that’ clause with a change of meaning (that is often omitted):
I feel (that) I should go. (believe)
I feel (that) I haven’t been told everything. (It’s my opinion)
I hear (that) he’s leaving. (receive news)
See that he behaves in future. (make sure)
He saw (that) she didn’t know what he was talking about. (realise)
N.B.
• Make in the passive is followed by the infinitive with to:
She was made to learn the poem by heart.
• Let is not used in the passive, use allow to:
She was allowed to stay up late.
• Need is followed by the infinitive with to in active sentences and by –ing in a passive sense:
I need to see the manager.
Your hair is long. It needs cutting.
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50
16. The man presenting the new product stopped ……………........………. (look) at his notes so many times
it became embarrassing. In the end he tried ………...............……………. (improvise), but the results
were even worse.
17. This job means ……………………. (work) strange hours and ……………………. (not earn) much. Are
you sure you want it?
18. Can you show me how ……………. (use) this machine? I’ve tried ..................................... (read) the
instruction manual but it’s all gobbledygook to me and I can’t afford .................................. (waste) any
more time on it.
19. I heard the machine …………………… (make) strange noises for about ten minutes, and then it stopped
........................................... (work) and wouldn’t start again.
20. Now he regrets .......................................... (not accept) the job offer even if it meant
.................................. (move) to Bristol.
2. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first, using the word(s)
given.
1. I’m sorry but you haven’t got the right qualifications for this job. (regret)
……………………………………………………………………..
2. I think John has forgotten he was meant to meet us. (appears)
……………………………………………………………………..
3. The suspect said he hadn’t killed the shop manager. (denied)
……………………………………………………………………..
4. She has the habit of exaggerating on occasion. (tends)
……………………………………………………………………..
5. He detests getting up early. (stand)
……………………………………………………………………..
6. Make sure you lock the door when you leave. (see)
……………………………………………………………………..
7. “OK. I’ll meet Sam at the station,” Jim said. (agreed)
……………………………………………………………………..
8. Her boss allowed her to leave early on Friday. (let)
……………………………………………………………………..
9. I intended speaking to her myself but it slipped my mind. (meant)
……………………………………………………………………..
10. He was sorry later that he hadn’t kept his temper. (regretted)
……………………………………………………………………..
11. She had the sensation that he wasn’t telling the truth. (felt)
……………………………………………………………………..
12. It was impossible not to laugh when he slipped on the ice. (help)
……………………………………………………………………..
13. By chance I saw him taking the money. (just, happened)
……………………………………………………………………..
14. I would like to meet her very much indeed. (long)
……………………………………………………………………..
15. She does the housework on Saturday mornings because it’s convenient for her. (likes)
……………………………………………………………………..
16. Her mother made her help in the house when she was a child. (was)
……………………………………………………………………..
17. I was working when I felt I needed a ten-minute break. (stopped, have)
……………………………………………………………………..
18. He’s in too much the habit of getting his own way. (used)
……………………………………………………………………..
19. Someone told me Tom and Sue have broken up. (heard)
……………………………………………………………………..
20. She said she would report him if he did it again. (threatened)
……………………………………………………………………..
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52
6. ►Listen again and find words or expressions with the following meanings.
1. …………………………………… = left in a place where one is helpless
2. …………………………………… = collect
3. …………………………………… = managed to arrive at
4. …………………………………… = to render an already difficult situation more difficult
5. …………………………………… = steal
6. …………………………………… = contact
7. …………………………………… = considering everything
8. …………………………………… = frightening
9. …………………………………… = nervous excitement or activity and trouble or effort
10. …………………………………… = sum of money paid back
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UNIT 8
GENERAL VERB FORM AND TENSE REVIEW EXERCISES
See Units 1 – 7 for grammar.
1. Choose the most suitable alternative to complete each sentence.
1. They were held up by a traffic jam and by the time they got to the station, their train ...... ten minutes
before. They had to take a later one.
a) was leaving
b) has left
c) had left
d) had been leaving
2. She ........ him all morning but his mobile phone ....... turned off.
a) has been trying calling ...... seems to be
b) has been trying to call ...... seems to be
c) was trying calling ...... seems being
d) is trying to call ...... seems being
3. He ....... very pig-headed over this matter! What’s wrong with him? He’s usually more easy-going.
a) has been being
b) is being
c) would be
d) is
6. Isn’t it time Jim and Sally ....... the hatchet? They ....... to each other for months and it ...... things very
awkward for everybody else in the office.
a) bury ...... don’t speak ....... is making
b) buried ...... haven’t spoken ....... makes
c) are burying ....... didn’t speak ....... made
d) have buried ....... haven’t spoken ....... is making
7. Although she ......... for it for ages, this is the first time she ........ bungee-jumping. It’s no wonder she ......
nervous.
a) has been preparing ...... has been ..... feels
b) was preparing ...... has been ...... is feeling
c) prepared ...... was ....... felt
d) has prepared ...... had been ...... feels
9. He promised me he ....... me up at the station! Why .......? Now I ........ to phone for a taxi.
a) was picking ...... didn’t he come ...... am having
b) would have picked ....... hasn’t he come ..... am having
c) would pick ...... hasn’t he come ...... will have
d) is going to pick ...... doesn’t he come ...... will have
54
10. Why did he pretend ........ the software if he had no idea whatsoever?
a) knowing how to install
b) to know how to install
c) to know how installing
d) knowing how installing
13. I do wish he ........ on running down his colleague behind his back. If I ........ so strongly about something,
I hope I ........ the courage to tell him to his face.
a) wouldn’t keep ....... felt ........ would have
b) didn’t keep ....... feel ........ would have
c) hadn’t kept ..... felt ....... will have
d) doesn’t keep ...... feel ...... will have
14. A gust of wind ....... out the Olympic flame in Greece while the torch ........ by an actress ....... a high
priestess ....... a scene from the ancient Olympics.
a) was blowing ...... was held ....... played ....... was re-enacting
b) blew ...... was being held ...... playing ...... re-enacting
c) had blown ...... is held ..... playing ...... re-enacting
d) has blown ....... is being held ...... plays ..... re-enacts
15. He ....... a hotel because he doesn’t fancy ....... the night at the airport.
a) will book ..... to spend
b) will book ...... that he spends
c) is going to book ....... to spend
d) is going to book ...... spending
2. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form or tense, active or passive.
1. One of the least successful, as well as one of the wettest robberies, ………………………… (take) place
in Poole last week when a team of thieves who ………………………… (stake) out the place for weeks
before, ………………………… (endeavour) ………………………… (steal) all the copper piping from an
empty house. They ………………………… (break) in through the roof and ………………………… (begin)
………………………… (remove) the piping. It all ………………………… (go) like clockwork until they
………………………… (start) ………………………… (cut), at this point, their otherwise foolproof plan
………………………… (find) ………………………… (contain) a small error. They …………………………
(forget) ………………………… (turn) off the water. One neighbour ………………………… (say) later,
“We ………………………… (hear) someone ………………………… (scream) and we
………………………… (see) three men ………………………… (run) out of the house, all soaking wet.”
2. “………………………… (your son, know) what he ………………………… (do) next year?” – “Yes, he
………………………… (decide) that he ………………………… (backpack) around the world for a year
and when he ………………………… (return) he ………………………… (go) to teaching college.”
3. “What …………………… (she, do) if he …………………… (find) out who she …………………… (see) at
weekends?” – “She …………………… (probably, tell) him it ………………..…………… (be) none of his
business.”
4. It’s always best ………………..…………… (avoid) ………………..…………… (crash) altogether.
However, if you ………………..…………… (happen) ………………..…………… (have) an accident, the
A49 ………………..…………… (seem) ………………..…………… (be) the place
………………..…………… (avoid) most. This lesson ………………………… (learn) by Ms Dawson the
hard way. After ………………..…………… (throw) from her motorcycle when she
………………..…………… (skid) on an oil slick and ………………..…………… (collide) with the guard-
55
rail, she ………………..…………… (manage) ………………..…………… (drag) herself onto the grass
verge beside the road from where she ………………..…………… (try) ………………..…………… (flag)
down traffic. She ………………..…………… (spend) almost half an hour ………………..……………
(wave) for help before anyone ………………..…………… (bother) …………………… (stop), although
numerous cars ………………..…………… (pass) and it ………………..…………… (be) obvious to them
from her posture and damaged motorcycle that she …………………… (be) in severe pain. Later, one of
the passing motorists …………………… (admit) that he …………………… (feel) bad about it but if he
………………..…………… (stop) …………………… (help), he ………………..…………… (miss) the kick-
off of his team’s match.
5. …………………… (you, think) a cure for cancer ………………..…………… (discover) by 2020?
6. Volunteers at a charity shop …………………… (make) a surprising discovery this week when a brass
container which ………………..…………… (be) in the shop window for over two weeks,
…………………… (turn) out …………………… (be) a funeral urn, containing human ashes. Now the
shop ………………..…………… (try) …………………… (trace) the urn’s owner, so far they
………………..…………… (not have) success.
7. If the work ………………..…………… (not finish) by last Friday, his boss ………………..……………
(make) him …………………… (work) all the weekend and we ………………..…………… (not lie) on the
beach now.
8. There ………………..…………… (be) a touch of Baywatch in Essex this week. The excitement
…………………… (start) when PC Warrior, who ………………..…………… (patrol) along the front
…………………… (receive) a radio message informing him that a stolen yacht ………………..……………
(spot) offshore. Lesser men ………………..…………… (daunt) by the 600 yards of freezing water
between them and the suspect craft. Not so PC Warrior who, seeing a jet-ski close by, ……………………
(call) the rider and …………………… (demand) ………………..…………… (ferry) out to the boat. Two
men ………………..…………… (subsequently, arrest) and PC Warrior …………………… (hail) as a
hero. One colleague said, “He might look like a burly copper, but to us he ………………..……………
(always, be) Pamela Anderson.”
9. “How long ………………..…………… (he, work) for that firm when he …………………… (retire) next
year?” – “About 25 years, I believe. He ………………..…………… (really, look) forward to
…………………… (retire).”
10. Those who …………………… (feel) the police ………………..…………… (not do) enough
…………………… (apprehend) criminals ………………..…………… (gratify) by events in Dorset this
week, where a man ………………..…………… (fine) for …………………… (eat) a bar of chocolate.
While Mr G. of Corfe ………………..…………… (drive) along the motorway he ………………..……………
(signal) …………………… (stop). Since he ………………..…………… (do) 70mph in a 50mph area he
…………………… (fear) he ………………..…………… (receive) a speeding ticket. However, the officer
was more interested in the fact that he ………………..…………… (drive) while …………………… (eat) a
chocolate bar which, incidentally, ………………..…………… (unwrap) by his wife. Mr G
………………..…………… (caution) and …………………… (issue) with a £20 on-the-spot fine. A police
spokesman later …………………… (admit) that the officer …………………… (be) a little too zealous and
that chocolate …………………… (not threaten) law and order. He added that if it …………………… (be)
a meat pasty, on the other hand, he ………………..…………… (not get) off so lightly.
3. Fill the spaces with the correct form of the verbs below. Some verbs are used more than once.
believe – convince – come out – carry – carry out - overturn – fall – find – catch – cross -
die – divide – suffocate – freeze – include – jump - target – remand – rise - stab – appear -
do – kill – reach - pay – reveal – charge – drown – invest – create
1
At least fourteen more illegal immigrants ……………………………….. on their way to Britain over the
2
past eighteen months. This ……………………………….. by figures yesterday, as two more people
3
……………………………….. in connection with the deaths of sixty Chinese stowaways.
4
As the government promised ……………………………….. more to win the battle against the traffickers
5
in human flesh, it ……………………………….. that the tragedy at Dover was not an isolated case.
6
Of the more than three hundred clandestine immigrants known …………………………….. world-wide in
7
the last two years after ……………………………….. exorbitant sums to criminal gangs, at least fourteen
8
were bound for Britain. These …………………...............………….. four Albanians who
8 10
……………………………….. when a ferry heading for Italy ……………………………….. fire last
11
November and six Romanians whose decomposing corpses ……………………………….. on a ship in
Spain.
12
One Albanian ……………………………….. to death after he climbed into a refrigerated lorry heading
13
for Britain wearing only light clothes. Two more Bosnians ……………………………….. in the Danube
56
4. Look back at the completed text in exercise 2 and find words or expressions which have the
following meanings.
1. ……………………………… = people who have come to live permanently in another country
2. ……………………………… = numbers
3. ……………………………… = people who hide in ships or planes before departure, in order to travel
without paying
4. ……………………………… = people who trade in something illegally
5. ……………………………… = was revealed
6. ……………………………… = done secretly
7. ……………………………… = unreasonably high
8. ……………………………… = going to
9. ……………………………… = killed as a result of being unable to breathe
10. ……………………………… = on the way to
11. ……………………………… = decaying
12. ……………………………… = dead bodies
13. ……………………………… = killed in water as a result of being unable to breathe
14. ……………………………… = capsized
15. ……………………………… = killed with a knife
16. ……………………………… = secret plan by a group of people to do something illegal
17. ……………………………… = sent to prison until the date of the trial
18. ……………………………… = crime of killing a person illegally but not intentionally
19. ……………………………… = relative extent
20. ……………………………… = manage to pass
21. ……………………………… = device to produce a picture of the inside of something on a computer
screen
22. ……………………………… = say that someone is responsible for something bad
23. ……………………………… = affirm
24. ……………………………… = do as required or specified
25. ……………………………… = group of people assembled to deal with a particular problem
26. ……………………………… = concentrate on
27. ……………………………… = of or involving a nation or race that has a common cultural tradition
28. ……………………………… = join others in doing something likely to be successful
57
6. Rewrite each sentence using the word(s) given so that the meaning remains the same.
1. Transfer from the airport to your hotel isn’t included in the price of the ticket. (doesn’t)
……………………………………………………………................……….
2. Your application is under discussion. (being)
…………………………………………………………................………….
3. When did they get married? (long)
…………………………………………………………………...........….
4. When I see that old film I always cry. (makes)
…………………………………………………………………..........….
5. Arrangements for our meeting next week have been made. (will)
………………………………………………………………...............…….
6. It’s a long time since she had a holiday. (for)
………………………………………………………………….....................….
7. He didn’t apologise and now he’s sorry. (wishes)
………………………………………………………….......................………….
8. He didn’t like going to the theatre when he was younger. (use)
………………………………………………………............…………….
9. They ate and then they went out. (after)
……………………………………………………..................……………….
10. It was impossible for them not to suspect him. (help)
………………………………………………………........................…………….
11. The police were questioning the suspect. (was)
…………………………………………………….........................……………….
12. This is his first visit to the USA. (never)
…………………………………………………………….........................……….
13. “I didn’t break the window!” said Bill. (denied)
…………………………………………………………………….
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14. I was concentrating on my book and that’s why I didn’t hear him arrive. (if)
…………………….............................……………………………………………….
15. Tom was in the bath when she arrived. (having)
………………………..............................…………………………………………….
16. It began raining six hours ago. (for)
…………………………………………………………………….
17. You eat too much trash food, that’s why you’re spotty. (if)
…………………………………………………………………….
18. He intended to phone her but he forgot. (was)
…………………………………………………………………….
19. She always disagrees with him and he is accustomed to it. (used, her)
…………………………………………………………………….
20. I can’t get this printer to work. (won’t)
…………………………………………………………………….
21. She hasn’t got the money to go on holiday this year. (afford)
…………………………………………………………………….
22. It annoys her when he contradicts her in public. (wishes)
…………………………………………………………………….
23. They will have finished the decorating by next week. (been)
…………………………………………………………………….
24. They might have told him they were going to leave early. (he)
…………………………………………………………………….
25. “You took my bike!” she told Tom.
(accused) …………………………………………………………………….
59
UNIT 9
MODAL VERBS: PRESENT, FUTURE & PAST, RELATED EXPRESSIONS
The past of modal verbs is formed by: modal verb + have + past participle.
Their plane might have been delayed by fog.
You shouldn’t have left so much money on your desk. It could have been stolen.
ABILITY:
• can
She can read English but she can’t speak it very well.
• be able to is used instead of can in more formal writing, when the infinitive is required or for all the
missing tenses of can (future simple, present perfect, past perfect, etc.):
After the operation he’ll be able to lead a normal life.
• be capable of means to have the necessary ability or qualities required to do something: (often used
with a condition, as in your example)
He’s capable of doing the job if he sets his mind to it.
• could is used to talk about general ability in the past which is not limited to one occasion and in
conditional sentences:
When he was young, he could play the piano quite well.
If I could speak the language, I’d enjoy my stay here more.
• with verbs of the senses, even if the ability refers to one occasion, use could:
She could hear someone moving about in the sitting room so she woke her husband.
• was/were able to (in the affirmative), is used to describe a successfully completed action on one
specific occasion in the past:
She could swim so she was able to save herself from drowning.
• other expressions used to talk about ability on one specific occasion are managed to or succeeded in:
He succeeded in persuading his father to help him set up his business.
He managed to get in touch with them in the end.
• in negative and interrogative sentences, there is no difference between ability in the past on one specific
occasion and in general, use could, was/were able to, succeed in or managed to:
Did he manage to convince her?
They weren’t able to understand the guide’s explanations as they didn’t speak a word of English.
CERTAINTY, UNCERTAINTY
• will, be certain to or be bound to are used when there is certainty that something will happen in the
future:
There will be a general outcry when the news of the new tax comes out.
You’re bound to see him tomorrow. (I’m certain you will.)
• In case of uncertainty (and/or possibility), use may (not), might (not) or could (could not does not
express uncertainty)
I might be able to finish the job by Friday, but it is doubtful.
His flight could be delayed by fog.
We may not have enough time to visit her.
POSSIBILITY / IMPOSSIBILITY
• can/can’t or could/couldn’t:
We can work overtime in an effort to complete the order.
They couldn’t do any more that evening.
• to talk about things which are possible or impossible in the future, use can, may, might or will / won’t
be able to:
We can leave tomorrow.
We’ll be able to see the results of the publicity campaign next month.
They won’t be able to do much sightseeing in two days!
• may, might, could (affirmative) express both uncertainty or possibility:
I may / might arrive late tomorrow.
She could be stuck in a traffic jam.
She may / might have missed the train. (Perhaps she did.)
You could have had a bad accident. (It was a possibility.)
• may / might be + –ing is used to express a possibility that something may be happening at that
moment:
She may / might be working late at the office.
60
• was / were to have (very formal) refers to something which should have happened but didn’t:
He was to have left yesterday but he felt ill.
• be likely or be unlikely is used to say that something probably will or won’t happen.
• unlikely is not used much in spoken English nowadays: not be likely is more common. There are two
possible structures:
• it + (not) be + likely / be unlikely (+ that) + subject + verb etc.
It is likely (that) he will move nearer his office.
It is unlikely (that) he will be promoted this year.
It isn’t likely he will be promoted this year.
• subject + be + (not) likely / unlikely + infinitive (with to)
He is likely to move.
He is not likely to have enough money to buy that car.
He is unlikely to spend much on furnishings.
OBLIGATION
• must (personal obligation), have to (external obligation) – sometimes there is no difference:
I must / have to go now.(it is not clear if it is a personal or an external obligation)
• be to (formal) is used in instructions:
You are to fill in this form.
• the past of both must and have to is had to:
She had to pull her socks up to pass that exam.
• mustn’t (prohibition), don’t have to (It’s not necessary.):
You mustn’t smoke here; it’s against the law!
He doesn’t have to finish now, he can do it tomorrow.
There was plenty of time so he didn’t have to hurry.
• needn’t have describes an action which happened, but was unnecessary:
You needn’t have prepared a meal, we could have gone to a restaurant.
• didn’t need to describes an action which wasn’t necessary and did not happen:
We didn’t need to book a table as there are never many people there on Thursdays.
PERMISSION
• can is used in informal situations
Can I use your dictionary?
• could is more polite than can:
Could you move your bag so I can sit down?
• may is more formal and polite than can or could:
May my son leave school early? He’s got a dental appointment.
• indirect questions are more polite than direct questions:
Do you think I could close the door?
• Do you mind if + present simple:
Do you mind if I take a day off next week?
• would you mind if + past simple:
Would you mind if I used your phone? It’s an emergency.
• mind + -ing
“Do you mind opening the window?” – Actually, I’m feeling rather cold.”
Would you mind moving your bag, please? This is the only seat left.
• allow or permit + object + infinitive are used to give permission. Permit is more formal than allow.
They allowed him to use the Internet for personal motives.
• be allowed to + infinitive is used to say something is permitted. All tenses are possible with this
expression. The subject of be allowed to must be a person.
He was allowed to leave school early.
• let + object + bare infinitive (no to)
They let him stay up to see the end of the film.
61
• should be –ing / ought to be –ing are used to describe actions which are supposed to be going on at
that moment (but often aren’t):
She should be studying / ought to be studying in her room at this time.
• should have / ought to have are used to criticise or talk about things in the past which were not
expected by the speaker:
You should have / ought to have telephoned earlier.
He should have / ought to have passed the exam. I can’t understand why he didn’t.
• had better (present or future) is used to give advice or strong recommendations:
You’d better go home, it’s late.
• might / could have is also used to express irritation on the part of the speaker:
You might have told me he was going to be late!
• it’s better or best + bare infinitive, it’s better to + infinitive or had better + bare infinitive to suggest
how to avoid problems or get the best results:
It’s best you make an appointment.
Don’t just go and visit him. It’s better to phone first. /You had better phone first.
• advise + somebody (+ not) + infinitive is used to tell people what you think they should do. It is also
used in formal contexts:
They advised him not to go out alone at night in that district.
• other important verbs used to suggest and advise are:
• suggest when talking about things you believe would be a good idea or the correct thing to do
• recommend when you want to tell somebody that something is a good idea or suitable because you
have had a good experience of it
• propose is used to suggest ideas and plans, usually in formal contexts
• All three verbs take the following structures:
• present verb (that) + somebody + bare infinitive
I suggest (that) you apply for the job.
• present verb (that) + somebody + should + bare infinitive
I propose he should resign.
I suggest you should apply for the job.
• past verb (that) + somebody + bare infinitive
He recommended (that) we call an expert.
• past verb (that) + somebody + should + bare infinitive
She suggested (that) they should book a hotel.
• verb + ing when the subject of the –ing verb is obvious or will also do the action suggested:
They proposed booking the hotel well in advance.
I suggested catching a train rather than driving. I thought it would far less tiring for us.
DEDUCTIONS
• Positive deductions or assumptions on the part of the speaker are expressed by:
• (present) must + bare infinitive:
You must be tired after travelling for so long.
• (present) must be –ing is used for deductions about something which the speaker thinks are
happening at the moment:
She must be having a bath, she’s been in there an age.
• (past) must have + past participle:
• You must have been tired when you arrived.
• (future) be bound to, be sure to:
He’s bound to be there at the exhibition next month.
He’s sure to arrive soon.
• Negative deductions or assumptions on the part of the speaker are expressed by:
• (present) can’t + bare infinitive:
He can’t be hungry. He’s just eaten an enormous sandwich.
• (present) can’t + be + -ing for things you assume or deduct aren’t happening at this moment or in
this period:
He can’t be working at this hour of the night!
• (past) can’t + have + past participle:
He can’t have been happy when he got the bill for the repairs.
• Uncertain deductions or assumptions are expressed by:
• (present) may / may not, might / might not, could + bare infinitive:
He may stay for another night. It depends on which flight has seats.
62
• (present) may / may not, might / might not, could + be + -ing to talk about things you think might
be happening or not happening at this moment or in this period
He might be watching the match although he’s not that keen on football.
• (past) may / may not, might / might not, could + have + past participle (could not etc. is not used
for deduction):
He may not have realised that he was invited too.
2. She ....... through to his office yet, although she’s been trying all morning.
a) hasn’t been able to get
b) couldn’t get
c) didn’t manage to get
d) doesn’t succeed in getting
3. She ....... yet! She’s a fast worker but she only started the job yesterday.
a) mustn’t finish
b) might not finish
c) can’t have finished
d) mustn’t have finished
4. Tom just rang. He said he was still at home. ......... to the airport at this time?
a) Mustn’t he drive
b) Shouldn’t he be driving
c) Doesn’t he need driving
d) Can he be driving
5. She was brought up in Madrid so by the time she was five, she ....... Spanish perfectly.
a) managed to speak
b) could speak
c) succeeded in speaking
d) is able to speak
7. It was difficult but he ....... convince his father to let him use the family car.
a) succeeded
b) was able to
c) could
d) managed
9. They ....... the work by the deadline if they hadn’t come up against so many setbacks.
a) could have finished
b) must have finished
c) might be finishing
d) ought to finish
63
10. Sue wasn’t feeling too well yesterday. She wasn’t sure but she told me she ....... at home today.
a) must stay
b) can have stayed
c) may stay
d) has to stay
13. He ....... the report home to finish. Otherwise it would be on his desk.
a) can take
b) might be taking
c) must have taken
d) can take
14. I suggest ....... some time to relax and chill out. He’s exhausted!
a) he is taking
b) he take
c) he has taken
d) to take
16. By running as fast as he could, he ....... catch his train by the skin of his teeth.
a) could just
b) was just able to
c) managed
d) succeeded to
2. Complete each sentence with the correct tenses or forms of can, could, be able to, must, have to,
should, may or might - and the correct form of the verb in brackets. Sometimes, the passive may
be necessary.
E.g. I think we …shouldn’t have stopped……. (not / stop) and ……..had………(have) a break earlier, we
....should have......... (push) on. Now we’re caught in the rush hour traffic.
1. They …………………………………. (not / arrive) yet, it’s too early. Their train
…………………………………. (get) in at six.
2. His mobile telephone’s off. He …………………………………. (have) a lesson, he always turns it off
before going into the classroom.
3. I’m not sure but I …………………………………. (be) late tomorrow morning, I
…………………………………. (take) my little sister to school.
4. I’m sorry I …………………………………. (not / come) with you yesterday. I
…………………………………. (go) to the lawyer’s.
5. Let’s go round to the back of the house. He …………………………………. (sit) in the garden, he often
does when the weather’s fine.
6. If I …………………………………. (phone) you, I would have done so, but I ………………………………….
(not / get) through. I …………………………………. (be) in an area which doesn’t receive a telephone
signal.
64
7. She …………………………………. (warn) me that he had recently been widowed. As it was, I really put
my foot in it!
8. You were lucky! The incident …………………………………. (have) much more serious consequences.
9. You …………………………………. (post) the letter yesterday. Why didn’t you?
10. Oh bother! I can’t find my keys. I …………………………………. (leave) them in my other bag.
11. You …………………………………. (turn) left here and park. You …………………………………. (not /
take) the car into the centre, it’s a pedestrian island.
12. “Where is he? He …………………………………. (arrive) hours ago!” – “Don’t worry. He
…………………………………. (catch) in a traffic jam or he …………………………………. (work) late at
the office.” – “He …………………………………. (not / be)! He always telephones if he’s going to be late.
He …………………………………. (have) an accident or something. I’m going to call the police. He
…………………………………. (lie) unconscious in the road for all we know!”
13. Your application …………………………………. (send) in by the end of May, at the latest.
14. …………………………………. (he, pay) much interest on his mortgage last year?
15. I’d like …………………………………. (drive). Not …………………………………. (drive)
…………………………………. (be) a nuisance when public transport isn’t very good, you
…………………………………. (rely) on other people’s kindness. For example, next Monday I
…………………………………. (fly) to Paris, if a friend hadn’t offered to take me, I
…………………………………. (take) a train, the underground and then another train before even arriving
at the airport.
16. “Where’s the ham gone? I wanted to make sandwiches.” – “It …………………………………. (eat). You
know David and his friends were here alone yesterday afternoon. You ………………………………….
(hide) it if you didn’t want anyone to eat it.”
17. The secretary …………………………………. (write) up that report but actually she’s talking to her
boyfriend on the phone.
18. “He …………………………………. (be) furious when he found out the truth!” – “Yes, you
…………………………………. (hear) the shouting from the end of the street.”
19. You …………………………………. (not / answer) the boss back in that way this morning. One of these
days you’re going to be fired and then you …………………………………. (find) yourself another job.
20. You …………………………………. (not / shout), I’m not deaf.
21. I wonder why Alan didn’t buy me anything for my birthday. He ....................................... (forget) or he
..................................................... (think) that now I’m getting on, I don’t like to be reminded of my
advancing years. On the other hand, he .......................................... (not forget)! He ...........................
(give) me a present this evening when I see him. Oh no! He ............................... (plan) a surprise party,
as he did last year. What a disaster that was! I hope he isn’t going to do it again.
22. Every time I phone Kelly, it’s engaged. I suppose she ........................................ (try) to phone me while
I’m calling her. I’ll wait a while and try again later.
23. I can’t help worrying when my son is late home and doesn’t answer his mobile phone. I know it’s
irrational but I automatically think something awful ........................................... (happen). Wait a minute!
Isn’t it Tuesday? He often works late on Tuesdays. He ..................................... (not / leave) the office yet.
I’ll give him a ring there.
24. Jane has got a lot of brochures about Ireland. She ..................................... (think) of going there this year
on holiday. I wonder who she’s going with.
25. “I wonder where Jack is. I haven’t seen him at the station all this week” – “I’m not sure but he
.......................................... (work) from home this week. He mentioned the possibility.
3. Complete the sentences with the correct forms of have to, need or must and the correct form of
the verbs in the list Use each verb once only.
book – clean – do – have – learn – leave – look - never / pull - not / go - not / make - not / take – offend –
open - taste – tell – watch – wear – work - worry
1. “What time ................... we ............for the airport?” – “It’s only a thirty-minute drive, so we
.......................... until about 4.30. I ........................... my packing. I haven’t started yet.”
2. He has an interview for a job next week, but before the interview he ........................... a medical
examination.
3. How did you damage your bike? You .......................... to look after your things. When I was your age, I
........................... my bike once a week.
4. A new Indian restaurant has just opened. You ................................ their special curry. It’s fantastic.
However, you ............................ at least a week in advance as it’s already very popular.
5. I’m sure she didn’t mean to upset you. You ................................. her remarks so personally.
6. I hate .................................... you, but you’ve just got a parking fine.
7. It was kind but you ............................................. sandwiches. I had something to eat on the plane.
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8. He has perfect teeth! The dentist ..................................... out a single tooth in all these years!
9. I’ve put on weight! I ............................. what I eat in the future.
10. I don’t think a career in the army would suit him. He ................................. a uniform, for a start.
11. You ................................ about him. He can look after himself.
12. We .............................................. for a hotel when we went to Rome. A friend of ours put us up for the
three nights.
13. “Look! The light is on in his office. He ............................................”
14. He’s not very polite, is he? ......................................... her by telling her she looked ten years older than
her age?
15. You ................................... the door before the train stops!
10. At the moment it is difficult to find room and quiet because ....... .
a) there are too many cars in the canyon
b) too many people stay in the lodges
c) it is too crowded
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12. In the future, the park may be able to improve the quality of a visit by ....... .
a) using buses and horses
b) sending everyone to Mather Point
c) limiting the amount of traffic allowed in the park
5. Make suitable comments with a modal. Use the word given in brackets.
E.g. The light’s still on in Sam’s bedroom. (reading)
He must be reading.
6. Rewrite each sentence so that it has the same meaning and contains the word given.
1. You should go by train, it’s more convenient.
(had) ………………………………………………………………………..
2. I’m sure you didn’t see Julie yesterday.
(seen) ………………………………………………………………………..
3. I’m certain you’ll have a good time in California.
(bound) ………………………………………………………………………..
4. He should have gone to Rome last week but there was a plane strike.
(was) ………………………………………………………………………..
5. Perhaps Joe didn’t take your dictionary.
(have) ………………………………………………………………………..
6. It would be a good idea for her to stay in bed until she feels better.
(should) ………………………………………………………………………..
7. It was wrong of you to borrow her CD without leave.
(borrowed) ………………………………………………………………………..
8. I’m sure he was relieved when he heard the good news.
(have) ………………………………………………………………………..
9. It’s possible he’s sleeping.
(be) ………………………………………………………………………..
10. It was unnecessary for him to stay up all night studying as the exam was easy.
(stayed) ………………………………………………………………………..
11. It’s just possible that they missed the train.
(have) ………………………………………………………………………..
12. It wasn’t necessary for me to pay for the theatre ticket as it was David’s treat.
(to) ………………………………………………………………………..
13. I wish he had given me more time to prepare.
(have) ………………………………………………………………………..
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UNIT 10
RELATIVE CLAUSES
DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES are used to identify exactly which person or thing, etc. is meant. The
relative clause is part of the noun clause (i.e. not separated by commas) and the information it contains is
necessary for the sentence to make sense.
• Defining relative clauses are usually introduced by a relative pronoun, such as ‘that’ (things / people),
‘which’ (things), ‘who’ (people), ‘whom’ (people - whom is used in very formal English as the object of
the verb in the relative clause) or ‘whose’.
• who, that, which, whom cannot be omitted when used as the subject of the clause:
The man who / that lives next door is a bit nosy.
The car that / which caused the accident didn’t stop.
• who, that, which, whom can be omitted when used as the object of the clause:
The man (who / that / whom) I met yesterday was rather good-looking.
The car (which / that) she bought was second-hand.
• possession: whose is generally used for people, although in common, idiomatic use it is also used for
things:
The applicant whose interview had gone well got the job.
London is a city whose monuments attract myriads of tourists.
(more formally) London is a city the monuments of which attract myriads of tourists.
• To avoid both whose and of which with things, we sometimes use with:
The car with the dented bumper is hers.
• With prepositions:
• (informal) She was the person (who / that) I was waiting for.
• (formal) She was the person for whom I was waiting.
• (informal) The bed (which / that) I slept in was too soft.
• (formal) The bed in which I slept was too soft.
PARTICULAR USES:
• with a present participle:
The celebrations beginning tomorrow usually continue all week. = The celebrations which will begin
tomorrow usually continue all week.
• with a past participle:
The painting stolen last week has been found by the police = The painting which was stolen last week
has been found by the police.
• with for and an infinitive:
There’s nothing else for us to do. = There’s nothing else (which / that) we can do.
• when / why / where / how:
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I’ll always remember the day when I met Jim. = I’ll always remember the day on which I met Jim.
The shop where I bought … = The shop in which I bought ….
The reason why he was late ..... = The reason for which he was late ….
He explained how it had to be done. = He explained the way in which it had to be done.
• what = the thing that:
What I can’t understand is his attitude towards the rest of the staff.
• which can also refer to the whole situation described in the main clause:
She was very nervous before the exam, which was understandable.(i.e. that she was very nervous)
• however ( it doesn’t matter how):
However much it costs, he will buy it.
• whatever (it doesn’t matter what):
Whatever you do, don’t touch anything!
• whenever (it doesn’t matter when):
Whenever I see him, he’s talking on his mobile phone.
• whichever (it doesn’t matter which):
Whichever bag you choose, it’ll still be too expensive.
• wherever (it doesn’t matter where):
Wherever he goes, he insists on drinking tea.
• whoever (it doesn’t matter who):
He’ll have to toe the line, whoever he is!
1. Decide whether the relative clauses are defining (D) or non-defining (ND), insert commas (where
necessary) and complete the sentences with who, which, that, or whose only if necessary.
1. (……….) They didn’t enjoy the play ………………….. they went to see last week.
2. (……….) A friend of mine ………………….. parents live near the sea invited me to spend a week with
him.
3. (……….) Pete ………………….. had been a policeman for twenty years now works with young people
………………….. childhood has been difficult.
4. (……….) Is this the gentleman ………………….. wishes to see me?
5. (……….) Al Capone ………………….. family came from Sicily was a notorious Mafia boss.
6. (……….) The castle ………………….. was built in the twelfth century is said to be haunted by the spirit of
a man ………………….. threw his wife off the top of the tower.
7. (……….) Anyone ………………….. witnessed the accident should report to the nearest police station.
8. (……….) Coffee ………………….. is grown for export is their principal crop.
9. (……….) Agatha Christie ………………….. crime and mystery novels are still popular died in the mid
70s.
10. (……….) I don’t believe the story ………………….. she told us.
11. (……….) The car in ………………….. the robbers had made a get-away was later found abandoned.
12. (……….) A ring road ………………….. would connect all the suburbs would be a great amenity.
13. (……….) A parcel ………………….. was addressed to John was delivered yesterday.
14. (……….) His flat, ………………….. was rather small, overlooked the main road.
15. (……….) The man ………………….. photo had been identified by the witness was arrested by the police
………………….. charged him with breaking and entering.
16. (……….) The computer programme ………………….. they installed last week doesn’t seem to work very
well.
17. (……….) The person ………………….. I spoke to said there would be no extra charge for the repairs to
the stereo ………………….. had resulted from faulty wiring.
18. (……….) David’s mother ………………….. likes dogs has offered to take one of the puppies.
19. (……….) Exeter ………………….. is a cathedral town is always full of tourists in summer.
20. (……….) Mr Brown for ………………….. you are waiting has unfortunately been delayed.
2. Make the sentences less formal, omitting relative pronouns where possible.
1. The man for whom she worked was rather unpleasant.
................................................................................................................
2. The mattress the springs of which were broken was thrown away.
................................................................................................................
3. The dog, the tail of which was wagging furiously, leapt toward his master with joy.
4. ................................................................................................................
5. The boy at whom she was staring went bright red.
................................................................................................................
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5. Complete the sentences with when, why, where, how, which or what.
1. She was given three days to finish the job ……………………… wasn’t long enough.
2. The place ……………………… you should sign is marked with a cross.
3. ……………………… really annoys me is that he expected me to apologise!
4. Can you explain to me again ……………………… I should use this machine? Yesterday
……………………… you explained, I wasn’t really listening.
5. Can you give me one good reason ……………………… I should believe you this time?
6. They have the habit of writing down everything you say, ……………………… makes conversation rather
difficult.
7. I can thoroughly recommend the hotel ……………………… I stayed.
8. The police didn’t know ……………………… the thieves entered the building, because none of the doors
or windows were forced ……………………… made them think it may have been an inside job.
9. Can you remember the time ……………………… he was supposed to arrive?
10. ……………………… I can’t understand is ……………………… he didn’t tell us about his problems. Aren’t
we supposed to be his friends?
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6. Rewrite the sentences using whatever, whoever, wherever, whenever, whichever or however.
1. The person who booked your ticket has made a mistake in the date.
………………………………………………………………………..
2. No matter how hard they try to cover up, they are to blame.
………………………………………………………………………..
3. I try to find time to go to the theatre on every occasion I have the opportunity.
………………………………………………………………………..
4. No matter where you go on holiday, don’t forget to send me a postcard.
………………………………………………………………………..
5. Every time I try to bend down, my back hurts.
………………………………………………………………………..
6. No matter which book you borrow, bring it back next week.
………………………………………………………………………..
7. I don’t care what has happened, I insist on speaking to him.
………………………………………………………………………..
8. No matter which of you made the mess, it has to be cleaned up immediately.
………………………………………………………………………..
9. It doesn’t matter when he drops in, they always make him welcome.
………………………………………………………………………..
10. It doesn’t seem to matter how much she tries to satisfy him, he always finds something wrong.
………………………………………………………………………..
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UNIT 11
INDIRECT SPEECH
• Normally, when the verb introducing the indirect speech is in the past simple, past perfect or
conditional, the tense in the reported statement shifts backwards:
“I’m stressed-out.” – She said she was stressed-out.
“I’ll do it.” – She had told me she would do it.
“I hate Mondays.” – She would often say she hated Mondays.
• There is no change if the speech is in the past continuous, past perfect, past perfect continuous,
present conditional and perfect conditional:
“She was sleeping.” – He said she was sleeping.
“She had worked before.” – He said she had worked before.
“I would like to speak.” – He said he would like to speak.
• Words that are spoken in one place may be reported in another place by a different person. Because of
this, there are often logical grammatical differences between direct and indirect speech. This often
changes to that or the:
“I don’t want to do this work. I’m leaving now.” - She told him that she didn’t want to do the work and
she was leaving.
• pronouns may also change, e.g. I = he / she, you = him / her / me, etc., we = they.
“I don’t want you to disturb me while I’m working.” – She told him that she didn’t want him to disturb
her while she was working.
• adverbs and adverbial phrases of time and place may be either dropped or changed. Some of the
most common changes are: here = there, now = then, today = that day, yesterday = the day before /
the previous day, next Friday = the following / next Friday, tomorrow = the following / next day, ago =
before. Of course, these changes depend on when and where the speech is reported.
“Don’t leave it here!” – I told him not to leave it here. (the speaker is in the same place) - I told him
not to leave it there. (the speaker is somewhere else)
“I’ll do it tomorrow.” – I said I would do it tomorrow.” (it’s the same day) - I said I would do it the next
day. (it is no longer the same day)
• that is often omitted, especially after common reporting verbs, e.g. say, tell, in informal speech.
He told me (that) he couldn’t come.
She said (that) she’d had enough.
• Modals:
• can / may / shall change to could / might / should
“Can I use your dictionary?” – He asked if he could use her dictionary.
“Shall I open the window?” – He asked if he should open the window.
• must as a logical deduction, prohibition or intention does not change:
“You must be crazy.” – She said he must be crazy.
• When must expresses obligation it changes to had to or would have to
“I must work this Saturday.” – He said he had to work that Saturday
“I must go to Rome tomorrow.” – He said he would have to / had to go to Rome the next day.
• other expressions related to modals do not change:
“I’d rather not do it.” – “She said she’d rather not do it.
• after wish (meaning if only), there is no change in tense
“I wish she were more easy-going.” – He said he wished she were more easy-going.
• requests and commands in the imperative are often reported with tell or ask + infinitive:
‘Call me tomorrow.’ – I told her to call me the next day.
‘Don’t go without telling me.’ – I asked him not to go without telling me.
• questions:
• yes/no questions are reported using if or whether. There is no inversion and no question mark.
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“Do you see her every day?” – She asked if / whether he saw her every day.
• Wh- questions are reported with the question word but without inversion.
“What do you like doing on Saturdays?” – He asked what she liked doing on Saturdays.
• The structure of question word + infinitive is also common:
“Where should I park?” – He asked me where to park.
“How do I use the machine?” – She asked him how to use the machine.
• Indirect questions introduced by polite phrases, e.g. Could you tell me …? I wonder … Can you
explain …?, etc. Note the word order:
“What time does the film start?” – Do you mind telling me what time the film starts?
• After past reporting verbs, sentences with if and would are usually unchanged in indirect speech:
“We would arrive earlier if you drove a little faster.” – He said they would arrive earlier if she drove a
little faster.
• However, conditional sentences which refer to unreal situations can change, depending on the sense
of the sentence:
“If I had time, I would help you.”– He told me that if he had had time, he would have helped me.
(He had no time so it is ‘unreal’) or He told me he would help me if he had time. (He may find time
in the future)
• When the verb introducing the reported speech is in the present simple, present perfect or future,
there is no change in tense in the reported statement:
“I like him.” - He says he likes him.
“I never answer the phone after 10.00.” – He has said he never answers the phone after 10.00.
N:B:
Although past tenses are normally used in reports about the past, you can use a present tense in the
reported clause if what you’re saying is still true:
Did you tell him I’m waiting for him? (I’m still waiting)
He said he has been trying to speak to her all day. (It is still the same day and he is still trying to speak to
her.)
REPORTING VERBS
• Common reporting verbs which take an infinitive construction are: ask, decide, forbid, invite, offer,
persuade, promise, refuse, remind, threat, warn:
“Yes, I’ll buy it.” – He decided to buy it.
“I won’t let the cat out of the bag, I promise.” – He promised not to let the cat out of the bag.
“No, I won’t write the report.” – She refused to write the report.
“I’m going call the police!” – She threatened to call the police.
• object + infinitive is often found with ask, advise, tell, order:
“Would you like to go to the cinema with me?” – He invited her to go to the cinema with him.
“Please be quiet.” - She asked us to be quiet.
“I wouldn’t call her at this time of the night.” – He advised me not to call her at that time of the night.
• other common reporting verbs are:
• apologise + for
“I’m sorry I forgot.” – She apologised for forgetting.
• agree + with
“Yes, I think you’re right, Sally.” – She agreed with Sally.
• congratulate + on
“That’s wonderful! You’re going to Australia!” – She congratulated him on going to Australia.
• admit / deny + -ing
“I didn’t kill him.” – He denied killing him.
• suggest + -ing
“Let’s go out.” – I suggested going out.
• suggest + should
“Let’s go out.” – I suggested we should go out.
• suggest + bare infinitive (subjunctive)
“Let’s go out.” – I suggested we go out.
• It + the passive of a reporting verb is used in formal English to report what people in general feel or
think:
It is claimed that he committed fraud.
It was announced that the firm was bankrupt.
It was pointed out that the speaker hadn’t answered the question.
It is feared that a lot of people will lose their jobs when the two firms merge.
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2. She told him not to be silly and to get on with his homework.
…………………………………………………………………………….
3. He apologised for not phoning her the night before.
…………………………………………………………………………….
4. He said he would have to go to Bonn the following week.
…………………………………………………………………………….
5. The suspect denied stabbing and robbing the old man.
…………………………………………………………………………….
6. She suggested they went somewhere exotic for their holidays.
…………………………………………………………………………….
7. He asked her if she would meet him there at the same time the following day.
…………………………………………………………………………….
8. Tom advised her to see a doctor about her cough.
…………………………………………………………………………….
9. Sue refused to work overtime on Friday evening.
…………………………………………………………………………….
10. He asked her to use the other phone.
…………………………………………………………………………….
11. He grumbled about the spaghetti being overcooked.
…………………………………………………………………………….
12. She warned him about the dangers of going too near the monkey cage.
…………………………………………………………………………….
13. He promised he would be there on time the next day.
…………………………………………………………………………….
14. He explained that he hadn’t been able to finish the work because he didn’t feel very well.
…………………………………………………………………………….
15. She asked if she might use his computer for a few hours.
…………………………………………………………………………….
4. Rewrite each sentence beginning as shown so that the meaning remains the same.
1. Will our team win the championship?
I wonder …………………………………………………..
2. Where can I find a book about photography?
Do you know …………………………………………………..?
3. Did Joe receive my fax?
Do you happen to know …………………………………………………..?
4. Who is that woman in the funny hat?
Have you any idea …………………………………………………..?
5. Will he have finished moving in by next month?
I wonder …………………………………………………..
6. How long have you been back?
Do you mind telling me …………………………………………………..?
7. Where is he going?
Have you any idea …………………………………………………..?
8. Can you lend me some money?
Would you mind …………………………………………………..?
9. Will the repairs have been done by the end of the month?
Can you tell me .............................................................................................?
10. Does he go swimming every day?
She wondered ................................................................................................
5. Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first.
1. “Don’t forget to buy some bread on your way home, Pete,” Sheila said.
Sheila reminded .................................................................... way home.
2. “Me? No, I didn’t tell anyone,” said Sue.
Sue denied ....................................................................................... anyone.
3. “Why don’t we go away this weekend?” said Larry.
Larry suggested ........................................................ away that weekend.
4. “That was a brilliant idea, John!” Georgia said.
Georgia congratulated .......................................................................... idea.
5. “You haven’t justified such a high budget for the project,” someone told him.
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It was pointed out that ................................................................................... such a high budget for the
project.
6. “Yes, I made the mistake of taking his approval for granted,” said Gil.
Gil admitted .......................................................... the mistake of taking his approval for granted.
7. “I’ll pick you up at the airport,” he told her.
He offered ........................................................... at the airport.
8. “I wouldn’t press Joe for an answer, Carol, if I were you,” said Keith.
Keith advised .................................................................................... an answer.
9. “I will arrive in time to take you to the station, Jill. I give you my word,” Dave said.
Dave promised ................................................................. to the station.
10. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you,” he told her.
He apologised ......................................................... .
6. ►You will hear 10 short dialogues. Decide which of the choices best summarises what is said.
1. a) Joe apologised for stealing the money.
b) Joe denied stealing the money.
c) Joe admitted stealing the money.
10. a) The robber threatened to shoot the cashier if she didn’t give him the money.
b) The robber warned the cashier to give him the money.
c) The cashier agreed to give the robber the money.
7. Change the sentences into reported speech using each of the following reporting verbs once.
Use He …. her (if necessary).
congratulated – urged - threatened – asked - complained – suggested – promised - apologised
– warned - offered - invited – boasted - denied – explained – screamed - reminded – whispered
- ordered – refused – advised
1. “No, you can’t use my car.”
…………………………………………………………………………….
2. “I didn’t hear you because I’m a bit hard of hearing.”
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…………………………………………………………………………….
3. “If I were you, I wouldn’t believe everything he says.”
…………………………………………………………………………….
4. “Don’t move until I tell you to.”
…………………………………………………………………………….
5. “It’s too hot in here!”
…………………………………………………………………………….
6. “Unless you keep quiet, I’ll hit you!”
…………………………………………………………………………….
7. “Go on, make an effort!”
…………………………………………………………………………….
8. “Why don’t we go away for the weekend?”
…………………………………………………………………………….
9. “How marvellous! You’ve won first prize in the lottery. It’s a holiday in Madrid!”
…………………………………………………………………………….
10. “I didn’t do anything wrong!”
…………………………………………………………………………….
11. “I’m sorry I didn’t let you know the news earlier.”
…………………………………………………………………………….
12. “Don’t forget to phone when you arrive.”
…………………………………………………………………………….
13. “Would you like to come to the theatre with me?”
…………………………………………………………………………….
14. “I’ll be very careful with your CD.”
…………………………………………………………………………….
15. “Shall I look after the kids for you while you’re out?”
…………………………………………………………………………….
16. “Have you ever had to eat such a foul meal?”
…………………………………………………………………………….
17. “My father’s the richest man in this town.”
…………………………………………………………………………….
18. “Don’t touch that button, it sets off the alarm.”
…………………………………………………………………………….
19. “There’s a snake in the bedroom!”
…………………………………………………………………………….
20. “Shush! You’ll wake the baby! It’s taken me ages to get him off to sleep.”
…………………………………………………………………………….
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UNIT 12
PREPOSITIONS – ADJECTIVES, NOUNS & VERBS + PREPOSITIONS
• MOVEMENT
• Prepositions used with verbs of movement, e.g. come, go, drive, show the direction of movement,
e.g. to, towards, into, out of, across, around, along, up, down, past:
After running along the road, across the square, up the steps and into the house, she fell into a chair,
exhausted.
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• for means for a period of time: He’s lived here for ten years.
• since means since a point in time: He’s worked for that company since he left school.
• once can mean a) in the past b) from the time when: He worked there once. (in the past)
Once we’ve finished this work, we’ll go out and enjoy ourselves.
• the moment or the minute means right at the moment when: The moment I saw her, I remembered
where we’d met before.
• previously means before that: They met face-to-face at the convention. Previously, they’d only
emailed each other.
• formerly is used when something has changed its name or state: Liverpool was formerly a busy
port.
• There are some prepositions which do not come into the categories of movement, place or time:
He spoke about his future plans.
He didn’t want to go with her.
He worked without a break for four hours.
ADJECTIVES + PREPOSITIONS
Some adjectives are followed only by certain prepositions and others can be followed by more than one
preposition, it often depends on the sense of the sentence:
• angry / annoyed / anxious / certain / curious / doubtful / delighted / excited / furious / happy / nervous /
pleased / pessimistic / right / sad / sorry / upset / worried / wrong ABOUT something or someone:
He’s excited about going to Australia for a month.
Is everything all right? I was worried about you.
• angry / annoyed / astonished / bad / brilliant / clever / delighted / good / hopeless / lucky / surprised AT:
It’s no good asking him to help you with the accounts. He’s hopeless at maths.
He appeared surprised at her rejection of his marriage proposal.
• amazed / astonished / confused / surprised / shocked BY: They were shocked by the results of the
market research.
• appreciated / eager / eligible / famous / late / notorious / punished / qualified / ready / responsible / sorry
/ thankful FOR: He’s overqualified for the job.
• absent / derived / different / safe FROM: Many English words are derived from Latin or Greek.
• experienced / interested / rich / rooted / successful IN: Are you interested in going to Portugal? The
area is rich in mineral deposits.
• afraid / ashamed / aware, unaware / convinced, unconvinced / capable, incapable / characteristic /
conscious / critical / envious / fond / frightened / full / guilty / innocent / jealous / nervous / proud / rid /
scared / short / sick / suspicious / terrified / tired / tolerant / typical OF something or somebody:
I’m a bit short of money this month. I know it’s typical of me but can you lend me some?
• brave / careless / nice / kind / generous / good / intelligent / kind / polite / silly / stupid OF someone TO
DO something: It was good of you to give me a lift.
• based / dependent / keen ON: Until he finds a decent job, he’s dependant on his parents.
• accustomed / addicted / allergic / attached / beneficial / different / engaged / exposed / faithful / good /
grateful / immune / indifferent / inferior / kind / married / opposed / polite / related / relevant / rude /
sensitive / similar / superior / used TO:
This machine is similar to the other but also superior to it in that it produces more.
• acquainted / bored / careful / compatible / connected / crowded / familiar / fed up / friendly / generous /
gentle / impressed / involved / patient / pleased / popular / presented / satisfied, dissatisfied /
disappointed / thrilled / troubled WITH:
I’m fed up with never having enough time to do things properly.
• angry / annoyed / bored / furious / pleased WITH somebody FOR doing something:
She was pleased with herself for telling him exactly what she thought of his behaviour.
VERBS + PREPOSITIONS
• Verbs followed by ABOUT, especially when speaking about subject matter, include: argue / boast /care
/ complain / decide / do (to improve a bad situation) / dream / forget / hear / know / laugh (about
something) / protest / remind / see (take action) / speak / talk / think (meaning ‘consider’) / warn / worry:
They argued about the matter for hours but came to no conclusion.
What are we going to do about our tragic financial situation?
I’ll see about arranging something special for his birthday.
• Verbs followed by AGAINST include: insure / protest:
Are you insured against fire?
The workers protested against the cuts in overtime.
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• The following verbs can be followed by AT, especially when speaking about direction: aim / glance /
guess / hint / laugh (at somebody) / look / marvel / point / shout / smile / stare / throw:
He glanced at them when they entered but didn’t say anything.
He hinted at new developments but wouldn’t go into details.
• Verbs followed by FOR include: account / allow (take into consideration) / apologise / apply / ask /
blame (someone for something) / care / cater / charge (someone for something) / excuse (someone for
something) / forgive (someone for something) / pay / prepare / provide / search / thank (someone for
something) / vote / work:
I’m afraid they don’t cater for coach parties at this pub.
Thank you for being such a help.
• Verbs followed by FROM include: ban (someone from a place or from doing something) / bar (someone
from a place) / benefit / borrow / come / derive / deter (someone from doing something) / differ /
distinguish / distract (someone from something) / exempt (someone from something) / expel (someone
from a place) / hear (from someone) / prevent (someone from doing something) / recover / resign /
result / separate / stop (someone from doing something) suffer:
We would all benefit from a break.
Being barred from the club did not deter him from trying to enter.
• Verbs followed by IN include: believe / confide / invest / involve / participate / result / specialise /
succeed:
I don’t believe in spoiling children.
He succeeded in allaying her fears.
• Verbs followed by OF include: accuse (someone of something) / approve, disapprove / consist /
convince (someone of something) / convict / dream (meaning ‘imagine’) / hear / remind (someone of
something) / suspect / taste / think (meaning ‘remember’ or ‘come to mind’)
I wouldn’t dream of contradicting him!
He reminded her of her appointment.
• Verbs followed by ON include: blame (something on someone or something) / comment / compliment
(someone on something) / concentrate / congratulate (someone on something) / decide / depend /
elaborate / impose / insist / live (money, food) / plan / pride (oneself on something) / rely / spend
(money, time) / waste (money, time):
He blamed his failure on his lack of experience.
This noise makes it difficult for me to concentrate on my work.
Everything depends on the weather.
• Verbs followed by TO include: adapt / add / adjust / apologise (to someone) / appeal / apply (oneself to
something) / belong / commit (oneself to something) / compare / confess / consent / devote (oneself to
something) / happen / introduce (someone to someone else) / invite (someone to something) / object /
prefer (something to another thing) / react / refer / relate / resort / see (meaning ‘make sure it is done’) /
subject:
Can you adapt to different situations?
You should apply yourself to your studies.
I think she overreacted to the criticism.
• Verbs followed by WITH include: agree, disagree / charge (someone with something) / coincide / collide
/ communicate / compare (something with something else) / comply / deal / discuss / fill / provide /
supply / sympathise / temper / trust (someone with something):
I completely disagree with you! If we compare this model with the other, there are a lot of differences.
I’ll have to discuss the matter with your father.
Can you trust him with the secret?
NOUNS + PREPOSITIONS
• With BETWEEN there must be only two things or people or groups of things or people: These nouns
include: comparison / connection / contact / difference / link / relationship:
I wonder if there’s any connection between his promotion and the fact that he’s a close relation to the
General Manager.
Scientists have been trying to find the missing link between monkeys and man.
• Nouns followed by FOR include: admiration / application / aptitude / credit / cure / demand / desire /
disregard / dislike / fondness / need / order / preference / provision / reason / recipe / regret / reputation
/ request / respect / responsibility / room / solution / substitute / sympathy / talent / taste:
I have no respect for a person whose fondness for drink makes him a danger to others.
There’s not enough room for all of us in the car.
• Nouns followed by IN include: decrease / delay / difficulty / experience / fall / increase / interest /
pleasure / reduction / rise:
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PREPOSITIONS + EXPRESSIONS
There are many set expressions beginning with prepositions. Here are only some of the most common.
• AT + a guess / all costs / cost price / fault / first sight / the end / the first, second attempt / a good price /
great length / large / last / least / the latest / a loose end / a loss / a profit / random / any rate / short
notice / war / your (earliest) convenience:
He went on about his holiday plans at great length. I was bored stiff.
He was at a loose end so he dropped in for a chat.
• BEYOND + belief / a joke / the/a shadow of a doubt:
Beyond the shadow of a doubt, he was the one who took the money.
• BY + accident / chance / cheque / heart / law / mistake / sight:
The children were made to learn the poem by heart.
I opened your letter by mistake.
• FOR + ages / a change / fear of / good / hire / life / (not) long / once / the time being
Can’t we go to the mountains this year, just for a change?
For fear of making him angry, she didn’t say anything.
• IN + advance / agreement / all likelihood / any case / answer to / the balance / charge of / collaboration
with / comparison with / comfort / common / (good, bad) condition / decline / demand / dispute / distress
/ the early stages / earnest / the end / favour / fear of / flames / flower / good hands / high spirits /
jeopardy /a (good, bad) mood / the mood (for) / one way or another / (your) own interest / pain / practice
/ principle / recognition / response to / short / some respects / revenge / a rut / safety / self-defence /
stock / theory / time / trouble / turn / two minds:
We ran up against some glitches in the early stages of the development of the product.
I could see he was in pain from the expression on his face.
He felt he was in a rut so he looked around for a job with better prospects.
• OFF + (your) chest / colour / hand / (your) head:
Come on, tell me. You’ll feel better once it’s off your chest.
You must be off your head if you think I’m going to sign that contract without reading all the small print
first!
• ON + average / approval / a regular basis / behalf of / business / the contrary / a diet / fire / good terms /
holiday / loan / the market / offer / order / purpose / the radio / sale / strike / television / time / trial / the
verge of / a visit / the whole:
On average, he buys a new car every other year.
He’s on very good terms with all his colleagues.
He’s on the verge of going bankrupt!
• OUT OF + the blue / breath / control / danger / doors / focus / hand / a job / luck / order / the ordinary /
pocket / place / practice / print / all proportion / the question / reach / sight / stock / work:
You could have knocked her down with a feather when, out of the blue, he asked her to marry him.
The lift is out of order again. That’s the second time this week.
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Her parents were willing to pay for her university education but told her a year’s backpacking round Asia
was definitely out of the question.
• UNDER + age / the circumstances / control / consideration / discussion / the impression / an obligation /
pressure / repair / stress / suspicion:
Your promotion is under discussion. You’ll know next week at the latest.
He was under the impression that his firm would pay all his expenses when he went to Spain.
• WITH + the exception of / intent to / reference to / regard to:
With reference to your advertisement in today’s Times, I’d like to offer my services as receptionist.
• WITHIN + the law / reach
Success is within reach!
• WITHOUT + a chance / a break / delay / exception / fail / success / warning / a word:
We’ve been working for ten hours practically without a break. Isn’t it time to call it a day?
I expect you all to be here without fail at 8am sharp.
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5. As David went ……………….. the stairs ……………….. his bedroom ……………….. the castle, his friend
asked him, “Are you sure you don’t mind sleeping alone ……………….. the haunted room?” “Ghosts!” he
scoffed, “I don’t believe in them!” After undressing he climbed ……………….. the high bed, which had
four ornate posts ……………….. it, one ……………….. each corner, supporting a dusty-looking canopy
……………….. the bed. Although he was very tired he couldn’t get to sleep, the old mattress
……………….. him felt lumpy and the heavy velvet curtains ……………….. the open window kept
moving ……………….. the light breeze, as though there was somebody ……………….. them. Telling
himself not to be silly, he closed his book and put it ……………….. the bedside table, then he switched
off the light. He was just dropping off to sleep when he heard slow, heavy footsteps and a strange
muttering coming ……………….. the corridor ……………….. his room. The steps stopped
……………….. his door and the handle rattled! He switched on the bedside lamp and sat ………………..
……………….. bed, sweat seemed to be pouring ……………….. every pore ……………….. his body!
Suddenly, a head came ……………….. the side of the door and a cheery voice said, “Excuse me, I’ve
been going ……………….. and ……………….. these corridors ……………….. fifteen minutes. They said
the bathroom was ……………….. the top of the stairs, ……………….. the left but I can’t find it! Can you
help me?” David almost threw the pillow ……………….. him!
3. Fill each gap with a phrase from the list. Use each once.
early – by - in the end – afterwards – once - presently – at the end - on
time - one day - nowadays – late - soon – recently – after
1. I was thinking of moving to a smaller house but, ………………………. I decided it was just too much
trouble.
2. ………………………., many rivers are so polluted fish cannot live in them.
3. He’ll be back ………………………., if you want to wait.
4. You’ll have to get up ………………………. tomorrow morning. We’re leaving at seven.
5. Have you seen Pete ……………………….?
6. Go and wash your hands. Dinner will be ready ……………………….
7. Make sure you get home ………………………. ten, at the latest!
8. I’m busy now but if you like we can meet at the pub ………………………. and have a long chat.
9. I think he’ll be a successful business man ……………………….
10. ………………………. upon a time there was a princess who lived in a lonely castle, she also looked like
a frog. Luckily, a short-sighted prince came calling and ………………………. a short courtship they were
married
11. ………………………. of the play everybody clapped for at least ten minutes.
12. Kelly is never ……………………….! I think she’d be ……………….. for her own funeral!
4. Fill each gap with a phrase from the list. Use each once.
time and time again – all day long - in the nick of time – one at a time - for hours
on end - in a few minutes – the other day – once and for all
1. If you wait, I’ll be finished …………………………….
2. I’ve told you ……………………………., clear your school things away when you’ve finished!
3. His mother managed to grab little Tommy …………………………….before he fell into the bear pit.
4. He is at his play station …………………………….. I wish he’d go outside and play more.
5. I saw John …………………………….. He sent his regards.
6. These boxes are heavy. We’ll have to move them …………………………….
7. Get it through your head ……………………………., I don’t want to see you again!
8. After working in the office ……………………………., I just want to put my feet up when I get home.
5. Fill each gap with a phrase from the list. Use each once.
out of breath – in vain - out of the question - in practice - without fail – by mistake - on the
house - out of my depth – on my mind - in common – in principle
1. By the time he’d climbed six flights of stairs, he was …………………………….
2. I don’t know what she sees in Jim. They have absolutely nothing …………………………….
3. I’m afraid I’m ……………………………., I don’t know anything about philosophy.
4. Don’t worry. I’ll be there on time …………………………….
5. Your first drink is …………………………….. It’s the landlady’s birthday.
6. I’ve got a serious problem …………………………….. I’d like to talk to you about it.
7. I’m sorry, I took your umbrella …………………………….. I’ll bring it back tomorrow.
8. I agree with you ……………………………., but I don’t think it would work …………………………….
9. I’m afraid a pay rise is …………………………….. Our firm has financial difficulties.
10. I tried my best to persuade her but it was ……………………………., she just didn’t want to come.
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6. Fill each gap with a phrase from the list. Use each once.
at random – in touch – in the mood - on behalf of – off his head – in two minds
– in full swing – out of order - for ransom – in the nude
1. …………………………….. the director, who is ill, I’d like to thank you for coming.
2. The party was …………………………….. when we arrived at midnight.
3. The kidnappers held him ……………………………..
4. The lottery numbers are picked completely …………………………….., I assure you.
5. He must be …………………………….. if he thinks I’ll lend him any more money!
6. She’s …………………………….. whether to stay on or look for a new job.
7. When we got to the beach we had the shock of our lives. There were about fifty people, all
……………………………..
8. The lift is …………………………….., you’ll have to use the stairs.
9. Even if you move to another town, please keep ……………………………..
10. I’m not …………………………….. to go out tonight. I’d like to have a quiet evening at home.
7. Fill each gap with a phrase from the list. Use each once.
down to earth – off colour - off your chest - out of the blue – in his shoes - by heart – in your
own interest - under your breath - in the clouds – without a break – on a diet
1. His offer came …………………………….., nobody was expecting it.
2. He’s very dreamy. His head is …………………………….. most of the time. I wish he’d come
……………………………..
3. Come on! Tell me everything. You should get it ……………………………..
4. They drove all the way here …………………………….., they must be exhausted.
5. Don’t mutter ……………………………... Say it so everyone can hear.
6. She won’t come to the restaurant. She’s convinced she’s overweight so she’s gone
……………………………..
7. You’re looking ……………………………... Are you ill?
8. They had to learn all the rules and regulations ……………………………..
9. If I were …………………………….., I wouldn’t trust her.
10. You should learn how to use a computer. It really is …………………………….. you could get a better job.
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18. I’ve read your report …………………… the matter and I agree …………………… you ……………………
some points but not everything. I’m more pessimistic than you …………………… the possibility
…………………… financial backing.
19. Who is responsible …………………… all this mess?
20. I’ve been thinking …………………… taking a few days off. I’m getting stale and I need a break
…………………… ordinary routine.
21. I’m sorry. We’ve decided …………………… your proposal …………………… the moment. Try again
…………………… a few months’ time.
22. I have no intention …………………… taking the blame …………………… something that wasn’t my fault.
23. Have you heard the joke …………………… the bare bear?
24. You should be ashamed …………………… yourself! That bike belongs …………………… your sister
and you shouldn’t have taken it …………………… her permission.
25. You’ll have to choose …………………… having success …………………… business and having a good
relationship …………………… him.
26. Don’t take any notice …………………… him, he’s jealous …………………… your popularity.
27. Who did you borrow the book ……………………?
28. He looks …………………… his father but he takes …………………… his mother in character.
29. Can you give me some information …………………… flights …………………… New Zealand?
30. That pink and yellow tie doesn’t go …………………… your blue shirt.
9. Complete the sentences with the verbs below in the correct tense or form. Use each verb once
only. Add prepositions.
adapt – argue – blame – charge – choose – comply – confide – prevent – rely – remind – see - suspect
1. He tried ................... ............. all the conditions set out in the contract, but he had serious trouble
................ meeting deadlines.
2. After ..................... .......... where to go .............. a month, they decided to have separate holidays.
3. She is angry ........ him ........ forgetting their anniversary. She said that next year she ....................... him
.......... the date every day for a month beforehand!
4. He .................. ............ taking part in the marathon by ill health.
5. Can you .............. .......... all the arrangements ........ yourself or do you need help?
6. ........ a guess, I’d say he’ll have extreme difficulty in ....................... ......... his new financial situation.
7. He .............. their disastrous holiday.......... her last year. He said it was silly ....... her
.................................... such a lousy place.
8. I’m glad he ....................... .......... you. He needed to get his problems ......... his chest.
9. The police ................ him ......... committing the crime right from the first. In fact, last week they formally
................ him .......... the theft.
10. You can’t ................... ........... him! He’s completely untrustworthy.
10. Choose which of the choices best explain the meaning of the sentence.
1. He jumped at the offer.
a) He jumped with surprise.
b) He accepted the offer enthusiastically.
c) He was astonished at the offer.
d) He turned the offer down.
2. I tried to talk him round, but it was no good.
a) I tried to persuade him but it was no good.
b) I walked round him as I talked.
c) He turned round as I spoke so he didn’t hear.
d) I was trying to talk to somebody behind him.
3. He’s always putting his colleagues down.
a) He picks his colleagues up and then he drops them.
b) He depresses his colleagues.
c) He puts his colleagues down the loo.
d) He criticises his colleagues.
4. If you want to pass that exam, you’d better pull your socks up.
a) You’ll have to dress better.
b) You must wear socks.
c) You’ll have to study harder.
d) You must pay the examiner.
5. The car was a write-off after the accident.
a) The car was completely wrecked in the accident.
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UNIT 13
COUNTABLES & UNCOUNTABLES, ARTICLES, DETERMINERS
COUNTABLE NOUNS are the names of separate objects, people, concepts, etc. which can be counted.
Countable nouns have plurals, e.g. a boy, (some) boys
• There are some countable abstract nouns that can be used as uncountable after determiners such as
any, some, little, much. Some of the most common are: change, difference, idea, point, reason:
There is little difference in price.
I’ve got some ideas on how to cut expenses this month.
Are there any changes in her condition?
There isn’t much chance of his being promoted in the foreseeable future.
• Some determiners, such as many and few, can only be used with countable nouns:
Few people speak many languages fluently.
UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS are the names of materials, liquids, collections and other things which are not
seen as separate objects. Numbers cannot be used with uncountable nouns and most are singular without
plurals. Typical uncountable nouns are: substances (metal, paper); liquids and gases (water, oxygen);
abstracts (sorrow, rage); collections (furniture, luggage).
• The following are normally uncountable in English although they may be countable in other languages:
• accommodation (can be plural in American English), advice, baggage, behaviour, business (see table
below), cash, data, equipment, furniture, health, information, knowledge, luggage, machinery, money,
permission, rubbish, scenery, software, traffic, weather, work, waste
The information he gave me was very helpful.
The machinery in this factory is extremely noisy.
• Determiners such as: much and little can only be used with uncountable nouns:
I have little time and so much work to do in this period.
• Some words have differences of meaning in countable and uncountable forms: these include:
countable uncountable
a business (a company) business (in general)
a cheese (a particular type of cheese) cheese (in general)
a chicken (the bird) chicken (a piece of meat)
a glass (something to drink out of) glass (material)
a hair (a single example) hair (attached to the head)
a help (a helpful person / thing) help (general)
an iron (electrical appliance) iron (substance)
a lamb (an animal) lamb (meat)
a light (a lamp etc.) light (illumination)
a paper (newspaper) paper (substance)
a potato (the vegetable) potato (substance on a plate)
a space (a small area) space (room, area around the earth)
a wood (small area of trees) wood (substance)
• Strictly speaking, drinks are uncountable, but in everyday speech we treat them as if they were
countable:
I prefer coffee to tea.
Could I have two coffees, please? (= two cups of coffee)
I’ll have a beer. (= a glass or bottle of beer)
• Many abstract nouns can have both countable and uncountable uses. These generally depend on
whether they are used in the general sense or with a more particular meaning:
Life is difficult. (uncountable, general) - He had a hard life. (countable, more specific)
We haven’t got time to talk now. (uncountable) - There are times I feel like getting on the first flight out
of here. (countable)
He has a lot of experience in this field of work. (uncountable) - He had some strange experiences
when he stayed in that old Scottish castle. (countable)
• Some words, ending in ‘s’, have no singular form, but are used with a singular verb:
The news is bad.
The mess left after the party was incredible!
• Other words have no singular form and take a plural verb, e.g. trousers, jeans, shorts, goods, clothes,
outskirts, means.
Talk about mutton dressed as lamb! The clothes she wears would look good on a teenager.
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• We often make an uncountable noun countable by putting ‘a piece of’ etc. in front of it:
advice– a piece of advice
bread – a piece / a slice / a roll / a loaf of bread
jam – a jar of jam
luggage – a piece, an item of luggage
meat – a tin of meat
news – a piece / an item of news
wine – a glass / a bottle of wine
• Some words referring to groups of people can be singular when we think of the group as a unit and
plural when we think of the group as a number of individual people; both singular and plural verbs are
often correct:
The family is / are away on holiday.
• Others have a different form which is countable:
poetry – a poem
traffic – cars, etc.
money – a note, a coin
knowledge – a fact
publicity – an advertisement
work – a job or a piece of work
travel – a journey or a trip
ARTICLES
• Zero article is used with:
• plurals, uncountable nouns, abstract or general ideas, e.g. She loves dogs. Happiness is hard to
find.
• proper names, meals (when speaking about routine meals), means of transport (when using by),
sports, e.g. What time’s dinner? She goes to work by bus. He doesn’t like golf.
• prepositions of place, when the place plays a special role, e.g. She’s in hospital for an operation.
Compare: He’s gone to the hospital to visit her.
• Definite articles are used with:
• specific things, e.g. The life of that man is very hard.
• previously mentioned things, e.g. There’s a man and a woman in the street. The man is shouting at
the woman.
• single things, when the reference is obvious, e.g. Can you close the door, please?
• unique objects, e.g. the sun, the moon
• national groups (the British); classes of people (the poor, the rich); names of musical instruments (in
the UK, not Am) (the piano); plural countries (the United Kingdom); names of rivers, oceans and
regions (The Thames, The Atlantic, The Antarctic); media (the television, the cinema)
• superlatives, ordinals (the best, the first)
• Indefinite articles are used with:
• jobs: She’s a teacher.
• singular fractions, numbers: Three and a half hours. A thousand people.
• meaning ‘per’: That hotel costs £50 a / per night. She earns £400 a week.
• Determiners: all, no, each, every, either, neither, none
All is used:
• as a quantity word: That dog barked all (of) the night.
• referring to a specific group as a whole:
All the students passed their exams.
All students take exams?
• to emphasise a plural personal pronoun, noun or noun group:
They all turned up late.
The ham sandwiches have all gone.
• to mean, ‘the only thing’: All he wants is some peace and quiet.
No is used:
• to mean ‘not any’: There is no money here. No books on the subject have been found..
• as an adverb: As there is no better solution, we’ll have to do it his way.
• with –ing forms: No cheating, please.
Each (takes singular verb) is used:
• to refer to single persons / things in a group: Each person must bring something to eat.
• followed by a noun or pronoun: Each of the children was given a prize.
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3. Complete each sentence with a suitable word from the box. Use each word once.
burst – sheet – stroke – fit - speck – loaf - state - splinter – breath - rasher
1. She’s rather fanatic about housecleaning. There isn’t a …………………… of dust in her house.
2. Could I have a …………………… of bacon with my egg?
3. There was a …………………… of laughter at the punch line of his joke.
4. I think I’ve got a …………………… of wood in my finger.
5. The government has declared a …………………… of emergency.
6. It’s so hot! There isn’t a …………………… of air!
7. Do you need another …………………… of paper for your composition?
8. It was a …………………… of luck you found me in. I was just going out.
9. Can I have a …………………… of bread, please?
10. He smashed the mirror in a …………………… of anger.
4. Complete the sentences with nouns that are always plural in form.
E.g. It’s bad …..manners….. to stare at people.
1. It’s cheaper to live on the ……………………… of the town rather than in the centre.
2. The castle is in ……………………… now but it must have looked magnificent once.
3. She kept all her ……………………… in the bank.
4. She was stopped as she went through ……………………… and asked if she had anything to declare.
5. She always looks elegant. She must spend a lot on ……………………….
6. If the ……………………… aren’t delivered by next week they’ll cancel the order.
7. She weighed herself on a pair of ……………………….
8. Have you a pair of sharp ………………………? I need to cut this paper.
9. They’re trying to raise ……………………… to help victims of the flood.
10. Did you hear the ……………………… on the radio?
5. Complete the sentences with all, no, each, every, everything, either, neither or none.
1. ……………………… she’s interested in doing is dancing!
2. He can’t complain. He was given ……………………… chance to succeed.
3. Can ……………………… of you two speak German?
4. Is ……………………… ready for the meeting?
5. They didn’t take her on because there are ……………………… vacancies in the firm at the moment.
6. There were two applicants for the position but ……………………… of them had the right qualifications.
7. Their mother gave the children £3 ……………………… to spend at the Fun Fair.
8. The teacher was angry because ……………………… of the students knew the right answer.
9. ……………………… time I see her she’s wearing a new dress.
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10. The team ……………………… wore blue blazers and white trousers.
11. ……………………… less than three thousand turned up for the concert.
12. When she met him at the station she kissed him on ……………………… cheek.
6. Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word given and means the same.
1. All of the glasses are dirty. (none)
………………………………………………………………..
2. Both applicants were unsuitable for the job. (neither)
………………………………………………………………..
3. I only had an egg for supper. (all)
………………………………………………………………..
4. There wasn’t any food left. (no)
………………………………………………………………..
5. A passport is the only thing you need now. (all)
………………………………………………………………..
6. Everyone brought sandwiches for the journey. (each)
………………………………………………………………..
7. I liked neither of the two men. (either)
………………………………………………………………..
8. We are all to blame for what happened. (each)
………………………………………………………………..
2. The natural hazards mentioned as being exacerbated by human action are ...... .
a) droughts and natural hazards
b) droughts, storms and floods
c) the removal of crops
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10. Scientists believe some of the results of global warming may be ...... .
a) the extinction of plants and animals
b) complete crop failure
c) food shortages, violent weather, new diseases and flooding
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………..……..…………………………………………………………………………………
………..……..…………………………………………………………………………………
………..……..…………………………………………………………………………………
10. Thousands of plant and animal species are officially classed as endangered. Discuss the
different threats to wildlife and what has been done so far to save them.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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UNIT 14
COMPARATIVES & SUPERLATIVES
the comparative and superlative of adjectives and adverbs
Form Adjective Comparative Superlative
One syllable adjectives / short shorter (than) the shortest
1
adverbs slim slimmer (than) the slimmest
hard harder (than) the hardest
Two syllables adjectives early earlier (than) the earliest
ending in –y
Adjectives / adverbs of reliable more reliable (than) the most reliable
2
two or more syllables carefully more carefully (than) the most carefully
Irregular adjectives / good / well better (than) the best
adverbs bad / badly worse (than) the worst
much / many more (than) the most
little less (than) the least
3
far farther / further (than) the farthest / furthest
4 4
old older /elder (than) the oldest / the eldest
1
One-syllable adjectives ending in one vowel and a consonant (except those ending in –y or –w)
double the consonant: fit – fitter – fittest, (few – fewer – fewest).
2
Most two-syllable adjectives can take either –er /-est or more / most, e.g. polite, common,
pleasant, stupid: stupid - stupider / more stupid – stupidest / the most stupid.
3
Farther is used more for distances, although further can also be used in this sense; further is
used to mean more in degree, time or quantity.
4
Elder and eldest are used for members of the same family. Elder cannot be used to make a
comparison: His eldest brother is only three years older than him.
Comparatives
Use:
• to compare one person / thing with another / others: Jane is much heavier than Sarah. Jane is much
heavier than her sisters.
• Comparative + comparative is used to say something is continuing to decrease or increase:
He’s getting more and more absent-minded as he grows older.
That hole in your pullover is getting bigger and bigger.
• The + comparative clause, the + comparative clause is used to say that two things change together
or one thing depends on another:
The older he gets, the more forgetful he becomes.
• The can be used with a comparative:
Of the two, Sam is the taller.
• Any / no + comparative:
I’ve waited ten minutes. I’m not waiting any longer. = I’m waiting no longer.
• The …. the better:
“When should I go?” – “The sooner the better. (= as soon as possible)
• A little / a bit / slightly / much / far / a lot can be used to make comparisons stronger:
This jacket is slightly more expensive than the other but it is far more attractive.
Superlatives
Use:
• to compare one person / thing in a group with two or more people / things in the same group:
What’s the best film you’ve ever seen?
• By far / easily can be used before a superlative:
He’s by far /easily the most absent-minded man I know.
This is easily the strangest sight I have ever seen.
• Expressions with best:
I don’t know if I can win, but I can do my best.
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As ....... as
• (not) as + adjective or adverb + as is used to say two things / people are (not) the same:
This is as far as I can take you.
This bus doesn’t go as quickly as the other.
• Just is often used in the affirmative for emphasis:
You are just as bad as your brother!
• (not) as much + uncountable noun/verb + as:
He hasn’t as much money as he would like.
A person living alone sometimes spends as much as a family in terms of heating.
• (not) as many + countable noun + as:
He doesn’t read as many books as she does.
• Verb + as much + as:
He eats (just) as much as Bob.
• With such …. as:
I’d never seen such a shocking scene as that before in my life!
• With the same …as:
He lives in the same street as she does.
• An alternative to as in negative sentences is so + adjective or adverbs + as to say two things / people
are not the same:
He isn’t so intelligent as he makes out.
He has the same salary as her, but he doesn’t work so much.
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16. He works much harder ………………….. she does but he earns far ………………….. than she
…………………...
17. I’m not going to put up with his behaviour ………………….. longer.
18. We haven’t had as ………………….. rain this year ………………….. we ………………….. last year.
19. She has ………………….. English books than she would like.
20. Animals are often ………………….. off than people in many respects. If we enter a room, we can detect
no ………………….. than a few smells whereas a dog’s sense of smell is ………………….. more
powerful and can trace a missing person by sniffing an article of clothing.
2. Rewrite each sentence using the word given so that it means the same.
1. If you practise a lot, you’ll get better. (more)
…………………………………………………………………………
2. Computers used to be much more expensive. (as)
…………………………………………………………………………
3. Our product is the least expensive on the market. (more)
…………………………………………………………………………
4. Our car is nothing like as economical as theirs. (far)
…………………………………………………………………………
5. It has won more Oscars than any other film. (no)
…………………………………………………………………………
6. John and Philip are the same age. (as)
…………………………………………………………………………
7. No-one at school swims better than Philip. (swimmer)
…………………………………………………………………………
8. It doesn’t rain as much here as it does in the Lake District. (more)
…………………………………………………………………………
9. His school is not nearly as far away as mine. (much)
…………………………………………………………………………
10. Is this the best you can do? (can’t)
…………………………………………………………………………
11. She expected that learning how to use a computer would be more difficult. (than)
…………………………………………………………………………
12. Ron plays tennis better than anyone else I know. (as)
…………………………………………………………………………
13. As it gets colder he goes out of the house less. (the)
…………………………………………………………………………
14. I’ve never seen such a bad film as that. (the)
…………………………………………………………………………
15. No other person in my family is as lazy as Steward. (the)
…………………………………………………………………………
16. As far as many of our customers are concerned, price is not as important as quality. (more)
…………………………………………………………………………
17. Men usually die at a younger age than women. (than)
…………………………………………………………………………
18. You’re driving too slowly. (have to)
…………………………………………………………………………
19. All my sisters are younger than me. (the)
…………………………………………………………………………
20. Katy did the best she could. (hard)
…………………………………………………………………………
21. This CD was cheaper than that. (cost)
…………………………………………………………………………
22. That was the funniest film I’ve ever seen. (such)
…………………………………………………………………………
23. When you drink a lot, you get increasingly tipsy. (more)
…………………………………………………………………………
24. Pete was getting increasingly muddled. (and)
…………………………………………………………………………
25. You should leave as soon as possible. (better)
…………………………………………………………………………
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3. A) Look at the following list of adjectives and divide them into three groups: those you might use
to describe women, those you would use to describe men and those you might use for both men
and women.
active – aggressive – assertive – blonde – brave – clinging – cold – cute – delicate – domineering –
elegant – emotional – gentle – hysterical – muscular – passive – plain – powerful – pretty – raving –
ruthless – slim – sly – strong – submissive – sweet – tender – thoughtful - weak
Female: .....................................................................................................................................................
Male: .........................................................................................................................................................
‘Unisex’ .....................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................
B) Choose any ten of the above adjectives and write sentences, using the grammatical structures
studied in this unit.
1. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
5. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
6. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
7. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
8. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
9. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
10. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
C) Now compare the two lists of words you have chosen to describe men and women. Discuss why
these words are not used to describe both sexes and how they show stereotyped assumptions about
women or men.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………............................…………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………............................…………………………...
D) Choose four of the following nationalities (not your own) and write a stereotype description of
each, comparing them with the other nationalities.
English – French - Italian – German – Russian – Japanese – African – Indian – Chinese – Spaniard
1. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
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……………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
5. How do you think a person of your nationality appears to other nations? Write a short stereotyped
version for your own nationality.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
6. Do you consider these stereotypes to be flattering, insulting or merely humorous? Give reasons for your
answer.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
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5. Find words in the completed text which correspond to the definitions (as used in the text).
1. .................................. = withdrawal from office, business, or active life, usually because of age
2. .................................. = diminution
3. .................................. = general
4. .................................. = growing old
5. .................................. = the relative frequency of deaths in a specific population
6. .................................. = took
7. .................................. = occurring in many places or among many persons or individuals
8. .................................. = lack of knowledge, learning, information, etc.
9. .................................. = measure of the frequency of given events, such as births and deaths
10. .................................. = something looked forward to, whether feared or hoped for
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UNIT 15
CONNECTORS
ADDITION is expressed by:
• both … and
Both the manager and his assistant were off with flu.
• too, as well (as), also
They had to take into consideration the cost of their hold luggage too.
As well as hand luggage, Jill had a huge overweight suitcase.
They are going to make use of blogs and also podcasts.
• in addition to
If we caught the night train there and back, in addition to saving money on a hotel in Paris, we would
arrive early and have time for a whole day’s sightseeing.
• furthermore, moreover, besides
India has lower labour costs than most European countries. Furthermore, it has a strong local market.
The country is poor and underdeveloped. Moreover, the political situation is extremely unstable.
He had no wish to relocate to another country. Besides (this), it would have meant disrupting his
children’s education.
• in fact, as a matter of fact (is this really ‘addition? )
I’m ready to set off. In fact / As a matter of fact, my bags have been packed for days!
• not only... but also
One of the applicants not only wore scruffy clothes but also chewed gum throughout the interview.
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N.B.
ACTUALLY has several meanings and uses:
• ‘in actual fact’
Nobody actually saw him take the money.
• ‘as a matter of fact’
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He’s dissatisfied with his present job. Actually, he’s been sending off his CV to various firms.
• ‘suprisingly’
He actually agreed to help me.
• as a sentence modifier to add slight emphasis
Actually, I haven’t spoken to him personally about the matter.
• at the present moment
He’s actually on holiday.
2. Complete the sentences with a suitable word or expression studied in this unit.
1. ……………………. feeling ill, he went to work.
2. ……………………. he wouldn’t feel lonely, we telephoned him every day.
3. ……………………. she was afraid of being late for her appointment, she caught an earlier bus.
4. ……………………. I asked her, she didn’t come.
5. These papers are ……………………. large they won’t go into this envelope.
6. It was ……………………. a long way to the station that I called a taxi.
7. The problem looked ……………………. complicated to be solved easily.
8. The second-hand car didn’t cost much. ……………………., it was ……………………. expensive for me.
9. Your coffee should be cool ……………………. to drink now.
10. He was feeling ...................... sleepy .................... bored with the programme ................... he switched
off the television and went to bed.
11. ……………………. she apologised, he wouldn’t forgive her.
12. This button is ……………………. starting the machine.
13. ……………………. the low price, the quality is all you could wish for.
14. They made him a good offer. He didn’t accept it, …………………….
15. Tom’s gone to the airport ……………………. pick up his brother.
16. She held it carefully in both hands, ……………………. not ………. drop it.
17. There was ……………………. food that everyone was still hungry at the end of the meal.
18. He’s ……………………. unpleasant a person that he has no friends.
19. Let’s check everything one more time ……………………. be absolutely sure we haven’t forgotten
anything.
20. The rope wasn’t long ……………………. to reach the ground.
21. ……………………. having a broken leg, he managed to crawl to safety.
22. The house is big and in a good position. ……………………., I don’t like it.
23. It’s difficult for Kim and Sue to decide on a restaurant they both like. Kim loves rare steak
……………………. Sue is a strict vegetarian.
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24. He has ……………………. friends I don’t know how he can still complain he’s lonely.
25. It was ……………………. a lovely day we went out for a long walk.
26. Don’s success was ……………………. hard work.
27. I’m not surprised she’s withdrawn her support. ..............................., she didn’t seem so keen on the
proposal right from the start.
28. He said ............................. ‘yes’ ......................... ‘no’. I do wish he’d make up his mind.
29. He’s not in the office. He’s ...................................... in France on business, He’ll be back next Monday,
.......................... .
30. There isn’t ................................ bread ....................... make sandwiches. .........................., there’s some
leftover pizza if we’re feeling peckish.
3. Rewrite each sentence using the word(s) given so that it means the same.
1. John moved to a new flat so that he could be nearer his office. (to)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
2. Jane set her alarm for six because she wanted to study before going to school. (since)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
3. Despite the rain, we went for a walk. (although)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
4. She knows she should apologise but she won’t. (even)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
5. The steaks were too tough for us to eat. (so)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
6. He isn’t old enough to apply for a driving licence. (too)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
7. The lecturer spoke so simply that everyone understood him. (enough)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
8. Tom took his shoes off because he didn’t want to wake anyone when he came in. (so)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
9. The girl’s voice was so soft he could hardly hear her. (such)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
10. Although he offered to pay for the goods, they charged him with shoplifting. (spite)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
11. He likes fishing, but he doesn’t like eating fish. (even)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
12. The lesson was put off because a lot of students were ill with flu. (so)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
13. It was such a foggy day we decided to go by train. (so)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
14. Our new house is so small it can’t accommodate guests overnight. (too)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
15. Although money is important, it has been the least of our worries. (despite)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
16. She looks such an old woman that she could be his grandmother. (enough)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
17. He didn’t approve of her travelling plans and her choice of a companion. (neither)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
18. Ann thought it excessive to drive such a long distance. She finally decided to go by train. (too / end)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
19. I haven’t enough time to take up a sport. (so)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
20. It’s only four o’clock but I feel hungry already. (although)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
21. The children were clever enough to solve the problem by themselves. (such)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
22. We followed the instructions carefully but we couldn’t get the machine to work. (despite)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
23. They had to consider both the obvious dangers of climbing such a sheer cliff and the rapidly worsening
weather. (besides)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
24. They are touring the Swiss Alps at the moment. (actually)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
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25. His bad manners and scruffy clothes completely put her parents off. (both)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
2. When they saw the agitation of the water they were ........ .
a) frightened
b) staring
c) surprised and shocked
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8. There are many unexplained mysteries in this world. Choose one and write about it.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………
9. Do you believe in ghosts? If so, why? If you don’t, what explanation can you give for the many
sightings?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………
10. Do you believe there is intelligent life on other planets? Discuss.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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……………………………………………………
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UNIT 16
SUBJECT, OBJECT, DIRECT & INDIRECT QUESTIONS; QUESTION TAGS;
CONFUSING WORDS & EXPRESSIONS
SUBJECT & OBJECT QUESTIONS
• When the question is about the subject, do not use do/does or did:
Five thousand fans turned up for the concert in Birmingham.
Who turned up for the concert in Birmingham? (subject question)
How many fans turned up for the concert in Birmingham. (subject question)
What did the fans turn up for? (object question)
Where did they turn up? (object question)
• Do not use inversion with other auxiliaries when it is a subject question:
Joe had sent off his CV.
Who had sent off his CV? (subject question)
What had Joe sent off? (object question)
Jill and Mike could have told Sue they were going home.
Who could have told Sue they were going home? (subject question)
Who could Jill and Mike have told they were going home? (object question)
QUESTION TAGS
Question tags add a question to the end of a statement. The meaning depends on the intonation: if the tone
rises, then it is a real question because the speaker is not sure and needs confirmation; a level or falling tone
is used to check information.
• Pronouns, and not proper names, are always used in question tags:
Jim works shifts, doesn’t he?
The bottom has fallen out of the market, hasn’t it?
• Use abbreviations: aren’t, isn’t, doesn’t, etc. in the question tags:
You like her, don’t you?
If the verb in the statement is affirmative, the tag is negative-interrogative:
You ordered the raw materials, didn’t you?
• If the verb in the statement is negative, the tag is affirmative-interrogative:
You didn’t phone him, did you?
• The negative question tag for I am is irregular: it is aren’t I?
Oh dear. I’m late, aren’t I?
• After Let’s, the tag is …. shall we?
• After the imperative: Do … / Don’t , the tag is usually ….will you?
Don’t be late, will you?
• However, polite instructions use either will or won’t as a tag in the affirmative imperative with no
change in meaning.
Sit down, will you / won’t you?
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4. Make questions for the following answers. Use the word(s) in brackets.
1. (mind) ...............................................................................................................?
Pete? I believe he’s gone to the bank.
2. (let’s / cinema) .................................................................................................................?
I’d rather stay in if you don’t mind. I’m feeling a bit under the weather.
3. (idea) ................................................................................................................?
Sorry! I haven’t a clue when Larry will be back.
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6. Complete each sentence with the ‘time’ words or phrases below. Use each one once only.
113
shortly - the minute - since then – by then - in the meantime - as soon as – throughout –
the time being - now and then – by the time
7. Complete each pair of sentences with the correct alternative. If necessary, use the correct tense
or form.
1. affect / effect
a) His parents’ divorce had a big .................................. on his childhood.
b) Many companies were badly .................................... in last year’s recession.
2. continually / continuously
a) He .................. forgot to close the bedroom window until the day he was burgled.
b) It’s been raining .................... for more than a week. Will it ever stop?
3. sensitive / sensible
a) You can trust Sue not to panic in an emergency. She’s a .........................., down-to-earth kind of
person.
b) She’s a very ......................... person; she gets upset when she sees scenes of violence on
television.
4. shadow / shade
a) After their long walk under the hot sun, they sat in the ........................., sipping a cool drink.
b) The tree cast a long ............................... in the evening sun.
5. lie / lay
a) He ................................... the mirror face down on the table while he was painting the living room
walls.
b) She had a headache and decided to take a painkiller and .................... down on the sofa with her
eyes closed until it passed.
6. principle / principal
a) In ................................., I agree with his proposal, but we’ll have to work on the details.
b) His ................................ food is bacon, sausage and eggs! He never seems to eat anything else,
except of course, chips!
7. adverse / averse
a) He is ................................ to using chemical products in his garden.
b) Taking painkillers regularly can have .............................. consequences.
8. desert / dessert
a) What would you like for ..........................? Ice cream, fresh fruit salad, or both?
b) They were crossing the ................................ when their jeep got stuck in the sand and they had to
call for help.
9. loose / lose
a) The team played so badly they deserved to ..........................
b) This tooth feels very ............................ . I’ll have to go to the dentist’s.
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115
4. Your watch must be ........! It says ten to ten while I make it five past.
a) behind
b) late
c) slow
d) delayed
6. You shouldn’t have criticised him in front of everybody. It was very ........ of you.
a) insensible
b) insensitive
c) unconscious
d) worthless
7. His doctor is ......... him for high blood pressure but he is convinced he has other health problems too.
a) curing
b) treating
c) healing
d) remedying
8. I don’t want another television or this one repaired. I want a full ........!
a) refund
b) recharge
c) payment
d) reward
9. They had so many problems with their car that ........ they sold it and bought another one.
a) at the end
b) by the end
c) in the end
d) to the end
10. Their washing machine was out of .......... so she had to wash everything by hand.
a) work
b) line
c) condition
d) order
2. Now what’s he .......... about? Why does he have to complain about everything?
a) grumbling
b) gushing
c) stammering
d) leering
3. When she entered the room, he just .......... at her for a second and then carried on reading.
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a) glimpsed
b) strutted
c) strolled
d) glanced
4. Am I boring you? That’s the third time you’ve .......... since I started speaking.
a) snored
b) yawned
c) snarled
d) wept
5. He was so pleased with the present that he ........ from ear to ear.
a) laughed
b) sniggered
c) snorted
d) grinned
7. The dust she was raising as she was cleaning the attic made her ........ violently.
a) sneeze
b) shake
c) hiccough
d) scream
8. I detest it when people ......... their way to the head of the queue!
a) kneel
b) toe
c) elbow
d) knee
9. They weren’t in a hurry so they just ......... around the old town, enjoying the sights.
a) waded
b) strolled
c) ploughed
d) dashed
10. When the ball hit it, the vase ........... to the floor and ......... .
a) knocked ........ broke
b) crashed ....... smashed
c) leapt ........ crashed
d) stumbled ........ demolished
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cluster of objects in the very centre of all-the black stage, the crossbeam, the rope, and all
the hideous apparatus of death.
(From: Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens)
10. Find words or expressions which have the following meanings.
a) ……………………………….. = took hold of
b) ……………………………….. = tight hold
c) ……………………………….. = prevented from advancing
d) ……………………………….. = were heard clearly
e) ……………………………….. = large open area between walls
f) ……………………………….. = fainted
g) ……………………………….. = beginning to come into existence
h) ……………………………….. = crowd
i) ……………………………….. = pass in a pleasant way
j) ……………………………….. = arguing
k) ……………………………….. = group
l) ……………………………….. = long thick bar of wood at the top of a gallows
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UNIT 17
WORD FORMATION: PREFIXES, SUFFIXES, COMPOUND NOUNS, COMPOUND
ADJECTIVES
The basic part of any word is the root; you can add a prefix to the beginning and/or a suffix to the end to
change or modify the meaning.
root word Examples
depend He’s very independent, he doesn’t like to rely on anyone.
lead The information given us was very misleading. It could have been clearer.
PREFIXES
• Many words form their opposites by using prefixes but it is sometimes difficult to know which prefix to
use. The best way is to check in a dictionary. In general, im- is used before a ‘root’ word beginning with
‘m’ or ‘p’ – immature, impatient; ir- is used with words beginning with ‘r’ – irreplaceable, irrational
(unreliable is one of the exceptions to the rule); il- is used with words beginning with ‘l’ – illegible,
illegal.
• Some of the most common prefixes used to make words negative are:
• un: It’s unusually hot in here. Is the air conditioning working?
• dis: He felt discontented and disillusioned.
• im: It’s impractical to think I can finish this job by the deadline they’ve set.
• in: As a temp, she feels insecure.
• ir: It’s irrational to expect anyone to do their best when they’re unhappy.
• il: His demands are both illogical and illegal!
N.B.
• The prefixes in- and im- do not always have a negative meaning: they can also mean inside or
movement into: e.g. insert, internal, import, income: He has to pay a lot of income tax on his
earnings.
• dis- can also mean apart: The crowd dispersed after the police intervened.
• Other common prefixes include:
prefix meaning Examples
ante- before anterior, antedate, antediluvian
auto- of, by oneself autobiography
bi- two, twice bilingual, bicycle, binocular
co- together, with co-operation, co-writer, coexist
con- with connection, confederation, conspire
de- opposite or removal of a quality desensitise, dehumanise, deactivate
ex- a) out of b) former a) exhale b) ex-partner
extra- a) outside, beyond b) (informal) a) extraordinary, extracurricular b) extra-large,
very, more than normal extra-strong
micro- small microwave, microchip, microscope
mono- one / single monorail, monotonous, monologue
multi- many multinational, multi-purpose, multiracial
out- a) excelling / surpassing b) external a) outdo, outlive b) outlet, outpatient, outlaw c)
c) emergence d) result outgrowth, outcrop d) outcome, output
over- too much overcharge, overdue, overrate, overwork
post- after post-mortem, post-graduate, post-war
pro- in favour of pro-European, pro-euro, pro-government
pseudo- false pseudo-intellectual, pseudo-scientific
re- again or back reread, review, rewrite, replace
semi- half semi-detached, semi-final
sub- under subway, submerge, submarine
super- above, upper, more superfluous, superficial, superior
under- not enough underpay, undernourished, undercooked
ultra- beyond, extremely ultrasonic, ultra-modern
Coexistence in a multiethnic organisation can pose problems.
At this level of English you should be using a monolingual dictionary.
The company decided to cut costs by outsourcing the work to a specialist IT company.
Their offices are in London so the overheads are very high.
To say my financial situation is bad is an understatement!
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SUFFIXES
NOUNS
• Many nouns, especially abstract nouns, are formed from verb + suffix. Note that there may be spelling
changes when a suffix is added.
Verb Suffix Noun
achieve -ment achievement
admit -sion admission
complicate -ation complication
describe -tion description
employ -ment (un)employment
manage -ment (mis)management
organise -ation organisation
pollute -tion pollution
repeat -ition repetition
swim -ing swimming
• Nouns are also formed by adding a suffix to the adjective. Here again, be careful of additional spelling
changes. The most common suffixes here are –ity and –ness. The latter suffix is especially used to
form abstract nouns.
Curiosity killed the cat’ is a common saying.
The ugliness of the scene shocked her.
• -ibility /-ability replaces the -able or –ible at the end of adjectives to form nouns referring to the state
or quality described in the adjective:
This offer is subject to availability.
He’s in a position of great responsibility and has to be careful.
There is a strong possibility they will emigrate to Australia.
• -ism (activity, ideology) forms nouns which describe social, political or religious beliefs, studies or
behaviour:
Constructive criticism can lead to great improvements.
Feminism is not only an intellectual commitment but also a political movement that seeks justice for
women and the end of sexism in all forms.
• -ist is used for the people who believe or practise social, political or religious beliefs, etc. and also for
some job titles.
He believes in alternative medicine and spends a fortune at the herbalist.
The pianist gave two encores.
The journalist asked some awkward questions.
• adjective + -th (note changes in spelling)
Adjective Noun
broad breadth
deep depth
long length
strong strength
warm warmth
wide width
The height of the machine is 2.50 metres, its width is 90 centimetres and its depth is 100 centimetres.
• Some abstract nouns can be formed from noun/adjective + -dom:
The concept of political freedom is closely linked with the concepts of civil liberties and rights.
Routine, monotonous jobs cause boredom.
• -er, -or, can be added to nouns or verbs to describe people and the work they do. –er is also used for
objects and their function:
When he retired, the sailor opened a pub near the docks.
Have you a bottle opener?
• -ee is also added to nouns or verbs to describe people and the work they do. –ee denotes a person
who receives, obtains, etc.
The interviewee sat nervously on the edge of his seat.
The addressee’s name on this envelope is wrong!
• Noun + -hood describes a state or condition:
Childhood, adolescence and adulthood all have their own problems and difficulties.
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ADJECTIVES
Many adjectives and adverbs are formed by adding suffixes to nouns or verbs.
• -able /-ible are added to verbs or nouns to make adjectives with the meanings of a) being able to do or
be done b) having that quality/ability:
He’s a very capable man.
Who is responsible for this mess?
• Adjectives ending in –able can often be changed to mean the opposite by adding the prefix un-:
unbreakable, uncomfortable, unpreventable, unreliable, unreasonable, unsuitable
Your request is unreasonable!
He felt uncomfortable and kept fidgeting with his pen.
• Adjectives ending in -ible can often be changed to mean the opposite by adding the prefix in- (or ir-
and il- for those adjectives beginning with ‘r’ or ‘l’):
That was a very irresponsible thing to do.
• -ful gives the meaning of having the stated quality to a large degree, or causing it: careful, colourful,
harmful, helpful, painful, powerful, thoughtful, truthful, useful:
The receptionist was extremely helpful; she gave me some useful information.
• -less gives the meaning of ‘without’ the stated quality: careless, helpless (= defenceless), harmless (=
not causing harm), painless, thoughtless, homeless (nowhere to live), jobless (without a job), useless:
Don’t worry! The dog is harmless. He just wants to play.
N.B. Remember that although the same words can often take both –ful and –less, this is not always
true. For example, -ful can be added to beauty = beautiful but you cannot add –less.
• noun + -y (note spelling changes): cloudy, dirty, foggy, funny, sunny, windy, faulty:
The weather forecast says it will be windy but sunny over the weekend.
• noun + -al (note spelling changes): politics - political, music - musical, industry – industrial
The political situation is very unstable in that country.
• noun + -ous (note spelling changes): danger - dangerous, industry – industrious, suspicion –
suspicious, fury – furious
The police became suspicious when he bought a sports car and a luxury flat.
• verb + -ive: gives a meaning of causing or making: attractive, creative, imaginative. (Here again, the
opposite is often formed by adding a negative prefix: unattractive, unimaginative)
He lost his temper and became abusive.
She looks positively unattractive when she’s in a bad mood.
• –free is added to some nouns to make adjectives describing something without that aspect: trouble-
free, carefree, tax-free, stress-free:
His holiday got off to a trouble-free start.
• –proof is added to some nouns to describe things that can resist the damage or difficulty caused by the
noun: rainproof, waterproof, foolproof, soundproof:
With double-glazing and insulation, the room was pretty soundproof.
• -minded is added to some nouns or verbs to form adjectives used to describe people with certain
characteristics: broad-minded, narrow-minded, like-minded, career-minded:
I’m sure he’ll understand the problem; he’s a broad-minded person.
• –ly forms some adjectives as well as adverbs: friendly, lively, costly, leisurely:
He didn’t do any background research before going to the interview. It proved a costly mistake.
• –ant / -ent is added to some roots to form adjectives: relevant, distant, persistent, pertinent:
Persistent light rain ruined people’s enjoyment of the concert.
• –ish gives the meaning of ‘origin’, ‘nature’ or ‘resembling’: foolish, impish, clownish:
She had an impish smile on her face. I knew she was plotting mischief!
• –ish (only informal use) can be added to most common adjectives, ages and times to make them less
precise: thirtyish, reddish:
He’s fortyish, with reddish-brown hair.
• Some common adjectives are formed from the present participle (-ing) and the past participle (-ed):
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She was both worried and annoyed because he hadn’t phoned to tell her he’d be late.
His lateness was both worrying and annoying because he hadn’t phoned.
ADVERBS
• adverbs are usually formed by adding –ly to an adjective: quietly, carefully, carelessly, creatively,
cleverly:
He was visibly shocked by the bad news.
• adjectives ending in –le change to –ly: possible - possibly, probable - probably, incredible – incredibly
Predictably, he lost his temper.
• adjectives ending in –y change to –ily: lucky – luckily, funny – funnily, angry – angrily:
His wallet was stolen. Luckily, his credit cards were in another pocket.
• adjectives ending in –ic change to –ically: ironic – ironically, basic – basically, scientific – scientifically:
When he said he would do the same for you any day, I think he was speaking ironically.
• some of the most common irregular adverbs are: good (adjective) – well (adverb), fast (adjective) – fast
(adverb), hard (adjective) – hard (adverb)
‘Hard work never killed anyone’ is a saying probably coined by someone who had never worked hard in
his life.
VERBS
There are four main prefixes or suffixes used in the formation of verbs:
• en-: e.g. enable, endanger, enlarge, enrage, ensure, entrust:
Can she be entrusted with this responsibility?
• -en: e.g. brighten, darken, deepen, lengthen, lighten, shorten, strengthen, tighten, weaken, widen
It is believed the foundations of the house were weakened by the road works to widen the road.
• -ify: e.g. clarify, indentify, modify, purify, specify, terrify:
She was terrified by the unexpected noise until she identified it as a cat.
• -ise (in USA – ize): e.g. advise, apologise, industrialise, modernise, organise, prioritise, specialise,
televise:
We should prioritise our tasks and then organise ourselves accordingly.
1. Complete each sentence with a word formed from the list below and a prefix.
understand – usual - obedient – division - night - purpose – employed – cooked – biotic – fair
1. This is a ……………………………. tool; it opens bottles and cans, cuts and screws.
2. I wish the children weren’t so ……………………………., I can’t take them anywhere!
3. This meat isn’t done! It’s ……………………………..
4. She took the ……………………………. train to Scotland and arrived early the next morning.
5. Please don’t ……………………………. me! I’m not criticising you.
6. The doctor gave me an ……………………………. for the infection.
7. He’s been ……………………………. for six months. Can’t he find another job?
8. What an ……………………………. vase! I’ve never seen one like that before.
9. You always blame me. It’s …………………………….!
10. Months are a conventional ……………………………. of the year.
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5. Someone who is im………………….. is able to act fairly because they are not personally involved in a
situation.
6. Addictive substances inter………………….. with the chemicals in the brain.
7. If a person is un………………….., he is not carrying a weapon.
8. Although it works well in theory, it’s im………………….. in real life.
9. An under………………….. country does not have industries and usually has a low standard of living.
10. She un………………….. the buttons of her jacket because she was hot.
11. The financial out………………….. for the coming year was not very encouraging.
12. The American for post………………….. is zip code.
3. Complete each sentence with a word formed from the list below ending as shown.
live - fit – danger - use – person – mother - object – child - reason - care
1. Physical …………………ness is essential for a pilot.
2. If nobody has any …………………ions, we’ll go on to the next item on the agenda.
3. Please be …………………ful with that vase. It’s very valuable.
4. She’s a …………………ly child, she’s only still when she’s sleeping.
5. That thing is …………………less, it serves no purpose whatsoever!
6. I think he’ll understand if you explain the situation. He’s a very …………………able person.
7. It’s …………………ous to drive in thick fog.
8. He’s very …………………ish. I wish he’d grow up.
9. He’s always asking …………………al questions. I wish he’d mind his own business.
10. Ever since she had a baby she looks happier. …………………hood seems to suit her.
5. Use the word(s) in brackets to form a word that fits into the sentence.
1. When I’m overtired, I get ………………………….. (irritate)
2. The teacher ………………………….. their ability. Therefore, they found the exercise much too difficult.
(rate)
3. I’m sure it will be a great ………………………….. (succeed)
4. If you ………………………….. seven by seven, you get forty-nine. (multiple)
5. The footballer was ………………………….. for obstructing an opponent. (penalty)
6. The delay at the airport was ………………………….. (fury)
7. The baby was born one month ………………………….. (mature)
8. My library books are ………………………….., I’ll have to pay a fine. (due)
9. There’s no ………………………….. between the two. (compare)
10. They are ..................................... the road to ............................. greater safety for motorists. (wide / sure)
11. You cooked the meat too long. It’s ………………………….. (do)
12. ………………………….. pre-cooked meals are a great help when you’ve no time to cook. (freeze)
13. Appearances can often be ………………………….. (deceive)
14. The prince was ………………………….. into a frog. (form)
15. They sell a lot because their prices are ………………………….. (compete)
16. The athlete was ………………………….. from the championship because he had taken drugs. (qualify)
17. The police are responsible for the ………………………….. of law and order. (force)
18. Patients’ lives are ................................... by the lack of fully-qualified doctors at night and at weekends.
(danger)
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19. He claims that he is expected to do too much for a ridiculously low salary. In other words, he is
.............................. and .................................. (work / pay)
20. The old woman ………………………….. her husband by twenty years. In fact, he was only seventy when
he died. (live)
21. There’s no ………………………….. that he stole the money. (prove)
22. ………………………….. people are imperious to criticism. (sense)
23. Clairvoyants are supposed to ………………………….. the future. (tell)
24. The police were able to ............................. the criminal from the CCTV videotapes. (identity)
25. He needs to either get his jeans ................................. and ................................ or buy new ones of the
right size. (tight / short)
Compound adjectives:
Most, but not all, compound adjectives are hyphenated when they are before a noun, e.g. a densely-
populated area. Others are so well-established that they have lost the hyphen, e.g. a foolproof solution.
However, when in doubt, use a dictionary.
• compound adjectives are often formed with parts of the body or clothes: e.g. blue-eyed, brown-haired,
broad/narrow-shouldered, high/low-heeled (shoes), loud-mouthed, right/left-handed, short/long-sighted,
round/open-necked (shirt), warm/cold-blooded, warm/cold/half-hearted:
The man was broad-shouldered, white-haired and blue-eyed. He was wearing an open-necked shirt
and jeans.
Several loud-mouthed hooligans were arrested.
• Other compound adjectives describe character: absent/ narrow/broad/open-minded, easy-going, laid-
back, good/bad-tempered, quick-witted, self-centred, uptight:
He’s a self-centred, narrow-minded bigot!
He’s normally an easy-going person. I wonder why he’s being so uptight over this.
A special group of compound adjectives are those where the second part is a preposition, e.g. worn-out,
well-off, built-up, hard-up, etc.
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6. In each of the following sentences is a blank with a word just before it. Fill each blank with a
word that combines with the one given, making a new word that fits the sentence.
1. I’m afraid you’ll have to rewrite this. I just can’t read your hand…………………….
2. When they went to Florence they spent all their time sight…………………….
3. After several years out of business, the star tried to make a come…………………….
4. He wasn’t seriously hurt in the accident but his car was a write…………………….
5. Their out……………………. has increased since they put in the new machinery.
6. The minister wasn’t hurt when the terrorist fired at him because his car had bullet…………………….
windows.
7. Despite a number of set……………………. the climbers finally reached the summit.
8. The take……………………. of the plane was delayed by some technical trouble.
9. During the rush……………………., traffic often comes to a stand…………………….
10. He had a terrible hang……………………. the morning after the party.
11. All his family have green eyes, he’s the only blue……………………. one.
12. She needs glasses because she’s rather short…………………….
13. When the doctor took his blood……………………., he said it was a little high.
14. The alarm……………………. didn’t go off this morning so he was late for work.
15. He never knows what lessons he has, he always has to look at his time…………………….
16. They must be well……………………. if they can afford to go to Australia or the USA on holiday every
year.
17. The police put a pair of hand……………………. on the suspect as soon as they had arrested him.
18. He was driving along the motor……………………. when a stone smashed his wind…………………….
19. The child is normally well……………………., I don’t understand why he’s being so naughty.
20. He’s getting more and more absent……………………. I think he would forget his head if it wasn’t
screwed on!
7. In each of the following sentences is a blank with a word just after it. Fill each blank with a word
that combines with the one given, making a new word that fits the sentence.
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8. Complete the following sentences with compound nouns formed from the verb in brackets and a
preposition.
1. As he was quick on the ……………………., he made rapid progress. (take)
2. She’s always on the ……………………. for a bargain. (look)
3. There’s been another ……………………. of violence in the Middle East. (break)
4. The revolution caused the dictator’s ……………………. (fall)
5. Scientists hope the new discovery will be a(n) ……………………. (break)
6. When the leading actress was ill, her ……………………. took over. (study)
7. While they were walking in the park they got caught in a(n) ……………………. (pour)
8. The sky was ……………………. so he took his umbrella. (cast)
9. He worked so hard he had a nervous ……………………. (break)
10. The peace settlement led to a(n) ……………………. of troops. (draw)
11. Isn’t it time you had a(n) ……………………. of that cupboard. It’s full of old papers. (clear)
12. The ……………………. for the future seems a little brighter since we paid off the mortgage. (look)
13. He likes to have a(n) ……………………. on Sunday morning when he doesn’t have to work. (lie)
14. The company’s ……………………. increased dramatically after they reorganised everything. (turn)
15. When the referee sent they player off it caused a(n) ……………………. (roar)
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10. Complete the text with a suitable form of the word in brackets.
In a boundary dispute between neighbours, Mr Bellingham and Mr Simpson, Mr Bellingham altered a site
1
plan so that a crucial ............................... (measure), which should have been 63 feet, read 68 feet. When
2
the .................................. (deceive) was found out, he even accused Mr Simpson of forging the document
3 4
himself in an attempt to .................................. (black) his ............................... (credible) . When the truth
5
about the ............................. (forge) came out in court, the judge ruled in favour of Mr Bellingham on the
6
boundary issue but went on to punish his .................................. (honest) by leaving him to pay for both his
own and most of his neighbour’s legal bills.
7
Mr Simpson’s barrister said that it was only right that someone who gave perjured ............................
8
(evident) should have to pay. He further claimed that Mr Bellingham’s ................................ (accuse) had not
9 10
only made a ................................ (settle) all but ....................................... (possible) but that he had made
1
no attempt to ................................... (apology) either to the court or to Mr Simpson for his
12 13
.................................. (offend) .................................... (allege). The Appeal Court judges have reserved
14
their .................................. (judge) on the case until a later date.
11. Complete the text with a suitable form of the word in brackets.
1 2
Mystery has long surrounded the ............................... (locate) of the ............................. (bury) place of
Richard III, the last Plantagenet king, who was defeated and killed at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Richard
3 4
has gone down in history as a ................................ (black-heart), ............................. (hunchback) tyrant and
5 6
Shakespeare’s play reinforced the ............................ (conceive) of Richard’s ........................... (notorious).
However, it must be remembered that Shakespeare was writing to please a Tudor queen. Nowadays, many
7 8 9
................................ (history) claim this ................................ (fame) ........................... (repute) is
10 11
............................. (just) and was made up by the ..................................... (propaganda) of the time to
12 13
............................. (just) the ................................... (ascend) of the Tudors to the throne.
14
A team of ...................................... (archaeology) , seeking the long-lost Franciscan Friary where Richard
15 16
was .................................. (suppose) buried, have ................................ (earth) both the Friary and its
17
church containing a male skeleton with a form of ............................. (spine) curvature, which would have
18
made his right shoulder ................................. (visible) higher than his left.
19
The next step will be the ..................................... (compare) of the DNA of the skeleton found in the
20 21
................................... (excavate) with that of a man whose mother was a direct .............................
22 23
(descend) of the king’s .............................. (old) sister. Experts are .............................. (hope) that the
24
tests will verify the ‘..................................’ (stun) find.
12. Complete the text with a suitable form of the word in brackets.
Three of the cities visitors will enjoy on their cruise are Copenhagen, Helsinki and St. Petersburg.
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UNIT 18
PHRASAL VERBS
A phrasal verb is a verb combined with an adverb or preposition and occasionally with an adverb and a
preposition. They are more common in informal English, but many are also found in formal writing and
speech.
There are four basic types. These are as follows:
1. Verb + adverb (no object):
The plane took off on time.
2. Verb + adverb + object / verb + object + adverb: If the object is a noun, the adverb can come before
or after the noun. If the object is a pronoun, the adverb must come after the object:
Are you going to give back the money? / give the money back? Are you going to give it back?
3. Verb + preposition + object:
When the princess kissed the frog, it turned into a prince. Unfortunately, he still looked like a frog.
4. Verb + adverb + preposition + object:
I’m not going to put up with his behaviour any longer.
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130
131
wind up a) bring or come to an end; conclude b) settle or arrange in order to conclude c) excite d)
become ultimately
work out a) find a solution for; solve b) formulate or develop c) have a specified result d) prove
successful, effective, or satisfactory e) calculate f) do strenuous exercise for physical
conditioning
wrap up a) wind up; complete or end in a satisfactory way b) fold paper, etc. around something c)
put warm clothes on d) (with in) completely immersed or absorbed in
write off a) regard as worthless, lost, obsolete, etc. b) cancel an entry in an account, as an unpaid
and uncollectible debt c) (vehicle) damage so much it is not worth repairing
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c) broke into
d) ran over
6. She’s studying hard as she wants to ............ that exam first go.
a) get through
b) make over
c) go on with
d) get at
7. The line was so bad I couldn’t ............ what he was saying.
a) turn up
b) make out
c) put over
d) run off
8. He’s getting fat so he’s decided to ............ squash.
a) bring on
b) get over
c) take up
d) put in
9. He was getting tired of driving, so they decided to take a break and ............ at the nearest lay-by.
a) pulled in
b) drew out
c) work over
d) put on
10. Seeing those photos ............ happy memories of his holiday.
a) put up
b) brought back
c) bought up
d) made up
11. Have you heard that Jill and Sam have ............? They’d been going out together for six months.
a) taken down
b) broken up
c) got out
d) bought off
12. That pullover doesn’t really ............ your skirt. The colours clash horribly.
a) go off
b) wear out
c) go with
d) put on
13. I’m afraid we’ve ............ coffee. Would tea do?
a) come up against
b) come up with
c) run out of
d) run away with
14. When the children are so quiet I’m always worried about what they’re ............ .
a) going into
b) breaking out of
c) coming on
d) getting up to
15. While they were away on holiday, thieves ............ and stole everything of any value.
a) broke in
b) took in
c) went off
d) ran out
16. Not as many people as they’d hoped ............ for the open-air concert because it was raining.
a) dropped in
b) put over
c) turned up
d) ran away
17. I ............ Jim at the library! I hadn’t seen him for years!
a) ran over
b) put up
c) got away with
d) ran into
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a) call her at
b) put her up
c) bring her round
d) bring her up
3. Complete the sentences with the correct form or tense of the verbs below. Use each verb once
and add prepositions/adverbs.
4. Rewrite each sentence so that it means the same, using the correct form or tense of one of the
verbs below. Use each verb once and add prepositions/adverbs.
cut off – find out - turn up – show off – carry out – look up
- fall out – make up - put off – work out
5. Rewrite each sentence so that it means the same, using the correct form of one of the verbs
below. Use each verb once.
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hold out for – put up with – bring about – aim at – turn down – build up
- let down – look into - come up against - put off – call off
6. Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first. Use the word(s) in
brackets.
1. Although he looks like his father, he hasn’t inherited his strength of character. (after)
Although he ..................................................... in appearance, he hasn’t inherited his strength of
character.
2. Can you calculate how much it would cost to fix the roof? (out)
Can ......................................... how much it would cost to fix the roof?
3. I may not be well-off, but I can manage on what I earn. (by)
I may not be well-off but ............................................................................................
4. Something urgent has arisen at work. I’ll have to go in on Saturday to handle it. (up / with)
Something .................................................................... at work. I’ll have to go in on Saturday
................................ it.
5. Have you had time to read all the information I collected? I’d like your opinion. (through)
Have you had time to ................................................... all the information I collected? I’d like your
opinion on it.
6. Things are getting better at work! (up)
Things .................................................................. at work!
7. I’ve been working hard since September! I need to relax. (out)
I’ve been working hard since September! I need .........................................................
8. After seething for a while, he lost his temper and told Jim exactly what he thought of him in no uncertain
terms. (up)
After seething for a while, she ........................................ and told Jim exactly what she thought of him in
no uncertain terms.
9. Apparently, somebody made the bomb explode by means of a mobile phone. (off)
Apparently, the bomb ............................................................. by means of a mobile phone.
10. He hardly touched the subject. He was obviously trying to make light of the oversight. (over)
He hardly touched the subject. He was obviously trying ....................................................... .
11. He goes to the gym twice a week to exercise. (out)
He goes to the gym twice a week ..........................................................
12. Isn’t it funny how electrical appliances don’t last as long as they used to? This washing machine is on its
last legs and I’ve only had it four years. (out)
Isn’t it funny how electrical appliances ................................................... than they used to? This washing
machine is on its last legs and I’ve only had it four years.
13. He was offered a good job but he refused it because it would have meant relocating his whole family.
(down)
He was offered a good job but he ......................................................... because it would have meant
relocating his whole family.
14. His car was completely smashed in the accident. He’s lucky he wasn’t killed! (off)
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His car was completely ............................................................ in the accident. He’s lucky he wasn’t
killed!
15. Who was the crazy person who proposed this idiotic plan? (with)
Who was the crazy person who ......................................... this idiotic plan?
16. I believe we’ve covered all the points on the agenda so shall we end the meeting and go home? (up)
I believe we’ve covered all the points on the agenda, so ............................................... the meeting and
go home?
17. The smell of a cake baking makes me remember my childhood. (back)
The smell of a cake baking ......................................................................
18. There is no more time! Put down your pens and close the examination booklet. (up)
Time.....................................................! Put down your pens and close the examination booklet.
19. They had quite a lot of setbacks while developing this machine. (against)
They ........................................................... quite a lot of setbacks while developing this machine.
20. He pretended to be a high-flyer but everyone soon understood his true nature. (through)
He pretended to be a high-flyer but everyone soon .........................................................
21. A buzzing fly disturbed me while I was trying to concentrate. (off)
I was trying to concentrate but I ............................................................................ a buzzing fly.
22. He took a risk by creating his own business but it was successful. (up / off)
He took a risk by ............................................. his own business but it ....................................
23. It doesn’t matter if you’ve missed your train. I can find a bed for you at my place tonight. (up)
It doesn’t matter if you’ve missed your train. I can ........................................... at my place tonight.
24. The lecturer droned on and on in a monotonous voice. I nearly fell asleep. (off)
The lecturer droned on and on in a monotonous voice. I nearly ..............................................
25. Are you driving straight to Glasgow or will you make an overnight stay somewhere? (off)
Are you driving straight to Glasgow or will you ........................................................ somewhere?
26. They evacuated all English citizens when civil war started in the region. (out)
They evacuated all English citizens when civil war ............................................ in the region.
27. Somebody has calculated that the increased sales will earn a twenty-five per cent profit. (out / in)
It .............................................. that the increased sales ......................................... a twenty-five per cent
profit.
28. She went to pieces when she heard the terrible news. (down)
She .................................................. when she heard the terrible news.
29. Everybody thought his bad temper was due to work problems. (down)
His bad temper ............................................... work problems.
30. It took him a long time to recover from the operation, but he’s fine now.
It took him a long time .......................................... the operation, but he’s fine now.
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UNIT 19
IDIOMS
An idiom or metaphor may be an expression or a word which uses language in a non-literal way. They are
important because they are very common in spoken and informal English. They can also be fun to learn and
use and undoubtedly make your English sound more natural.
literal use Idiomatic use
A farmer ploughs a field. You plough through a long book.
She’s lost her keys. She’s lost her mind.
Doesn’t the moonlight (noun) make everything look She doesn’t earn enough as a teacher so she
ghostly? moonlights (verb) as a waitress.
Here are just a few of the most common idioms (N.B. they are not the only idioms you will find in this unit)
idiom meaning
across-the-board including everything or everyone
at stake at risk; in danger of being lost, such as something wagered; critically
involved
be at loggerheads disagree very strongly
be in a tight spot / jam / tight be in a difficult situation
corner
be set in your ways be inflexible, fixed in your habits
bear / keep something in mind remember / take into consideration
bone of contention issue or point that people have been arguing about for a long time
bottom line a) the lowest line of the earnings report of a company, on which net
profit per share of stock is shown b) final result or statement; upshot c)
main or essential point
can’t be bothered (to / with) consider something as too much trouble or not important enough to do
or have anything to do with
Catch-22 a) situation in which a desired outcome or solution is impossible to
attain because of a set of inherently illogical rules or conditions b) rules
or conditions that create such a situation c) situation or predicament
characterised by absurdity or senselessness d) contradictory or self-
defeating course of action
change of heart reversal of your feelings, intentions, opinions, etc.
climb the corporate ladder advance in your career; get promoted
come again? used as a request to repeat what was said
come off it! stop acting or speaking foolishly or pretentiously, usually in the
imperative
come on! used mainly in the imperative: a) stop inappropriate behaviour b)
abandon a position or an attitude
dirt cheap very cheap
Don’t talk rubbish! (exclamation – not polite) used to dismiss something as wrong or not to
be believed
down in the dumps depressed
drag your heels procrastinate; postpone doing what you should be doing
draw the line reasonably object (to) or set a limit (on)
face the music take, or accept the consequences of your mistakes, actions, etc.
foot the bill pay the bill, settle the accounts
from Day One / scratch from the very beginning
gain ground become more successful, advance
generate lots of buzz cause excited interest or attention
get off to a good/bad start be successful / not successful in the early stages of doing something
get off on the wrong foot
get on your nerves annoy, irritate or bother
get the message understand the implications of a hint, insinuation
give somebody the cold shoulder totally ignore or behave towards someone in a way that is not at all
friendly, sometimes for reasons that this person does not understand
give-and-take a) practice of compromise b) lively exchange of ideas or conversation
go / come over like a lead balloon not be liked at all
go great guns be very successful
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139
1. ……….. 6. ………..
2. ……….. 7. ………..
3. ……….. 8. ………..
4. ……….. 9. ………..
5. ……….. 10. ………..
2. Use the words or expressions in exercise 1, modifying them if necessary, to complete the
sentences below.
1. Please, listen to me before you ………………………… this idea!
2. The police turned out over a hundred ……………………… from that old building last night.
3. I’ve just received a letter from the solicitor and I can’t understand the jargon he uses, it just a load of
………………………… to me.
4. The airport is ……………………………………… with angry passengers waiting for their planes to leave
but they can’t until the weather improves.
5. It’s no good being …………………….………… over this. You should be stronger and more decisive.
6. I need a change! I’m fed up to the back teeth with this …………………………………… life!
7. When they got back to the flat they found everything was …………………………; the contents of the
cupboards were all over the floor, ornaments were smashed and the kitchen looked as though a bomb
had hit it.
8. Don’t bring up the subject of football! Once he starts talking about it he’ll go on ………………………….
9. I hope you didn’t pay much for this decorating. It looks very ………………………… to me, not at all
professional.
10. Andrew’s a great believer in …………………………. One night he couldn’t sleep because of his
neighbour’s drum practice, so the next evening he organised an all-night party.
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4. Use the expressions in exercise 3, modifying them if necessary, to complete the sentences
below.
1. Don’t …………………………………..! It’s none of your business!
2. Having to go out in this rain is a real ………………………………..!
3. I was completely knocked out by the news! I ………………………………. for words.
4. You know I ………………………………………. to help you if I could.
5. Their car broke down in the middle of nowhere. Luckily they were able to …………………………………
from a passing car.
6. You’ve promised to paint all the house by next Saturday! I think you …………………………………….
7. I …………………………………….. last night! I must have been exhausted.
8. They ………………………………….. I can’t understand how they can be such good friends.
9. He’s just bought a luxury yacht. He must ………………………………………..
10. I said ‘yes’ …………………………………………….. but now I regret it.
11. I used to go to the cinema a lot but now I’m too busy. I only go ……………………………….
12. I didn’t mean to call you an idiot. It was just ………………………………………..
jumped in with both feet – locking the stable door after the horse has bolted – give him a piece of
my mind – see past the end of his nose – out of sight, out of mind - let the cat out of the bag –
crying over spilt milk - pitch black - keep your head down – bat an eyelid
hold the fort – up to my eyes - running out of steam – in two minds - in a rut – on the blink –head over
heels in love - leave no stone unturned – each other’s guts - own worst enemy
1. Joe quarrelled with the boss again this morning. He’s good at his job but if he’s not careful he’ll get the
sack. He’s his ……………………………………………..
2. I don’t have the enthusiasm I used to have. I seem to be ………………………………………..
3. She’s been doing the same job for years. She’s looking for something else because she feels she’s
……………………………………………..
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4. “Where’s Jackie?” – “Oh, she asked me to …………………………………………….. while she popped out
for a few minutes.”
5. The police have promised they would …………………………………………….. until they’ve caught the
escaped criminal.
6. I’m afraid I’ll have to do overtime again this evening. I’m …………………………………….. in work.
7. “Are you going to accept that job?” – “I’m …………………………………………….. about it. The pay’s
good but it would mean moving.”
8. Oh, no! The television is …………………………………………….. again. Why don’t we buy a new one?
9. Don’t ask both Sam and Joe to dinner. They hate ……………………………………………..
10. “Why is Barbara looking so starry-eyed?” – “Haven’t you heard? She’s ……………………………………..
with Larry.
7. Rewrite each sentence changing the parts in italics and making any necessary modifications.
Use the expressions below in the correct form.
spread like wildfire - easier said than done – spend money like water - know something inside
out – there’s no question about it – skate on thin ice - the blind leading the blind - have a crush
on – make a mountain out of a molehill – hit the roof
8. Rewrite each sentence changing the parts in italics and making any necessary modifications.
Use the expressions below in the correct form.
keep up with the Joneses - knock down with a feather – be more to someone than meets the eye –
put one’s foot in it - burn the candle at both ends – make a mess of something – stick one’s neck out -
donkey’s years - be a blessing in disguise – get to grips with something
1. “Did you hear Dick’s the new manager?” – “Yes, I was very surprised. I didn’t think he stood a chance of
promotion.”
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
2. “Bad luck! I heard you lost your job.” – “Well, it looked like a bad thing to happen but actually it’s been
good. I’ve found a much better one.”
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
3. I’ve known him for a long time.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
4. He’s been having late nights and early starts recently. He should slow down.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
5. Did you know Katy writes books in her spare time? She’s got more ability than we realised.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
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6. “When she found out her neighbours had bought a new car, she had to have one too.” – Yes, she always
wants what other people have.”
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
7. You’re risking a lot by going free-lance in this period.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
8. I made an embarrassing mistake when I asked her when she and Bob were getting married. It turned out
they’d broken up.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
9. She’s finally learning how to use the computer programme, but it wasn’t easy.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
10. He did very badly in his history exam.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
9. ►Listen and choose the alternative which best explains the meaning of the sentence you hear.
1. a) I’ve had enough to eat.
b) I’m getting fat.
c) I’m sick and tired of it.
d) I’ve got toothache.
2. a) I can’t support her.
b) I don’t like the way she looks at me.
c) She wears very heavy glasses.
d) I hate her guts.
3. a) She loves cakes.
b) She would love to have a cake to eat later.
c) She wants more than she can have.
d) She wants more cake.
4. a) You ought to be more tolerant.
b) You shouldn’t kill people.
c) You should let people live where they want.
d) You ought to live somewhere else.
5. a) The car wasn’t very cheap.
b) The car was cheap because it was dirty.
c) The car was dirty.
d) The car was a bargain.
6. a) He’s jumping around like a cat.
b) He’s making a terrible noise.
c) He’s very nervous and can’t keep still.
d) He’s like a cat in heat.
7. a) They had to work to catch the train.
b) They did a good job before catching the train.
c) It’s lucky they were able to catch the train.
d) It’s hard work catching a train.
8. a) She didn’t appear upset by the news.
b) Her hair was perfectly tidy.
c) She hasn’t combed her hair since she heard the news.
d) She was so shocked by the news that her hair turned white.
9. a) Don’t take your hat off.
b) Hide this under your hat.
c) Don’t tell anyone.
d) Don’t go out without your hat.
10. a) You shouldn’t criticise him because he’s got a long neck.
b) You’re asking for trouble by criticising him.
c) You’re becoming a pain in the neck.
d) You should stand straight when you’re criticising him.
11. a) Stop making a fuss about nothing.
b) Stop piling up earth.
c) Stop climbing and have a rest.
d) The mountain you’re climbing isn’t that high.
12. a) Be careful not to trip over him.
b) You’d better following in his footsteps.
c) When you’re walking with him, be careful.
d) You’d better take care when dealing with him.
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10. Using the idioms from the chart in this unit, complete the sentences.
1. He used to be such a cheerful and optimistic chap but nowadays he always seems to be down
.....................................! I wonder what brought on such a change of character.
2. It goes ................................................. that I knew nothing of his plans to emigrate. I was as surprised
as everyone else.
3. He used to go clubbing practically every night, but since his marriage he seems to have turned
………………………… Now, he spends most of his evenings with his wife and child.
4. I really can’t take on any more work! In fact, I’ve already got too much on ................................!
5. I don’t mind doing a spot of overtime during the week, but I draw ................................ at working on
Saturday morning! By the time the weekend comes round, I need a break.
6. I’m sorry if you think I spoke ................................................., but somebody had to tell him the true facts
of the matter.
7. He wants to set up his own Internet business. I wish him well but, as he hasn’t got much money, he’ll
probably have to do it on ………….............................…!
8. As she was starting to get bad marks at school, her mother put ....................................... and forbade
her to go out on weekday evenings.
9. I bet he had to pay ....................................... for those tickets to the match! I was under the impression
they’d been sold out for over a month.
10. I know it isn’t an easy job but if you drag ......................................................... any longer, you’ll never
get it done in time. Don’t think about it, just do it!
11. His second-hand car may have been ................................... but it looks and sounds as though it’s on its
last legs! He’d have done better to spend more and get a car he could rely on.
12. I hear there’s new, cutting-edge version of this Smartphone in .................................. It should be on the
market by May.
13. I hate it when he ................................. in whatever people say. Constructive criticism is fine, but he just
loves running down all his colleagues.
14. Their determination ................................................ will be their ruin! Now they’ve decided to go on a
luxury cruise just because one of their neighbours went on one last summer.
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15. The news of the manager’s dismissal spread through the office ......................................! Everyone was
shocked.
16. He has always appreciated honesty. Perhaps if you .................................................... and told him
exactly what you can and cannot do, he’d be more reasonable in his demands.
17. He’s been on ......................................... since he heard he was being promoted!
18. Their marriage was doomed from the first. They were both in their forties, set
........................................... and unwilling to compromise on anything.
19. I’m afraid he’ll just have to admit his mistake and ..........................................! They’ll probably go easy
on him as he’s new in the office and can’t be expected to know everything.
20. They’re like chalk and cheese! They never see .......................................... about anything.
11. Using idioms from the chart in this unit, complete the second sentence so that it means the same
as the first.
1. She asked Jim not to tell anyone about her unpleasant experience. However, after a few drinks with his
friends, he blabbed about it.
She asked Jim not to tell anyone about her unpleasant experience. However, after a few drinks with his
friends, he let .......................................................
2. He’s going to have to be very careful in the future. One more mistake and he’ll get the sack!
He’s going to have to watch ……………………….……….. in the future. One more mistake and he’ll get
the sack!
3. Can you lend me some money? I’m broke at the moment. I’ll pay it back when I get my wages.
Can you lend me some money? I’m ……………………………….. at the moment. I’ll pay it back when I
get my wages.
4. She waved and smiled at him but he looked straight through her as though she didn’t exist.
She waved and smiled at him but he gave ................................................. as though she didn’t exist.
5. He gave a bad impression from the start because he turned up late for his interview.
He got ................................................... because he turned up late for his interview.
6. There have been arguments about Jim’s garden shed since it was put up. His neighbour claims it blocks
out the sun from his vegetable patch.
Jim’s garden shed ................................................................... contention since it was put up. His
neighbour claims it blocks out the sun from his vegetable patch.
7. Australia! Doesn’t he realise we can’t even afford to go for a holiday anywhere in this county, let alone
Australia. I wish he’d be more practical.
Australia! Doesn’t he realise we can’t even afford to go anywhere in this county, let alone Australia. I
wish he didn’t have ...........................................
8. It’s been a horrible period, but I think it’s almost over.
It’s been a horrible period, but I can see ...........................................................
9. ‘When do you need the report?’ – ‘As quickly as possible!’
‘When do you need the report?’ – ‘I need ............................................!’
10. I think we’ve been talking about two completely different things for the last thirty minutes!
I think we’ve been talking at ........................................................ for the last thirty minutes!
11. You can do it if you are determined!
You can do it if you set ...........................................................
12. She doesn’t like going out with work colleagues much. She finds that they eventually discuss work-
related matters most of the time.
She doesn’t like going out with work colleagues much. She finds that they end up ...................................
shop most of the time.
13. It’s too much trouble to cook anything. I’ll make do with a sandwich.
I can’t .................................................. to cook anything. I’ll make do with a sandwich.
14. Just briefly give me the main facts. You can go into the details when we have more time.
Just give me the facts in ............................................. You can go into the details when we have more
time.
15. I think the only thing to do is to scrap everything and begin again.
I think the only thing to do is to scrap everything and start from ........................................
16. I’d be in difficulties if it hadn’t been for your help!
I’d be ..................................................... spot if it hadn’t been for your help.
17. That dripping tap is irritating me. I’m going to have to call the plumber.
That dripping tap is ......................................... nerves. I’m going to have to call the plumber.
18. He lives in another town and I rarely see him.
He lives in another town and I only see him once ............................................
19. He caters to her every whim. Everyone knows who gives the orders in that family!
145
He caters to her every whim. Everyone knows who wears .................................................... in that
family!
20. Don’t worry about her! She’s a sensible girl.
Don’t worry about her! She’s got her ................................................
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UNIT 20
GENERAL REVIEW EXERCISES
1. Choose the correct alternative.
1. She still ........ yet.
a) didn’t arrive
b) hasn’t arrived
c) isn’t arriving
d) won’t arrive
2. While he ........ he ........ a strange dream.
a) slept .... was having
b) has slept .... is having
c) was sleeping .... had
d) had slept .... had
3. How old ........ when you met him?
a) were you
b) are you
c) will you be
d) have you been
4. She wonders what she ........ this time next year.
a) does
b) is doing
c) will have been doing
d) will be doing
5. He ........ and it drives me up the wall.
a) would be always contradicting me
b) is always contradicting me
c) always is contradicting me
d) contradicts me always
6. He was out of breath because he ........
a) has been running
b) was running
c) had been running
d) runs
7. I ........ to get in touch with you for the past six days. Where have you been?
a) tried
b) was trying
c) have been trying
d) had tried
8. I ........ but I lost your phone number.
a) was going to call
b) was calling
c) would call
d) have been calling
9. If you ........ ill, you ........ go to bed.
a) felt .... will
b) are feeling .... had better
c) feel .... had better to
d) feel .... would
10. He suggested ........ the museum.
a) me to visit
b) me visiting
c) I should visit
d) I would visit
11. I wish I ........ how to drive when I had the chance.
a) had learnt
b) learnt
c) should have learnt
d) would learn
12. You ........ to finish the report, it doesn’t have to be in until next Friday.
a) didn’t need hurrying
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d) could
25. What ........ this change of mind?
a) brought up
b) brought on
c) brought about
d) brought in
26. I think this milk has ........ Just smell it!
a) gone up
b) gone on
c) gone out
d) gone off
27. He looks like his father in appearance but he definitely ........ his mother in character.
a) takes up
b) takes after
c) takes in
d) takes off
28. He’s got ........! He never remembers anything!
a) a head like a sieve
b) his head in the clouds
c) his head screwed on
d) a head for heights
29. He’s infuriating! His mannerisms are driving me ........
a) miles away
b) off the mark
c) up the creek
d) round the bend
30. He promised he would ......., but, as far as I can see, he’s behaving just as badly as before!
a) turn over a new leaf
b) go great guns
c) be at loggerheads
d) go over like a lead balloon
2. Complete the text by either filling in the space with one suitable word or putting the verb in
brackets into the most suitable form or tense.
1 2
Commercial whaling began hundreds of years …...………..……, but two events (precipitate)
3
………………………. ……….......…………. enormous increase in the killing world-wide. In 1864 a new,
4 5
explosive harpoon (develop) ………………………………., which ….....………..… be fired from a cannon
6 7
and then …………………. off …….....…………… the whale’s body; and in the early 1920s, floating factory
8 9
ships (introduce) ………………………………. to do the processing ………………. sea.
10 11
Large whales (almost, hunt) ………………………………. ……………. extinction. A world-wide ban
12 13
(agree) …………………………. in 1986, after tireless campaigning ……….....………. conservation
14
groups, but several hundred whales (still, kill) …………........…………. every year. There is
15 16
………………………. some commercial whaling ……...………… open defiance of the ban, but most of the
17 18 19
killing occurs as a ……………………. of a serious loophole …………………… allows any nation (issue)
20
…………….....……. its own permits to ……......…………… whales for scientific research.
21
Smaller whales and dolphins (hunt) ………………………………., especially in Japanese and South
22 23
American waters, to ……………………. meat for human ……….....…………. and bait for crab fisheries; in
24 25
some areas, where fish stocks are severely ……………………. ……………………. to over-exploitation,
26
these cetaceans (blame) ………....…………………. for the scarcity of fish and are ‘culled’ to protect the rest
27 28
of the stock. ……....…………………., an increasing number of cetaceans ……………….....…….
29
entangled and drown in fishing nets every year. The problem varies …………...………… to the type of
fishing gear used, local customs, the species and the fishing season. Most of the fisheries that kill dolphins,
30 31
do ……...…………. accidentally but tuna fishing is a notable ……………………….; many fishermen
32 33 34
…………………… their nets around dolphins …………………., (know) ………………………. that they
35 36
tend (swim) ……………………. with the tuna, as it is the cheapest and quickest ……………………. to
catch the most fish.
3. Rewrite each sentence using the word(s) given so that it means the same as the sentence above.
1. They are discussing the idea. (under)
……………………………………………………………………………………….
2. Pete regrets not going on to university. (wishes)
……………………………………………………………………………………….
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4. Use the word in italics to form a word that fits in the sentence.
1. The police tried to …………………………….. the angry mob. (peace)
2. No-one can explain the …………………………….. of the director. He hasn’t been seen for over a week
and nobody knows where he’s gone. (appear)
3. Nobody knows what the …………………………….. will be. (come)
4. He wasn’t as …………………………….. as he’d hoped. (succeed)
5. The patient was …………………………….. from hospital. (charge)
6. Travel can …………………………….. the mind. (broad)
7. They’re trying to find new …………………………….. for their product. (let)
8. It’s only a matter of time before there’s a(n) …………………………….. between the two sides. (show)
9. The car was so damaged in the accident that it was a(n) …………………………….. (write)
10. What a load of ……………………………..! (sense)
11. I wish you wouldn’t write so ……………………………... This composition is terrible. (care)
12. The work was so …………………………….. that he soon got bored. (repeat)
13. You don’t seem to appreciate the …………………………….. of the situation. (grave)
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14. I’ve had no …………………………….. of my letter. I wonder if they got it. (know)
15. She suffered from a sense of …………………………….. and lack of confidence in herself. (secure)
16. Following the …………………………….. of war, troops were sent in. (break)
17. The prisoner managed to …………………………….. the guard and escape. (power)
18. They rejected the proposal because it was …………………………….. (practice)
19. There was a poor …………………………….. at the meeting. (turn)
20. You’re opening the box …………………………….. down. Turn it round. (side)
6. ►Listen again and find words or expressions which have the following meanings.
1. ………………………………….. = something marking an important stage of history.
2. ………………………………….. = change from one state or condition to another
3. ………………………………….. = occasion when something is set apart for sacred use
4. ………………………………….. = person attending church
5. ………………………………….. = heavenly, divine
6. ………………………………….. = understood the attitude of mind
7. ………………………………….. = moving
8. ………………………………….. = more severe
9. ………………………………….. = transgression against divine or moral law
10. ………………………………….. = eliminated
11. ………………………………….. = people holding opinions contrary to orthodox belief
12. ………………………………….. = express joy
13. ………………………………….. = abundance
14. ………………………………….. = spiral shoots of climbing plants
7. In each pair of sentences, the same phrasal verb is used once literally and once non-literally.
Look at the list below and choose one for each sentence pair. Put the verb into an appropriate
form or tense.
break off - bring back - catch up with - come across - get through - pick up - see
through - sort out - stand up for - wipe out
1. a) His stamp collection was in a terrible mess, so one afternoon he dedicated time to ......................... it
................ according to date and country of origin.
b) You and I have a problem of communication, but if we learn to see each other’s point of view, I’m
sure we can ..................... it ...............
2. a) She had walked faster than the others, so she sat on a bench and waited for them ............................
her.
b) His teachers helped him ............................... his classmates after his long illness.
3. a) Don’t let him daunt you! Defend yourself and ......................................... your rights.
b) The whole theatre audience ........................................... the Prince when he arrived.
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4. a) She didn’t learn much Chinese while she was working there, but she managed to ......................... a
few useful phrases.
b) Don’t just drop the paper on the floor! ...................... it .................. and put it into the bin.
5. a) Look what I ........................................ while I was sheltering from the rain in a charity shop! It only
cost £3.50 and it fits me perfectly.
b) As soon as he saw me, he waved and ...................................... the road to chat to me for a while.
6. a) You can borrow my bike but don’t forget to ........................ it ............... before the weekend. I’ll need it
then myself.
b) The smell of lavender always ...................................... memories of my grandmother.
7. a) The material of her blouse was so sheer you could ....................................... it.
b) He had superficial charm, but it didn’t take her long ......................................... the smooth exterior to
the real person beneath.
8. a) Smallpox has very nearly .......................................... in most parts of the world.
b) Don’t forget ............................................. the sink after you finish gutting those fish!
9. a) Oh dear! The teapot handle .........................................! It must have happened when I washed it.
b) She knew they were talking about her because they .................................... whatever they were
saying and looked embarrassed.
10. a) Do you think this last minute swotting ............................. you ........................... next week’s
examination?
b) The hedge was too thick and prickly for him ......................................, so he walked to the nearest
gate.
8. Change the word(s) in brackets so that it fits logically into the gap(s) in each sentence.
1. The bloodstain on her shirt was very .....................................! (notice)
2. I have never worked for such a considerate ......................................... . I think most of my fellow
................................. are of the same mind. (employ)
3. Without your ........................................., he wouldn’t have been as ................................... (courage /
succeed)
4. He felt both ..................................... and ..................................... by their negative attitude. (frustrate /
depress)
5. The cost of ................................ must be paid by the buyer. (carry)
6. Of course we can place confidence in her and believe what she says! She’s a ...................................
and ................................ person. (trust / true)
7. He is thoroughly ................................. of his bad behaviour. (shame)
8. Any business needs good .........................................if it wants to be ................................... (organise /
profit)
9. She has sent me a very ............................. letter in ...................................... of her .............................. to
keep her promise. (apology / explain / fail)
10. The necklace they stole was not ................................ In fact, it was practically ...............................
(value / worth)
11. He must have realised that such ..................................... would not be tolerated. He’ll just have to learn
to follow orders! (obey)
12. Some scientists believe that the .................................... of the moon is possible. (colony)
13. Let’s go for a picnic tomorrow, unless the weather forecast is ......................................, of course!
(favour)
14. They employ expert ..................................... to ensure no porcelain with a(n) .............................. is
allowed to leave the factory. (inspect / perfect)
15. She says she feels .................................... and needs a holiday. (wear)
16. The floor of the attic needs to be ............................... if they want to convert it into a guest bedroom.
(strong)
17. The number of ....................... in the shop have increased so the police have been asked to make a(n)
....................................... (thief / investigate)
18. Thanks to people’s .................................., we have collected enough money to send him to America for
the ..................................... (generous / operate)
19. The government is threatening another ...................................... of the currency. (value)
20. He complained .................................. about the problem. Nothing was done to correct the situation.
(use)
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11. Complete the sentences with the appropriate tense or form of the verb(s) in brackets.
153
1. After ......................... prices and ............................ through numerous catalogues, Robby finally
........................... a new car last week. (compare / look / buy)
2. Joe ........................................ in the house for over six months before he ................................. his
neighbour yesterday. (live / meet)
3. I have no idea why he ................................. to the party. He ............................... an invitation last week.
(not come / send)
4. I ......................................... my mobile phone. Do you mind ................................... my number? Perhaps
I ............................. able to hear it. (mislay / call / be)
5. It’s high time you ................................... a flat of your own. (find)
6. Sean ...................................... from Dublin. I love his accent! (come)
7. Look! I managed to get two of the last tickets for the play. If I ........................................ to get seats, I
..................................... very disappointed. (not be able / be)
8. The old water tower .......................................... up next Friday ......................... way for a new shopping
mall. (blow / make)
9. Please give him my message as soon as he .................................. (arrive)
10. This is the second time I ................................................. this film and I ....................................... the first
time either. (see / not like)
11. I ........................................... to avoid ......................................... along that stretch of motorway during
the rush hour if I could. However, unless I ..................................... off at some unearthly hour in the
morning, I ...................................... able to do so. (prefer / drive / set / not be)
12. If I ....................................... the boss, I ....................................... that incompetent idiot! (be / sack)
13. I hope it ......................... soon. We ..................................... a drop for nearly a month and the garden
...................................... parched. (rain / not have / look)
14. Steve .......................................... to find a job since he ................................... university. Let’s hope he
has some luck soon. (try / leave)
15. Why didn’t you ask us? We ......................................... you the money if we .................................... you
needed it. (lend / know)
16. They ............................................ dinner when the gale force wind ........................... a tree down in the
garden. It narrowly ..................................... crashing through the dining room window. (have / blow /
miss)
17. On 7 July they ............................................... married for ten years. They ............................... a holiday
to celebrate. (be / plan)
18. The new motorway ................................... three years ago and they ...................................... it yet! (start
/ finish)
19. I wish he .................................. his knuckles! I .............................. him time and time again that it
........................... me. (crack / tell / irritate)
20. Our road .............................. up all last week. New drains ................................. down. I hope this
............................... the road ............................. every time there ........................... heavy rain. (dig / put /
mean / not flood / be)
21. The little boy who .................................... since last night ........................................ safe and sound. He
.................................... hide-and-seek with his friends, .................................... in an old chest and
............................. asleep. (miss / find / play / hide / fall)
22. I ................................ this report at last! I ............................. it ............................ so long for me
.....................it. (finish / not expect / take / do)
23. Oh no! I ..................................... myself out of the house! I wish I ..................................... that lock which
automatically .................................. when the door ............................ . Now I ................................. to
climb through the kitchen window. I hope the police ....................................... past the house while I
..................................... it and ............................. me for a thief! (lock / not install / lock / shut / have/ not
drive / do / mistake)
24. The man who ......................... from Dartmoor Prison two days ago ............................ early this morning.
Two police officers .................................... during the capture. Their wounds .................................
serious but they ................................. in hospital for a few days under observation. (escape / capture /
wound / not consider / keep)
25. By this time next year he ................................... for the firm for over thirty years. I wonder when he
.................................. of ............................ . (work / think / retire)
12. Choose which of the point or time expressions are most suitable.
1. What he said was brief and .......... .
a) on the point
b) to the point
c) up to a point
d) in point
154
2. We eat out ......... but not as often as we’d like. It’s too expensive.
a) in time
b) from time to time
c) against time
d) at one time
3. I didn’t like her at first but ......... I grew to appreciate her sense of humour.
a) in time
b) on time
c) against time
d) by the time
4. You’d better hurry. The train is ........ of leaving.
a) on the point
b) beside the point
c) to the point
d) at point
5. .......... she wears the most extraordinary clothes!
a) With time
b) At one time
c) At times
d) In time
6. We’re fighting ......... to finish the job for you by Friday.
a) in time
b) on time
c) by the time
d) against time
7. ........ the fire-fighters arrived, we’d put out the fire ourselves.
a) With time
b) By the time
c) In time
d) At the same time
8. Don’t talk rubbish! What you’ve just said is quite ........ .
a) up to a point
b) beside the point
c) on the point
d) in point
9. You’re right, of course, but ....... you needn’t have been so rude about it.
a) at one time
b) from time to time
c) at the same time
d) at times
10. I agree with you ....... but there are some other things to consider as well.
a) up to a point
b) to the point
c) besides the point
d) in point
13. Fill in the blank spaces with an appropriate modal (must, can, should, etc.) in the affirmative or
negative, present or past. Use the verb in brackets.
1. Patrick has a yacht, helicopter and a luxurious house. He ......................... (be) very wealthy.
2. We waited for over an hour. You ....................................... (telephone) to say you weren’t coming.
3. Mum is terribly lonely after becoming a widow. We .......................................... (spend) more time with
her.
4. They only left an hour ago. They ........................................ (arrive) yet. It’s a three-hour journey.
5. I can’t find my umbrella anywhere. I ......................................... (leave) it at the office.
6. I’m not sure but I ............................. (be) late tomorrow.
7. You ..................................... (see) Kim in the mall yesterday. She’s in Munich on business. It
................................... (be) someone who looks like her.
8. “Where’s Tom?” – “I’m not certain, but he ....................................... (work) late at the office. He
mentioned they had an important deadline that ................................. (meet).”
9. You ...................................... (say) that to him yesterday! You know how easily he takes offence.
10. He ....................................... (go) to bed without cleaning his teeth!
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14. Rewrite each of the sentences so that it means the same and contains the word(s) in brackets.
1. May I sit here for a few minutes? (mind)
...............................................................................................................
2. You are going to be responsible for the organisation of the meeting. (charge)
...............................................................................................................
3. They are going to raise everybody’s salary! (given)
...............................................................................................................
4. It wasn’t necessary for you to do the washing up. (needn’t)
...............................................................................................................
5. He bought her a necklace as compensation for forgetting her birthday. (make)
...............................................................................................................
6. The stories he tells about his experiences are unbelievable. (beyond)
...............................................................................................................
7. The doctor says he’ll be fine, unless he overworks. (provided)
...............................................................................................................
8. It is as though they were millionaires, the way they live. (might / well)
...............................................................................................................
9. Nobody would let the reporter into the hospital to interview the survivors. (allowed)
...............................................................................................................
10. We walked to the station as it was so near. (enough)
...............................................................................................................
11. John says he didn’t have anything to do with the theft. (denies)
...............................................................................................................
12. Trying to repair this tyre is useless. (point)
...............................................................................................................
13. I’m not going to punish you this time. (let)
...............................................................................................................
14. She slept for only three hours last night. (had)
...............................................................................................................
15. The lecture he gave was so long-winded, I almost fell asleep. (such)
...............................................................................................................
16. “You did it purposely!” he told her. (accused / on)
...............................................................................................................
17. No matter how hard he tries, he can’t finish the job by that absurd deadline. (however / be)
...............................................................................................................
18. Although he was injured, he managed to pull his son to safety. (spite)
...............................................................................................................
19. Chris recently inherited a large fortune. (came)
...............................................................................................................
20. All of us with the exception of Harry thought the meeting was a waste of time. (only)
...............................................................................................................
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16. Rewrite the sentences so that they mean the same and include the word(s) in brackets.
1. She was in a hurry, so she forgot her passport. (such)
..............................................................................................................................
2. He had had very few driving lessons and, as a result, he failed his test. (enough / pass)
.............................................................................................................................
3. He didn’t go back to work because he didn’t feel well. (as)
.............................................................................................................................
4. He could never be a teacher because he’s not patient enough. (too)
...............................................................................................................................
5. The car was so expensive that we couldn’t afford it. (too)
............................................................................................................................
6. They closed the shop early because there weren’t many customers. (so)
...........................................................................................................................
7. The experience affected me profoundly and changed my whole life. (such)
...........................................................................................................................
8. The party ended earlier than I thought it would. (as / long)
............................................................................................................................
9. What I earn in a month, he earns in a week. (more)
...........................................................................................................................
10. The little girl’s behaviour is usually better than on this occasion. (behaves)
..........................................................................................................................
157
158
The new government plan for council housing has given former prisoners and soldiers as well as young
single homeless equal priority in the queue for housing. There has been criticism of this plan on the grounds
that it further undermines the primacy of the family in government policy. Formerly, families, including single-
parent ones, went automatically to the top of the council waiting list.
Swiss animal rights campaigners have called for a ban on the export of San Bernards to the Far East
because of fears that they will end up in the cooking pot. According to the president of the Swiss-based
International Organisation for Animal protection, they have found evidence that many of the famed mountain
rescue dogs sent there have been eaten.
There has been the first death in Britain directly caused by a car airbag. A 47-year-old woman from
Merseyside died when the bag blasted into her head, breaking her skull and causing brain damage. Her car
was travelling at 19 mph.
It is reported that workers used forged passes at a nuclear power station for several weeks. The workers had
limited clearance passes which gave them permission to enter low-risk parts of the plant on foot, but they
altered them to gain access to more sensitive areas - with their vehicles. The workers concerned have been
fired.
UNIT 4
3.
st
It’s May 1 , 2121 and this is your newscaster, P.I.P. 13, with two interesting items of news.
The new ‘Undersea Wonderland’ will be opening next July. ‘Wonderland’ is situated just off the former coast
of California and offers free instruction in underwater filming as well as guided tours round the underwater
th
city of Los Angeles which will be celebrating its 100 anniversary as the new ‘Atlantis’. The inhabitants will
be putting on various shows and exhibitions for the entertainment of visitors. By the way, visitors will be
relieved to hear that it will no longer be necessary to have temporary gills fitted, since facilities for oxygen
breathers will have been completed before the opening date.
A new colony ship is going to set off for Jupiter early next year. Applicants will have to satisfy strict health
requirements before being accepted and no-one over the age of 250 will be considered. Engineers, doctors,
astrophysicists, microbiologists and experts in informatics and their families will be given priority. It must be
remembered that this is a one-way trip; the genetic modifications and body engineering required before
embarking are irreversible. By the time the colonists arrive, they will have been travelling more than one
hundred and fifty years in deep-sleep. This will give the robot-builders plenty of time to select a suitable site
and erect the giant pressurised igloos which will contain homes, parks and sports facilities, as well as
factories, farms and laboratories. It is hoped that the colony will have become self-sufficient within fifty years
of its foundation.
UNIT 5
5.
A new ‘voice tagging’ system, under which the movements of young offenders are monitored by telephone
calls, might be introduced nation-wide.
Thousands of offenders, including juveniles, are released from prison under the present tagging system
which the home secretary hopes will help their return into society.
At the moment, tagged offenders have to wear an ankle unit that transmits to a receiver in their homes. If
they stray too far away when they are meant to be at home, the unit alerts the police. However, the system is
unsuitable for young offenders because it keeps them at home when they need to be at school.
The new system would need no equipment, instead offenders make a telephone call to a computer which
identifies the voice and checks where he or she is phoning from, it can also tell whether a mobile phone is
being used or even if a tape recording is being played. It is hoped that offenders would benefit from having
some routine in their lives.
The new system would have the same problems as all out-of-jail penalties, through, if social and probation
workers did not take action when it was abused. If they were sluggish in dealing with any non-compliance on
the part of offenders, the whole system would be brought into disrepute.
However, if used nationally, the system would save the Home Office millions of pounds.
UNIT 6
6.
Despite rising cereal output, many people will still be poorly fed in 2020, according to the International Food
Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Global cereal demand is expected to reach 2.5 billion tonnes in 2020,
which is 40% above 1995. 15% of this extra demand will be accounted for by developed countries while
developing countries will need far more. The population of developing countries is growing fast and a switch
from substance crops to grain is prompted by rising incomes.
However, their output of cereals is not likely to keep up with the demand and by 2020, 80% of their cereals
will have to be imported. IFPRI affirms that a better use of technology and freer farm trade are needed to
feed the 135m children under five who will otherwise be malnourished in 2020.
UNIT 7
5.
159
An internet car-rental company had to apologise for leaving a mother and her two children stranded in the
centre of Barcelona at night with only an e-mail address to contact in an emergency.
Susan Summers arrived at 10pm after her flight from Gatwick was an hour late. She had been told to take
the train to the centre of Barcelona and expected to pick up the hired car she had booked over the internet.
Unfortunately, by the time she made it to the pick-up point the office had closed, leaving them unable to
reach their destination, which was a three-hour drive along the coast. Mrs Summers said she had tried to
ring the car-hire’s London office but found it had closed at eight. To make matters worse, as Mrs Summers
made repeated attempts to contact the company, she was attacked by two youths who attempted to run off
with her luggage. In the end, Mrs Summers managed to get in touch with a friend who offered to drive them
up the coast but on the whole, it was a scary experience.
The car-rental firm admitted not waiting for passengers on delayed flights and said it was ‘unfortunate’ but
passengers had to plan to pick up their cars before 11pm. In the end, after a great deal of fuss and bother,
Mrs Summers received an apology, a full refund, compensation of £20 and an offer of free car rental.
UNIT 8
6.
Here are some useful hints to be kept in mind when writing your CV.
The first piece of advice is to forget about the flashy or gimmicky CV. People are often tempted to use
strange paper colours, colour photographs or weird clip art to get noticed, but the trouble with this approach
is that it could mean theirs is the first to be binned. If you want a different colour to white, use cream. Cream
stands out and can look quite classy whereas pink or blue just look like poor taste. Apart from that there’s
little room for creativity. Go for quality paper and choose a clear typeface which is easy to read, avoid letters
with tails.
Next, use plenty of white space so that the key points are easy to see. You may be number 199 in a pile of
200 CVs late in the afternoon so obviously you have to help an employer pick out the key points.
The content of a good CV should run to no more than two pages and be divided under five headings. First
are personal details, including name, address and telephone number. Next comes education and relevant
training listed in reverse chronological order. The third section deals with your career to date or work
experience, again in reverse order. Following this comes positions of responsibility. If you organised anything
at school or university, put it here. Finally, detail your hobbies, try to include those interests that can be
talked about at an interview.
Before you send off your CV, it is advisable to look closely at the job advertised; it’s important to show clearly
how you meet the criteria in the job ad. If you don’t cover the criteria, it’s better to be honest about it rather
than attempt to cover it up or make extravagant claims.
Once you’ve written your CV and before you place it, unfolded, in a good quality envelope, the final thing is
to have it checked for good grammar and spelling.
UNIT 9
4.
There may be something of the pilgrimage for Americans about a trip to the Grand Canyon, in fact, many go
so they can say, “I’ve seen it!”
However, it’s highly unlikely that anyway can truthfully say they have been able to see all the Grand Canyon.
Many come away with a feeling not of disappointment – you just can’t fail to be impressed by it – but of
unease. When you stare over the rim for the first time, your brain cannot take it all in. Your eyes search for
perspectives and dimensions but the vast, multi-layered, mile-deep, many-hued chasm offers none. You may
suffer from an odd, nauseous, giddy sensation. The sheer scale and grandeur is too much for the mind.
When you visit the Canyon you should stay the night, either in the park or in near-by Tusayan, because the
average four-hour stay is not enough to get to grips with the geological phenomenon. For that you really
ought to go down within it. This can be done by mule, although in the peak season you have to book a year
in advance. Another way of going down is on foot, although the round trip cannot be done in a day and
hikers have to take extreme care. Many don’t, and an average of eleven people die each year in the Canyon;
some run out of water, some fall over the edge, some drown and a few commit suicide. Every year, rescuers
have to go out and save more than three hundred and fifty hikers, rafters or people suffering from heat.
Temperatures can reach over 100°F in summer within those walls.
The Canyon is no longer an icon only for Americans, but for the world, and every year almost five million
people pay their $20 to enter the park. Thus, finding the space and peace to contemplate the two billion
years’ worth of erosion caused by the Colorado River might be harder than you expected. In the future, the
park may be closed to all vehicles save for visitors staying at one of the lodges in the Grand Canyon Village
complex on the South Rim which gets 90% of the visitor traffic. From a giant car park outside the park
boundaries visitors could be shuttled by bus to Mather Point, which is the first viewing point. Then the hordes
could be dispersed, by rented bikes or horses, or by buses to the village or other points along the rim. In this
way, they would be able to improve the quality of the experience by thinning out the current clumping.
UNIT 10
7.
160
Lundy is a three-mile-long, half-mile-wide, granite island rising from the wind-swept waters of the Bristol
Cannel. Although it is not particularly remote, being only eleven miles from the coast of Devon as the gull
flies, it presents a defiant face to all who venture there. The east coast, with its pebble beaches and an easy
path to the cliff top, is usually the most sheltered and accessible. From the top of the cliffs the Devonshire
coast is plainly visible, but somehow Lundy feels utterly remote – a natural fortress that might as well sprout
from the mid-Atlantic as the Bristol Channel.
Throughout history, solitude and inaccessibility have made Lundy a most desired possession. Around
AD800, Vikings may have used the island as a base for raiding Britain. In the Middle Ages the island was a
popular lair for pirates, one of whom went so far as to proclaim himself, ‘King of Lundy’. This was followed by
a bizarre succession of foreign invaders; Turkish pirates who threatened to burn Ilfracombe, a band of
raiding Spaniards and then the French who seized control and, in an early aversion to British meat, drove the
islanders’ livestock over the cliffs. There was even a time in the 1700s, when a certain Thomas Benson, who
had obtained a contract to transport convicts to Virginia, saved himself the expense of transatlantic voyages
by landing them on Lundy and imprisoning them in the castle originally built in the late thirteenth century.
Lying on a busy seaway, Lundy has claimed 137 shipwrecks. The first lighthouse, now known as the Old
Light, was situated too high and was often obscured by fog even when it was clear at sea-level. To remedy
this, two more lighthouses were built at each end of the island.
In the centre of the village of Lundy, which has been meticulously restored in local granite, there is the
Marisco Tavern which was named after the notorious Norman family who used Lundy as a pirate base until
about 1250 when William de Marisco was hanged, drawn and quartered.
Nowadays, only about eighteen people live permanently on the island which was made Britain’s first Marine
Nature Reserve in 1986 on account of its clear water and abundant marine life. However, there is no lack of
places for visitors to stay thanks to the Landmark Trust, a charity which restores historic buildings and rents
them for self-catering holidays. In fact, Lundy offers a remarkable range of authentic accommodation,
including a lighthouse, an old fisherman’ cottage and the castle.
UNIT 11
5.
1.
A: You were the only one in the office late that evening, Joe, and I know you’ve had trouble with the law
before!
Joe: OK, I did something stupid when I was a kid, but that’s past history. I’ve been going straight for years. I
didn’t steal the money. Somebody must have come in later after I’d left and taken it.
2.
Man: Are you all ready for the trip tomorrow? Now, don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes and bring your
jackets in case it turns cold.
Boy: Is a heavy sweatshirt OK?
Man: An anorak is better, it keeps the wind out more. It can get pretty chilly on the moors when the sky’s
overcast.
3.
Woman: Oh, what a beautiful dog! Can I touch him?
Man: I wouldn’t if I were you. He’s not used to strangers and can turn nasty and bite if he’s nervous.
Woman: But he looks so cuddly!
4.
Woman: Come on! You can’t be afraid after all the preparation and practice you’ve done.
Man: Do you want to bet? I didn’t realise the plane would be so far from the ground when we had to jump.
Couldn’t we go lower down?
Woman: If we were nearer the ground the parachute wouldn’t have time to open. Now, take a deep breath …
and jump!
5.
Man: Have you heard? There’s a new Chinese in Kings Street.
Woman: Yes, Sue went yesterday. She said it was excellent, although a bit pricey.
Man: What isn’t, nowadays? How about us going there on Saturday?
Woman: I’ll be looking forward to it.
6.
Woman: I’m going to make some coffee. Are you going to keep me company?
Man: I’d better not. I’ve already had four today.
Woman: Come off it! Another won’t do you any harm and besides, my coffee’s very weak.
Man: All right then. But if I can’t get to sleep tonight, I’ll call you!
7.
Man: I’m fed up! There’s nothing on telly tonight.
Woman: Just because there’s no football doesn’t mean there’s nothing interesting on. I’m glad there’s no
match this evening. During the championship you insist on watching each and every match and won’t let me
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see anything I want. To tell the truth, I’m bored to tears with watching twenty-two grown men chasing after a
ball.
Man: But I thought you enjoyed it!
8.
Man: It’s Sally’s fortieth next Friday. I’d like to organise something special for her. Any ideas?
Woman: Well, hasn’t she been going to a French evening course this year? Why don’t you take her to Paris
for a long weekend? It doesn’t take too long by train and I’m sure she’d enjoy it.
Man: Yes, you’re right. I would, too.
9.
Man: I’m a bit dubious about taking the course. It’s three evenings a week after eight hours at work for four
months. I don’t know if I can do it. Besides, it would cut down my social life drastically.
Woman: Three nights a week you wouldn’t spend at the pub! Just think, you’re always complaining you’re in
a dead-end job. With the extra qualification this course would give you, you could get one with better
prospects. What are three months of sacrifice against the benefits?
Man: You may be right. I’ll think about it.
10.
Robber: Hands up! Everyone down on the floor! Nobody move! You, fill this bag up with cash if you don’t
want a bullet through the head!
Cashier: Please, .. don’t hurt me!
UNIT 12
9.
1. He jumped at the offer.
2. I tried to talk him round but it was no good.
3. He’s always putting his colleagues down.
4. If you want to pass that exam, you’ll have to pull your socks up.
5. The car was a write-off after the accident.
6. When we moved into the new house we didn’t intend to buy new furniture but my wife said we ought to
go the whole hog, so we did. Now we’re in debt.
7. She’s dressed to kill. Where’s she going?
8. They really made it hot for him.
9. I wish he wouldn’t blow hot and cold all the time.
10. I’m afraid we’ve finished all the coffee.
11. I need a new jacket but I’m broke at the moment.
12. Those two get on very well.
13. He only just managed to jump to safety in the nick of time.
14. He’s not very well off.
15. I’ll be back in no time.
16. He calls in from time to time.
17. We have something in common.
18. Don’t leave her by herself.
19. He may be out.
20. I wish you’d say what you really want without beating about the bush.
UNIT 13
8.
Human action has an effect on the natural environment and consequences often go beyond what we
immediately perceive; if one part of an ecosystem is changed or disrupted it affects all the others.
In recent years, the environment has been put under increasing stress and in many parts of the world human
action has exacerbated natural hazards such as droughts, floods and storms. Desertification, caused by
overgrazing and the removal of trees for crops along the edges of existing deserts, has a negative effect on
climate as the increase in dust prevents air from rising freely and forming clouds. In addition, the loss of
vegetation reduces the amount of moisture in the air and temperatures rise. Both these factors make
droughts worse. Overgrazing and deforestation, also make already fragile environments even more
vulnerable. Half the world’s rainforests which provide vital oxygen has already been destroyed and an area
the size of the UK is cleared each year.
The gases released by burning coal and oil combine with water vapour, sunlight and oxygen to form
sulphuric acid or nitric acid which falls back to earth as acid rain. Although the effects of this vary greatly, the
areas with poor soil suffer the most. Land pollution is partly caused by dangerous toxic wastes, especially
from the chemical industry. These wastes are difficult and expensive to eliminate so they are often shipped
illegally to developing countries or dumped into the sea. Another cause of land pollution are agrochemicals
such as fertilisers and pesticides.
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Water pollution is a world-wide problem. Waste from factories, farms and cities is poisoning rivers. Lakes are
particularly at risk as they allow pollutants to build up. The discharge of oil from tanker accidents and ships
that wash out their tanks illegally is another serious problem.
Another gave risk is that of global warming caused by the ‘greenhouse effect’ resulting from a blanket of
gases building up round the earth and trapping heat from the sun. Carbon dioxide, released by burning fossil
fuels, is one of the main culprits. Some of the results of this, as predicted by scientists, will be food shortage
as crops fail, more violent and unpredictable weather conditions, new pests and diseases, flooding of low-
lying areas as the sea level rises and the extinction of many plant and animal species as conditions change.
Not a pleasant prospect!
UNIT 14
4.
Today Britain, like most Western industrialised countries, has an ageing population. This means that the
average age of the population is getting older, with a greater percentage of the population over retirement
age, and a smaller percentage of young people.
The high birth and death rates in the nineteenth century meant that more people were young – people didn’t
live long enough to grow old! Nowadays, illnesses and diseases which claimed many lives in the past have
been defeated by medical science and both the quality and quantity of food have got better. The decline in
the death rate and increased life expectation have meant that people are living longer, and more are
reaching old age.
In the past, people tended to have many more babies – because of ignorance, lack of reliable anti-
contraception methods and the fact that infant mortality was so high. Now, the decline in the birth rate -
probably caused by widespread knowledge of and better anti-contraception, plus the fact that many couples
prefer to have only one or no children for economic reasons – means that fewer children are being born.
These factors have changed the overall age structure of the nation and are likely to become more marked as
time goes by.
UNIT 15
5.
th
Father Gregory Brusey is certain he saw a creature in Loch Ness on October 14 , 1971. He and a visitor
were strolling in the grounds of the Benedictine Abbey when they were startled by the sudden, violent
agitation of the waters of the Loch. About three hundred yards away a great beast loomed in front of them,
its head towering as much as seven feet about the water. They watched it, hardly believing their eyes, for
about twenty seconds before the creature submerged.
The problem of proving the existence of an unidentified monster in Loch Ness is compounded by the
characteristics of the lake itself. The bottom of the lake, in places from seven hundred to nine hundred and
seventy-five feet deep, make it easy for underwater creatures to escape electronic detection. Added to that,
as the water is discoloured with suspended peat particles it is so murky that it is difficult to photograph
anything clearly.
In 1972 the Academy of Applied Science arrived with advanced sonar equipment, supplemented by a
th
camera strobe light system. On August 8 , at about 1am., the team began to see heavy dark traces of a
large moving object on the sonar beam. The photographs they took were vague owing to the cloudiness of
the water. However, when they used computer enhancement, on one frame they were just able to make out
a four-to-six-foot-long flipper. Another picture revealed two objects which seemed to be two large creatures.
In June 1975 another expedition mounted by the Academy of Applied Science went to Loch Ness with an
improved camera strobe system as well as the 1972 apparatus. They filmed something that looked like an
underwater dragon with an overall length of twenty feet, a neck with a thickness of about one and a half feet,
a mouth nine inches long and five inches wide and with six-inch-long horns.
Whether or not this manifestation is the famous Loch Ness monster, it is undeniably a phenomenon that just
begs to be explained.
UNIT 16
5.
Ninety-seven countries both retain and use the death penalty. In 1994, 2,331 prisoners were executed in
thirty-seven countries and 4032 were sentenced to death in seventy-five countries. Only figures known to
Amnesty International have been included here, the true numbers are more than probably higher.
China, Iran and Nigeria accounted for 87% of all the executions recorded by Amnesty International in 1994.
Although they also received reports of several hundreds of executions in Iraq, they were unable to confirm
them or give an exact figure.
According to surveys into American attitudes towards capital punishment, three out of four people supported
capital punishment. However, when they were asked if, instead of the death penalty, they would support the
idea of life sentence without parole – that is, reduction of a sentence due to good behaviour – combined with
forcing offenders to work in prison for money that would go to the families of the victims, many changed their
minds. In New York, for example, the 71% who supported capital punishment went down to 19% when the
other option was offered.
163
The argument most frequently used for the death penalty is deterrence. However, in none of the murders
committed in moments of passion, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or in moments of panic, do the
murderers calculate the consequences. Neither do those who commit murder because they are unstable or
mentally ill. In fact, study after study has failed to establish any link between the death penalty and crime
rates.
Amnesty International claims that the death penalty, as well as being a violation of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, is also disproportionally imposed on the poor, on racial minorities, on the mentally ill and
those without adequate legal counsel. Furthermore, in the US researchers have estimated that three
hundred and fifty innocent people were wrongly convicted of murder in the twentieth century. For twenty-
three of the prisoners, the evidence establishing their innocence appeared after they had been executed.
UNIT 17
9.
There is a growing number of criminals who don’t carry guns or knives and don’t use getaway cars but make
off with goods worth thousands of pounds in a few seconds. These criminals are the silent but deadly
practitioners of computer crime. Under threat are not just high-tech multi-million pound businesses, but also
hospitals, government offices and even small businesses and private people.
Although exact figures are hard to obtain, because many businesses don’t want to admit that their security is
lax, these criminals are probably costing public bodies and industry millions of pounds annually in Britain.
The growth of ‘hacking’ – unauthorised access to computer data – came about when some systems experts,
both amateur and professional, decided they could use their skills more profitably on the other side of the
law. Industrial espionage has existed as long as industry but now police come across cases of junior
employees who use computers to steal valuable information which they can use themselves or sell to
unscrupulous rivals.
Another ‘popular’ misuse of the computer is the ‘unauthorised modification’ of computer information. This
crime is best known in the form of ‘viruses’ – hidden instructions designed to distort or destroy a legitimate
computer program. This crime often takes the form of pure mischief-making with viruses such as ‘logic-
bombs’ that will make pages of script disintegrate, often timed to go off around traditional anniversaries such
as Valentine’s Day.
Organised gangs are now using Internet to steal credit card numbers and exploit flaws in bank credit
checking systems to buy goods and services internationally. The criminals use a ‘sniffer’ program, which
they run on computers that route data over the Internet, to capture credit card numbers when people order
goods over the network. Card owners are unaware their details have been captured until false purchases
show up on their bills. These crimes are not only committed by professional criminals; six fourteen-year-olds
were recently caught using the system to organise a sophisticated credit card fraud against mail-order firms.
In fact, the police claim that Internet is teaching children how to commit serious crimes; bomb-making
recipes and formulae for making napalm and the drug Ecstasy can all be found on the Internet, as well as
price lists for illegal drugs and limitless supplies of free, hard-core pornography.
UNIT 18
6.
1. Please don’t bring up the subject of exam results when Katy’s here.
2. He’s so lazy he has difficulty in holding down a job for any length of time.
3. She jumped at the offer of a job in Singapore.
4. They looked down on her because of her poor clothes.
5. He calls in from time to time.
6. I’ll let you off this time but see that it doesn’t happened again.
7. You really ought to stand up to him.
8. I put his bad temper down to work problems.
9. They put out an appeal for more helpers.
10. The authorities tried to play down the incident.
11. He likes to chew things over for a time before deciding.
12. While she was away the work just piled up.
13. Let’s splash out on a good holiday.
14. She broke down in front of everyone when she heard the news.
15. The alarm clock went off at six.
UNIT 19
9.
1. I’m fed up to the back teeth with it.
2. I can’t stand the sight of her.
3. She wants to have her cake and eat it.
4. You should live and let live.
5. That second-hand car was dirt cheap.
6. He’s like a cat on hot bricks.
164
165
UNIT 2
1.
1. had seen .. recalled .. hadn’t liked 2. was watching .. went .. was 3. were passing .. did you notice 4. were
going to launch .. discovered .. had already put .. decided 5. had been travelling .. was looking forward ..
were drawing .. began .. didn’t stop .. kept on .. stopping .. had expected .. got .. apologised .. were .. thought
.. was feeling 6. used to have .. lived .. went .. would stay 7. were shouting .. didn’t get 8. was wondering 9.
hadn’t eaten .. arrived 10. realised .. was stealing .. felt
2.
1. were living / lived / used to live .. did you travel / did you use to travel / would you travel 2. was trying /
tried .. were you 3. got .. saw .. wasn’t raining .. had been raining .. were 4. arrived .. was having .. were
dancing 5. admitted .. had quarrelled .. hadn’t hit 6. had been studying .. went 7. packing .. called 8. used to
have / had .. was 9. was .. was always getting 10. didn’t have .. was raining 11. didn’t come .. had invited 12.
having worked/working .. had [Link] .. was .. making/having made .. needed .. came .. opened ..
Putting/having put .. decided ..had left .. dashed .. was waiting .. glanced .. noticed .. looked .. didn’t drop ..
left / was leaving / had left .. was still pouring .. had disappeared 14. Wanting .. agreed .. having done .. was
15. were still questioning .. arrested / had arrested .. had already conducted .. searched 16. was digging ..
caught .. had found .. had been / were .. were springing .. predated .. had sown 17. travelling .. didn’t feel /
hadn’t felt .. making / having made .. settled 18. went .. found .. were wandering .. were carrying .. didn’t
appear .. were doing .. had never been .. realised .. had deserted .. tried .. had happened .. flew .. were
dropping / dropped .. threw .. flying .. disappeared .. rose .. looked .. were burning .. was lying .. had ever
seen 19. Faced/being faced .. decided .. jumped .. realised .. had fallen 20. had made/made ..
hearing/having heard .. became .. didn’t know
166
3.
1. was sitting .. noticed .. was clutching .. seemed .. breathing .. leapt .. taking .. drove .. pulled .. was
phoning / phoned .. was giving / gave .. praised .. had not acted 2. was carrying .. hit .. overturned .. being ..
was trying / had been trying .. was travelling / had been travelling .. happened .. had .. caught / had caught ..
arrested .. had been drinking/had drunk 3. was towing .. began .. gave .. plunged/slid .. trapped .. managed
.. slid/plunged 4. had been going .. forced .. claimed .. were / had been ‘.. confirmed .. had arrested ..
charged .. commented .. had risked 5. faced/was facing .. emerged/had emerged .. had been exposed ..
using .. placing .. had been able/was able .. added .. had been .. had found/found .. went/had gone 6. was
playing .. had .. developed .. killed .. fled / escaped .. was living .. heard .. based .. had offered .. Having
moved/Moving .. was enjoying/enjoyed .. produced .. got .. insulting .. found .. escaped / fled
4.
1: b 2: a 3: c 4: b 5: b 6: c 7: a 8: a 9: a 10: c 11: b 12: b 13: c 14: c 15: b 16: c
5.
1. She didn’t use to be fond of / like classical music. 2. She was going to write but kept putting it off. 3.
Before buying a new stereo she went round shops comparing prices. / Before she bought a new stereo she
had gone round shops comparing prices. 4. I was thinking of going to the theatre next week. 5. He had
worked for that firm for six years before resigning and setting up his own business. / before he resigned and
set up his own business. 6. Sam was always cracking his knuckles. 7. After taking / having taken an aspirin,
she felt better. / After she had taken an aspirin she felt better. 8. John was having a shower when the phone
rang. 9. There used to be a cinema in that town. 10. By the time we arrived, Tom had left. 11. The weather
had been getting colder so I bought a warm jacket. 12. When she got up she saw it had been snowing
heavily. 13. While they were having their/a dinner party, there was a black-out. 14. Joan had already arrived
before/when he got to the station. 15. Being late, he decided to go by taxi. 16. After having had/having lunch,
he went out. 17. He was going to resign but changed his mind after being promoted. 18. Having realised he
son was safe and sound despite all odds, she burst into tears of joy. Having been brought up by indulgent
grandparents, he got used to doing more or less whatever he wanted. 20. Not having told her anything /
having told her nothing, he was surprised she knew everything.
6.
a) sage b) to turn their attention to c) found out d) being starved e) lay on f) corn-factor g) oatmeal h) gruel i)
undertook j) suit k) theretofore l) bachelor
UNIT 3
1.
1. have made .. have charged .. was .. reported 2. have you been getting up to 3. played .. died .. shot ..
starred 4. has been stealing 5. has gained .. carried 6. has played .. gained .. played 7. has been weeding ..
hasn’t rested 8. have been having .. has been ringing .. broke 9. banned .. has changed .. has clearly been
10. won .. survived 11. has she been taking .. had .. Has she taken .. has failed 12. has been trying 13. have
been trying .. sent .. haven’t been .. did you use .. created 14. had arrived .. Have you been waiting .. only
got 15. Have you seen .. have spoken .. haven’t been .. have both been 16. has spoken 17. Have you ever
been .. went 18. have been .. made 19. has received .. have been taking 20. have you been doing .. have
been clearing .. Have you finished
2.
1. have just heard .. has bought .. moved .. hasn’t finished .. ordered .. hasn’t arrived 2. Have you been ..
haven’t been able to .. have been 3. have arrested .. overturned .. sank .. died 4. has hired .. have raised ..
broke out .. has seen .. fell out 5. have come .. rocketed 6. got .. has been grumbling .. started 7. rang ..
offered .. replied .. sounded .. didn’t have .. told .. resisted .. hung .. have been 8. have been waiting .. have
you been doing .. have been ironing 9. has come .. have begun .. covered 10. have been questioning ..
disappeared .. has now been missing .. thought .. have received 11. have made .. have brought .. was ..
have been 12. has been writing .. retired .. has only managed 13. Has he broken .. has been practising 14.
didn’t you tell .. didn’t want .. have done .. began 15. have ever eaten .. went .. was 16. have mislaid ..
thought .. Have you seen .. Have you looked .. was .. lost 17. hasn’t turned .. 18. has taught .. hasn’t had 19.
have you been staying .. relocated .. have been looking .. have applied .. haven’t been 20. have been
standing .. decided .. got .. have mixed
3.
1. I haven’t spoken to him for ages. 2. This is the third time he has been to Spain. 3. She has been working
for that firm for six years /she has worked... 4. This is the first time I’ve surfed /been surfing. 5. I’ve already
eaten. 6. It’s months since they went to the cinema. 7. When did they get married? 8. He hasn’t played
tennis since 1999. 9. He started studying Japanese in October. 10. He has never /hasn’t driven alone before.
11. I’ve read 300 pages of the book so far. 12. The quality of your work has deteriorated. 13. They have
been drilling for oil since June. 14. This is the worst film I’ve ever seen. 15. This is the first time we’ve (ever)
flown. 16. We haven’t been out for a fortnight.
4. (possible questions)
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UNIT 4
1.
1. is she going to leave 2. I’ll get 3. is going to be 4. Will they have finished .. will still be putting 5. will do 6. is
going to break 7. will be having 8. will have been dancing 9. will be doing 10. will send 11. retires .. will have
worked 12. will send .. is 13. are you going .. Are you heading .. am going to buy .. leave .. find .. will spend ..
am going .. will probably find 14. won’t work .. am I going to print 15. liquefies 16. will have 17. doesn’t begin
.. will be having 18. won’t see .. are slogging .. will be relaxing 19. would have finished .. will need .. will be ..
have finished .. will have .. arrives 20. gets .. will have retired .. will have been working
2.
1. sees .. is going to tell / will tell .. will do / is going to do .. will just dither 2. will soon be able .. will be living ..
will be eating .. will be doing .. will have replaced .. (will have) taken over 3. will have been married .. are they
celebrating / are they going to celebrate .. is taking / is going to take .. are having / are going to have 4. get ..
will leave / will have left .. is going .. are 5. does your train leave .. leaves .. will have to / am going to have to
.. am picking up / am going to pick up 6. won’t be able to .. will be staying / am going to stay / am staying ..
solve / have solved 7. are coming / will be coming / are going to come 8. passes 9. Will you have read .. will
start .. get .. will probably be reading .. am still .. will drop .. make .. will need / will be needing 10. will be
working 11. will be .. will be able to .. will benefit .. will break away .. take over 12. are going to knock 13. are
going .. is going to look after / is looking after / will be looking after 14. Shall I open 15. land .. will have been
16. will have sent 17. will have .. are you going to have / will you have 18. will book .. like 19. aren’t using /
aren’t going to use .. will take 20. will have been waiting 21. goes .. will leave / will be leaving .. will be
sleeping .. arrive .. will have died 22. will be travelling 23. am doing / am going to do .. will give .. won’t be
able to .. am going to see / am seeing / will be seeing .. will catch 24. will do 25. will have been staying
3.
1. a 2. a 3. b 4. c 5. a 6. c 7. b 8. a 9. b 10. c 11. b
4.
1. will have left by the time we get 2. is going to have a baby 3. is arriving/going to be on the nine o’clock 4.
is having a party 5. are going to come to Rome next week and/so 6. told me he was going to stay here 7. will
have been married (for) thirty years 8. (that) she will be feeling exhausted 9. she would have written the
report by the time she left 10. is going to be
5. (possible answers)
1. possible / you have/get them. 2. will be lying 3. is going to be 4. will have 5. will have left / will leave 6. will
be staying / is going to be staying / is staying 7. are you going to do / are you doing / will you be doing 8. will
go 9. you doing / are you going to be doing / are you going to do 10. am leaving / am going to leave / will be
leaving 11. will have finished / will still be 12. will have been working
7.
1. living 2. Damage 3. increased 4. less 5. consumption 6. using 7. faster 8. learnt 9. employment 10. unsafe
11. used 12. average 13. becoming 14. Rising 15. problems
8.
1: c 2: d 3: c 4: a 5: d
UNIT 5
1.
1: e 2: n 3: g 4: h 5: m 6: a 7: b 8: r 9: c 10: p 11: f 12: j 13: i 14: o 15: k 16: l 17: q 18: d
2.
1. treated .. would be 2. boil .. turns 3. had found .. would have been 4. had .. might repair 5. phone .. will you
be 6. are not using .. put 7. rains .. are going to have 8. hadn’t fallen .. might have won 9. have finished .. will
give 10. need .. call 11. had apologised 12. Had he been .. would have forgiven 13. hadn’t broken down ..
would be lying 14. Would you give .. won 15. were 16 went 17. would have been .. had shown 18. had been
168
UNIT 6
1.
1. is used 2. was being repaired – will be finished 3. were arrested 4. will be called off 5. have been opened
6. were manufactured 7. have been made 8. would be rushed 9. was welcomed 10. Are the rooms cleaned
11. Were you told / Have you been told 12. is being constructed .. is finished .. will be opened 13. had been
sent 14. will be sacked 15. will have been developed 16. has already been sold 17. was announced .. has
been used .. will be scrapped / is going to be scrapped/has been scrapped? 18. has been reported .. have
been killed 19. have been programmed / are programmed .. are fitted / have been fitted 20. was caused ..
was booed .. had been performed / was being performed .. had been rewarded
2.
1. I think I’m being followed. 2. It is said the murder weapon was found in his bedroom. 3. By the end of the
year, inflation will have been reduced. 4. This puzzle can’t be solved. 5. She is believed to have got married
in secret. 6. The meeting is to be held on Monday. 7. All the questions had to be answered. 8. When was this
bridge built? 9. You must have been frightened. 10. The suspects were being followed. 11. He’s thought to
be staying in New York. 12. The missing keys couldn’t be found. 13. The design won’t have been finished in
time for the deadline. 14. He was made to come home early on weekdays when he was attending school.
15. A lot of fuss was being made over nothing. 16. He wasn’t invited to speak. 17. He is believed to have
emigrated to Australia. 18. She is always made to do overtime on Fridays. 19. She is understood to be
holidaying in Greece. 20. What has been done to my computer?
3.
1. on – Punctuality is insisted on. 2. on – The patient may have to be operated on. 3. out – By the time the
firemen arrived, the fire had already been put out. 4. into – The prince was turned into a frog by the witch. 5.
from – The squatters are going to be evicted from the house. 6. in – This application form must be filled in. 7.
away with – Capital punishment should be done away with completely. 8. at – I don’t like being stared at. 9.
off – The open-air concert may have to be called off. 10. off – 10% was taken off the bill. 11. out – on –
Several possibilities were ruled out before a course of action was decided on. 12. up – You will be picked up
169
at the hotel at ten by a chauffeur. 13. off – The boy was let off because it was his first offence. 14. into – The
matter is being looked into. 15. down – The old factory has been knocked down because it was dangerous.
4.
1. remembers – being horrified – were killed – were injured 2. has been – has been conducted – have been
bludgeoned – were declared – turned – would ensue – were suspended 3. caused – were unveiled – was
commissioned – had been set up 4. was given – is being sold – was built – fronts – was lived – became –
has been converted 5. were called – was buried – actually found – bought – merely covered – forgot –
remembered – was redesigning – would blow / would be blown – were built – got – would come – take –
were flown – was set – failed – was finally discovered 6. was / has been recently hit – swept – were sucked –
were left – is estimated – left – was injured 7. has been broken – succeeded – was done – began – was
carried – finally finished – was witnessed – verified – have been sent 8. will be reduced – will use – will be
built – will be regulated 9. was renovating – uncovered – had been painted – covered – was persuaded –
was consulted – said – could be removed – being damaged – would fetch 10. is / has been foreseen – will
have disappeared – will have been replaced – pay – will be inserted – will be transferred
5.
1. They had fitted cupboards made. 2. Harry had his leg broken in a skiing accident. 3. She hasn’t had her
car washed for a long time. 4. He has had his scooter stolen. 5. He is going to have one of his wisdom teeth
taken out tomorrow. 6. She had the fruit trees pruned. 7. He’s having his suit dry-cleaned next week. 8. He is
having his house painted. 9. We could have had /got the goods delivered ( to us). 10. They are going to have
/ get their car serviced next week.
6. (see tape script)
7.
1. need handling / need to be handled 2. was broken down with 3. am going to have an oddjobber put up 4.
was being unpacked 5. is thought to have signed 6. doesn’t have his house broken into 7. had been decided
8 was made to apologise 9. is known to be spying 10. More could have been done 11. had her left leg
broken 12. was considered to be spending 13. managed to get the decorating finished 14. had his car towed
away (by the police) because it was parked 15. got the attic cleaned out 16. hasn’t been heard from 17. are
to be shown 18. get your suit ironed 19. is said to have married her 20. were you told
UNIT 7
1
1. spending 2. to go .. staying .. do .. to rent .. having 3. to stop .. eating .. changing .. to cut down 4. to raid ..
put .. eating 5. to check 6. to look .. to improvise 7. camping .. to pack .. to put .. buying .. to make .. getting
8. working .. teaching .. doing .. working .. not earning .. to keep 9. to drink .. drinking .. to have .. telling 10.
asking .. not being bowled .. to wear .. to have .. to do 11. to be .. flying .. swooping .. grinning .. landing ..
sitting .. to hear / hearing .. scream / screaming .. to hum .. to get .. to look .. to accelerate .. to misjudge .. to
realise .. to make .. look .. head 12. come .. playing .. sleeping 13. to travel .. promising .. not to know .. to go
14. going .. having .. squeaking .. to make .. catch .. milk .. complaining 15. watching / to watch .. breaking ..
going .. getting 16. to look .. improvising 17. working .. not earning 18. to use .. reading .. to waste 19.
making .. working 20. not accepting .. moving
2. (possible answers)
1. I regret to inform / tell you that you haven’t got the right qualifications for this job. 2. John appears to have
forgotten he was meant to meet us / It appears (that) John has forgotten ... 3. The suspect denied killing /
that he had killed the shop manager. 4. She tends to exaggerate on occasion. 5. He can’t stand getting up
early. 6. See that you lock the door when you leave. 7. Jim agreed to meet Sam at the station. 8. Her boss
let her leave early on Friday. 9. I meant to speak to her myself but it slipped my mind. 10. He regretted not
keeping his temper. / losing his temper. 11. She felt (that) he wasn’t telling the truth. 12. I couldn’t help
laughing when he slipped on the ice. 13. I just happened to see him taking the money. 14. I long to meet her.
15. She like to do the housework on Saturday mornings. 16. She was made to help in the house when she
was a child. 17. I stopped working to have a ten-minute break. 18. He’s too used to getting his own way. 19. I
heard (that) Tom and Sue have broken up. 20. She threatened to report him if he did it again.
3. (possible answers)
1. mind 2. managed 3. expect / plan 4. Don’t forget / Remember 5. mean to do / intend doing / intend to do 6.
demanded 7. expect 8. meeting / seeing 9. something cooking / burning 10. is not worth 11. stopped 12.
remember to book 13. to let 14. regret to inform 15. stand / bear doing 16. working / being 17. telling / having
told / that you told 18. introducing ... to explain 19. making / having made 20. shaking
4. (possible answers)
1. It makes me sneeze. 2. He would advise me to go on a diet. 3. I will fail to pass the exam. 4. They keep
making mistakes. 5. It means taking tourists round countries and cities to see the sights. 6. They’re always
complaining about feeling ill. 7. I’d like to go on to ...... 8. They’re arrested for stealing from shops. 9. He’s
skilful at making articles in pottery. 10. I must try not to spend it.
5.
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1. b) 2. b) 3. c) 4. a) 5. a) 6. c) 7. b) 8. a) 9. a)
6.
1 stranded 2 pick up 3 made it to 4 to make matters worse 5 run off with 6 get in touch with 7 on the whole 8
scary 9 fuss and bother 10 refund
UNIT 8
1.
1. c) 2. b) 3. b) 4. d) 5. c) 6. b) 7. a) 8. b) 9. c) 10. b) 11. a) 12. c) 13. a) 14. b) 15. d)
2.
1. took – had been staking – endeavoured – to steal – broke – began – to remove / removing – went –
started – cutting / to cut – was found – to contain – had forgotten – to turn – said – heard – scream – saw –
running 2. Does your son know – is going to do / will be doing / is doing – has decided – is going to backpack
/ is backpacking / will be backpacking – returns – is going / will be going 3. will she do / would she do – finds
/ found – is seeing – will probably tell – is 4. to avoid – crashing – happen – to have – seems – to be – to
avoid – was learnt – being thrown – skidded – collided – managed – to drag – tried – to flag – spent – waving
– bothered – to stop – were passing – would have been – was – admitted – felt – had stopped - to help –
would have missed 5. Do you think – will have been discovered / will be discovered 6. made – had been –
turned – to be – is trying – to trace – haven’t had 7. hadn’t been finished – would have made – work –
wouldn’t be lying 8. has been – started – was patrolling – received – had been spotted – would have been
daunted – called – demanded – to be ferried – were subsequently arrested – has been hailed / was hailed –
will always be 9. will he have worked – retires – is really looking – retiring 10. feel – aren’t doing – to
apprehend – will be gratified – was fined – eating – was driving – was signalled – to stop – was doing –
feared – would receive – had been driving – eating – had been unwrapped – was cautioned – issued –
admitted – had been – didn’t threaten – had been – wouldn’t have got
3.
1. have died 2. was revealed 3. were charged 4. to do 5. came out 6. to have been killed 7. paying 8.
included 9. were suffocated 10. caught 11. were found 12. was frozen 13. were drowned 14. were crossing
15. overturned 16. carried 17. is convinced 18. was stabbed 19. fell 20. was paying 21. appeared 22. were
charged 23. were remanded 24. will appear 25. is charged 26. has risen 27. had reached 28. is caught 29. is
going to invest / is investing / will be investing 30. to carry out 31. to create 32. would target 33. are believed
34. are divided 35. have jumped
4.
1. immigrants 2. figures 3. stowaways 4. traffickers 5. came out 6. clandestine 7. exorbitant 8. bound for 9.
suffocated 10. heading for 11. decomposing 12. corpses 13. drowned 14. overturned 15. stabbed 16.
conspiracy 17. remanded in custody 18. manslaughter 19. scale 20. make it past 21. x-ray scanner 22.
blame 23. claim 24. carry out 25. task force 26. target 27. ethnic 28. jumped unto the bandwagon
5.
1. c) 2. c) 3. a) 4. b) 5. b) 6. a) 7. b) 8. b
6. (possible answers)
1. The price of the ticket doesn’t include transfer from the airport to your hotel. 2. Your application is being
discussed. 3. How long have they been married? 4. That old film always makes me cry. 5. We will be having
a meeting next week. 6. She hasn’t had a holiday for ages. 7. He wishes he had apologised. 8. He didn’t use
to like going to the theatre. 9. After eating / they had eaten, they went out. 10. They couldn’t help suspecting
him.11. The suspect was being questioned. 12. He has never been to the USA before. 13. Bill denied
breaking the window. 14. If I hadn’t been concentrating on my book, I would have heard him arrive. 15. Tom
was having a bath when she arrived. 16. It has been raining for six hours. 17. If you didn’t eat so much trash
food, you wouldn’t be spotty. 18. He was going to phone her but he forgot. 19. He’s used to her disagreeing
with him. 20. This printer won’t work. 21. She can’t afford to go on holiday this year. 22. She wishes he
wouldn’t contradict her in public. 23. The decorating will have been finished by next week. 24. He might have
been told they were going to leave early. 25. She accused Tom of taking her bike.
UNIT 9
1.
1. a, 2. a, 3. c, 4. b,5. b, 6. d, 7. b, 8. b, 9. a, 10. c,11. b, 12. d, 13. c, 14. b, 15. a, 16. b
2.
1. can’t have arrived – should get 2. must be having 3. may / might be – must / have to / will have to 4.
couldn’t / wasn’t able to come – had to go 5. may / might / could be sitting 6. had been able to phone –
couldn’t / wasn’t able to get – must have been 7. might have warned 8. could / might / may have had 9.
should have posted 10. must have left 11. have to turn / should turn – mustn’t / can’t take 12. should have
arrived – may / might be caught – may / might be working – can’t be – must / may / might / could have had –
may / might be lying 13. has to be sent / is to be sent / must be sent 14. Did he have to pay 15. to be able to
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drive – being able to drive – can be – have to rely – must / have to fly – would have had to take 16. must
have been eaten – should have hidden 17. should be writing 18. must have been – could hear 19. shouldn’t
have answered – will have to find 20. don’t have to shout 21. may / might / could have forgotten – may /
might think / have thought – may / might not have forgotten – may / might / could give – may / might / could
be planning / have planned 22. may / might / could be trying 23. may / might / could have happened – may /
might not have left 24. must be thinking 25. may / might / could be working
3.
1. do – have to / need to leave – don’t have to / needn’t / don’t need to go – have to / need to / must do 2.
has to have 3. must / have to learn – had to clean 4. have to / must taste – have to / must book 5. mustn’t
take/have taken 6. to have to tell 7. needn’t have made 8. has never had to pull 9. must / will have to watch
10. would have to wear 11. needn’t / don’t have to / mustn’t worry 12. didn’t have to / need to look 13. must
be working 14. Did he have to offend 15. mustn’t open
4.
1: b 2: c 3: a 4: a 5: c 6: c 7: b 8: b 9: b 10: c 11: a 12: c
5. (possible answers)
1. They can’t have been funny. 2. She must have been embarrassed. 3. She must / may / might / could be
having a baby. 4. She should have got up when the alarm went off. 5. The shop must be closing. 6. It can’t
be raining. 7. It could have knocked him off his bike. 8. It can’t have been cleaned. 9. He must / may / could
be a foreigner. 10. He may / might be talking to his girlfriend.
6. (possible answers)
1. You had better go by train, … 2. You can’t have seen Julie yesterday. 3. You’re bound to have a good
time in California. 4. He was to have gone to Rome … 5. Joe might / may not have taken your dictionary. 6.
She should stay in bed until … 7. You shouldn’t have borrowed her CD without leave. 8. He must have been
relieved when he … 9. He may / might / could be sleeping. 10. He needn’t have stayed up … 11. They may /
might have missed the train. 12. I didn’t have to pay for … 13. He might have given me more time to prepare.
14. He can’t be working, it’s Sunday! 15. They should be arriving any moment now. 16. Visitors are to vacate
rooms … / Rooms are to be vacated … 17. We had better phone him instead … 18. You needn’t have taken
me to the station, … 19. He may / might have spoken without thinking. 20. She can’t have studied Japanese
at school.
UNIT 10
1.
1. (D) They didn’t enjoy the play they went to see last week. 2. (ND) A friend of mine, whose parents live
near the sea, invited me to spend a week with him. 3. (ND) Pete, who had been a policeman for twenty
years, now works with young people whose childhood has been difficult. 4. (D) Is this the gentleman
who/that wishes to see me? 5. (ND) Al Capone, whose family came from Sicily, was a notorious Mafia boss.
6. (ND) The castle, which was built in the twelfth century, is said to be haunted by the spirit of a man who/
that threw his wife off the top of the tower. 7. (D) Anyone who/that witnessed the accident should report to
the nearest police station. 8. (ND.) Coffee, which is grown for export, is their principal crop. 9. (ND) Agatha
Christie, whose crime and mystery novels are still popular, died in the mid 70s. 10. (D) I don’t believe the
story she told us. 11. (D) The car in which the robbers had made a get-away was later found abandoned. 12.
(D) A ring road which/that would connect all the suburbs would be a great amenity. 13. (ND) A parcel, which
was addressed to John, was delivered yesterday. 14. (ND) His flat, which was rather small, overlooked the
main road. 15. (D) The man whose photo had been identified by the witness was arrested by the police who
charged him with breaking and entering. 16. (D) The computer programme they installed last week doesn’t
seem to work very well. 17. (D) The person I spoke to said there would be no extra charge for the repairs to
the stereo which / that had resulted from faulty wiring. 18. (ND) David’s mother, who likes dogs, has offered
to take one of the puppies. 19. (ND) Exeter, which is a cathedral town, is always full of tourists in summer.
20. (ND) Mr Brown, for whom you are waiting, has unfortunately been delayed.
2.
1. The man she worked for was rather unpleasant. 2. The mattress whose springs were broken was thrown
away. / The mattress with the broken springs was thrown away. 3. The dog, whose tail was wagging
furiously, leapt towards his master with joy. / The dog, with a furiously wagging tail, leapt towards his master
with joy. 4. The boy she was staring at went bright red. 5. John is the boy she spoke to.
3.
1. Students absenting themselves from … 2. Money once spent cannot be spent again. 3. Wood pulp used
for making paper … 4. There are now mobile telephones enabling users … 5. The engineers bought from
England … 6. The missing dog found wondering … 7. The town lying on the other side … 8. The car used in
the robbery had been stolen … 9. She received an e-mail inviting her to the conference. 10. Anyone
requiring further information …
4.
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1. Tom seems the most unlikely person to have the book you want. 2. Do you know of a quiet hotel for me to
stay in for a week? 3. The police were investigating the most serious crime to ever take place / to have ever
taken place here. 4. This is a possibility for you to remember. 5. Working underground in a mine is not the
way for a man with his health problems to live. 6. The next person to drop in was an old colleague of mine. 7.
The only thing for them to do at that point was to phone the police. 8. Have you a book for Sue to read in
bed? 9. The parts (for you) to read carefully are highlighted. 10. Nothing has happened to make me change
my mind.
5.
1. which 2. where 3. What 4. how .. when 5. why 6. which 7. where 8. how .. which 9. when 10. What .. why
6.
1. Whoever booked your ticket has made a mistake in the date. 2. However hard they try to cover up, they
are to blame. 3. I try to find time to go to the theatre whenever I have the opportunity. 4. Wherever you go on
holiday, don’t forget to send a postcard. 5. Whenever I try to bend down, my back hurts. 6. Whichever book
you borrow, bring it back next week. 7. Whatever has happened, I insist on speaking to him. 8. Whoever
made this mess, it has to be cleaned up immediately. 9. Whenever he drops in, they always make him
welcome. 10. However much she tries to satisfy him, he always finds something wrong.
7.
1: b 2: b 3: c 4: a 5: b 6: c 7: a 8: c 9: b 10: b
8. (possible answers)
1. Tony, whose wife works with me, lives in Newport, which is on the south coast of Wales. 2. Jack, whose
car had broken down, had to take a bus. 3. The painting stolen last year was found in the boot of a car
abandoned outside the police station. 4. The house you are looking for is on the moor which is haunted by
the ghost with eyes of fire of a highwayman who was hanged in the seventeenth century. 5. I finally bought
some shoes at the shoe shop on the corner of May Street and Peeps Avenue where I had gone first. 6. Two
people, neither of whom had the right qualifications, applied for the job. 7. Malnutrition, which is largely due
to overeating of refined carbohydrates, is the most endemic disease of the Western world. 8. The next train
arriving at platform ten is the six thirty to Brighton which is running fifteen minutes late. 9. A lot of artists
whose work doesn’t sell while they’re alive become famous after their death. 10. Claire, who / whom I have
known for over twenty years, is my best friend. 11. She lent me a book written by a friend of hers who / that
lives in Scotland. 12. I was told that the boss had taken the day off, which cheered me up considerably. 13.
The footballer who had argued with the referee was sent off. 14. The man whose wife was murdered has
been arrested by the police who think he killed her to get the insurance money. 15. The next person to
approach us had a strong Scottish accent. 16. Some people say that professional football players, whose
professional lives are very short, are too highly paid. 17. They were discussing the latest royal scandal
reported in the Sunday newspaper, in which I was not interested / which I was not interested in. 18. The
fastest passenger aircraft which / that operates regularly is the Concorde, which was the result of French-
British co-operation. 19. Gamma radiation, which is a by-product of nuclear power, is potentially dangerous.
20. An explosive device made by the expert captured by the police was found in the parcel.
UNIT 11
1.
1. asked .. say 2. said 3. say .. said .. tell 4. to say 5. ask 6. say .. asked .. tell 7. asked .. told 8. was telling ..
told 9. said 10. was telling .. told
2. (possible answers)
1. She told him they were leaving the following week. 2. John told Sue her letter had arrived the day before.
3. His grandmother told him to go straight home and not to dilly-dally on the way. 4. She asked him what he
had done so far that day. 5. He exclaimed that he had never been so embarrassed in his life. 6. Diana told
the shop assistant she had left her umbrella there the Wednesday before. 7. She asked him if he had wanted
to speak to her. 8. She said she wished she had been born rich. 9. He said he might have to catch the bus
the next day. 10. Chris asked Tony if he had ever eaten snails. 11. Jim told her he always went / goes to the
gym on Mondays. 12. She asked if she should do the washing up. / She offered to do the washing up. 13.
The bank robber threatened to shoot the manager unless he unlocked the safe. 14. The director asked him
why he had applied for that job. 15. They told her to wait there until they got back. 16. Tom told Wendy he
would be working late that night unless she gave him a hand. 17. She asked the salesman how the
camcorder worked. 18. Frank told her he couldn’t remember where he had put his keys. 19. He asked her if
she was feeling ill. 20. He said he had to go then or he would be late.
3. (possible answers)
1. Can I go home earlier this evening? 2. Don’t be silly! Get on with your homework. 3. I’m sorry I didn’t
phone you last night. 4. I must go to Bonn next week. 5. I didn’t stab and rob the old man. 6. Let’s go / How
about going somewhere exotic for our holidays. 7. Will you meet me here at the same time tomorrow? 8. I
should see a doctor about that cough. 9. No, I won’t work overtime on Friday evening. 10. Use the other
phone, please. 11. Ugh! This spaghetti’s overcooked. 12. Don’t go too near the money cage, it could be
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dangerous. 13. I’ll be here on time tomorrow, I promise. 14. I haven’t been able to finish the work because I
don’t feel very well. 15. May I use your computer for a few hours?
4.
1. I wonder if/whether our team will win the championship. 2. Do you know where I can find a book about
photography? 3. Do you happen to know if/whether Joe received my fax? 4. Have you any idea who that
woman in the funny hat is? 5. I wonder if/whether he’ll have finished moving in by next month. 6. Do you
mind telling me how long you’ve been back? 7. Have you any idea where he’s going? 8. Would you mind
lending me some money? 9. Can you tell me if/whether the repairs will have been done by the end of the
month? 10. She wondered whether/if he went swimming every day.
5.
1. Pete to buy some bread on the/his 2. telling / having told / that she had told / she had told 3. going away /
(that) they should go / they go 4. John on the/his brilliant 5. he had not justified 6. making / having made /
(that) he/she had made 7. to pick her up 8. Carol not to press Joe for 9. to arrive in time to take Jill/her /
(that) he would arrive in time to take Jill/her 10. for offending her
6.
1: b 2: c 3: b 4: a 5: b 6: a 7: b 8: c 9: b 10: a
7. (possible answers)
1. He refused to let her use his car. 2. He explained that he hadn’t heard her because he was a bit hard of
hearing. 3. He advised her not to believe everything he said. 4. He ordered her not to move until he told her
to. 5. He complained that it was too hot in there. 6. He threatened to hit her unless she kept quiet. 7. He
urged her to make an effort. 8. He suggested going / they went / they should go away for the weekend. 9. He
congratulated her on winning first prize in the lottery which was a holiday in Madrid. 10. He denied doing
anything wrong. / He denied having done anything wrong. 11. He apologised for not letting her know the
news earlier. 12. He reminded her to phone when she arrived. 13. He invited her to the theatre. 14. He
promised he would be very careful with her CD. 15. He offered to look after the children while she was out.
16. He asked if she had ever had to eat such a foul meal. 17. He boasted that his father was the richest man
in that town. 18. He warned her not to touch that button as it set off the alarm. 19. He screamed that there
was a snake in the bedroom. 20. He whispered to her to be quiet or she would wake the baby and it had
taken him ages to get him off to sleep.
8.
1: h 2: n 3: a 4: k 5: d 6: p 7: q 8: r 9: g 10: i 11: f 12: c 13: o 14: e 15: m 16: j 17: b 18: l
UNIT 12
1.
1. near .. in .. across .. on .. on .. in .. out of .. in 2. at .. in .. until .. around .. in .. In the end .. to .. on 3. in ..
on .. over .. in 4. by .. on 5. between .. across 6 up .. yet .. to 7. at .. in front of 8. on .. at the end 9. to .. in ..
off 10. since .. in
2.
1. -- .. on .. under .. next to / beside .. in .. out of .. -- .. in .. behind / at .. -- .. on 2. in .. by .. along / on 3. at ..
into .. through .. past .. to .. in .. -- .. after .. -- .. from .. -- .. to 4. on .. through / out of .. in .. above .. against ..
between .. through .. out .. onto .. below / underneath .. around / round .. across .. through .. at .. through .. in
.. -- / over .. -- .. -- .. along .. for .. at .. in .. out of .. back .. round .. until .. to 5. up .. to / towards .. in .. in .. into
.. around / round .. at .. over .. beneath / under .. in front of .. in .. behind .. on .. from .. outside .. by / at .. up
.. in .. out of .. in .. round .. up .. down .. for .. at .. on .. at
3.
1. in the end 2. Nowadays 3. soon / presently 4. early 5. recently 6. presently / soon 7. by 8. afterwards 9.
one day 10. Once .. after 11. At the end 12. on time .. late
4.
1. in a few minutes 2. time and time again 3. in the nick of time 4. for hours on end 5. the other day 6. one at
a time 7. once and for all 8. all day long
5.
1. out of breath 2. in common 3. out of my depth 4. without fail 5. on the house 6. on my mind 7. by mistake
8. in principle .. in practice 9. out of the question 10. in vain
6.
1. On behalf of 2. in full swing 3. for ransom 4. at random 5. off his head 6. in two minds 7. in the nude 8. out
of order 9. in touch 10. in the mood
7.
1. out of the blue 2. in the clouds .. down to earth 3. off your chest 4. without a break 5. under your breath 6.
on a diet 7. off colour 8. by heart 9. in his shoes 10. in your own interest
8.
1. of 2. at / by 3. on 4. at .. from .. of 5. after .. of 6. with .. of 7. of .. with 8. to .. out with for 9. in .. in 10. to ..
about .. before 11. to 12. for 13. on 14. with .. in .. out 15. about .. with 16. of .. on .. in 17. of .. about .. about
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18. on .. with .. on / about .. about .. of 19. for 20. of .. from 21. against .. for .. in 22. of .. for 23. about 24. of
.. to .. without 25. between .. in .. with 26. of .. of 27. from 28. like .. after 29. about .. to 30. with
9.
1. to comply with ... with / about 2. arguing about ... for 3. with ... for ... would remind .... of / about 4. was
prevented . from 5. see to ... by 6. At ... adapting to 7. blamed ... on ... of ... to choose / to have chosen 8.
confided in ... off 9. suspected ... of .. charged ... with 10. rely on
10.
1: b 2: a 3: d 4: c 5: a 6: c 7: b 8: b 9: c 10: c 11: a 12: d 13: a 14: c 15: b 16: b 17: d 18: d 19: b 20: b
UNIT 13
1.
1. the 2. – 3. a 4. – 5. -- .. a / --.. a .. -- .. the .. -- .. -- .. the .. -- .. -- .. -- .. -- .. a .. --/a 6. a .. the .. some/-- .. –
7. the .. a .. the .. the .. the .. the .. a 8. A .. -- .. -- .. a .. -- .. -- .. a .. A .. -- .. -- .. the .. -- .. -- .. – 9. --/some .. --
.. a .. -- .. a .. – .. the .. a .. – 10. the .. -- .. -- .. the .. a 11. the 12. The .. the .. the 13. a .. a .. some/-- .. the
14. the 15. the .. the .. – 16. the .. – .. the .. a .. a 17. some .. the .. some .. the 18. -- .. a 19. an .. some 20.
some/--
2. (possible answers)
1. food 2. mischief 3. health 4. Rubbish/Trash 5. traffic 6. advice 7. Research 8. music 9. luggage 10.
furniture 11. work 12. damage 13. practice/training 14. weather 15. progress 16. homework 17.
accommodation 18. hair 19. paper 20. innocence/guilt 21. information 22. help 23. unemployment .. work 24.
Thunder 25. bravery
3.
1. speck 2. rasher 3. burst 4. splinter 5. state 6. breath 7. sheet 8. stroke 9. loaf 10. fit
4. (possible answers)
1. outskirts 2. ruins 3. savings 4. customs 5. clothes 6. goods 7. scales 8. scissors 9. funds 10. news
5.
1. All 2. every 3. either 4. everything 5. no 6. neither 7. each 8. none 9. Every 10. all 11. No 12. each
6.
1. None of the glasses is clean. 2. Neither of the applicants was suitable for the job. 3. All I had for supper
was an egg. 4. There was no food left. 5. All you need now is a passport. 6. Each person brought
sandwiches for the journey. 7. I didn’t like either of the two men. 8. Each of us is to blame for what
happened.
7.
1: n 2: k 3: m 4: l 5: c 6: b 7: d 8: h 9: o 10: g 11: i 12: f 13: j 14: a 15: e
8.
1. a) 2. b) 3. b) 4. c) 5. a) 6. c) 7. b) 8. c) 9. b) 10. c)
UNIT 14
1. (possible answers)
1. longer 2. the 3. as .. just .. is 4. by 5. same 6. much .. better 7. more .. more 8. as .. does 9. further 10.
little 11. less .. better 12. as 13. higher 14. best 15. as 16. than .. less .. does 17. any 18. much .. as .. had
19. fewer 20. better .. more .. much / far
2. (possible answers)
1. The more you practise, the better you’ll get. 2. Computers aren’t nearly as expensive as they used to be.
3. Other products on the market are more expensive than ours. 4. Their car is far more economical than
ours. 5. No other film has won as many Oscars. 6. John is (just) as old as Philip. 7. Philip is the best
swimmer at school. 8. It rains more in the Lake District than it does here. 9. My school is much further away
than his. 10. Can’t you do any better? 11. Learning how to use a computer was easier than she expected.
12. No-one else I know plays tennis as well as Ron. / I don’t know anyone else who plays as well as Ron. 13.
The colder it gets, the less he goes out of the house. 14. That is the worst film I’ve ever seen. 15. Steward is
the laziest person in my family. 16. As far as many of our customers are concerned, quality is more important
than price. 17. Women usually live longer than men. 18. You’ll have to drive faster. 19. I am the oldest of my
sisters. 20. Katy tried as hard as she could. 21. That CD cost more than this. 22. I’ve never seen such a
funny film. 23. The more you drink, the tipsier you get. 24. Pete was getting more and more muddled. 25.
The sooner you leave the better.
3. (only possible stereotype answers - adjectives once considered traditionally male/female have
become ‘unisex’. In the end, whether an adjective is to be considered male or female is subjective)
men: muscular, powerful
women: blonde, clinging, delicate, hysterical, plain, pretty, submissive, sweet
both: active, aggressive, assertive, assertive, brave, cold, cute, domineering, elegant, emotional, gentle,
passive, raving, ruthless, slim, sly, strong, tender, thoughtful, weak
4. (see script)
5.
175
1. retirement 2. decline 3. overall 4. aging 5. mortality 6. claimed 7. widespread 8. ignorance 9. rates 10.
expectation
6. (possible answers)
1. Britain and Western industrialised countries are mentioned. 2. It means that there is a greater percentage
of the population over retirement age, and a smaller percentage of young people. 3. Because people didn’t
live long enough to grow old. 4. Many illnesses and diseases have been defeated by medical science and
food has improved in quality and quantity. 5. The decline in the death rate and increased life expectation
mean that people are living longer and more are reaching old age. 6. Probably because of ignorance, lack of
reliable anti-contraceptive methods and because there was a high infant mortality rate. 7. Probably both
wide-spread knowledge of better anti-contraceptive methods and the cost of having and bringing up children
have influenced the size of families.
UNIT 15
1.
1. While 2. Although 3. such 4. In spite of 5. so 6. either ... or 7. Therefore 8. so 9. Whereas 10. So few 11.
As 12. so 13. to buy 14. whereas 15. Nevertheless 16. Due to 17. so that 18. As well as 19. actually 20. In
the end
2.
1. Despite / In spite of 2. So that 3. As / Since 4. Although / Even though 5. so 6. such 7. too 8. However /
Nevertheless .. too 9. enough 10. Both/so .... and ...... so/therefore/that 11. Although / Even though 12. for
13. In spite of / Despite 14. however / though 15. to 16 so as .. to 17. so little 18. so 19. so as to / in order to /
to 20. enough 21. In spite of / Despite 22. Nevertheless / However 23. whereas / while 24. so many 25. such
26. due to 27. Actually / In fact / As a matter of fact 28. Neither/both .... nor/and 29. Actually, however 30.
enough .... to ....However / Nevertheless / Nonetheless
3. (possible answers)
1. John moved to a new flat to be nearer his office. 2. Jane set her alarm for six since she wanted … 3.
Although it was raining, we … 4. Even though she knows she should apologise, she won’t. 5. The steaks
were so tough (that) we couldn’t eat them. 6. He’s too young to apply for a driving licence. 7. The lecturer
spoke simply enough for everyone to understand. 8. Tom took his shoes off so as not to wake anyone when
… 9. The girl had such a soft voice he could hardly hear her. 10. In spite of his offering / offer to pay for the
goods, they … 11. Even though he likes fishing, he doesn’t like … 12. So many students were ill with flu that
the lesson was put off. 13. The day was so foggy we decided to go by train. 14. Our new house is too small
to accommodate guests overnight. 15. Despite its importance / being important, money has been the least of
our worries. 16. She looks old enough to be his grandmother. 17. He approved of neither her travelling plans
nor her choice of a companion. 18. Ann thought the distance was too far to drive. In the end, she decided to
go by train. 19. I have so little time I can’t take up a sport. 20. Although it’s only four o’clock, I feel hungry
already. 21. They were such clever children (that) they were able to solve … 22. Despite (our) following the
instructions carefully, we couldn’t get … 23. Besides the obvious dangers of climbing such a sheer cliff, there
was the rapidly worsening weather (for them) to consider. / They had to consider the obvious dangers of
climbing such a sheer cliff. Besides, the weather was rapidly worsening. 24. They are actually touring the
Swiss Alps. 25. Both his bad manners and (his) scruffy clothes completely put her parents off.
5.
1: b 2: c 3: c 4: b 5: a 6: a 7: c 8: b 9: c
6.
1. sunk into silence 2. muffled 3. swelling 4. utterly 5. howl 6. wailing 7. shriek 8. exult 9. folly 10. swooning
11. staggered 12. awe 13. toiling 14. decayed 15. gore 16. seduced 17. hangman 18. walled .. up
7. (possible answers)
1. It was the cat. 2. As the sound was so horrible and terrifying. 3. He was so terrified that he almost fainted.
4. It was sitting on top of his wife’s body. 5. He had walled up the cat with his wife’s body.
UNIT 16
1. (possible questions)
1. How many people were (there) 2. Who was having a shower 3. How often does she have her teeth
cleaned 4. What didn’t they know 5. How long has Jim worked 6. What weren’t they prepared for 7. How
many workers are expected 8. Whose phone was lost 9. What did the couple returning to their cottage after
their holiday find / In what condition was their cottage when they returned from their holiday 10. What
happened
2.
1. where you went 2. how fast the car was going 3. how long it was before people 4. how long he has known
5. whether/if he would have told her if he had known 6. what she does for 7. what he did 8. whether / if he
ever travels 9. If / whether he has switched off 10. how long Julia waited for
3.
176
1. shall we 2. am I 3. are they 4. wouldn’t you 5. will he 6. will you / won’t you 7. didn’t you 8. has he 9. has it
10. could he 11. will you 12. does he 13. won’t you 14. doesn’t she 15. will you
4. (possible questions)
1. Do / Would you mind telling me where Pete has gone? 2. Let’s go to the cinema (this evening), shall we?
3. Have you got/do you have any idea when Larry will be back? 4. Who has been using my computer? 5.
You don’t like musicals, do you? 6. Do you know how many people are coming to / will be at the party? 7.
You forgot to ......(phone, etc.), didn’t you? 8. Can / Could you tell me when you got home? 9. I wonder
whose mobile phone this is? 10. Do / Would you mind telling me whether Jill was at the meeting on Friday?
5.
1: b 2: c 3: a 4: c 5: b 6: b 7: a 8: c 9: c 10: b
6.
1. Throughout 2. since then 3. now and then 4. By the time 5. As soon as 6. The minute 7. In the meantime
8. the time being 9. by then 10. Shortly
7.
1. a) effect b) affected 2. a) continually b) continuously 3. a) sensible b) sensitive 4. a) shade b) shadow 5.
a) laid b) lie 6. a) principle b) principal 7. a) averse b) adverse 8. a) dessert b) desert 9. a) lose b) loose 10.
a) rising b) raised 11. a) stationery b) stationary 12. a) remind b) remember 13. a) lonely b) alone 14. a)
economical b) economic 15. a) all together b) Altogether 16. a) assent b) ascent 17. a) break b) braked 18.
a) compliment b) complement 19. a) canvas b) canvassing 20. a) currant b) current
8.
1. b) far 2. c) worthless 3. a) tasteful 4. c) slow 5. d) advised 6. b) insensitive 7. b) treating 8. a) refund 9. c)
in the end 10. d) order
9.
1. c) mumbling 2. a) grumbling 3. d) glanced 4. b) yawned 5. d) grinned 6. c) shivering 7. a) sneeze 8. c)
elbow 9. b) strolled 10. b) crashed ....... smashed
10.
1. laid hands on 2. grasp 3. held back 4. rang in their ears 5. yard 6. swooned 7. dawning 8. multitude 9.
beguile 10. quarrelling 11. cluster 12. crossbeam
11. (possible answers)
1. They probably laid hands on him to separate him from Oliver. 2. He cried out loudly and repeatedly. 3.
Probably because he was so shocked and upset. 4. More than an hour passed before Oliver was able to
leave the prison. 5. They saw a crowd of people behaving as though it was a holiday while they were waiting
for the execution. 6. They had come to see the execution.
UNIT 17
1.
1. multipurpose 2. disobedient 3. undercooked 4. overnight 5. misunderstand 6. antibiotic 7. unemployed 8.
unusual 9. unfair 10. subdivision
2. (possible answers)
1. impossible 2. dissatisfied 3. microwave 4. Illegally 5. impartial 6. interact 7. unarmed 8. impractical 9.
underdeveloped 10. undid 11. outlook 12. postcode
3.
1. fitness 2. objections 3. careful 4. lively 5. useless 6. reasonable 7. dangerous 8. childish 9. personal 10.
Motherhood
4. (possible answers)
1. interested 2. Payment 3. necessary 4. laughter 5. imagination 6. intentionally 7. lightning 8. pleasant 9.
imprisonment 10. explanation 11. explosion 12. comfortable 13. applicants 14. reliable 15. actress
5.
1. irritable 2. overrated 3. success 4. multiply 5. penalised 6. infuriating 7. prematurely 8. overdue 9.
comparison 10. widening .... ensure 11. overdone 12. Frozen 13. deceptive 14. transformed 15. competitive
16. disqualified 17. enforcement 18. endangered 19. overworked .... underpaid 20. outlived 21. proof 22.
Insensitive 23. Foretell 24. identify 25. tightened .... shortened
6.
1. handwriting 2. sightseeing 3. comeback 4. write-off 5. output 6. bullet-proof 7. setbacks 8. takeoff 9. rush
hour .. standstill 10. hangover 11. blue-eyed 12. short-sighted 13. blood pressure 14. alarm clock 15.
timetable 16. well-off 17. handcuffs 18. motorway .. windscreen 19. well-behaved 20. absent-minded
7.
1. bystanders 2. outcry 3. overdraft 4. far-fetched 5. off-peak 6. tight-fitting 7. sunglasses 8. airport .. sound
barrier 9. contact lens 10. food poisoning
8.
1. uptake 2. lookout 3. outbreak 4. downfall 5. breakthrough 6. understudy 7. downpour 8. overcast 9.
breakdown 10. withdrawal 11. clearout 12. outlook 13. lie-in 14. turnover 15. uproar
177
9.
1: b 2: c 3: b 4: a 5: b 6: b 7: a 8: c 9: c 10: b
10.
1. measurement 2. Deceit / Deception 3. blacken 4. credibility 5. forgery 6. dishonesty 7. evidence 8.
accusation 9. settlement 10. impossible 11. apologise 12. offensive 13. Allegation/s 14 judgement
11.
1 location 2 burial 3 black-hearted, 4 hunchbacked 5 concept 6 notoriety 7 historians 8 infamous 9 reputation
10 unjust 11 propagandists 12 justify 13 ascension 14 archaeologists 15 supposedly 16 unearthed 17 spinal
18 visibly 19 comparison 20 excavation 21 descendant 22 elder / older / eldest / oldest 23 hopeful 24
stunning
12.
1. oldest 2. fishing 3. twelfth 4. fortified 5. growth 6. commercial 7. importance 8. Historic / Historical 9.
entertainment 10. attractions 11. memorable 12. architectural 13. impressive 14. graceful 15. spacious 16.
surrounding 17. introduction 18. charming 19. leading 20. admirable 21. panoramic 22. artistic 23. intellectual
24. thrilled 25. different-coloured 26. remarkable 27. glorious
UNIT 18
1.
1. about / on 2. up 3. across .. out 4. down .. up 5. off 6. off 7. into 8. through 9. under 10. on 11. off/ over 12.
Over / Through 13. on 14. up to 15. up .... out .... up ..... for .... back 16. up 17. off 18. down 19. up 20. up
2.
1: c 2: d 3: a 4: b 5: d 6: a 7: b 8: c 9: a 10: b 11: b 12: c 13: c 14: d 15: a 16: c 17: d 18: b 19: a 20: d 21: b
22: c 23: a 24: b 25: b 26: c 27: b 28: b 29: b 30: c
3.
1. turn 2. was brought 3. will go 4. hadn’t been worn 5. would jump 6. putting 7. knocked 8. were setting / set
9. deal 10. left 11. get 12. told 13. is getting 14. asking 15. was called .. was pouring
4. (possible answers)
1. Tom turned up unexpectedly at the party. 2. Pete and Bill have fallen out again. 3. The match has been
put off till next Saturday. 4. She’s normally a good little girl but she shows off when we have guests. 5. He
was talking to her on his mobile phone when they were cut off. 6. You haven’t carried out my instructions. 7.
If you don’t know what a word means, look it up in the dictionary. 8. I can’t work out this problem. 9. They
have quarrelled but they’ll make it up again by next week, I bet. 10. I must find out what happened.
5. (possible answers)
1. I think I’ll turn down their offer of a job. 2. I’m sorry I let you down. 3. His rudeness put her off (him). 4. The
trade union won’t call off the strike. They’re holding out for more concessions. 5. We came up against a lot of
technical difficulties while making this machine. 6. She’s decided she’s not going to put up with his playing
around any longer. 7. The police are looking into the robbery. 8. What brought about his change of mind? 9.
After his illness he had to do exercises to build up his strength. 10. He aims at being / is aiming at being a
millionaire by the age of thirty.
6.
1. takes after his father 2. you work out / figure out 3. I can get by on what I earn 4. urgent has come up .....
to deal with 5. go through / read through 6. are looking up 7. to chill out 8. blew up 9. was set off 10. to
smooth over the oversight 11. to work out 12. wear out faster / sooner 13. turned it down 14. written off 15.
came up with 16. shall we wind / wrap up 17. takes me back to my childhood 18. is up 19. came up against
20. saw through him 21. was put off by 22. setting up ..... paid off 23. put you up 24. dropped off 25. stop off
overnight 26. broke out 27. has been worked / figured out ....... will bring in 28. broke down 29. was put down
to 30. to get over
UNIT 19
1.
1: g 2: i 3: h 4: c 5: a 6: d 7: j 8: b 9: e 10: f
2.
1. pooh-pooh 2. squatters 3. gobbledegook 4. chock-a-block 5. namby-pamby 6. humdrum 7. topsy-turvy 8.
ad nauseam 9. slapdash 10. tit for tat
3.
1: i 2: h 3: k 4: a 5: l 6: c 7: j 8: e 9: f 10: d 11: b 12: g
4.
1. be nosy 2. pain in the neck 3. was at a loss 4. would move heaven and earth 5. thumb a lift 6. have bitten
off more than you can chew 7. went out like a light 8. are like chalk and cheese 9. be rolling in it 10. on the
spur of the moment 11. once in a blue moon 12. a slip of the tongue
5.
178
1. see past the end of his nose 2. let the cat out of the bag 3. keep your head down 4. pitch black 5. give him
a piece of my mind 6. bat an eyelid 7. jumped in with both feet 8. locking the stable door after the horse has
bolted 9. out of sight, out of mind 10. crying over split milk
6.
1. own worst enemy 2. running out of steam 3. in a rut 4. hold the fort 5. leave no stone unturned 6. up to my
eyes 7. in two minds 8. on the blink 9. each other’s guts 10. head over heels in love
7.
2. ........ but it’s easier said than done 3. ........ It’s a case of the blind leading the blind 4. ........ You’re making
a mountain out of a molehill 5. ........ old Peter Right knows the subject inside out 6. ........ she hit the roof 7.
There’s no question about it, Angela knows more ........ 8. . . . spread like wildfire 9. ........ she was spending
money like water on anything she fancied. 10. Isn’t Pete skating on thin ice by ........
8.
1. ........ Yes, you could have knocked me down with a feather 2. ........ Well, it was a blessing in disguise 3.
........ for donkey’s years 4. ........ burning the candle at both ends 5. ........ There’s more to her than meets the
eye. 6. ........ to keep up with the Joneses 7. You’re sticking your neck out ........ 8. I put my foot in it ........ 9.
She’s finally getting to grips with the computer programme. 10. He made a mess of his history exam.
9.
1: c 2: d 3: c 4: a 5: d 6: c 7: c 8: a 9: c 10: b 11: a 12: d 13: b 14: c 15: a 16: b 17: d 18: c 19: c 20: b
10.
1. in the dumps 2. without saying 3. over a new leaf 4. my plate 5. the line 6. out of turn 7. a shoestring 8. her
foot down 9. through the nose 10. your heels 11. dirt cheap 12. the works 13. picks holes 14. to keep up with
the Joneses 15. like wildfire 16. laid your cards on the table 17. cloud nine 18. in their ways 19. face the
music 20. eye to eye
11.
1. the cat out of the bag 2. his step 3. hard up 4. her the cold shoulder 5. off to a bad start / off on the wrong
foot 6. has been a bone of 7. his head in the clouds 8. a light (at the end of the tunnel) 9. it yesterday 10.
cross purposes 11. your mind to it 12. talking 13. be bothered 14. a nutshell 15. scratch / Day One 16. in a
tight 17. getting on my 18. in a blue moon 19. the trousers 20. head screwed on (the right way) / head on her
shoulders
UNIT 20
1.
1: b 2: c 3: a 4: d 5: b 6: c 7: c 8 a 9: b 10: c 11: a 12: c 13: a 14: d 15: c 16: b 17: b 18: c 19: c 20: c 21: a 22:
c 23: c 24: b 25: c 26: d 27: b 28: a 29: d 30: a
2.
1 ago 2 precipitated 3 an 4 was developed 5 could 6 go 7 in / inside 8 were introduced 9 at 10 were almost
hunted 11 to 12 was agreed 13 by 14 are still being killed / are still killed / were still being killed / were still
killed 15 still / even / also16 in 17 result 18 which / that 19 to issue 20 take / capture / kill / hunt 21 are being
hunted / are hunted 22 provide / supply 23 consumption 24 depleted 25 owing / due 26 are blamed / are
being blamed 27 Moreover / Besides / Furthermore 28 become / get / are 29 according 30 so / it 31
exception 32 set / put / place 33 intentionally / purposely 34 knowing 35 to swim 36 way / method / means
3.
1. The idea is under discussion. 2. Pete wishes he had gone on to university. 3. He had the sensation that he
was being watched. / He felt (that) he was being watched 4. He has such bad handwriting (that) I can hardly
make it out. 5. Despite his sincere apology/ies, she wouldn’t forgive him. Despite his/him apologising
sincerely . . 6. This is the first time I’ve flown. 7. Sue’s parents’ wouldn’t let her go on holiday with her
friends. 8. Tom took no notice / didn’t take any notice of his father’s advice. 9. She had difficulty in
understanding him. 10. It’s six years since he went to the cinema. 11. The sea wasn’t warm enough for
anyone / anybody to swim. 12. If he hadn’t overslept, he wouldn’t have missed his train. 13. Do you happen
to know when the next train arrives? 14. The fog prevented them from driving there. / They were prevented
from driving there because of the fog. 15. We are going to have/are having the / our car serviced (by the
garage) next week. 16. He was made to do the test again by his teacher. 17. She was unhappier than she’d
ever been before / than ever before. 18. Joe accused Bill of breaking the window. 19. The grass needs
mowing once a week. 20. I have no intention of inviting him to come with us. 21. I don’t feel like taking them
up on their offer. 22. He looks up to his uncle. 23. She turned his marriage proposal down. / She turned
down his marriage proposal. 24. This meal wasn’t / isn’t as good as the one we had last week. 25. I wish
you would stick to the point.
4.
1. pacify 2. disappearance 3. outcome 4. successful 5. discharged 6. broaden 7. outlets 8. showdown 9.
write-off 10. nonsense 11. carelessly 12. repetitive 13. gravity 14. acknowledgement 15. insecurity 16.
outbreak 17. overpower 18. impractical 19. turnout 20. upside
5. (possible answers)
179
1. Romanesque and Gothic are mentioned. 2. It took place from the first to the second half of the Middle
Ages. 3. He was a Benedictine Abbot. 4. It was consecrated in 1144. 5. It rises to truth through that which is
material. 6. It served to lift the spirit. 7. Because most people couldn’t read so they learnt about doctrine and
the origins of faith through pictures. 8. They were obsessed with life’s grimmer aspects – sin, guilt and death.
9. Because it had defeated the (Albigensian) heretics and achieved romantic success with the crusades. 10.
God’s world was now seen as one of beauty and comparative safety. 11. Tendrils, leaves, birds, animals and
flowers decorated the churches.
6.
1. milestone 2. transition 3. consecration 4. worshipper 5. celestial 6. caught the temper 7. swinging 8.
grimmer 9. sin 10. put down 11. heretics 12. rejoice 13. exuberance 14. tendrils
7.
1. a) sorting ... out b) sort ... out 2. a) to catch up with b) to catch up with 3. a) stand up for b) stood up for 4.
a) pick up b) pick ... up 5. a) came across b) came across 6. a) bring ... back b) brings back 7. a) see through
b) to see through 8. a) been wiped out b) to wipe out 9. a) has broken off b) broke off 10. a) will get / is going
to get ... through b) to get through
8.
1. noticeable 2. employer .... employees 3. encouragement .... successful 4. frustrated .... depressed 5.
carriage 6. trustworthy .... truthful 7. ashamed 8. organisation .... profitable 9. apologetic .... explanation ....
failure 10. valuable ..... worthless 11. disobedience 12. colonisation 13. unfavourable 14. inspectors ....
imperfection 15. worn-out / weary 16. strengthened 17. thefts ..... investigation 18. generosity .... operation
19. devaluation 20. uselessly
9.
1. c 2. b 3. b 4. c 5. a 6. b 7. c 8. a 9. a 10. a
10. (possible answers)
1. mood / temper 2. approached 3. matter 4. couple 5. before 6. like 7. nerves 8. happened 9. been 10. least
11. wrong 12. used 13. few 14. put 15. still 16. took 17. was 18. back 19. ago 20. done 21. dyed 22. laughing
23. apologies 24. counter 25. suit
11.
1. comparing .... looking .... bought 2. had been living / had lived .... met 3. didn’t come .... was sent 4. have
mislaid .... calling .... will be 5. found 6. comes 7. hadn’t been able .... would have been 8. will be blown / is
going to be blown / is being blown .... to make 9. arrives 10. have seen .... didn’t like 11. would prefer ....
driving .... set .... won’t be / wouldn’t be 12. were / was .... would sack 13. rains / will rain .... haven’t had ....
looks / is looking 14. has been trying .... left 15. would have lent .... had known 16. were having .... blew ....
missed 17. will have been ..... are planning 18. was started .... haven’t finished 19. Wouldn’t crack... have
told / have been telling... irritates 20. Was being dug... were put/were being put... doesn’t mean/won’t
mean... is flooded/will be flooded... is 21. Had been missing...has been found...had been playing/was
playing...had hidden / hid...(had) fallen/fell 22. Have finished...hadn’t expected/didn’t expect...to take/to have
taken...to do 23. Have locked...hadn’t installed...locks...shuts...will have / am going to have...don’t drive...am
doing...mistake 24. Escaped...was captured...were wounded...are not considered...are being kept 25. Will
have been working / will have worked...is going to think / will think / is going to be thinking / will be
thinking...retiring
12.
1. b 2. b 3. a 4. a 5. c 6. d 7. b 8. b 9. c 10. a
13.
1. must be 2. should / might / could have telephoned 3. should / ought to be spending / should spend / ought
to spend / must spend 4. can’t / couldn’t have arrived 5. must / might / could have left 6. may / might be 7.
can’t / couldn’t have seen .... must be / must have been 8. may / might be working .... should be met /
needed to be / had to be/ must be 9. shouldn’t have said 10. mustn’t / shouldn’t go
14. (possible answers)
1. Do /Would you mind if I sit ....? / Do /Would you mind me sitting ....? 2. You are going to be (put) in charge
of the organisation ..... 4. Everybody is going to be given a salary rise / a rise in salary 5. He bought her a
necklace to make up for ..... 6. The stories he tells about his experiences are beyond belief. 7. The doctor
says he’ll be fine, provided he doesn’t overwork. 8. They might as well be millionaires, the way .... 9. The
reporter wasn’t allowed into the hospital ..... 10. We walked to the station as it was near enough. 11. John
denies having / having had anything to .... / Johns denies (that) he had anything to ..... 12. There is no point
(in) trying to repair this tyre. 13. I’m going to let you off this time. 14. She only had three hours sleep last
night. 15. It was such a long-winded lecture (he gave), I almost .... 16. He accused her of doing it on
purpose. 17. However hard he tries, the job can’t be finished by ..... 18. In spite of being injured, he ..... / In
spite of his injuries, he ..... 19. Chris recently came into a large fortune. 20. Only Harry thought the meeting
wasn’t a waste of time. / Only Harry didn’t think the meeting was a waste of time.
15.
180
1. upkeep 2. bypass 3. outcome 4. onset 5. intake 6. downpour 7. overthrow 8. overdose 9. income 10.
overspending ... downfall 11. outburst 12. upset 13. bystanders 14. uptake 15. upbringing
16.
1. She was in such a hurry (that) she forgot ..... 2. He hadn’t had enough driving lessons to pass his test. 3.
He didn’t go back to work as he didn’t feel well. 4. He could never be a teacher because he’s too impatient. /
He’s too impatient to (ever) be a teacher. 5. The car was too expensive for us to afford. 6. There were so few
customers (that) they closed the shop early. / There weren’t many customers so... 7. It was such a profound
experience (that) it changed my whole life. 8. The party didn’t go on / last as long as I thought it would. 9. He
earns more in a week than I do /earn in a month. 10. The little girl usually behaves better than on this
occasion./ The little girl usually behaves better than this.
181