Agree apologise ask claim deny order refuse state

Suggest tell

 

1. If you want _________________ me a question, put your hand up.

 

2. I _______________________very clearly several times already that this government is not going to be blackmailed by terrorists.

 

3. The general __________________ the soldiers to retreat, which they did as quickly as they could!

 

4. Isabelle, _________________ that story about the giraffe. I love that story!

 

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5. Glenda still ____________________ to me for losing my CD player.

 

6. If you _________________ to cooperate with the police, you would have been in big trouble!

 

7. I’d like _________________ waiting a few more days before we make a final decision.

 

8. The politician_____________________ having done anything wrong, despite the evidence against him.

 

9. I _____________________ to help you with your homework, not do it all for you!

 

10. Some thieves __________________ to be electricity meter readers so they can gain access to people’s houses.

 

5. Rewrite as direct questions.

 

1. She asked me why I was thinking of quitting the gym.

________________________________________________________

2. He asked her what the difference was between a refugee and an asylum seeker.

________________________________________________________

3. They asked us how we had got on with Peter three days before.

_________________________________________________________

4. I asked them when they had last been on holiday.

 

_________________________________________________________

5. She asked him which of them he preferred.

_________________________________________________________

6. I asked you how you were going to get to Manchester tomorrow.

_________________________________________________________

7. Carl asked Megan who she had been out with the weekend before.

 

_________________________________________________________

 

 

Passive Voice

 

When we use an active verb, we say what the subject does:

q My grandfather was a builder. He built this house in 1935.

 

q It’s a big company. It employs two hundred people. When we use a passive verb, we say what happens to the subject:

q This house is quite old. It was built in 1935.

 

q Two hundred people are employed by the company.We make the passive with a form of the verb to be + past participle.

 

Tense	Passive form: be + past participle (+ by + agent)
present simple	^] The union is run by 7 executive officers.
present continuous	^] The union is being run by 7 executive officers.
past simple	^] The union was run by 7 executive officers.
past continuous	^] The union was being run by 7 executive officers.
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Tense	Passive form: be + past participle (+ by + agent)
present perfect	^] The union has been run by 7 executive officers.
past perfect	^] The union had been run by 7 executive officers.
going to	^] The union is going to be run by 7 executive officers.
will	^] The union will be run by 7 executive officers.
Other forms
infinitive	^] The union is to be run by 7 executive officers.
-ing form	^] The university insists on the union being run by 7
	executive officers.
used to	^] The university used to be run by 7 executive officers.
modals	^] The university should be run by 7 executive officers.
need to /have to	^] The university needs to/has to be run by 7 executive
	officers.
need + ing	^] The university needs running by 7 executive officers.

 

We do not use the passive with intransitive verbs (verbs which cannot have an object):

 

e.g. He arrived (not ‘He was arrived’)

 

1. Rewrite these sentences in the passive.

 

1. They owe a lot of money to the bank. A lot of money is owed to the bank.

 

2. They have proved that there is no life on the moon.

It _______________________________________________

3. You can buy videos like this one anywhere.

_________________________________________________

4. Someone has to write the history of the European Community one day.

 

_________________________________________________

5. Someone may have already written the history of the European Community.

_________________________________________________

6. When we arrived home, we found that someone had broken one of our windows.

__________________________________________________

7. They have sold their car to pay their debts.

__________________________________________________

 

8. They hold a meeting in the village hall once a week.

__________________________________________________

 

2. Make sentences passive.

 

e.g. He buys cars.

* Cars are bought.

1. He bought cars.

 

2. He has bought cars.

3. He will buy cars.

4. He is buying cars.

5. She writes poems.

6. She wrote poems.

 

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7. She has written poems.

 

8. She will write poems.

9. She is writing poems.

10. They sell books.

11. They sold books.

12. They have sold books.

13. They will sell books.

 

14. They are selling books.

15. I eat cheese.

16. I ate cheese.

17. I have eaten cheese.

18. I’ll eat cheese.

19. I’m eating cheese.

 

3. Put these sentences in order.

 

1. the dress / had / she/ three years ago / made.

2. made / herself / the birthday cake / she.

3. I’m / a dress / for the party/ having / made.

4. having / my photograph/I/taken / hate.

5. John / tested / to the optician / went / his eyes / to get.

 

6. Susan / did / her car / repaired / get?

7. While / on holiday / he / stolen / was / - all his money had / he.

8. have / newspapers / every morning / delivered / They / their.

9. did / your hair / Where /cut / you / have?

10. I / had / the tree / to get / really / cut down.

 

4. Rewrite these sentences beginning with the words provided.

 

1. The manager always welcomes new employees.

 

New employees are always welcomed by the manager.

2. They’re building a new supermarket near the church.

new supermarket ___________________________________________.

3. They fought the battle in 1623.

The battle _________________________________________________.

4. Someone has moved my desk!

 

My desk __________________________________________________.

5. They are taking the refugees to a camp outside the village.

The refugees _______________________________________________.

6. Someone had signed all the documents before I arrived.

All the documents ___________________________________________.

 

7. They were questioning us and searching our vehicle at the same time. We _____________________ and our vehicle _____________________.

 

8. They will post our letters when the ship arrives at the next port of call. Our letters __________________________________________________.

 

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9. They are opening the case again because they’re not satisfied with the verdict.

 

The case ____________________________________________________.

 

5. Fill in the gaps with an appropriate form of the verb in brackets.

 

1. For a long time people thought (think) the giant panda was a type of raccoon.

 

2. At the beginning of the experiment, the chemicals __________ (place) in the beaker.

 

3. In the medieval times the earth ____________ (believe) to be flat.

 

4. Up until now students ___________ (allow) to wear what they want, but the new head teacher has decided to introduce a uniform.

 

5. I can’t drive you to the airport because my car ___________ (service) tomorrow.

 

6. Next year the new theatre ____________ (open) by some of Britain’s biggest acting stars.

 

7. It __________ (expect) that the President will resign due to the recent revelations.

 

8. Chocolate __________ (make) from the bean of the cacao tree.

 

9. This report __________ (claim) that there is corruption throughout the company.

10. Several students __________ (know) to have cheated in their exams.

 

11. People need ___________ (encourage) to use public transport if we want to reduce our carbon emissions.

 

12. I went on holiday because I really needed _____________ (take) a break.

 

6. Use the Past Continuous Passive or the Past Perfect Passive of the verbs.

 

1. I couldn’t wear my suit last Saturday. It _________ (clean).

 

2. When I got back to the car park, my car wasn’t there. It _______ (steal).

3. We couldn’t use the photocopier yesterday morning. It__(repair).

4. By the time I arrived at the concert hall, there were no tickets left. They

_________ (all/sell).

5. We didn’t go to the party on Saturday, because we _________ (not /invite).

 

7. Put the following sentences in the passive voice.

 

1. Venezuela exports oil.

2. They will laugh at me.

3. Mum is reading to Mary.

4. Dad had told me where to find a parking place.

5. They are going to book the tickets for us.

 

6. You must mix the powder with water.

7. We saw Sheila coming out of the shop.

8. The butler was showing me into the lounge when the telephone rang.

9. The judge may have sentenced him to death.

10. We shall look after the children.

 

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11. They think she’s gone to live in New York.

 

12. They asked him a lot of questions about his life in the States.

13. People believe he’ll become the new president.

 

8. Change the following sentences into the passive if possible.

 

1. Has anybody sent for Dr. Smith?

 

2. She likes her hair long.

3. Walter didn’t give us any explanation of his strange conduct.

4. They gave us no choice.

5. Nobody promised me anything.

6. Ray always expresses himself clearly.

7. Dr. Ross is performing an operation.

 

8. Many people attended the concert.

9. Miss Robinson dictated the words to us.

10. The nurse told her nothing.

11. Anne has her father’s eyes.

12. The doctor visited her for a few minutes.

13. Jane wiped her eyes.

14. Nobody commented on the statement.

 

15. He became a pilot.

16. Everybody disapproved of her conduct.

17. I want a sweater - size 14.

18. Nobody tells us anything.

19. Margaret never loses courage.

 

The passive with verbs of ‘saying’ and ‘believing’

We need to be sure of our facts when we say: e.g. He was a spy in World War II.

If we are not sure of our facts, we can express caution by saying:

e.g. It is said (that) he was a spy in World War II. / He was said to be a spy in World War II.

 

We can express caution in three ways, with:

 

1. It (+ passive + that-clause) with e.g. agree, believe, consider, decide, hope, know, say:e.g. It is said (that) there is a plenty of oil off our own coast.

 

2. There (+ passive + to be) with e.g. allege, believe, fear, know, report, say, suppose, think:e.g. There is said to be plenty of oil off our own coast.

 

3. Subject (not it) (+ passive + to-infinitive) with e.g. allege, believe, consider, know, say:e.g. Jane is said to know all there is to know about chimpanzees.

 

9. Begin these sentences with it, there or a name/a noun + passive construction.

1. It is expected that prices will rise again this month. (expect)

2. ______________ that all the passengers had died in the crash. (fear)

3. ______________ to be an expert in financial matters. (suppose)

4. ______________ to have committed the crime. (think)

 

5. ______________ that the sea level is rising. (think)

 

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6. ______________ to be a lot of coal in the Antarctic. (think)

 

7. ______________ to be honest and reliable. (consider)

 

8. ______________ to be thousands of people waiting to renew their passports. (say)

 

9. ______________ that thousands of new jobs will be created in the computer industry. (say)

 

10. ______________ to be a fall in house prices, but I haven’t noticed it. (suppose)

 

 

Prepositions

 

The choice of preposition in a clause often depends on the adjective, verb or noun which comes before it.

 

Verb + preposition

 

Verb	Preposition
care, complain, hear, know, learn, say something, talk, think, warn, wonder,	about
worry, write
aim, laugh, look, point, shout, fire	at
choose, decide, differentiate, distinguish	between
aim, apologise, apply, forgive, hope, prepare, search, long, wait, watch, wish	for
learn, prevent, stop	from
assure, convince	of
concentrate, count, depend, insist, rely	on
apologise, explain, present, speak, talk, write	to
be, deal, go out, play, stay	with

 

We do not use a preposition with marry:

e.g. She married him last year. (not She married with him)

 

Verbs of saying or thinking (e.g. complain, know, learn, talk, think, say something, warn somebody, wonder, write) are often followed by about when we want to indicate the topic.

 

e.g. That way you can learn about teaching before being asked to do it.

 

Some other verbs of saying and thinking (e.g. discuss, debate, consider, mention) do not need a preposition:

 

e.g. We need to discuss the problem. (not discuss about)

 

We use at + person/thing after some verbs (e.g. aim, fire, laugh, look, point, shout, yell) to show who or what is the focus of the verb:

 

e.g. If they shout at me in class, I’m not sure what I’ll do.

 

We often use for after verbs that show desire (e.g. aim, hope, long, wish) to introduce the thing we want:

 

e.g. I’m aiming for a good mark in my next assignment.

 

We use to after aim, hope and long if they are followed by a verb:

e.g. I’m hoping to get a better mark than last year.

 

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Adjective + preposition

 

Adjective	Preposition
anxious, annoyed, concerned, depressed, excited, upset, worried	about
amazed, annoyed, astonished, awful, bad, clever, excited, good, skilled,	at
surprised, terrible, useless
amazed, annoyed, astonished, concerned, disturbed, excited, impressed,	by
inspired, shocked, surprised
bad, concerned, good, responsible	for
disappointed, interested	in
frightened, scared, terrified	of
aware, clever, cruel, generous, good, kind, mean, nasty, nice, polite, rude,	of
selfish, true, typical, unkind
cruel, good, kind, mean, nasty, nice, polite, rude, unkind	to
annoyed, bored, concerned, disappointed, fed up, impressed, obsessed,	with
pleased, satisfied, wrong

 

Adjectives talking about ability (e.g. awful, bad, clever, good, skilled, terrible, useless) are often followed by at:

 

e.g. I’m not very good at maths.

 

Some adjectives describing fear (e.g. frightened, scared, terrified) can be followed by of:

e.g. There are some aspects of the course that I am a bit scared of.

Most people are frightened of being in front of a class for the first time.

 

Adjectives describing behavior (e.g. clever, generous, good, kind, nice, selfish) in a clause starting with it, that or this are often followed by of:

 

e.g. Would you like a cup of coffee? That ’s very kind of you.

 

Adjectives describing behavior directed towards others (e.g. cruel, good, kind, mean, nasty, nice, polite, rude, unkind) are often followed by to:

 

e.g. I’m worried about the pupils being rude to me.

 

Noun + preposition

 

Noun	Preposition
anything, information, nothing, something	about
excuse, explanation, ideas, in return, need, reasons, reputation, responsibility	for
change, decrease,drop, experience, rise, fall, increase	in
experience, knowledge, undestanding	of
effect, impact, influence	on
in association, experience	with

 

Prepositional phrases: by, in, at, on, of

 

We use by:

^§ to talk about who in a passive clause:

e.g. But you will be taught how to deal with those things by the tutors on the course.

^§ to explain how something is done:

e.g. You can remove any dirty marks by wiping it with a wet cloth.

 

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^§ to talk about transport and communications e.g. by plane, by e-mail: e.g. We’ll be in touch by e-mail soon if that’s okay.

^§ to talk about chance (e.g. by chance, by accident, by mistake):

e.g. I saw the advertisement for the job by chance and decided to apply for it.

 

We use in for the following expressions: in love, in pain, in private, in touch, in debt, in danger, in a rush, in fashion, in luck, in the end, in the morning(s)/evening(s)/afternoon(s).

 

e.g. Don’t forget to keep in touch while you’re away!

 

We use in for longer periods (for exampe, months, years, seasons): e.g. in October, in 1998, in the past, in the 18 ^th century, in the Middle Ages, in winter, in the 1990s etc.

 

We also use in to say how long it takes to do something:

e.g. I learnt to drive in four weeks. (= it took me four weeks to learn )

 

We use at for the following expressions:

 

^§ at first, at large, at peace, at present, at the moment, at the same time, at weekends, at night, at Christmas:

e.g. At first I was impressed by the reputation of the university but I also like the couse you offer.

^§ at work, at home, at school, at the airport, at university:

e.g. I’ve just finished my first degree at Stamford University.

^§ for the time of day: e.g. at five o’clock, at 11.45, at midnight, at lunchtime, at sunset etc.

 

We use on to say why you are somewhere (e.g. on holiday, on business, on duty).

 

We also use on for days and dates: e.g. on Friday/ on Fridays, on Monday mornings, on Christmas Day, on my birthday, on 16 May 1999 etc.

 

We use of with expressions of quantity (e.g. all, any, both, either, neither).

We do not use at/on/in before last/next/every:

e.g. I’ll see you next Friday. (not on next Friday)

They got married last March.

 

Grammar extra: prepositions

 

We can use nouns, pronouns, or –ing after a preposition:

e.g. I was really impressed with the desciption of the course in your prospectus.

If they shout at me in class, I’m not sure what I’ll do.

Well, I’ve always been interested in teach ing.

 

In negative not comes before the preposition and –ing:

e.g. I’m worried about not be ing able to control a class.

 

1. Choose the correct word (A, B or C) to complete the sentences.

1. I still haven’t forgiven her for her behaviour in fron of my boss.

 

2. I’m going to _____ to your parent about your exam results.

 

3. I’m scared _____ making a fool of myself when I give the presentation.

A for                                            B to                                              C of

 

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4. I’m very _____ in you. You/ve made a real mess of things.

 

A concerned                         B astonished                        C disappointed

5. The new drug prevents the bacteria _____ growing.

 

6. There are many things ______ with our society today.

 

7. It was very generous _____ you to offer to help me.

 

8. The president first became _____ in politics as a student.

A aware                                    B involved                             C enthusiastic

 

2. Fill in the gaps in the conversation with a word from the box and a preposition. anxious bad choose depend effect obsessed rely true worried

 

Teacher:	Do you think that money can solve all problems?
Student:	No, not really. Of course, I would be 1 anxious about money if I didn’t
	have very much, but I believe that too much money can be 2 ________
	____ you.
Teacher:	So you think it is possible to have too much money?
Student:	Well, there are lots of stories in the media about people who have won
	lots of money in the lottery and realised that they are not happier as a
	result. I think that large amounts of money can have a negative 3
	_________ ____ people.
Teacher:	Do you think that people 4 ________ ____modern technology like
	computers too much and that people are 5 _________ _____ having
	the latest high tech equipment?
Student:	Well, yes, in some countries. But this isn’t 6 ________ _____ many
	people in the world who are only 7 __________ _____ their next meal.
	In rich countries people always want a new gadget to make life easier
	but I’m not sure these machines actually do that. When we go shopping
	we have to 8 __________ _____ hundreds of different brands of the
	same thing, and when these things go wrong we don’t know what to
	do. I would prefer it if life were simpler and we didn’t 9 __________
	expensive technologies so much.

 

3. Fill in the gaps in the letter with a preposition.

 

Five Star Hotels

 

Dear Mr Rees,

 

Thank you for your letter of 21 June. I was very disturbed 1 by your account of what happened in our hotel last week, and I am writing to apologise 2 _____ this. I can

 

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understand that you were shocked 3 _____ the way the employee spoke to you. There

 

can be no excuse 4 _______ such behavior and I fully understand why you felt the need

to complain 5 _________ the situation. I can provide no explanation 6 ________ the

way the receptionist behaved. Our hotel group has a reputation 7 _______ being good

8 _______ looking after our customers, and I am very sorry that your experience 9

 

_______ our service did not confirm this. I intend to deal 10 _______ the staff member

appropriately and I will ensure that she does not repeat this behavior 11 ________

 

sending her on a retraining course next week. I would like to assure you that the behavior you encountered is not typical 12 ________ our staff. As the manager, I am

 

responsible 13 _______ all of our employees so please accept my apologies again and

this voucher worth £50 to spend in any 14 _______ our hotels.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Clive Martin

Hotel Manager

 

4. In nine of these sentences there is a wrong preposition. Underline each mistake and write the correction.

 

1. There has been a rise in the number of people buying their own homes. ^P

2. It is not difficult to distinguish amongst the emotional response to this crime and the law's response. _________

3. There is no need about a new school in this area. ________

4. We want the government to promise to make a change in the law. ________

5. I hate the way she always laughs to people. _________

 

6. I’ve decided to apply to that job in the newspaper. __________

7. Professor Ho has a good knowledge about this subject. _________

8. I’m afraid I broke this glass in accident. _________

9. My husband’s staying at my cousin while he is on business in America.________

 

10. I gave him one of my paintings in return for his help when I moved house.______

 

11. Why do governments always insist in doing things that are unpopular? ________

 

12. When I was in school I did much more sport than I do these days. ____________

 

5. Put in at, on or in.

1. Mozart was born in Salzburg in 1756.

2. I haven’t seen Kate for a few days. I last saw her ____ Tuesday.

3. The price of electricity is going up ______ October.

4. ______ weekends, we often go for a long walks in the country.

 

5. I’ve been invited to a wedding ______ 14 February.

6. Jonathan is 63. He’ll be retiring from his job ______ two years’ time.

7. I’m busy just now, but I’ll be with you ______ a moment.

8. Jenny’s brother is an engineer, but he doesn’t have a job _____ the moment.

 

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9. There are usually a lot of parties _____ New Year’s Eve.

 

10. I don’t like driving _____night.

11. My car is being repaired at the garage. It will be ready _____ two hours.

12. The telephone and the doorbell rang ______ the same time.

13. Mary and David always go out for dinner _____ their wedding anniversary.

14. It was a short book and easy to read. I read it ____ a day.

15. ____ Saturday night I went to bed _____ midnight.

 

16. We travelled overnight to Paris and arrived ___ 5 o’clock ____ the morning.

17. The course begins ____ 7 January and ends sometime ____ April.

 

18. I might not be at home ____ Tuesday morning, but I’ll be there ____ the afternoon.

 

6. Answer the questions about the pictures below. Use in, at or on with the words below the pictures.

1. Where’s the label? On the bottle

2. Where’s the fly? ______________________

3. Where is the car waiting? _______________

4. Where’s the notice? ____________________

5. Where’s the key? ______________________

 

6. Where are the shelves? _________________

7. Where’s the Eiffel Tower?_______________

8. Where is the man standing? ______________

9. Where’s the bird? ______________________

10. Where are the children playing?___________

 

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Relative clauses

 

Relative clauses give information about a noun (or a noun phrase). They are linked to the noun (or noun phrase) by a relative pronoun (e.g. who, which). The relative pronoun can be either the subject or the object of the clause, and we do not use another pronoun in the clause to refer to the noun: e.g. Why not install lights which have a timer? (not Why not install lights which they have a timer?) We sometimes use a participle clause instead of a relative clause: e.g. the man sitting beside me (= the man who is sitting beside me)

 

e.g. the food kept in the fridge (= the food which is kept in the fridge)

 

Relative pronouns

 

We use

^§ who to refer to people:

e.g. Please welcome Mike Bowers, who is going to talk to us about how to look after your home.

^§ which to refer to things:

e.g. These are dangerous if you live in a flat which is in a large high-rise building.

^§ that to refer to people or things:

e.g. Find someone that can check on your home while you’re away. e.g. Store away any objects that could become damaging missiles.

 

That is an alternative to who and which and is more common in spoken English.

^§ where to refer to places:

e.g. This is your home, the place where you keep your most treasured possessions.

^§ when to refer to times:

e.g. Programme them to come on at times when you would normally be home.

^§ whose to show possession:

e.g. You’re a person whose job involves a lot of travel. e.g. He lives in an old house, whose roof needs repairing.

^§ why after the reason or reasons:

e.g. There are often very good reasons why one house is burgled and another is not.

 

Defining relative clauses

 

Defining relative clauses give information after a noun to identify the noun more clearly:

e.g. I and someone who can collect your mail for you.

Without these relative clauses, it is unclear which person, place or thing we are referring to:

e.g. Store away any objects if it gets windy. (we do not know which objects)

We can leave out relative pronoun when it refers back to the object of the defining relative clause.

Compare:

e.g. Maybe there’s a neighbour (that) you can ask. (neighbour is the object of the verb)

e.g. In the evening, a house that ’s very dark can really stand out. (house is the subject of the verb:

 

not a house is very dark can really stand out)