Linking words exercise

Complete the following sentences.

1. ……………………… I fired at the lion, he shook my arm.

a) Since
b) As
c) For
d) Because

2. Arranged marriages are quite unusual in the West. In Asia, ………………………., they are very common.

a) but
b) on the other hand
c) similarly
d) in spite of this

3. The job was not quite exciting. …………………….., the money was OK.

a) While
b) In addition
c) Mind you
d) Due to this

4. The train was late. ……………………… I reached in time.

a) Despite this
b) In spite this
c) Similarly
d) Due to this

5. The British rule may have benefited India in some ways. …………………… colonialism is basically bad.

a) Even as
b) Even so
c) In the same way
d) Similarly

6. Life has generally been good to me.

a) In general
b) As for
c) As far as
d) Apart from

7. The flood victims are short of food. ……………………. they urgently need medical assistance.

a) Similarly
b) In addition
c) Any how
d) For instance

8. ………………….. John, everyone enjoyed the party.

a) In addition to
b) Except for
c) In particular
d) For instance

9. ……………………. people will be nice to you if you are nice to them.

a) Apart from
b) In the same way
c) In most cases
d) For instance

10. ………………….. a child’s character is shaped by the circumstances at home.

a) Similarly
b) For one thing
c) To a great extent
d) Consequently

Answers

1. As I fired at the lion, he shook my arm.

2. Arranged marriages are quite unusual in the West. In Asia, on the other hand, they are very common.

3. The job was not quite exciting. Mind you, the money was OK.

4. The train was late. Despite this I reached in time.

5. The British rule may have benefited India in some ways. Even socolonialism is basically bad.

6. Life has generally been good to me.

7. The flood victims are short of food. In addition, they urgently need medical assistance.

8. Except for John, everyone enjoyed the party.

9. In most cases people will be nice to you if you are nice to them.

10. To a great extent a child’s character is shaped by the circumstances at home.

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Much and Many Worksheet

We use much before uncountable nouns. These are the names of objects that we cannot count.
We use many before countable nouns. These are the names of objects that we can count.

Complete the following sentences using much or many.

1. I waited for ………………… hours.

2. She was won ……………….. awards.

3. How ………………… do you need?

4. There aren’t …………………… houses in this area.

5. She has got ……………….. friends.

6. You didn’t eat ……………….. breakfast.

7. She can speak ……………….. languages.

8. I don’t know ………………….. about computers.

9. ………………….. has been written about the causes of poverty and unemployment.

10. You have made too ………………. mistakes in this essay.

11. I like him very ………………….

12. ……………….. people think it is time for a change.

Answers

1. I waited for many hours.

2. She was won many awards.

3. How much do you need?

4. There aren’t many houses in this area.

5. She has got many friends.

6. You didn’t eat much breakfast.

7. She can speak many languages.

8. I don’t know much about computers.

9. Much has been written about the causes of poverty and unemployment.

10. You have made too many mistakes in this essay.

11. I like him very much.

12. Many people think it is time for a change.

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Phrasal verbs exercise

Complete the following sentences.

1. The publishers are planning to bring ………………. a new edition of this book soon.

a) in b) forward c) out d) off

2. This scheme will eventually fall ………………..

a) off b) through c) up d) out

3. I can’t get on ………………….. her.

a) at b) with c) by d) after

4. I am looking ………………… to being a grandmother.

a) at b) after c) forward d) up

5. When he became a celebrity he began to look down ………………… his old friends.

a) on b) upon c) at d) off

6. The chief guest gave ……………………………… the prizes.

a) away b) over c) to d) out

7. If you don’t understand the meaning of a word, you should look it …………………. in the dictionary.

a) over b) after c) up d) into

8. Everyone in my family looks up ………………… my grandfather.

a) to b) at c) down d) after

9. The rope gave …………………..

a) away b) way c) up d) in

10. We will not put ………………. with such an insult.

a) out b) away c) up d) off

Answers

1. The publishers are planning to bring out a new edition of this book soon.

2. This scheme will eventually fall through. (To fall through is to fail.)

3. I can’t get on with her.

4. I am looking forward to being a grandmother.

5. When he became a celebrity he began to look down upon his old friends.

6. The chief guest gave away the prizes.

7. If you don’t understand the meaning of a word, you should look it up in the dictionary.

8. Everyone in my family looks up to my grandfather.

9. The rope gave way.

10. We will not put up with such an insult.

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Grammar exercise

Complete the following sentences.

1. The tremors from India’s nuclear tests …………………. before the finger-pointing began in Washington.

a) had barely subsided
b) hadn’t barely subsided
c) was barely subsided

2. For centuries we …………………… to cure the ills of the world.

a) are trying
b) were trying
c) had been trying
d) have been trying

3. ……………….. from work, she often stops at a bookstore.

a) On her way home
b) At her way home
c) By her way home
d) In her way home

4. ………………… the reality, they would not have signed the documents.

a) If they would have known
b) If had they known
c) If they had known
d) Had they been known

5. His ……………….. always creates a good impact.

a) courteously behavior with
b) courteous behaving with
c) behavior with courtesy
d) courteous behavior

6. The thieves ………………….., before the police arrived.

a) had already escaped
b) had been escaped
c) were escaped
d) had been already escaped

7. Your statement that you ………………… his motive cannot be trusted.

a) were totally unaware of
b) had total unaware of
c) were total aware of
d) were totally unaware of

Answers

1. The tremors from India’s nuclear tests had barely subsided before the finger-pointing began in Washington.

2. For centuries we have been trying to cure the ills of the world.

3. On her way home from work, she often stops at a bookstore.

4. If they had known the reality, they would not have signed the documents.

5. His courteous behavior always creates a good impact.

6. The thieves had already escaped, before the police arrived.

7. Your statement that you were totally unaware of his motive cannot be trusted.

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Complete the given sentences

1. He attributed his good health to his ……………………. with nature.

a) communion
b) company
c) commitment
d) communication

2. She is ……………………. a career in writing.

a) keen on building
b) keen at building
c) keen for building
d) keen to building

3. They ………………………. him to prison for five years.

a) sent
b) are sent
c) send
d) were sent

4. Sometimes I wish ……………………….

a) I had never been born
b) I have never born
c) I was never been born
d) I had never born

5. What …………………….. if the train had been late?

a) would you do
b) will you do
c) would you have did
d) would you have done

6. He …………………… understood.

a) was not able to be
b) can’t be
c) won’t be
d) is not able to

7. After marching through the foothill for two days, we found ourselves …………………………….. proper.

a) at the bottom of the mountain
b) under the mountain
c) beneath the mountain
d) at the base of the mountain

8. She smiled ……………………….

a) in a friendly way
b) friendlily
c) a friendly way
d) friendly

Answers

1. He attributed his good health to his communion with nature.

2. She is keen on building a career in writing.

3. They sent him to prison for five years.

4. Sometimes I wish I had never been born.

5. What would you have done if the train had been late?

6. He can’t be understood.

7. After marching through the foothill for two days, we found ourselves at the base of the mountain proper.

8. She smiled in a friendly way.

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Prepositions worksheet

Complete the following sentences using appropriate prepositions.

1. This country is backward ………………….. many areas.

a) at b) in c) on d) from

2. I don’t think that we can count …………………….. him.

a) on b) in c) at d) with

3. I don’t believe ………………….. ghosts. Do you?

a) in b) at c) of d) out

4. Beware ………………………. dogs.

a) of b) off c) away d) none of these

5. During his regime, the king brought …………………. many radical reforms.

a) out b) about c) up d) off

6. We are anxious ………………………. an end to this misunderstanding.

a) for b) to c) about d) at

7. He is quite good ……………………….. remembering dates.

a) in b) on c) with d) at

8. She was green with ……………………

a) anger b) cold c) envy d) fear

9. My hands were blue with ………………………

a) cold b) anger c) fright d) none of these

10. We congratulated him ……………………. his success.

a) with b) at c) on d) for

11. Suddenly he complained ………………….. chest pain.

a) from b) with c) of d) about

12. Contrary ……………………… our expectations the central bank increased interest rates.

a) with b) to c) at d) none of these

Answers

1. This country is backward in many areas.

2. I don’t think that we can count on him.

3. I don’t believe in ghosts. Do you?

4. Beware of dogs.

5. During his regime, the king brought about many radical reforms.

6. We are anxious for an end to this misunderstanding.

7. He is quite good at remembering dates.

8. She was green with envy.

9. My hands were blue with cold.

10. We congratulated him on / for his success.

11. Suddenly he complained of chest pain.

12. Contrary to our expectations the central bank increased interest rates.

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Conjunctions exercise

Combine the following sentences using appropriate conjunctions.

1. He was tired. He had been working for a long time.

2. You will win the first prize. You have to work hard.

3. He took out his brush. He began to paint.

4. Hurry up. You will be late.

5. She may be poor. She will not take anything that does not belong to her.

6. Something must have fallen. I heard a sound.

7. They must have fallen asleep. There is no light in their room.

8. The train had left. I reached the station later.

9. He was tired. He decided to get some rest.

10. I waited for him. He arrived.

11. He was angry. Somebody had stolen his bicycle.

12. It was raining. We went out.

Answers

1. He was tired because he had been working for a long time.

2. You will win the first prize if you work hard.

3. He took out his brush and began to paint.

4. Hurry up or you will be late.

5. She may be poor but she will not take anything that does not belong to her.

6. Something must have fallen for I heard a sound.

7. They must have fallen asleep for there is no light in their room.

8. The train had left before I reached the station.

9. He was tired so he decided to get some rest.

10. I waited for him until he arrived.

11. He was angry because somebody had stolen his bicycle.

12. It was raining but we went out. / Though it was raining we went out.

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Personal pronouns overview

Personal pronouns are words like I, me, your, he, him and they.They belong to three classes: first person, second person and third person.

First person

The pronouns I, me, mine, we, us and ours are said to be in the first person because they stand for the person speaking.

I am a teacher.
John called me.
I have a daughter.
We have a house.
That car is ours.
This house is mine.

Second person

The pronouns you and yours are said to be in the second person because they stand for the person or persons spoken to.

You are a good girl.
Is this bag yours?

Third Person

The pronouns he, him, she, her, hers, they, theirs, them and it are said to be in the third person.

That phone is his.
They have visited our home several times, but I have never been to theirs.

Grammar notes:

The possessive has two forms – my, mine; our, ours; your, yours; her, hers; their, theirs. The forms my, our, your, her and their are not pronouns. They are adjectives used before a noun. The formsmine, ours, yours, hers and theirs are pronouns and can be used alone.

This is my car.
This car is mine.
That is her house.
That house is hers.
It is their fault.
The fault is theirs.

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Present perfect tense review

MARCH 26, 2015 -

Many students find it difficult to use the present perfect tense correctly, but that is not surprising. Although the present perfect tense is a present tense, it is only used to talk about finished actions and situations.

We make the present perfect tense form by putting has/havebefore the past participle form of the verb.

I have finished the job.
She has acted in a film.
They have left for their native place.
She has agreed to come.

The present perfect tense is used:

1) To talk about an action that was finished just now or in the immediate past.

They have just arrived.
I have finished writing.

2. To talk about a past action that has its effect in the present.

Somebody has let the cat in. (= The cat is in now. The action took place in the past, but its effect is still present.)
I have broken my leg, so I can’t walk now.

3. To talk about an action that began sometime in the past and has continued up to the present.

We have lived in this city for ten years. (We still live here.)
I have known him for a long time. (I still know him.)

4. To talk about a past action

We can use the present perfect tense to talk about a past action when we don’t mention when it took place.

He has helped me several times.
I have been to Australia.

Notes

The present perfect tense cannot be used with adverbs of past time like yesterday, last year, last week, when, then etc.

He went to Mumbai yesterday. (BUT NOT He has gone to Mumbai yesterday.)

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Verb patterns with gerunds and have

The gerund is the form of the verb ending in –ing. Note that the present participle also ends in –ing.

The gerund is different from the present participle. While the present participle is mainly used as an adjective, the gerund is used as a noun.

The present participle is also used to form the continuous tenses.
The gerund can be the subject or object of the verb. It can also be the object of a preposition.

In this lesson, we will review some common verb patterns using the gerund. We will also learn about the causative use of have.

Subject + Verb + Gerund

In this structure the gerund is used as the object of the transitive verb.

I enjoy writing.
I don’t mind cooking.
He prefers walking to riding.
I couldn’t help overhearing their conversation.
She likes reading.
I love playing with my kids.

Gerund after prepositions

A gerund is often placed after a preposition. Note that we cannot use an infinitive after a preposition.

The teacher used a red pen for marking mistakes.
He earns his living by working at a pub.
She is good at singing.
He got married only after getting a good job.
You shouldn’t have left the party without thanking the host.
Are you interested in learning palmistry?

Causative use of ‘have’

Getting something done by somebody else is expressed by the structure have/get + object + past participle.

I must get the computer fixed.
I had my watch repaired.
You must get your hair cut.
She has had her photograph taken.

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Verb patterns with gerunds and have

The gerund is the form of the verb ending in –ing. Note that the present participle also ends in –ing.

The gerund is different from the present participle. While the present participle is mainly used as an adjective, the gerund is used as a noun.

The present participle is also used to form the continuous tenses.
The gerund can be the subject or object of the verb. It can also be the object of a preposition.

In this lesson, we will review some common verb patterns using the gerund. We will also learn about the causative use of have.

Subject + Verb + Gerund

In this structure the gerund is used as the object of the transitive verb.

I enjoy writing.
I don’t mind cooking.
He prefers walking to riding.
I couldn’t help overhearing their conversation.
She likes reading.
I love playing with my kids.

Gerund after prepositions

A gerund is often placed after a preposition. Note that we cannot use an infinitive after a preposition.

Causative use of ‘have’

Getting something done by somebody else is expressed by the structure have/get + object + past participle.

I must get the computer fixed.
I had my watch repaired.
You must get your hair cut.
She has had her photograph taken.

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Grammar

Linking words exercise

Linking words exercise

Answers