Grammar tasks

We believe that your grammar is as good as your translation skills and you can do the following grammar tasks, can’t you?

Task 1. Read rules 1, 2, 3 and fill in the blanks with the appropriate article where necessary.

1.___pine grows in many parts of the world. 2.___life would be more difficult without___telephone. 3.___whale is in___danger of becoming extinct. 4. He prefers ___town to___country. 5. Can you play___violin? 6. Will you play___draughts with me?7.___tulips and daffodils are my favourite spring flowers. 8.___Chinese invented___paper and___powder. 9.___gulden is the currency of___Dutch. 10.___man and___woman were created equal. 11. The government should take more care of___disabled and___unemployed. 12. Yesterday we went to the Zoo. We saw___small bear there. He was like ___Teddy bear. 13. Does___ polar bear live in___Arctic or in___Antarctic? 14. He brought her___black rose. ___black rose is___very rare species. 15.___bicycle is one of the main transport means in ___Amsterdam. 16. Was it difficult for you to communicate in ___„ Switzerland? — No, fortunately I met___Swiss who spoke ___English very well. He helped us a lot. 17. When did ___man first go into___space? 18.___daffodil is the national emblem of___Welsh.

Task 3. Try your hand at translation.

1. Он наш тренер (trainer) с тех пор, как я начал иг­рать в этой команде. 2. Они уже приняли решение (take a decision) по этому вопросу? — Нет. Они все еще спорят (argue). Они обсуждают этот вопрос уже два часа и еще не пришли ни к какому решению, 3. Утро было солнеч­ное, но с одиннадцати погода изменилась, и сейчас идет дождь. 4. Чем вы занимаетесь с тех пор, как мы расста­лись (part)? 5. Мэри уже приехала? — Да, она уже здесь два дня. Она приехала в пятницу. 6. Студенты пишут контрольную работу уже два часа. Пока только двое сда­ли работы. 7. Гроза (thunderstorm) прошла, но небо покрыто темными тучами, и дует сильный ветер. 8. Вы прочитали книгу, которую я вам дала? 9. Вы плохо вы­глядите. Вы много работали на этой неделе? — Да. Я работаю над переводом уже десять дней, но сделала только половину. 10. Что здесь делает этот человек? — Он ждет секретаря. Она еще не пришла на работу.

Task 4. Repeat rule 14 and rewrite the sentences using the passive form of the verbs in italics.

1. They gave up the search after three hours.

2. No one brought up that question at the meeting.

3. Don't speak until someone speaks to you.

4. His bank manager turned down his request for a loan.

5. They gave the oldest councillor the freedom of the city.

6. They denied access to the secret documents to all but a few.

7. Someone showed the child how to use the telephone.

8. They declared him "persona non grata" and allowed him only forty-eight hours to leave the country.

9. They gave him artificial respiration.

10. Why didn't they offer him the job?

11. Didn't they promise you a rise in salary at the beginning of the year?

12. What did they pay you for doing the job?

Task 5. Translate the following sentences paying special attention to the Complex Object Constructions.

1. Her father didn’t let her come late.

2. Kate wanted Jane to sweep the floor at once.

3. I didn’t want her help me at that moment.

4. His sister didn’t let him smoke.

5. Susan helped Willie write a composition without mistakes.

6. That evening Alice let him come into the room.

7. Nobody wanted him to help.

8. Every minute he wanted Jane to give up drugs.

9. He wanted them to let him be alone.

10. In any case they didn’t help him rewrite the test.