Grammar and Vocabulary Training

1. Change the remarks into reported speech. Mind the word order and the tense of the verbs. Introduce the indirect sentences with the most suitable verb.

1. Mrs. George said, “Who do you think is coming here today?

2. Mrs. George said, “Just fancy! He’s not been here for more than fifty years.”

3. Mrs. Meadows said, “But he’s probably quietened down by now.”

4. The narrator said, “Well, I’m glad to see you’ve got here safely Mr. Meadows.”

5. Captain Meadows said, “I feel better and stronger than I have felt for ten years.”

6. Captain Meadows said, “There’s not a port in China that I don’t know better than you know your coat pocket.”

7. Mrs. Meadows said, “The fact is I was never quite sure that I’d married the right one.”

2. Fill in the blanks with prepositions and adverbs where necessary.

1. An avenue of splendid elms led … the road … the garden.

2. Mrs. Meadows’ word was law … the house and … the farm.

3. George Meadows went … sea when his brother married … Emily.

4. When there was no more news … him, they came … the conclusion that he must be dead.

5. The family were sitting … the great old kitchen, … its stone floor, Mrs. Meadows … her usual chair … the fire and her son and his wife sat … the table … their children.

6. The old man hasn’t been … … his bed … two years. They carried him … and put him … the car.

7. No one called Mrs. Meadows … her first name … a generation.

8. They had had a good deal … difficulty … persuading him to go … bed.

9. He had talked … them … all the things that had happened … him in his life.

3. Choose the proper verb. First make sure you know the difference in their usage.

bring – take – carry – fetch

1. When are you going to … me the notes? I need them badly.

2. She was walking slowly uphill, … a baby in her arms.

3. … my shawl, please. It’s chilly here.

4. Wait a minute. I’ll … my car here and … you home.

5. The weather is so changeable that I’ve always got to … a raincoat in my bag.

6. You can come but don’t … Mike with you. He gets on my nerves.

7. Andrew’s got a bad cough. I shall have to … him to the doctor’s.

8. Will you go and … the newspaper while I make the tea?

9. When the day broke the soldiers came into the cell to … the rebels’ for execution.

look – stare – glare – glance

1. It was evident he was furious from the way he … at his visitor.

2. It’s bad manners to … at people the way you do.

3. Children, … at the picture and tell me what you can see in it.

4. The passers- by … indifferently at the street- painter and walked on.

5. Anger distorted his face as he … at the shopkeeper.

6. As she said the last few words she … at me to see if I was listening.

7. The woman … at the girl till she blushed and closed her eyes.

dress – put on – wear

1. I was amused to see that Mrs. Meadows had … her best silk dress.

2. The man we met was … a cotton shirt and trousers.

3. I have never seen her … in a national costume.

4. Why don’t you … a hat? The sun is very strong.

5. They asked me what he was … but I could not recollect what he was … that day.

6. Please help me to … the children.

7. – Is she always … in white? – Yes, she enjoys … white.

8. Don’t … your overcoat. It’s very warm outside.