15. In the following text, delete any examples of would that are not acceptable:

When I was young we 1) used to/ would live near a river. We 2) often used to/ would often go and swim there. It 3) used to/ would be very clean in those days. There never 4) used to/ would be any factories or houses nearby. Now it’s changed. It’s no longer safe to swim there. But in those days we 5) used to/would spend most of the summer there. Sometimes we 6) used to/ would take tents and spend the nights there. We 7) used to/ would light a fire and cook sausages and things. In those days we 8) used to/ would think that nothing would ever change…

16. If possible, complete these sentences with would (or wouldn't) or used to. If it is not possible to use would or used to, use a verb in the past simple.

1 I ……… (enjoy) studying Latin when I was at school.

2 Orwell ………. (spend) winters in Spain and summers in England.

3 We ……….. (live) in a bungalow on the south coast, and then we moved to a flat in London.

4 You ………… (teach) at Halston University, didn't you?

5 On Saturdays and Sundays the ferry ………. (take) tourists across to the island.

6 The committee …………… (meet) four times last week, but still no decision has been reached.

7. Amy worked really hard. Every afternoon she ………. (come) home from school at 4.15 and do an hour of piano practice.

8. Richard phoned yesterday and ………… (invite) me out for dinner.

9. When Dominic was young he ……….. (eat) any green vegetables.

10. The creaking noises in the old house ……….. (keep) me awake until I became accustomed to them.

11. Whenever I had a problem with my maths homework, Sam ……….. (help) me.

12. After standing on the bathroom scales, I …………. (decide) that I needed to lose some weight.

3. Insert the correct prepositions into the following sentences (you can find a more comprehensive list of dependent preposition patterns at the end of this book):

1. He has a very bad attitude ________work.

2. Is there anything you're not sure_______?

3. Marie Curie is famous ________ her contribution to science.

4. His parents were bitterly disappointed ______ him.

5. Were you aware ______ the risks at the time?

6. Are you satisfied _______ the new arrangement?

7. Are you getting excited _____ your holiday?

8. They were absolutely fascinated ______ the game.

9. He didn't seem very interested _______ what I was saying.

10. Let's be realistic ______ this - I just can't afford to pay that much money.

11. Paul is directly responsible _______ the efficient running of the office.

12. She advises the President _______ African policy.

13. I know that if I start watching a soap opera I immediately become hopelessly addicted ______ it.

In pairs ask and answer questions about each other’s likes and dislikes using the active expressions with dependent prepositions.

4. In this unit you will have come across a lot of phrases with the two easily confused verbs “do” and “make” (e.g. do routine tasks, make demands, do the ironing – all appear in the text on page 18). Complete the sentences below with either of the verbs. (There is a list of make/do collocations at the end of this book).

1 Good morning. I’d like to ______ an appointment with Dr Brown, please.

2 If I cook, will you _____ the washing up?

3 Could you ______ me a favour? Could you post this letter for me on your way home?

4 If you want to pass your exam this summer, you’ll have to _____ a far greater effort than now.

5 I can’t come out tonight. I’ve got to stay in and _____ my hair.

6 Last week we _____ a very difficult exercise on prepositions.

7 Stop _____ such a noise! I’m trying to sleep.

8 Most people get nervous when asked to _____ a speech.

9 Everyone knows that smoking _____ you harm.

10 People often used to ______ fun of him because he was so fat.

11 Children should _____ their duty and look after their parents when they are old.

12 My grandparents always ______ a big fuss of me whenever I go and visit them.

13 Could I see the manager, please? I wish to _____ a complaint.

14 Our company _____ business with lots of foreign companies.

15 Whenever I’m asked to do something, I always try to _____ a good job.

16 My son is at Cambridge University ______ research.

17 Do you find it easy or difficult to ______ friends.

18 The only way of ______ a lot of money in this country is to win it on the National Lottery.

19 Many students are afraid to speak English because they don’t like to _____ mistakes.

20 I forgot to _____ my homework last night.

21 They _____ a very long journey from London to Nepal.

22 I’m _____ the Cambridge First certificate exam in the summer.

23 The teacher wished the students good luck for their exam and told them to _____ their best.

24 He didn’t really feel like going to the party, so he _____ an excuse about not feeling well.

TEST YOURSELF.