English Exercises: Vocabulary, Grammar, and Formal Writing

Vocabulary: Health and Feelings

Complete the exercise with one of the words given.

1. There are specific departments in hospitals to treat chronic illness.
2. My back pain is getting worse. I'll have to go to the doctor.
3. He hurt her feelings and she doesn't want to see him anymore.
4. She can hardly speak. She has a sore throat.
5. He loves eating hearty meals, but afterward, he often has stomach ache.
6. Mary is pregnant and she often feels sick in the mornings.
7. Mental disorders are quite dangerous for our health.

Grammar: Comparatives and Superlatives

Complete the following sentences using the comparative and superlative form of the adjectives in brackets.

1. This computer is newer than your computer.
2. Lucy is the youngest in the class.
3. This house is bigger than my house!
4. This is the most interesting book I have ever read.
5. It is strange but often a coke is more expensive than a beer.
6. Your car is faster than this car.
7. A holiday by the sea is better than a holiday in the mountains.
8. Who is the richest woman on earth?
9. Non-smokers usually live longer than smokers.
10. Which is the most dangerous animal in the world?
11. Lisa is older than George.
12. The weather this summer is even worse than last summer.
13. He was the most clever thief of all.
14. That car is the most expensive in the market.
15. This flower is more beautiful than that one.

Grammar: Prepositions

Choose the correct preposition.

1. I jumped into the swimming pool.
2. Every morning I go jogging along the beach.
3. I ran across the beach and into the sea.
4. The road was closed so we couldn't drive through the town center, we had to go around it.
5. He climbed up the ladder to clean the second floor windows.
6. We drove past Newcastle on the way to Edinburgh.
7. When I was a student I travelled through Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic.
8. After 6 hours of walking, we decided to go back down the mountain.
9. The burglar jumped over the garden fence.

Grammar: Conditionals

Complete with “if” or “unless.”

1. Unless we learn from our mistakes, we may repeat them.
2. He will be sent to prison if he’s caught in the act.
3. If you don't mind, I'll sit here.
4. If you don't understand the exercise, I'll try to help you.
5. I'll go to the beach with you unless it rains this weekend.
6. Unless she does well in the interview, she won't be accepted in the PhD program.
7. He must study if he doesn't want to fail the course.
8. If you love her, marry her.

Writing: Formal Letters

Choose the right option.

1. Which of the following is used to start a very formal letter?
   • a) Dear Michael
   • b) Hi Steve.
   • c) Dear Sir or Madam.
2. Which of the following is a way of starting a formal letter?
   • a) Thank you for your letter dated 23rd May 2011.
   • b) Thanks for your letter, it was great to hear from you.
   • c) Thank you for your letter about...
3. Which of the following is an expression suitable for a formal letter?
   • a) Regards to Jane
   • b) Please give my regards to Jane
   • c) Give Jane my best wishes.
4. Which of the following is NOT a suitable final sentence for a formal letter?
   • a) I look forward to hearing from you soon.
   • b) Hope to see you soon
   • c) Looking forward to a swift response
5. Which of the following is NOT a suitable way to end a formal letter?
   • a) Yours faithfully.
   • b) Yours sincerely.
   • c) Love.
6. If you start your letter with Dear Sirs, you end it with________ .
   • a) Yours sincerely.
   • b) Best wishes
   • c) Yours faithfully.
7. On your official letter your name should appear____
   • a) at the top, on the right.
   • b) at the bottom.
   • c) at the top and at the bottom