Essential English Language Learning Exercises

Exercise 1: Logical Sentence Completion

Complete the sentences with a logical continuation. Write more than one word. Pay attention to the words in bold.

• My favourite time of the day is dawn because everything is quiet and peaceful then.
• The sea is very rough today because the wind is blowing strongly.
• The peak of the mountain was covered in snow.
• The soil here is good for growing vegetables.
• Poachers are unwanted in nature reserves because they kill protected animals.

Exercise 2: Phrasal Verbs

Complete the sentences with the correct phrasal verbs from the list:

1. I’m staying over at my friend Jenny’s house tonight.
2. The river has dried up.
3. The toad turned into a prince.
4. The congress has been brought forward by a year.
5. Tourists were turned away at the crossing points.
6. She tried repeatedly to bring up the subject of money.
7. I drink a lot of water and I stay away from greasy, heavy foods.

Exercise 3: Negative Prefixes

Fill in the gaps with the suitable negative prefix:

1. Your handwriting is terrible. It’s illegible!
2. I’m really impatient; I can’t wait.
3. She doesn’t know what dress to choose; she’s so indecisive.
4. Your punctuality is inexcusable.
5. What a mess! You’re very disorganised.
6. It is very impolite not to say “please” and “thank you”.
7. She’s dissatisfied with the results of the exams.
8. Brian, you’re so unselfish and generous!
9. She can neither read nor write; she’s illiterate.
10. I totally disapprove of your behaviour; it’s very disrespectful.
11. This sofa is very uncomfortable.
12. Can you unlock this box? You’ve got the key.

Grammar: Active to Passive Voice

Turn these sentences from active to passive form:

1. Someone had stolen the school computers before everyone arrived.
   The school computers had been stolen before everyone had arrived.
2. Someone must have heard something.
   Something must have been heard.
3. Has a chef prepared all these desserts?
   Have all these desserts been prepared by a chef?
4. They won't give us a map, we'll have to manage by ourselves.
   We won’t be given a map, so we’ll have to manage by ourselves. / A map won’t be given to us, so we’ll have to manage by ourselves.
5. They gave me the information very late, so I couldn't tell you.
   I was given the information very late, so I couldn’t tell you. / The information was given to me very late, so I couldn’t tell you.
6. In German cities, they often clean the streets at night.
   In German cities, the streets are often cleaned at night.
7. The babysitter was looking after the babies.
   The babies were being looked after by the babysitter.