Essential English Language Skills: Vocabulary and Grammar

Vocabulary Practice

1. Choose the correct answer

1. The designers think that this building will meet the needs of everyone.
2. I want you to repay the money by Friday at the latest.
3. We have to learn the poem by heart for tomorrow’s lesson.
4. You’re blocking the traffic. Get out of the way.

2. Word formation: Complete the sentences

1. There were countless occasions when I didn’t think we would reach safety. (COUNT)
2. The help that locals gave to the refugees was wonderful. (WONDER)
3. This green colouring is completely harmless, so you can add it to food and drinks for St. Patrick’s Day. (HARM)
4. Why do so many people think that a physical disability makes people unable to work? (DISABLE)
5. Unfortunately, there isn’t always equality between men and women in the workplace. (EQUAL)
6. Our organisation works to protect endangered animals. (DANGER)

3. Complete the sentences with one word

1. My rule in life is never to put things off until the last minute.
2. Don’t worry, everything is under control now.
3. If you live beyond your means, you will end up with nothing.
4. Callum is so bad-tempered that we’re all walking on eggshells every time he’s with us.
5. Why do you always blame me for everything?
6. Do you know where the crime took place?
7. I don’t feel like taking the bus. Let’s go on foot.
8. I thought it would be difficult, but it was actually a piece of cake.

Grammar Practice

1. Choose the correct answer

1. It was such a long test that no one was able to finish it.
2. You mustn’t have borrowed my phone without asking.
3. That can’t be Ann. She’s in Paris at the moment.
4. All you had to do was ask. I would have helped you.

2. Verb forms: Complete the sentences

1. Why did they park there? They must have seen the sign. (must / see)
2. Our request for a loan was turned down three times by the bank. (turn down)
3. My mum had to wait three hours to see the doctor yesterday. (have to / wait)
4. It was Saturday, so you should have known that the shopping centre would be crowded. (should / know)
5. I don’t know for certain, but I think you might have deleted the e-mail that you sent me. (might / delete)
6. You must leave at once. The building is unsafe. (must / leave)
7. Your application was late. It should have been submitted by last Friday. (should / submit)

3. Verb forms: Contextual usage

(work – should / not tell)

1. We have been working on this project for weeks. We hope to complete it next week.
2. You shouldn’t have told her about the party. It was supposed to be a surprise.

4. Cloze test: Complete the text

Having a disability used to make it almost impossible to travel and enjoy visiting cultural places. Wheelchair users weren’t able to access buildings with stairs, blind visitors had to rely on others to read information for them, and if you wanted to travel on public transport, you had to face so many problems that it wasn’t really worth it.