Grammar Practice Exercises [ 33 ] , Upper Intermediate

33 - ] Grammar Practice Exercises

Upper Intermediate

18 -] Tag Questions .

Echo Tags

An echo tag is a tag used in response to a statement . Echo tags are very common in spoken English . We use echo tags to show that we are listening to what the speaker is saying and showing interest .

Example

A : I met Ali the other night .

B : Did you ?

A : I’m not going to apply for that job now .

B : Aren’t you ?

Complete the gaps with a tag question or echo tag

Example

A : It’s been a wonderful day (1) hasn’t it ?

B : yes , fantastic . And we’ve had no problems with anything , (2)-----------------? Everything’s been perfect .

A : That’s right . It’ll certainly be a lovely day to remember , (3)--------------------------?

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A : I had a letter from Ahmad yesterday .

B : Oh , (4) ------------------------------?

A : Yes , he says he’s coming to stay this weekend .

B : Really ? That’ll be nice , (5) ------------------------?

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A : I don’t know what to do today . Just look at the rain outside .

B : Well , I don’t want to stay in all day . Let’s go and see a film , (6) --------------------?

A : Why not ? Good idea . There’s nothing much on at the local cinema though ,

(7)------------------------------?

B : All right . We’ll take the train into town then , (8) ----------------------------?

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A : Rami and his wife are coming round for dinner tonight .

B : (9) ------------------------------ ? Oh , that’ll be nice .

A : Yes . I thought you might like to come too .

B : Well yes , but you haven’t seen them for a long time . I expect you’d like to talk to them

on your own , (10) --------------------------?

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A : How did you get in here ?

B : I came in through the back door .

A : No , I don’t think so .

A : You shouldn’t come and see me like this . It’s dangerous . Please don’t come here again , (12)-----------------------------?

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A : That’s a beautiful table , (13) ---------------------------?

B : Yes , it is , (14) ---------------------------?

A : It would ne lovely in our kitchen , (15) --------------------? Why don’t we get it ?

B : Don’t be ridiculous . Look at the price . We can’t afford it , (16) -------------------?

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A : You couldn’t hold this door open for me , (17) -----------------------? I can’t get the pram through it ?

B : Of course . It’s terrible how they design these doors , (18) ---------------? It makes it so difficult for people in wheelchairs or with young children .

A : Yes , it does , (19) ----------------------?

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A : I’ve just been talking to Said .

B : (20) --------------------, Dad ?

A : Yes , and I didn’t like what he told me . So you went to that nightclub on Friday ,

(21) ---------------------------- ? The one I told you not to go to .

B : I’m sorry Dad . I thought you wouldn’t really mind .

A : Oh you did , (22) -------------------------? Well , I do mind .

Rewrite the conversation adding tag questions where appropriate .

Tamer and Daher used to be old friends . They meet again at a party .

D : Hello . Nice to see you here . It’s a great party .

T : Yes , it’s really good . There are so many people here that I haven’t seen for ages .

D : Yes , there are a lot of our old school crowd here . Have you spoken to many of them ?

T : Yes , quite a few . I bumped into Ahmad a few minutes ago and we had a brief chat . Well , no , he chatted and I listened .

D : Yes , he’s still the same . He just loves talking about himself and he doesn’t seem to be interested in what anyone else has to say .

T : That’s right . Oh look , that’s Mido over there .

D : Yes , you’re right , it is . Who’s that he’s with ?

T : It’s Nasser .

D : But he’s going out with his brother Emad .

T : Well , yes , I thought so . But look , he’s holding his friend’s mobile .

D : Oh yes . Well , I suppose our information must be out-of-date then . Anyway , what about you ? I’ve missed you , you know .

T : Yes , I’ve missed you too .

D : But I expect you’ve a new friend now .

T : Not now , I did for a little while after you went away but not now .

D : It was hard saying goodbye . I was going to write to you but I thought it wouldn’t help .

T : No , maybe not . Well , anyway , we’re here together now . Why don’t we just enjoy ourselves .

D : Good idea . Let’s sing .

T : Yes , I’d like to . But not now . The music is terrible .

D : Well , it’s no good for singing , that’s for sure . We’ll go and ask them if we can change it .

T : OK . Well , you go . And put on one of our favorites .

D : Yes , I will . And will you be waiting for me when I get back ?

T : Yes , of course I will .

Example

D : Hello . Nice to see you here . It’s a great party , isn’t it ?

Grammar Practice Exercises [ 32 ] , Upper Intermediate

32 - ] Grammar Practice Exercises

Upper Intermediate

Relative Clauses of Time , Place And Reason

In relative clauses of time , place and reason , it is possible to use when , where and why in place of relative pronouns .

Examples

Time ; 1993 was (the year) when we moved here .

Place : That’s (the place) where we stayed for our oneymoon .

Reason : Its central location is (the reason) why we chose this flat .

Rewrite each pair of sentences as one sentence , using a relative clause with when , where or Why .

Example

1 . The early morning is the time . I work best then

The early morning is (the time) when I work best .

2 . His mid-teens were the time . He first became interested in politics then .

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3 . His dishonesty is the reason . That’s why I left him .

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4 . Alexandria is the city . I’d most like to live there .

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5 . The outdoor swimming pool has now been closed down . We often went there as children .

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6 .This is a picture of the place . We’re going there for our holidays .

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7 . His refusal to tell her the truth is the reason . That’s why she is so angry with him .

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8 . This is the place . I fell off my bike here .

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9. The people I work with are the reason . That’s why I stay in the job .

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10 . That terrible night in December changed my life forever . I found out then what had been going on .

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Relative Clauses After ‘all , etc.

- All , anyone / anything , everyone / everything , the only thing , the best (and other superlatives) + a defining clause

Examples

All that happened was that they had a little argument . Subject relative clause

All (that) I need to do now is to buy my ticket . Object relative clause

Everyone who came to the party really enjoyed it . Subject relative clause

Everyone (who / that)  I met said they were enjoying themselves . Object relative clause

- After everyone / anyone we can use who or that in both subject and object relative clauses .

 - a few , several , some , many , much , most , all , none , either / neither , half , a number , the biggest (and other superlatives) + of whom / which in a non-defining relative clause .

Examples

My two cousins , neither of whom I have seen for ten years , are coming to visit next week .

Her old letters , some of which have now been lost , make very interesting reading .

Put the following into one sentence using a relative clause .

Examples

1 . You shouldn’t listen to anything . He says it .

You shouldn’t listen to anything (that) he says .

2 . It was nice to see all his family . I have met most of them before .

It was nice to see all his family , most of whom I have met before .

3 . The worst thing is that we’ll miss the train . This can happen .

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4 . I’ve read both the reports . I agree with neither of them .

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5 . The only thing is to get some cash out of the bank . I need to do it .

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6 . The cleaners have decided to take industrial action . Several of them have complained tome about their low pay .

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7 . Everything has been a failure . I’ve done it .

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8 . I’ve lost any optimism of the future . I once had optimism .

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9 . Members of the committee have decided to call for an investigation . Many of them are themselves suspected of corruption .

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10 . The only thing is to give her the chance to talk about it . I can do that .

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11 . Everyone said that Hashim started it . They saw the argument .

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12 . Those chocolates were not meant to be for me . I’ve already eaten half of them .

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13 . The management team are all saying the same thing . I trust none of them .

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14 . The cheapest was about $50 , I saw it .

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15 . Her brothers have set up in business together . The youngest one is a friend of mine .

Coordinating Relative Clauses

In a coordinating relative clause , which refers back to a whole sentence .

Example

He has decided to see the doctor about it , which is a good idea . Which refers back tohim seeing the doctor about it .

Coordinating relative clauses are always non-defining .

Write sentences with a coordinating relative clause . Use the following sentences to make relative clauses and combine them with the statements below .

It will be an interesting experience for him .

That’s just what she needs after all her problems .

He should have done that a long time ago .

It is very worrying .

It will be a great help to him .

It was a complete surprise .

It is a terrible accusation to make .

That will give him more time to spend with his friend .

That’s why I don’t go out very much .

It’s a good shame .

Example

1 . She’s going to have to sell the business .

She’s going to have to sell the business , which is a great shame .

2 . The weather’s very cold at this time of year .

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3 . He’s decided to go and teach abroad .

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4 . They say he’s been stealing money from the company .

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5 . She’s going to have a month off work .

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6 . He’s going to give up his evening job .

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7 . The editor has finally agreed to print an apology .

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8 . She suddenly appeared on the doorstep last night .

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9 . A few people have been attacked in this area recently .

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10 .He’s going to have an electric wheelchair soon .

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Grammar Practice Exercises [ 31 ] , Upper Intermediate

31 - ] Grammar Practice Exercises

Upper Intermediate

Non-Defining Relative Clauses .

1 - ] Rewrite the sentences making the second sentence into a non-defining relative clause and putting it into the correct place .

Example

1 . When I was in town , I met your sister . She was shopping for some clothes .

When I was in town , I met your sister , who was shopping for some clothes .

2 . Their house needs a lot of work doing to it . It is near the beach .

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3 . Samia’s just got a new job with Big Insurers . It’s a much better company than the lat one she worked for .

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4 . The new manager seems to be a very capable man . I met him last week .

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5 . This case is full of books . I carried it all the way from the station .

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6 . The company has just gone bankrupt . We have done business with them for many years.

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7 . The hospital has handed out redundancy notices to all its staff . It is due to close down this year .

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8 . The prisoners are requesting more time out of their cells . Their families are campaigning on their behalf .

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9 . The new government is now facing major problems . It came to power with a lot of public support .

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10 . Her latest novel is really good . I read it on holiday .

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11 . The Home Affairs Minister is suspected of being involved in a financial scandal . The opposition have accused the minister of lying .

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12 . The Education Department is changing its policy in single sex schools . Mrs. Nasser is in charge of the department .

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13 . The Grand department store has made reductions on most of its goods . The store has a sale on at the moment .

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------14 . The principal actor could hardly speak last night due to a sore throat . He normally has a wonderful voice .

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15 . The sales manager is planning a new advertising campaign . I support his ideas .

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2 - ] Use the following sentences to make non-defining relative clauses . Insert an appropriate clause into each of the sentences .

Her books are read all over the world.

It was very crowded .

We love to walk round them .

It is very powerful .

He is staying in a nursing home .

I like her very much .

He is staying in his holiday home in Alexandria at the moment .

Her parents believed it .

She came over to apologize to us .

I always attend her lectures .

Example

1 . This new drug could have bad side effects .

This new drug , which is very powerful , could have bad side effects .

2 . Her father is said to be dying of cancer .

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3 . The Prime Minister said that he was very saddened by the news of the air crash .

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4 . The story she gave was that she had not realized how late it was .

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5 . Agatha Christie was a very prolific writer .

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6 . The sub-tropical gardens are open all year round .

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7 . The manager of the restaurant said that he was very sorry about the undercooked fish.

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8 . Our professor of psychology has written some very interesting books .

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9 . We packed a picnic and walked down to the beach .

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10 . Next Saturday . I’m going to visit my aunt .

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Defining and Non-Defining Relative Clauses .

Underline the relative clauses in the following article about ‘Poetry And The War’

Example

        One of the most extraordinary things about the First World War was the enthusiasm with which the majority of soldiers went off to fight for their country . Those young , patriotic men , who rushed to the enlistment centers , had no idea what lay ahead of them . They did not know that they would live for months in holes they had dug in the mud . They did not know what it would be like to watch a friend who had been horribly injured die a painful death . And so they were excited , even thrilled , about the prospect of going to war.  

       This was the first war in which the image-makers made an impact . There were posters which asked women to encourage their men to go to war : ‘If he does not think that you and your country are worth fighting for - do you think he is WORTHY of you ?’

         The mood which seized the country was one of patriotic and heroic struggle . At the same time , it was generally believed that it would all be over in a few months .

          The war fever which gripped the nation stirred up the emotions of everyone and there was a huge growth in the writing of poetry . At first the poems were proud and optimistic : ‘Now in they splendor go before us Spirit of England ‘ , but as the war dragged on , the writers of poetry became angry at the myths they had been told . They wanted people to know about the horrible reality of war , which brutalized the people who took part .

              One writer who put these feelings into words very effectively was Wilfrid Owen , who , in the poem Anthem for  Doomed Youth , wrote ‘What passing bells for these who die as cattle ?’ The poetry of Wilfrid Owen , Siegfried Sassoon , Robert Graves and others , which described the horrific reality of war , also questioned its morality . Many of the poets were wealthy , privileged men who had not at first been anti-war , but whose attitudes were changed by what they saw .  

Grammar Practice Exercises [ 30 ] Upper Intermediate

30 - ]Grammar Practice Exercises

Upper Intermediate

17 - ] Defining Relative Clauses

1 - ] Underline the ten defining relative clauses in the dialogue . Then circle the relative pronoun in each one and indicate whether it is a subject (S) or object (O) pronoun .

Hamed and Waleed , private detectives , are discussing a murder .

Example

W : So who was the one (who)  killed Mr. Mansour ? (S)

H : Can’t you guess ?

W : Well , I think it was probably the woman who was staying in the room next door to him .

H : No , Waleed , of course it wasn’t . She only wanted the money he owed her . She won’t get that now that he’s dead .

W : Oh yes . I hadn’t thought about that . So was it Mr. Gamal , the man who always shared their table in the evenings ?

H : No , Waleed . It’s true that he loved Mrs. Mansour but he knew that she didn’t love him . And he probably believed that she could never fall in love with a man who had murdered her husband. 

W : I suppose that’s true . So who was it then ? The son ? Do you think that he wanted to have the money that would be due to him from his father’s life insurance policy .

H : Well no , because he knew that the insurance policy would be invalid if his father died suspiciously . And apart from that , I think that in a way he loved his father . The one he hates is Mr. Bassem , the man his mother is in love with .

W : So who did kill Mr. Mansour .

H : Well , I feel quite sure now that it was Mrs. Mansour .

W : Mrs. Mansour !

H : Yes . She had never loved the man she had married . What she loved was all the money he had . Then Mr. Bassem came along . He had money too and she loved him . But she had to get Mr. Mansour out of the way .

2 - ] Join the two sentences together , making the second sentence a defining relative clause . Use The relative pronoun that is most commonly used or no pronoun at all where this is possible .

Example

1 . She’s the one . I told you about her .

She’s the one I told you about .

2 . I don’t like the people . They are staying with the Browns .

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3 . I like books . They make you think about things .

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4 . I’m looking for the person . I’ve just hit their car .

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5 . Most of the books are still popular today . I read them as a child .

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6 . You can buy the pasta from the Italian shop . It has just opened in the high street .

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7 . The woman is coming back to work soon . I’m doing her job .,

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8 . Is she the new television presenter ? Everyone’s talking about her .

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9 . People often have very little money to spend on leisure . They have a lot of leisure time .

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10 . Is High-tech  the company ? Sarah works for them .

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11 . This is the job . I’ve always wanted it .

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12 . The swimming pool is only open to the public in the mornings . I use it .

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13 . We’ve just bought a computer package . It teaches you how to play the piano .

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14 . My favorite holiday was that one . We spent it in a cottage in the mountains .

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15 . We haven’t seen the friends for ten years . They are coming to visit us this weekend .

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