Oxford Practice Grammar With Answers

433 Pages·2008·5.22 MB·English

Second edition

Oxford

Practice

Grammar

with answers John Eastwood

Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press Thanks
Great Clarendon Street, Oxford OX2 6DP
The author and publisher would like to thank:
Oxford New York
Auckland Bangkok Buenos Aires Cape Town Chennai all the teachers in the United Kingdom and Italy who
Dar es Salaam Delhi Hong Kong Istanbul Karachi discussed this book in the early stages of its
Kolkata Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico development;
City Mumbai Nairobi Sao Paulo Shanghai Singapore
Taipei Tokyo Toronto the teachers and students of the following schools
who used and commented on the pilot units of the
with an associated company in Berlin first edition:
The Bell School of Languages, Bowthorpe Hall,
Oxford and Oxford English Norwich
are trade marks of Oxford University Press. The Eckersley School of English, Oxford
Eurocentre, Brighton Eurocentre, London
ISBN 0 19 431369 7 (with answers) Victoria King's School of English,
ISBN 0 19 431427 8 (with answers with CD-ROM) Bournemouth Academia Lacunza -
ISBN 0 19 431370 0 (without answers) International House, San Sebastian, Spain
© Oxford University Press 1992, 1999 the teachers and students of the following schools
who used and commented on the first edition of this
First published 1992 (reprinted nine times) book:
Second edition 1999 Anglo World, Oxford
Tenth impression 2002 Central School of English, London
Printing ref. (last digit): 6 5 4 3 2 1 Linguarama, Birmingham
Thomas Lavelle for his work on the American
No unauthorized photocopying English appendix;
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be Rod Bolitho for his valuable advice on what students
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, need from a grammar book.
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior
written permission of Oxford University Press. The author would also like to thank:
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall Stewart Melluish, David Lott and Helen Ward of
not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired Oxford University Press for their expertise and their
out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher's prior commitment in guiding this project from its earliest
consent in any form of binding or cover other than that stages to the production of this new edition;
in which it is published and without a similar condition
including this condition being imposed on the Sheila Eastwood for all her help and encouragement.
subsequent purchaser.
Illustrated by Richard Coggan Designed by Richard
Morris, Stonesfield Design Typeset by Tradespools
Ltd., Frome, Somerset Printed in China
Introduction

Who is this book for? What's new about this edition?
Oxford Practice Grammar is for students of English There have been many changes in both the content
at a middle or 'intermediate' level. This means and design of the book.
students who are no longer beginners but who are
The number of units has been increased from
not yet expert in English. The book is suitable for
120 to 153. There are more two-page units and
those studying for the Cambridge First Certificate
fewer four-page units.
in English. It can be used by students attending
The 25 tests are a new feature. There is also a
classes or by someone working alone.
Starting test to help students find out what
they need to study.
What does the book consist of?
There are many more dialogues and
The book consists of 153 units, each on a
illustrations on the explanation pages. Many of
grammatical topic. The units cover the main areas
the examples and situations are new.
of English grammar. Special attention is given to
• There are many new exercises and more
those points which are often a problem for learners:
different types of exercise.
the meaning of the different verb forms, the use of
the passive, conditionals, prepositions and so on. The number of appendices has been increased
Many units contrast two or more different from two to six.
structures such as the present perfect and past This new edition features a group of characters
simple (Units 14-15). There are also a number of whose lives are the basis for many of the
review units. The emphasis through the whole situations in both the explanations and the
book is on the meaning and use of the forms in exercises. (But you can still do the units in any
situations. Most units start with a dialogue, or order.)
sometimes a text, which shows how the forms are
used in a realistic context.
How should the book be used?
There are also 25 tests. These come after each
There are various ways of using the book. If you
group of units and cover the area of grammar dealt
know that you have problems with particular
with in those units.
points of grammar, then you can start with the
Each unit consists of an explanation of the
relevant units. The contents list and index will help
grammar point followed by a number of exercises.
you find what you want. Or you can do the Starting
Almost all units cover two pages. The explanations
test (see page viii) and then use the results to decide
are on the left-hand page, and the exercises are on
which parts of the book to concentrate on. Or you
the right-hand page. There are a few four-page
can start at the beginning of the book and work
units, with two pages of explanation and two pages
through to the end, although the grammar topics
of exercises.
are not ordered according to their level of difficulty.
The examples used to illustrate the
When you study a unit, start with the
explanations are mostly in everyday conversational
explanation page and then go on to the exercises.
English, except when the structure is more typical
Often you can study a part of the explanation and
of a formal or written style (e.g. Unit 75B).
then do one of the exercises. The letter after each
There are also appendices on a number of
exercise title, e.g. (A), tells you which part of the
other topics, including word formation, American
explanation the exercise relates to. If you have made
English and irregular verbs.
mistakes in your answers to the exercises, look back
at the explanation.
Key to symbols

What about the tests?
There are 25 tests at intervals through the book. You can do a test after you have
worked through a group of units. At the beginning of each test you are told which
units are being tested.
The tests do two things. Firstly, they enable you to find out how well you have
mastered the grammar. (If you get things wrong, you can go back to the relevant
unit or part of a unit.) Secondly, the tests give you practice in handling exam-type
questions. Many of the test questions are similar to those used in the Cambridge
First Certificate Use of English Paper.
What's the best way to learn grammar?
It is usually more effective to look at examples of English rather than to read
statements about it. The explanations of grammar in this book are descriptions of
how English works; they are a guide to help you understand, not 'rules' to be
memorized. The important thing is the language itself. If you are learning about the
present perfect continuous, for example, it is helpful to memorize a sentence like
We've been waiting here for twenty minutes and to imagine a situation at a bus stop
like the one in Unit 16A. The explanation - that the action happens over a period of
time lasting up to the present - is designed to help towards an understanding of the
grammar point. It is not intended that you should write it down or memorize it.
Active learning will help you more than passive reading, so it is important
to do the exercises and to check your answers.
Another way of actively learning grammar is to write down sentences you see
or hear which contain examples of the grammar you are studying. You may come
across such sentences in English books or newspapers, on television or on the
Internet. You may meet English speakers. For example, someone may ask you How
long have you been living here? Later you could note down this sentence as a useful
example of the present perfect continuous. It is also a good idea to collect examples
with a personal relevance like I've been learning English for three years.
The symbol / (oblique stroke) between two words means that either word is
possible. I may/might go means that / may go and I might go are both possible. In
exercise questions this symbol is also used to separate words or phrases which need
to be used in the answer.
Brackets ( ) around a word or phrase mean that it can be left out. There's (some)
milk in the fridge means that there are two possible sentences: There's some milk in
the fridge and There's milk in the fridge.
The symbol ~ means that there is a change of speaker. In the example How are you?
~ I'm fine, thanks, the two sentences are spoken by different people.
The symbol > means that you can go to another place in the book for more
information. > 7 means that you can find out more in Unit 7.
The symbol ► in an exercise means an example.
Starting test

This test will help you to find out which parts of the book you need to spend most
time on. You don't have to do the whole test at once - you could do numbers 2 to 22
first to test your knowledge of verbs. Choose the correct answer - a), b), c) or d).
Some of the questions are quite difficult, so don't worry if you get them wrong.
This book was written to help you get them right in future!
Words and sentences
1 We gave .............................. a meal.
a) at the visitors b) for the visitors c) the visitors d) to the visitors
Verbs
2 I'm busy at the moment.......................................on the computer.
a) I work b) I'm work c) I'm working d) I working
3 My friend ............................... the answer to the question.
a) is know b) know c) knowing d) knows
4 I think I'll buy these shoes.......................................really well.
a) They fit b) They have fit c) They're fitting d) They were fitting
5 Where................................... the car?
a) did you park b) did you parked c) parked you d) you parked
6 At nine o'clock yesterday morning we .......................for the bus.
a) wait b) waiting c) was waiting d) were waiting
7 When I looked round the door, the baby........ ..........quietly.
a) is sleeping b) slept c) was sleeping d) were sleeping
8 Here's my report...................................... it at last.
a) I finish b) I finished c) I'm finished d) I've finished
9 I've ........ made some coffee. It's in the kitchen.
a) ever b) just c) never d) yet
10 We.....................................to Ireland for our holidays last year.
a) goes b) going c) have gone d) went
11 Robert... ... ill for three weeks. He's still in hospital.
a) had been b) has been c) is d) was
12 My arms are aching now because ........ since two o'clock.
a) I'm swimming b) I swam c) I swim d) I've been swimming
13 I'm very tired. over four hundred miles today.
a) I drive b) I'm driving c) I've been driving d) I've driven
14 When Martin the car, he took it out for a drive.
a) had repaired b) has repaired c) repaired d) was repairing
15 Janet was out of breath because ...
a) she'd been running b) she did run c) she's been running d) she's run
16 Don't worry. I be here to help you.
a) not b) shall c) willn't d) won't
17 Our friends .............meet us at the airport tonight.
a) are b) are going to c) go to d) will be to
18 a party next Saturday. We've sent out the invitations.
a) We had b) We have c) We'll have d) We're having
19 I'll tell Anna all the news when...........................................her.
a) I'll see b) I'm going to see c) I see d) I shall see
20 At this time tomorrow.........................................over the Atlantic.
a) we flying b) we'll be flying c) we'll fly d) we to fly
21 Where's Robert? ............. ......... a shower?
a) Does he have b) Has he c) Has he got d) Is he having
22 I .......................like that coat. It's really nice.
a) am b) do c) very d) yes
Questions, negatives and answers
23 What's the weather like in Canada? How often......................................... there?
a) does it snow b) does it snows c) snow it d) snows it
24 Which team.........................................the game?
a) did it win b) did they win c) won d) won it
25 What did you leave the meeting early ......................................? ~ I didn't feel very well.
a) away b) because c) for d) like
26 Unfortunately the driver..........................................the red light.
a) didn't saw b) didn't see c) no saw d) saw not
27 You haven't eaten your pudding...........................................it?
a) Are you no want b) Do you no want c) Don't want you d) Don't you want
28 I really enjoyed the disco. It was great,...................................... ?
a) is it b) isn't it c) was it d) wasn't it
29 Are we going the right way? ~ I think ........................................
a) indeed b) it c) so d) yes
Modal verbs
30 The chemist's was open, so luckily I...............................................buy some aspirin.
a) can b) can't c) did can d) was able to
31 Susan has to work very hard. I..............................................do her job, I'm sure.
a) can't b) couldn't c) don't d) shouldn't
32 We had a party last night.............................................spend all morning clearing up the mess.
a) I must have b) I've been to c) I've had to d) I've must
33 There was no one else at the box office. I................................................in a queue.
a) didn't need to wait b) mustn't wait c) needn't have waited d) needn't wait
34 ..................I carry that bag for you? ~ Oh, thank you.
a) Do b) Shall c) Will d) Would
Adjectives and adverbs
68 The house was .....................................building.
a) a nice old stone b) a nice stone old c) a stone old nice d) an old nice stone
69 The government is doing nothing to help........................................
a) poor b) the poor c) the poors d) the poor ones
70 The young man seems very........................................
a) sensible b) sensiblely c) sensibley d) sensibly
71 I......................................missed the bus. I was only just in time to catch it.
a) mostly b) near c) nearest d) nearly
72 This detailed map is.....................................the atlas.
a) more useful as b) more useful than c) usefuller as d) usefuller than
73 This place gets......................................crowded with tourists every summer.
a) always more b) crowded and more c) from more to more d) more and more
74 Yes, I have got the report......................................it.
a) I just am reading b) I'm just reading c) I'm reading just d) Just I'm reading
75 I've read this paragraph three times, and I ....................................understand it.
a) can't still b) can't yet c) still can't d) yet can't
76 We're really sorry. We regret what happened........................................
a) a bit b) much c) very d) very much
Prepositions
77 The village is.....................................Sheffield. It's only six miles away.
a) along b) by c) near d) next
78 You can see the details .....................................the computer screen.
a) at b) by c) in d) on
79 I've got a meeting ....................................Thursday afternoon.
a) at b) in c) on d) to
80 We've lived in this flat.....................................five years.
a) ago b) already c) for d) since
81 This car is....................................., if you're interested in buying it.
a) for sale b) in sale c) at sale d) to sell
82 Polly wants to cycle round the world. She's really keen...................................... the idea.
a) about b) for c) on d) with
Verbs with prepositions and adverbs
83 I prefer dogs ....................................cats. I hate cats.
a) from b) over c) than d) to
84 My father used the money he won to set......................................his own company.
a) forward b) on c) out d) up
85 Don't go too fast. I can't keep.....................................you.
a) on to b) on with c) up to d) up with
Reported speech
86 Someone ..........................the tickets are free.
a) said me b) said me that c) told me d) told to me
87 Last week Justin said 'I'll do it tomorrow.' He said he would do it..............................................
a) the following day b) the previous day c) tomorrow d) yesterday
88 I don't know why Nancy didn't go to the meeting. She said she....................................... definitely going.
a) be b) is c) was d) would
89 The librarian asked us .......................................so much noise.
a) don't make b) not make c) not making d) not to make
Relative clauses
90 What's the name of the man..........................................gave us a lift?
a) he b) what c) which d) who
91 What was that notice..........................................?
a) at that you were looking b) you were looking at c) you were looking at it d) which you were
looking
92 Susan is the woman..........................................husband is in hospital.
a) her b) hers the c) whose d) whose the
93 York, ......................................last year, is a nice old city.
a) I visited b) that I visited c) which I visited d) whom I visited
94 The accident was seen by some people..........................................at a bus stop
a) waited b) waiting c) were waiting d) who waiting
Conditionals and wish
95 If ................................my passport, I'll be in trouble.
a) I lose b) I'll lose c) I lost d) I would lose
96 I haven't got a ticket. If ........................................one, I could get in.
a) I'd have b) I had c) I have d) I've got
97 If the bus to the airport hadn't been so late, we ...................................... the plane.
a) caught b) had caught c) would catch d) would have caught
98 If only people .....................................keep sending me bills!
a) don't b) shouldn't c) weren't d) wouldn't
Linking words
99 I just had to take the dog out .................................... of the awful weather.
a) although b) despite c) even though d) in spite
100 Anna put the electric fire on........................................ warm.
a) for getting b) in order get c) so she gets d) to get
1. Word classes: nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc

A Introduction

Look at the different kinds of word in this sentence.
Pronoun Verb Determiner Adjective Noun Preposition Noun Adverb
I have an important conference at work tomorrow,
Linking word Pronoun Verb Adverb Adjective
So I am rather busy.
B What kind of word?
There are eight different kinds of word in English. They are called 'word classes' or 'parts of speech'. Here are
some examples from the conversations in the cafe. The numbers after the examples tell you which units in
the book give you more information. 1 Verb: have, am, is, would, like, come, are, sitting, look 4-75
Noun: conference, work, coffee, party, Saturday, Jessica, friends, corner 76-82
Adjective: important, busy, good, cheap 104-109
Adverb: tomorrow, rather, really, here 113-117
Preposition: at, to, on, in 118-125
Determiner: an, this, our, the 83-97
Pronoun: I, it, you 98-103
Linking word: so, and 150-153
C Words in sentences
Some words can belong to different classes depending on how they are used in a sentence.
VERBS NOUNS
Can I look at your photos? We I like the look of that coat.
work on Saturday morning. I'll be at work tomorrow.