FIRST C E R T I F I C A T E L A N G U A G E P R A C T I C E

1 Underline the verb forms which are not possible.

a) My car has being stolen.

b) Jack was borned on a Thursday.
c) Then I realised that none of the guests had been sent an invitation.
d) Mary's car is being serviced today.
e) Your order will been sent as soon as possible.
f) The hole in the road was being repaired when I came home.
g) This swimming pool is used by over a thousand people each week.
h) When was this church built?
i) An address is writing on the back of the envelope.
j) Customers are request to ask for a receipt.

2 Underline the most suitable verb for m in each sentence.

a) Their new house hasn't been finished/wasn't finished yet.

b) The robbers were arrested/have been arrested as soon as they left the bank.
c) Sue told us her baby is born/had been born two weeks earlier than expected.
d) If there is too much snow, the match has been cancelled/will be cancelled.
e) By the time we got there, the rain had stopped/had been stopped.
f) When were you told/have you been told about the new rules?
g) Most of the passengers were swimming/were swum easily to the shore.
h) The winning horse was ridden/was riding by Pat Murphy.
i) I looked again for the old man, but he was vanished/had vanished.
j) I don't think that you will be asked/are being asked to show your passport.

3 Put each verb in brackets into a suitable passive form.

a) I'm sorry, madam, but this carpet (already sell) .has already been sold....
b) The old house on the corner (knock down) was knocked down last year.
c) When exactly (John give) was john given his prize?
d) Most people agree that America (not discover) was not discovered by
Christopher Columbus.
e) All complaints about products (deal with) will be dealt with by our
customer services department.
f) Police confirmed that the murder weapon (since discover)
has since been discovered in a nearby lake.
g) It (announce) was announce yesterday that the government has
decided not to raise income tax.
h) Good news! I (ask) have been asked to take over as the new manager.
i) I don't believe that this play (write) was written by Shakespeare.
j) Ann really likes (invite) being invited to dinner parties.

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 GRAMMAR 9 PA SS I VES

4 Rewrite each sentence, putting the verb in italics in the passive where possible.
Do you need to mention the agent?

a) I really like this hotel.

...not possible
b) Jane won the poetry competition.
...The poetry competition was won by Jane.

c) Peter's new car cost over £20,000.

not possible
d) Martin always wears casual clothes.
not possible
e) One of our visitors lost this cigarette lighter.
this cigarette lighter was lost by one of our visitors
f) They haven't decided the exact time of the match yet.
the exact time of the match haven't been decided yet
g) Most of the guests had left the hotel by midday.
not possible
h) Some parents read to their children every night.
some children are read to by their parents every night
i) This bike belongs to my sisters.
not possible
j) People ate most of the food at the party.

most of the food at the party was eaten

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FI RST C E R T I F I C A T E L A N G U A G E P R A C T I C E

5 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given. Do not change the wor d given. You must use
between t w o and five words, including the word given.

a) Last Thursday we appointed a new marketing manager.

was
A new was last Thursday.
b) Smith Ltd are supplying our company with furniture.
supplied
Our company is being supplied with furniture by Smith Ltd.
c) William the Conqueror built the castle in the 11th century.
by
The castle was built by William the
Conqueror in the 11th century.
d) No decision has yet been made.
decided
Nothing has been decided yet.
e) People believe that someone murdered Jenkins.
was
It is believe that jenkins was murdered.
f) Your hair needs cutting.
get
You ought to get your hair cut.
g) The police were following the suspects.
were
The suspects were being followed by the police.
h) No-one has seen Peter since the day of the party.
been
Peter has not been seen since the day of the party.
i) We put up a notice about the trip on the notice board yesterday.
was
A notice about the trip was put up on the notice
board yesterday.
j) People think that an apple a day is good for you.
to
An apple a day is thought to be good for you.

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 GRAMMAR 9 P A SS I V E S

6 Rewrite each sentence so that it contains a form of have something done. Do not
include the agent.

a) A painter painted our house last month.

...We had our house painted last month.
b) The hairdresser is cutting my hair this afternoon.
I am having my hair cut this afternoon
c) Someone has stolen my motorbike.
I have had my motorbike stolen
d) The dentist has taken out all of Ricky's teeth.
ricky has had all his teeth take out
e) I haven't been to the car-wash for a long time.
I haven't had my car wash for a long time
f) The men are coming to put in the new central heating on Saturday.
we are having the new central heating put in on saturday
g) Someone broke Harry's nose in a fight.
Harry had his nose broken in a fight
h) Isn't it time someone fixed your television?
Isn't it time you had your television fixed

7 Rewrite each sentence so that it contains a passive form, and does not contain
the words in italics.

a) Apparently, Freddie has a wife in Scotland.

Freddie is said to have a wife in Scotland.
b) Nobody knows anything about Brenda's family.
Nothing is known about Brenda' family.
c) People think that someone started the fire deliberately.
Fire is thought to have been started deliberately
d) You should ask a doctor to see to that cut.
you should have that cut seen to by a doctor
e) People say that Chris was in the army.
Chris is said to have been in the army
f) My trousers need to be pressed before I leave.
I must have my trousers pressed before I leave
g) No-one has signed this letter.
This is the letter has not been signed
h) Mary's hair still needs cutting.
Mary hasn't had her hair cut yet

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FIRST CERTIFICATE LANGUAGE PRACTICE

8 Look carefully at each line. Some of the lines are correct, and some have a wo r d
which should not be there. Tick each correct line. If a line has a wor d which
should not be there, write the word in the space.

Opening of new Gulliver Sports Centre

The Gulliver Sports Centre, which has been
completely rebuilt, was been reopened yesterday
by the Minister of Sport. The building it was it
originally used to as a market, but was sold to
to Fairdene Council in 1981, and it then converted it
into a sports hall. Local schools were played football were
and basketball indoors, and keep-fit classes were held
there. In 1990 the hall was damaged when by a fire were
which was broke out in the heating system. The hall was
could not be used, and remained empty while discussions
continued about its future. It was then and decided that and
the hall would to be rebuilt, and an appeal for money to
was launched. Two years ago a local businessman offered
to pay for the building work, and plans were drawn up.
The new hall is includes a swimming pool, running track is
and other sports facilities which can be used by anyone
in the Fairdene area. The Minister was made a speech was
in which she congratulated everyone involved.

Key p o i n t s 1 Not all verbs can be made passive. You can check in a dictionary whether the verb
is transitive or intransitive.
2 The agent is only included if this information is needed.
3 Passive forms are often used to give an impersonal view.
4 When we change from passive to active the meaning changes slightly. In
particular, the focus of interest changes. A passive form may be more suitable in
some contexts but unsuitable in others.
5 Passive forms tend to be used more often in writing, especially in scientific and
technical language.

56i
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the wor d given. Do not change the wor d given. You must use
between t wo and five words, including the wo rd given.

a) Please don't open the window.

you
I'd rather you didn't open the window.
b) Fiona wanted to know the time.
what
Fiona wanted to know what the time was.
c) We won't go out if the weather is bad.
won't
We won't go to out unless the weather is good.
d) I would like you to be here!
wish
I wish you were here.
e) Catherine refused to let me go.
couldn't
Catherine said that I couldn't go.
f) If I were you, I'd try to get some sleep.
advise
I advise to try to get some sleep.
g) What a pity we didn't see the match.
wish
I wish we had seen the match.
h) The old man introduced himself.
us
The old man told us his name.
i) David told me the time of the next train.
what
David told me what time the next train left.
j) The police inspector said I had killed Mrs Burns.
of
The police inspector accuse me of killing Mrs Burns.

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FIRST C E R T I F I C A T E L A N G U A G E P R A C T I C E

2 Decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each space.

The stolen bike

One morning last week I realised that my bike (1) B. stolen from my
garden. I phoned the police and two officers called at my house the next day.
They (2) me if I had seen or heard anything. I told
(3) I had been out that evening, and hadn't noticed anything
suspicious when I came home. 'If I had seen anything, I (4) you,' I
replied. 'It was raining hard too. If the weather (5) so bad, I would
have ridden my bike.' The officers told me that lots of people (6)
their bikes stolen lately. 'The thieves (7) to have put the bikes in a
van,' said one of the officers. 'I (8) I had known about that,' I said.
'I saw a black van that evening. In fact, it (9) opposite my house.'
The officers asked me what the van's number (10) , but I couldn't
remember. '(11) you saw the van again, (12) you
recognise it?' one of them asked. 'It (13) painting. I remember
that,' I replied. However, there was a happy ending to this story. After the
officers had left, I (14) by a friend of mine. 'By the way', she said,
'(15) you want your bike, I'll bring it back this afternoon. I
borrowed it a couple of days ago.'

1) A had B had been C had had itself D had not

2) A reminded B questioned C told D asked
3) A them B that C if D later
4) A called B would C had called D would have called
5) A wasn't B wouldn't be C hadn't been D wouldn't have been
6) A had B had had C had to have D hadn't
7) A think B are thought C have thought D are thinking
8) A would B realise C wish D thought
9) A was parked B had parking C is parked D has parked
10) A is B was C had D wrote
11) A If B When C Remember D Suppose
12) A d o B can C would D if
13) A needed B had been C looked like D seemed
14) A called up B was phoned C had a phone call D heard some news
15) A unless B if only C if D as long as

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 G R A M M A R 10 CONSOLIDATION 2

3 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the wor d given. Do not change the wo rd given. You must use
between t wo and five words, including the wo rd given.

a) Excuse me, is somebody serving you, sir?

being
Excuse me, are you being served.............................., sir?
b) I think we should go home.
went
It's time we went home.
c) The painters painted our house last mo nth .
had
We had our home painted last month.
d) It's a pity that Charles always complains so much.
wouldn't
I wish charles wouldn't complain so much.
e) Someone will meet you at the airport.
be
You will be met at the airport.
f) People think that train-robber Dave Briggs has escaped.
have
Train-robber Dave Briggs is thought to have escaped.
g) 'Don't forget to buy some bread, Mum,' said Pauline.
reminded
Pauline reminded her mother to buy some bread.
h) Have you received your salary yet?
been
Have you been paid yet?
i) I think I'll manage to finish the letters by 4.00.
get
I think I'll get the letters finished by 4.00.
j) My parents made me study every night.
was
I was made to study every night by my parents.

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FI RST C E R T I F I C A T E L A N G U A G E P R A C T I C E

4 Put each verb in brackets into a suitable verb f or m.

A friend in the rain

Last week I (1) ...was walking.. (walk) home after playing tennis when it
(2) started (start) raining very heavily. 'Oh no, I (3) will get
(get) soaked before I (4) reach (reach) home,' I thought. 'I wish I
(5)had remembered(remember) to bring my raincoat.' But unfortunately I
(6) had left (leave) it at home. How stupid of me! I (7) am always forgetting
(always forget) to bring it with me. Luckily just then a friend of mine passed in
her car and offered me a lift. '(8) Are you going (you go) home?' she asked,
'or (9) Do you want (you want) to go for a drink?' 'I think I'd rather you
(10) took (take) me home,' I said. 'If I (11) don't charge (not
change) my clothes, I know I (12) will fall (fall) ill, and then I
(13) will not be able (not be able) to play in the tennis tournament next week.
And I (14)have been practissing (practise) hard for the last month.' 'I
(15) will wait (wait) for you to change if you (16) like
(like),' she told me. 'I think it's time you (17) relaxed (relax) for a
change. You (18) (worry) too much about things lately. And
people who (19)have been worrying (worry) too much (20) fall (fall)
ill more easily. It's got nothing to do with the rain!'

5 Put each verb in brackets into a suitable verb form.

The facts about sugar

Packet sugar from the supermarket (1) ...is extracted.... (extract) from either
sugar cane or sugar beet. These products (2) are mixed (mix) with hot
water, which (3) dissolves (dissolve) their natural sugar. Sugar
(4) is also found (also find) in fruit some of which, such as dates and grapes,
(5) contain (contain) very high amounts of sugar. To be a little more
specific, sugar should (6) be called (call) sucrose. Sucrose
(7) is made up (make up) of two substances: glucose, which
(8) is used (use) for instant energy, and fructose, which
(9) lasts (last) longer as a source of energy. The sugar in fruit is
mainly fructose. So when we (10) eat (eat) fruit, we
(11) also eat (also eat) quite large amounts of natural sugar. Some
scientists (12) believe (believe) that too much sugar
(13) is eaten (eat) in sweets, cake and biscuits. It (14) is said
(say) to be generally bad for the health, although nothing (15) has been proved
(definitely prove) so far. However, it (16) is known (known) that sugar
(17) causes (cause) tooth decay. As one expert put it: 'If other foods
(18) damaged (damage) our body as much as sugar (19) damages
(damage) our teeth, they (20)would be banned(ban) immediately'
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 G R A M M A R 10 CONSOLIDATION 2

6 Look carefully at each line. Some of the lines are correct, and some have a wo r d
which should not be there. Tick each correct line. If a line has a wo r d which
should not be there, write the word in the space.

A holiday in Scotland
Some friends of mine decided to go on holiday
to Scotland. They asked me if I was wanted to go
too, but I had already arranged to go to Italy.
I told them so that I had been to Scotland before, so
so they asked me to give them some ideas.
I advised them to take up warm clothes and up
raincoats. 'If I were like you, I'd always carry like
umbrellas!' I told them. 'I doubt that whether
you'll have any sunny days.' I didn't see days
them again until was after their holiday. They was
were all very sun-tanned, and they told to me to
that they had had very hot weather.
'If we had been taken your advice, we would
have made a terrible mistake,' they said me. me
'Luckily we were told us before we us
left that it was very hot in Scotland.
It is said to they have been the hottest summer ever! to

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