Grammar & Use of English
1. Complete: I ___ (know) Maria for six years.
Answer
have known
2. Choose: When I arrived, they had finished / have finished dinner.
Answer
had finished
3. Rewrite with
used to: I lived near the sea when I was a child.
Answer
I used to live near the sea when I was a child.
4. Complete: If I ___ more time, I would learn German.
Answer
had
5. Complete: If we leave now, we ___ the train.
Answer
will catch
6. Rewrite in the passive: They opened the bridge in 2018.
Answer
The bridge was opened in 2018.
7. Report: “I can't come tonight,” she said.
Answer
She said (that) she couldn't come that night.
8. Join: I met a woman. Her son works with me.
Answer
I met a woman whose son works with me.
9. Choose: He suggested to take / taking a taxi.
Answer
taking
10. Complete: She apologised ___ being late.
Answer
for
11. Choose: You mustn't / don't have to pay; admission is free.
Answer
don't have to
12. Deduction: The lights are off and the car is gone. They ___ be at home.
Answer
can't
13. Complete: I wish I ___ more confident.
Answer
were / was
14. Complete: You ___ have told me earlier; now it's too late.
Answer
should
15. Rewrite: People believe the company is expanding rapidly.
Answer
The company is believed to be expanding rapidly.
16. Choose: Despite / Although the rain, we continued walking.
Answer
Despite
17. Correct: The information are very useful.
Answer
The information is very useful.
18. Correct: I am interested to learn more.
Answer
I am interested in learning more.
19. Complete with a linker: The plan is expensive; ___, it may save money long-term.
Answer
however / nevertheless
20. Collocation: make / do a decision.
Answer
make a decision
Reading practice
Text: A company introduced flexible hours to reduce commuting stress. Staff satisfaction increased, but managers initially worried about coordination. After three months, teams that used shared calendars and short daily updates reported fewer scheduling problems than before.
Questions: What was the original purpose? What concern did managers have? What reduced the problem?
Answers
Reduce commuting stress; coordination; shared calendars and short daily updates.
Writing
B1: Write 160 words describing a change that improved your daily life.
B2: Write 220–260 words discussing whether flexible working benefits employees and employers equally.
Speaking
B1: Tell a two-minute story about an unexpected problem.
B2: Compare learning independently with learning in a group and evaluate when each is more effective.
Source note
All questions, texts, prompts and answer explanations are original Corrigan School material. They are designed to practise CEFR-level language functions without reproducing copyrighted coursebook or exam content.
