English Language Practice: Grammar & Vocabulary Drills
1. Vocabulary and Time Expressions
Complete the sentences with appropriate words, focusing on time-related vocabulary.
- The train was due to arrive at 7:10, but it’s been delayed by 20 minutes.
- The ceremony will start at 5:00 p.m. sharp, so please make sure to be on time.
- There is no deadline for this assignment. You can relax and take your time.
- They said the meeting would be brief, but it seemed to drag on for.
2. Dialogue Completion
Complete the dialogue by filling in each gap with a single word.
- off
- stood
- drives
- on
- short
- no
3. Mini-Dialogue Completion
Complete the mini-dialogues using the words provided below.
Word Bank:
- deal
- full-time
- hard-working
- praises
- overtime
- staff
- internship
- hired
- fired
- undergraduate
Completed Dialogues:
- undergraduate
- hired
- internship
- full-time
- staff
- hard-working
- praises
4. Sentence Transformation Exercises
Rewrite the following sentences without changing the original meaning.
Passive Voice & Impersonal Constructions
Original: Many fans think she is a positive role model.
Transformed: It / She is thought to be a positive role model by many fans.
Original: We are sending our friends in Canada some Christmas cards.
Transformed: Our friends in Canada are being sent some Christmas cards by us.
Original: People say that Helen may become the new manager of the company.
Transformed: Helen is said to become the new manager of the company.
Original: The organizers gave us special tickets for the backstage access.
Transformed: We were given special tickets for the backstage access by the organizers.
Original: The mechanic is repairing my car at the garage.
Transformed: My car is being repaired at the garage by the mechanic.
Original: Has the dentist examined your broken tooth?
Transformed: Have you had your broken tooth examined by the dentist?
Modal Verbs & Certainty
Original: Maybe the meeting hasn’t finished yet.
Transformed: The meeting may not have finished yet.
Original: It’s impossible that she saw us.
Transformed: She can’t have seen us.
Original: I’m sure Sue hasn’t left the house as her car is still here.
Transformed: She can’t have left the house as her car is still here.
Reported Speech
Original: “Why didn’t you come to my party last week?”
Transformed: My friend asked me why I hadn’t come to her party the week before.
Original: “Don’t drive so fast. The road is quite slippery.”
Transformed: My father warned me not to drive so fast because the road was quite slippery.
Original: “When did the event take place?”
Transformed: The police wanted to know when the event had taken place.
Original: “Where is the toilet?”
Transformed: The new employee asked where the toilet was.
Conditional Sentences
Original: They didn’t buy the car because they didn’t have enough money.
Transformed: If they had had enough money, they would have bought the car.
Original: When we warm water at 100°C, it boils.
Transformed: If we warm water at 100°C, it boils.
Original: I won’t be able to attend the conference because I have an appointment with the doctor.
Transformed: If I didn’t have an appointment with the doctor, I would be able to attend the conference.
Relative Clauses
Original: K. Arguiñano is a famous chef. His son is also a good cook.
Transformed: K. Arguiñano, whose son is also a good cook, is a famous chef.
Original: Shall we meet at the café where we used to go when we were at university?
Transformed: Shall we meet at the café where we used to go when we were at university?
Wishes & Regrets
Original: I went to the concert, and I regret it. I have a terrible headache.
Transformed: I wish I hadn’t gone to the concert. I have a terrible headache now.
Time Expressions
Original: The last time I saw Mike was a year ago.
Transformed: I haven’t seen Mike for a year.