FIRST CERTIFICATE LANGUAGE PRACTICE
4 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use
between two and five words, including the word given.
a) What's your opinion of Roger's new book?
think
What do you think of Roger's new book?
b) Thank you very much for your help.
am
I for your help.
c) May I leave my bag here?
if
Is it leave my bag here?
d) Let's go to the beach tomorrow.
we
Why to the beach tomorrow?
e) I like going sailing more than swimming.
rather
I'd swimming.
f) Could you open a window?
think
Do the window?
g) Is it all right if you take care of the children?
mind
Do care of the children?
h) I recommend going by train.
go
I think you by train.
i) Excuse me, I can't get past you!
in
Excuse me, you way.

j) 'You've passed your driving test, Ron! Well done!' said Carol.
on
Carol congratulated driving test.
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GRAMMAR 19 FUNCTIONS 2
5 Look carefully at each line. Some lines are correct, but some have a word which
should not be there. Tick each correct line. If a line has a word which should not
be there, write the word in the space.
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Key points 1 Our choice of words depends on the situation, our relationship with the person
we are talking to, and what we are talking about.
2 We should respond in an appropriate way, informally or politely, depending on
all the things mentioned in point 1, and also on how the other person speaks to
us first.
3 If we do not use polite forms there is a risk that the other person will think we
are being rude. We may not set the result from the conversation that we want.
Say one thing, mean another
Do you ever get annoyed by people who say one
thing but mean another? For example, they say you,
'That's a very kind of you, I'd love to,' when you
are invite them to the cinema, but really they
are thinking of an excuse so they can avoid you!
People who ask for an advice also annoy me. They
say things like 'What do you think I should do?'
but then they don't listen to what you tell with them.
Sometimes they don't even let you answer, but
answer themselves! This really gets on to my nerves.
Politeness is also a problem. When people ask to you
to open a window, they say 'Excuse me, but it could
you possibly open the window for me?' I prefer to

be more direct. Why shouldn't we just ever say
'Can you to open the window?' or something like that?
I've tried this a few times, but people either look
annoyed, or they don't do it what I ask them to. I
wonder why?
Put one suitable word in each space.
Asking for directions
Have you ever tried asking people for directions? I (1) had to go to
London on business recently, and I soon realised that I (2) have
bought a street map. Whenever I followed the directions of passers-by I got lost.
'You can't (3) it,' they would say. 'Carry straight (4) ,
it's opposite the bank.' After walking for half an hour, I would realise that I
(5) have gone wrong somewhere. '(6) you tell me
where the bank (7) , please?' I would ask someone. I
(8) to have known that this was a mistake. 'Which bank do you
mean? I think you (9) go back to the station ' I now see that I
(10) have taken a taxi. After all, London taxi drivers
(11) to pass a test on their knowledge of its streets. But of course,
whenever I thought of this, I (12) not find a taxi. In the end I
found a solution. I went up to the first tourists I saw and asked if I
(13) look at their tourist map. They turned out to be from Scotland,
and they (14) me very detailed instructions. The only problem was
that I wasn't (15) to understand exactly what they said.
2 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use
between two and five words, including the word given.
a) I'm sorry I broke your keyboard.
apologise
I do apologise for breaking your keyboard.
b) Can you give me directions for the station?

how
Could you tell the station?
c) You must be thirsty, so can I offer you some tea?
like
You must be thirsty, so tea?
d) If I were you, I wouldn't buy a dog.
should
I don't dog.
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GRAMMAR 20 CONSOLIDATION 4
e) I'm sure that Jack hasn't left home yet.
have
Jack home yet.
f) I suppose that this is Trafalgar Square.
be
This Trafalgar Square.
g) Perhaps Jean's plane was delayed.
been
Jean's plane delayed.
h) It was unnecessary for you to come early today.
have
You come early today.
Look carefully at each line. Some of the lines are correct, and some have a word
which should not be there. Tick each correct line. If a line has a word which
should not be there, write the word in the space.
Putting up a friend
Dear Brenda,
Thanks for replying so quickly to my last letter.
You must to have been surprised when you received
a letter from me. I'm glad you will be able

to have put me up when I come to London.
Could you be possibly give me some directions
for your flat? I'm bound to get lost. Do I
have to take a taxi from the station, or is it
near enough to walk? Perhaps if I should buy
a street map of Birmingham when I am arrive. And
is it all right if I can bring my little brother, Tim?
By the way, congratulations on your new job.
You must not be very happy. Do you think that
you made the right decision, though? I think
you should or have gone to university like me.
I'm sure that you would have been enjoyed it. I
have done to study a lot, but with any luck I should
get a good job when I finish. I'd be better post
this letter now.
Best wishes,
Sheila
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FIRST CERTIFICATE LANGUAGE PRACTICE
4 Choose the most suitable expression for each situation.
a) You want to invite someone you have just met to go to the theatre with you.
1) May I go to the theatre?
2) Would you like to come to the theatre?
3) Do you think you should go to the theatre?
b) You are recommending a new restaurant to a friend.
1) You really must try the new Italian restaurant in Green Street.
2) You had better try the new Italian restaurant in Green Street.
3) You would try the new Italian restaurant in Green Street.
c) Your boss suggests that you work overtime on Saturday but you don't want
to.

1) You must be joking!
2) It's nice of you to ask, but I refuse.
3) Sorry, but I have something already arranged.
d) You want to ask the waiter to bring you another drink.
1) I'd like another beer, please.
2) Excuse me, but do you think I could take another beer?
3) You can bring me a beer if you like.
e) You want someone to move out of the way.
1) Look out!
2) Excuse me!
3) Pardon!
f) You greet a friend you haven't seen for a few weeks.
1) Hello Pauline, how do you do?
2) Hello Pauline, what's going on?
3) Hello Pauline, how are you?
g) You are sitting on a bus and want the person in front of you to shut the
window.
1) Could you shut the window, please?
2) May I shut the window, please?
3) Do you want to shut the window, please?
h) You want to know how to get to the station, and you ask a stranger.
1) Tell me, where is the station?
2) Do you mind telling me where the station is?
3) Could you tell me the way to the station, please?
i) You want some advice from a friend.
1) What do you think I should do?
2) Tell me what I must do.
3) What could you do if you were me?
j) You ask your boss for permission to leave work early.
1) Do you mind leaving early?

2) Is it all right if I go now?
3) I'm off now, bye!
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GRAMMAR 20 CONSOLIDATION 4
5 Decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each space.
The lost property office
Recently I read a magazine article about the things (1) C people lose
when they travel on the London Underground. I (2) believe it at
first. (3) you are a violinist, and when you (4) off at
your station, you leave your violin (5) the train. It seems strange
that nobody says, '(6) me, but I think you have forgotten
something.' I suppose the violinist (7) have been thinking of
something else, and there might (8) have been any other
(9) on the train. Still, why didn't the violinist go (10)
the lost property office? All the lost property on the underground system
(11) to be sent to this office, so if you lose anything you
(12) easily get it back. In this case, the violinist must have
(13) very absent minded. Perhaps he or she didn't
(14) to play the violin ever again after this journey. Or perhaps
they were just too embarrassed (15) go to the office.
1)
A who
B whose C that Da
2)
A wasn't B haven't
C shouldn't D couldn't
3)
A If B Suppose
C Why
D Sometimes

4)
A get B go
C fall D are
5)
A at
B for
C on
D by
6)
A Help
B it's C Excuse D Correct
7)
A who
B might
C should D to
8)
A not
B then C often D so
9)
A pedestrians
B customers
C audience
D passengers
10) A in B at
C to D for
11)
A should B must
C needs D has
12)
A can

B can't
C don't
D are
13) A been
B or C had D because
14)
A know B like
C have D used
15)
A and
B to C must D so
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Explanations
• Countable nouns
A countable noun has a singular and a plural form. We can use a singular or
plural verb with it. We can use numbers with it.
Where is my shirt?
Where are my shirts?
a shirt, shirts, some shirts, four shirts
• Uncountable nouns
An uncountable noun has only one form. We can only use a singular verb
with it. We cannot use numbers with it.
Here is some advice for you.
advice, some advice
However, we can count an uncountable noun indirectly by using a phrase
like a piece of, a bit of.
When I left home my mother gave me two useful bits of advice.
I've found out several interesting pieces of information.
A few uncountable nouns end in -s, but they follow the normal rules for
uncountable nouns and have a singular verb.

The news is very bad today.
Billiards is an interesting game.
• Typical uncountable nouns
Substances: water, air, coffee, plastic, iron, paper
Abstract ideas:
life, fun, freedom, health, time, progress
Activities: work, travel, sleep, football, help, research
Human feelings: happiness, anger, honesty, hope, respect, courage
Groups of items: furniture, luggage
Other words are found in the Practice section. Note the words below which
are uncountable in English but countable in many other languages:
accommodation, advice, behaviour, business, cash, equipment, furniture, health,
homework, information, knowledge, luggage, money, permission, rubbish,
scenery, traffic, travel, weather, work
• Uncountable nouns that describe a category
Some uncountable nouns can be used in a countable way when they describe
a category.
Uncountable use: Would you like some fruit after your coffee?
Use as a category: There are two main fruits exported from Madeira, bananas
and pineapples.
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