GRAMMAR 29 VERB/ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION
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.
Brothers and sisters
When I was young I had argued with my
brothers and sisters all the time. I used to
share with most of my toys with my brother,
but he specialised in to keeping them for
himself. When I asked about him for anything
he simply used to refuse to give it to me, and
then I became and very angry with him. Our
sisters blamed for everything on us when our
parents accused us of quarrelling all the time.
My brother and I got up annoyed about this,
but only succeeded them in making matters
worse. Our parents didn't approve of our
quarrelling so much, and insisted us on
not taking sides. They either laughed about
it, or told us to forgive and each other for
everything. Soon we became ashamed of
quarrelling, and became good at last getting
on well with each other.
175
Key points 1 Check verbs and adjectives in a dictionary to be certain which prepositions
follow them.
2 In some cases different prepositions give different meanings.
3 Note the difference between used to (see Grammar 1) and be used to.
I used to go to the beach every weekend when I was a child.
This is a habit in the past which is no longer true. To is part of the infinitive to
go in this sentence.

I am not used to getting up so early in the morning.
If you are used to something you have done it many times so that it no longer
seems surprising or difficult. In this case to is a preposition, and getting up is the
noun form of the verb (gerund).
Put one suitable word in each space.
Parents and children
I was reading an article last week in which the writer describes how her children
had changed as they (1) grew up. When they were small, she had to
(2) up with noisy games in the house, or (3) in
their interminable games of football in the garden which (4) her
out. If the house went quiet, she wondered what the monsters were
(5) up to, or what crisis she would have to (6) with
next. She dreaded the fact that they might (7) after her husband,
who admitted having been an uncontrollable child who (8) most
of the time (9) off to his friends by breaking things or
(10) into fights. What was worse was that everyone else thought
he was a sweet child, and he (11) away with terrible things!
However, she had experienced an even greater shock with her children. They
had (12) out of all their naughty behaviour, and
(13) up serious hobbies such as chess and playing the piano. They
never did anything without (14) it over first, and coming to a
serious decision. She had to (15) up to the fact that they made
her feel rather childish, and that in some ways she preferred them when they
were young and noisy!
2 Complete each sentence with an expression with get.
a) When are you going to get round. to writing to the bank?
b) I'm afraid I don't very well with my teacher.
c) I don't understand what you are What do you mean?
d) How are you feeling? Have you your cold yet?
e) Jim chased the burglar, but unfortunately the burglar

3 Complete each sentence with an expression with come.
a) Has the new book of tests come out. yet?
b) It's a difficult situation and we haven't a solution yet.
c) I these old photographs in my desk yesterday.
d) Julie became rich when she a fortune.
e) I'm afraid we've a lot of problems in this project.
GRAMMAR 30 CONSOLIDATION 6
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) I wish I could work in the evenings as I used to.
miss
I miss working in the evenings.
b) If I take the job, I'll have to move to London.
mean
Taking the job 7: London.
c) Neil wishes he hadn't sold his car.
having
Neil car.
d) Please see that you post all the letters.
to
Please don't all the letters.
e) Sheila has decided to take driving lessons.
how
Sheila has decided drive.
f) Jim said he hadn't stolen the jewels.
stealing
Jim the jewels.
g) How about going to the theatre tonight?
like

Would the theatre tonight?
h) Peter will look after the children - he has no objection.
looking
Peter doesn't children.
i) 'I'll definitely be here by eight,' Ann promised.
would
Ann by eight.
j) We first met in 1978. Do you remember?
our
Do you remember 1978?
177
FIRST CERTIFICATE LANGUAGE PRACTICE
5 Decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each space.
/ don't believe in ghosts!
Last year I stayed for a few days in an old house in Scotland which was famous
(1) B its ghost. I don't really believe (2) ghosts, so I'm
not afraid (3) them of course. So when my hosts suggested
(4) up all night to see their ghost, I simply laughed
(5) them. Then they told me (6) the woman who
haunted their house. She had been accused (7) murdering her
husband in the eighteenth century because she had been jealous
(8) him, but she had avoided (9) tried, and had
disappeared. She appeared quite regularly, walking through the house as if she
was searching (10) something. I agreed to watch that night,
although it would (11) sitting for hours in the cold. I expected
one of my friends to appear dressed (12) the ghost, and so when
the figure of a woman finally came (13) me, I (14)
to be terrified. You can imagine my surprise when the figure took a knife from
her dress, and then vanished. I decided to disappear myself, and drove home to
London as (15) as I could.

1) A with B for C from D as
2)
A for B to
C at D in
3)
A with B for C of D by
4)
A waking B getting
C staying D coming
5)
A at B with C about D to
6)
A for B that C with D about
7)
A that B of C for D while
8)
A
ot
B by C to D or
9)
A and
B being
C but D having
10) A like
B after C with D for
11) A mean B be
C have D uncomfortable
12)
A with B for C as D in
13) A about B towards

C round D through
14) A wanted B imagined C pretended D supposed
15) A quickly
B then
C well
D though
178
GRAMMAR 30 CONSOLIDATION 6
6 Put one suitable word in each space.
a) Don't go so fast! I can hardly keep. up with you.
b) Don't be such a coward! up for yourself!
c) Please don't let me down. I'm on you.
d) We don't know who started the fire, but we're into it.
e) I must go to the dentist's and have my teeth to.
7 Complete each sentence with an expression containing of.
a) Jim's boss didn't think he was capable of working on his own.
b) Mrs White is very animals, and has six cats.
c) I know I shouldn't have stolen the money. I'm myself.
d) It was very you to help me carry my shopping.
e) Georgina is very anyone who dances with her husband.
8 Complete each sentence with an expression containing about
a) I knew I'd really seen a ghost. I was certain about. it!
b) Bill was very missing my birthday party.
c) You were the film. It was awful, just as you said.
d) I always get worried at airports. I feel missing the plane.
e) Poor Lucy has lost her job. She's very it.
9 Complete each sentence with a word ending in -ing.
a) That's all right, I don't mind washing up the dirty dishes.
b) Most people try to avoid up words in the dictionary.
c) Can you imagine up six small children?

d) I was considering up golf, actually.
e) We're rather hard up. It means without a holiday this year.
10 Put one suitable word in each space.
a) Have you ever thought of taking up cycling?
b) Harry had a serious illness, but he has over it now.
c) We have decided to off our holiday until next month.
d) I think that you up the whole story!
e) What are the children : up to in the garden?
f) Everyone says that Chris after his father.
g) You'll never guess who up at the end-of-term party!
h) Please over our offer before you make a decision.
i) After the party, John had to up all the mess.
179
FIRST CERTIFICATE LANGUAGE PRACTICE
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) The minister responsible has promised to investigate the problem.
into
The minister responsible has promised to look into the problem.
b) Sorry, we must end there, as there is no more time.
run
Sorry, we must end there, as time.
c) All passengers are asked to complete this immigration form.
in
All passengers are asked to this immigration form.
d) The war began when the army crossed the border.
out
The war when the army crossed the border.
e) I don't understand what Ann is trying to say in this letter.

at
I don't understand what Ann is in this letter.
f) Your behaviour is intolerable! I won't tolerate it!
for
Your behaviour is intolerable! I it!
g) I always omit the garlic from this recipe.
out
I always the garlic from this recipe.
h) Have you ever discovered a writer called Jack Common?
across
Have you ever a writer called Jack Common?
i) I'll do some of the driving, when you feel like a rest.
over
I'll , when you feel like a rest from driving.
j) I'll do the garden soon, but I just haven't found the time yet.
got
I'll do the garden soon, but I just haven't yet.
181
Explanations
Inversion after In formal speech and writing there is a special construction when the sentence
negative adverbs begins with a negative adverb (or one with negative meaning). The subject and
the verb are inverted from the normal form to a question form. Study the
examples below.
• Not only
Harry not only missed the train, but also lost his case. (normal form)
Not only did Harry miss the train, but (he) also lost his case. (inversion)
• No sooner
With no sooner the main verb is always in the past perfect.
Tim had no sooner left, than the phone rang. (normal form)
No sooner had Tim left, than the phone rang. (inversion)

• Under no circumstances
You shouldn't touch these wires under any circumstances. (normal form)
Under no circumstances should you touch these wires. (inversion)
• Seldom
I have seldom watched a better match. (normal form)
Seldom have I watched a better match. (inversion)
• Other expressions which are followed by an inversion are:
little, never, not once, only then, only after, rarely
Inversion to With some expressions we can begin the sentence with an adverb and then put
emphasize an the verb before the subject.
• With come and go we can start the sentence with an adverb of place. This
construction is used with exclamations. It is an informal usage.
Here comes Jack! There goes my money!
Up went the plane into the clouds! Along the road came Jim.
• With live and stand we can start the sentence with an adverb of place. This is
a formal usage.
In this house lived Charles Dickens.
On a hill outside the town stands the castle.
• With be we can begin the sentence with now.
Now is the best time to visit the Channel Islands.