Grammar & Vocabulary

We have been revising the basics of grammar as it is the beginning of the school year and what better time to focus on the foundation of language than now?

I am posting some links here for some fun practice. Hope you enjoy doing them.

Tenses:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1618_gramchallenge33/page2.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1618_gramchallenge33/page3.shtml

This link shows you a tense chart which helps explain the tenses:- 
http://www.grammarbank.com/verb-tenses.html


Here's a passage for practice:-

COFFEE !

Read the following passage carefully. Fill in each blank with the correct form of the verb in the bracket.

Coffee is a beverage ___1___ ( drink ) by many past generations of people. What most people do not realize is that coffee is ___2___ ( make ) from beans ___3___ ( pick ) from trees.

Coffee trees ___4___ ( grow ) either from seeds or cuttings. These trees will begin to ___5___ ( bear ) crops when they are about four years old.
Workers on coffee plantations have to pick the beans by hand. After the beans ___6___ ( gather ), they are ___7___ ( roast ) at high temperatures. This process ___8___ ( give ) them their fragrance.
The best coffee is made from freshly ___9___ ( grind ) beans. There are many different ways of ___10___ (prepare)  coffee. Coffee can be served either with or without milk.

Get the original passage and answers at:-

  http://www.englishdaily626.com/verbs.php?065

Reported speech:-

http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-exercise-reported-speech.php#.U1Cbp_mSyQ4

Reported questions:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/820_gramchallenge44/page2.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/820_gramchallenge44/page3.shtml

TRY THIS!

Vocabulary (source: bbc.co.uk)

What are phrasal verbs?

Phrasal verbs are very common in spoken and written English. So we need them to understand and speak English naturally.
It's the combination of a verb + a particle (preposition or adverb) resulting in a new word. The new unit is different from the two separate words. 

Examples: 

1. She brought (verb) up (preposition) the matter of the praise for my invention again!

2. They say it isn't easy to bring up children these days.

3. Maybe if you talk it over things would settle down.

Here's a simple list of phrasal verbs for students if you are interested.

Some practice:-

Think of phrasal verbs that have the same meaning as the words in bold. Write your answers in the spaces. 
1. seeing my dad off      2. touches down   3. looking around   .4 checked in  5. coming back  6. checked out of 

  1. I was browsing in the bookshop when I saw my long-lost friend, Bertie. ________________ 

 2. I hate saying goodbye to my Dad when he goes off to work. He’s in the ________________  navy and sometimes I don’t see him for months. 
  
3. I left the hotel in disgust when I saw a rat in my bedroom. ________________   

4. My husband is returning home tomorrow after a six-month business trip! ________________ 
   
5. My plane lands at 2.30, so could you meet me in the airport at 3.00? ________________ 

 6. As I handed over my ticket and luggage, my fear of flying began to grow. ________________

Here are some links for some phrasal verbs and vocabulary quizzes :-
http://www.grammarbank.com/phrasal-verbs-quizzes.html

http://www.grammarbank.com/vocabulary-quiz.html


Prepositions:
A link to a prepositions quiz:-
http://www.grammarbank.com/prepositions-quiz.html

Reading Comprehension:-

On the same site, here's a link to a host of reading passages which have multiple choice answers.

http://www.grammarbank.com/reading-comprehension-worksheets.html

Do the exercise at leisure and not all at once. The aim is to give you access to resources that will aid your understanding of the concepts and give you ample practice.