First conditional worksheet

The first conditional forms are used to talk about situations that are possible in the present or in the future.
Complete the following sentences using appropriate first conditional forms of the verbs given in the brackets.
1. If I have enough money, I ……………………….. (go) on vacation.
2. If she ………………………….. (wash) the clothes, I will dry them.
3. If you achieve your targets, you ………………………….. (get) a promotion.
4. If we …………………………… (not get) his support, we will have to abandon the project.
5. Unless she ………………………….. (be) late, we will start at ten o’clock.
6. If I win the jackpot, I ……………………………. (buy) a mansion in New York.
7. She will not come unless he ………………………….. (invite) her.
8. If Ann ……………………………… (cook) dinner, I will make dessert.
9. If you ask her nicely, she …………………………….. (lend) you her car.
10. If Julie ……………………………. (be not) interested, we will abandon the proposal.
Answers
1. If I have enough money, I will go on vacation.
2. If she washes the clothes, I will dry them.
3. If you achieve your targets, you will get a promotion.
4. If we do not get his support, we will have to abandon the project.
5. Unless she is late, we will start at six o’clock.
6. If I win the jackpot, I will buy a mansion in New York.
7. She will not come unless he invites her.
8. If Ann cooks dinner, I will make dessert.
9. If you ask her nicely, she will lend you her car.
10. If Julie is not interested, we will abandon the proposal.

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Read more »

Formation of questions: grammar worksheet

In a negative question the word not can have two positions. Study the examples given below.
Wasn’t it surprising? (Here not goes after the auxiliary verb. In this case it is usually contracted.)
Was it not surprising? (Here not goes after the subject. In this case it is not contracted.)
Weren’t you upset?
Were you not upset?
Isn’t she beautiful?
Is she not beautiful?
Both forms have the same meaning. However, forms with the contracted not are more common.
Exercise
For each of the sentences given below, write its corresponding negative form. Give both the full and shortened form of not. An example is a given below.
She writes with her left hand.
She does not write with her left hand.
She doesn’t write with her left hand.
1. My brother serves in the army.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
2. He lives in Boston.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
3. This is my grandfather.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
4. I woke up early in the morning.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
5. I like this fragrance.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
6. I liked that movie.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
7. I am working on a new project.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
8. The girls were watering the plants.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
9. Are you coming with us?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
10. Is it raining?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
11. Were they invited?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
12. Have you finished that project?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
13. She has had her breakfast.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
14. Have you met him before?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
15. Have you heard this story before?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Answers
1. My brother does not serve in the army. / My brother doesn’t serve in the army.
2. He does not live in Boston. / He doesn’t live in Boston.
3. This is not my grandfather. / This isn’t my grandfather.
4. I did not wake up early in the morning. / I didn’t wake up early in the morning.
5. I do not like this fragrance. / I don’t like this fragrance.
6. I did not like that movie. / I didn’t like that movie.
7. I am not working on a new project. / I’m not working on a new project.
8. The girls were not watering the plants. / The girls weren’t watering the plants.
9. Are you not coming with us? / Aren’t you coming with us?
10. Is it not raining? / Isn’t it raining?
11. Were they not invited? / Weren’t you invited?
12. Have you not finished that project? / Haven’t you finished that project?
13. She has not had her breakfast. / She hasn’t had her breakfast.
14. Have you not met him before? / Haven’t you met him before?
15. Have you not heard this story before? / Haven’t you heard this story before?

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Read more »

Positive, comparative or superlative (beginner level)

Each sentence given below contains an adjective (or adverb). If the adjective/adverb is in the positive degree, write P against the sentence. If it is in the comparative degree, write C. If the adjective/adverb is in the superlative degree, write S.
1. India is the largest democracy in the world. (………………………..)
2. Susie is my best friend. (………………………..)
3. It is a beautiful flower. (………………………..)
4. Her hands were as cold as ice. (………………………..)
5. She works harder than her husband. (………………………..)
6. Rani is taller than Shyam. (………………………..)
7. Who is the fastest man in the world? (………………………..)
8. Alice is the prettiest girl in my class. (………………………..)
9. She is richer than her neighbors. (………………………..)
10. The nearest airport is two miles from here. (………………………..)
11. Please get here as soon as possible. (………………………..)
12. He is not as successful as his sister. (………………………..)
13. He is just as strong as ever. (………………………..)
14. You ought to rest as much as possible. (………………………..)
15. She didn’t get as many as she had hoped. (………………………..)
Answers
1. Largest – superlative
2. Best – superlative
3. Beautiful – positive
4. Cold – positive
5. Harder – comparative
6. Taller – comparative
7. Fastest – superlative
8. Prettiest – superlative
9. Richer – comparative
10. Nearest – superlative
11. Soon – positive
12. Successful – positive
13. Strong – positive
14. Much – positive
15. Many – positive

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Read more »

Color related idioms

Color-related idioms and expressions are very common in English. Meanings of colors change across cultures. We will discuss some of these expressions here.
In the black
If a business is in the black, it is making money.
Like a red flag to a bull
If a statement or an action is like a red flag to a bull, it makes someone very angry. As you probably know, bulls get angry when you wave a red flag in front of them.
Catch someone red-handed
To catch someone red-handed is to catch them while they are doing something wrong or illegal.
Grey matter
Grey matter refers to your brain cells or intelligence. You will need to use your grey matter to solve tricky problems.
A red carpet treatment
You give somebody a red carpet treatment, when you consider them important.
In black and white
If something is in black and white, it is official or in writing or printing.
During daily conversations, we frequently use terms like green signals, green belt and white collar job. If someone gives you the green signal, they give you the permission to proceed. The term green zone refers to the farmlands surrounding a city or town. White collar jobs are office jobs.
Colors are also used to express your state of mind. When you are green with envy, you are jealous. When you look or feel blue, you look depressed or unhappy.
There are also some other color idioms.
A black sheep is the bad member of a group.
Red tape means bureaucratic delay in getting things done.
A white lie is a harmless lie.
Blue collar is a term used to refer to manual workers.

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Read more »

Expressions with take

Take is one of the most frequently used words in English. Needless to say, nearly fifty expressions in current use incorporate the verb take.
Take something / somebody for granted
There are two meanings for this expression.
To take somebody for granted is to benefit from their help without bothering to acknowledge it.

• Children often take their parents for granted. (= Children benefit from their parents’ help but they do not always acknowledge it.)
• You can’t take her for granted. She has no obligation to help you.

To take something for granted is to assume that it will happen.

• In a democratic system, we take many things for granted.

Take it as it comes
To take things as they come is to deal with them in order.
Take it lying down
To take it lying down is to suffer insult without protesting.

• She is an independent woman. Don’t expect her to take it lying down.

Take it on the chin
To take it on the chin is to boldly accept a difficult or bad situation without complaining.

• Although her latest book was panned by critics, she took it on the chin and started working on the next.

Take it out on someone
To take it out on someone is to give vent to your frustration by being unpleasant to someone.

• If he has a bad day at work, he will take it out on his wife.

Take one’s breath away
If something takes your breath away, it is extremely beautiful.

• Her beauty took his breath away.

Take someone to the cleaners
To take someone to the cleaners is to deprive them of their money or valuables.

• They took me to the cleaners.

Take someone for a ride
To take someone for a ride is to deceive them.

• I lent him $100 without realizing that he was taking me for a ride.

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Read more »

Find the meaning of the idiomatic expressions

Find the meaning of the idiomatic expressions.
1. To catch a Tartar is to

a) catch a dangerous person

b) encounter a person who is too strong for the assailant

c) catch a criminal with great difficulty

d) live carefully and cautiously

2. If something happens out of the blue,

a) it happens when you are not expecting it

b) it happens when you don’t want it to happen

c) it happens when you expect it to happen

d) it never happens

3. To play fast and loose is

a) to be narrow minded

b) to play a good game

c) to act in an unreliable manner

d) to defeat a person

4. To wear one’s heart on one’s sleeves is

a) to show one’s innermost feelings

b) to be most intimate

c) to love passionately

d) to do the right thing

5. To show the white feather is

a) to try to be beautiful

b) to perform a good deed

c) to show courage before the enemy

d) to act like a coward

6. To ruffle someone’s feathers is to

a) annoy or upset them

b) impress them with your performance

c) praise them

d) cheat them

7. If something is right up your street,

a) it is ideal for your skills or interests

b) it is readily available in your street

c) it is suitable for you

d) it is within your reach

8. If something is run-of-the-mill, it is

a) quite ordinary

b) extra ordinary

c) beautiful

d) surprising

Answers
1. b) encounter a person who is too strong for the assailant
2. a) it happens when you are not expecting it
3. c) to act in an unreliable manner
4. a) to show one’s innermost feelings
5. d) to act like a coward
6. a) annoy or upset them
7. a) it is ideal for your skills or interests
8. a) quite ordinary

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Read more »

Using since and for

The words since and for can be used as conjunctions and prepositions. When they are used as conjunctions, they combine two clauses. Note that since is a subordinating conjunction whereas foris a coordinating conjunction.

When they are used as prepositions, they usually indicate time.

Since is used with the starting point of action. For shows duration.
Combine the following sentences using since or for.

1. I saw him last month. I haven’t seen him afterwards.

2. It was a public holiday. Schools and colleges remained closed that day.

3. I like him very much. So I will help him.

4. The table is made of mahogany wood. It is expensive.

5. It is raining. We can’t go out now.

6. It last rained three months ago.

7. I last visited my parents 2 years ago.

8. Something fell. I heard a noise.

Answers

1. I haven’t seen him since last month.

2. Since it was a public holiday, schools and colleges remained closed.

3. Since I like him very much, I will help him.

4. Since the table is made of mahogany wood, it is expensive.

5. Since it is raining, we can’t go out now.

6. It is three months since it rained.

7. It is 2 years since I visited my parents.

8. Something fell for I heard a noise.

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Read more »

Sentence completion exercise

Complete the following sentences.

1. I don’t care ……………….. your opinion.

a) about
b) for
c) of
d) with

2. I’m sorry, I broke the vase – I ………………… help it.

a) couldn’t
b) couldn’t have
c) couldn’t but
d) can’t

3. Who takes ……………….. the sick?

a) care of
b) care about
c) after
d) none of these

4. She is a selfish woman, but you still …………………..  her.

a) can’t help liking
b) can’t help like
c) can’t help but liking
d) help can’t liking

5. I am the happiest man ……………………. the world.

a) of
b) in
c) on
d) at

6. The apartment ………………… I live is very small.

a) where
b) that
c) which
d) were

7. I haven’t bought the ticket. I haven’t ………………….

a) neither
b) either
c) also
d) as well as

8. The books ………………… all over the floor.

a) were laying
b) were lying
c) laid
d) were laid

9. I always have trouble …………………  faces.

a) to remember
b) remembering
c) remember
d) to remembering

10. It …………………. since yesterday morning.

a) has been snowing
b) is snowing
c) was snowing

d) had been snowing

Answers

1. I don’t care about your opinion.

2. I’m sorry, I broke the vase – I couldn’t help it.

3. Who takes care of the sick?

4. She is a selfish woman, but you still can’t help liking her.

5. I am the happiest man in the world.

6. The apartment where I live is very small.

7. I haven’t bought the ticket. I haven’t either.

8. The books were lying all over the floor.

9. I always have trouble remembering faces.

10. It has been snowing since yesterday morning.

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Read more »

Rewrite using would rather

We often use would rather to say that we would prefer another person to do something. Past tenses are used.

Study the example given below.

I would like you to help him.

We can express the same idea using would rather.

I would rather you helped him.

Rewrite the following sentences using would rather.

1. I would like you to go home now.

2. I would prefer to go in December rather than in May.

3. I prefer starting early rather than leaving everything to the last minute.

4. I prefer to walk rather than drive.

5. I want you to stay in a hostel rather than in a hotel.

6. I would like you to find a job.

7. He would face the enemy rather than surrender.

8. They would like to build a new house instead of repairing the old one.

9. We would like you to go bed now.

10. We would like you to do the work yourself.

Answers

1. I would rather you went home now.

2. I would rather go in December than in May.

3. I would rather start early than leave everything to the last minute.

4. I would rather walk than drive.

5. I would rather you stayed in a hostel than in a hotel.

6. I would rather you found a job.

7. He would rather face the enemy than surrender.

8. They would rather build a new house than repair the old one.

9. We would rather you went to bed now.

10. We would rather you did the work yourself.

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Read more »

Because and so

Because is a subordinating conjunction. It shows the cause. So is a coordinating conjunction. It shows the effect.
We can combine two clauses using because and so.
Study the example given below.
Susie didn’t attend the party. She was not invited.
We can combine these two clauses in two different ways.
Susie didn’t attend the party because she was not invited.
Susie was not invited, so she did not attend the party.
Combine the following sentences using because and so.
1. He was lazy. He did not study well.
2. He was busy. I could not talk to him.
3. He was ill. He did not attend school for a week.
4. They took him to hospital. He was sick.
5. The teacher asked him to go out. He misbehaved in the class.
6. It was warm. We left the windows open.

Answers

1. He was lazy so he did not study well. / He did not study well because he was lazy.
2. He was busy so I could not talk to him. / I could not talk to him because he was busy.
3. He was ill so he did not attend school for a week. / He did not attend school for a week because he was ill.
4. They took him to hospital because he was sick. / He was sick so they took him to hospital.
5. The teacher asked him to go out because he misbehaved in the class. / He misbehaved in the class so the teacher asked him to go out.
6. It was warm so we left the windows open. / We left the windows open because it was warm.

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Read more »

Sentence completion exercise

Complete the following sentences.
1. I don’t care ……………….. your opinion.
a) about
b) for
c) of
d) with
2. I’m sorry, I broke the vase – I ………………… help it.
a) couldn’t
b) couldn’t have
c) couldn’t but
d) can’t
3. Who takes ……………….. the sick?
a) care of
b) care about
c) after
d) none of these
4. She is a selfish woman, but you still …………………..  her.
a) can’t help liking
b) can’t help like
c) can’t help but liking
d) help can’t liking
5. I am the happiest man ……………………. the world.
a) of
b) in
c) on
d) at
6. The apartment ………………… I live is very small.
a) where
b) that
c) which
d) were
7. I haven’t bought the ticket. I haven’t ………………….
a) neither
b) either
c) also
d) as well as
8. The books ………………… all over the floor.
a) were laying
b) were lying
c) laid
d) were laid
9. I always have trouble …………………  faces.
a) to remember
b) remembering
c) remember
d) to remembering
10. It …………………. since yesterday morning.
a) has been snowing
b) is snowing
c) was snowing
d) had been snowing
Answers
1. I don’t care about your opinion.
2. I’m sorry, I broke the vase – I couldn’t help it.
3. Who takes care of the sick?
4. She is a selfish woman, but you still can’t help liking her.
5. I am the happiest man in the world.
6. The apartment where I live is very small.
7. I haven’t bought the ticket. I haven’t either.
8. The books were lying all over the floor.
9. I always have trouble remembering faces.
10. It has been snowing since yesterday morning.

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Read more »

Using since and for

The words since and for can be used as conjunctions and prepositions. When they are used as conjunctions, they combine two clauses. Note that since is a subordinating conjunction whereas for is a coordinating conjunction.
When they are used as prepositions, they usually indicate time.
Since is used with the starting point of action. For shows duration.
Combine the following sentences using since or for.
1. I saw him last month. I haven’t seen him afterwards.
2. It was a public holiday. Schools and colleges remained closed that day.
3. I like him very much. So I will help him.
4. The table is made of mahogany wood. It is expensive.
5. It is raining. We can’t go out now.
6. It last rained three months ago.
7. I last visited my parents 2 years ago.
8. Something fell. I heard a noise.

Answers

1. I haven’t seen him since last month.
2. Since it was a public holiday, schools and colleges remained closed.
3. Since I like him very much, I will help him.
4. Since the table is made of mahogany wood, it is expensive.
5. Since it is raining, we can’t go out now.
6. It is three months since it rained.
7. It is 2 years since I visited my parents.
8. Something fell for I heard a noise.

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Read more »

Rewrite using would rather

We often use would rather to say that we would prefer another person to do something. Past tenses are used.
Study the example given below.
I would like you to help him.
We can express the same idea using would rather.
I would rather you helped him.
Rewrite the following sentences using would rather.
1. I would like you to go home now.
2. I would prefer to go in December rather than in May.
3. I prefer starting early rather than leaving everything to the last minute.
4. I prefer to walk rather than drive.
5. I want you to stay in a hostel rather than in a hotel.
6. I would like you to find a job.
7. He would face the enemy rather than surrender.
8. They would like to build a new house instead of repairing the old one.
9. We would like you to go bed now.
10. We would like you to do the work yourself.
Answers
1. I would rather you went home now.
2. I would rather go in December than in May.
3. I would rather start early than leave everything to the last minute.
4. I would rather walk than drive.
5. I would rather you stayed in a hostel than in a hotel.
6. I would rather you found a job.
7. He would rather face the enemy than surrender.
8. They would rather build a new house than repair the old one.
9. We would rather you went to bed now.
10. We would rather you did the work yourself.

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Read more »

Rewrite as directed

Rewrite as directed.
1. There was almost nothing to eat. (Rewrite using hardly)
2. A few boys were playing in the garden. (Start with there)
3. He knocked at the door. He demanded admission. (Combine using the present participle)
4. Would you move a bit, please? (Rewrite using mind)
5. Why don’t you listen to me? (Use ‘ever’ in the appropriate place)
6. It is not necessary for you to work on Sundays. (Rewrite using need)
7. You must seek his permission before using his computer. (Rewrite using had better)
8. Beethoven is one of the greatest composers of music. (Use greater)
9. I like to read books, but I am more interested in watching TV. (Rewrite using prefer)

10. He was in the habit of writing poems when he was a student. (Use ‘used to’) Answers

1. There was hardly anything to eat.
2. There were a few boys playing in the garden.
3. Knocking at the door he demanded admission.
4. Would you mind moving a bit?
5. Why don’t you ever listen to me?
6. You need not work on Sundays.
7. You had better seek his permission before using his computer.
8. Beethoven is greater than most other composers of music.
9. I prefer watching TV to reading books.
10. He used to write poems when he was a student.

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Read more »

Gap fills exercise

Complete the following sentences.
The third great defect of your civilization is that it does not know what to do with its knowledge. Science, …………………. (as / though) we have seen, has given us powers fit ………………….. (for / to) the gods, yet we use them like small children.
For example, we don’t know how to use our machines. Machines were ……………………. (made for being / made to be) man’s servants; …………………….. (yet / though) he has grown so dependent ……………………. (on / of) them that they are in a fair way to become his masters. Most men already …………………….. (spend / spent) most of their lives looking after and waiting ……………………. (after / upon) machines. Machines are stern masters. They have to be fed ……………….. (with / by) coal, and …………………… (gave / given) petrol to drink, and oil to wash with, and they must be kept ………………. (at / on) the right temperature. If they don’t get their meals, they grow sulky and refuse to work, or burst …………………. (of / with) rage and blow up.
Answers
The third great defect of your civilization is that it does not know what to do with its knowledge. Science, as we have seen, has given us powers fit for the gods, yet we use them like small children.
For example, we don’t know how to use our machines. Machines were made to be man’s servants; yet he has grown so dependent on them that they are in a fair way to become his masters. Most men already spend most of their lives looking after and waiting upon machines. Machines are stern masters. They have to be fed with coal, and given petrol to drink, and oil to wash with, and they must be kept at the right temperature. If they don’t get their meals, they grow sulky and refuse to work, or burst with rage and blow up.

Please share this with others if you feel it's helpful.

Read more »