Grammar: Past Simple Passive

1: Work it Out
Do you know when to use the passive and when to use the active? Do you know how the
passive is formed in the past tense? Look at these sentences. Can you work out the rules?
JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter.
'Harry Potter' was written in English.
Picasso painted in many different styles.
'Guernica' was painted by Picasso in 1937
The man who stole the car has been arrested.
My camera was stolen while I was on holiday.
They built their own house with the help of some friends.
The house was built during the 19th Century.
Now try the quiz below to check your ideas.

2: Check Active or Passive

Answer the following questions below to check your understanding of active and passive:
1) I decorated the living room last year.
2) Ben wrote to the council about the noisy neighbours.
3) The furniture was bought at a local market.
4) The Internet was invented during the 1950's
5) The police were called just after midnight.
6) I took the exam last year.

3: Sentence Transformation Practice

For each question, complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first.
Use no more than three words.
A) They designed the area to appeal to young people.
The area __________________ to appeal to young people.
B) The company exported their products all over the world.
The company's products ___________________ all over the world.

C) Shakespeare wrote Hamlet around 1600.

Hamlet ______________________ Shakespeare around 1600.
D) Scientists found large amounts of chemicals in the river.
Large amounts of chemicals _________________________ in the river.
E) The police closed the road to deal with the accident.
The road ____________________ the police so they could deal with the accident.
F) The Director of Studies gave the parents a tour of the school.
The parents ____________________ a tour of the school by the Director of Studies.

Grammar: For and Since

1: Work it Out
We use 'for' and 'since' to talk about the passing of time but do you know the difference
between them?
Look at these sentences. Pay attention to the words in bold and try to work out when we
use 'for' and when we use 'since'.
I studied Spanish for 3 years.
We've lived here since we got married.
I haven't seen Steve since last summer.
Now try the quiz below to check your ideas.

2: Spot the Difference

Complete each of the following sentences using 'for' or 'since':
A) He hasn't played well ______________ a few weeks now.
B) It hasn't stopped raining____________________ we left the house.
C) I've been interested in gardening __________________ I was a child.
D) The car hasn't been working properly ___________________ some time.
E) Steve hasn't smoked _____________________ the baby was born.
F) I've been doing homework ___________________ three hours.

3: Sentence Transformation
For each question, complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first.
Use no more than three words.
1. The last time I saw Sarah was at university.
I have not ........................................ university.
2. I last did a practice test 3 weeks ago.
I haven't done a practice test .........................................
3. It's been ages since you did the washing up.
You haven't done any washing up ........................................ time.
4. He started learning the guitar 4 years ago.
He has been learning the guitar ........................................ .
5. Ben last spoke Italian on holiday.
Ben has not ........................................ he was on holiday.

Collocations in Part 5 of the PET Reading Paper

The multiple choice cloze exercise in Part 5 of the PET Reading test will often test you on
how well you can identify collocations. Collocations are words that go together such as 'play
golf' (not x 'make golf' x) or a 'sore throat' (not x 'painful throat' x). These quizzes will give
you practice in verb + noun collocations.

Find the Collocations

Find the collocations in each sentence and type them in the box.
For example: We run a business from home. (RUN A BUSINESS)
A) Not making mistakes in your writing is very difficult.
B) How can I get my children to do homework every evening?
C) You should take a break if you are driving for a long time.
D) I was watching the news when Jane arrived.

Practise Collocations
1) Complete each of the following sentences using the correct collocation.
A) My son's teacher says he doesn't _______________ attention in his lessons.
B) I'm afraid John's not here. Can I _________________ a message?
C) I ________________________ a bad cold and had to stay in bed.
D) How much time do you ________________________ doing revision?
E) Could you _____________________ me a favour and open the window a little?
F) Can you ___________________________ the difference between these two pictures?

2) Read the letter below and choose the correct word for each gap.
I'm sorry for (A)_______________such a long time to write back. I've been so busy at work
lately. I've also not been studying very hard and my French exam is next month!
To (B) ____________ you the truth, I'm getting a bit nervous and will have

to (C) ____________ some revision! The good news is I'm going on holiday with my parents
before the exam, so if I (D)________________the chance I'm going to try to (E) _____________
an effort and work on my French. Anyway, the reason I'm writing is to ask you if you would like to
come to the UK. I know you haven't been here before and we could (F)_____________sightseeing.
Let me know what you think.

1: Work it Out
The comparative forms of adjectives and adverbs are used to say something is bigger or
smaller, more exciting or less expensive than something else. But when do you use 'er' and
when should you use 'more' or 'less'? And do you have to make any spelling changes to the
adjective or adverb? Look at these sentences. Can you work out the rules?
Sally is taller than Gill.
Everest is higher than Kilimanjaro.
The Ford Mondeo is bigger than the Fiesta.
I now leave for work earlier than I used to.
The food is less expensive here than in town.
I thought the book would be more interesting.
Try the quiz below to check your ideas.

2: Check Comparatives
Complete each sentence by typing the correct comparative form:
A) The shops are a lot (QUIET) ______________ than usual.
B) I feel much (FIT) _______________ since I started doing exercise.
C) The girl was much (PRETTY) ______________ than she seemed in her photo.
D) I think I'll go into town on Sunday when it's quiet and (CROWDED) ____________ ?
E) This sofa is a bit hard. Have you got something (COMFORTABLE) __________________ ?

1: Work it Out
When we compare two things in English we can use 'er' or 'more/less' to say something is
'bigger than' or 'more expensive than' etc. However, there are other ways we can make
comparisons like this. Look at these sentences. Can see other ways of comparing two
things?
I'm not as good at English as Spanish.
I didn't spend as much as I usually do today.
I'll come as quickly as I can.
The economy is growing twice as fast as expected.
Is the UK the same as Britain?
This bread doesn't taste the same as usual.
Now try the quiz below to check your ideas.

2: Check Comparatives
Complete each sentence by choosing the correct comparative form:

1) It's not ___________________ it was yesterday. (hot)

2) He wasn't

__________________I thought he would be. (tall)

3) The children were ________________________ gold. (good)

4) The tickets were twice ___________________________before. (expensive)
5) Is the Internet __________________________the world wide web? (same)

Grammar: Introduction to Superlatives

1: Work it Out
The superlative is used to say something is 'the biggest', 'the smallest', 'the most exciting',
'the least expensive' etc. But when do you use 'est' and when should you use 'most' or
'least'? Do you have to make any spelling changes? Look at these sentences. Can work out
the rules:
John is the tallest in the class.
This is the fastest car I've ever driven.
The Danakil desert is the hottest place on earth.
This is the happiest I've ever seen him.
I'm reading about the most expensive house in the world.
She's the least popular person in the group.
Try the quiz below to check your ideas.

2: 2: Check Superlatives
Complete each sentence by typing the correct superlative form:

A) Tim is (OLD)

_______________ boy in the class.

B) You always take (BIG)

C) I'll carry (HEAVY)

____________________ piece of cake.

______________________ bag for you.

D) That school only takes (INTELLIGENT)

E) I did (COMPLICATED)

______________________ pupils.

_________________________ puzzle first, then a difficult one.

Grammar: Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives

1: Work it Out
Usually, comparative and superlative forms in English take 'er', 'est', (bigger, biggest) or
'more', 'most' (more/most interesting). However, there are some adjectives and adverbs that
have different forms. Look at these sentences. Can you work out the rules for 'good', 'bad'
and 'far':
Yesterday's menu was good but today's is better.
This is the best score I've ever had in an exam.
Mark: Is your sore throat still bad?
Jane: It's worse. It's the worst one I've ever had.
The police are going further than ever to fight crime.
My trip to China will be the furthest I've ever been.
Try the quiz below to check your ideas.

2: Check Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives

Complete each sentence by typing the correct comparative or superlative form::
A) You're looking (GOOD) __________________now. Has your cold gone?
B) I think the (GOOD)_________________ holiday I ever had was the one to Brazil.
C) The unemployment figures are (BAD)____________________ than expected.
D) That is definitely the (BAD)___________________ game of football I have ever seen.
E) We climbed (FAR)_____________________ up the hill to get a better view.
F) What is the (FAR) ______________________ planet from the sun?

The correct answers are A) quieter, B) fitter, C) prettier, D) less crowded, E) more
comfortable. We use 'er' for short, one and some two syllable adjectives and adverbs.
Those with one syllable ending in a vowel and a consonant (hot, big) double the consonant
(hotter, bigger). Those ending in 'y' drop the 'y' and add 'ier' (heavy, heavier). Other two
syllable and longer adjectives use 'more' or 'less' (less interesting, more expensive).

The correct answers are A) the oldest, B) the biggest, C) the heaviest, D) the most
intelligent, E) the least complicated. We use 'est' for short, one and some two syllable
adjectives. One syllable adjectives ending in a vowel and a consonant (hot, big) double the
consonant (hottest, biggest). Adjectives ending in 'y' drop the 'y' and add 'iest' (heaviest).
Other two syllable and longer adjectives use 'most' or 'least' (least interesting, most
expensive).

Grammar: Comparatives and Superlatives Revision

If you've tried our exercises to practise comparative and superlative forms and want to see
how well you know them, try this Sentence Transformation-style test. All of the answers
require a comparative or superlative form.

Revise Comparatives and Superlatives

For each question, complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first.
Use no more than three words.
1. He has never scored so highly in a test as he did in this one.
This ........................................ score he has received in a test.
2. The shop is not very busy today compared to yesterday.
The shop is not ........................................ it was yesterday.
3. We were told that the show was not very entertaining but it was.
The show ........................................ than we had been told.
4. I've never had to wait this long for a bus before.
This ........................................ I have ever had to wait for a bus.
5. We had the same meal tonight and last night.
Dinner tonight ........................................ as it was last night.
6. I don't think I have ever had such a bad haircut.
This ........................................ haircut I have ever had.