Mastering English: Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, Vocabulary & Grammar

Posted on Feb 20, 2025 in English

English Language Exam Answers

2.1 Idioms

G) Can Madonna make a comeback in a Lady Gaga-dominated world? People believe that even if Madonna isn’t quite as popular as she’s been in the past, she’s still a music force. (A return to being popular or fashionable)

H) There were the usual teething problems at the start of the project, but that’s to be expected. (Troubles that happen in the early stages of doing something new)

I) I called her new boyfriend by her previous boyfriend’s name – it was just a slip of the tongue. (Something that you say when you intended to say something else)

J) Mark was so funny on Friday. He was the life and soul of the party. (Someone who is energetic and funny and at the center of activity during social occasions)

K) There’s the car that almost hit us this afternoon – I’m going to give those people a piece of my mind. (To tell somebody exactly what you think of his/her behavior, to tell someone angrily that you disapprove of something they have done)

L) She’s got the gift of the gab; she should work in sales and marketing. (The ability to speak easily and confidently in a way that makes people want to listen to you and believe you)

M) Justin and I were at college together, so we go back a long way. (To know each other for a long time)

N) He is always poking his nose into my affairs. (To interfere with other people’s business)

O) Jean is a dreamer, but her husband is a man with his feet on the ground. (Be a realist; be practical and see things as they really are)

P) We did not have money to take the train, so we thumbed a lift to London. (To stand near the edge of a road and hold out your hand with the thumb raised as a signal for a vehicle to stop and take you somewhere)

Q) The detectives were following a red herring, but they’re on the right track now. (A piece of information or suggestion introduced to draw attention away from the real focus of a situation)

R) Get a sofa in the living room? You’ll be lucky – there isn’t enough room to swing a cat in there. (A place or space that is very small)

2.2 Phrasal Verbs

S) After years of working for her boss, Sally was finally able to break away from her company to start her own business. (To separate or detach oneself, as from a group; to leave an organization, usually to form a new one)

T) I was in the area, so I just dropped in to tell her about the party on Saturday. (Visit casually, without an appointment or without having made arrangements)

U) The release from prison of two of the terrorists has provoked a public outcry. (A strong expression of anger and disapproval about something, made by a group of people or by the public)

V) Cancer deaths have been caused by fallout from weapons testing. (The radioactive dust in the air after a nuclear explosion)

W) Next week’s election is a toss-up, as both candidates currently have 50% of the vote. (A choice between two equally attractive alternatives; a situation where both options are equally possible)

X) I always had to wear my sister’s cast-off clothing as a child. (Things, usually clothes, that you no longer want)

Y) An example of stuck-up is a girl who always wears fancy clothes and who looks down on people who wear plain clothes. (Someone who is snobbish and thinks and acts like she is better or superior to everyone else)

Z) I’m not working tomorrow, so I can have a bit of a lie-in. (A time when you stay in bed later than usual in the morning)

AA) I wish Dad would stop listening in on my phone conversations. (Eavesdrop; listen to a conversation, especially secretly, without saying anything)

BB) I’ll be home after midnight, so don’t wait up for me. (To not go to bed at night because you are expecting someone to arrive)

CC) I know that the party starts at eight, but I just have to finish off this piece of work first. You go on ahead, and I will catch up with you later. (To become equal or on a par with another)

DD) Finally, Ted grew out of his bedwetting. (To age out of something; to outgrow something; to abandon something as one matures)

EE) I think I’m coming down with flu. (To start to suffer from illness, especially one that is not serious)

2.3 General Vocabulary

To speak up: To speak loud enough to be audible or to speak without fear or hesitation.

Pungent: Sharply affecting the organs of taste or smell, as if by a penetrating power; biting; acrid.

Awe: A feeling of respect or reverence mixed with dread and wonder, often inspired by something majestic or powerful. Ex: “There was a fierce purpose in the gale … that seemed directed at him, and made him hold his breath in awe.”

Aloof: Distant, unsympathetic, or supercilious in manner, attitude, or feeling. Ex. “to have the reputation of being aloof”

Fluffy: Sentimental or over-romantic; not very intelligent or like down or as soft as down. Ex. ”It’s a very fluffy kind of wool”

Dock: A platform extending from a shore over water, used to secure, protect, and provide access to a boat or ship; a pier. Ex. “The boat moved slowly into the dock”

To glace: Ice placed in a drink to cool it.

Pecking order: Animal Behavior a dominance hierarchy, seen especially in domestic poultry, that is maintained by one bird pecking another of lower status.

To deface: To spoil or mar the surface, legibility, or appearance of; disfigure

To chuckle: To laugh softly or to oneself

Steerage: The cheapest accommodation on a passenger ship, originally the compartments containing the steering apparatus

To shuffle: To walk or move (the feet) with a slow dragging motion

To trigger: It is a piece which you push for making a shot.

To stand up for: To defend someone or something that is being criticized or attacked. Ex. “You’ve got to stand up for what you believe in”

4.1 Relative Pronouns and Sentences

-Make one sentence from the sentences given. Make any other necessary changes. Omit any unnecessary relative pronouns.

A) The senior managers are promising a big money deal. We are meeting with them next week.

-The senior managers are promising a big money deal whom we are meeting with next week.

B) There were a lot of people at the party. I had known many of them for years.

-There were a lot of people at the party, many of whom I had known for years.

-I met Jane yesterday whose husband plays golf with my husband!

D) The photographer could not develop the pictures. I had taken them in Australia

-The photographer could not develop the pictures I had taken in Australia.

E) You made an offer. We cannot accept it.

-We cannot accept the offer you made.

F) David´s grandfather swam in the sea every day until well into his eighties. David´s grandfather once swam for England.

-David’s grandfather, who once swam for England, swam in the sea every day until well into his eighties.

G) The weather stayed fine for the wedding. This meant we could have the reception outdoors.

-The weather stayed fine for the wedding, which meant we could have the reception outdoors.

H) Some people wanted travel scholarships. The end of the week was the deadline. By the end of the week everyone had applied.

-By the end of the week, which was the deadline, everyone who wanted a travel scholarship had applied.

-Rephrase the sentences given. Make any other necessary changes. Omit any unnecessary relative pronoun

I) The restaurant was closed, so we couldn’t get anything that we could eat.

-The restaurant was closed, so we couldn’t get anything to eat.

J) Usually at a station there are people who sell papers and station staff who collect tickets. But here there was nothing.

-Usually at a station there are people who sell papers and station staff who collect tickets, but here there was nothing.

K) The girl who was picked up by her brother was very nice.

-The girl picked up by her brother was very nice.

Extra! Relatives

Person thing place

Subj / who / which / –

Obj / who/whom. / which / where

Possessive / whose / – / –

-WHICH: For a neutral antecedent (not human). Ex: The cat which is on the bed is very nice.

-WHO: For a human antecedent. Ex: The man who is looking at me makes me scared.

-WHOSE: When we talk about possession (human or not). Ex: Mary whose children go to school with mine is sick. It’s an issue whose purpose I don’t understand.

-OF WHICH: Equal of WHOSE but preferred in formal language for neutral antecedent. Ex: Mind the order of the words. It’s an issue the purpose of which I don’t understand.

-WHERE: For an antecedent concerning a place: Ex: This is the house where I live.

-WHOM: With a human antecedent, complement. Ex: She married a teacher whom she had met at university.

-THAT: Can substitute WHICH in the informal language and the best way after everything, nothing, anything, something, only, all and superlatives. Ex: I didn’t know the child that brought this book. It’s a rule that doesn’t change my way of thought. He’ll show you something that will surprise you.

EXERCISES:

Anna is the woman whose son has just passed his exam.
The ruler which (several answers are accepted here: “which” AND “that”) is on the table is not mine.
This is the market where I used to buy food.
The man who is singing is Laura’s uncle.
That is the plane which has just landed.
It is the best mark that he has ever got.
The girls whom we met are Chinese.
The teacher who is talking is an English teacher.
The book the cover of which is yellow is a Spanish book.
The kids who (Several answers are accepted here: “who” AND “that”) are eating now are my nephews.
Take the pencil which (Several answers are accepted here: “which” AND “that”) is under our teacher’s desk.
This is the village where his parents were a close call in a car crash.
This is a quiet place where every student would like to stay and learn their lessons.

4.2. Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs

-Use a comparative or a superlative adverb or adjective (positive or negative) to complete the following sentences.

A) Which is worse (bad), a headache or a toothache? Both are bad for me.

B) The film was very bad. It´s the worst (bad) film I´ve ever seen.

C) What is the longest (long) river in the world? The Nile, I think.

D) Easter Island is the most interesting (interesting) island I have ever visited.

E) A holiday in Thailand is more exciting (exciting) than a holiday in Spain.

Use intensifiers with a comparative or a superlative adverb or adjective to complete the following sentences

F) She is the most generous (generous) person I have ever met.

G) The exhibition was more interesting (interesting) than I expected.

H) He was older (old) than I imagined him.

Complete the sentences so that they express continuous change. Write true sentences about modern life.

I) English is now the international language, that´s why more and more people speak English (people/speak English)

J) The influence of France is not as strong as it used to be, that´s why fewer and fewer people learn French (people/ learn French)

K) People work every day, that´s why they have less and less time to cook (have/ time to cook)

People need their cars to get to work, that’s why more and more oil has to be imported.
The world population is increasing, that’s why there are more and more people.
The number of kangaroos is increasing, that’s why there are more and more kangaroos in Australia.
The immigration from Great Britain is decreasing, so there are fewer and fewer people.
Practicing surf is popular, so the number of people who practice surfing is getting more and more important.
In France, the temperature is increasing, so it is getting hotter and hotter.
There are twenty million kangaroos in Australia, but there are fewer and fewer koalas.

-Complete the sentences so that they express parallel change.

L) If you are generous, you will be popular; in fact, the more generous you are, the more popular you will be.

M) If you have many boy/girlfriends, you will be happier; in fact, the more boyfriends/girlfriends you have, the happier you will be.

N) If you smoke, you will be kissed less often; in fact, the more you smoke, the less often you will be kissed.

O) If you are hard to catch, you will be more desirable; in fact, the harder you are to catch, the more desirable you will be.

4.3 Inversion Structures

A) I saw only then (see/only then) the danger we were in.

B) Down fell half a dozen apples (half a dozen apples / fall)

C) Only when has Pete arrived (Pete/have arrived) can we begin the program.

D) So difficult is the test (the test/ be / difficult) that students need three months to prepare.

E) Little do her sons know (know / her sons) what she has planned for them.

F) Only by regularly studying this language can you understand it (you / can/ understand).

G) If an emergency should arise (should/arise), dial 999.

H) Had Mr. Chan been kinder (Mr Chan/be kinder) to his employees, his business would not have collapsed.

I) No sooner had I thrown (I /throw) him out than he tried to come in again.

J) Never in my life will I talk (I / talk) to her again.

In no circumstances would I accept this!
Nowhere else will you find such nice people.
Only in the USA have I seen such high buildings.
Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few.
Not only is he handsome but he is also rich.
Rarely will you see him in a pub.
Only with the help of everybody can we hope to find her.
On no account must you repeat this!

Rarely have I seen such a luxurious room.
Only after eating your dinner can you go out.
Not until it was late did he start to do his homework.
Hardly had I arrived to school when my mobile phone rang.
Not until Martha apologizes will we speak to her again.
No sooner had we left the church than the group of beggars surrounded us.
Only by saving money can my friends buy a flat.
Hardly had he locked the door when there was a big explosion on the staircase.
Little had my grandmother known about my grandfather before they got married.
Little do her sons know what she has planned for them.
Only by regularly studying this language can you understand it.
Seldom does Robert play computer games. He prefers reading books.
Not since my childhood had I played football so much.
Seldom do Rarely does this old woman speak to herself.
Only when Rudolph wanted to borrow some money did he call me.
Scarcely had I finished the homework when my friend came in.
Never had I seen so many dogs in one coop.
Only after marrying him did Silvia understand her mistake.