Advanced English practice and grammar
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Advanced English language practice
Test your knowledge of the English language. This exercise includes 20 tasks, available without registration or restrictions. To start, we recommend reviewing the theory below. However, if you feel confident, click “start.”
Key grammar rules for advanced English proficiency
To successfully complete exercises involving filling in the blanks, you need a solid understanding of certain grammatical constructions and rules. Let’s briefly review the basics to help you succeed in the exercise.
Infinitives and gerunds
Infinitives
Infinitives are the base form of a verb preceded by “to” (to learn). They are often used after certain verbs, adjectives, and nouns.
Examples:
- “She wants to learn.”
- “He decided to leave.”
Gerunds
Gerunds are verbs ending in “-ing” that function as nouns. They are used after prepositions and certain verbs.
Examples:
- “Swimming is fun.”
- “She is good at drawing.”
Passive voice
The passive voice emphasizes the action rather than the subject performing it. It is formed using the verb “to be” followed by the past participle of the main verb.
Structure:
- Subject + form of “to be” + past participle
Examples:
- Active: “The chef cooked the meal.”
- Passive: “The meal was cooked by the chef.”
Reported speech
Reported speech conveys what someone else has said without directly quoting them. When transforming sentences, verb tenses, pronouns, and time expressions often change.
Tense changes:
- Present Simple → Past Simple: “She says, ‘I am happy.'” → “She said that she was happy.”
- Present Continuous → Past Continuous: “He says, ‘I am going.'” → “He said that he was going.”
- Present Perfect → Past Perfect: “They say, ‘We have finished.'” → “They said that they had finished.”
Questions
When transforming questions, the verb “ask” is used, and the question is turned into a statement form.
Examples:
- Direct: “What time does the train leave?”
- Reported: “He asked what time the train left.”
Commands and requests
To report commands and requests, use the verbs “tell” or “ask” followed by the infinitive.
Examples:
- Direct: “Close the door.”
- Reported: “She told me to close the door.”
Conditional sentences
Conditional sentences express “if” situations. They are important for hypothetical or uncertain events.
Zero conditional
Used for general truths:
- Structure: If + present simple, present simple
- Example: “If you heat water, it boils.”
First conditional
Used for possible future events:
- Structure: If + present simple, will + base verb
- Example: “If it rains, we will cancel the trip.”
Second conditional
Used for hypothetical present or future situations:
- Structure: If + past simple, would + base verb
- Example: “If I were rich, I would travel the world.”
Third conditional
Used for hypothetical past situations:
- Structure: If + past perfect, would have + past participle
- Example: “If I had known, I would have acted differently.”
Relative clauses
Relative clauses provide additional information about a noun. They are introduced by relative pronouns such as “who,” “whom,” “whose,” “which,” and “that.”
Examples:
- “The book that I read was fascinating.”
- “She is the teacher who helped me.”
Modal verbs
Modal verbs (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would) express necessity, possibility, permission, or ability. Transformations involving modal verbs require understanding their various uses and forms.
Examples:
- “She can swim.” → “She is able to swim.”
- “He might come.” → “He may come.”
Verb tenses
Understanding different verb tenses is crucial for correctly transforming sentences. Here are the main tenses and their uses:
Present simple
Used for habitual actions, general truths, and fixed arrangements.
- Example: “She studies every day.”
Past simple
Used for actions completed in the past.
- Example: “They visited the museum.”
Present perfect
Used for actions that occurred at an unspecified time or have relevance to the present.
- Example: “I have finished my homework.”
Past perfect
Used for actions completed before another action in the past.
- Example: “She had left before I arrived.”
Future simple
Used for decisions made at the moment of speaking or for future actions.
- Example: “I will call you tomorrow.”
This is just a small part of what you need to know. For more material, visit the “Grammar” section.