Focus on Words

4. Our new coach is popular... the whole team.
a. with b. by c. for d. to
5. I’m not siding ... her because she’s not right.
a. from b. with c. to d. for
5. Here are some proverbs. Put a, an or the in the gaps only where
necessary.
1. You can lead ... horse to ... water, but you can’t make it drink.
2. ... people in ... glass houses shouldn’t throw ... stones.
3. It’s ... last straw that breaks ... camel’s back.
4. ... early bird catches ... worm.
5. Many hands make ... light work.
6. ... time and ... tide wait for no man.
7. ... time flies like ... arrow.
8. ...rolling stone gathers no moss.
9. ... streets of ... London are paved with ... gold.
10. ... watched pot never boils.
6. Match each sentence on the left with one of the descriptions on
the right.
1. I’ve read The Gentleman’s Thief.
2. I’ve read it several times.
3. I’ve only just read it.
a. several actions completed in the
past
b. an action completed recently
c. an action completed at some time
in the past
4. He’s been writing his autobiography.
5. He’s just been playing tennis.
6. He’s been playing tennis for years.
a. a recently finished action
b. an action repeated over a period
up to now
c. a project that probably isn’t
completed yet
7. I’ve only been really frightened once.
8. I’ve only been frightened several times.
9. I’ve been frightened since.
a. a state at some time in the past
b. a state continuing up to now
c. a state repeated on occasions in
the past
a. Match the meanings and the structures.
Obligation Prohibition Permission
She let us... She made us ... She told us to ...
She told us not to ... We had to ... We were allowed to ...
We were supposed to ... (but in fact ...) We were meant to ... (but in fact ...)
b. Why do the last two structures say but in fact?
c. Make up sentences with these structures.
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