Prepositional and adverbial particles in English grammar practice

Index | Home Page | Back | Next ____Watch Your Particles!____Words "B" to "C"____King Richard and the youthful Cordelia

B to C-1 Ask & answer the following questions with a friend____Then Click HERE to test yourself____Then try the gap fill or interactive test

Are you good at or bad at language learning?
Do you like films based on real events such as wars or life histories?
Do you believe in Father Christmas?
Do you belong to any clubs or societies?
Have you ever been blamed for something you did not do?
Are politicians in your country blind to public opinion?
Do politicians in your country boast about their achievements?
Have you ever borrowed money from a friend?
Would you be capable of managing a small business?
Do you care about your parents as much as they care about you?
Have you ever taken care of a small child or an elderly relative?
Are you careful to check fruit and vegetables before buying them in a shop?
Are you careful or careless with money?
If I took a holiday in your country, could I be certain of many hours of sunshine?
Which foods and drinks are characteristic of people in your country?
Do you think that bars and restaurants should charge for water?
If you could choose between the USA, Britain and Australia, which country would you visit?
Can you comment on the cost of living in your country?
How do food prices in your country compare with those in Britain?
Can you explain why people complain about British weather?
Can you name a famous pop group composed of three guitarists and a drummer?
Does Primary Education in your country concentrate on reading, writing and arithmetic?
Do you have confidence in taxi drivers in your capital city?
Have you ever offered anybody congratulations on passing their driving test?
Are you conscious of your age?
Do you know what ice-cream consists of?
How does your favourite TV channel in your country contrast with BBC1?
Are you convinced of the benefits in learning English?
Is there a system in your country that corresponds to the National Health Service?
Did you correspond with any English-speaking people before visiting this country?
Have you ever been crazy about any sports-person, film-star or pop singer?
Are you critical of lazy people?
Do you agree that everybody should try to prevent cruelty to animals?

Gap fill ____King Richard and the youthful Cordelia

B to C-2 Fill in the missing particles: [Click HERE for interactive version]_____[Top of Page]

This story is not based _______ anything that really happened. I am extremely bad _______ telling the truth. I don't believe ________ the supernatural, but I am capable _______ imagining all sorts of things in order to create a story. Some my characters' names are borrowed _______ Shakespeare's plays.

My story today is about a king called Richard who only cared _______ money. He would boast _______ his enormous wealth, but he was completely blind _______ all the poverty and social problems in his kingdom.

Richard's kingdom was composed _______ three territories called Highland, Lowland and Middleland. The neighbouring kingdom was known as Noland. Its rulers consisted _______ three ladies known as "The Noland Sisters".

The youngest sister was called Cordelia and she was the only lady who was capable _______ running a kingdom. The older sisters, Goneril and Reagan were both very careless _______ money and were critical _______ Cordelia. They were very conscious _______ Cordelia's good looks. If you had to choose _______ the three sisters in a beauty contest, Goneril and Reagan would never compare _______ the youthful Cordelia.

I should also comment _______ the older sisters' jealousy. The young men in Noland were all crazy _______ Cordelia and were also convinced _______ her fitness as the most suitable leader. Consequently, Goneril and Reagan would never talk to their younger sister and complained _______ her popularity to their husbands George and Rufus. Such complaints were characteristic _______ a jealous attitude. Fortunately, the two husbands were anxious to prevent cruelty _______ their sister-in-law. Little became of Goneril and Reagan's bitterness.

When Richard heard of Cordelia's great popularity, he began to correspond _______ her. He offered her congratulations _______ being the person whom the people of Noland really trusted. Cordelia was not moved by Richard's flattery. On the contrary, she blamed him _______ the poverty in his kingdom and insisted that he should take greater care _______ the people there.

Richard now concentrates _______ helping the poor people in his kingdom. The fruits of the land now belong _______ the people. They no longer have to pay any charge _______ clean water and the price of bread corresponds _______ the low price charged in Noland. Cordelia is now queen of all four territories and everybody has confidence _______ her. They can be certain _______ good government as long as Cordelia remains their leader and Richard's wife.