Name: ________________________________ Date: ____________________

First Certificate Language Practice

Grammar Progress Test 1a (Units 1–4)

1 Underline the most suitable word(s) in each sentence.

0 I suddenly remembered that I forgot/had forgotten my keys.

1 I used to eat/was eating cakes and sweets all the time when I was young.
2 Have you spoken/Did you speak to David yesterday?
3 When I arrived at the theatre, the play already started/had already started.
4 I’m going to buy/I will buy a new PC at the weekend.
5 Roberta, how nice to see you! I haven’t seen/didn’t see you for ages!
6 What awful weather! It’s rained/It’s been raining all day.
7 While I walked/was walking through the park, I saw something very strange.
8 Don’t call after 11pm. I’ll be sleeping/I’ll sleep.
9 By this time next year I’ll be/I’ll have been a member of the film society for ten
years.
10 I usually leave/am leaving work at 5 o’clock.

2 Decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each space.

A summer job
Dear Angela
Please (0) C my apologies! I know it’s been ages (1) __D____ I last emailed you,
but I’ve been really busy. (2) ___A_ the last few months (3) _____ at a bar on the
beach called Angelo’s. Every evening I get there at about six, and (4) _____ until
midnight. I’m trying to save money to go to Thailand, but I haven’t got enough (5)
_____ . I’m really enjoying it now, although it (6) _____ difficult at the beginning
because there’s a lot of noise and confusion all the time. I heard you (7) _____ to visit
us next month! Why not come along to Angelo’s? I’m sure I’ll (8) _____ be working
there.
See you soon,
Kate

0 A be accepting B you accept C accept D to accept

1 A For B Already C While D Since
2 A for B as C while D since
3 A I work B I had worked C I worked D I’ve been working
4 A I don’t leave B I’m not leaving C I haven’t left D I’m not going to leave
5 A already B still C yet D soon
6 A has been B had been C was D is
7 A are coming B came C come D would come
8 A still B already C yet D longer

First Certificate Language Practice

Grammar Progress Test 1a (Units 1–4) 1
First Certificate Language Practice
Grammar Progress Test 1a (Units 1–4) 2
3 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the words given. Do not change the word given. You must
use between two and five words, including the word given.

0 Look at those black clouds! There’s rain on the way.

to
Look at those black clouds! It’s going to rain.
1 A service charge is not included in the price.
not
The price ______doesn’t include__________ a service charge.
2 I’ve never been to Egypt before.
time
This is the ___________first time I’ve been____________ to Egypt.
3 I looked at the photograph on the desk while she was out of the room.
waiting
I looked at the photograph on the desk while ___I was waiting for her_______
to return.
4 He started to play when he was young.
been
He _________has been playing since________________________________ he
was young.
5 The office is still dirty.
cleaned
The office __________hasn’t been cleaned__________________ yet.
6 We’ll probably get to the cinema after the start of the film.
will
By the time we get to the cinema, the film _______will have already_________
started.

4 Look carefully at each line. Some of the lines are correct, and some have a
word which should not be there. Tick each correct line. If a line has a word
which should not be there, write the word in the space.

Looking for work

Daniel is a waiter, but he’s been out of the work for 0 the
two months and he’s trying to find another job. He 00 
has been applied for hundreds of jobs, but he’s only 1 been__
had one interview. He would like for to work in an 2 _for__
office as the pay is better than being a waiter. At the 3 ___-__
moment he doesn’t have any of qualifications, but he’s 4 _of___
doing a business course in the evenings and when 5 ___-__
he completes it he should to be in a better position. 6 __to__

First Certificate Language Practice

Grammar Progress Test 1a (Units 1–4) 3