Module On Cloze Passage 3

module
pmr and spm

cloze passage exercises
Prepared by
guru-guru cemerlang bahasa inggeris
Daerah alor gajah
PN. FADZILLAH ABDUL GHANi

PN. ROSLINA BT ABU BAKAR
PENGKALAN
TN. HJ. JASNI BIN ABDUL RAHMAN
LUBOK CHINA
TN. HJ. AB GHANI BIN HARON
RAHMAT
TN. HJ. MOHD AKHIR BIN ABD WAHAB
SULTAN ALAUDDIN
SMK NANING
SMK SERI
SMK
SMK
SMK
CONTENTS
ADJECTIVES
ADVERBS
ARTICLES
COMPARISONS
INFINITIVE + TO
PREPOSITION
PRONOUNS
TENSES
SUBJECT-VERB-AGREEMENT
WH-QUESTIONS
RATIONAL CLOZE PASSAGE EXERCISES
ADJECTIVES
An adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun by describing, identifying, or quantifying words.

Adjectives describe or give information about nouns.
The form of adjectives does not change; it does not matter if the noun being modified is male or
female, singular or plural, subject or object. Some adjectives give us factual information about
the noun - age, size, colour, etc.
An adjective often precedes the noun or the pronoun which it modifies.

We add adjective to identify a person or thing, or describe them in more detail. Look at the
following examples:
her new car

a kind person
car-shaped balloon
hideous wall paper.
dark sea.
dark and dank coal mine
irritating music.
mahogany chair
large, green rain boots.
Some adjectives can be used to give your opinion about something.

They are words like good, pretty, right, wrong, funny, light, happy, sad, full, soft, hard and etc.
Look at the following examples:
Lisa is a pretty girl.
Carina is a clever and hardworking girl.
Adjectives also can be used to describe size.
They are words like big, small, little, long, tall, short, same as and etc.
For example:
"The tall man is my uncle."
"That short woman is a lawyer".
Adjectives can be used to describe shape.
They are words like round, circular, triangular, rectangular, square, oval and etc.
For example:
"It is a square box."
"Those are square boxes."
There are adjectives that can be used to describe colour.
They are words like blue, red, green, brown, yellow, black, white and etc. For example:
"That is my blue bag."
"Those are my red pens".
Position of Adjectives
Descriptive adjectives used in this way belong to eight main types. The table below summarises
the types and the usual order in which they appear if more than one adjective is placed before a
noun. The general rule for the position of each type adjective, these are:Position
1st*
2nd*
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
Opinion
Size
Age
Shape
Colour
Material
Origin
Purpose
Nice
Small
Old
Square
Black
Plastic
British
Racing
Ugly
Big
New
Circular
Blue
Cotton
American Running
Adjectives describing the main characteristics of a person or thing are often grouped together
before the noun they describe. Look at the following examples:
a beautiful young woman
a small round table
Two or three descriptive adjectives are often used together in this way; note that placing more
than three adjectives before a noun would start to sound unnatural. Look at the following
examples:
a beautiful wooden table
sounds fine, but a structure like:
a beautiful large round carved wooden table
For example, if you wanted to use an adjective referring to size and an adjective referring to
shape, you would put the size adjective first. Look at the following example:
a large round table
Similarly, an age adjective would normally be placed before an origin adjective. Look at the
following example:
a young Italian woman
An opinion adjective would occur before a shape or colour adjective, and a shape or colour
adjective would occur before a material adjective. Look at the following example:
a beautiful green silk dress
If two colour adjectives are used, and is placed between them. Look at the following example:
She was wearing a long black and gold dress.
If three colour adjectives occur, a comma (,) is placed after the first and the last two are linked
with and. Look at the following example:
The table was covered by a large red, white and blue sheet.
As a general rule, the adjective which is closest to the noun is the most closely linked to the
meaning of the noun. It describes a feature which is the most permanent about it, compared to
adjectives which express a variable characteristic, such as an opinion. Look at the following
example:
an expensive/cheap/beautiful black leather handbag
(the leather-ness of the bag is a more essential characteristic than cost or appearance.)
If more than one adjective occurs which expresses an opinion or describes a general quality, then
the adjective with a more general meaning, for example, nice, bad usually precedes the one with
a more specific meaning like comfortable, clean. Look at the following example:
a lovely soft blanket
If two adjectives with similar meanings are used, the shorter one often comes first. Look at the
following example:
a soft comfortable pillow
The conjunction but is sometimes placed between two adjectives which describe contrasting
qualities. Look at the following example:
a difficult but rewarding job
The conjunction and is generally used to link adjectives in this position, occurring before the last
adjective used. Look at the following examples:
The room was small and dirty.
Jim felt cold, wet and hungry.
Adjectives expressing opinion are often placed last. Look at the following example:
Sheila was young, tall and beautiful.
To imply a contrast between adjectives, the conjunction but is sometimes used. Look at the
following example:
The flat was small but comfortable.
ARTICLES
There are two types of articles indefinite a and an or definite the.
Their proper use is complex especially when you get into the advanced use of English. Quite
often you have to work by what sounds right, which can be frustrating for a learner.
We usually use no article to talk about things in general - the doesn't mean all.
For example:
"Books are expensive." = (All books are

expensive.)
"The books are expensive." = (Not all books are expensive, just the ones I'm
talking about.)
Indefinite articles - a and an (determiners)

A and an are the indefinite articles. They refer to something not specifically known to the person
you are communicating with.
A and an are used before nouns that introduce something or someone you have not mentioned
before:For
"I saw an elephant this morning."
example: "I ate a banana for lunch."
A and an are also used when talking about your profession
For
"I am an English teacher."
example: "I am a builder."
Note!
You use a when the noun you are referring to begins with a consonant (b, c, d, f, g, h, j,
k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y or z), for example, "a city" and "a factory"
You use an when the noun you are referring to begins with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u)
Pronunciation changes this rule.
If the next word begins with a consonant sound when we say it, for example,
"university" then we use a. If the next word begins with a vowel sound when we say it,
for example "hour" then we use an.
We say "university" with a "y" sound at the beginning as though it were spelt
"youniversity".
So, "a university" IS correct.
We say "hour" with a silent h as though it were spelt "our".

So, "an hour" IS correct.
Here are the rules for when to use "A, An or The":
a = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same

objects) with consonants
She has a dog.
I work in a factory.
an = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same

objects) with vowels (a,e,i,o,u)
Can I have an apple?
She is an English teacher
the = definite article (a specific object that both the person speaking and
the listener know)
The car over there is fast.
The teacher is very good, isn't he?
The first time you speak of something use "a or an", the next time you
repeat that object use "the".
I live in a house. The house is quite old and has four bedrooms.
ADVERB.
An adverb is a part of speech that describes or modifies a verb, an adjective, another adverb,
clause, or sentence.
Adverbs answer the questions "How?", "When?", "Where?", "Why?", "In what way?", "How
much?", "How often?", "Under what condition", "To what degree?"
The easiest adverbs to recognize are those that end in -ly. Some adjectives end with -ly also but
remember that adjectives can modify only nouns and pronouns. Adverbs modify everyting else.
An adverb can be placed anywhere in a sentence.
Adverbs as modifiers (adverbs in adverbial functions)

An adverb modifies a verb
He walked quickly. ('quickly' modifies verb 'walked')
I accepted new task willingly. ('willingly' modifies verb 'accepted')
Mike snored melodically. ('melodically' modifies verb 'snored')
An adverb modifies an adjective

They were really unhappy. ('really' modifies adjective 'unhappy')
My brother is completely fearless. ('completely' modifies adjective 'fearless')
I know she is very careful. ('very' modifies adjective 'careful')
An adverb modifies an adverb

He is almost always hungry. ('almost' modifies adverb 'hungry')
John plays tennis very well. ('very' modifies adverb 'well')
You never can work too carefully. ('too' modifies adverb 'carefully')
An adverb modifies a clause

Perhaps you are correct, but not at first glance. ('perhaps' modifies clause 'you are correct')
Surely he will be on time, but I hope not. ('surely' modifies clause 'he will be on time')
An adverb modifies a sentence

Suddenly, she went home. ('suddenly' modifies a whole sentence)
Finally, he will be on time. ('finally' modifies a whole sentence)
Today, we can take a vacation.('today' modifies a whole sentence)
Adverb Formation
Adverbs that end in -ly are formed by adding -ly to an adjective, a present participle, or a past
participle.
- from an adjective
careful - carefully
beautiful - beautiful
fitting - fittingly
- from a present participle

willing - willingly
glowing - glowingly
surprising - surprisingly
- from a past participle

assured - assuredly
affected - affectedly
surprised - surprisedly
When adjective ends in -able or -ible, the adverb is formed by replacing final -e with -y
horrible - horribly
terrible - terribly
When adjective ends in -y, the adverb is formed by replacing final -y with -ily
happy - happily
lucky - luckily
When adjective ends in -ic, the adverb is formed by replacing final -ic with -ically
economic - economically
ironic - ironically
Adverbs Position
Adverbs can be placed anywhere in a sentence.
At the front (prior to the subject)

Today we will study adverbs.
Lately, I have had lots of phone calls.
At the center of the sentence (between the subject and the verb)
He seldom goes to movies.
I hardly noticed her.
At the end of the sentence

I learn English slowly.
I study adverbs now
Adverbs as intensifiers
Adverbs can be used as amplifiers, down toners, or emphasizers.
- as emphasizers.
I really likes him.
I literally wrecked my car.
- as amplifiers
They completely abandoned the city.
I absolutely refuse to leave.
- as down toners
I somewhat like this movie.
Peter almost quit that job.
Adverbs can be classified by their functions.
Adverb lists that follow each category are only partial ones.
Adverbs of manner - answer the question How?
I watch them closely.
I play well.
I walk carefully.
List: cheerfully, fast, quicly, slowly, inadequately, healthy
Adverbs of time - answer the question When?
He has not played chess recently.
I arrive late for most appointments.
Lately, I have had many sleepless nights.
List: early, never, now, often, soon, then, today, tomorrow
Adverbs of place (location, direction) - answer the question Where?

I walked downstairs.
Have you ever gone there?
I will meet you outside.
List: above, away, below, down, here, inside, there, up
Adverbs of degree - answer the question How much?

He is totally prepared for his birthday.
I am too tired to play tennis tonight.
He is completely tired from the journey.
List: almost, entirely, little, much, rather, very, too
Adverbs of frequency - answer the question How often?
He rarely goes by himself.
She constantly finishes her job first.
always, never, usually, frequently, sometimes, occasionally
Comparison of adverbs.
Like adjectives, adverbs have three forms of comparison: positive, comparative, and superlative.
Positive degree expresses the quality without comparison.
Comparative degree compares two verbs, adjectives, or adverbs.
Superlative degree compares three or more verbs, adjectives or adverbs.
Adverb comparison
Most adverbs are compared by using another adverb.
More or less are used to express the comparative degree.
Most or least are used to express the superlative degree.
dance gracefully (or horribly).
I dance more gracefully (or more horribly).
I dance most gracefully ( or most horribly).
Suffix comparison
Some adverbs are compared using a suffix er for the comparative forms and est for the
superlative forms.
I will arrive soon (or fast).
I will arrive sooner (or faster).
I will arrive soonest (or fastest).
Irregular comparison
There are also a number of adverbs compared irregularly.
These must be remembered. Here are some of them.
POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
bad/badly
worse
worst
far
farther/further
farthest/furthest
late/lately
later
latest
little
less
least
much
more
most
well
better
best
Beyond comparison
Some adverbs are never compared. They express qualities unsuitable for comparison.
Here are some of them: again, almost, before, ever, never, here, there, now, then, there, thus,
too, twice, very.
Note
The three most common adverbs used in English Language are: not, very, too
CONJUNCTIONS
A conjunction is a word that like words, phrases or clauses. There are three types of
conjunctions : coordinating conjunctions, correlative conjunctions and subordinating
conjunctions.
COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
Coordinating conjunctions may join single words or they may join groups of words but
they must always join similar elements.
F
for
and
nor
but
or
yet
so
Remember, when using a conjunction to join two sentences, use a coma before the conjunction.
Examples and sentences:
Conjunction
And
What is linked
Sentences
Noun phrase + noun phrase
We have tickets for the symphony and

the opera.
But
Sentence + sentence
The orchestra rehearses on Tuesday, but

the chorus rehearses on Wednesday.
Or
Verb + verb
Have you seen or heard the drama by

Faridah Merican?
So
Sentence + sentence
I wanted to sit in the front of the balcony,

so I ordered my tickets early.
CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS
Correlative conjunctions also connect sentence elements of the same kind. However, unlike
coordinating conjunctions, correlative conjunctions are always used in pairs.
Bothand
Not onlybut also
Eitheror
Neither..nor
Whetheror

Conjunction
What is linked
Sentences
Bothand
Subject + subject
Both my sister and my brother play the piano.
Eitheror
Noun + noun
Tonights menu is either western or Italian.
Neither..nor
Subject + subject
Neither Lisa nor Ebby will be able to join us in

the meeting.
SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
Subordinating conjunctions, the largest class of conjunctions, connect subordinate clauses to a
main clause. These conjunctions are adverbs used as conjunctions.
TIME
CAUSE + EFFECT
OPPOSITION CONDITION
After
Because
Although
If
Before
Since
Even though
Unless
When
Now that
Whereas
Only if
While
As
While
Whether or not
Since
In order that
though
Even if
until
so
In case (that)

CONJUNCTIONS
SENTENCES
after
We are going out to eat after we finish our discussion.
since
Since we dont have much money, we walk to school.
while
While I was waiting for my laundry, I did my assignment.
because
I admire her paintings because she uses colours so brilliantly.
Gerunds (-ing)
When a verb ends in -ing, it may be a gerund or a present participle. It is important to understand
that they are not the same.
When we use a verb in -ing form more like a noun, it is usually a gerund:
Fishing is fun.
When we use a verb in -ing form more like a verb or an adjective, it is usually a present
participle:
Anthony is fishing.
I have a boring teacher.
Gerunds are sometimes called "verbal nouns".
In this lesson, we look at how we use gerunds.
Gerunds as Subject, Object or Complement

Gerunds after Prepositions
Gerunds after Certain Verbs
Gerunds in Passive Sense
Gerunds Quiz
Gerunds as Subject, Object or Complement

Try to think of gerunds as verbs in noun form.
Like nouns, gerunds can be the subject, object or complement of a sentence:
Smoking costs a lot of money.

I don't like writing.
My favourite occupation is reading.
But, like a verb, a gerund can also have an object itself. In this case, the whole expression
[gerund + object] can be the subject, object or complement of the sentence.
Smoking cigarettes costs a lot of money.

I don't like writing letters.
My favourite occupation is reading detective stories.
Like nouns, we can use gerunds with adjectives (including articles and other determiners):
pointless questioning
a settling of debts
the making of Titanic
his drinking of alcohol
But when we use a gerund with an article, it does not usually take a direct object:
a settling of debts (not a settling debts)

Making "Titanic" was expensive.
The making of "Titanic" was expensive.
Tips:
Do you see the difference in these two sentences? In one, "reading" is a gerund (noun). In the
other "reading" is a present participle (verb).
My favourite occupation is reading.
My favourite niece is reading.
Reading as gerund (noun)
Main Verb
Complement
My favourite occupation
is
reading.
My favourite occupation
is
football.
reading as present participle (verb)
Auxiliary Verb
Main Verb
My favourite niece
is
reading.
My favourite niece
has
finished.
Gerunds after Prepositions

This is a good rule. It has no exceptions!
If we want to use a verb after a preposition, it must be a gerund. It is impossible to use an
infinitive after a preposition. So for example, we say:
I will call you after arriving at the office.

Please have a drink before leaving.
I am looking forward to meeting you.
Do you object to working late?
Tara always dreams about going on holiday.
Notice that you could replace all the above gerunds with "real" nouns:
I will call you after my arrival at the office.

Please have a drink before your departure.
I am looking forward to our lunch.
Do you object to this job?
Tara always dreams about holidays
Tips:
The above rule has no exceptions!
So why is "to" followed by "driving" in 1 and by "drive" in 2?
1. I am used to driving on the left.
2. I used to drive on the left.
to as preposition
Preposition
I am used
to
driving on the left.
I am used
to
animals.
to as infinitive
Infinitive
I used
to drive
I used
to smoke.
on the left
Gerunds after Certain Verbs

We sometimes use one verb after another verb. Often the second verb is in the infinitive form, for
example:
I want to eat.
But sometimes the second verb must be in gerund form, for example:
I dislike eating.
This depends on the first verb. Here is a list of verbs that are usually followed by a verb in
gerund form:
admit, appreciate, avoid, carry on, consider, defer, delay, deny, detest, dislike, endure,
enjoy, escape, excuse, face, feel like, finish, forgive, give up, can't help, imagine, involve,
leave off, mention, mind, miss, postpone, practise, put off, report, resent, risk, can't stand,
suggest, understand
Look at these examples:
She is considering having a holiday.

Do you feel like going out?
I can't help falling in love with you.
I can't stand not seeing you.
Tips:
Some verbs can be followed by the gerund form or the infinitive form without a big change in
meaning: begin, continue, hate, intend, like, love, prefer, propose, start
I like to play tennis.

I like playing tennis.
It started to rain.
It started raining.
Gerunds in Passive Sense

We often use a gerund after the verbs need, require and want. In this case, the gerund has a
passive sense.
I have three shirts that need washing. (need to be washed)
This letter requires signing. (needs to be signed)
The house wants repainting. (needs to be repainted)
The expression "something wants doing" is not normally used in American English.
INFINITIVES
An infinitive may exist with or without the word "to".
For example, following modal verbs (can, may, must, ... ).
Infinitives with the word "to" can function as either the SUBJECT or the OBJECT of a verb.
2.1 INFINITIVES AS THE SUBJECT OF THE SENTENCE
To read a good book is my favorite form of relaxation.
To win means everything to him.
To speak a foreign language well requires practice.
2.2 INFINITIVES AS THE OBJECT OF THE VERB

Most people like to win.
I don't want to go.
We don't need to fight like this.
2.2.1 Verb + Infinitive

Here are some verbs that are followed by an infinitive.
(These verbs can be followed by any infinitive. The infinitives used in these sentences are only
examples.)
We can't afford to remain outside the market.
Should we agree to buy from them?
It appears to be a mistake.
I will arrange to talk with them as soon as possible.
I asked to see the manager about it.
I beg to differ with you, sir.
Would you care to try a California wine?
They claim to make the best potato chips in the world.
We will never consent to allow your name to be put on our product.
Finally, I decided to do it myself.
I demand to know who is responsible for this!
He deserves to get a promotion.
She expects to hire an apprentice.
Do not fail to let us know your decision.
If you have trouble, don't hesitate to call us for help.
We hope to begin by next week.
I intend to go home early.
He learned to speak English as a child.
You managed to overlook something.
Did you mean to put my report in the waste basket?
I need to talk to an expert.
They offered to buy the rest from us.
We plan to expand our product range.
Are you prepared to explain this disaster?
I dont pretend to know all the answers.
I promise to do my best.
He refuses to answer my calls.
He seems to be the one who is in charge.
We had to struggle to open the window.
Do you swear to keep this a secret?
They threatened to sue us if we didn't pay their fee.

No one volunteered to clean up after the picnic.
I cannot wait to see the expression on his face when he hears the news.
I want to find the right person for this job.
I do not wish to be a part of your scheme.
2.2.2 Verb + Pronoun/Noun + Infinitive

Here are some verbs plus an indirect object followed by an infinitive.
(These verbs can be followed by any infinitive. The infinitives used in these sentences are only
examples.)
I would advise you to say nothing about this.
Will you allow me to use your telephone?
She asked me to help her with her car.
He begged me to let him come along.
The weather caused us to take a later flight.
He challenged me to find an error in his figures.
We must convince them to investigate the situation.
I dare you to tell him what you told me.
I encouraged her to continue with the task.
He expects you to finish on time.
I forbid you to use that tone of voice with me.
They forced him to reveal his source.
We should hire someone to run our photocopying operation.
I instructed them to wait for us here.
I invited John to take part in our discussion.
I need you to tell me what is going on here.
My boss ordered me to go to London last week.
We permitted them to talk to our client.
He persuaded her to listen to his problem.
He reminded me to bring an umbrella.
This situation requires us to be very cautious.
The experience taught me to buckle my seat belt.
He told me to take two aspirins and go to bed.
She urged me to take the job.
I want you to wash my car.
He warned me not to drive too fast around here.
THE INFINITIVE
OTHER FORMS
The infinitive can have the following forms:
The perfect infinitive

The continuous infinitive
The perfect continuous infinitive
The passive infinitive
NOTE: as with the present infinitive, there are situations where the to is omitted, e.g. after most
modal auxiliaries.
The perfect infinitive:
to have + past participle, e.g. to have broken, to have seen, to have saved.
This form is most commonly found in Type 3 conditional sentences, using
the conditional perfect, e.g. If I had known you were coming I would have
baked a cake.
Examples:
Someone must have broken the window and climbed in.

I would like to have seen the Taj Mahal when I was in India.
He pretended to have seen the film.
If I'd seen the ball I would have caught it.

The continuous infinitive:
to be + present participle, e.g.to be swimming, to be joking, to be waiting

Examples:
I'd really like to be swimming in a nice cool pool right now.

You must be joking!
I happened to be waiting for the bus when the accident happened.

The perfect continuous infinitive:
to have been + present participle

Examples:
to have been crying
to have been waiting
to have been painting
The woman seemed to have been crying.
You must have been waiting for hours!
He pretended to have been painting all day.

The passive infinitive:
to be + past participle, e.g. to be given, to be shut, to be opened

Examples:
I am expecting to be given a pay-rise next month.

These doors should be shut.
This window ought to be opened
PREPOSITIONS
Prepositions are short words (on, in, to) that usually stand in front of nouns (sometimes also in
front of gerund verbs).
Prepositions Time
English
Usage
Example
on
days of the week
on Monday
in
months / seasons
in August / in winter
time of day
in the morning
year
in 2006
after a certain period of time

(when?)
at
in an hour
for night
at night
for weekend
at the weekend
a certain point of time (when?)
at half past nine
sin
from a certain point of time

(past till now)
since 1980
for
over a certain period of time

(past till now)
for 2 years
ago
a certain time in the past
2 years ago
bef
earlier than a certain point of
before 2004
to
telling the time
ten to six (5:50)
pas
telling the time
ten past six (6:10)
ce
ore
time
to /
marking the beginning and end
till / until of a period of time
till
/ until
by
from Monday to/till Friday
in the sense of how long

something is going to last
He is on holiday until Friday.
in the sense of at the latest
I will be back by 6 oclock.
up to a certain time
By 11 o'clock, I had read five

pages.
Prepositions Place (Position and Direction)

English
in
Usage
Example
room, building, street, town,

country
book, paper etc.
in the kitchen, in London

in the book
in the car, in a taxi
car, taxi
in the picture, in the world
picture, world
at
meaning next to, by an object
at the door, at the station
for table
at the table
for events
at a concert, at the party
place where you are to do

something typical (watch a film,
study, work)
on
by,
next to,
beside
for a place with a river
London lies on the Thames.
being on a surface
on the table
for a certain side (left, right)
on the left
for a floor in a house
on the first floor
for public transport
on the bus, on a plane
for television, radio
on TV, on the radio
left or right of somebody or

something
Jane is standing by / next to /

beside the car.
belo
lower than something else but

above ground
the fish are below the surface
abov
e
the picture on the wall
the bag is under the table
over
attached
on the ground, lower than (or

covered by) something else
work
unde
r
at the cinema, at school, at
acro
covered by something else
put a jacket over your shirt
meaning more than
over 16 years of age
getting to the other side (also

across)
overcoming an obstacle
walk over the bridge
higher than something else, but

not directly over it
a path above the lake
getting to the other side (also
climb over the wall
walk across the bridge
English
ss
Usage
over)
getting to the other side
thro
ugh
to
into
Example
something with limits on top,

bottom and the sides
drive through the tunnel
movement to person or
building
movement to a place or
country
for bed
go to the cinema
enter a room / a building
towa
movement in the direction of
rds
something (but not directly to it)
onto
from
swim across the lake
movement to the top of

something
in the sense of where from
go to London / Ireland
go to bed
go into the kitchen / the house

go 5 steps towards the house
jump onto the table
a flower from the garden
Other important Prepositions

English
Usage
Example
fr
who gave it
a present from Jane
of
who/what does it belong to
a page of the book
what does it show
the picture of a palace
om
by
who made it
a book by Mark Twain
on
walking or riding on horseback
on foot, on horseback
in
of
f
entering a public transport

vehicle
get on the bus
entering a car / Taxi
get in the car
leaving a public transport

vehicle
get off the train
English
Usage
Example
ou
leaving a car / Taxi
get out of the taxi
by
rise or fall of something
prices have risen by 10 percent
t of
travelling (other than walking or

horseriding)
by car, by bus
at
for age
she learned Russian at 45
ab
for topics, meaning what about
we were talking about you
out
SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT

The subject and the verb must agree in number: both must be singular or both must be
plural. Students have problems with subject verb agreement when the verb is a form of be or
have, or when the verb is in present tense.
Rules for subject verb agreement
1. When words like the following are used as subjects, they take singular verb.
Everybody
Everyone
Everything
Anybody
Anyone
Anything
Somebody
Someone
Something
Nobody
No one
Nothing
Each
Either
Neither
Everybody knows the answer.

Nobody speaks German here.
Somebody was in the room.
2. When every and each come before a singular subject joined by and, the verb is singular.
Every man and woman has the right to vote.
Each student and teacher was aware of the difficulty.
3. Prepositional phrases that come between the subject and the verb do not change the
number of the subject.
The teacher as well as the students was working on the problem.
The mother together with her children is waiting.
Some examples of prepositional phrases that function like that are:
As well as
In addition to
Together with
Along with
Except
4. When the verb comes before the subject as in there or here sentences, it agrees with the
subject that immediately follows the verb.
There is a tree in the garden.
There are many trees in the garden.
There is a pine tree and some oaks in the garden.
There goes the cat.

There seems to be a relationship.
There arise problems.
There arises a problem.
5. Introductory it is always singular.

It is my sister who works in the hospital.
It is my cats which cause the trouble.
6. Subjects joined by and take a plural verb (except for number 2).
My sister and brother live in Berlin.
Both the teacher and the student were surprised.
7. Several, many, both, few are plural words and take a plural verb.
Both are happy with the grades they got.
Many were lost on the way.
Few have done their homework.
8. Some nouns are always plural and always take a plural verb.
Trousers, pants, slacks, shorts, briefs, jeans
Glasses, sunglasses
Scissors, pliers, tweezers
My jeans are old.

This year shorts are in fashion.
Where are my scissors?
9. Some words such as none, any, all, more, most, some, majority, half may take either
singular or plural verbs depending on the meaning.
All the money has been spent.
All of the students know the answer.
10. When subjects are joined by words such as neither, either, not only the verb must agree
with the closer subject.
Either the man or his wife knows the answer.
Either the man or his friends know the answer.
Either the children or the man knows the answer.
11. Collective nouns are usually singular when regarded as a unit.

My family lives in Ankara.
Our team has won every game this year.
Sometimes when the members are seen as functioning independently, these collective
nouns may be plural.
My family have a lot of money. (members of my family)

Our team are working hard to win every game they play. (team members)
Some collective nouns in this group are:

Family, team, crew, class, government, committee
12. Some nouns have the same singular and plural form. They take singular or plural verb
depending on the meaning.
This species of monkeys lives only in India.
There are many species of monkeys.
Some nouns in this group are:
Species, series, deer, fish, sheep
13. Expressions stating amount of time, money, weight, volume are plural in form but take a
singular verb as in:
Three weeks is a long time.
Two hundred dollars is a lot of money.
14. Some nouns look plural with s but they take a singular verb.
Sciences
Abstract nouns
Diseases
Physics
Mathematics
Statistics
Economics
News
Politics
Ethics
Measles
Mumps
Mathematics is found difficult by many students.

Statistics requires complicated methods.
15. Generic references with the require plural verb.

The rich are not always happy.
The young like to listen to loud music.

The old hate loud music.
The English are distant and the French are humorous.
16. Note the use of foreign plurals.

Singular
Analysis
Thesis
Crisis
Basis
Parenthesis
Plural
Analyses
Theses
Crises
Bases
Parentheses
Curriculum
Memorandum
Datum
Bacterium
Medium
Curricula
Memoranda
Data
Bacteria
Media
Criterion
Phenomenon
Criteria
Phenomena
Stimulus
Radius
Syllabus
Stimuli
Radii
Syllabi
17. Dont forget that some common English words have irregular plurals.
Plural
Child
Person
Singular
Children
People
18. A relative pronoun takes a singular or plural verb depending on which noun it modifies.
Lisa is one of the students who have passed with an A. (Many students passed with an
A, Lisa is one of them.)
Lisa is the only one of my students who has passed with an A. (Only Lisa passed with an
A.)
PRONOUN
Pronoun: a word which is used to take the place of a noun.
A pronoun can be used to do any of the jobs which a noun can do in a sentence
Antecedent: word(s) which the pronoun replaces.

Kinds of Pronouns:
Personal: Most commonly used pronouns.
I, me, my, mine

you, your, yours
he, him, his, she, her, hers, it, its
we us, our, ours
you, your, yours
they, them, their, theirs
Interrogative: Used to ask questions
who
whose
whom
which
what
Demonstrative: Used to point things out or call attention.
this
that
these
those
Indefinite: Do not have antecedents
another, anybody, anyone, anything

each, either, everybody, everyone, everything
little, much, neither, nobody, no one
both, few, many, others, several
all, any, more, most, none, some
Reflexive/Intensive: Ends in self or -selves
himself
myself
yourself
Reciprocal:
each other
one another
SUBJECT PRONOUN
Notes:
1. The written lesson is below.
2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.
A verb is an action word.

run
sit
eat
sink
swim
study
The main form of a verb is called the infinitive. In English, infinitives include the word "to."
to run
to sit
to eat
to sink
to swim
to study
The infinitive is the pure form of a verb. The infinitive is like a lump of clay that can be molded
to match the subject of the sentence it is used in:
I speak
you speak
he/she speaks
we speak
you-all* speak
they speak
Note: The above forms are called conjugations of the infinitive "to speak."
Regarding the form "you-all" -- this usage is not considered to be standard English. In standard
English, the same word is used for both the singular you and the plural you. That is, each of the
following is correct:
You have a tail light out, ma'am.
You (kids) have soccer practice at four.
In the first sentence, "you" refers to the singular "ma'am." In the second sentence, "you" refers to
the plural "kids." To avoid confusion between you (singular) and you (plural), we will employ
the non-standard English usage "you-all" to indicate you (plural). This will be very beneficial to
y'all, particularly at the beginning of your studies.
CLOZE PASSAGE EXERCISES 1 - 19

PRACTICE 1
Question 1 8 are based on the following text.
Malaysia is a beautiful and interesting country. It has a multiracial population of over 25
million people. The various races are able to 1 in peace and harmony. Malaysians
enjoy a diversity 2 cultures and traditions. They 3 many religious and
cultural festivals throughout the year.
There is a wide range of food offered here. Hence, it is not surprising that Malaysia
.4 a paradise for those who love food. One can get anything 5 traditional
food to international cuisine.
Shopping is another attraction. Those 6 like shopping can go to open-air
markets or shopping complexes. The best time to enjoy discounts and specials offers is during
the annual Mega Sale.
As for transportation, it is convenient and affordable to get around the country. Therefore,
tourists will be able to visit the 7 interesting places here. One can 8 tropical
rainforests, hill resorts, beach resorts or historical sites.
In short, Malaysia definitely has a lot to offer.
1 A live
5 A
in
B lives
B with
C lived
C from
D living
for
2 A at
6 A which
B of
B whose
C along
C whom
D between
D who
3 A celebrating
7 A some
B celebrated
B many
C celebrates
C much
D celebrate
D few
4 A is
8 A explore
B are
B explores
C was
C explored
D were
D exploring
PRACTICE 2
Many people enjoy camping as a recreation. It ..1.. quite an experience to spend a
night in a tent with only basic supplies. If the weather 2, you can sleep outdoors with
the sky above as the roof. .3 time with Mother Nature is a good way to release stress.
If you have never gone camping, you .4 want to try it out as a weekend
getaway. Besides the tent, remember to pack a first aid kit and medicine 5 you might
need. Most importantly, you must not forget to 6 enough food and clean water.
Suitable campsites can be found by the beaches, rivers, waterfalls or even private
camping grounds. Set up your tent when you reach the campsite. 7, organise the things
that you have carried along with you. At night, you would want to build a fire to keep yourself
warm. So look around 8 firewood.
Now you should be ready for a weekend of fun and adventure.
1 A
is
5 A what
are
when
was
which
were
where
2 A
permit
6 A bring
permits
B brings
permitted
C brought
permitting
D bringing
3 A
Spent
7 A Meanwhile
Spend
B However
Spends
C Finally
Spending
D Then
4 A
can
8 A
off
may
for
need
by
must
at
PRACTICE 3
Questions 1 8 are based on the following text.
It is surprising how many foreigners would like to get away from the hustle and bustle of
city life. Situated 50 minutes away from Kuala Lumpur .(1) a little village that has homestay programme. This programme allows visitors to stay here and experience what it is like to
.(2) in a kampong. This village is run .(3) the locals and since its opening, many
have come here. They often say how .(4) they love this place. It is also for city folks,
especially .(5) who want to get away from it all to bask in the serenity, to hear the birds
chirp and to breathe in the .(6) morning air. One of the things that visitors do is to sit on
the floor and eat like the locals .(7) it is clear that they are very uncomfortable. Visitors
leave the place with utmost .(8) and they often come back to revisit the place. This place
is a treasure.
1.
A is
B are
C was
2.
A stay
B stays
C staying
3.
A up
B to
C by
4.
A much
B many
C little
D were
D from
5.
A this
B that
C these
6.
A freezing
B fresh
C fiery
7.
A since
8.
A satisfy
B while
C because
B satisfying
C satisfaction
D those
D although
D satisfied
PRACTICE 4
During the last holidays I went to Johor to visit my uncle. While I was there I .
(1) to watch a Kuda Kepang dance.
It was the first time I had attended a Kuda Kepang dance .(2) and I was excited.
Before the dance, prayers .(3) offered to the Spirit of the Horse. The dance began with
the performers forming a circle in the .(4) of the field. They rode on wooden horses
that were .(5) with bright colours. The dancers held the Kuda Kepang and moved
.(6) with nimble steps as they swayed to the music. The master .(7) and
guided the steps of the dancers. .(8) the dance progressed, the beat of the music got
faster and so did the dancers movements.
After the dance .(9) uncle explained that this dance was very popular in Johor.
It was often performed .(10) festivals and weddings. He said that the Kuda Kepang
dance originated form Java in Indonesia.
1.
A. go
B. go
C. went
D. going
2.
A. perform
B. performer
C. performing
D. performance
3.
A. was
B. were
C. be
D. being
4.
A. side
B. area
C. middle
D. compound
5.
A. seen
6.
A. behind
B. around
C. within
D. between
7.
A. sing
B. sung
C. sang
D. singing
8.
A. As
B. If
C. So
D. For
9.
A. its
B. my
C. his
D. their
10.
A. with
B. about
C. along
D. during
B. made
C. joined
D. painted
PRACTICE 5
School holidays are a time for enjoyment and relaxation. Parents need to plan where
to.(1) their children for a break, after months of studies. School holidays (2)
perfect for parents to spend quality time with their children.
Careful planning may be (3) key to a good holiday. Not everyone in the family
(4) the same interests and needs. Therefore, planning (5) consulting every
member of the family is vital. This is to prevent any unhappiness and grumbling (6)
could spoil the holiday.
A good holiday, (7), need not be a long distance trip. Even an outing to the
shopping mall is a holiday, if it is planned properly. There are also (8) theme parks and
nature parks. Nearby waterfalls, hot springs and beaches are also popular holiday destinations.
A take
B took
C takes
D taken
A is
B are
C has
D have
A a
B an
C the
A has
B had
C have
D having
A so
B or
C but
D and
A this
B that
C these
D those
A however
B whatever
C whenever
D moreover
A more
B most
C much
D many
PRACTICE 6
Yesterday was Jerrys birthday. As he was an only child, his parents took .(1) and
a friend of his to the skateboard wall. Jerry was so happy .(2) he wanted to do this for a
long time now.
When they arrived, they had to wear .(3) gear a kind of helmet, knee and elbow
pads. They already knew .(4) to skateboard and when they were all checked up, they
.(5) their places on top of the wall. They got ready and then they were .(6)! They
moved smoothly and swiftly! As they slid from .(7) end to the other, they felt the rush of
the wind, and .(8) joy was almost too much for them to bear. When they completed their
run, they let out a loud Yeah. That says it all!
A he
B his
C him
D them
A so
B or
C then
D as
A protect
B protection
C protective
A how
B when
C where
D which
A take
B took
C taken
D taking
A in
B of
C off
D for
A one
B next
C each
A an
B the
C that
D this
PRACTICE 7
Is there such a thing as toys for girls and toys for boys? Have you ever ............. (1) that
when we were growing (2), our parents or the adults chose the toys that (3)
played with? I remember that when I was young, I loved (4) play with matchbox cars
from Lego and spent (5) of my time in the sand box in the playground. (6)
adults would tell me, You are a girl, you (7) go inside and play with your dolls. Sure,
I loved my dolls, (8) I also loved the games the boys played.
1.
A. notice
B. notices
C. noticed
D. noticing
2.
A. up
B. on
C. at
D. in
3.
A. he
B. she
C. we
D. they
4.
A. to
B. in
C. as
5.
A. lot
B. few
C. more
6.
A. The
B. We
C. You
7.
A. never
B. ought
C. would
D. should
8.
A. as
B. so
C. but
D. since
D. most
PRACTICE 8
Questions 1 7 are based on the following passage.
A woman came out of her house and saw three old men with long white beards sitting in
her front yard. She did not recognize them but insisted on inviting them into her house.
One of the men __1__ up and said to her, We do not go into a house together. I am Love.
These are my friends, Wealth and Success. Then he said to __2__ woman, Go in and discuss
with your husband which one of us you would like to invite into your house.
After much __3__, the husband finally decided that they should invite Love in so that
they could have their house filled with love.
When Love started __4__ into the house, the other two men also got up and followed
him. Surprised, the woman asked, I only invited Love in, __5__ are you coming in as well?
The men replied together, If you had invited Wealth __6__ Success in, the two of us
would have stayed out but ____ you invited Love, where he goes, we will follow. Wherever there
is Love, there is always Wealth and Success.
stand
why
stood
when
stands
what
standing
and
an
but
the
or
approval
since
discussion
although
calculation
therefore
determination
despite
walk
walks
walked
walking
PRACTICE 9
Questions 1 - 7 are based on the following passage.
Herbs have become part and parcel of modern life. They are plants whose leaves, flowers
or seeds are used in medicine, to add taste to food, or for __1__ pleasant smell. Some cultures
simply cannot do without such herbs __2__ their food. In Thailand, lemon grass and lime leaves
are used in almost every dish. In Malaysia and Indonesia, local herbs are __3__ raw.
The use of herbs in these countries __4__ the taste of the food. As an example, mint
leaves are used to enhance the taste in laksa, a popular local noodle dish.
The highly aromatic curry leaf is __5__ essential item in Indian and Malay curries. This
culinary herb is used for __6__ curries. It is seldom eaten. Some people believe that the
consumption of curry leaves is good for ones health.
Many of these herbs have __7__ their way into the diets of people because of their
nutritional and health values. There are many more waiting to be explored.
(Adapted from Going Places Magazine, April 2005)
1
they
their
an
them
the
theirs
on
flavouring
at
flavoured
in
flavours
by
flavour
eat
find
ate
finds
eaten
found
eating
finding
assists
develops
discovers
enriches
PRACTICE 10
These days, the telephone has become an essential item in most homes. However, it can
also be the most annoying object, especially when it rings just as you are about to leave your
home. Most people usually .1. back inside to answer it. Is it really necessary to answer the
phone in this age of the answering machine and voice mail? After all, you can simply call
someone back .2. a more convenient time.
So why are people .3. to rush in to grab the phone before it stops ringing? The
answer is simple. Our .4. to a ringing phone is one of the few things in life that we have
absolutely no control over. The constant ringing .5., at times, interrupt special moments,
such as when families dine, play or read together. The issue of answering the phone during
.6. times can have drastic effects on family life. Richard Carlson offers this tip, Ask
yourself, Is .7. the phone at this moment going to make my life easier, or is it going to add
stress to my day?
1
A rush
B rushes
C rushed
D rushing
A at
B in
C on
D for
A excited
B tempted
C convinced
D persuaded
A response
B respond
C impulse
D answer
A can
B will
C must
D should
A this
B that
C these
D those
A answer
B answers
C answered
D answering
PRACTICE 11
Time has become a precious item. The phrase If only I had more time can be 1
everywhere. All over the world people are working longer hours and 2 to squeeze more into
each day.
Technology 3 is speeding things up. With laptops and mobile phones with hands-free
kit, one can multitask. Most people want a slower pace of life but enthusiastically sign 4 for
e-mailing, messaging services, evening classes and, ironically, time-management classes. The
end result is a lack of quality time to spend with 5 ones.
The idea of enjoying oneself, doing absolutely nothing, has become terrifying to people.
In the past, the rich had 6 of time to do nothing. Now the reverse is true. If you have time to
kill, it is a sign of low status. The rich are buying more time by employing housemaids, childminders and gardeners to 7 them at home. In this way they can work all the time. Why are
we putting stress on ourselves by working more and more?
A hear
B heard
C hearing
D is heard
A try
B tries
C tried
D trying
A really
B actually
C unusually
D extremely
A in
B up
C off
D out
A his
B her
C our
D their
A lots
B many
C much
A institute
B substitute
C reconstitute
D enough
PRACTICE 12
One day a professor at a college was discussing the dangers of alcohol with his class. He
presented a demonstration ..........(1) follows. He .(2) two beakers on his desk. He filled
one with water and the .(3) with clear alcohol. .(4) each beaker he dropped an
earthworm. In the beaker which .(5) water, the worm wriggled energetically. In the
beaker which contained alcohol, .(6), the worm wriggled once .(7) twice. Then it
died.
What .(8) you conclude from this demonstration? the professor asked the students. He
was .(9) the students had understood the demonstration.
A student at the back of the class raised his hand. If you drink alcohol, ..........(10) wont
have worms, he answered.
1.
A. so
B. as
C. for
D. like
2.
A. sit
B. set
C. sat
D. seat
3.
A. one
B. two
C. other
D. another
4.
A. On
B. Into
C. With
D. From
5.
A. contain
B. contains
C. contained
D. containing
6.
A. besides
B. because
C. however
D. therefore
7.
A. or
B. but
C. and
D. hence
8.
A. does
B. must
C. may
D. Can
9.
A. sure
B. right
C. correct
D. accurate
10.
A. I
B. it
C. he
D. you
PRACTICE 13
I could not believe my eyes when I walked into the living room of my house yesterday. I
saw .(1) brother Kasim lying face down on the floor. I tried to rouse him .(2) I
could not. He was unconscious. Fearing the worst, I .(3) for his pulse carefully and found
his heart beat. He was still alive. I searched .(4) cuts and bruises on his body but there
were none. It was as if he had fallen .(5) on the floor.
I looked around. Kasims school bag was on .(6) floor. Books spilt out of it and
one of the straps was .(7). A chair lay overturned on the floor.
.(8) had happened here, I wondered. Strangely, I felt calm and .(9) not
panic. I noted that all the windows .(10) shut. I had opened the door with a key when I
had entered. This proved that no one had broken in.
1.
A. I
B. my
C. me
D. mine
2.
A. but
B. or
C. so
D. and
3.
A. feel
B. felt
C. feels
D. to feel
4.
A. of
B. to
C. by
D. for
5.
A. sleep
B. slept
C. asleep
D. Sleeping
6.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D.
7.
A. break
B. broke
C. breaks
D. broken
8.
A. What
B. How
C. Which
D. Where
9.
A. do
B. did
C. does
D. doesnt
10.
A. has
B. was
C. were
D. have
PRACTICE 14
Is there such a thing as toys for girls and toys for boys? Have you ever ............. (1) that
when we were growing (2), our parents or the adults chose the toys that (3)
played with? I remember that when I was young, I loved (4) play with matchbox cars
from Lego and spent (5) of my time in the sand box in the playground. (6)
adults would tell me, You are a girl, you (7) go inside and play with your dolls. Sure,
I loved my dolls, (8) I also loved the games the boys played.
1.
A. notice
B. notices
C. noticed
D. noticing
2.
A. up
B. on
C. at
D. in
3.
A. he
B. she
C. we
D. they
4.
A. to
B. in
C. as
5.
A. lot
B. few
C. more
6.
A. The
B. We
C. You
7.
A. never
B. ought
C. would
D. should
8.
A. as
B. so
C. but
D. since
D. most
PRACTICE 15
There are many illnesses that we can succumb to. So we have to take good care of our
health to .(1) these illnesses. The common illnesses that inflict people are diabetes, cancer
and osteoporosis.
In the case of people suffering .(2) diabetes, the sugar in the blood is abnormally
high. Diabetes can cause many .(3). As for cancer, it is a complex disease and much is
still .(4) about it. Cancer is one of the main causes of death these days. Osteoporosis
occurs when the bones become more fragile. This usually happens with age. .(5),
weakening of bone can begin much earlier. One in two women over fifty will have an
osteoporosis-related fracture. Some .(6) start having this problem in their fifties. Another
health problem is related to the eyes. A normal healthy eye is .(7) by a fluid which has
pressure just like blood. Glaucoma, the damage in the optic nerve which carries images from the
eye to the brain is related to this type of pressure.
1.
A prevented
B prevent
C prevents
D preventing
2.
A from
B off
C at
3.
A complicate
B complicates
C complications
4.
A known
B unknown
C knowing
5.
A Although
B Therefore
C However
6.
A shall
B ought
C might
D should
7.
A covered
B closed
C restricted
D protected
D complicated
PRACTICE 16
The elephants .(1) our jungles are of the same species as other Asian elephants
found throughout .(2) tropical rainforests of mainland Southeast Asia. Past records show
that in Malaysia, elephants were abundant that we .(3) able to export them to Jawa for
work. The population .(4), began to dwindle as many were killed for their ivory tusks. As
more and more of the jungles .(5) being cleared for logging, agriculture .(6)
human settlements, elephants were being squeezed into ever-decreasing pockets of habitats.
There is .(7) concern in the Department of Wildlife and National Parks to protect this
endangered species.
1.
A inhibit
B inhibiting
C inhibits
D inhibited
2.
A the
B in
C at
D with
3.
A are
B was
C is
D were
4.
A although
B because
C however
D but
5.
A is
B are
C was
D were
6.
A and
B but
C by
D at
7.
A growing
B grow
C grows
D grew
PRACTICE 17
Despite its ban in 1983, boric acid, a .(1) preservative widely used in food
preparation, still gets into our body because of some .(2) traders.
Traces of boric acid are often found in noodles, dumplings, cakes and soya bean products.
It is also commonly used in (3) preservation such as in the preserving of fish and prawns
for export. According to a local consumer association, less than a teaspoon of this .(4)
preservative is enough to kill a child. Once inside our bloodstream, it attacks the liver and brain.
In severe cases, the .(5) person will drift into a coma and eventually die if medical
assistance is not provided early enough.
To ensure that the use of boric acid is not .(6), more effective measures must be
taken in the enforcement of its ban. .(7) fines should be imposed on the culprits and their
licences should also be withdrawn. These measures would surely deter other offenders from
engaging in this unethical act.
1.
A raw
B toxic
C tasty
D common
2.
A hopeful
B inexperienced
C irresponsible
D stingy
3.
A seafood
B edible
C animal
D vegetable
4.
A fatal
B lethal
C corrosive
5.
A sick
B affected
C victimised
D unfortunate
6.
A abused
B harmful
C careless
D overlooked
7.
A Heavy
B Strict
C Expensive
PRACTICE 18
It is important to know English well for several reasons. Students should take this subject
.(1). English, an international language, is used .(2) in the business world. A lot of
.(3) is carried out in English. Knowing English is useful if we want to travel to other
countries. People who want to do business overseas must know English. As the world gets
.(4) through rapid transport and technology, English increases in importance.
English is the main language used by Internet websites. We need to know English
.(5) to use the Internet as a source of information. Many books .(6) in the market
are in English. Of course, many have .(7) translated into other languages. However, it is
better to read them in the original language.
1.
A critically
B importantly
C gravely
D seriously
2.
A widely
B wide
C wider
D widest
3.
A communicate
B communicating
C communicated
4.
A small
B smaller
C smallest
5.
A so that
B in order
C such that
6.
A sell
B sells
C sold
7.
A be
B to be
C being
D communication
D though
D been
PRACTICE 19
Questions A E are based on the following passage.
She was walking back to 1. (her/hers) house when she heard the sound of a car
behind her. It sounded familiar. Wasnt it 2. (her/hers)? Why was 3. (her/hers) car
not in 4. (it/its/its) usual place under the tree?
She turned around. It was indeed 5. (her/hers) car. But there were two men driving
it. Who were they?
Stop! she shouted. Thats 6. (my/mine) car!
No, it isnt, they laughed. Its 7.(our/ours).
How could it be 8. (their/theirs), she wondered. It had 9 . (her/hers)
license plates. It was 10 . (her/hers) car. The men had stolen it.
A. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
a. When Mary ..(see) the advertisement of the job in the papers, she
(decide) to apply for it. She (send) the application last week but she
(not receive) a reply yet. She ..(hope) to hear from them
soon.
b. She ..(come) home late one night. She ..(pass) my house at exactly ten
oclock. I asked myself. What (happen) to her car? Did anyone .(steal)
it? I ...(keep) asking myself until I (fall) asleep.
c. My roommates and I (is/are) going to the cinema tonight. The movie

(start/starts) at eight and will probably end at ten-thirty. I
(hope/hopes) to catch a bus home and Susan may come with me.
It ..(is/are) dark where we (live/lives), Susan said to me. Will

we be safe?
The police (is/are) on duty every night, I assured her.
When will I (feel/feels) safe? she sighed.
I (am/is/are) not as afraid as Susan (am/is/are). The government
(has/have) promised to fix some street lights soon. My father (hope/hopes) it
will be tomorrow. I dont think it will happen that soon. Twenty kilometres (is/are) too
long a stretch for lights to be fixed so quickly.
B. Choose the correct form simple present or simple past.

It had been hot that evening until the rain had fallen. Nadia 1(steps/stepped)
into her cool new villa and 2 (slumps/slumped) into a large chair. She 3
(kicks/kicked) off her sandals and 4 (drops/dropped) her head into her hands. Then
she 5 (hears/heard) a cough. There 6 (is/was) someone in the house!
7(Is/Was) there someone there? she asked. 8 (Show/Showed)
yourself, whoever you 9 (are/were). Her only answer 10. (is/was) dead
silence.
E. Read the passage and choose the correct words in the brackets given.
In the city of Kuala Lumpur, there is a road named Jalan Yap Ah Loy. The road is named
after the man who 1(develops/developed) Kuala Lumpur from a small town to a major
city in the late 1800s. born in the Guangdong province of China on March 14, 1837, Yap Ah Loy
2(leaves/left) for Malacca to work at a tin mine. With some money 3
(saves/saved), he moved to Selangor and 4(starts/started) his own small business. The
business flourished and he eventually 5.(becomes/became) the Kapitan of Sungai
Ujong. In 1868, as the Kapitan of Kuala Lumpur, he 6(sees/saw) the potential of the
town and began to develop it into a city. Sadly, all his efforts
7.(was/were) destroyed in the Selangor Civil War during the period 1869 to 1873.
Despite this setback, Kapitan Yap Ah Loy never 8.(gives/gave) up on his dreams
of building Kuala Lumpur into a major city. He 9.(steps/stepped) up efforts to rebuild and
in 1880, Kuala Lumpur was officially 10(declares/declared) the state capital of
Selangor.
His
notable
achievements
11(includes/included)
infrastructural
developments, the first Chinese school, a prison and a tapioca mill in Jalan Petaling. Some local
people believed that Jalan Petaling 12.(is/was) still called Chee Cheong Gai (Tapioca
Mill Road in Chinese) because Yaps mill was located there.
After serving seventeen years as the Kapitan, Yap 13(dies/died) of bronchitis at
the age of forty-eight.
MODULE
FOR
LOWER ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
A. FORM AND FUNCTION OF ADJECTIVES

FORM
1. Adjectives are invariable:
They do not change their form depending on the gender or number of the noun.
A hot potato
Some hot
potatoes
2. To emphasise or strengthen the meaning of an adjective use 'very' or 'really':
A very hot potato
Some really hot potatoes.
(BUT see also Modifiers/Adverbs)

3. Position of adjectives:
a) Usually in front of a noun:
A beautiful girl.
b) After verbs like "to be", "to seem" , "to look", "to taste":
The girl is beautiful.

You look tired.
This meat tastes funny.
c) After the noun: in some fixed expressions:
The Princess Royal

The President elect
a court martial
The adjectives involved, present, concerned:

1. I want to see the people involved/concerned (= the people who have something to
do with the matter)
2. Here is a list of the people present (= the people who were in the building or at
the meeting)
Be careful! When these adjectives are used before the noun they have a different meaning:
An involved discussion = detailed, complex

A concerned father = worried, anxious
The present situation = current, happening now
FUNCTION
Adjectives tell us more about a noun.
They can:
Describe feelings or qualities:
He is a lonely man
They are honest people
Give nationality or origin:

Pierre is French
This clock is German
Our house is Victorian
Tell more about a thing's characteristics:
A wooden table.
The knife is sharp.
Tell us about age:
He's a young man
My coat is very old
Tell us about size and measurement:
John is a tall man.
This is a very long film.
Tell us about colour:
Paul wore a red shirt.
The sunset was crimson and gold.
Tell us about material/what something is made of:

It was a wooden table
She wore a cotton dress
Tell us about shape:
A rectangular box
A square envelope
Express a judgement or a value:
A fantastic film
Grammar is boring.
ORDER
Where a number of adjectives are used together, the order depends on the function of the
adjective. The usual order is:
Value/opinion, Size, Age/Temperature, Shape, Colour, Origin, Material

Value/opinion
delicious, lovely, charming
Size
small, huge, tiny
Age/Temperature old, hot, young

Shape
round, square, rectangular
Colour
red, blonde, black
Origin
Swedish, Victorian, Chinese
Material
plastic, wooden, silver
Examples:
a lovely old red post-box

some small round plastic tables
some charming small silver ornaments
B. COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES
FORMING THE COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE
Number of syllables
one syllable
tall
Comparative
+ -er
taller
Superlative
+ -est
tallest
One syllable with the spelling consonant + single vowel + consonant:

double the final consonant:
fat
fatter
fattest
big
bigger
biggest
sad
sadder
saddest
Number of syllables
Comparative
Superlative
two syllables
+ -er OR more + adj
+ -est OR most + adj
ending in: -y, -ly, -ow
ending in: -le, -er or -ure
these common adjectives - handsome, polite, pleasant, common, quiet
happy
happier/ more happy
happiest/ most happy
yellow
yellower/ more yellow
yellowest/ most yellow
simple
simpler/ more simple
simplest/ most simple
tender
tenderer/ more tender
tenderest/ most tender
If you are not sure, use MORE + OR MOST +

Note: Adjectives ending in '-y' like happy, pretty, busy, sunny, lucky etc:.
replace the -y with -ier or -iest in the comparative and superlative form
busy
busier
busiest
Number of syllables Comparative
three syllables or more more + adj
important
more important
Superlative
most + adj
most important
expensive
most expensive
more expensive
Examples:
a. A cat is fast, a tiger is faster but a cheetah is the fastest
b. A car is heavy, a truck is heavier, but a train is the heaviest
c. A park bench is comfortable, a restaurant chair is more comfortable, but a sofa is the most
comfortable
IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

These adjectives have completely irregular comparative and superlative forms:
Adjective
good
bad
little
much
far
Comparative
better
worse
less
more
further / farther
Superlative
best
worst
least
most
furthest / farthest
THE + SUPERLATIVE
'the' is placed before the superlative:
For example:
He is the richest man in the world.

That is the biggest crocodile I have ever seen.
She is the tallest girl in her class.
COMPARATIVE + THAN
To compare the difference between two people, things or events.
Examples:
Mt. Everest is higher than Mt. Blanc.

Thailand is sunnier than Norway.
A car is more expensive than a bicycle.
Albert is more intelligent than Arthur.
AS + ADJECTIVE + AS
To compare people, places, events or things, when there is no difference, use as + adjective +
as:
Peter is 24 years old. John is 24 years old. Peter is as old as John.
More examples:
Moscow is as cold as St. Petersburg in the winter.

Ramona is as happy as Raphael.
Einstein is as famous as Darwin.
A tiger is as dangerous as a lion.
NOT AS + ADJECTIVE + AS
Difference can also be shown by using not so/as ...as:
Mont Blanc is not as high as Mount Everest

Norway is not as sunny as Thailand
A bicycle is not as expensive as a car
Arthur is not as intelligent as Albert
COMPARISONS OF QUANTITY
To show difference: more, less, fewer + than
To show no difference: as much as , as many as, as few as, as little as
Examples:
With countable nouns: more / fewer
Eloise has more children than Chantal.

Chantal has fewer children than Eloise.
There are fewer dogs in Cardiff than in Bristol
I have visited fewer countries than my friend has.
He has read fewer books than she has.
With uncountable nouns: more / less
Eloise has more money than Chantal.

Chantal has less money than Eloise.
I spend less time on homework than you do.
Cats drink less water than dogs.
This new dictionary gives more information than the old one.
So, the rule is:

MORE + nouns that are countable or uncountable
FEWER + countable nouns
LESS + uncountable nouns
To show no difference: as much as , as many as, as few as, as little as
as many as / as few as + countable nouns

as much as / as little as + uncountable nouns
Examples:
With countable nouns:
They have as many children as us.

We have as many customers as them.
Tom has as few books as Jane.
There are as few houses in his village as in mine.
You know as many people as I do.
I have visited the States as many times as he has.
With uncountable nouns:
John eats as much food as Peter.

Jim has as little food as Sam.
You've heard as much news as I have.
He's had as much success as his brother has.
They've got as little water as we have.
PRACTICE 1
Adjective Opposites
First, underline the adjective in each sentence below. Then, write
the opposite of the adjective in the blank next to the sentence.

Example: The radio was very loud. __soft___________
1. The children were all happy. _________________
2. The towels were wet. _________________
3. Joey picked apples from the tallest tree. _________________
4. The young man bought a newspaper. _________________
5. Betty drank a glass of warm milk. _________________
6. It is a windy day. _________________
7. The books were on the top shelf. _________________
8. Frankie's bedroom is messy. _________________
9. Do you like thick milkshakes? _________________
10. Aunt Margaret drives an old car. _________________
11. Please put the sharp knives in the drawer. _________________
12. Kelly is the fastest swimmer on our team. _________________
13. Mitch has long hair on his head. _________________
14. I cannot believe how dark this room is. _________________
15. I had fresh bread with jelly for breakfast. _________________
ANSWER KEY
Adjective Opposites
First, underline the adjective in each sentence below. Then, write
the opposite of the adjective in the blank next to the sentence.
Example: The radio was very loud. __soft___________

Answers may vary slightly in the opposites column.
1. The children were all happy. sad
2. The towels were wet. dry
3. Joey picked apples from the tallest tree. shortest
4. The young man bought a newspaper. old
5. Betty drank a glass of warm milk. cool
6. It is a windy day. calm
7. The books were on the top shelf. bottom
8. Frankie's bedroom is messy. neat
9. Do you like thick milkshakes? thin
10. Aunt Margaret drives an old car. new
11. Please put the sharp knives in the drawer. dull
12. Kelly is the fastest swimmer on our team. slowest
13. Mitch has long hair on his head. short
14. I cannot believe how dark this room is. light
15. I had fresh bread with jelly for breakfast. stale
PRACTICE 2
Adjective or Adverb?
Adjectives describe nouns. Adverbs describe verbs.

The yellow basket was full of toys.
The word yellow describes the basket.
Since basket is a noun, the word yellow is an adjective.
She quickly typed an e-mail.
The word quickly describes how she typed.
Since typed is a verb, the word quickly is an adverb.
Directions: Circle the correct words in parenthesis below.
1. The fat duck ate a fish.
The word fat describes ( the duck / the fish ).
Duck is a ( noun / verb ).
Fat is an ( adjective / adverb ).
2. The boy yells louder than anyone else.
The word louder describes ( how the boy yells / the boy ).
The word yells is a ( noun / verb ).
Louder is an ( adjective / adverb ).
3. We ate the hot soup.
The word hot describes (the soup / how we ate the soup ).
The word soup is a ( noun / verb ).
Hot is an ( adjective / adverb ).
4. Grandpa walked slowly to the garage.
The word slowly describes (grandpa / how grandpa walked ).
The word walked is a ( noun / verb ).
Slowly is an ( adjective / adverb ).
5. Marla patiently waited her turn.
The word patiently describes (how Marla waited / Marla ).
The word waited is a ( noun / verb ).
Patiently is an ( adjective / adverb ).
ADVERBS
An adverb is a word that describes an action verb.
An adverb can describe how an action happens.
example: Jason quickly read the book.
How did Jason read? Quickly.

An adverb can describe when an action happens.
example: We went to the store yesterday?
When did we go? Yesterday.
An adverb can describe where an action happens.
example: He put the paper here.
Where did he put the paper? Here.
PRACTICE 3
Directions: An action verb is underlined in each sentence. Circle
the adverb that describes the verb.
1. I carefully glued the last piece onto the model.

2. Francis played on the beach yesterday.
3. I will visit my friend tomorrow.
4. George, will you come here?
5. They swam lazily in the pool.
6. Neil slowly placed a card on the card house.
7. They cheerfully sing songs.
8. Nathan stamped his feet angrily.
9. My father snored loudly on the couch.
10. Sam accidentally slipped on the ice.
11. Yesterday, they played a game.
12. The truck grumbled loudly.
13. We will go to the concert soon.
14. The boy waited patiently for the computer to load.
15. Kayla finally arrived at the park.
16. My mother nicely reminded me to do my homework.
17. The kitten walked there.
18. I usually lock the car door.
19. My dog always barks.
20. Peter neatly wrote a shopping list.
21. I carefully glued the last piece onto the model.
22. Francis played on the beach yesterday.
23. I will visit my friend tomorrow.
24. George, will you come here?
25. They swam lazily in the pool.
26. Neil slowly placed a card on the card house.
27. They cheerfully sing songs.
28. Nathan stamped his feet angrily.
29. My father snored loudly on the couch.

30. Sam accidentally slipped on the ice.
31. Yesterday, they played a game.
32. The truck grumbled loudly.
33. We will go to the concert soon.
34. The boy waited patiently for the computer to load.
35. Kayla finally arrived at the park.
36. My mother nicely reminded me to do my homework.
37. The kitten walked there.
38. I usually lock the car door.
39. My dog always barks.
40. Peter neatly wrote a shopping list.
ADVERBS
Adverbs : How, When and Where
Adverbs tell how, when, or where an action happens.
Examples:
Mr. Star neatly painted his house.
The adverb neatly describes how Mr. Star painted.
Beth usually goes to the store on Saturday.
The adverb usually describes when Beth goes to the store.
Kathy went inside the blue house.
The adverb inside describes where Kathy went.
Directions: Read each sentence. Decide whether the underlined adverb is
describing when, where, or how an action happens. Write how,
when, or where on each line.
1. Jeremy quickly ate his lunch. ________________
2. Kaylee often reads books about vampires. ________________
3. Olivia immediately came to the rescue. ________________
4. When will you come here to visit us? ________________
5. Marcus slowly walked to the barber shop. ________________
6. Sometimes Martin goes to the museum. ________________
7. Please speak clearly. ________________
PRACTICE 4
Directions: Read each sentence. Decide whether the underlined adverb is
describing when, where, or how an action happens. Write how,
when, or where on each line.

1. Jeremy quickly ate his lunch. how
2. Kaylee often reads books about vampires. when
3. Olivia immediately came to the rescue. when
4. When will you come here to visit us? where
5. Marcus slowly walked to the barber shop. how
6. Sometimes Martin goes to the museum. when
7. Please speak clearly. How
ADVERBS
An adverb is a word that describes an action verb.
playfully carefully sincerely slowly happily
quickly patiently loudly quietly safely

Directions: Fill in the blank lines with the adverb that best fits each
sentence. Use the adverbs in the word box above.
1.) Sarah skipped ____________down the street to see her friend.
2.) The team ran ______________ towards the finish line to win the race.
3.) The librarian told the kids to read their books ________________.
4.) The cat chased the ball around _________________.
5.) Dan waited _______________ for his turn to hit the puck.
6.) The turtle walked ____________ and couldnt keep up with the rabbit.
7.) Sharon chose the answers for her test ______________ so she would pass.
8.) Mike saw there were no cars coming so he could cross the street
_______________.
9.) The kids shouted __________________ as they played in gym class.
10.) We say the pledge of allegiance ________________ because we love our
country.
ADVERBS
Adverbs can tell how, when, or where an action takes place.
Many adverbs that tell how an action takes place end wit the letters -ly.
Circle the adverb in each sentence. One sentence will have two adverbs. Can you
find it?
1. I want that game badly.
2. They cried loudly.
3. Sloths move slowly.
4. They eventually found the restaurant.
5. The children squealed cheerfully at the park.
6. Their mother thoughtfully and carefully devised a plan.
7. The car sped quickly through the neighborhood.
8. You have performed poorly on the project.
9. We rarely see a comet.
EXERCISES
PRACTICE
High Crime Rates
Due to the high crime rate in the city today, many people prefer to stay at home. They
__(1)__ watch television or surf the Net or listen to music. They fear __(2)__ their
home after dark. This mean that city people are getting __(3)__ lonely. But man is a
social creature. We need companionship to __(4)__.. Close __(5)__ is normally
achieved through family, marriage and friendship. It is in the family that we find
__(6)__ first deep companionship. In the family, we are bonded __(7)__ our parents
and siblings as well. We may also find __(8)__ relationships within our extended
family, for instance, with and uncle or grandparents. Most family relationships are
time-bound.
1.
A as well as
B neither
C either
D both
2.
A left
B leave
C leaves
D to leave
3.
A increases
B increased
C increasing
D increasingly
4.
A survive
B survived
C survival
D surviving
5.
A companion
B companionable
C companionship
D companionably
6.
A my
B our
C ours
their
7.
A at
B to
C off
D from
8.
A love
B loves
C loved
D loving
PREPOSITIONS
A Preposition is placed before a noun or pronoun to show the relation between this noun or
pronoun and some other word in the sentence.
Examples : --
Put his book on the table.

Give this book to him.
Note - The noun or prooun placed after the preposition is called its Object
In the above sentences, the noun " table " is the object of the preposition " on " ; and the pronoun
" him " is the object of the preposition " to ".
The following list contains some other examples of the preposition : -( a ) A lamp is hung above my head.
( b ) He sailed across the sea.
( c ) He returned after many days
( d ) He is not at home just now.
( e ) He stands before the door
( f ) The dog ran behind its master.
( g ) He stood below me in the class
( h ) I sat beside him.
( i ) There is nothing in the room besides a table.
( j ) You must be back by four o'clock.
( k ) He does this sum for his calssmate.
( l ) He came from school.
( m ) Go into the garden.
( n ) He sent me a box of books
( p ) He sat under the tree.
( q ) He killed the bird with a stone.
RATIONAL CLOZE
Practice 1
What is your reaction when someone does something to hurt you? ....................(1)
you forgive the person? Or do you pent ............................(2) all the hurt and anger
inside? Unforgiveness is not a good thing to have in our heart. It has been
.......................(3) that unforgiveness can cause physical ailments. This may appear
as a surprise to many, ........................(4) it is true. Imagine someone has hurt you
and you happen to see the person. If you haven't forgiven that person, your
..............................(5) reaction will be to get angry. ......................(6) will raise
your blood pressure. Getting angry frequently will also raise your chances of
...........................(7) heart attack. Psychologically, getting angry will ruin your outlook
in life and destroy your peace ..............................(8) mind. This may lead to anxiety,
sleeplessness and a host of other ailments that are interconnected with each other.
Practice 1
1.
A Did
B Do
C Does
2.
A down
B out
C up
D across
3.
A prove
B proves
C proven
D proving
4.
A and
B but
C or
5.
A second
B last
C first
D final
6.
A Joy
B Peace
C Kindness
D Anger
7.
A a
B an
C the
8.
A of
B by
C with
D along
Practice 2
There are a lot of islands located in the north west of Peninsular Malaysia.
There ..........................(1) an archipelago of islands called the Isles of Langkawi.
The 104 islands which are part of this group have been .........................(2)
legendary. ........................(3) to folklore, the name 'Langkawi' originates from
the ancient words 'lang' and 'kawi' which when combined ..........................(4)
'brown eagle'. True to .........................(5) name, one can commonly see
brown eagles soaring on high encircling airspace of chain of islands. These
magnificient birds of prey look like the rulers of .............................(6) skies.
Often, eagles nest ..............................(7) the highest rocky peaks along the
coastlines of the islands and mountains. They build their nests to teach their
young to ............................(8). A mother eagle teaches its young to fly by
repeatedly kicking it out of the nest and catching it before it touches the
ground until the eaglet learns to flap its own wings and fly.
1.
A are
B is
C was
D were
2.
A calling
B calls
C called
3.
A Listen
B Told
C As
D According
4.
A meaning
B meant
C means
D mean
5.
A your
B their
C our
D its
6.
A an
B the
C a
7.
A on
B at
C in
8.
A run
B swim
C fly
D hop
Practice 3
Good morning to the Principal, teachers, and my fellow students. my speech today is
..............................(1) 'Using Plants to Beautify Our School'. When we look at our
natural surroundings, we can see that it is mostly the plants that

.............................(2) life and beauty to a place. So, ......................(3) don't we tap
into this natural beauty in order to make our school environment more conducive to
learning? The first thng we can do is increase the number and variety of potted plants
in .............................(4) school. It is best if each class takes the time and effort to do
this - .........................(5) as a class project or as an extracurricular activity. The
...............................(6) thing we can do is conduct regular 'gotong-royong' or
cleaning up sessions to properly maintain the readily existing plants in our school.
There is already too much for the school gardeners to handle and perhaps we can
lend ...........................(7) a hand in the less streneous activities. We can weed and
water the plants near our classrooms and even sculpt plants according
............................(8) our own creative designs using wire moulds. I hope you will
share my excitement in this endeavour. Thank you for listening.
1.
A named
B nicknamed
C titled
2.
A give
B gave
C giving
D given
3.
A when
B how
C who
D why
4.
A their
B my
5.
C our
D his
A may be
B perhaps
C such
6.
first
B sixth
C third
D second
7.
A her
B us
C them
D ourselves
8.
A to
B by
C with
Each question in the text below refers to a numbered blank. For each question, fill in the blank with
a suitable answer. Choose the answer from the list of words given below. Write your answers in
the space provided. Some words may be used more than once.
Last weekend I visited Haris. He just moved into his new house in Taman Orkid. He
took me around his house. The____________ _ (1) of the house is very attractive. He showed me
his bedroom. He has a big and spacious bedroom. His bed is made of_____________ (2)
teakwood. He has a small cupboard. He___________ (3) and keeps his clothes in it. In
one_____________ (4) of his room sits a marble table, where he does his homework.
The_____________ (5) of the table is smooth and nice to touch. Haris has a huge collection of
Enid Blyton story books. I could hardly_______________ (6) the number of books. They were
neatly_______________ (7) on a shelf at another_______________(8) of the room.
THE END

Module On Cloze Passage 3

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Module On Cloze Passage 3

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PN. FADZILLAH ABDUL GHANi

An adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun by describing, identifying, or quantifying words.

An adjective often precedes the noun or the pronoun which it modifies.

her new car

Some adjectives can be used to give your opinion about something.

"Books are expensive." = (All books are

Indefinite articles - a and an (determiners)

We say "hour" with a silent h as though it were spelt "our".

a = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same

an = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same

Adverbs as modifiers (adverbs in adverbial functions)

An adverb modifies an adjective

An adverb modifies an adverb

An adverb modifies a clause

An adverb modifies a sentence

- from a present participle

- from a past participle

At the front (prior to the subject)

At the end of the sentence

Adverbs of place (location, direction) - answer the question Where?

Adverbs of degree - answer the question How much?

Noun phrase + noun phrase

We have tickets for the symphony and

The orchestra rehearses on Tuesday, but

Have you seen or heard the drama by

I wanted to sit in the front of the balcony,

Not onlybut also

Examples and sentences:

Both my sister and my brother play the piano.

Tonights menu is either western or Italian.

Neither Lisa nor Ebby will be able to join us in

Examples and sentences:

We are going out to eat after we finish our discussion.

Since we dont have much money, we walk to school.

While I was waiting for my laundry, I did my assignment.

I admire her paintings because she uses colours so brilliantly.

Gerunds are sometimes called "verbal nouns".

In this lesson, we look at how we use gerunds.

Gerunds as Subject, Object or Complement

Gerunds after Certain Verbs

Gerunds in Passive Sense

Gerunds as Subject, Object or Complement

Smoking costs a lot of money.

My favourite occupation is reading.

Smoking cigarettes costs a lot of money.

My favourite occupation is reading detective stories.

the making of Titanic

his drinking of alcohol

a settling of debts (not a settling debts)

The making of "Titanic" was expensive.

My favourite niece is reading.

Reading as gerund (noun)

reading as present participle (verb)

Gerunds after Prepositions

I will call you after arriving at the office.

I am looking forward to meeting you.

Do you object to working late?

Tara always dreams about going on holiday.

I will call you after my arrival at the office.

I am looking forward to our lunch.

Do you object to this job?