ENGLISH LANGUAGE EXERCISES

BIBBY ANAC GREIGHT

LANGUAGE
USAGE AND
STRUCTURE
Read through the following passages in order to become familiar with their
meaning before filling each blank space with the most appropriate verb
from the list given below each passage.

THE INTERVIEW (Marks 10)

The servant 1…..at six o’clock and after she had 2…..the fire, she 3…..the
porridge and 4…..the table. The master of the house 5…..down to breakfast and
after he had 6…..the paper, 7.….off to the office. There he 8…..all morning
until the clock 9…..Twelve when he 10…..for dinner.
List of words
Laid, went, rose, lit, returned, worked, struck, read, sat, cooked.

THE POST OFFICE (Marks 10)

What a variety of business the post office does! When you go past the 1…..of
numbered boxes, and the posting boxes, the stamp vending machine, the
telephone booth-you are not even inside, and see what there is already!
Every letter you post has to have its 2…..Every parcel has to be 3.….so that so
that its postage can be calculated. Envelopes containing items of value have to
be 4…..and special parcels have to be 5…..Some things cannot be sent at all,
because they are 6…..or perishable.
Money can be sent in many ways. The worst is to fold notes and put them in an
7…..though if you register it your money may be safe. It is better to buy
8…..for purchaser pays a small commission, keeping the 9..… as proof of
purchase. 10…..is safest of all, for it is the duty of the post office to pay it out
only to the named consignee.
Perhaps one day you will work in a post office yourself, who knows, you may
even be postmaster with a post office of your own. How proud you would feel
to be part of this wonderful organisation!
List of words
Counterfoil, postal orders, a money order, envelope, dangerous, insured,
weighted, registered, stamp, rows
EARTHQUAKES (Marks 10)
If you a)….. a stone into a pool of water, waves b)…..out across the water. If
the earth is c).…,shock waves d)…..outwards. in the same way, we have all e)..
…the earth shake when the train f)…..by. the earth shakes much more violently
when there is an earthquake. What happens is that the earth g)…..suddenly,
causing shockwaves to ripple outwards.
Earthquakes usually occur when forces deep in the earth h)…..the earth’s crust
too much. The hard rocks of the crust i)…..along its old cracks. Earthquakes
may also occur when volcanoes j)…..
List of words
Break, erupt, moves, strain, drop, shaken, ripple, travel, passes, felt

OBAMA’S NAME SELLS LIKE HOTCAKES (Marks 10)

Barack Hussein Obama was 1…..American President on 4 November 2008. He
is the first African American President to 2..…that office. His late father Obama
Senior 3…..from Kenya. Obama is a 4.….name in his own country and
throughout the world. Business people have become very rich 5…..clothing
with Obama label. Pet animals have also not 6…..being named Obama.
In Africa, the name Obama is on our lips because we think he will 7.….all our
problems since he is the “son of the soil”. The American people and the rest of
us have a lot of 8..…in him to deliver his promise “We can do it”. but after all is
said and done, we in Africa shall still 9..…up to be 10.….with the same
problems of poverty.
List of names
Came, selling, faced, solve, elected, occupy, hopes, popular, wake, escaped.

DEAR THABO (Marks 10)

Many thanks for your letter which I 1..…two days ago. Congratulations on your
promotion. The 2…..you did in the holidays was not 3.….
Our school examinations 4..… tomorrow and I hope I do as well as you 5…… I
have been 6..…my notes every night for the last two weeks. I haven’t 7.….time
for leisure. However, I did go to 8..…the soccer final between my school and
Mountain Kingdom High School yesterday. It was 9..…and went into extra-
time after one-one draw at full time. Our school scored the winning goal in the
dying minutes.
After that, everyone was looking at his watch and wondering when the whistle
would blow and there the whistle went! Phew! We were relived.
I am looking forward to 10.….from you soon.
Yours sincerely
Sandile
List of words
Exciting, start, found, received, did, studying, hearing, revising, wasted,
watch
 LANGUAGE
USAGE AND
APPROPRIACY
 TENSE
a. Fill in the blank in each sentence with the simple present tense of the verb given in
brackets.
1. The children………………..(play) soccer.
2. Mary …………………….(go) to church.
3. We usually ………………(take) a taxi to school.
4. The tourists………………..(arrive) by an aeroplane.
5. The baby…………………..(cry) at night.

b. Fill in the blank in each sentence with the simple past tense of the verb given in
brackets.
1. We ………………(visit) Mafeteng yesterday.
2. Traffic …………….(move) slowly at peak hours.
3. They ………………(buy) a new house last month.
4. He …………………(catch) many fish during his last vacation.
5. She ………………...(bring) me a lot of mangoes.

c. Change the verbs in brackets to past tense.

(a) I ……(discover) something new every day.
(b) You …..(forget) my birthday again.
(c) You and your friends …..(are) late for school.
(d) They …… (discuss) the problem.
(e) He …..(think) carefully before he…..(speak).
(f) He …..(be) a good student.
(g) We….(take) many photos of the city.
 QUESTION TAGS

Add a correct question tag to each statement.

1. You won’t tell my secret.
2. There are five potatoes in the pot.
3. I am the only girl in the family.
4. Thabo isn’t at home this morning.
5. You know my father.

Underline the correct Question tags in brackets to complete the statements below.
E.g. You like your new school.
(did you?, don’t you, doesn’t you?)
Answer: You like your new school, don’t you?
1. She is the best teacher in our class,……………..?
(is she?, aren’t she?, isn’t she?)
2. Thabo has not gone home this weekend,…………?
(has he?, hasn’t he?, did he?)
3. The principal was not in the office yesterday,…………..?
(wasn’t he?, weren’t he?, was he?)
4. I arrived late at school today,…………..?
(did i?, didn’t I?, don’t I? )
5. I am not accepting your apology,…………?
(amn’t I?, aren’t I?, am I?)
 PASSIVE VOICE

Change the following sentences into the passive voice.

a) The police found him.
b) They are milking the cows
c) We buy food from the market.
d) Someone has stolen my watch.
e) People speak English all over the world.
f) They canned Mr. Koali into signing the contract.
g) They have advised Neo to resign.
h) The cheap sale attracts many customers.
i) Someone may steal Mpho’s cell phone.
j) My mother will punish me if I get home after 7pm.
 INDIRECT & DIRECT SPEECH

1. Change the following into indirect/reported speech. (Marks 20)

Example: “Stand up!” the teacher ordered her.

Answer: The teacher ordered her to stand up.

a. He said, “It is going to rain tonight.”

b. They say, “What a beautiful place!
c. They said, “What is your name?”
d. We said, “Put the books here.”
e. He says, “Please help me.
f. “What is the matter?” she asked
g. “I agree with them.” Said the small girl.
h. “They have done it.” remarked the boy.
i. “Criminals will be punished,” the policeman warned them.
j. “I am travelling to town tomorrow,” Teboho told his mother.

2. Re-write the sentences bellow correctly in reported speech. In each case use the
reporting verb given in brackets.
(a) “I hate vegetable soup.” Sarah said. (complained)
(b) “Next year, we will all visit Katse Dam,” Mr. Frag told his class. (promised)
(c) “I don’t think your homework is good enough,” Miss Sharp told Sibongile.
(explained)
(d) “I think we should all learn the national anthem,” Puleng said to her friends.
(suggested)
(e) “No man is an island,” The teacher said. (told)

3. Re-write the following sentences as it would have been said in direct speech.
a. The angry man yelled that he hates cats.
b. Thato agreed that Lesotho is beautiful.
c. Miss Liteboho said that Lintle is an excellent student.
d. Ntate Setenane said to go get him some water and then help other students pick up
rubbish.
e. Mamojalefa asked if I could lend her my pen.
 CHOOSE SUITABLE WORDS

1. Complete each of the sentences below by choosing a suitable word from the list
below.

E.g. He is an…………. (orator/talkative) who moves the public at rallies.

Answer: He is an orator who moves the public at rallies.

a. The …………… in the church were charmed by the priest.

b. The new students were supplied with……………
c. The ……………enjoyed the football match between Bantu and Linare.
d. The ……….was dressed in a marvellous wedding gown.
e. The guest speaker thrilled the ………..with her motivational speech.
List of words
Stationery, bride, audience, congregation, spectators, orator

2. Underline the correct word in the brackets which fits in the sentences below.
E.g. We were all promoted to Grade 10 ………. Sello. (except/expect)
Answer: We were all promoted to Grade 10 except Sello.

a. My young brother was ..… by the snake. (bitten/beaten)

b. Our school was …..by Hope High School in school. (bitten/beaten)
c. The …..for the new government school was approved by the chief. (site/sight)
d. I have to see an optician to check my eye ….. (site/sight)
e. There is …..of water in the school. (luck/lack)
f. He always arrives…..for his appointment. (late/lately)
g. The butcher is ill, his shop has not been open …..(late/lately)
h. ‘Mapuleng looked …..unhappy when I last saw her yesterday. (fairly/rather)
i. His work has always been…..satisfactory. (fairly/rather)
j. The mark was so small that I could …..see it. (hard/hardly)

3. Choose the correct word from the brackets

i. Richard and David like……
(each other, one another)
ii. ……of them was present.
(both, none)
iii. He ran quickly ……the room.
 (in, into)
iv. When he was in Durban he…..ill.
(fell, got)
v. ……is looking for me?
(whom. who)
 PROFESSIONS

1. Choose the professional name given to a person who:

a) Repairs blocked sinks, toilets and drain?
b) Extracts teeth and fills cavities?
c) Examines eyes and prescribes spectacles?
d) Prepares and sells drugs and medicines?
e) Is hired to drive important people?

List of professions
Chauffer, dentist, chemist, ophthalmologist, plumber

2. Fill in the spaces

a) A person who looks after sheep is…
b) A person who writes poems is…
c) A person who examines people’s teeth…
d) A person who makes corrections in books is…
e) A person who breaks in houses to steal is…
f) A person who sells flowers is…
g) A person who bakes bread is…
h) A person who works in a library is…
i) A person who carries luggage is…
j) A person who keeps records is…
k) A person who buries the dead is…
l) A person who makes locks and keys is…
m) A person who investigates crimes is…
n) A person who repairs shoes…
 COMPLETE THE TABLES
(a)
VERB NOUN ADJECTIVE
(a) rely reliability reliable
(b) horrify horror
(c) celebration celebratory
(d) hunger hungry
(e) navigation navigable
(f) nauseate nausea
(g) success successful
(h) advise advisory
(i) envy envy
(j) embarrass embarrassment
(k) hatred hateful
(l) interest interest
(m) act action

(b)
POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
1. good best
2. many more
3. beautiful more beautiful
4. cleverer cleverest
5. busy busier
6. scary
7. funny

(c)
BASIC FORM PAST TENSE PAST PARTICIPLE
1. catch caught
2. stole stolen
3. destroy destroyed
4. stop stopped
5. see seen
6. eat eaten

(d)
FEMININE NOUNS MASCULINE NOUNS
Cow bull
1. Eve
2. queen
3. sheikha
4. princess
5. bride
6. spinster
7. aunt
8. widow
9. mother
10. daughter
11. sister
12. niece
13. Luna
14. ewe
15. mare
16. bitch
17. lioness
18. sow

(e)
PARENTS CHILDREN
Mare foal
1. ewe
2. sow
3. bitch
4. lioness
5. cow
6. cat
7. nanny goat
8.

(f)
ANIMALS HOUSE
Cow kraal
1. rabbit
2. lion
3. horse
4. bees
5. birds
6. wolves
7. dog
8. pig
9. eagle
10. pigeon
11. monk
12. nun
13. parson
14. soldier
15. King/Queen
16. Eskimo
17. gypsy
18. convict
19. mentally unstable
20. student
21. spring hare
22. wild beast
23. tame rabbit
24. fowl

(g)
ANIMALS MEAT FORM
1. Cow
2. Calf
3. Deer
4. Sheep
5. Pig
6. Wild animals
(g)
SINGULAR PLURAL
1. Cargo
2. Cannon
3. Datum
4. Formula
5. Chief

(h)
WHERE? PLACE
1. Where a doctor examines his patients
2. Where dead people are buried
3. Where grapes are cultivated
4. Where bricks are made
5. Where ships are built
6. Where ships are loaded or discharged
7. Where valuables are kept
8. Where leather is made
9. Where grain is stored
10. Where rifles/arms are kept
11. Where motors are repaired
12. Where art is sold or showcased
13. A large room for hospital patients
14. Where clothes are washed and ironed
15. Where water is collected and stored
16. Where wild animals are protected in
their natural state
17. Where water and plants are found I the
desert
18. Where chemistry experiments are
carried out
19. Where young plants are reared or a
room for the use of small children
20. Where stuffed animals, very old objects
etc. can be seen

(i)
ANIMALS SOUNDS
1. bees
2. apes
3. bears
4. bull
5. cows
6. calves
7. camel
 8. cats
9. chickens
10. dogs
11. donkeys
12. doves
13. duck
14. eagles
15. elephants
16. flies
17. frogs
18. geese
19. goats
20. grasshoppers
21. hanks
22. hens
23. horses
24. hyenas
25. jackals
26. kittens
27. lambs
28. lions
29. mice
30. monkey
31. owls
32. oxen
33. parrots
34. pigeons
35. pigs
36. puppies
37. seagulls
38. sheep
39. snakes
40. sparrows
41. swans
42. telephone
43. clock
44. water
45. engine
46. brakes
47. steam
48. fire

(j)
SUBJECT ACTION
a. snake bites
1. lightening
2. rain
3. river
4. river (too much water)
 5. wind
6. clock
7. plane
8. dog
9. bee (by attacking)
10. frog (movement)
11. cat
12. baby

(k)
NOUN COLLECTIVE
1. birds
2. mountain
3. monkeys
4. chicken
5. grapes
6. cattle
7. workmen
8. firemen
9. papers
10. teeth
11. rubbish
12. bees
13. wool
14. clouds
15. flats
16. fish
17. hooligans
18. stamps
19. spectators
20. vehicles
21. people at church
22. searchers
23. sheep
24. orange
25. friends
 MANNERS
Choose the most appropriate response to the following situations. Circle the letter of the
answer you have chosen.
Example:
Your friend brings you a birthday present and you want to thank him. What do you
say:
A I thought as much.
B Presents are always good
C Thanks ever so much!
D You shouldn’t have bothered.

1. Someone appreciates your help in solving a problem.

A Ok. It is fine.
B That is what I do every now and then.
C Thank you. You are most welcome.
D See you when you need help.

2. Someone meets you at the school gate and says “How do you do?”
Your reply
A I am quite fine.
B How do you do?
C I am doing well with God’s grace.
D I am not doing well at all.

3. You met someone and developed friendship at a competition. When he thanks you
for the company.
Your reply
A It was a pleasure meeting. Hope we meet again.
B Oh no! I wish I never met you.
C Good riddance, you bored me stiff.
D Next time, try to be nice.
4. A person passes by your home and ask for a glass of water to drink. After
finishing the water, he asks for more water in a glass.
Your reply
A Excuse me, now you are asking too much.
B No, you are finishing my water.
C I’m sorry, that is all what I have.
D Thank you, I am at your service, I will give you some more.

5. A friend has requested for your company at a party. You are unable to accompany
her.
Your reply
A Thanks for the invitation but I can’t make it due to reasons beyond my control.
B I am no longer interested in going to parties.
C Why me? Try someone else.
D Try your luck next time.

6. Someone meets you in Maseru and asks you, “Do you remember me?”
Your reply
A How do I remember everybody I meet in the street?
B Why should I remember you?
C I am sorry, I can’t remember, kindly remind me where we possible met.
D I am sorry I’m not a computer to memorise people’s faces and names.

7. You want to get into a taxi which is already full and you think you can squeeze
yourself next to a fat woman. What will you say?
A No heavy weights in front!
B May I please sit with you!
C Try to slim a bit!
D How do people allow themselves to get fat?

8. Thetso Morai picks up a ringing phone and a voice from the other side says, “May
I speak to Thetso Morai, please.” What should he say?
A I am Thetso Morai. Who are you?
B Exactly
C This is my phone.
D Speaking

9. A man approaches you and says, “Are you not Tefo’s sister?” How will you
reply?
A I am not a look-alike
B Who is Tefo?
C I am sorry, you’re mistaken.
D Do I look like her?
10. You are asked to pray for some students who are going to sit for their final
examinations. Yu will say:
A Lord! May you help them pass their examinations.
B Lord! Let those who have worked hard pass.
C Lord! I am praying for those who deserve to pass.
D Lord! This world is not my home.

11. You come to school late because you had transport problems. How will you
apologise to your teacher?
A Sir, my transport.
B I am sorry; I had a problem with transport.
C Sir! The taxi was not there.
D There were no taxis.