
This is a worksheet for students preparing for the Cambridge C2 Proficiency exam. It’s designed as a revision activity for a lot of the expressions, collocations and phrasal verbs that come up in the use of English paper. Download the handout and answer key below:
Verb Phrases & Collocations
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in the box, you will need to use some verbs more than once:
bring give take buy make do place get have put |
- Could you please ……… me up-to-date with the latest news about the project?
- We’ve …….. our plan into action, now we just have to wait for the results.
- When is the wedding ……… place?
- She ……. exception to his comments about her lateness and got quite offended.
- The release of the chemicals ……… a detrimental effect on wildlife in the surrounding area.
- He ……… the impression that he doesn’t care but really, underneath he’s completely committed to the relationship.
- A few days off would ……… wonders for my mental health.
- Some people in this business ………. no scruples about stabbing their rivals in the back to get what they want.
- The council has ……….. steps to bring the situation under control.
- Where can I ……… hold of a good bottle of French red wine?
- How long do you think they’re going to ………. to finish the refurbishment?
- This school ………. a lot of importance on punctuality and respect.
- They failed to ………. into consideration just how expensive organising the festival would be.
- After ………. your suggestions a lot of thought, I’ve decided to make the changes you recommended.
- Most bars ……….. all their food and drink in bulk in order to save money.
- I’ve ………… an order for a new TV on the website, it should arrive next week.
- Don’t worry if your cat ate one of the leaves of the plant, it won’t …….. it any harm.
- The company ………. a pre-tax profit of €10,000 last year.
- Calm down, I’ve managed to ………. us some more time to get the presentation finished, I told the boss I had food poisoning.
- The sight of my brother and his fiancé finally tying the knot ………. tears to my eyes.
Missing Prepositions
- ……… all likelihood, the new store will be opening at the end of next month.
- ………. and large, the school play was well received by the audience.
- ………. the whole, the product launch was a success despite a few hitches.
- He broke his mum’s favourite salad bowl …….. accident.
- The instructor gave the group a safety demonstration to put them …….. ease before their first dive.
- Sadly bees seem to be ……. decline across Europe.
- They gave her the job ……. the strength of the excellent answers she gave to the interview questions.
- You can’t expect me to work the Saturday shift ……. such short notice, I can’t do it I’m afraid.
- He handed …….. his final project at 12:00 ……. the dot, just in time.
- I’m sorry but I’m ……. the end of my tether, I can’t handle this group anymore, they’re driving me ……. the wall!
Phrasal Verbs & Fixed Expressions
- More …….. than not, we go out for dinner on Friday night. (usually)
- For ……. we know, there might be aliens living underground on Mars.
- I had to put ……. with a screaming baby right next to me for the whole return flight.
- I didn’t know what to say so I just blurted out the first thing that …….. into my head.
- We can’t give up, there’s ………. he would love more than to see us fail!
- I’ve put a lot of effort …….. organising this evening so I hope everything goes …….. plan.
- Darkness ……. while we were still on the mountain so we had to walk the last part in the pitch black.
- His work didn’t see the …….. of day until years after his death.
- The last bus had already gone so we were …….. with no choice but to walk back.
- We’ve ……. into the habit of eating dinner in front of the TV, it’s so bad.
- The fog and rain made …….. difficult to make …… what was written on the signpost.
- The fire brigade arrived and managed to …….. out the fire in 20 minutes.
- We need to come ……. with a way to raise enough money for the trip to Paris.
- The renovations to the old church have given it a new lease of …….. as a community centre.
- The financial crash in 2008 gave …….. to a huge jump in the number of families in poverty.
- We need your help to organise the ad campaign, we’re giving you ……. rein, you can do whatever you want.
- My friends always ……… up for me in tricky situations.
- What were you doing on the night …….. question?
- I ……. in touch with my family via Skype or Whatsapp.
- Don’t worry sir, your order is …….. hand and will be ready soon.
Word Formation
- Watching the video about immigrants crossing the Mediterrean made me realise that my problems pale into …………………… compared to what they have to go through. SIGNIFY
- We need to see a drastic cut in carbon …………………………… if we’re going to meet our green targets. EMIT
- The economic effect of the pandemic could be ………………………….. for some families. DISASTER
- One of the …………………………….. of living in a city is the relentless noise pollution. SIDE
- I spent many …………………………… nights listening to my neighbours’ parties. SLEEP
- Life ……………………………. in the western world has increased considerably in the last century. EXPECT
- Scientists’ theories on what will be found beneath the surface of Mars remain ………………………. SPECULATE
- Green ………………………….. such as carpooling or cycling schemes can only do so much to mitigate climate change. INITIATE
- The city centre has ………………………… a marked change in the last few years. GO
- It’s becoming increasingly clear that the public have been ………………………….. about the true state of our planet. LEAD
- I think it’s fair to say that the current ecological crisis in the arctic is an ……………………………. complex issue that presents many problems. CREDIBLE
- One of the problems is that people make …………………………… about the situation without knowing all the details. ASSUME
- The school has opened a special unit for students with …………………………… hearing. PAIR
- I have complained to the council …………………………… but nothing has been done about the problem. REPEAT
- We need to protect the area by …………………………… tourists from taking rocks and plants home as souvenirs. COURAGE
Thank you so much, I am currently helping a student prepare for the C2 and there is so little material available. Thanks again and keep them coming
Thank you so much! I’m prepping one student for the CPE, and a small group for the CAE and they are desperate for these Open Cloze practices.