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

1. Could you please ……… me up-to-date with the latest news about the project?
2. We’ve …….. our plan into action, now we just have to wait for the results.
3. When is the wedding ……… place?
4. She ……. exception to his comments about her lateness and got quite offended.
5. The release of the chemicals ……… a detrimental effect on wildlife in the surrounding area.
6. He ……… the impression that he doesn’t care but really, underneath he’s completely committed to the relationship.
7. A few days off would ……… wonders for my mental health.
8. Some people in this business ………. no scruples about stabbing their rivals in the back to get what they want.
9. The council has ……….. steps to bring the situation under control.
10. Where can I ……… hold of a good bottle of French red wine?
11. How long do you think they’re going to ………. to finish the refurbishment?
12. This school ………. a lot of importance on punctuality and respect.
13. They failed to ………. into consideration just how expensive organising the festival would be.
14. After ………. your suggestions a lot of thought, I’ve decided to make the changes you recommended.
15. Most bars ……….. all their food and drink in bulk in order to save money.
16. I’ve ………… an order for a new TV on the website, it should arrive next week.
17. Don’t worry if your cat ate one of the leaves of the plant, it won’t …….. it any harm.
18. The company ………. a pre-tax profit of €10,000 last year.
19. Calm down, I’ve managed to ………. us some more time to get the presentation finished, I told the boss I had food poisoning.
20. The sight of my brother and his fiancé finally tying the knot ………. tears to my eyes.

Missing Prepositions

1. ……… all likelihood, the new store will be opening at the end of next month.
2. ………. and large, the school play was well received by the audience.
3. ………. the whole, the product launch was a success despite a few hitches.
4. He broke his mum’s favourite salad bowl …….. accident.
5. The instructor gave the group a safety demonstration to put them …….. ease before their first dive.
6. Sadly bees seem to be ……. decline across Europe.
7. They gave her the job ……. the strength of the excellent answers she gave to the interview questions.
8. You can’t expect me to work the Saturday shift ……. such short notice, I can’t do it I’m afraid.
9. He handed …….. his final project at 12:00 ……. the dot, just in time.
10. 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

1. More …….. than not, we go out for dinner on Friday night. (usually)
2. For ……. we know, there might be aliens living underground on Mars.
3. I had to put ……. with a screaming baby right next to me for the whole return flight.
4. I didn’t know what to say so I just blurted out the first thing that …….. into my head.
5. We can’t give up, there’s ………. he would love more than to see us fail!
6. I’ve put a lot of effort …….. organising this evening so I hope everything goes …….. plan.
7. Darkness ……. while we were still on the mountain so we had to walk the last part in the pitch black.
8. His work didn’t see the …….. of day until years after his death.
9. The last bus had already gone so we were …….. with no choice but to walk back.
10. We’ve ……. into the habit of eating dinner in front of the TV, it’s so bad.
11. The fog and rain made …….. difficult to make …… what was written on the signpost.
12. The fire brigade arrived and managed to …….. out the fire in 20 minutes.
13. We need to come ……. with a way to raise enough money for the trip to Paris.
14. The renovations to the old church have given it a new lease of …….. as a community centre.
15. The financial crash in 2008 gave …….. to a huge jump in the number of families in poverty.
16. We need your help to organise the ad campaign, we’re giving you ……. rein, you can do whatever you want.
17. My friends always ……… up for me in tricky situations.
18. What were you doing on the night …….. question?
19. I ……. in touch with my family via Skype or Whatsapp.
20. Don’t worry sir, your order is …….. hand and will be ready soon.

Word Formation

1. 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
2. We need to see a drastic cut in carbon …………………………… if we’re going to meet our green targets. EMIT
3. The economic effect of the pandemic could be ………………………….. for some families. DISASTER
4. One of the …………………………….. of living in a city is the relentless noise pollution. SIDE
5. I spent many …………………………… nights listening to my neighbours’ parties. SLEEP
6. Life ……………………………. in the western world has increased considerably in the last century. EXPECT
7. Scientists’ theories on what will be found beneath the surface of Mars remain ………………………. SPECULATE
8. Green ………………………….. such as carpooling or cycling schemes can only do so much to mitigate climate change. INITIATE
9. The city centre has ………………………… a marked change in the last few years. GO
10. It’s becoming increasingly clear that the public have been ………………………….. about the true state of our planet. LEAD
11. I think it’s fair to say that the current ecological crisis in the arctic is an ……………………………. complex issue that presents many problems. CREDIBLE
12. One of the problems is that people make …………………………… about the situation without knowing all the details. ASSUME
13. The school has opened a special unit for students with …………………………… hearing. PAIR
14. I have complained to the council …………………………… but nothing has been done about the problem. REPEAT
15. We need to protect the area by …………………………… tourists from taking rocks and plants home as souvenirs. COURAGE