2024

Wh- Questions/Word
Order/Complex Prepositions

WRITTEN BY
JORGE E ROA

IN PLANE ENGLISH | Risaralda Colombia

Write the questions for these answers:

1.

I changed airlines because the plane was full.

2.

He is approaching the runway.

3.

They left at 7 pm.

4.

The plane needs to be refueled.

5.

There were 5 air traffic controllers.

6.

She sees the jet.

7.

We spoke for 2 hours about changing our flight path.

8.

I was doing my checklist.

9.

He is taxiing on the runway.

10.

They were sleeping because they flew so many hours.

11.

Flight 252 is arriving at 6 p.m..

12.

We were talking to the tower.

 HEAAADERLOGORIGHT
GENERAL ENGLISH · GRAMMAR PRACTICE · INTERMEDIATE (B1/B2)

QUESTION
WORDS

Complete the dialogues

Complete the questions below using these words.

How What When Where Which Who Whose Why

1. A: do you like pizza? B: Because it’s delicious.

2. A: pen is this? B: I think it’s John’s pen.

3. A: did you get here? B: I took a cab.

4. A: of these apples do you prefer? B: I prefer the apple on the left.

5. A: are you eating? B: I’m eating sushi.

6. A: did you get here? B: I arrived 20 minutes ago.

7. A: are you talking to? B: I’m talking to my friend.

8. A: are you going? B: I’m going home.

1/3
GENERAL ENGLISH · GRAMMAR PRACTICE · INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)

WORD
ORDER 1

Presentation

English has strict rules about the order in which words can appear in a sentence. Study the rules
below.

Rules and examples

verb + object In a sentence, the verb and the object usually go

together:
I found my keys.
I found (verb) my keys (object).
I never meet my friends during the week.
Can you see me now?

place + time We usually put place and time together after the
object:
I found my keys at work this morning.
I found my keys (object) at work (place) this morning
(time).
I’m staying at home tonight.
I’ve never been to Russia during winter.
We can also put time at the beginning of the
sentence:
Tonight I’m staying at home.

1/2
INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)

WORD ORDER 1

Rules and examples

indirect object with ‘to’ We usually put the direct object before the indirect
object with ‘to’:
I sent the email to her this morning.
I sent the email (direct object) to her (indirect object
with ‘to’) this morning.

indirect object without ‘to’ We usually put the direct object after an indirect
object without ‘to’:
I sent her the email.
I sent her (indirect object without ‘to’) the email (direct
object).

Practice 1 - Time and place

Complete each sentence from the parts:

1. I (have lived / for 5 years / here). I have lived here for 5 years.
2. (English / have been learning / for a year / in Japan).
They . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. (on Saturday / Andrew / invite / to your party)?
Are you going to ............................................................................................................................. ?
4. (to work / yesterday / didn’t go).
Debbie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5. (a new laptop / bought / at the computer store / last week).
I .................... .............. ........................... .................................
6. (every day / your Facebook profile / check)?
Do you ........................................................................................................................................... ?
7. (on Friday / the children / took / to the amusement park).
We . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8. (the same pair of jeans / has been wearing / for years).
Nick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9. (at the moment / a new cinema / in my town / are building).
They . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2/2
INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)

WORD ORDER 1

Practice 2 - Direct/Indirect object

Rewrite the sentences below in a different way:

1. I wrote my mother an email this morning. I wrote an email to my mother this morning.
2. I lent some money to him. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. I offered him some wine, but he refused. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. She didn’t give enough time to her students. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5. Can you pass the salt to me, please? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6. Sarah has been giving piano lessons to Paul. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7. Send a text to her. She might reply. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3/2
GENERAL ENGLISH · ENGLISH GRAMMAR · INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)

WORD
ORDER 2

Presentation

In English, there are a number of rules about the position of adverbs in a sentence.

Alison is speaking very quietly. He plays football well.

It started to rain, so he quickly opened his umbrella. She slowly got out of bed.

She beautifully sings.

well badly hard fast

Other adverbs, including adverbs of frequency, follow different rules. These adverbs
include:
always often usually probably definitely never
ever almost always hardly ever both all even
already

1/2
 HEAAADERLOGORIGHT
INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)

WORD ORDER 2

Context Position and examples

with one-word verbs Before the verb:

Jacob always gets home very late.
I never drink coffee in the evening.
She hardly ever speaks to me.

with the verb ‘be’ After the verb:

Carol is always late. Are you ever ill?
Jack was probably at home this morning.

with multiple-word verbs After the first verb:

I can never understand her. Have you ever
been to Japan?
Look at her. She’s definitely been working too hard.
Note: the adverb probably goes before a negative:
I probably won’t see you at the party tonight.
(NOT: I won’t probably see you.)

Practice 1

Decide if the word order in each sentence is right or wrong. Correct the incorrect sentences.

1. John can run really fast. RIGHT

2. Can you fast type? WRONG - Can you type fast?
3. Marcus easily doesn’t agree.
4. I can’t hear you very clearly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5. Thomas can easily beat me at chess. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6. Florence badly plays the violin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7. Their team brilliantly played yesterday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8. She generously lent him the money he needed to buy a new laptop.
.. .. .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. ... .... .. .. ... .. .. .. ... .. .. .. ... ... .. .. .. ... .. .. .. ... .. .. .. ... .. .. ... .
9. They’ve been hard training for tomorrow’s match. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10. He smartly dresses every day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11. Martin can cook wonderfully. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12. Helen’s German is excellent. She fluently speaks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2/2
INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)

WORD ORDER 2

Practice 2

Rewrite the sentences to include the word in brackets:

1. I have sushi for lunch. (often) I often have sushi for lunch.
2. Vivek doesn’t reply to emails. (always) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. What do you do at the weekend? (usually) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. Angela is at home at this time of day. (almost always) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5. John isn’t working right now. (probably) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6. How long have you been living together? (both) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7. I will come to your wedding. (definitely) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8. The shop is closed on Saturdays. (normally)
9. After only a few months in Russia, Jim is speaking Russian. (already) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10. I won’t forget my first day at school. (ever) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11. Jola needs English lessons. (definitely) She can’t say ‘How are you?’ (even)
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3/2
 HEAAADERLOGORIGHT
INTERMEDIATE (B1/B2)

QUESTION WORDS

Question words

Match the question words to what they show.

Question word Asks about ...

1. why a. a choice

2. when b. a method or manner

3. where c. a person

4. how d. a place

5. which e. a reason

6. who f. a thing or activity

7. whose g. a time, day, or year

8. what h. the owner

Quiz

In pairs, take the quiz below:

1. Who eats pasta and pizza as a national dish?

2. Where does sushi come from?
3. What is the highest mountain in the world?
4. How do people make bread?
5. What do journalists do?
6. Why do most people send emails not letters?
7. Whose home is called ‘the White House’?

2/3
 HEAAADERLOGORIGHT
INTERMEDIATE (B1/B2)

QUESTION WORDS

Ask about the pictures

Match the questions to the most suitable pictures below.

How does he go to work? When did he leave school? Where does he come from?
Which answer did he choose? Who is riding the bike? Whose dog is it?

1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6.

In pairs, ask and answer the questions.

Role play

Make questions to ask your partner:

1. Where do you live ? (where/you/live)

2. ? (how / you / go to work/school every day)
3. ? (who / you / live with)
4. ? (what / you / do / last weekend)
5. ? (which day of the week / your /favorite)
6. ? (why/ this day of the week/ favorite)
7. ? (when / tourists / visit your country)

Now ask and answer the questions.

3/3
GENERAL ENGLISH GRAMMAR PRACTICE INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)

COMPLEX
PREPOSITIONS

Presentation 1 - Time and place

Complex prepositions are phrases of two or more words which have the same function as one-word
prepositions. Study the table below.

Complex prepositions Examples

ahead of Usain is going to win this race. He’s ahead of the

other runners

away from The cat ran away from the dangerous dog.

close to I don’t need to commute to work every day. The

office is very close to my house.

in between The Irish Sea is in between Ireland and Britain.

in front of The dog ran in front of the car and was nearly killed!

near to There is a gym near to my office, which is really

convenient. It’s just a 5-minute walk.

next to Who’s that man standing next to your car?

on top of I dream of standing on top of Mount Everest.

1/5
INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)

COMPLEX PREPOSITIONS

Complex Prepositions Examples

out of He took a cigarette out of the pack and smoked it.

outside of There’s a large forest outside of my town.

prior to (formal) I’d never spoken to an Italian prior to meeting him.

up to The present perfect tense describes a situation that

started in the past and continues
up to now.

Practice 1

Complete each sentence using one of the complex prepositions below.

ahead of away from in between in front of near to

next to on top of out of prior to up to

1. There’s a cat sitting the garage. Can you get up there and make it leave?

2. Where’s the mouse? It was the keyboard, but I don’t see it anymore.

3. The police car stopped the driver to make him stop.

4. Take your hands your pockets and help me.

5. Did you learn any Italian moving to Italy? Tried

played
6. I found a note the cover and the first page of the book.

7. You don’t need to take the bus. The cafe is very my house.

8. The fire was very hot, so we tried to stand the flames.

9. At the moment, Julia is me, but I still have a chance to reach her.

10. The business was very successful 2010. After that year, profits started to fall.

2/5
INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)

COMPLEX PREPOSITIONS

Presentation 2: Other complex prepositions

Study the complex prepositions below and do the exercises on the next page.

Complex prepositions Examples

according to According to John, Michael is very rich. According

to Elena, he has lots of debts. You can trust Elena.

along with We needed a bigger group to enter the club, so we

decided to bring Kate along with us.

apart from Apart from the salty soup, the meal was really good.

as well as If you telephone as well as write, he’ll get your

message for sure.

because of Sam was dismissed from his job because of his bad
behaviour.

due to Temperatures are rising due to global warming.

except for Everybody was at the party except for Dean, who
was not invited.

in addition In addition to Russia, two countries are bigger than

the United States - China and Canada.

in case of In case of fire, leave the building immediately.

in spite of In spite of their differences, Joe and Michael are

good friends.

instead of Peter doesn’t drink alcohol, so he ordered a juice

instead of a beer.

thanks to Thanks to Angela, we managed to find the right

street.

with regard to (formal) I’d like to speak to you with regard to the work you
did for me.

Practice 2
Complete each sentence using one of the complex prepositions below.

according to along with as well as because of except for

in case of in spite of instead of thanks to with regard to

3/5
INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)

COMPLEX PREPOSITIONS

1. Tom is going to be promoted his hard work.

2. Everybody went to bed early Jenny, who decided to watch YouTube videos all
night.

3. Phillip decided to go out for a walk the freezing weather.

4. The teacher spoke to Jack’s parents their son’s performance at school.

5. I’m good friends with your new boss - you only got the job me!

6. You should use olive oil butter. It’s healthier.

7. If you want to improve the taste of this dish, you should use pepper salt. The
more spices, the better!

8. Only couples are allowed at the party, so take Emma you.

9. It’s going to be a sunny day today, the forecast.

10. I’m travelling this week, but you can call me a problem.

Additional practice/optional task

Complete each sentence with a complex preposition and one of the following:

two policemen 2001 his competitors your house

a hat 1945 the hill me

1. The Second World War lasted from 1939 .

2. He was standing right . I couldn’t see a thing.

3. Kate was standing - one to her left and one to her right. She felt very safe.

4. , you could fly to the United States without strict security checks.

5. If you stand , you can see the whole village.

6. The magician pulled a rabbit . Everybody was amazed.

7. The runner was for most of the marathon. But he lost the race in the last 10
minutes!

8. "Who are those people who live ?" "They are my new neighbours."

4/5
INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)

COMPLEX PREPOSITIONS

Writing/additional task

Choose five complex prepositions from the table on Page 3 that you would most like to practise. For
each preposition write one TRUE sentence and one FALSE sentence about yourself. Take turns to
read your sentences to your partner and guess which of your partner’s sentences is true and which is
false.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

5/5