Unit 8 A Sporting Chance

A Sporting Chance
Emphasis

1 The mere thought of c1imbing that mountain time not to do that .

makes me afraid. 6 The one thing he is good at is long distance
2 I'm not in the least (bit) surprised that running.
you/about your having won the race. 7 I'm afraid that there is no chance/possibility
3 Jack Calton is without exception the best whatsoever of a rematch.
player in the team. 8 Although they are a good team, they are by
4 Never (before) have I met so quick a learner. no means the best.
5 I've told you time and time again/time after

1. There……………….. indeed that doctors could do for her injury, and she had to retire from the race.
2. Why on ………………………….. me that you didn’t want to take part?
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3. We were forced to abandon the match, so ………………. ………………. weather.
4. Don’t tell her, ……………………………….. do — she’ll be horrified if she finds out.
5. All the training he had done didn’t seem to …………….. of difference to his performance.
6. I hadn’t expected quite ………………………………………… a wind. It blew us miles off-course.

1 Was very little 3 poor /bad was the 5 make a bit

2 earth didn 't you tell 4 whatever you 6 so strong

Dependent prepositions and prepositional phrases

1 from 2 on 3 to 4 for 5 in 6 in
7 of 8 of 9 with 10 on 11 on 12 with

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I delicate 2 firm 3 struck 4 impose 5 crack 6 motion

Emphasis

Introductory there and it

there’s or it’s in
It’s a good job you told me when you did.
Example:
There’s little point in going back over the same old ground.
1 .......................... just as well we brought our umbrellas.
2 .......................... a strong possibility of the chairman not making the meeting.
3 I .......................... gather also doubtful whether his deputy will be there.

4 .......................... not thought to be any serious risk involved in the

operation.
5 .......................... no use pleading with me; I have no say in the matter
whatsoever.
6 .......................... no shame attached to being beaten by a player of his
calibre
7 Don’t you think .......................... any chance at all that he was unfairly
dismissed?
8 .......................... no good feeling sorry for yourself; what’s done is done.
9 .......................... a lot to be said for vegetarianism, in my opinion.
10 .......................... a shame you won’t be able to see your own son receive
his degree.
11 ..........................generally believed to be a good thing to get eight hours’
sleep a night.
12 Wouldn’t you say ........................... all a question of habit how long you
need to sleep?
1It's 2 There's 3 it's 4 There's
5 It's 6 There's 7 there’s 8 It's
9 There's 10 It's 11 It's 12 it's

Example: It is common knowledge that superstitious people live longer, isn’t it?
1 I………………… absolutely amazing that in this day and age superstitions are so rife.

2 It strikes ………………… so odd that people still fret for days over a broken mirror.

3 Restaurants are half full of people ………………… necessary to throw a few grains of any spilt salt over their
shoulders.

4 Most of the people I know believe ………………… be an unnecessary risk to walk under a ladder.

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5 It is widely …………………grown men and women that cracks in the pavement should not be stepped on.

6 But I must confess I consider ………………… be my major ambition in life to find a four-leaf clover.

1 find it 2 me as 3 who think / find / consider it 4 it to

5 believed / accepted among 6 it to

Example: It’s no good sitting feeling sorry for yourself.

point
There is no point in sitting feeling sorry for yourself.
1 I’ve only just realised what our director meant by that comment.
dawned
It ……………………………………………………………………………… our director meant by that comment.

2 You should have been at the party; you would have enjoyed it.
make
It’s a ………………………………………………………………………… to the party; you would have enjoyed it.

3 People are optimistic about this new drug being a success.

hoped
It ……………………………………………………………………………………… this new drug will be a success.

4 We discovered eventually that ah the goods had been stolen.

transpired
In the ……………………………………………………………………………that all the goods had been stolen.

5 Everything points towards a landslide victory for the presidential party

indication
There ………………………………………………………………………………………win a landslide victory.

6 Thank goodness we decided to come by train.

job
It ……………………………………………………………………………………… we decided to come by train.

7 No doubt there was a terrible row when the mistake was discovered.
sure
There is ……………………………………………….……… a terrible row when the mistake was discovered.

8 Such behaviour can never be tolerated.

excuse
There ……………………………………………………………………………………… such behaviour.

9 It looks as if there’s been an accident over there.

seems
There …………………………………………………………………………………………an accident over there.

10 The choice of restaurant is entirely yours.

up
It ……………………………………………………………………………………… we go to.

1 has just dawned on me what 6 is a good job

2 pity you didn't make it 7 sure to have been
3 is hoped that 8 is no excuse fur
4 end it transpired 9 seems to have been
5 is every indication that the presidential party will 10 is entirely up to you which restaurant

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Emphasis using what, all and it

is tell me (2) everything what (3) happened

once you (4) left the hotel. 3 that
1 What you did (1) wrong was that (2) you started on the top coat before (3) the undercoat that was (4) dry.
…………………………

2 All that (1) happened that I (2) told him what I thought of (3) him in no uncertain (4) terms. …………………………

3 lt was (1) while trying (2) to mend the window when (3) fell off the ladder. …………………………

4 He claimed to like (1) music but it was (2) literature what (3) he loved more than anything else.
…………………………

5 All (1) I love most about the weather (2) in this country is that (3) it is totally unreliable. …………………………

6 He left the country at the age of (1) twenty and it was (2) only after several years when (3) he returned.
…………………………

7 I mislaid my wedding ring once and it (1) wasn’t before (2) we eventually moved house that it (3’) carne to light (4)
again. …………………………

8 It’s (1) not learning (2) new words that I find (3) difficult, and (4) remembering them. ……………………

1 (4) was 2 (2) is / was that I 3 (3) that 4 (3) that 5 (1) what
6 (3) that 7 (2) until 8 (4) but

Example: I know what you did to her. You broke her heart. (What / break)

What you did to her is break her heart.

1 I know what happened. You Iost your nerve, didn’t you? (What / chickened)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2 I know what she did. She upset all her colleagues by being so arrogant. (What / arrogance)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3 Do your best. That’s the only thing that is important. (All / matters)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4 I know where you made your mistake; you underestimated the competition. (Where / appreciate)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5 I know why he was attracted to this job; he wanted to give people orders. (What / authority)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

1 What happened is / was that you chickened out, isn't / wasn't it (or: didn't you)?

2 What she did is / was upset all her colleagues with her arrogance. or: What upset all her colleagues
was her arrogance.
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3 All that matters is that you do your best.

4 Where you went wrong / made a mistake is that you failed to / you didn't appreciate (the strength
of) the competition.

5 What attracted him to this job is / was having authority over others.

Example: The rising tide frightened me.

a) What frightened me was the rising tide.
b) I was frightened by the rising tide
c) It was the rising tide that frightened me.

1 We took him to the hospital.

a Where.............................................................................................................................................
b It was.............................................................................................................................................
c The hospital is .....................................................................................................................................

2 1 went to see my GP.

a My GP.............................................................................................................................................
b It was my GP........................................................................................................................................
c The person.............................................................................................................................................

3 The spices are amazing.

a It’s the .............................................................................................................................................
b What.............................................................................................................................................
c The spices are what ..............................................................................................................................

4 The location was important.

a It’s the .............................................................................................................................................
b What .............................................................................................................................................
c The location ....................................................................................................................................

5 I spent £15 on the ticket.

a £15 was how .......................................................................................................................................
b It was £15 .............................................................................................................................................
c The amount 1 ...................................................................................................................................

6 He looks amazing for his age.

a How ...................................................................................................................................
b What is ...................................................................................................................................
c It is ...................................................................................................................................

1 a Where we took him was (to) the hospital.

b It was to the hospital that we took him.
C The hospital is where we took him (to).

2 a My GP is who(m) I went to see.

b It was my GP (who(m) / that) I went to see.
c The person (who(m) / (that)) I went to see was my GP.

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3 a It's the spices that are amazing.
b What is amazing are the spices.
C The spices are what is / are amazing.

4 a It's the location that was important.

b What was important was the location.
C The location is / was what was important.

5 a £15 was how much I spent on / had to pay for the ticket.
b It was £15 that I spent on /that the ticket cost
c The amount I paid for / spent on the ticket was £15

6 a How amazing he looks for his age!

b What is amazing is how young he looks.
c It is amazing how young he looks.

Example: We only noticed the stain on the carpet when everyone had gone. until

It wasn’t until everyone had gone that we noticed the stain on the carpet.

I only realised who it was when he removed his sunglasses. recognised

It was only ............................................................................................................. him.
2 You don’t know who your real friends are until there’s a crisis. moments
It’s only ............................................................................................................ out who your real friends are.
3 His jokes in themselves aren’t funny, but his delivery of them is hilarious. tells
It’s how .................................................................................................. the jokes themselves.
4 Your place of birth doesn’t determine your accent so much as where you spend your childhood.
brought
It’s where.................................................................................................. rather than your place of birth.
5 You’re only likely to get a two per cent rise from him. offer
All .................................................................................................. a two per cent rise.

1 when he removed his sunglasses that I recognised

2 in moments of crisis that you find
3 he tells his jokes that's funny / hilarious, not
4 you are brought up that determines your accent
5 he' s likely to offer is

1. Negotiations for a settlement have been in progress for over two months now.
They ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Journalists have attacked the minister's policies several times.
The minister's policies ………………………………………………………………………………………

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3. His sarcasm was plainly obvious to all but a few people in the room.
The fact that …………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Political talks are already underway to bring peace to the region.
Politicians have ………………………………………………………………………………………………
5. Shortly before his eighteenth birthday he left home to go to university.
By the ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
6. That house has been up for sale for over a year now.
They …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

1. They have been negotiating a settlement 4. Politicians have already begun talks
for over ... 5. By the time he was eighteen he had left
2. The minister's policies have been attacked home to
by journalists several times. 6. They have been trying to sell that house
3. The fact that he was being sarcastic was for ...
...

1. I know I should trust him, but I can’t ……………………….. he’s cheating us.
2. From these inconsistencies, I’d say your accountant ……………… records up to date lately.
3. He thinks …………………. point by arriving late, but everyone in the office just thinks he’s lazy.
4. I’ve …………………. over, and I’m afraid I’II have to reject your offer.
5. They were drinking lots of champagne, so they ……………….. a celebration.
6. Is it midday already I can’t believe I‘ve spend the whole ……………….. dishes.
7. I’m afraid he …………………. Up debts of over £20,000 already this year!
8. I can’t believe she ……………me lies all this time!

1. help/stop thinking (that) 4 thought it 7 has run

2 hasn't been keeping your 5 must've been having 8 has been telling
3 he's making a/some kind 6 morning doing/washing
of the

SPORTS AND SUCCESS

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I between 2 recent 3 made 4 way/means 5 such 6 same

7 paid (you pay attention to st, but in this sentence we have attention (which is) paid to ...)
8 anything (fixed exp) 9 With (meaning since managers are ... ) 10 never
11 in 12 their /the 13 about (phr verb) 14 variety / number 15 able

Verb + noun collocation

take set seize handle achieve get jump make

1. I know’ it’s difficult to know what to do, but I think you should …………… a chance and apply for the
position.
2. You've certainly ............ your mark as director of the company. Things are running much more smoothly
now than they ever have before.
3. She seems to have …………… the crisis very well. She should be congratulated.
4. Let’s not ……… to conclusions- we don’t know for sure that Robert is responsible for this mistake.
5. We need to … a more realistic target. How about aiming for a 30% increase in production by the end of the
year?
6. When she was given the new position, he ………. the opportunity to make a number of radical changes. He
may be an unpleasant man to deal with, but he does ……….. results
7. In order for us to ………….. our aim, we all need to work a lot harder.
8. The organization is expanding too quickly. We ought to …………….
9. I can’t believe I ……………. such a mess of that interview!
10. I hope you won’t……….. offence it I say that I think you are wasting your talent in your present job.
11. Dwindling numbers of tourists have meant that our new hotel has ……………..a considerable financial loss
this year.

1. I take 2 made 3 handled 4 jump 5 set 6 seized

2. 7 get/achieve 8 achieve 9 set 10 made 11 take 12 made

Dependent prepositions and prepositional phrases

1. Mrs. Summers is unable to attend the meeting, so I’m going to speak …… her behalf.
2. He’s currently ………………………………threat of legal action.
3. …………………. my knowledge, there have been two break-ins there already this year.
4. This building is being converted ……………………. a restaurant soon.
5. He stared at her intently, but could say nothing …………………response to her offer.
6. He scanned the morning paper quickly …………… stories of interest.
7. 1 on 2 under 3 To 4 into 5 in 6 for

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1. Although Maria hasn’t said so, we can be sure that she will want to come to the party read
We can ……………………………………………………………..Maria will want to come to the party.
2. Shall we split the cost of a taxi into town? halves
Why ……………………………………………………………………………………….a taxi into town?
3. It wasn’t until I started college that I knew I wasn’t suited to being a lawyer cut
I only knew that …………………………………………………….. a lawyer when I went to college.
4. Trying to get Roger to come with us is an utter waste of time. whatsoever
There ………………………………………………………………………to get Roger to come with us.
5. He doesn’t realise the damage the changes will cause. damaging
Little ……………………………………………………………………………….….. the changes will be.
6. We will only let you take the final exams if you pass this test. allowed
Failing this test will result ………………………………………………………… take the final exams.
7. Pensions have not increased at the same rate as inflation. pace
Pensions have failed ……………………………………………………………………… inflation
8. James has had a cold since Christmas. Over
James ……………………………………………………………………………………at Christmas.
1 We can take it as read that Maria will ...
2 Why not go halves on (the cost of) a taxi ...
3 I only knew that I wasn't cut out to be/for being a lawyer
4 There is no point whatsoever in trying to get
5 Little does he realise how damaging the changes ...
6 Failing this test will result in your not being allowed to take ...
7 Pensions have failed to keep pace with inflation.
8 James hasn't got over the cold he caught at Christmas.

Linking clauses
Time & reason

Example: The training covered all the main techniques and was therefore pretty comprehensive.
insofar covering
The training was pretty comprehensive insofar as it covered all the main techniques.
Covering all the main techniques, the training was pretty comprehensive.

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1 J’m half German and so can speak the language fluently. being since
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
2 The traffic may be heavy on the motorway so lets avoid it. in case as
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
3 I’ve never been there so I can’t really comment. having seeing that
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

4 Their failure to implement one item of their manifesto would suggest that this Government is clearly ineffective.
inasmuch having
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
5 I turned on the TV and the doorbell rang a moment later. no sooner hardly
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
6 The missing boy was last seen just before Christmas. nobody time
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
7 She came in and immediately I knew something was wrong. moment soon
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
1. Being half German, l can speak the language fluently.
Since I'm half German, l can speak the language fluently.
2 Let's avoid the motorway in case the traffic is heavy on it.
Let's avoid the motorway as the traffic may be heavy on it.
3 Never having been there, l can’t really comment.
Seeing that I've never been there, l can’t really comment.
4 Inasmuch as they have failed to implement one item of their manifesto, this Government is clearly

Result & purpose

demand
Example: The elephant is so strong that it’s regularly needed for heavy work.
Such is the elephant’s strength that it’s in regular demand for heavy
work.
1 Let’s read through our first meeting’s minutes before we start forgetting our stated aims. sight
Lest we ……………………………………………… read through the minutes of ourfirst meeting.

2 Bill had a very strong personality and we were constantly frightened of him. fear
So strong was …………………………………………………………… of him.

3 The programme is designed in the hope that it will appeal to people of all ages. interest
We’ve designed the programme in such a ………………………………………to people of all ages
.
4 I put up this sign because I didn’t want anyone to disturb me. as
I put up this sign …………………………………………………………… anyone.

5 If the purpose of this button is not to enlarge the picture, what is it? bigger
If this button is ……………………………………………………………is it for?

6 I’ll call you Phil, and you Philip, so that we don’t get totally confused. avoid
So as ……………………………………………………………I’ll call you Phil, and you Philip.

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1 lose sight of our stated aims, let's interest

2 Bill' s personality that we constantly lived in 4 so as not be disturbed by
fear 5 is not for "making the picture bigger, what
3 a way that it will be of (or: a way as to be of) 6 to avoid (total) confusion,

Concession clauses

I We’ve got no money, but we’re very happy. (even)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2 The wind blew all the time, but we still managed to enjoy ourselves. (nevertheless)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3 I like her new boyfriend but I don’t trust him. (however)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4 I know there’s an economic recession, but our profits should still be higher. (all the same)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5 Reorganisation is a good idea but it would cause friction in this department. (while)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6 I love Sting’s music, but I still thought his latest CD was disappointing. (much)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

7 In spite of her inexperience, I still think we should take her on. (and yet)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

8 My grandad’s over ninety, but still manages to remain active. (even so)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

9 He’s a quiet man, but still manages to intimidate his employees. (spite)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

10 It may sound incredible, but I really fancy George W. Bush. (as)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
1. Even though we've got no money, we're very happy.
2. The wind blew all the time. Nevertheless, we still managed to enjoy ourselves.
3. I like her new boyfriend. However, I don't trust him.
4. I know there's an economic recession. All the same, our profits should still be higher.
5. While reorganisation is a good idea, it would cause friction in this department.
6. Much as I love Sting's music, I (still) thought his latest CD was disappointing.
7. She's inexperienced, and yet I (still) think we should take her on.
8. My grandad's over ninety. Even so he manages to remain active.
9. In spite of being a quiet man, he manages to intimidate his employees.
10. Incredible as it may sound, I really fancy George W Bush.

Expressing purpose and effect

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Example: Paying for the damage seems to be the last thing on his mind. thought
He seems to have no thought of paying for the damage.
1 She gave in her notice, planning to start her new job in January. view
She gave in her notice …………………………………………………………………..her new job in January.

2 The trouble all came about because our computers crashed. stemmed
The trouble …………………………………………………………………….. crashing.

3 Stray goats on the motorway were not the only cause of the massive tailback. due
The massive tailback ……………………………………………………stray goats on the motorway.

4 The changes in climate should have no effect whatsoever on our coastline. affected
Our coastline ……………………………………………………………………..the changes in climate.

5 His criminal record is an entirely separate issue from the matter in hand. bearing
His criminal record ……………………………………………………………..the matter in hand.

6 The question of medical costs often makes old people become anxious. common
The question of medical costs ………………………………………………………………..old people.

7 The consequence of changing the venue could well be absolute chaos. result
Changing the venue …………………………………………………………………….. absolute chaos.

8 Their insular attitudes date back to medieval times. roots

Their insular attitudes ……………………………………………………………………..medieval times.

1 with a view to starting

2 all stemmed from our computers
3 wasn't only due to / was not due only to
4 should not be affected in any way by I should not in any way be affected by I should in no way be
affected by I should not be affected at all by
5 has no bearing (whatsoever I at all) on
6 is a common cause of anxiety among(st) / for / with
7 could well I easily result in
8 have their roots in

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