CAE CAE Grammar 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Choose the sentence that correctly uses a cleft structure for emphasis.
- It was the director who approved the budget. (Correct answer)
- It was the director approved the budget.
- The director it was who approved the budget.
- Was the director who approved the budget.
Correct answer: It was the director who approved the budget.
A cleft sentence uses 'It was + noun phrase + who/that + rest of sentence' to emphasise a particular element; option A follows this pattern correctly.
Question 2: Which sentence uses the subjunctive correctly?
- The manager insisted that she was on time.
- The manager insisted that she be on time. (Correct answer)
- The manager insisted that she is on time.
- The manager insisted that she will be on time.
Correct answer: The manager insisted that she be on time.
After verbs of insistence, suggestion, or recommendation, the subjunctive 'be' is used (not 'is', 'was', or 'will be') in formal English.
Question 3: Identify the correct use of a relative clause: 'The scientist, _______ research was published last year, has won an award.'
- who
- which
- whose (Correct answer)
- whom
Correct answer: whose
'Whose' is the possessive relative pronoun used for people (and sometimes things); 'whose research' correctly shows that the research belongs to the scientist.
Question 4: What type of conditional is used in: 'Were she to apply, she would certainly be accepted'?
- Zero conditional
- First conditional
- Second conditional with formal inversion (Correct answer)
- Third conditional
Correct answer: Second conditional with formal inversion
'Were she to apply' is a formal inverted alternative to 'If she were to apply', which is a second conditional referring to a hypothetical present/future situation.
Question 5: Choose the grammatically correct sentence with 'wish'.
- I wish I can speak French.
- I wish I could speak French. (Correct answer)
- I wish I will speak French.
- I wish I speak French.
Correct answer: I wish I could speak French.
'Wish' for a present/future hypothetical situation is followed by the past simple or 'could'; 'I wish I could speak French' correctly expresses a present unfulfilled desire.
Question 6: Which sentence correctly uses a mixed conditional?
- If I had saved money, I would buy a car now. (Correct answer)
- If I had saved money, I would have bought a car now.
- If I save money, I would buy a car.
- If I saved money, I would have bought a car.
Correct answer: If I had saved money, I would buy a car now.
A mixed conditional links a past condition ('if I had saved') with a present result ('I would buy now'), showing how a past action affects the current situation.
CAE CAE Grammar 2
Choose the sentence that correctly uses a cleft structure for emphasis.