ECOLE SUPERIEURE FRANÇAISE

CYCLE: BACHELOR’S
Filière: Toutes les filières
Spécialité: Tronc Commun
Level of study: B1-A and B
Code: Ms-Bloc 3
Course title: Business English 1 / Anglais des Affaires 1
Course instructor: Dr Serges Moïse Essossomo

PRACTICAL EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1

Etiquette: What to do and how to behave: Exploring some contextual expressions in

English conversation
What to say in English in the following situations: when somebody says “thank you”?, when
somebody has been introduced to you?, when requesting help?, when somebody helps you?, when making
offers?, when accepting or rejecting offers?, when making apologies?, when you greet somebody you see for
the very first time?, when somebody is travelling, going for a long journey?, when you are giving something
to somebody?, when taking leave from a pen friend?, when you want to draw somebody’s attention?, when
you have done something wrong to somebody?, when you have not heard very well what your interlocutor
said and therefore want him/her to repeat?, when you are asking for a permission to do something that may
inconvenience somebody somehow?, etc.

EXERCISE 2
Form abstract nouns from the following words

1. Word Corresponding abstract noun

2. honest ……………………………
3. behave ……………………………
4. steal ……………………………
5. happy ……………………………

1
 6. pure ……………………………
7. grateful ……………………………
8. think ……………………………
9. lead ……………………………
10 see ……………………………
11 glad ……………………………
12 strong ……………………………

EXERCISE 3
Convert the following to verbs, nouns or adjectives as the case might be.
No Verb Noun Adjective
1. ……………………… danger ………………………
2. reciprocate ………………… ………………………
3. ……………………… sun ……………………....
4. ……………………… ………………… timid
5. admire ………………… ………………………
6. ……………………... …………………. long
7. …………………….. age ………………………
8. widen ………………….. ………………………
9. ……………………… judgement ………………………
10. ……………………… ………………….. similar
11. cry …………………... ………………………
12. ……………………... ………………….... pure
13. ……………………... villain ………………………
14. ……………………… acclaim ………………………
15. bore ……………………. ………………………

EXERCISE 4
A. Choose the conjunction that best fills the blanks
(i) I can follow you for the week-end; I am decorating the hall for the wedding. _______________my
mother is ill (even so, all the same, after all, on top of that)
(ii) ________________reading the question carefully, Essame started writing (until, after, since, while).
(iii) We waited __________________the sun had gone down before we went for a walk (to, until, that for).
(iv) Take some extra money ________________ you don’t have enough (even if, unless, in case, so that).
(v) I can’t talk much about Germany because I didn’t go there. I went to England _______________(still,
in contrast, instead, on the other hand).
(vi) John is really conscientious. _____________he is highly efficient (all the same, what is more, so, still).
(vii) Takam is feeling alright now. He had been feeling ill for over a week _______________he finally
went to see the doctor (after, once, before, while).
(viii) The plan of the new building was turn down __________________that it was too high (in case,
supposing, provided, on the grounds).

2
(ix)
B. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate logical device
Logical devices: but, since, consequently, until, unless, nevertheless, provided that, both, although,
because, but, and, so, yet, so that, whether, whatever, when, if, neither……nor, whenever
a) ___________you dare talk to me so bitterly again, I will slap you.
b) Samuel Eto’o will play, _________________the team is better managed.
c) The teacher was angray _________________ many students did not do the homework.
d) ________________ you work hard, you will fail your examination
e) Scholarships should be awarded to deserving students, ________________poor children can have a
chance in life
f) Eto’o lost the match; ________________he was satisfied with the game.
g) _______________I see you, I remember my late mother
h) ____________Peter _________John was in class today.
i) Mary like plantains __________she cannot plant plantains.
j) ______________you do, do it well.
k) Akamba did not prepare the end-of-semestre examination; __________________she failed.

EXERCICE 5
Provide the French equivalent of the following logical devices. Then, make sentence with
each of them
Logical devices French equivalent sentence
Because _________________ _________________________________________________________
Although _________________ _________________________________________________________
Since _________________ _________________________________________________________
Before _________________ _________________________________________________________
When _________________ _________________________________________________________
Unless _________________ _________________________________________________________
Provided that _________________ _________________________________________________________
Nevertheless _________________ _________________________________________________________
Whereas _________________ _________________________________________________________
While _________________ _________________________________________________________
Until _________________ _________________________________________________________
Whenever _________________ _________________________________________________________

EXERCISE 6
1. Choose one of the suggested alternatives in brackets to fill in the blank in each
sentences
i) He was no friend of ________________________(me, mine, us, we)

3
 ii) He had no quarrel with anybody _______________his sudden departure came as a great surprise
(Although, when, hence, as, because).
iii) ___________certain that she was in agony, I took her to the hospital (be, been, being).
iv) I came to live here______________, and don’t yet know many people (lately, of recent, later,
recently).
v) I was a peaceful afternoon and everyone______________(had slept, has slept, slept, was sleeping).
2 Complete these sentences with suitable words.
a) If I had known, I ………………………………………..told the truth.
b) We bought this picture a long time …………………………………….
c) I shall not be here ………………………………………………he calls.
d) Henry hates spending money…………………………………….the fact that he is rich.
e) Cameroonians enjoy football……………………………………….?
3. Match the expressions in column A with their appropriate ending in column B. write
your answers in the spaces provided.
Column A Column B
a) For everything you do  To keep fit
b) Violating children rights  Who won all the prizes
c) Irene was selected because she is  Plan properly
d) My father runs every morning  Computer literate
e) This is the student  Is unacceptable
a) ______________________________________________________________________________
b) ______________________________________________________________________________
c) ______________________________________________________________________________
d) ______________________________________________________________________________
e) ______________________________________________________________________________

EXERCICE 7
I- Fill the blank with the correct answers chosen from the alternatives in the brackets
1) Your success in this exam depends……….the way you work (on, in at)
2) I would pass my exams if I …………………………….hard (works, working, worked)
3) The teacher explained the lesson………………..the student understood (unless, if, until)
4) The girl was punished……………………….she came late (but, because, as)
5) My parents………………………………when I came in (was, eating, were eating, are eating)
II- Match parts of the sentences in column A to corresponding ones in column B.
Write your answers in the spaces provided.
Column A Column B
1) You will probably arrive late a) Whether she could lend me some money.
2) The teacher decided to punish the students b) Until you apologize for insulting his mother.
3) I asked Mary c) For her bad behavior

4
 4) You will not see him d) If she comes now.
5) We will be happy e) Unless you wake earlier.

1) ______________________________________________________________________________
2) ______________________________________________________________________________
3) ______________________________________________________________________________
4) ______________________________________________________________________________
5) ______________________________________________________________________________

EXERCISE 8
Fill in the blanks with the approprite word or expressions
1. We went to the cinema and _________________ we ate in a restaurant
2. I expected to fail the exam, but I passed __________________.
3. John met Mary six weeks _________________.
4. ___________I don’t agree with Peter, I think he is honest.
5. There is a problem ______________you and me.

EXERCISE 9
I- Complete the following sentences with the appropriate words or expression of your own
a) I fell lonely. I need someone to keep me………………………………………………
b) We use a pair of…………………………………………to cut clothes.
c) Someone who takes care of people’s teeth is called a…………………………………
d) Please, can I have a glass of ……………………………………? I am thirsty.
e) The cholera………………………………………………….is under control.
II- Form common expressions by combining words in column B with appropriate words
in column A. use each item only once
Column A Column B
1) Secondary a) Book ………………………………………….
2) Railway b) Blade ………………………………………….
3) Text c) School ………………………………………….
4) Class d) Station ………………………………………….
5) Razor e) Perfect ………………………………………….

EXERCISE 10
1. In each of the following sentences below, a word has been underlined and bolded.
Transform it as required and write the new word in the spaces provided
a) Family planning and birth control almost mean the same thing. Form a verb_________
b) Humans are increasingly able to intervene in their own reproduction. Form an
adjective________________
c) A little old man came into the shop. Form the superlative________________

5
d) Three soldiers were killed by friendly fire when a mortar bomb hit their track. Form an
adverb__________________
e) Watch the bizarre ritual of him eating a carefully prepared last meal. Form the antonym___________
2. Choose from the four words or phrase given after each sentence the one which most
appropriately completes it
i) The prisoner ________under intense questioning and refused to talk. (held on, held over, held to, held
out)
ii) When __________has been arranged, the accused person is allowed to go free until the trail (bell, bail,
ball, belt)
iii)The game was a 10-0_____________for our national soccer team, the Indomitable Lions (killing,
genocide, massacre, defection)
iv)From the hotel roof, you can enjoy a ______of the whole city (view, scenery, landscape, panorama).
v) Once cockroaches get into building, it very difficult to _____ them (eradicate, exterminate, wipe out,
expose).

EXERCISE 11
1. Choose the opposites of the words underlined in the sentences below, from the list and
write in them in the spaces provided
List of words: Stingy, nasty, tasty, easy-going, indifferent, sad, unkind, bride, death, adult
i) It was most generous of you to lend me the money______________
ii) The nice thing about her is that she never criticizes us______________
iii) His reply showed that he was very sensitive to criticism ___________
iv)Salamatou was a cheerful hardworking manager _______________
v) My father was a very hard man _________________
2. Choose the words nearest in meaning to the underlined words from the lists in brackets.
Write your answers in the spaces provided.
a) Do not look down on your teachers. They are indispensable in your lives (look at, look up, despise)
b) The young man took over his father’s company (look away, seized, inherited)
c) The soldiers were parsed for their victory (reprimanded, honoured, greeted)
d) The thunderstorm completely destroyed the harvest causing widespread famine (starvation, hunger,
anger)
e) The manager has not paid his workers for then months (employees, employers, employed)