Grammar
C1
Cambridge English C1 Exam
Complete each sentence by choosing the option that best fits the gap. This exercise reviews a mix of grammar topics.
Mixed Exercise
Question 1
Not only .......... the deadline, but she also managed to improve the overall quality of the report.
had she met
she met
did she meet
she did meet
Question 2
In .......... aftermath of the merger, several long-standing procedures were quietly abandoned.
a
-
an
the
Question 3
I .......... to call you all morning, but every time I did, you were in a meeting.
mean
have been meaning
am meaning
had been meaning
Question 4
By the time the auditors arrived, the finance team .......... the discrepancy and corrected it.
already spotted
was already spotting
has already spotted
had already spotted
Question 5
If the negotiations go well, we .......... the contract by Friday afternoon.
will have signed
will sign
have signed
are signing
Question 6
The final decision .......... until the board has reviewed the legal implications in detail.
isn't made
hasn't been made
won't make
won't be made
Question 7
You .......... have told the client the figures were provisional; now they’re treating them as final.
must have
should have
shouldn't
should
Question 8
The committee decided to .......... the proposal until they had more reliable data.
hold on
hold up
hold out
hold off on
Question 9
If I .......... how sensitive the issue was, I would have phrased the email more carefully.
had known
have known
would have known
knew
Question 10
"We can’t release the data until the regulator approves it," the spokesperson said. → The spokesperson said that they .......... release the data until the regulator approved it.
hadn't been able to
can't
couldn't
wouldn't be able to
About Grammar — Cambridge English C1
This Cambridge English C1 Grammar exercise reviews a mix of grammar points. For each sentence, choose the option that best completes the gap.
Regular grammar practice at C1 builds the accuracy you need across every part of the exam — Use of English, Reading, Listening and Writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this C1 Grammar exercise cover?
A mix of grammar topics, with each question focused on a specific point such as tenses, articles, prepositions or pronouns.
Why is grammar important for the Cambridge exam?
Grammatical accuracy is assessed directly in Use of English and Writing, and strong grammar helps you understand Reading and Listening too.
How can I improve my grammar?
Practise little and often, review the specific topic behind each mistake, and read the whole sentence before choosing your answer.
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What to do
This part consists of a series of assessments, each having only one valid answer.
Select the best answer according to what you read.
There's only a correct answer which you will have to select by clicking on it.
Don't spend time in an assessment you don't know. Wasting time on this activity might cost you points later in the exam because you won’t have enough time to do other tasks well. Get used to being quick!
Don't spend time in an assessment you don't know. Wasting time on this activity might cost you points later in the exam because you won’t have enough time to do other tasks well. Get used to being quick!
Although these grammar tests are not part of the official Cambridge exams, they are still important as they touch on language elements that you'll come across in all parts of the official exams, such as Reading and Use of English.
Strategy
- Read the assessment so you understand what it is about.
- Pay attention to the topic on the top-right corner of each assessment.
- Check the words before and after each gap and look for grammatical collocations.
- Remember that you select a choice by clicking on it.