English Grammar in Use-2nd Edition DOUBTS

by Krishanthan
(Srilanka)

I am learning English self study/on my own, using
"English Grammar in use-2nd edition by Raymond Murphy".

In this book I have a doubt about something. I checked the answers but, they aren't similar to my answers. So I need to know if my answers are correct or not.

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Q:
Read the situation and write sentences. Choose one of the following:

arrive, break, go up, grow, improve, lose

1) Mike is looking for his key. He can't find it.

My Answer: He has lost his key.
Book Answer:'same'

Diana: Perfect!

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2) Margaret can't walk and her leg is in plaster.

My Answer: She has plastered in her leg.
Book Answer: She has broken her leg.

Diana: The book is correct. Take a look at your word options from above...arrive, break, go up, grow, improve, lose.
From those options the only one that makes sense is break. If you wanted to focus on the plaster (in real life, not in this exercise) you could say she is wearing a cast (that's what we call plaster) on her leg. ON not IN...in her leg means inside...like her bone is in her leg and the cast is on it.

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3) Maria's English wasn't very good. Now it is much better.

My Answer: She has improved her English knowledge.
Book Answer: Her English has improved.

Diana: Both are correct, but the book is more usual or natural. You are correct because you are focusing on her...SHE has improved, where as the book is focusing on her English...IT has improve. You are both right. I removed knowledge because you don't need it. :)

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4) Tim didn't have a beard last month. Now he has a beard.

My Answer: He has grew beard.
Book Answer: He has grown a beard.

Diana: You are mixing your past simple with past perfect. You can use one or the other in this case, but you need to separate them. Either:

He GREW a beard or He HAS GROWN a beard.

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5) This morning I was expecting a letter. Now I have it.

My Answer:I

have got/received the letter.
Book Answer: The letter has arrived.

Diana: Again you are focusing on YOU and the book is focusing on the letter. You are not wrong when you say "I have got the letter". I would contract the sentence, "I´ve got the letter".

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6) Last week the bus fare was 80 pence. Now it is 90.

My Answer: Bus fare is increased.
Book Answer: The bus fare has gone up.

Diana: You have written your answer in the present but you need to do it in the past perfect. THE bus fare HAS increased. You can use increased in this case but look at your options for the exercise
arrive, break, go up, grow, improve, lose.
Here the only one that relates to increase is GO UP.

I got full am totally confused. Are my answers correct or not? (at least close?). Please check and correct my answers.

Thank-you
Krishanthan

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Hi Krishanthan,
I went through your answers and you are very close with most of them. Just watch out for the simple past verses past perfect.

Also, when the book focused on the objects involved in the example you tended to focus on yourself. (I got the letter...verses the letter arrived). This is not wrong but in English we do tend to focus on the objects sometimes.

So when you do further exercises try to focus on both. Do one sentence focusing on yourself and then switch the perspective to focus on the object.

I'm glad that you took the time to send me your questions. It is very frustrating when you are studying at home with a book and you are not sure if your answer is totally incorrect or just a different option from the book.

So if you or ANYONE has trouble in the future with their self studying please send me your questions and I will be happy to clarify your doubts for you.

Also, I just wanted to mention that the "English Grammar in Use" books are a great choice! They explain the grammar and then have exercises to go with the explanations. I think they are a great resource for studying by yourself.

-Diana

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