C1 Use Of English Practice 1
Participle Adjectives, Dependent Prepositions & Complex Noun Structures
1. PARTICIPLE ADJECTIVES + DEPENDENT PREPOSITIONS
Core rule: Certain adjectives require particular prepositions. Learn them as complete expressions, not individually.
A. Essential pairings
accustomed to
absorbed in
associated with
concerned about
concerned with
convinced of
disappointed in/with
exposed to
involved in/with
opposed to
preoccupied with
renowned for
subjected to
satisfied with
inclined towards
committed to
accustomed to
confronted with
overwhelmed by
deprived of
restricted to
equipped with
confronted by
Remember: When to is a preposition, use a noun or -ing form.
She is committed to improving standards.
They are opposed to introducing further restrictions.
B. Exam practice – Open cloze
Complete each gap with ONE word.
Having been exposed _____ constant criticism, the researcher became increasingly defensive.
The organisation is renowned _____ its commitment to environmental protection.
She was so absorbed _____ her research that she failed to notice the time.
The committee remains opposed _____ introducing further restrictions.
Employees were subjected _____ considerable pressure during the restructuring process.
The company is heavily dependent _____ international suppliers.
He was convinced _____ the need for immediate reform.
The proposal is primarily concerned _____ improving access to education.
Several employees felt deprived _____ opportunities for professional development.
The government remains committed _____ reducing its carbon emissions.
The findings were particularly alarming _____ those responsible for public safety.
The company was confronted _____ a series of unexpected financial difficulties.
C. Exam practice – Multiple-choice cloze
Choose A, B, C or D.
13. The documentary was particularly appealing _____ younger audiences.
A. for
B. with
C. to
D. towards
14. The manager was disappointed _____ his employees for failing to meet the agreed standards.
A. with
B. in
C. about
D. at
15. The new policy is aimed _____ reducing unnecessary administrative costs.
A. for
B. towards
C. at
D. to
16. The findings were consistent _____ the conclusions of previous research.
A. to
B. with
C. about
D. for
17. The organisation is deeply committed _____ ensuring equal opportunities.
A. for
B. with
C. to
D. towards
18. The researchers were particularly interested _____ identifying the underlying causes.
A. on
B. about
C. at
D. in
D. Exam practice – Error correction
Each sentence contains ONE error.
19. The organisation is committed for improving working conditions.
20. Having been exposed with considerable pressure, the employees eventually resigned.
21. The report is primarily concerned about the economic consequences of the policy.
22. She was deeply absorbed on her research.
23. The findings were particularly alarming with the scientific community.
24. He has always been opposed against introducing stricter regulations.
2. VERSATILE PARTICIPLE ADJECTIVES
Core rule: Some participle adjectives take different prepositions depending on the intended meaning. Cambridge often tests these distinctions.
A. Learn the distinctions
CONCERNED
concerned about = worried about
concerned with = dealing with a subject
KNOWN
known for = famous because of
known to = familiar to someone
known as = identified by a particular name
INVOLVED
involved in = participating in an activity
involved with = connected to someone or something
DISAPPOINTED
disappointed with = dissatisfied with something
disappointed in = let down by someone
SATISFIED
satisfied with = pleased with something
satisfied by = something has fulfilled a requirement or need
BASED
based on = founded upon evidence or information
based in = located in a particular place
INTENDED
intended for = designed for a particular audience
intended as = designed to serve a particular purpose
COMPARE
associated with = connected to
confronted with = faced with a problem
confronted by = faced with a person or force
B. Exam practice – Choose the correct preposition
25. The report is primarily concerned (about / with) the long-term effects of automation.
26. Parents are increasingly concerned (about / with) the amount of time children spend online.
27. The author is best known (as / for) her controversial political commentary.
28. Her work is widely known (to / as) academics specialising in the field.
29. I was disappointed (in / with) my colleague for failing to defend the proposal.
30. The committee was disappointed (in / with) the quality of the evidence.
31. The organisation is based (on / in) London but operates internationally.
32. The conclusions were based (in / on) extensive empirical research.
33. The programme is intended (as / for) an introduction to advanced academic writing.
34. The initiative was intended (as / for) a temporary solution.
C. Exam practice – Complete the sentences
Use the correct form of the adjective and preposition.
35. The investigation deals with corporate corruption.
The investigation is primarily __________________ corporate corruption.
36. The company is famous because of its innovative approach.
The company is widely __________________ its innovative approach.
37. She felt that her manager had let her down.
She was deeply __________________ her manager.
38. The organisation operates from Madrid.
The organisation is __________________ Madrid.
39. The new system was designed to help small businesses.
The new system was __________________ small businesses.
40. The committee was worried about the lack of transparency.
The committee was increasingly __________________ the lack of transparency.
D. Exam practice – Key word transformations
Use the word given. Do not change it. Write between 3 and 6 words.
41. The report deals primarily with the impact of artificial intelligence.
CONCERNED
The report __________________ the impact of artificial intelligence.
42. The company became famous because of its innovative products.
KNOWN
The company __________________ its innovative products.
43. I was extremely dissatisfied with the way the complaint was handled.
DISAPPOINTED
I __________________ the way the complaint was handled.
44. The research used information collected over a ten-year period.
BASED
The research __________________ over a ten-year period.
45. The organisation designed the scheme specifically for unemployed graduates.
INTENDED
The scheme __________________ unemployed graduates.
3. NOUN PHRASES
Core rule: A noun phrase allows you to condense information and create more sophisticated structures.
Common patterns:
adjective + noun: significant changes
participle + noun: recently introduced legislation
noun + prepositional phrase: concerns about employment
adjective + noun + prepositional phrase: growing concerns about employment
noun + relative clause: employees working remotely
A. Examples
Basic: The regulations were introduced recently.
Advanced: The recently introduced regulations.
Basic: The company has experienced a significant increase in costs.
Advanced: The significant increase in the company's operating costs.
Basic: Researchers are concerned about the effects of climate change.
Advanced: Researchers' concerns about the effects of climate change.
B. Exam practice – Condense the sentences
Rewrite each sentence using a noun phrase.
46. The government recently introduced measures to reduce unemployment.
Begin: The recently introduced...
47. The company has experienced a rapid increase in operating costs.
Begin: The rapid...
48. Researchers are increasingly worried about the effects of climate change.
Begin: Researchers' growing...
49. The committee has expressed serious concerns about the reliability of the evidence.
Begin: The committee's...
50. The organisation has developed a new strategy to improve employee retention.
Begin: The newly developed...
51. The authorities have imposed restrictions on the use of public funds.
Begin: The restrictions...
C. Exam practice – Complete the noun phrases
Use an appropriate participle or adjective formed from the word given.
52. The recently __________ regulations have significantly affected small businesses. (INTRODUCE)
53. There is growing __________ about the long-term sustainability of the project. (CONCERN)
54. The committee rejected the proposal because of its __________ nature. (PRACTICE)
55. The government must address the increasingly __________ problem of housing affordability. (PRESS)
56. The organisation is responsible for the __________ distribution of public resources. (EQUAL)
57. The report highlights several previously __________ factors. (OVERLOOK)
4. -ING CLAUSES
Core rule: An -ing clause can replace a longer clause and express reason, consequence, additional information or an action that happened earlier.
A. Three essential structures
1. Present participle – simultaneous action or reason
Being unfamiliar with the procedure, she requested assistance.
Working under considerable pressure, employees often make mistakes.
2. Perfect participle – earlier completed action
Having completed the investigation, the committee published its findings.
Having failed to meet its targets, the company was forced to restructure.
3. Passive participle
Being questioned by journalists, the minister refused to comment.
Having been warned repeatedly, the company could no longer deny responsibility.
Important: The understood subject of the participle clause must normally be the same as the subject of the main clause.
B. Exam practice – Sentence transformation
Rewrite using the word given. Do not change the meaning.
58. After she had completed the research, she submitted her findings.
HAVING
59. Because he was unaware of the changes, he continued using the outdated system.
BEING
60. After the company had been warned several times, it finally changed its practices.
HAVING
61. Because they had received insufficient training, the employees struggled to adapt.
RECEIVING
62. While she was working abroad, she developed valuable professional contacts.
WORKING
63. Because the organisation was confronted with serious financial difficulties, it reduced its workforce.
CONFRONTED
C. Exam practice – Open cloze
Complete each gap with ONE word.
Having (64) _____ informed of the proposed changes, employees began to express their concerns.
(65) _____ uncertain about the consequences, many were reluctant to accept the new arrangements.
Having (66) _____ subjected to considerable pressure, management eventually agreed to reconsider the decision.
The company, having (67) _____ unable to meet its financial targets, was forced to introduce further cost-cutting measures.
(68) _____ confronted with mounting criticism, the director announced an independent investigation.
5. WH-CLAUSES
Core rule: WH-clauses can function as subjects, objects or complements. They are particularly useful for emphasis and complex sentence structures.
A. Essential patterns
WHAT + clause
What concerns us most is the lack of transparency.
What the researchers discovered was particularly significant.
WHY + clause
Why the negotiations failed remains unclear.
Nobody understands why the proposal was rejected.
HOW + clause
How the funds were allocated has not been explained.
The investigation revealed how the system had been manipulated.
WHERE + clause
Where the money originated remains unknown.
The report explains where the original data was collected.
WHO + clause
- Who authorised the payments has yet to be established.
Remember: When the entire WH-clause acts as the subject, the main verb is generally singular.
What concerns me is the lack of evidence.
Why they left remains unclear.
B. Exam practice – Sentence transformation
Rewrite each sentence beginning with the words given.
69. Nobody knows why the negotiations collapsed.
Why...
70. The most worrying thing is that the government has failed to act.
What...
71. The investigators have not established who authorised the payments.
Who...
72. Nobody has explained how the information was obtained.
How...
73. The location of the missing documents remains unknown.
Where...
74. The committee was particularly concerned about the lack of accountability.
What particularly concerned...
C. Exam practice – Choose the correct option
75. What concerns the researchers most _____ the lack of reliable evidence.
A. are
B. have been
C. is
D. were
76. Why the negotiations eventually collapsed _____ a matter of considerable debate.
A. remain
B. remains
C. have remained
D. are remaining
77. _____ the funds were transferred has not yet been established.
A. Which
B. What
C. Where
D. Whose
78. What the investigation revealed _____ far more serious than initially anticipated.
A. were
B. have been
C. are
D. was
79. _____ authorised the payments remains a mystery.
A. Who
B. Whom
C. Which
D. Whose
6. FINAL MIXED CAE EXAM PRACTICE
This section combines all four areas. You must identify the grammatical structure required rather than relying on the exercise heading.
Part A – Open cloze
ONE word per gap.
The growing reliance on artificial intelligence has raised questions about how effectively governments are prepared to regulate its use.
What concerns experts most (80) _____ the speed at which the technology is developing. Having (81) _____ exposed to increasingly sophisticated automated systems, businesses are becoming more dependent (82) _____ digital infrastructure.
Nevertheless, policymakers remain concerned (83) _____ the potential consequences for employment.
The recently (84) _____ regulations have been criticised for failing to address several significant issues.
Having been confronted (85) _____ mounting criticism, the authorities have promised to reconsider their approach.
Why the original framework was considered sufficient (86) _____ remains unclear.
Part B – Key word transformations
Use the word given. Write between 3 and 6 words.
87. The organisation is famous for its commitment to social equality.
KNOWN
The organisation __________________ its commitment to social equality.
88. The committee had completed its investigation before publishing the report.
HAVING
________________________, the committee published the report.
89. Nobody has explained why the decision was reversed.
WHY
________________________ has not been explained.
90. The government is worried about the long-term implications of the policy.
CONCERNED
The government __________________ the long-term implications of the policy.
91. The company had been repeatedly warned before it was finally investigated.
HAVING
________________________, the company was finally investigated.
92. The report deals primarily with the consequences of economic instability.
CONCERNED
The report __________________ the consequences of economic instability.
Teaching principle: Each section should be mastered independently before moving to the mixed exam. The aim is not simply to memorise prepositions, but to recognise grammatical patterns quickly under CAE exam conditions.
CAE C1 – Answer Key
1. Participle Adjectives + Dependent Prepositions
B. Open Cloze
to
for
in
to
to
on
of
with
of
to
to
with
C. Multiple-choice Cloze
C – to
B – in
C – at
B – with
C – to
D – in
D. Error Correction
committed to improving
exposed to considerable pressure
concerned with the economic consequences
absorbed in her research
alarming to the scientific community
opposed to introducing
2. Versatile Participle Adjectives
B. Choose the Correct Preposition
with
about
for
to
in
with
in
on
for
as
C. Complete the Sentences
concerned with
known for
disappointed in
based in
intended for
concerned about
D. Key Word Transformations
41. is concerned with
42. is known for
43. was disappointed with
44. was based on information collected
45. was intended for
3. Noun Phrases
B. Condense the Sentences
46. The recently introduced measures to reduce unemployment.
47. The rapid increase in the company's operating costs.
48. Researchers' growing concerns about the effects of climate change.
49. The committee's serious concerns about the reliability of the evidence.
50. The newly developed strategy to improve employee retention.
51. The restrictions imposed by the authorities on the use of public funds.
C. Complete the Noun Phrases
introduced
concern
impractical
pressing
equal
overlooked
4. -ING Clauses
B. Sentence Transformations
58. Having completed the research, she submitted her findings.
59. Being unaware of the changes, he continued using the outdated system.
60. Having been warned several times, the company finally changed its practices.
61. Having received insufficient training, the employees struggled to adapt.
62. Working abroad, she developed valuable professional contacts.
63. Confronted with serious financial difficulties, the organisation reduced its workforce.
C. Open Cloze
been
Being
been
been
Having
5. WH-Clauses
B. Sentence Transformations
69. Why the negotiations collapsed remains unknown.
70. What is most worrying is that the government has failed to act.
71. Who authorised the payments has not been established.
72. How the information was obtained has not been explained.
73. Where the missing documents are remains unknown.
74. What particularly concerned the committee was the lack of accountability.
C. Multiple Choice
C – is
B – remains
C – Where
D – was
A – Who
6. Final Mixed CAE Exam Practice
Part A – Open Cloze
is
been
on
about
introduced
with
remains
Part B – Key Word Transformations
87. is known for
88. Having completed its investigation
89. Why the decision was reversed
90. is concerned about
91. Having been repeatedly warned
92. is concerned with
Important corrections and exam notes
A few questions have more than one grammatically possible answer or need a little clarification:
14: Both disappointed in and disappointed with can work in different contexts, but in is the intended answer because the sentence focuses on the employees' failure.
21: Concerned with is intended because the report deals with a subject.
37: Alarming to is the intended pattern.
53: Growing concern is the natural noun phrase.
56: Equal distribution is the correct collocation.
86: The complete construction is Why the original framework was considered sufficient remains unclear.
CAE exam tip: In transformations, always check the word limit and ensure you preserve the original meaning, not just the grammatical structure.