Exercise 1: Vocabulary – Expressing AngerThere are many expressions and idioms relating to anger, irritation, and annoyance. For example, lose one’s temper, blow a fuse, get irate, get worked up and many more.

Complete each of the gaps with a word from below.

tantrum / steam / outburst / rage / tongue-lashing / top / head / quick / cross / bone

1. I was furious; I had to go for a long walk to let off {{{steam}}}.

2. Mark wants to see his boss. He says he’s got a {{{bone}}} to pick with him.

3. My dad would blow his {{{top}}} if he found out I’d been driving so fast.

4. The teacher gave Jeremy a {{{tongue-lashing}}} when he arrived late for school for the third time.

5. When I refused his request, he flew into a {{{rage}}} and stormed out of my office.

6. I was taken aback by her sudden {{{outburst}}} of temper.

7. I worked 10 hours a day all week and my boss bit my {{{head}}} off for not doing my share of the work.

8. She doesn’t get what she wants, she throws a {{{tantrum}}}, stamping her feet and screaming her head off.

9. He makes me nervous- he’s got such a {{{quick}}} temper.

10. Mummy’s a little {{{cross}}} with you, Pete. You know you shouldn’t tell lies.

Exercise 2: Participle ClauseParticiple clauses are clauses which begin with a present or past participle. They help to express ideas concisely, and add variety to written English. We can use prepositions such as by, in, on in a present participle (-ing) clause.

by + -ing indicates ‘the method or means used’;

on + -ing indicates ‘when’:

in + -ing indicates cause’.

Join the sentences, beginning them with by + -ing, on + -ing, or in + -ing.