1.1. Exercise A

Use these verbs to complete the following sentences:

LOSE, SET, BREAK, TAKE, SANK, HAVE

1) My heart ???? when I saw how much washing up there was in the kitchen.
2) My French teacher is awful. She corrects every little mistake I make and she gets very angry if I do not know the answer. I'm starting to ????? heart.
3) My sister is only 6 but she's ????? her heart on becoming a doctor.
4) I know you are disappointed Alex but you can ???? heart from the fact that most people in Britain fail their driving test the first time.
5) Paul asked if he could play the piano at our wedding. I know he's not very good but I didn't ???? the heart to say no.
6) My car has finally come to the end of its life. I've had it for 20 years. It'll ???? my heart to say goodbye to it.

1.2 Answers exercise A

Use these verbs to complete the following sentences:

LOSE, SET, BREAK, TAKE, SANK, HAVE

1) My heart SANK when I saw how much washing up there was in the kitchen.

2) My French teacher is awful. She corrects every little mistake I make and she gets very angry if I do not know the answer. I'm starting to LOSE heart.
3) My sister is only 6 but she's SET her heart on becoming a doctor.
4) I know you are disappointed Alex but you can TAKE heart from the fact that most people in Britain fail their driving test the first time.
5) Paul asked if he could play the piano at our wedding. I know he's not very good but I didn't HAVE the heart to say no.
6) My car has finally come to the end of its life. I've had it for 20 years. It'll BREAK my heart to say goodbye to it.

2.1 Exercise B

Use the following idiomatic expressions in the sentences below:

IN MY HEART OF HEARTS
CLOSE TO MY HEART
HAD A CHANGE OF HEART
AFTER MY OWN HEART
BEST INTERESTS AT HEART
HEART'S IN THE RIGHT PLACE
GOT A HEART OF GOLD
HEART'S NOT IN IT
LEARN THINGS BY HEART
HEART-TO-HEART

Paul: Alex, you're interested in Third World problems, aren't you?
Alex: Yes, it's a subject that has always been ????.

Paul: My mother is a great help to me. She is really kind to her neighbours as well.
Alex: Yes, people are always saying she's ????.

Paul: I have decided to give up my piano lessons.
Alex: Well, there's no point continuing if your ????.

Paul: So the job in USA came to nothing. Are you disappointed?
Alex: Not really. ????? I want to work in UK anyway.

Paul: Why are Tom and Jane going back to Australia? I thought they were going to stay here for another 6 months.
Alex: That was the plan but they've ????. They're homesick.

Paul: I don't know about you but I find Terry very difficult.
Alex: Well, he can be a bit rude, but basically his ????.

Paul: What languages did you study at school?
Alex: Only English. It was so boring. We just had to ?????? - verb tables and stuff like that.

Paul: I like most sports but especially rugby.
Alex: Ah! A man ???? ! I love rugby too!

Paul: Where's Lisa? She's not at her desk.
Alex: No, she's in David's office. They're having a ???? about her future.

Paul: I don't know if you realise how demanding you can be.
Alex: Yes, I know I can be tough but please believe I have your ????.

2.2 Exercise B - answers

Use the following idiomatic expressions in the sentences below:

AFTER MY OWN HEART
BEST INTERESTS AT HEART
HEART-TO-HEART

Paul: Alex, you're interested in Third World problems, aren't you?
Alex: Yes, it's a subject that has always been CLOSE TO MY HEART.

Paul: My mother is a great help to me. She is really kind to her neighbours as well.
Alex: Yes, people are always saying she's GOT A HEART OF GOLD.

Paul: I have decided to give up my piano lessons.
Alex: Well, there's no point continuing if your HEART'S NOT IN IT.

Paul: So the job in USA came to nothing. Are you disappointed?
Alex: Not really. IN MY HEART OF HEARTS I want to work in UK anyway.

Paul: Why are Tom and Jane going back to Australia? I thought they were going to stay here for another 6 months.
Alex: That was the plan but they've HAD A CHANGE OF HEARTS. They're homesick.

Paul: I don't know about you but I find Terry very difficult.
Alex: Well, he can be a bit rude, but basically his HEART'S IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

Paul: What languages did you study at school?
Alex: Only English. It was so boring. We just had to LEARN THINGS BY HEART - verb tables and stuff like that.

Paul: I like most sports but especially rugby.
Alex: Ah! A man AFTER MY OWN HEART ! I love rugby too!

Paul: Where's Lisa? She's not at her desk.
Alex: No, she's in David's office. They're having a HEART TO HEART  about her future.

Paul: I don't know if you realise how demanding you can be.
Alex: Yes, I know I can be tough but please believe I have your BEST INTERESTS AT HEART.