C1 Readiness Test

Three questions from this test

Try them first. Each answer stays hidden until you open it.

1. EP vs BP

   Which is the correct European Portuguese clitic cluster for "he gave it to me" (referring to a masculine object)?

   • AEle me o deu.
   • BEle deu-mo.
   • CEle deu-lhe-o.
   • DEle o me deu.
   Show the answer

   B. Ele deu-mo. "Deu-mo" is the contracted clitic cluster: "me + o" → "mo". EP combines the indirect object clitic "me" with the direct object clitic "o" to form "mo": "deu-mo" = gave it to me. This contraction is characteristic of EP and is not used in BP.

2. Fill in the Blank

   Se ___ mais cedo, não teríamos perdido o voo. (If we had left earlier, we wouldn't have missed the flight.)

   • Atínhamos saído
   • Btivéssemos saído
   • Csaímos
   • Dsairíamos
   Show the answer

   B. tivéssemos saído In a contrary-to-fact past conditional (third conditional), the "se" clause uses the pluperfect subjunctive: "tivéssemos saído". The result clause uses the conditional perfect: "teríamos perdido". "Tínhamos saído" (pluperfect indicative) is not used after "se" in this hypothetical sense.

3. Error Spotting

   Find the word that is incorrect: "Não sei se ele venha amanhã."

   • Asei
   • Bse
   • Cvenha
   • Damanhã
   Show the answer

   C. venha "Se" (if) in indirect questions takes the indicative in EP, not the subjunctive. "Não sei se ele vem amanhã" is correct. The subjunctive "venha" is incorrect here; it would be used after "que" with volitional/emotional verbs. "Se" introducing an indirect question requires the indicative.

How your result is graded

One question at a time. After each answer you see whether you were right, with a short explanation. At the end you get your score, the correct answer to every question, and the explanation again for each one you missed.

• Excellent 90% or more
• Good 75–89%
• Passing 60–74%
• Keep Practising Below 60%