Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1The committee released the report despite ............... by the legal team.
Wrong!
After the preposition 'despite', use a noun phrase or gerund phrase, so the correct answer is "its having been delayed".
2The launch was postponed because of ............... at short notice.
Wrong!
Because 'because of' must be followed by a noun phrase, the correct answer is "the consultant's unavailability".
3The auditor asked ............... before approving the accounts.
Wrong!
In an embedded question, use statement word order, so the correct answer is "whether the figures were reliable".
4The renovation budget had to provide ............... most: accessible entrances and reliable heating.
Wrong!
After 'provide' here, the fused relative clause can function directly as its object, so the correct answer is "what the residents needed".
5The trial produced convincing evidence ............... in patients with severe symptoms.
Wrong!
The noun 'evidence' is normally followed by a content clause with 'that' to state the finding, so the correct answer is "that the drug reduced inflammation".
6The agency reduced the risk of bias by ...............
Wrong!
After the preposition 'by' meaning method, use a gerund phrase, so the correct answer is "introducing an independent review stage".
7Given the continuing shortage of components, ............... before the end of the quarter.
Wrong!
For a cautious formal prediction, the extraposed clause pattern is natural and clear, so the correct answer is "it is unlikely that prices will stabilise".
8The forensic log pointed to ............... before the audit began.
Wrong!
A preposition cannot normally take a bare finite 'that'-clause as its complement, so the correct answer is "the fact that several files had been deleted".
9Applications ............... will not be considered unless the delay was caused by a system failure.
Wrong!
After the noun phrase 'Applications', a reduced relative clause can modify the noun without a finite verb, so the correct answer is "submitted after the deadline".
10The council postponed the vote because the question ............... remained unresolved.
Wrong!
The noun 'question' commonly takes a 'whether' clause when the issue is undecided, so the correct answer is "whether the scheme is affordable".
11During the inquiry, the finance director denied ............... without board approval.
Wrong!
The verb 'deny' takes a noun phrase or a finite/gerund content complement, not a to-infinitive of this kind, so the correct answer is "that he had authorised the payment".
12Investors had underestimated the possibility ............... once the subsidies expired.
Wrong!
The noun 'possibility' can be followed by a content clause with 'that', so the correct answer is "that demand might fall sharply".
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- The committee released the report despite its having been delayed by the legal team.
- The launch was postponed because of the consultant’s unavailability at short notice.
- The auditor asked whether the figures were reliable before approving the accounts.
- The renovation budget had to provide what the residents needed most: accessible entrances and reliable heating.
- The trial produced convincing evidence that the drug reduced inflammation in patients with severe symptoms.
- The agency reduced the risk of bias by introducing an independent review stage.
- Given the continuing shortage of components, it is unlikely that prices will stabilise before the end of the quarter.
- The forensic log pointed to the fact that several files had been deleted before the audit began.
- Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered unless the delay was caused by a system failure.
- The council postponed the vote because the question whether the scheme is affordable remained unresolved.
- During the inquiry, the finance director denied that he had authorised the payment without board approval.
- Investors had underestimated the possibility that demand might fall sharply once the subsidies expired.