Fill in the blanks.
1. ..............................the gunshot, the birds flew away.
When two actions happen simultaneously, we can use the present participle to connect them.
2. ............................ you try, you will not succeed.
Even if refers to the future. Even though refers to the past.
3. ............................. she is younger than me, I always listen to her advice.
Although is used to connect two contrasting ideas.
4. ................................. being ill, he goes to work regularly.
In spite of is followed by a noun or an ing form. Although is followed by a clause.
5. Rahim, ............................. was my classmate at university, is now an engineer.
Use who to refer to people. That cannot be used to refer to people in non-identifying clauses.
6. .................................... hard you may try, you will not succeed.
However hard means no matter how hard.
7. The movie ............................. I watched yesterday was interesting.
8. The weather ............................... fine, we went for a swim in the sea.
9. Janet with ........................... I share my room is a student from Miami.
10. I don't know ............................. I should cry or laugh.
We can use if or whether to introduce Yes/No questions.
11. ................................ all my children are grown up, I have more free time.
12. He is a senior lawyer; ............................., he doesn't have many clients.
However doesn't connect two clauses. It is a transitional adverb. Put a full stop or a semicolon before however.
Answers
1. Hearing the gunshot, the birds flew away.
2. Even if you try, you will not succeed.
3. Although she is younger than me, I always listen to her advice.
4. In spite of being ill, he attends work regularly.
5. Rahim, who was my classmate at university. is now an engineer.
6. However hard you may try, you will not succeed.
7. The movie that / which I watched yesterday was interesting.
8. The weather being fine, we went for a swim in the sea.
9. Janet with whom I share my room is a student from Miami.
10. I don’t know if / whether I should cry or laugh.
11. Now that all my children are grown up, I have more free time.
12. He is a senior lawyer; however, he doesn’t have many clients.
