Fill in the blanks with an appropriate linking word.
1. ………………………. having a headache I enjoyed the party.
Correct!
Wrong!
Despite is a preposition. It is followed by a noun or ing form.
2. ……………………… I already had a dozen cats at home, I decided to adopt that feral cat too.
Correct!
Wrong!
Although is a conjunction. It is used to connect two clauses expressing contrasting ideas.
3. ……………………… he doesn’t return what will we do?
Correct!
Wrong!
If expresses a condition.
4. He seemed upset ………………………… he had lost his mobile phone.
Correct!
Wrong!
5. It was a cold evening; ……………………….., I went for a walk.
Correct!
Wrong!
However does not connect two clauses. It goes at the beginning of a clause and is followed by a comma. Put a full stop or a semicolon before however.
6. He went out without wearing a coat ……………………. caught a cold.
Correct!
Wrong!
7. She succeeded ……………………….. her mother.
Correct!
Wrong!
Because of is a preposition. Use it before a noun or ing form.
8. ……………………….. his books are selling well, critics are not happy with his literary output.
Correct!
Wrong!
9. ………………………. working hard for years, he still doesn’t have enough savings.
Correct!
Wrong!
10. ………………………. I have been living in Barcelona for several years, I still cannot speak Spanish.
Correct!
Wrong!
11. I have been living here for several months; ………………………., I still do not know who my neighbors are.
Correct!
Wrong!
12. ………………………….. making several attempts, he could not succeed.
Please select 2 correct answers
Correct!
Wrong!
Either despite or in spite of is possible here.
Answers
- Despite having a headache I enjoyed the party.
- Although I already had a dozen cats at home, I decided to adopt that feral cat too.
- If he doesn’t return what will we do?
- He seemed upset because he had lost his mobile phone.
- It was a cold evening; however, I went for a walk.
- He went out without wearing a coat and caught a cold.
- She succeeded because of her mother.
- Although his books are selling well, critics are not happy with his literary output.
- Despite working hard for years, he still doesn’t have enough savings.
- Although I have been living in Barcelona for several years, I still cannot speak Spanish.
- I have been living here for several months; however, I still do not know who my neighbors are.
- In spite of / Despite making several attempts, he could not succeed.
