Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1The committee may publish the revised data next week, but it is under no legal obligation to ...............
Wrong!
Use "do so" to substitute for a whole previously mentioned action in formal written English when the action is recoverable from context.
2Marta didn't recognise the consultant from last year's audit, and ...............
Wrong!
After a negative statement, use "neither did I" to show the same negative experience with auxiliary inversion.
3The figures from this quarter cannot be compared directly with ............... from the previous quarter.
Wrong!
Use "those" to substitute for a specific plural noun phrase in a formal comparison: "those" refers to the figures.
4The licence may already have expired; if ..............., the team must renew it before accessing the database.
Wrong!
Use "if so" to refer back to the previous clause: here it means 'if the licence has expired'.
5The museum may cancel the lecture if the speaker's flight is delayed, but ...............
Wrong!
The normal negative substitute after hope is "I hope not", not a negated form of hope plus so.
6This confidential file must stay in the archive; if you need another ..............., request it through the records office.
Wrong!
Use "one" to mean another item of the same kind; "it" would refer to the same specific item already mentioned.
7Nadia was waiting outside the venue when the alarm sounded, and ...............
Wrong!
Use "so was I" because the first clause is positive and uses the verb be in the past continuous.
8Several reports can be circulated internally, but the ............... that contain raw client data must remain restricted.
Wrong!
Use plural "ones" to substitute for the plural noun reports when the following clause identifies which reports are meant.
9The solicitor has overlooked a crucial clause, or at least she appears ...............
Wrong!
Use "to" alone after 'appears' to avoid repeating the verb phrase: 'she appears to (have overlooked a crucial clause)'. With a personal subject, 'so' cannot stand in for a verb phrase like this; you would say 'or at least it appears so'.
10The approval rate among first-time applicants was substantially higher than ............... among repeat applicants.
Wrong!
Use "that" to substitute for a singular abstract noun phrase in a formal comparison: "that" refers to the approval rate.
11The manufacturer should not conceal minor defects, and ...............
Wrong!
After a negative modal clause, use "nor should the regulator" to add a parallel negative statement with the same auxiliary.
12Analysts expect the board to approve the merger, and several investors now suppose ...............
Wrong!
After suppose, use "so" to substitute for a whole previous clause: "so" means the board will approve the merger.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- The committee may publish the revised data next week, but it is under no legal obligation to do so.
- Marta didn’t recognise the consultant from last year’s audit, and neither did I.
- The figures from this quarter cannot be compared directly with those from the previous quarter.
- The licence may already have expired; if so, the team must renew it before accessing the database.
- The museum may cancel the lecture if the speaker’s flight is delayed, but I hope not.
- This confidential file must stay in the archive; if you need another one, request it through the records office.
- Nadia was waiting outside the venue when the alarm sounded, and so was I.
- Several reports can be circulated internally, but the ones that contain raw client data must remain restricted.
- The solicitor has overlooked a crucial clause, or at least she appears to.
- The approval rate among first-time applicants was substantially higher than that among repeat applicants.
- The manufacturer should not conceal minor defects, and nor should the regulator.
- Analysts expect the board to approve the merger, and several investors now suppose so.