Fill in the blanks.
1He ............... how the machine works.
Wrong!
Use "explained" when giving information about how something works without a personal object after the verb.
2Please ............... this to me.
Wrong!
Use "explain" in the pattern explain something to someone.
3He ............... me why he wanted to quit.
Wrong!
Use "told" before a personal object such as me.
4He tried to ............... his position.
Wrong!
Use "explain" when you give reasons for an opinion or position.
5He ............... me why he was angry.
Wrong!
Use "told" before a personal object such as me.
6You should have ............... me you were not coming.
Wrong!
Use "told" before a personal object such as me.
7He couldn't ............... the problem.
Wrong!
Use "explain" when you make a problem clear.
8Please ............... him not to repeat it.
Wrong!
Use "tell" in the pattern tell someone to do something.
9I can't ............... whether she is happy or not.
Wrong!
Use "tell" to mean recognize or know from evidence.
10He ............... everything clearly.
Wrong!
Use "explained" when the direct object is the information being made clear.
11Can you ............... to me how to do it?
Wrong!
Use "explain" in the pattern explain to someone how to do something.
12She ............... the children a story.
Wrong!
Use "told" in the pattern tell someone a story.
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- He explained how the machine works.
- Please explain this to me.
- He told me why he wanted to quit.
- He tried to explain his position.
- He told me why he was angry.
- You should have told me you were not coming.
- He couldn’t explain the problem.
- Please tell him not to repeat it.
- I can’t tell whether she is happy or not.
- He explained everything clearly.
- Can you explain to me how to do it?
- She told the children a story.
