Fill in the blanks.
1There was ............... anything in the box.
Wrong!
Use "hardly" to mean almost not at all.
2There lay ............... books on the table.
Wrong!
Use "a few" with plural countable nouns to mean a small number.
3............... the thunderstorm approaching, we rushed indoors.
Wrong!
Use "Seeing" to introduce the reason or situation in this participle clause.
4............... on tiptoe, he reached for the apple.
Wrong!
Use "Standing" to introduce the action happening at the same time.
5Would you mind ............... the door?
Wrong!
After "Would you mind", use the -ing form "closing".
6You ............... attend the meeting.
Wrong!
The modal form "needn't" is followed by the base verb.
7You had better ............... a doctor.
Wrong!
After "had better", use the base verb "consult".
8You don't need ............... all questions.
Wrong!
After "don't need" as a main verb, use the to-infinitive "to answer".
9Beethoven is ............... than most other composers.
Wrong!
Use the comparative adjective "greater" before "than".
10I prefer watching TV ............... reading books.
Wrong!
The pattern is "prefer" one thing "to" another.
11He is ............... of my four children.
Wrong!
Use the superlative "the youngest" when comparing one person with a group of four.
12The older we grow, ............... we become.
Wrong!
In this parallel comparative structure, use "the wiser" in the second clause.
Answers
- There was hardly anything in the box.
- There lay a few books on the table.
- Seeing the thunderstorm approaching, we rushed indoors.
- Standing on tiptoe, he reached for the apple.
- Would you mind closing the door?
- You needn’t attend the meeting.
- You had better consult a doctor.
- You don’t need to answer all questions.
- Beethoven is greater than most other composers.
- I prefer watching TV to reading books.
- He is the youngest of my four children.
- The older we grow, the wiser we become.
