This grammar exercise tests your understanding of some common grammatical structures in English. Complete the following sentences with an appropriate word or phrase. Choose your answers from the given options.
1As there was no ............... in waiting, we left.
Wrong!
The fixed expression is "there is no point in doing something" when an action is not useful.
2The storm played havoc ............... our flight schedules.
Wrong!
The correct expression is "with" in "play havoc with something."
3............... all I know, she is still married to him.
Wrong!
The fixed expression is "For" in "for all I know."
4I look forward ............... you.
Wrong!
After "look forward," the correct form is "to seeing."
5Didn't I tell you ............... it?
Wrong!
After "tell someone," we use the infinitive form, so "not to touch" is correct.
6............... the time we reached there, they had finished.
Wrong!
The time expression is "By" in "by the time."
7You will have to take the stairs because the lift is ...............
Wrong!
A machine that is not working is "out of order."
8You ............... better pay the fee today to avoid late payment charges.
Wrong!
The correct phrase for strong advice is "had" in "had better."
9His electricity was ............... because he hadn't paid the bill.
Wrong!
When a supply is stopped, it is "cut off."
10She ............... tears when I told her that she had failed her exam.
Wrong!
The expression for suddenly starting to cry is "burst into tears".
11The plane departed on time ............... the fog.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Before a noun phrase, "despite" and "in spite of" can both show contrast.
12The chimneys ............... too much smoke.
Wrong!
To send out smoke, gas, or a smell is to "give it off", so the chimneys "give off" too much smoke.
Answers
- As there was no point in waiting, we left.
- The storm played havoc with our flight schedules.
- For all I know, she is still married to him.
- I look forward to seeing you.
- Didn’t I tell you not to touch it?
- By the time we reached there, they had finished.
- You will have to take the stairs because the lift is out of order.
- You had better pay the fee today to avoid late payment charges.
- His electricity was cut off because he hadn’t paid the bill.
- She burst into tears when I told her that she had failed her exam.
- The plane departed on time despite / in spite of the fog.
- The chimneys give off too much smoke.