Test your understanding of basic grammar rules and sentence patterns with this exercise.
1The man ............... I owed money demanded immediate payment.
Wrong!
Use "to whom" because the verb phrase is "owe money to someone" in a formal relative clause.
2The four brothers are always ready to go to ............... help.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "each other's" and "one another's" are correct; some people prefer "one another" for more than two people, but they mean the same.
3This is the woman ............... son was abducted.
Wrong!
Use "whose" to show possession in the relative clause.
4The flight ............... at 3.30.
Wrong!
Use "arrives" for a scheduled event in the present simple.
5When I was young, I ............... cricket every day.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "practiced" and "would practice" can describe a repeated past habit.
6............... it possible, I would visit London.
Wrong!
Use "Were" in the formal inverted conditional meaning "if it were possible."
7............... it prove to be true, I shall resign from the committee.
Wrong!
Use "Should" in the formal inverted conditional meaning "if it proves to be true."
8............... many faults, he was a good man at heart.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "Despite having" and "In spite of having" introduce a concession before the main clause.
9Were you ............... to trust him?
Wrong!
Use "foolish enough" because "enough" comes after the adjective it modifies.
10The faster you run, ............... yourself.
Wrong!
Use "the sooner you exhaust" to complete the paired structure "the + comparative..., the + comparative...".
11If you played games regularly, you ............... get so fat.
Wrong!
Use "wouldn't" in the main clause of a second conditional sentence.
12She ............... cooking when the guests arrived.
Wrong!
Use "had not finished" for the earlier of two past actions.
Answers
- The man to whom I owed money demanded immediate payment.
- The four brothers are always ready to go to each other’s / one another’s help.
- This is the woman whose son was abducted.
- The flight arrives at 3.30.
- When I was young, I practiced / would practice cricket every day.
- Were it possible, I would visit London.
- Should it prove to be true, I shall resign from the committee.
- Despite having / In spite of having many faults, he was a good man at heart.
- Were you foolish enough to trust him?
- The faster you run, the sooner you exhaust yourself.
- If you played games regularly, you wouldn’t get so fat.
- She had not finished cooking when the guests arrived.