Complete the following sentences with an appropriate word or phrase. This grammar exercise tests your understanding of sentence patterns and structures.
1. The higher you climb ...............................................
In this structure with two comparative expressions, we use the same pattern in both clauses.
2. The more he reads, the ............................................. he understands.
Less is the comparative form of little. Lesser means smaller.
3. The government should pay attention to the problems of .....................................................
The unemployed means all unemployed people. The article 'the' is required in this expression.
4. They saw the criminal ....................................................... open the door.
The infinitive is used without to after the verb see.
5. The strike ........................................................ if the workers' demands had been granted.
A passive verb is required here. In the third conditional, we use a past perfect tense in the if-clause and would have + past participle in the main clause.
6. If you ........................................... more carefully, you wouldn't make so many mistakes.
In the second conditional, we use a simple past tense in the if-clause and would + infinitive in the main clause.
7. I consider ............................................... to have this opportunity of welcoming you.
8. The leader said that it would be unwise .............................................. the democratic demands of the people.
Negative forms are usually made by putting not before the infinitive.
9. He said that the climate ................................................. his health.
A past tense in the main clause is almost always followed by a past tense in the subordinate clause.
10. As soon as the clients .................................................., he locked up his office and went home.
A past tense in the main clause is almost always followed by a past tense in the subordinate clause.
11. The leaning tower of Pisa ...................................................... more and more every year.
We use the present perfect continuous to talk about an action or situation that started in the past and has continued up to the present.
12. He brushed ............................................. all the plans that I had carefully formulated.
To brush something aside is to dismiss it.
Answers
1. The higher you climb the colder it gets.
2. The more he reads, the less he understands.
3. The government should pay attention to the problems of the unemployed.
4. They saw the criminal break open the door.
5. The strike would have been called off if the workers’ demands had been granted.
6. If you listened more carefully, you wouldn’t make so many mistakes.
7. I consider it a privilege to have this opportunity of welcoming you.
8. The leader said that it would be unwise not to accept the democratic demands of the people.
9. He said that the climate had affected his health.
10. As soon as the clients had left, he locked up his office and went home.
11. The leaning tower of Pisa has been leaning more and more every year.
12. He brushed aside all the plans that I had carefully formulated.
