Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word or phrase.
1He is fond ............... cricket.
Wrong!
After "fond", use "of playing" before the activity.
2............... along the road, he found a dead cobra.
Wrong!
Use "Walking" to show the action happening at the same time as finding the cobra.
3We were prevented ............... the patient.
Wrong!
After "prevented", use "from seeing" before the object.
4I hope you will excuse ............... leaving early.
Wrong!
Before the gerund "leaving", the possessive form "my" is the formal choice.
5We rejoiced at ............... being promoted.
Wrong!
Before the gerund "being", the possessive form "his" is the formal choice.
6I insist on ............... being present at the meeting.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Before the gerund "being", both are correct: the possessive "your" is more formal, and the object pronoun "you" is common in everyday English. "Yours" cannot be used here.
7We left without ............... knowing.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Before the gerund "knowing", "anyone" is the usual everyday form and "anyone's" is a formal alternative. "Anyones" is not a correct form.
8All depends on ............... passing the exam.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Before the gerund "passing", both are correct: the possessive "John's" is more formal, and "John" is common in everyday English. "Johns" is not a correct form.
9It ............... a very hot day, I remained in my tent.
Wrong!
In this absolute participle clause, use "being" after the subject "It".
10............... across the heath, a gypsy found the child.
Wrong!
Use "Wandering" to show the action happening at the same time as finding the child.
11............... his lesson, he went out to play.
Wrong!
Use "Having learned" to show that learning the lesson happened before going out to play.
12We met an old man ............... to Jerusalem.
Wrong!
Use "walking" to describe what the old man was doing when we met him.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- He is fond of playing cricket.
- Walking along the road, he found a dead cobra.
- We were prevented from seeing the patient.
- I hope you will excuse my leaving early.
- We rejoiced at his being promoted.
- I insist on you / your being present at the meeting.
- We left without anyone / anyone’s knowing.
- All depends on John / John’s passing the exam.
- It being a very hot day, I remained in my tent.
- Wandering across the heath, a gypsy found the child.
- Having learned his lesson, he went out to play.
- We met an old man walking to Jerusalem.