Fill in the blanks with an appropriate conjunction or preposition.
1. I finished early ………………………. I worked fast.
Because is a conjunction. We use it to connect two clauses.
2.We were late ……………………….. the storm.
Because of is a preposition. It is followed by a noun.
3. ………………………… trying hard, she could not finish the job on time.
We use in spite of before an ing form.
4. …………………………….. she tried hard, she could not finish the job on time.
Although is a conjunction. We use it to connect two clauses.
5. ………………………. waking up early, I was late for work.
Despite and in spite of are interchangeable.
6. ……………………………… the fact that the government refuses to admit it, it has lost the support of the masses.
We cannot put a that-clause immediately after in spite of. Hence we introduce it with ‘the fact’.
7. …………………………. the government refuses to admit it, its economic policy has failed time and again.
8. I always take an umbrella ………………………… it rains.
After in case we usually use a present tense to refer to the future.
9. I wrote down his phone number ………………………. I should forget it.
Should + infinitive is very common after in case. It adds the meaning ‘by chance’.
10. I wrote down his phone number …………………………. I might forget it.
Because I might forget it is similar to in case I should forget it.
11. We will buy a chicken ………………………… we have guests.
12. If she is late, we will go ………………………. her.
Answers
1. I finished early because I worked fast.
2. We were late because of the storm.
3. In spite of trying hard, she could not finish the job on time.
4. Although she tried hard, she could not finish the job on time.
5. Despite / in spite of waking up early, I was late for work.
6. In spite of the fact that the government refuses to admit it, it has lost the support of the masses.
7. Though the government refuses to admit it, its economic policy has failed time and again.
8. I always take an umbrella in case it rains.
9. I wrote down his phone number in case I should forget it.
10. I wrote down his phone number because I might forget it.
11. We will buy a chicken if we have guests.
12. If she is late, we will go without her.
