Fill in the blanks with an appropriate conjunction or preposition.
1. She couldn’t qualify for the race ……………………….. having trained very hard.
In spite of is a preposition. It can be followed by an ing form.
2. He couldn’t pass the exam ………………………… he worked very hard.
Although is a conjunction. It is followed by a clause. In spite of and despite are prepositions.
3. She sat …………………….. me across the table.
Please select 2 correct answers
In front of does not mean ‘across a table from.’ That idea is expressed with opposite or facing.
4. ………………………… did he start going out with her than she fell in love with another guy.
Note the pattern ‘no sooner…than’.
5. I was hardly inside the house …………………….. the lights went out.
Please select 2 correct answers
Hardly can be followed by when or before.
6. ………………………….. had I closed my eyes when the dog started barking.
Please select 2 correct answers
Both hardly and scarcely can be followed by when or before.
7. She has been a go-getter ……………………… her childhood.
From is possible with a present perfect tense in expressions that mean ‘right from the start’.
8. The shop was open ……………………………. the morning.
Since is usually used with a present perfect tense. From is used with simple tenses.
9. We had to cancel the picnic ……………………………….. bad weather.
Due to and owing to both mean because of.
10. He doesn’t care …………………………. his appearance.
If you care about something, it interests or worries you.
11. She is ………………………….. the Harvard School of Business.
We use at to say where people study.
12. I won’t be leaving ………………………… Friday.
Not until means the same as not before.
Answers
1. She couldn’t qualify for the race in spite of having trained very hard.
2. He couldn’t pass the exam although he worked very hard.
3. She sat facing / opposite me across the table.
4. No sooner did he start going out with her than she fell in love with another guy.
5. I was hardly inside the house when / before the lights went out.
6. Scarcely / hardly had I closed my eyes when the dog started barking.
7. She has been a go-getter since / from her childhood.
8. The shop was open from the morning.
9. We had to cancel the picnic due to / owing to / because of bad weather.
10. He doesn’t care about his appearance.
11. She is at the Harvard School of Business.
12. I won’t be leaving until / before Friday.
