Complete the following sentences.
1As Tom was suffering from a fever, he ............... go to work.
Wrong!
Use the past negative modal "couldn't" because the sentence refers to Tom's past inability to go to work.
2In the sentence "He speaks as if he knows the truth," which verb form is correct if perhaps he really does know it?
Wrong!
Use "knows" because the speaker thinks it is possible that he really knows the truth.
3Rekha was clever enough to see ............... the scam.
Wrong!
The phrasal verb "see through" means to understand that something is false or dishonest.
4He is ............... old to walk.
Wrong!
Use "too" before an adjective to show that something is more than is possible or suitable.
5She was ............... angry that she said nothing.
Wrong!
Use "so" with "that" to show a result.
6Are you not ashamed ............... your conduct?
Wrong!
The adjective "ashamed" is followed by "of" before the thing that causes shame.
7The older you get, ............... you become.
Wrong!
The comparative structure is "the older..., the wiser...".
8No sooner had I opened the book ............... I started feeling sleepy.
Wrong!
The fixed structure is "no sooner... than".
9The room was ............... small to accommodate the guests.
Wrong!
Use "too" before an adjective and infinitive to mean that something is impossible or unsuitable.
10The night was ............... dark that I couldn't see anything.
Wrong!
Use "so" with "that" to introduce the result.
11Booker was ............... timid to speak up.
Wrong!
Use "too" before an adjective and infinitive to show that Booker was unable to speak up.
12............... being ill, she went to work.
Wrong!
Use "In spite of" before a noun or gerund phrase such as "being ill".
13I wish I ............... taller.
Wrong!
Use "were" after "I wish" to talk about an unreal present situation.
Answers
- As Tom was suffering from a fever, he couldn’t go to work.
- In the sentence “He speaks as if he knows the truth,” which verb form is correct if perhaps he really does know it? — knows
- Rekha was clever enough to see through the scam.
- He is too old to walk.
- She was so angry that she said nothing.
- Are you not ashamed of your conduct?
- The older you get, the wiser you become.
- No sooner had I opened the book than I started feeling sleepy.
- The room was too small to accommodate the guests.
- The night was so dark that I couldn’t see anything.
- Booker was too timid to speak up.
- In spite of being ill, she went to work.
- I wish I were taller.