Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word or phrase.
1. She appears to be very ...................... today.
Appear is a copular verb. It is modified by an adjective.
2. She doesn’t want to complete her studies. It .......................... a pity.
We do not use appear to talk about subjective feelings and impressions.
3. She suddenly ............................. in the hall.
Appear can mean come into sight. Seem is not used with this meaning.
4. I am afraid a problem has ..............................
Arise can mean begin or appear.
5. Prices keep ..........................
Rise means get higher.
6. I don’t enjoy doing odd jobs ................................ the house.
Around and about can both be used to talk about movements that are not very clear or definite.
7. .............................. usually start talking at around 18 months old.
No article is used here because we are talking about children in general.
8. I always feed ........................... before I go to work.
We use the article ‘the’ here because we are talking about particular dogs.
9. Do you like ..........................?
No article is used here because we are talking about dogs in general.
10. He has made .................................
Progress is an uncountable noun. We cannot use an article with it.
11. Can I have ............................... pancake?
The article ‘the’ is used with next.
12. We have been waiting for rain ................................ weeks.
We use for to indicate duration.
Answers
1. She appears to be very happy today.
2. She doesn’t want to complete her studies. It seems a pity.
3. She suddenly appeared in the hall.
4. I am afraid a problem has arisen.
5. Prices keep rising.
6. I don’t enjoy doing odd jobs around / about the house.
7. Children usually start talking at around 18 months old.
8. I always feed the dogs before I go to work.
9. Do you like dogs?
10. He has made good progress.
11. Can I have the next pancake?
12. We have been waiting for rain for weeks.
