Fill in the blanks.
1. ………………………….. his best efforts, he could not pass the test.
Correct!
Wrong!
Despite is a preposition. It is used before a noun or noun phrase.
2. She is not very beautiful; …………………………, you cannot help liking her.
Correct!
Wrong!
However is a transitional adverb. In meaning it is similar to but, but it is not a conjunction.
3. …………………………….. she was there, she refused to talk to me.
Correct!
Wrong!
Though is used to connect two contrasting ideas.
4. I went to his home …………………………. I could not meet him.
Correct!
Wrong!
Use a full stop or a semicolon before however.
5. ……………………………. she was the most deserving candidate, she didn’t get the job.
Correct!
Wrong!
Though is a conjunction; it is followed by a clause.
6. …………………………….. her strange accent, I could understand her.
Correct!
Wrong!
7. She works three jobs; …………………………….., she does not earn enough to make a living.
Correct!
Wrong!
8. ………………………………. she is younger than me, she is the wiser of us two.
Correct!
Wrong!
9. ………………………………. their best efforts, they could not save her.
Correct!
Wrong!
Despite and in spite of mean the same.
10. ……………………………. hard you try, you will not be able to win.
Correct!
Wrong!
However hard means not matter how hard.
11. ……………………………. they played to the best of their abilities, they could not win the match.
Correct!
Wrong!
12. Strange …………………………… it might sound, I don’t enjoy music.
Correct!
Wrong!
Strange through it might sound means the same as though it might sound strange.
Answers
- Despite his best efforts, he could not pass the test.
- She is not very beautiful; however, you cannot help liking her.
- Though she was there, she refused to talk to me.
- I went to his home but I could not meet him.
- Though she was the most deserving candidate, she didn’t get the job.
- Despite / In spite of her strange accent, I could understand her.
- She works three jobs; however, she does not earn enough to make a living.
- Though she is younger than me, she is the wiser of us two.
- In spite of their best efforts, they could not save her.
- However hard you try, you will not be able to win.
- Though they played to the best of their abilities, they could not win the match.
- Strange though it might sound, I don’t enjoy music.
