Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1............... convinced the panel was not the price but the evidence that the system could reduce errors.
Wrong!
Use "What" when the clause means 'the thing that' and acts as the subject of the sentence.
2After three revisions, ............... is missing is a realistic budget.
Wrong!
Use "what the proposal" because the clause needs 'what' to mean 'the thing that the proposal is missing'.
3The teams still argue ............... counts as success in a long-term community project.
Wrong!
Use "about what" after 'argue' when it means the issue or thing that people are arguing about.
4By midnight, the repeated delays had destroyed ............... little patience remained among the volunteers.
Wrong!
Use "what" before a noun when the meaning is 'the amount/degree of something that existed', not a choice from a known set.
5The deadline is clear; the real question is ............... the director will decide at Friday's meeting.
Wrong!
Use "what" because the complement identifies the thing everyone wants to know: the director's decision.
6If the new feature is ready, show us ............... you promised during the presentation.
Wrong!
Use "what" when there is no noun before it and the meaning is 'the thing that you promised'.
7Before you write the minutes, make sure you remember ............... they discussed after the finance report.
Wrong!
Use "what" after 'remember' when it means the specific thing they discussed, not merely the fact of discussion.
8No one should approve the redesign until we know ............... they are trying to fix.
Wrong!
Use "what" because it is the object of 'fix' and refers to the specific problem; the what-clause is the object of 'know'. "Why" would leave 'fix' without an object.
9The consultant quickly identified ............... matters the committee had ignored during the merger talks.
Wrong!
Use "what" before a noun in a clause when it means 'which things' or 'the things that'.
10The survey should tell us exactly ............... each department will need during the first month.
Wrong!
Use "what" because 'need' requires the missing thing, not a place.
11When the alarm sounded, the night manager had only seconds to decide ............... to do.
Wrong!
Use "what" before an infinitive when the meaning is 'the thing/action to do'.
12Whether we extend the contract depends on ............... happens next in the negotiations.
Wrong!
Use "what" after a preposition when the clause means 'the thing that happens next'.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- What convinced the panel was not the price but the evidence that the system could reduce errors.
- After three revisions, what the proposal is missing is a realistic budget.
- The teams still argue about what counts as success in a long-term community project.
- By midnight, the repeated delays had destroyed what little patience remained among the volunteers.
- The deadline is clear; the real question is what the director will decide at Friday’s meeting.
- If the new feature is ready, show us what you promised during the presentation.
- Before you write the minutes, make sure you remember what they discussed after the finance report.
- No one should approve the redesign until we know what they are trying to fix.
- The consultant quickly identified what matters the committee had ignored during the merger talks.
- The survey should tell us exactly what each department will need during the first month.
- When the alarm sounded, the night manager had only seconds to decide what to do.
- Whether we extend the contract depends on what happens next in the negotiations.