Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word or phrase.
1. He talked as if he ………………….. everything, but he didn’t.
After as if and as though we use a past tense with a present meaning to show that a comparison is unreal.
2. ……………………….. in Germany, I got to befriend a musician.
The sentence can also be written as: While he was in Germany… This structure is not possible with as.
3. You look ………………………….. you are about to cry.
We can use as if and as though to say what a situation seems like.
4. ……………………. I was a child, I stayed with my grandparents.
We use when to refer to periods of life.
5. Don’t ask me ………………………
To ask for something is to ask somebody to give something.
6. James, as well as, Janet ……………………… excited to hear the news.
When we connect two subjects with as well as, the verb is singular when the first subject is singular.
7. I answered all the questions ………………………. one.
But can mean except after all.
8. Nobody but ………………………. would do a thing like that.
Object pronouns are more common after but. Subject pronouns are possible in a formal style.
9. The car is too …………………….. for the garage.
We use wide to talk about the physical distance from one side of something to the other.
10. You ………………………. write good English in a few months.
We use will be able to to talk about future ability.
11. I wish that I …………………….. prettier.
In that-clauses after wish we normally use a past tense with a present or future meaning. In a formal style, were is possible instead of was in this structure.
12. Don’t fight ……………………. him – he is much bigger than you.
After fight, quarrel, argue, struggle and play, 'with' can be used with the same meaning as against.
Answers
1. He talked as if he knew everything, but he didn’t.
2. While in Germany, I got to befriend a musician.
3. You look as if / as though you are about to cry.
4. When I was a child, I stayed with my grandparents.
5. Don’t ask me for money.
6. James, as well as, Janet was excited to hear the news.
7. I answered all the questions except / but one.
8. Nobody but him/he would do a thing like that.
9. The car is too wide for the garage.
10. You will be able to write good English in a few months.
11. I wish that I was / were prettier.
12. Don’t fight with him – he is much bigger than you.
