Fill in the blanks with an appropriate linking expression.
1. I think we will win the match. We have got the best players. ...................................., our coach is fantastic.
Moreover is used to introduce an additional and important fact that supports what you have just said.
2. He was hired .......................................... the fact that he had very little experience.
We need a preposition before the phrase ‘the fact that’. Despite is a preposition. Despite is used for saying that something happens even though something else might have prevented it. Despite can be directly followed by a noun. Example: He was hired despite his lack of experience. Despite cannot be directly followed by a that-clause. Therefore we use the phrase ‘despite the fact that’.
3. Many people are successful in their careers ......................... the fact that they do not have a university degree.
In spite of is a preposition. Since prepositions cannot be directly followed by that-clauses, they take the phrase ‘the fact’.
4. …………………………. theoretical knowledge can be acquired from books, skills must be gained through practice.
Whereas is used to compare two people or things and to show that there is an important difference between them.
5. Train accidents are rare, but, ......................................, there should be stricter safety regulations.
Even so is used to introduce a statement that might seem surprising in the light of what you said before.
6. He lost the game but he has improved a lot ..................................
Nonetheless can go at the end of a sentence. This sentence can also be written as:He lost the game; nonetheless, he has improved a lot.
7. The rehabilitation program has saved thousands of children who would ...................................... have died in the famine.
Otherwise is used to suggest that if one thing does not happen, something else (usually something bad) will happen.
8. She didn’t allow the setbacks to discourage her. ........................................, she began to work twice as hard.
On the contrary is used to strengthen a negative statement the writer or speaker has just made.
9. Exposure to sunlight will spoil wine; ...................................... wine bottles are made of yellow or green glass.
Hence is used for introducing the result / effect of the fact that has just been mentioned.
10. The house was quiet ........................................ the noise of Mary typing.
'Except' and 'except for' are used to introduce exceptions to generalizations. Except is not possible here. It can be used without 'for' only after generalizing words like all, every, no, everything, anybody, nowhere, whole etc.
11. ......................................... we have already discussed the dangers of smoking, I think the information bears being repeated.
Although is used for introducing a statement that makes your main statement seem surprising.
12. I hardly knew anybody at the party ..................................... Peter and William.
After negative expressions like no, nobody, nothing and hardly, all three of these words can be used with the same meaning.
Answers
1. I think we will win the match. We have got the best players. Moreover, our coach is fantastic.
2. He was hired despite the fact that he had very little experience.
3. Many people are successful in their careers in spite of the fact that they do not have a university degree.
4. Whereas theoretical knowledge can be acquired from books, skills must be gained through practice.
5. Train accidents are rare, but, even so, there should be stricter safety regulations.
6. He lost the game but he has improved a lot nonetheless.
7. The rehabilitation program has saved thousands of children who would otherwise have died in the famine.
8. She didn’t allow the setbacks to discourage her. On the contrary, she began to work twice as hard.
9. Exposure to sunlight will spoil wine; hence wine bottles are made of yellow or green glass.
10. The house was quiet except for the noise of Mary typing.
11. Although we have already discussed the dangers of smoking, I think the information bears being repeated.
12. I hardly knew anybody at the party except / besides / apart from Peter and William.
