Fill in the blanks with an appropriate determiner or adverb.
1. Are you ………………………….. to be staying in this evening?
Be likely can be followed by a to-infinitive. Probable is not used in this way.
2. It is likely …………………………….
When ‘it’ is the subject, be likely is usually followed by a that-clause.
3. ……………………….. politicians are really honest.
We use few with plural nouns and little with uncountable nouns.
4. Could I try ……………………… soup?
Little has a rather negative meaning. A little is closer to some.
5. Only …………………………. my students like mathematics.
We use few of before a noun with a determiner.
6. …………………….. people can claim that they always tell the truth.
Before a noun without a determiner, we use few.
7. …………………………. us can claim that we always tell the truth.
Before a pronoun we use few of.
8. Could I have a …………………………. the soup?
Before a noun with a determiner, we use little of.
9. You don’t need to go shopping. We have got …………………. bacon.
A little is similar to some. Little has a negative meaning. It means almost nothing.
10. The movie was ………………………… interesting
We cannot use little to modify other adjectives or adverbs.
11. She seldom stays ………………………
In questions and negatives we usually use long.
12. We have been waiting ………………………..
In affirmative clauses, we usually prefer for a long time.
Answers
1. Are you likely to be staying in this evening?
2. It is likely that the meeting will be postponed.
3. Few politicians are really honest.
4. Could I try a little soup?
5. Only a few of my students like mathematics.
6. Few people can claim that they always tell the truth.
7. Few of us can claim that we always tell the truth.
8. Could I have a little more of the soup.
9. You don’t need to go shopping. We have got a little bacon.
10. The movie was not very interesting
11. She seldom stays long.
12. We have been waiting for a long time.
