Complete the following sentences with an appropriate word or phrase.
1. That boy does nothing but ……………………… TV.
The verb after but usually depends on what came before.
2. I can’t help but …………………. what he is going to do now.
Can’t help but is followed by an infinitive without to.
3. She ……………………… believe her eyes.
Could hardly is similar to couldn’t.
4. She could get a better job if she …………………….. English.
In the second conditional, we use a simple past in the if-clause and would / could + infinitive in the main clause.
5. Tennis ……………………… by two or more players.
We can use can with a passive infinitive. Be able to is not used in passive structures.
6. It could rain ……………………. this evening.
Later is the opposite of earlier.
7. He could have won the race if he ………………………
In the third conditional we use a past perfect tense in the if-clause and would / could have + past participle in the main clause.
8. I …………………….. someone coming.
We do not normally use see in its continuous form when it refers to perception.
9. Janet is the ………………….. of the four sisters.
We use the superlative to compare a person or thing with the whole group he/she or it belongs to.
10. I am the happiest mother ……………………… the world.
After superlative adjectives we do not normally use of with a singular noun referring to a place.
11. This is …………………… dictionary I could find.
The article 'the' is used before superlative adjectives.
12. You don't know him better than ................................. do.
Subject pronouns are used before a verb.
Answers
1. That boy does nothing but watch TV.
2. I can’t help but wonder what he is going to do now.
3. She could hardly believe her eyes.
4. She could get a better job if she spoke English.
5. Tennis can be played by two or more players.
6. It could rain later this evening.
7. He could have won the race if he hadn’t fallen.
8. I can see someone coming.
9. Janet is the tallest of the four sisters.
10. I am the happiest mother in the world.
11. This is the best dictionary I could find.
12. You don’t know him better than I do.
