General grammar
GENERAL GRAMMAR EXERCISE
Complete the following sentences with an appropriate word or phrase. This grammar exercise tests your understanding of sentence patterns and structures.
1. The higher you climb ...............................................
- it gets colder
- it is getting colder
- he colder it gets
In this structure with two comparative expressions, we use the same pattern in both clauses.
2. The more he reads, the ............................................. he understands.
- less
- little
- lesser
Less is the comparative form of little. Lesser means smaller.
3. The government should pay attention to the problems of
.....................................................
- unemployed
- the unemployed
- Either could be used here
The unemployed means all unemployed people. The article 'the' is required in this expression.
4. They saw the criminal ....................................................... open the door.
- break
- to break
- broke
The infinitive is used without to after the verb see.
5. The strike ........................................................ if the workers' demands had been
granted.
- would have called off
- would be called off
- would have been called off
A passive verb is required here. In the third conditional, we use a past perfect tense in the if-clause and would have + past participle in the main clause.
6. If you ........................................... more carefully, you wouldn't make so many mistakes.
- listened
- listen
- had listened
In the second conditional, we use a simple past tense in the if-clause and would + infinitive in the main clause.
7. I consider ............................................... to have this opportunity of welcoming
you.
- a privilege
- it a privilege
- Either could be used here
8. The leader said that it would be unwise .............................................. the
democratic demands of the people.
- to not accept
- not to accept
- Either could be used here
Negative forms are usually made by putting not before the infinitive.
9. He said that the climate ................................................. his health.
- has affected
- was affected
- had affected
A past tense in the main clause is almost always followed by a past tense in the subordinate clause.
10. As soon as the clients .................................................., he locked up his office and went home.
- have left
- were leaving
- had left
A past tense in the main clause is almost always followed by a past tense in the subordinate clause.
These documents are taken from: www.englishgrammar.org