Advanced English Grammar Review 1

Answers
Choose the correct word to fill in the gap

1. If she had known about his financial situation, she would have helped him out.

Use the past perfect (had + past participle) in the "if" clause of the third
conditional to talk about unreal past situations.

2. I'll be looking after their cat while they are away on holiday.

The phrasal verb "to look after" means "to take care of".

3. He made his children do their homework every afternoon.

The verbs "make, let and help (in British English)" combine with an object
plus the base form (without "to") of the verb. Other verbs use the infinitive
form of the verb (with "to). For example: He asked her to help him.

4. The test was so difficult she had problems finishing it on time.

Use "so" with an adjective and "such" with a noun phrase. For example: It
was such a difficult test....

5. By the time she arrives, we will have finished our homework.

With the time clause "by the time..." use the future perfect to describe
something that will have happened up to that point in time.

continue reading below our video

Learn ESL: What Is the English Gerund?

Play
0:02
/
0:35

Fullscreen

1. She had finished lunch by the time we arrived.

Use the past perfect - had + participle - to express an action finished before
another action in the past.

2. The sun set at 9 last night.

 The verb "to set" is irregular: set - set - set.

3. When I stopped to speak to Mary, she was picking some flowers in her garden.

When using the verb "to stop" use the infinitive form to express an action
which you stopped in order to do. Use the gerund to express an action
which you have stopped doing (and doesn't continue).

4. Despite studying hard, he failed the exam.

Use the gerund or "having + past participle" following "despite". Use a

verb clause when follwing "although". For example: Although he had
studied hard ... study

5. That room is being used for a meeting today.

"Is being used" is the present continuous form of the passive voice which is
required by this sentence.

6. We would play tennis every day when we were young.

"Would do something" and "used to do something" both express a habitual

action in the past. "Used to do something" also expresses the idea that you
do not do that action anymore.

7. If I were you, I would wait a while to begin investing.

Use "were" in the second conditional if clause for all subjects.

8. He'll give you a call as soon as he arrives.

In a future time clause use the present simple - the construction is the same
as for the first conditional.