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AVOIDING REPETITION

EXERCISE 1

Fill the gaps with the correct auxiliary or modal verb to avoid repetition:

1.- I hope our guests come soon. If they ......................., the meal will be spoilt.

2.- I thought I’d seen the film before but I ................., so I quite enjoyed it.

3.- A: We’re thinking of going to see the photography exhibition.

B: You ...................... . You’ll really enjoy it.

4.- A: Do you think Joanna will have paid off her debts yet?

B: She ......................., but I doubt it. You know what she’s like with money.

5.- A: I drove past your house last night, about nine o’clock. I was thinking of popping in.

B: You .................... . I wasn’t doing anything.

6.- I couldn’t get my car started this morning. I asked lots of people for help, but nobody ............ . Isn’t that awful?

7.-A: I tried to phone you last night, but you must have been out.

B: I .................... . I stayed in all night.

8.- I hope you get the job. If you ...................., just think how much money you’ll earn!

9.-A: I’m thinking of investing all my money in a record shop.

B: I ..................... . It sounds very risky to me.

10.- My children made their own breakfast this morning, but I wish they ................. They made a terrible mess.

11.- A: I’m not going to phone Mum now. She will be doing the cooking.

B: She ...................... by now. It’s nearly two o’clock.

12.- A: She said she may pass her exam.

B: I hope she .................... . She’s studied really hard.

13.- A: John’s phoned you this morning.

B: Don’t pull my leg. He .................... . He doesn’t know my phone number.

14.- In the last minute, I phone Sheila and invited her to our party. If I ................... she would have never talked
to me again.

15.- A: Shall we call in the plumber? The bath tap is leaking.

B: We ......................., otherwise we won’t be able to sleep tonight with that dripping noise.

16.- My car is so unreliable! When I try to start it every morning, it .......................

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EXERCISE 2

Fill the gaps with the correct auxiliary, modal verb, TO or SO to avoid repetition:

1.- Come on John! Give me a hand with the cleaning. You promised ............

2.- Are you thinking of driving to work today? I .................... if I were you. It’s very foggy. Why not take the train?

3.- A: Did you take my scissors?

B: I ........................., but Anne .................... . Isn’t she making some clothes at the moment?

4.- A: I never see Lionel these days. How is he?

B: We often ............. . He’s fine. He’s into business management at the moment.

5.- I asked him to help me start the cart, but he ............ . Isn’t that mean of him?

6.- A: When are you going to get the car serviced?

B: It ....................................! Can you feel how smoothly it’s going?

7.- A: Oh no! The spare tyre’s flat! Why didn’t you check it before we set out?

B: I thought you ........................ . Sorry.

8.- A: Are we going to stay at home all day?

B: I’m afraid ............ It’s pouring outside!

9.- A: No, I haven’t got a copy of the book you want.

B: Really? I thought you .................... . I was sure I saw a copy on your shelves the

other day.

10.- A: He never seems to be listening when you talk to him.

B: I’m sure he ............... . He just doesn’t respond immediately, that’s all.

11.- A: Clare spent all the money she won on new clothes for the family.

B: I .............................. . I’d have saved some.

12.- I hope Jack likes playing cards. Then we could have a game this evening. If he ..............., we ...................

13.- My children always let me know what time they expect to be back. If they ........................, I’d always be
worrying about where they were.

14.- A: My bank statement says I’m overdrawn. The bank must have made a mistake.

B: They ........................ . It’s all done by computer. Are you sure you worked it out properly?
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EXERCISE 3

Fill the gaps with the correct auxiliary, modal verb, TO or SO to avoid repetition:

1.- I tried to repair the car at the weekend, but I ........... I didn’t have the right tools.

2.- A: Come on, John! It’s time you were getting up!

B: I ........... ! I’ll be down in a second

3.- A: You look awful. Why don’t you see a doctor?

B: I .......... . He just gave me some pills ands told me to take things easy

4.- A: It’s a long journey. Take care on the motorway

B: Don’t worry. I ............

5.- I met your sister last night. She thought we’d met before, but we ........... or at least I don’t think............

6.- A: Have you read those reports?

B: No, I ............., but I ................, I promise

7.- The weather forecast said that it could rain this afternoon. If it .........., we’ll have to call off the tennis.

8.- My car isn’t working at the moment. If it ........., I could give you a lift, sorry.

9.- The baby very nearly fell into the fire last night. If I hadn’t managed to catch her in time, she ..............

10.- I learned this morning I got the job I’d applied for. I was delighted. I really didn’t think I ...........

11.- A: I think I’ll give Robert a ring

B: You .......... You haven’t been in touch for ages, and he’ll be pleased to hear from you.

12.- A: Andrew easily beat me in our match yesterday

B: I knew he .......... He’s been playing very well recently

13.- I went to a party last night, but I wish I ............ . It was awful

14.- My husband insists on doing the cooking, but I wish he ......... What he cooks is uneatable.

15.- A: Are you still going to America on your holidays?

B: We ........... We haven’t made our minds yet

16.- He asked me to go to the theatre with him but I don’t really want .....

17.- A: Is that boyfriend of hers coming to the party?

B: I’m afraid ......... . She said she had invited him.

18.- They went to that horrible restaurant although I had warned them not .........
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EXERCISE 1

1. Don’t
2. Hadn’t
3. Should
4. Might have
5. Should have
6. Did/would
7. Wasn’t
8. Do
9. Wouldn’t
10. Hadn’t
11. Will have
12. Will
13. Can’t have
14. Hadn’t
15. Should/had better

EXERCISE 2

1. To
2. Wouldn’t
3. Didn’t / might have
4. Do
5. Didn’t/wouldn’t
6. Has been
7. Had
8. So
9. Did
10. Is
11. Wouldn’t have
12. Does / will
13. Didn’t
14. Can’t have

EXERCISE 3

1. Couldn’t
2. Have
3. Did
4. Will
5. Hadn’t / so
6. Haven’t / will
7. Does
8. Were
9. Would have
10. Would
11. Should/had better
12. Would
13. Hadn’t
14. Wouldn’t
15. Might
16. To
17. So
18. To
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How can you avoid repetition in some of these sentences? Delete words or use one / ones. Write one or ones
in parentheses where they are optional.

1. These days I hardly ever pick a book up. Well, I tend not to pick up a book. I’d rather read a magazine.
2. There’s a lot of literature I haven’t read. I’ve never read Moby Dick, but I’d like to read Moby Dick one day.
3. I read plays, especially modern plays. My favorite playwright is Arthur Miller. I’ve read all his plays. His best
play is e Crucible. Though you have to see it performed to really get something out of it.
4. In elementary school, we had to learn poems by heart. At least we were supposed to learn poems by heart.
5. I read for half an hour in bed every night before I go to sleep. Well, I try to read for half an hour in bed every
night.
6. I can’t see the point of going into bookstores to buy print books. I tend not to go into bookstores to buy print
books. My books are all downloaded onto a tablet. It’s cheaper.
7. It’s beyond me why people don’t listen to audio books more. I love autobiographies, and it’s a great way to
“read,” especially long autobiographies. I always get new audio books if I’m able to get them.
8. I still go to the library to borrow books. e books I get are usually historical novels. They’re the best books.
9. I haven’t read much classic literature, but I like the work of Jane Austen. Some of her books are also movies,
like Emma and Pride and Prejudice. Both movies are good, but the best movie is Emma. That sticks in my mind.

Answers

1. These days I hardly ever pick a book up. Well, I tend not to pick up a book. I’d rather read a magazine.

2. There’s a lot of literature I haven’t read. I’ve never read Moby Dick, but I’d like to read Moby Dick one day.

3. I read plays, especially modern ones. My favorite playwright is Arthur Miller. I’ve read all his plays. [no use of ones
after his] His best one is The Crucible. Though you have to see it performed to really get something out of it.

4. In elementary school, we had to learn poems by heart. At least we were supposed to learn poems by heart.

5. I read for half an hour in bed every night before I go to sleep. Well, I try to read for half an hour in bed every night.
6. I can’t see the point of going into bookstores to buy print books. I tend not to go into bookstores to buy print
books. My books are all downloaded onto a tablet. [no use of ones after my] It’s cheaper.

7. It’s beyond me why people don’t listen to audio books more. I love autobiographies, and it’s a great way to “read,”
especially long ones. I always get new ones if I’m able to get them.

8. I still go to the library to borrow books. The ones I get are usually historical novels. They’re the best (ones).

9. I haven’t read much classic literature, but I like the work of Jane Austen. Some of her books are also movies, like
Emma and Pride and Prejudice. Both movies are good, but the best (one) is Emma. [no use of ones after both] That
sticks in my mind.