Gap Fills Exercise
Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word or phrase.
1. He talked as if he ………………….. everything, but he didn’t.
knows
knew
had known
After as if and as though we use a past tense with a present meaning to show that a
comparison is unreal.
2. ……………………….. in Germany, I got to befriend a musician.
As
While
Either could be used here
The sentence can also be written as: While he was in Germany… This structure is not possible
with as.
3. You look ………………………….. you are about to cry.
as if
as though
Either could be used here
We can use as if and as though to say what a situation seems like.
4. ……………………. I was a child, I stayed with my grandparents.
As
When
While
We use when to refer to periods of life.
5. Don’t ask me ………………………
money
for money
Either could be used here
To ask for something is to ask somebody to give something.
6. James, as well as, Janet ……………………… excited to hear the news.
was
were
Either could be used here
When we connect two subjects with as well as, the verb is singular when the first subject is
singular.
7. I answered all the questions ………………………. one.
except
but
Either could be used here
But can mean except after all.
8. Nobody but ………………………. would do a thing like that.
he
him
Either could be used here
Object pronouns are more common after but. Subject pronouns are possible in a formal style.
9. The car is too …………………….. for the garage.
wide
broad
Either could be used here
We use wide to talk about the physical distance from one side of something to the other.
10. You ………………………. write good English in a few months.
can
will be able to
Either could be used here
We use will be able to to talk about future ability.
11. I wish that I …………………….. prettier.
was
were
Either could be used here
In that-clauses after wish we normally use a past tense with a present or future meaning. In a
formal style, were is possible instead of was in this structure.
12. Don’t fight ……………………. him – he is much bigger than you.
with
to
on
After fight, quarrel, argue, struggle and play, ‘with’ can be used with the same meaning as
against.
PLAY AGAIN !
Answers
1. He talked as if he knew everything, but he didn’t.
2. While in Germany, I got to befriend a musician.
3. You look as if / as though you are about to cry.
4. When I was a child, I stayed with my grandparents.
5. Don’t ask me for money.
6. James, as well as, Janet was excited to hear the news.
7. I answered all the questions except / but one.
8. Nobody but him/he would do a thing like that.
9. The car is too wide for the garage.
10. You will be able to write good English in a few months.
11. I wish that I was / were prettier.
12. Don’t fight with him – he is much bigger than you.