Linking Words Exercise
Fill in the blanks with a conjunction or a participle that can connect the clauses.
1. I waited for them …………………….. they came.
till
until
Either could be used here
Till and until are interchangeable.
2. ……………………. men sow, so shall they reap.
As
Like
Either could be used here
As is a conjunction; like is a preposition. We need a conjunction to connect two clauses.
3. I am as strong ……………………….. you are.
like
than
as
To say that people or things are equal in a particular way, we use the structure as…as…
4. He was …………………….. tired that he could barely stand.
so
very
too
We cannot use a that-clause after very or too.
5. It is certain …………………… he will be late.
whether
that
what
Noun clauses are often introduced by the conjunction that.
6. ………………………. a large sum of money, he gave up speculation.
Have lost
Lost
Having lost
He lost a large sum of money. He gave up gambling. We can combine them with the perfect
participle ‘having lost’.
7. ……………………….. he will waste his time is certain.
That
What
Whether
He will waste his time. That is certain. When we combine them we get: That he will waste his
time is certain.
8. ……………………….. he is short-tempered, I like him.
Despite
However
Although
Despite is a preposition; however is a transitional adverb; although is a conjunction. We need
a conjunction to connect two clauses.
9. Ask the guard …………………………. it is time for the train to start?
whether
if
Either could be used here
Indirect yes/no questions can be introduced by if or whether.
10. ……………………. I know all the facts, I cannot help you.
Unless
Until
If
Unless mean if not.
11. The votes on each side …………………… equal, the chairman gave his
casting vote against the resolution.
was
were
been
being
When we split the sentence we get: The votes on each side were equal. The chairman gave
his casting vote against the resolution. When we combine these two clauses into a simple
sentence, we use the participle ‘being’.
12. ……………………. tired, he stopped working.
Felt
Feeling
Having felt
When we split clauses, we get: He felt tired; He stopped working. We can combine them with
the present participle ‘feeling’.
PLAY AGAIN !
Answers
1. I waited for them till / until they came.
2. As men sow, so shall they reap.
3. I am as strong as you are.
4. He was so tired that he could barely stand.
5. It is certain that he will be late.
6. Having lost a large sum of money, he gave up speculation.
7. That he will waste his time is certain.
8. Although he is short-tempered, I like him.
9. Ask the guard if / whether it is time for the train to start?
10. Unless I know all the facts, I cannot help you.
11. The votes on each side being equal, the chairman gave his casting vote against the
resolution.
12. Feeling tired, he stopped working.