I didn't think you should mention Caroline's new job to her parents. SAY I thought it would be best if you __________________ Caroline's new job to her parents.
DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT
Given that Sarah hasn't contacted us, I think she probably caught her flight. MISSED If Sarah____________have been in touch with us.
HAD MISSED HER FLIGHT + SHE WOULD
What the charity most wants to do is make teenagers more aware of the importance of regular exercise. RAISE The charity’s main aim is __________ of the importance of regular exercise.
TO RAISE + TEENAGERS’ AWARENESS
It can take time to get used to a major change in your life. TERMS It can take time to ______________ major change in your life.
COME TO TERMS WITH
I found Catherine’s commitment to her job impressive. HOW I was _________ Catherine was to her job.
IMPRESSED BY HOW COMMITTED
It was difficult to work out what had happened, because of the conflicting witness statements. PIECE The conflicting witness statements ______________what had happened.
MADE IT DIFFICULT + TO PIECE TOGETHER
Karen hasn't got any money, which is why her clothes are quite shabby. DUE Tha shabbiness of Karen's clothes ______________of money.
IS DUE TO + (her/a) LACK OF MONEY
Jeremy struggled to fully understand the sheer scale of the challenge he faced. HARD Jeremy found ____________ grips with the sheer scale of the challenge he faced.
IT HARD + TO GET TO
Piotr thought the two cars looked exactly the same. TELL Piotr _________ the two cars.
COULDN’T TELL THE DIFFERENCE + BETWEEN
Tina said she was pleased | had let her know what was going on. PICTURE Tina thanked me ____________what was going on.
FOR KEEPING/PUTTING + HER IN THE PICTURE
I thought Sue’s original plan was to move to Australia. IMPRESSION I ____________________was originally planning to move to Australia.
WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT SUE
Frank doesn’t dream of being a professional footballer any more. GIVEN Frank _________ being a professional footballer.
HAS GIVEN UP + DREAMING/HIS DREAM OF
I have yet to meet anyone as considerate as my cousin. EVER My cousin is the ______________ met.
MOST CONSIDERATE PERSON + I (have) EVER
Albert's wife said he had to start being interested in their children's lives. TIME Albert's wife said it _____________an interest in their children's lives.
WAS (ABOUT/HIGH) TIME (THAT) + HE TOOK/STARTED TAKING
I was surprised when my brother was suddenly promoted. CAME My brother's sudden ____________ to me.
PROMOTION CAME AS A SURPRISE
The film was so confusing, | couldn't follow what was happening. SUCH It was ______________ no idea what was happening.
SUCH A CONFUSING FILM + I HAD
Nobody was in the building when the fire occurred. TIME The building was ________________the fire.
EMPTY/UNOCCUPIED + AT THE TIME OF
I hate it when people lie to me, which is why I split up with Simon. STAND I __________to, which is why I split up with Simon.
CANNOT/CAN’T STAND + BEING LIED
The police didn’t allow the visiting team’s fans to leave the stadium until an hour after the match. PREVENTED The visiting team’s fans __________ the stadium by the police until an hour after the match.
WERE PREVENTED + FROM LEAVING
Andrew's lawyer suggested that he ignored the reporters. ATTENTION Andrew's lawyer advised ______________ the reporters.
HIM NOT TO PAY ATTENTION TO or AGAINST PAYING ATTENTION TO
The children paid little attention to the dogs. NOTICE The children didn't ________________the dogs.
TAKE ANY/MUCH/A LOT OF + NOTICE OF
Gabi soon learned how to communicate in Romanian every day. LONG It _________ Gabi to learn to communicate in Romanian every day.
DID NOT TAKE LONG + FOR
Everyone I talk to thinks cars should be banned from the city centre. FAVOUR Everyone I talk to is _________ cars from the city centre.
IN FAVOUR OF + BANNING
Visiting Tortuga Beach is easier than it used to be. AS Tortuga Beach isn’t ____________ it used to be.
AS HARD/DIFFICULT + TO VISIT AS
We'll have to cancel the meeting if we can't find a suitable venue. CALL We’ll have to ______________we can find a suitable venue.
CALL OFF THE MEETING/CALL THE MEETING OFF + UNLESS
They all assume that James will be willing to work late. GRANTED Everyone ____________ that James will be willing to work late.
TAKES IT + FOR GRANTED
Remember that there’s a chance it will rain when you pack for the camping trip, POSSIBILITY Please bear ____________mind when you pack for the camping trip.
THE POSSIBILITY OF + RAIN IN
Kerry only started playing badminton because you suggested it. NEVER Kerry ____________ up badminton if you hadn’t suggested it.
WOULD NEVER HAVE + TAKEN
My boss said I should do some work on my French so I could take part in meetings. BRUSH My boss encouraged ____________could take part in meetings.
ME TO + BRUSH UP ON MY FRENCH
Joe demanded that Paul let him be the driver instead. TAKING Joe insisted ____________Paul as the driver.
ON(HIS/HIM) + TAKING OVER FROM
Beppe often appears to lack confidence, but he’s just shy. ACROSS Beppe often_________confidence, but he’s just shy.
COMES ACROSS AS + LACKING
I’m not in contact with any of my primary school friends. TOUCH I’ve ____________my primary school friends.
LOST (or FALLEN OUT OF) TOUCH WITH + ALL
It was the most dangerous situation I had ever been in. A Never before __________ dangerous situation.
HAD I BEEN + IN SUCH A
We must remember that the organising group is planning to make changes to next year’s festival. BEING We must bear __________ planned by the organising group for next year’s festival.
IN MIND THE CHANGES BEING
I knew nothing at all about who was to blame for the mistake in the report. WHOSE I had absolutely _________mistake in the report was.
NO IDEA + WHOSE FAULT
No one else apart from Keith complained when he had to work late. OBJECTED It was only Keith __________late.
WHO OBJECTED + TO WORKING (or HAVING TO WORK) LATE
The millionaire had made it clear how he wished his donation to be allocated, and that was how it was done. ACCORDANCE The millionaire’s donation was allocated __________ wishes.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH + HIS
People can promise anything they like, but my dad will never agree to sell his business. MATTER My dad will never agree to sell his business_________ people make.
NO MATTER WHAT/WHICH + PROMISES
Local residents have been opposed to the proposal since 1996. DATES Local residents' ________________to 1996.
OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSAL + DATES BACK
Someone stole Kazuo’s wallet when he was on a crowded train. HAD Kazou ___________when he was on a crowded train.
HAD HIS WALLET + STOLEN
Jack couldn't solve the problem because he didn't have enough time. ABLE Jack would _________ out the problem if he'd had enough time.
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO + SORT/WORK/FIGURE
I'm sure customers will complain about the new shop layout. BOUND There ____________ from customers about the new shop layout.
ARE BOUND TO BE + (some) COMPLAINTS
It looks like you didn’t sleep well last night. IF You look_________________ much sleep last night.
AS IF YOU DIDN'T GET
When the managing director resigned unexpectedly, the company struggled to replace him. FILL The company struggled __________by the unexpected resignation of the managing director.
TO FILL THE VACANCY/POST + CAUSED/CREATED/LEFT
I don't believe that Jane ran that distance in only five minutes! POSSIBLY Jane _________________ that distance in only five minutes!
CAN'T POSSIBLY HAVE RUN
Moussa doesn’t think that ironing his T-shirts every time he washes them is important. BOTHERED Moussa _________iron his T-shirts every time he washes them.
CAN’T/CANNOT BE BOTHERED + TO
The damage to the painting is so minor that it won’t be very noticeable to most people. HARDLY I’m sure that most people______minor damage to the painting.
WILL/WOULD HARDLY + NOTICE SUCH/THE
Without Miranda, I would never have managed to find a house that suited me. STILL If it hadn’t ______________be looking for a suitable house.
BEEN FOR MIRANDA + I’D STILL
The train was cancelled because of a staff shortage. RESULTED A staff shortage_________cancelled.
RESULTED IN + THE TRAIN BEING/GETTING
Wherever you buy petrol, the price is always the same. DIFFERENCE It doesn’t _________ you buy petrol because the price is always the same.
MAKE ANY/A DIFFERENCE WHERE
Only when Sarah teft did it become clear how much she had contributed to the company’s success. EXTENT It was not ____________ of her contribution to the company’s success became clear.
UNTIL SARAH LEFT + THAT THE EXTENT
Sheila missed her train because her husband couldn't drive her to the station. LIFT If Sheila's husband had been able to________________ have caught her train.
GIVE HER A LIFT + SHE WOULD
Even though the company offered him a higher salary, David was still dubious about accepting the job. DESPITE David was still dubious about accepting the job, ________________ a higher salary.
DESPITE THE COMPANY('S) + OFFERING
I regret not discussing things with Fiona before she went away on holiday. WISH I _________ things over with Fiona before she went away on holiday.
WISH I HAD + TALKED
I’m sure Ben wasn’t pleased when Myra arrived, because he’s never liked her. CAN’T Ben has never liked Myra, so he__________see her arrive.
CAN’T HAVE BEEN + PLEASED TO
John resigned because he wants to travel, not because he wants a new job. DO John's resignation is _____________deisre to travel than wanting a new job.
MORE + TO DO WITH HIS
It definitely won't rain this afternoon. CHANCE There’s absolutely _________ raining this afternoon.
NO CHANCE + OF IT
We managed to escape just before the whole building caught on fire. HAD No ____________ the whole building caught on fire.
SOONER HAD WE ESCAPED + THAN
30 The council officer promised to get someone to remove the rubbish. HAVE The council officer promised he _____________ away.
WOULD HAVE + THE RUBBISH TAKEN/SOMEONE TAKE THE RUBBISH
Although we booked a table, it wasn't necessary because the restaurant was empty. NEED There _____________a reservation because the restaurant was empty.
WAS NO NEED + TO HAVE MADE
My grandfather can’t play any complicated tunes on the piano any more. CAPABLE My grandfather is no_________any complicated tunes on the piano.
NO LONGER CAPABLE OF PLAYING
John needs to arrive soon or we'll have to go without him. BEHIND We'll have to____________arrives soon.
LEAVE JOHN BEHIND + UNLESS HE
Mr Smith was well-known as a bad-tempered man, but he was also fair. REPUTATION Despite__________________ bad-tempered, Mr Smith was also fair.
HAVING A REPUTATION FOR BEING
Jenny very rarely follows other people's advice. EVER Jenny __________other people advise her to do.
HARDLY EVER + DOES WHAT
Henry never misses a party if he can help it. UP Henry ______________ opportunity.
TURNS/SHOWS UP AT PARTIES + AT EVERY
As far as I'm concerned, this is the best collage to study at. RATHER There ____________study at than this one.
IS NO COLLEGE + I’D RATHER
Sara’s father said she shouldn’t quit the course, but she still went ahead and did it. BEEN Sara quit the course in spite __________ not to by her father.
OF + HAVING BEEN TOLD/WARNED/ADVISED/INSTRUCTED
Kathy's nomination for an award for bravery came as a surprise to her. ABACK Kathy ________________ being nominated for an award for bravery.
WAS TAKEN + ABACK BY/AT
Alexis and John are trying to spend less money on fast food. EFFORT Alexis and John are__________on the amount of money they spend on fast food.
MAKING AN EFFORT TO CUT DOWN
It was wrong of you not to tell me that information. KEPT You should _____________ me.
NOT HAVE KEPT + THAT INFORMATION FROM
‘I’m not feeling well, so I won’t go to my dance class for once, Julie said. GIVE Julie said she wasn’t feeling well and that she _________miss for once.
WOULD GIVE + HER DANCE CLASS A
I almost didn't recognize Takeshi because he had lost so much weight. DUE I hardly_____________ the amount of weight he'd lost.
RECOGNIZED TAKESHI + DUE TO
You need to make up your mind about the topic for your dissertation soon. COME You must___________about the topic for your dissertation soon.
COME TO + A DECISION
Many people wrongly believe that alt Australians spend their free time on the beach. POPULAR Contrary ______________ all Australians spend their free time on the beach.
TO POPULAR BELIEF/OPINION + NOT
I don’t get the impression that Gareth is particularly disorganised. STRIKE Gareth __________particularly disorganised.
DOESN’T STRIKE ME + AS BEING
The party didn’t really start to get going until Sam arrived. ONLY It _________up that the party really started to get going.
WAS ONLY WHEN + SAM TURNED
The finance director disagreed with the company’s change of policy, so she resigned. RESULTED The finance ______________ her disagreement with the company's change of policy.
DIRECTOR’S RESIGNATION + RESULTED FROM
There is a strong possibility that this species of rhino will become extinct. DANGER This species of rhino is______________extinct.
IN DANGER OF GOING
I eventually realised that the woman waving at me was an old friend. TURNED I couldn't at first see who was waving at me, but she __________ an old friend.
TURNED OUT TO BE
Your experience on this site will be improved by allowing cookies.