Auxiliary verbs
He couldn't swim until he was in his twenties. (ABLE) He ___________________ until he was in his twenties.
WASN'T ABLE TO SWIM (Auxiliary Verbs)
The food was so good we had to leave a tip.
(SUCH)
It ___________________ that we had to leave a tip.
WAS SUCH GOOD FOOD (Comparative/Superlative)
I'd love to know how John is getting on.
(KNEW)
I ___________________ how John was getting on.
WISH I KNEW ('Unreal' past tenses)
They've cancelled the wedding.
(OFF)
They have ___________________ the wedding.
CALLED OFF (Phrasal Verbs)
I think generally, women are better than men at learning languages.
(WHOLE)
I think on______________________ successful than women at learning languages.
THE WHOLE MEN ARE LESS
We got a table at the restaurant without a reservation.
(NEED)
We ___________________ book a table at the restaurant.
DIDN'T NEED TO (Auxiliary Verbs)
This summer has been much cooler than last year. (COOL) Last summer ___________________ this year.
WAS NOT AS COOL AS (Comparative/Superlative)
You're tired because you keep staying up late.
(WERE)
If ___________________ to bed earlier, you wouldn't be so tired.
YOU WERE TO GO (Conditionals)
I've got to reduce the amount of sweets I eat.
(DOWN)
I must ___________________ the number of sweets I eat.
CUT DOWN ON (Phrasal Verbs)
We haven't arranged a date for the wedding yet.
(BEEN)
A date for the wedding ___________________ yet.
HAS NOT BEEN ARRANGED (Passive)
I'm afraid you can't smoke in here.
(ALLOWED)
You ___________________ in here.
AREN'T ALLOWED TO SMOKE (Auxiliary Verbs)
The computer was too expensive for me to buy.
(ENOUGH)
I ___________________ money to buy the computer.
DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH (Comparative/Superlative)
I regret not inviting Cathy to the party.
(ONLY)
If ___________________ Cathy
ONLY I HAD INVITED ('Unreal' past tenses)
Thieves have burgled our house.
(INTO)
Our house ___________________ .
HAS BEEN BROKEN INTO (Passive + phrasal verb)
I want to see you next month.
(INTERESTED)
I ___________________ next month.
INTERESTED IN SEEING YOU
Perhaps we missed the correct turning.
(MIGHT)
We ___________________ the correct turning.
MIGHT'VE MISSED (Auxiliary Verbs)
I'm not as good at maths as you.
(BETTER)
You ___________________ me.
ARE BETTER AT MATHS THAN (Comparative/Superlative)
I think it would be a good idea if you joined the beginner's class.
(SUGGEST)
I ___________________ the beginners class.
SUGGEST [THAT JOIN | YOU JOIN| JOINING] (Verb Patterns)
I'd prefer you to get home early tonight.
(RATHER)
I ___________________ home early tonight.
WOULD RATHER YOU GOT ('Unreal' past tenses)
'I'll call you later tonight,' Keith promised.
(WOULD)
Keith promised that ___________________ night.
HE WOULD CALL LATER THAT (Direct and Indirect Speech)
You were expected to answer all the questions on the exam paper.
(ANSWERED)
You ___________________ all the questions on the examination paper.
SHOULD'VE ANSWERED (Auxiliary Verbs)
It's the most beautiful painting I've ever seen.
(SEEN)
I ___________________ beautiful painting.
HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A (Comparative/Superlative)
I only told you because I thought you would be interested.
(TOLD)
I ___________________ you if I thought you weren't interested.
WOULDN'T HAVE TOLD (Conditionals)
They will have given him the news by now.
(TOLD)
He ___________________ the news by now.
WILL HAVE BEEN TOLD (Passive)
He was late because of a traffic jam in the City Centre.
(BEEN)
If he hadn't got stuck in a traffic jam in the City Centre ________________________ late.
HE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN (SO)