Comparative
The rate of unemployment hasn't increased quite as much this year compared to previous years.
SLIGHTLY
This year the rate of unemployment has increased .......... did in previous years.
slightly less than it
He'd been struggling to think of a really original birthday present.
COME
No matter how hard he tried, .......... an idea for a really original birthday present.
he couldn't come up with
Sorry I’m late, I didn’t realise what time it was.
TRACK
Sorry I’m late, I completely .......... .
lost track of time
If you need any help please don't hesitate to ask.
ASSISTANCE
If I can .......... please don't hesitate to ask.
be of any assistance
He wondered how likely it was that he would get top marks again.
CHANCES
He asked himself what .......... top marks again.
were the chances of getting
It has rained much more in London over the last 10 years than it has ever done in previous decades.
CONSIDERABLY
Over the last 10 years, the rainfall in London has .......... in previous decades.
been considerably higher than
Her teacher said she wasn't progressing as well as other students with her assignments.
DANGER
Her teacher warned her that she was .......... behind with her assignments.
in danger of falling
The project failed because there wasn’t enough funding from the local government.
DUE
The project failed .......... funding from the local government.
due to a lack of
Sandra would only go to the supermarket on a Saturday.
ON
Sandra .......... to the supermarket on a Saturday.
insisted on going
She can’t even boil an egg, so she definitely can’t cook a full meal for ten people.
ALONE
She can’t even boil an egg, .......... a full meal for ten people.
let alone cook
Every time he talks about going on holiday I get really excited.
THE
The more he talks about going on holiday .......... get.
the more excited I
We wondered if we should have the meeting a few days earlier but couldn't agree on a time.
FORWARD
We considered .......... a few days but couldn't agree on a time.
bringing the meeting forward
I didn’t remember seeing Julia on Saturday night until I saw her at work on Monday morning.
RECOLLECTION
I didn’t .......... Julia on Saturday night until I saw her at work on Monday morning.
have any recollection of seeing
The paramedics were told that they should never place a human life at risk trying to rescue an animal.
CIRCUMSTANCES
The paramedics were warned that .......... place a human life at risk trying to rescue an animal.
under no circumstances should they
He wouldn't have been interviewed by the police if he hadn't seen the robbery.
WITNESS
The police wouldn't have interviewed him unless he .......... the robbery.
had been witness to
The comedian was less funny than the audience expected.
NEARLY
The comedian .......... the audience expected.
wasn't nearly as funny as
David thought it unfair that his team resented him for not scoring a goal.
AGAINST
David thought it unfair that his team should .......... for not scoring a goal.
hold it against him
The teenagers ignored me and carried on smoking and playing loud music.
NOTICE
The teenagers .......... of me and carried on smoking and playing loud music.
took no notice
If it has to be cancelled, the show will take place at a later date.
EVENT
In .......... cancelled, the show will take place at a later date.
the event of being
It’s official, I officially told my boss I was leaving yesterday and I’m starting my own business next week!
NOTICE
It’s official, I .......... to my boss yesterday and I’m starting my own business next week!
handed in my notice
What was much better than I expected was the costume design.
EXCEEDED
What .......... the costume design.
exceeded my expectations was
Holly decided that she'd ask to be transferred to another department.
REQUEST
Holly decided to put .......... a transfer to another department.
in a request for
She has a great reputation in the local area. We should hire her.
HIGHLY
She .......... in the local area. We should hire her.
is highly spoken of
The contract said that we didn't have to accept the conditions immediately.
OBLIGATION
The contract said that we were .......... the conditions immediately.
under no obligation to accept
We decided we wouldn't go with him to the airport after all.
SEE
We decided not to .......... the airport after all.
see him off at