Comparisons
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
I didn't know about your problem so I didn't offer to help.
HAVE
If I'd known about your problem, .................... to help.
I would have offered
Sandra regretted not being able to visit her grandmother more often.
WISHED
Sandra ____________________________ visit her grandmother more often.
wished she had been able to
They've postponed the meeting until January to give the management team longer to decide.
OFF
The meeting ___________________ until January to give the management team longer to decide.
has been put off
What was much better than I expected was the costume design.
EXCEEDED
What .......... the costume design.
exceeded my expectations was
Ten years ago, people would have complained at seeing this film.
SEEN
Had people ........................................., they would have complained.
seen this film ten years ago
I really regret making such a stupid mistake.
ONLY
If ________________________________ such a stupid mistake!
only I hadn't made
My parents are planning to pay someone to repair and redecorate their house next month.
UP
My parents are planning to have their __________________________________ next month.
house done up
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
Without this new diet, Henry would never have lost so much weight.
IT
Had ....................................... this new diet, Henry would never have lost so much weight.
it not been for
I wish Jack had bought tickets for Venice but he took me to Paris instead.
RATHER
Jack bought us tickets to Paris but I _______________________________ to Venice.
would rather have gone
Johnson was quite surprised when he won the election and became President.
ABACK
Johnson was rather _______________________________ elected as President.
taken aback when he was
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
If you applied now, there's a good chance you would get the job.
APPLY
Were ................................................ , there's a good chance you would get the job.
you to apply now
I really need to buy a new pairs of jeans as these ones are ripped.
HIGH
It ____________________________________ a new pair of jeans as these ones are ripped.
is high time I bought
The police now think he invented the story to protect his girlfriend.
HAVE
He is now __________________________ up the story to protect his girlfriend.
thought to have made
The comedian was less funny than the audience expected.
NEARLY
The comedian .......... the audience expected.
wasn't nearly as funny as
I'd love to travel the world if I didn't have to pay off my mortgage.
HAVING
Were ................................................... to pay off my mortgage, I'd love to travel the world.
it not for having
Eating worms would be preferable than talking to that man!
SOONER
I _______________________________ than talk to that man!
I would / 'd sooner eat worms
They still haven't carried out a full assessment of the effects of these changes.
FULLY
The effects of these changes have yet ________________________________.
to be fully assessed