Track the Reference
What does THIS refer to?
Mia refused to apologise for sharing the screenshot. This made the argument worse.
Mia’s refusal to apologise for sharing the screenshot (the whole preceding idea).
Complete with ONE word.
I need a new charger. Have you got a spare ___?
one — replaces the countable noun charger.
Agree using SO + auxiliary + subject.
A: I prefer working in pairs.
B: ___ ___ ___.
So do I.
Which words have been omitted after DIDN’T?
I promised to send the file, but I didn’t.
send the file
Correct ONE word.
A: Will the weather improve?
B: I hope it.
I hope so.
SO replaces the clause that the weather will improve.
Rewrite using ONES to avoid repetition.
The blue trainers are cheaper than the black trainers.
The blue trainers are cheaper than the black ones.
What does THOSE replace?
The students who submitted drafts received feedback; those who did not had to revise without it.
The students (specifically, the students who did not submit drafts).
Complete with ONE word.
A: Will the tickets sell out before we get there?
B: I hope ___! I really want to go.
not — I hope that the tickets will not sell out.
Agree using NEITHER + auxiliary + subject.
A: I have never fallen out with my best friend.
B: ___ ___ ___.
Neither have I.
Which words have been omitted after TO?
I rarely argue with my brother now, but I used to.
argue with my brother
Correct the reply.
A: I can’t stand being interrupted.
B: Neither do I.
Neither can I.
Match the modal CAN, not DO.
Rewrite the second clause using DID.
I didn’t enjoy the performance, but my sister enjoyed the performance.
I didn’t enjoy the performance, but my sister did.
Explain BOTH references.
At fourteen, Leo shared a room with his brother. In those days, this arrangement caused constant arguments.
1. those days
2. this arrangement
1. The period when Leo was fourteen.
2. Leo sharing a room with his brother.
Complete each gap with ONE word.
Are you free on Saturday? If ___, come over. If ___, we can meet on Sunday.
so; not
If so = if you are free. If not = if you are not free.
Complete with TWO words.
A: I was hoping to leave early.
B: So ___ ___.
was I — So was I. Match the auxiliary WAS.
Remove unnecessary repetition after AND.
Nina checked the facts and Nina rewrote the introduction.
Nina checked the facts and rewrote the introduction.
The repeated subject Nina is omitted.
Correct the reply by adding ONE word.
A: Is the library still open?
B: It might.
It might be.
BE cannot be omitted after a modal in this pattern.
Rewrite using IF SO and IF NOT.
Can you attend rehearsal? If you can attend rehearsal, tell me today. If you cannot attend rehearsal, message the director.
Can you attend rehearsal? If so, tell me today. If not, message the director.
What does DOING SO replace?
The headteacher asked everyone to switch off their phones. Doing so would prevent interruptions.
Switching off their phones. DOING SO replaces the action, including its object.
Replace the repeated words using the correct form of DO SO.
They asked Maya to delete the post, but she had already deleted the post.
They asked Maya to delete the post, but she had already done so.
Complete each reply with TWO words.
A: I would never share a private message.
B: Neither ___ ___.
A: My sister didn’t enjoy the film.
B: Nor ___ ___. (Agree about yourself.)
would I; did I
Neither would I. Nor did I.
Shorten the second sentence so that it ends with a question word.
Someone has leaked the results. Nobody knows who has leaked the results.
Someone has leaked the results. Nobody knows who.
Correct the reply by adding ONE word.
A: Was the injured player taken to hospital?
B: No, but he should have.
No, but he should have been.
Keep BEEN after a modal + HAVE in a perfect passive.
Rewrite using AS and an auxiliary. Begin:
Olivia objected to the decision, as ...
Original: Olivia objected to the decision. All the other team members objected to the decision too.
Olivia objected to the decision, as did all the other team members.
Identify what SO and IT refer to.
A: Will the school cancel the trip?
B: I suppose so, but it would disappoint everyone.
SO = that the school will cancel the trip.
IT = the cancellation of the trip / the school cancelling the trip.
Complete each gap with ONE word.
Applicants who meet the requirements can proceed. All ___ who do not must wait. I rejected the first two proposals and chose the third ___.
those; one
THOSE = applicants. ONE = proposal.
Complete each reply with ONE word.
A: I don’t enjoy horror films.
B: I ___! I love being scared.
A: I thought the ending was predictable.
B: I ___! It really surprised me.
do; didn’t
These replies express disagreement. No inversion: I do / I didn’t.
Restore the omitted words in BOTH replies.
1. A: Have you emailed the teacher? B: I already have.
2. A: Was Alex offered a place? B: No, but he should have been.
1. I already have emailed the teacher. (More usual full order: I have already emailed the teacher.)
2. He should have been offered a place.
BEEN must remain in this modal perfect passive.
Correct BOTH replies.
1. A: Do we have enough time? B: I don’t think not. (Meaning: probably not.)
2. A: Would you like to join us? B: I’d love.
1. I don’t think so. (Also accept: I think not.)
2. I’d love to.
Use SO after don’t think; retain TO when omitting the rest of this infinitive.
Rewrite to avoid repetition. Use DONE SO, TO and WHY.
I asked Ben to back up the files, but he had already backed up the files. I offered to help with his presentation, and he said, “I’d love you to help with my presentation.” Then he cancelled it, but he didn’t explain why he had cancelled it.
I asked Ben to back up the files, but he had already done so. I offered to help with his presentation, and he said, “I’d love you to.” Then he cancelled it, but he didn’t explain why.
DONE SO replaces back up the files; TO stands for to help with my presentation; WHY stands for why he had cancelled it.
Identify the exact references of THEY, THIS and IT.
The organisers rejected the students’ proposal because they considered it too expensive. This led the students to withdraw from the event.
In the book’s framework, is THIS reference or substitution? Explain.
THEY = the organisers.
IT = the students’ proposal.
THIS = the organisers’ rejection of the proposal, not merely the proposal itself.
THIS is reference: it points to the rejection as an event about which the next sentence makes a comment.
Complete each gap with ONE word. Then say what DONE SO replaces.
The teacher asked us to upload our drafts. I had already ___ so, but Eva hadn’t. She prefers revising on paper, whereas I ___; I prefer typing.
done; don’t
DONE SO = uploaded our drafts (in I had already done so: uploaded my draft).
DON’T = don’t prefer revising on paper; it contrasts with Eva’s preference.
Give agreeing replies about yourself using SO or NEITHER + auxiliary + I.
1. I had already submitted my application.
2. I wasn’t being taken seriously.
3. I would have accepted the offer.
1. So had I.
2. Neither was I.
3. So would I.
Use the first auxiliary of the original verb phrase.
Restore ALL the omitted wording at [1], [2] and [3].
Lena could have challenged the decision, but she didn’t [1]. She said she hadn’t wanted to [2], although she never explained why [3].
1. challenge the decision
2. challenge the decision
3. she hadn’t wanted to challenge the decision
Notice that DIDN’T requires the base form challenge, not have challenged.
Correct TWO errors and explain each correction.
A: I had never been asked to lead a team.
B: Neither did I.
A: Do you think we’ll be chosen this time?
B: I don’t hope so. (B wants to be chosen.)
Neither HAD I: match the past perfect auxiliary HAD.
I HOPE SO: B wants to be chosen. “I hope not” would express the opposite wish.
Combine the sentences using AS + auxiliary + subject and BUT. Avoid repeating the verb phrase.
Maya had already challenged the decision. Both her teammates had already challenged the decision too. I had not challenged the decision.
Maya had already challenged the decision, as had both her teammates, but I hadn’t.
AS HAD matches the past perfect; I HADN’T omits challenged the decision.
Identify BOTH possible meanings of THIS. Then rewrite the final sentence to make each meaning explicit.
The school cancelled the trip after parents complained. This upset the students.
THIS could refer to the cancellation or to the parents’ complaints.
1. The cancellation of the trip upset the students.
2. The parents’ complaints upset the students.
Accept equivalent explicit rewrites.
Complete each gap with ONE word. Explain what each SO stands for.
A: Do you think the organisers will postpone the event?
B: I expect ___. If ___, we’ll need to contact everyone.
A: Will we lose our deposit?
B: I hope ___; we can’t afford that.
so; so; not
First SO: that the organisers will postpone the event.
IF SO: if they postpone it.
NOT: that we will not lose our deposit.
Agree about yourself using NEITHER + auxiliary + I. Explain why both replies are negative.
1. I hardly ever complain.
2. I had never been interviewed before.
1. Neither do I.
2. Neither had I.
HARDLY EVER has negative meaning, although there is no NOT. NEVER also makes the second statement negative.
Shorten each reply as much as possible without changing its meaning. Keep the words before the brackets.
1. “Has Noor been selected?” “Yes, she has [been selected].”
2. “Should Noor have been selected?” “Yes, she should have [been selected].”
3. “Might Noor be the captain?” “Yes, she might [be the captain].”
1. Yes, she has.
2. Yes, she should have been.
3. Yes, she might be.
BEEN may be omitted in 1, but must remain in the modal perfect passive in 2. BE must remain after the modal in 3.
Exactly TWO replies are incorrect. Correct them and explain why the third is already correct.
1. “Has the problem been resolved?” “Yes, it has.”
2. “Should it have been resolved sooner?” “Yes, it should have.”
3. “Could the explanation be wrong?” “Yes, it could.”
1 is correct: BEEN RESOLVED can be omitted after HAS.
2. Yes, it should have BEEN. Keep BEEN in the modal perfect passive.
3. Yes, it could BE. Keep BE after the modal.
Rewrite using DONE SO, NEITHER and TO. Keep the original meaning.
I hadn’t checked the figures, and neither had Sara checked the figures. We had both intended to check the figures. By the time the meeting began, we had both checked the figures.
I hadn’t checked the figures, and neither had Sara. We had both intended to. By the time the meeting began, we had both done so.
Accept equivalent wording using all three required forms.
Identify THESE TWO CHANGES, THIS and IT precisely.
The school replaced final exams with projects and stopped publishing class rankings. These two changes reduced competition. This encouraged cooperation, although some parents doubted it would last.
THESE TWO CHANGES = replacing final exams with projects AND stopping publication of class rankings.
THIS = the reduction in competition.
IT = the cooperation encouraged by that reduction.
Do not accept “the changes” for all three.
Rewrite using ONE, ONES and the correct form of DO SO. Keep all the information.
I rejected the first proposal and chose a more practical proposal. The proposals with detailed budgets impressed me. The chair asked me to explain my choice, and I explained my choice immediately.
I rejected the first proposal and chose a more practical one. The ones with detailed budgets impressed me. The chair asked me to explain my choice, and I did so immediately.
ONE = proposal; ONES = proposals; DID SO = explained my choice.
Give the requested short reply about yourself.
1. “I should have checked the facts.” AGREE using SO.
2. “I hadn’t realised it was confidential.” DISAGREE, beginning I.
3. “I would never have posted it.” AGREE using NEITHER.
Explain the word-order difference.
1. So should I.
2. I had.
3. Neither would I.
Agreement with SO/NEITHER uses auxiliary + subject. The contrasting reply uses subject + auxiliary.
Shorten the repeated wording. Keep BEFORE, BUT and WHY, and retain TO in both shortened infinitive clauses.
I intended to apologise before the meeting, but I forgot to apologise before the meeting. Later, I was asked to apologise, but I refused to apologise. I cannot explain why I refused to apologise.
I intended to apologise before the meeting, but I forgot to. Later, I was asked to apologise, but I refused to. I cannot explain why.
The first TO stands for to apologise before the meeting; the second for to apologise; WHY stands for why I refused to apologise.
Repair THREE errors while preserving the intended meanings.
1. “I hardly ever lose my temper.” “So do I.” (B rarely loses their temper too.)
2. “Are you available?” “If not, join us; if so, we’ll find another day.”
3. “I need some advice.” “I can give you one.”
1. Neither do I. HARDLY EVER is negative in meaning.
2. If SO, join us; if NOT, we’ll find another day. Reverse the conditions.
3. I can give you SOME. ADVICE is uncountable, so ONE cannot replace it. Also accept: I can give you some advice / a piece of advice.
Rewrite this exchange using SO, IF SO, BEEN and TO to avoid repetition. Keep every meaning.
A: Do you think Ella has been offered the job?
B: I think Ella has been offered the job. If Ella has been offered the job, she’ll be delighted.
A: She wasn’t told yesterday, although she should have been told yesterday. I wanted to congratulate her, but I wasn’t able to congratulate her.
A: Do you think Ella has been offered the job?
B: I think so. If so, she’ll be delighted.
A: She wasn’t told yesterday, although she should have been. I wanted to congratulate her, but I wasn’t able to.
Keep BEEN in the modal perfect passive; keep TO after able.