Relative clauses
Task: Complete the sentence.
The company hired a consultant ______________ recommendations ultimately led to a complete restructuring of the organisation.
Answer:
whose
Explanation:
Possession in relative clauses.
Please, can you drive __________________ (slowly). You are driving __________________ (much, fast) than usual.
Answer:
more slowly, much faster
Explanation:
more + adv ending with -ly, much+ adj + -er (modifying comparatives)
Task: Complete the paragraph.
Not only ______________ the company lose several major investors, but it also faced legal action that could have forced it into bankruptcy.
Answer:
did
Explanation:
Inversion after “Not only”.
Task: Complete the sentence.
We had a web designer ______________ (make) our website.
Answer:
We had a web designer make our website.
Explanation:
Have smb do smth (=ask smb to do smth)
+make smb do smth, get smb to do smth
Task: Complete the sentence.
The package was sent more than a week ago, but it __________________ (arrive) until yesterday.
Answer:
didn't arrive
Explanation:
past simple (negative)
Task: Complete the sentence.
Many of the assumptions ______________ the theory was originally based have since been challenged by new evidence.
Answer:
on which
Explanation:
Formal relative clause with preposition before the pronoun.
Task: Complete the sentence.
Of all the candidates, Mia answered the interviewer’s questions the ______________ (confidently).
Answer:
most confidently
Explanation:
Superlative form of adverbs.
Task: Complete the sentence.
Not until the manager explained the situation __________________ why the company had made such drastic cuts.
Answer: did we understand
Explanation: After 'Not until...', inversion is required in the main clause.
Task: Rewrite using a causative structure.
Someone cleans the windows in our office twice a month.
Answer:
We have the windows in our office cleaned twice a month.
Explanation:
Regular arranged service.
Task: Complete the sentence.
I __________________ (show) you exactly what to do when we __________________ (arrive).
Answer:
will show, arrive
Explanation:
future simple, present simple after "when" (future meaning)
Task: Combine the sentences into one.
The actor gave an interview last night. He had previously refused to speak to the media. The interview immediately went viral.
Answer:
The actor, who had previously refused to speak to the media, gave an interview last night that immediately went viral.
Explanation:
Combination of defining and non-defining relative clauses.
Task: Complete the paragraph.
The final exam was far __________________ (challenging) we had expected, and surprisingly, the listening task turned out to be the __________________ (difficult) part for most students.
Answer: more challenging than; most difficult
Explanation: Complex comparative + superlative in context.
Task: Complete the sentence.
Rarely __________________ such an impressive performance from a relatively inexperienced team.
Answer: have I seen
Explanation: Negative/restrictive adverbials require inversion.
Task: Complete the sentence.
Before moving into the apartment, they ______________ (redecorate / entire kitchen) and ______________ (replace / all the wiring).
Answer:
had the entire kitchen redecorated
had all the wiring replaced
Explanation:
Past causative for arranged services.
Task: Complete the sentence.
He quickly __________________ (forget) everything he __________________ (learn) at school.
Answer:
forgot, had learnt
Explanation:
past simple + past perfect (one action in the past that happened before another in the past)
Task: Combine the sentences into one.
The documentary was banned in several countries. It focused on political corruption. It later won multiple international awards.
Answer:
The documentary, which focused on political corruption and was later banned in several countries, won multiple international awards.
Explanation:
Non-defining relative clause with coordinated information.
Task: Complete the paragraph.
The new office is not nearly __________________ (convenient) the old one, although it is considerably __________________ (modern) and much __________________ (well-equipped).
Answer: as convenient as; more modern; better equipped
Explanation: Comparative structures with intensifiers and participle adjectives.
Task: Complete the sentence.
Only after the investigation was completed ______________ how extensive the damage actually was.
Answer:
did they realise
Explanation:
“Only after” triggers inversion in the main clause.
Task: Complete the text.
The actor arrived on set only after he ______________ (style / hair) and ______________ (alter / costume) to match the director’s new concept for the scene.
Answer:
had had his hair styled
had had his costume altered
Explanation:
Double “had” in past perfect causative structures.
Task: Complete the text.
At this time tomorrow, the research team ______________ (present) their findings to investors. By that time several independent experts ______________ (analyse) all the potential risks associated with the project.
Answer:
will be presenting
will have analysed
Explanation:
Future Continuous for future actions in progress, future perfect for an action completed by certain time in the future
Task: Combine into one sentence.
The scientist gave a lecture yesterday. Her theory was initially dismissed. It has since transformed modern neuroscience. The lecture attracted researchers from across Europe.
Answer:
The scientist, whose theory was initially dismissed but has since transformed modern neuroscience, gave a lecture yesterday that attracted researchers from across Europe.
Explanation:
Complex embedded defining + non-defining relative clauses.
Task: Complete the paragraph.
The further we travelled into the mountains, the __________________ (little) evidence of human activity we saw. Ironically, what had initially seemed to be the __________________ (peaceful) part of the journey eventually became the __________________ (dangerous).
Answer: less; most peaceful; most dangerous
Explanation: Correlative comparative + contextual superlatives.
Task: Complete the paragraph.
So complicated __________________ the instructions that several participants gave up before they had even assembled the main parts of the device. Only later __________________ that one of the pages had been printed incorrectly.
Answer: were; did we realise
Explanation: Inversion after 'so + adjective' and restrictive adverbials.
Task: Complete the sentence.
We finally __________________ (repair / roof) after the storm had caused severe damage, and now we need to __________________ (install / new windows) as well.
Answer: had the roof repaired; have new windows installed
Explanation: Causative structure: have + object + V3
Task: Complete the paragraph.
The company ______________ (expand) rapidly for over a decade before financial problems finally forced it to close several international offices. Even now, analysts claim that poor management decisions ______________ (continue) to affect its reputation.
Answer:
had been expanding
continue
Explanation:
Past Perfect Continuous for long-term activity before a past event + Present Simple for current facts/opinions.