English Advanced Grammar Exercises – Adverbial clauses

A. Underline the correct option.

1   I’m much more relaxed before / now I’ve done all my exams.

2   When / While I broke my leg, I had to spend three days in hospital.

3   Although / But we really wanted to see the film, the tickets were a bit too expensive.

4   I will have to take the bus to school if / until I fix my bike.

5   Since / Whereas we had a few hours before our flight, we decided to explore the city.

6   Mikael and Martin are coming to stay with us during the summer, the same as / like they always do.

7   As soon as / As long as it started raining we picked up our things and ran inside.

8   While / Because I love going to the theatre, I find opera really boring.

9   I’d no sooner switched my phone on before / than it rang.

10   Despite / Even though Dan has been studying Spanish for years, he still can’t speak it very well.

B. Complete sentences a and b, using the same word.

1   a   I want to go and live in France for a year ……………… I think that’s the best way to learn French.

      b   ……………… of her poor attitude, Jessica has never done very well at school.

2   a   People still go swimming in the river ……………… knowing that it’s dangerous.

      b   ……………… the fact that it rains a lot there, it’s a great place to have a holiday.

3   a   ……………… we couldn’t afford to stay in hotels, we took a tent and camped instead.

      b   I haven’t had a holiday ……………… the summer before last.

4   a   ……………… I don’t think you’ll get the job, I still think you should apply for it.

      b   Would you like a drink ……………… you’re waiting?

5   a   ……………… I’d finished everything I needed to do, I decided to go home early.

      b   Isabella offered to cook dinner for us, just ……………… I knew she would.

6   a   The restaurant is very popular in the evening, ……………… you may need to book a table in advance.

      b   Please arrive at the airport two hours before your flight ……………… as to allow plenty of time to check in.

7   a   They had no sooner fallen asleep ……………… their baby started crying and woke them up.

      b   The view from the top of the mountain is more beautiful ……………… any other view I’ve ever seen.

8   a   Amy was really excited ……………… she heard your news this morning.

      b   Give me a ring ……………… your train gets in and I’ll come and pick you up.

9   a   ……………… possible, I avoid walking on my own at night.

      b   I always have my camera with me ……………… I go, in case I see something interesting to photograph.

10 a   We can’t buy the tickets ……………… Cristina has decided if she wants to come with us or not.

      b   After landing, passengers should stay seated ……………… given permission to leave by a flight attendant.

C. Complete each sentence with an appropriate participle (present or past) of the verb in brackets. Sometimes more than one answer is possible.

1   As the train pulled into the station I saw Paula ………………… on the platform. (stand)

2   ………………… the painting from the City Museum last year, the thief was finally caught yesterday. (steal)

3   ………………… using only the best ingredients, our food is known for its high quality. (prepare)

4   He slowly opened the front door, ………………… hard not to make any noise. (try)

5   Steve felt sick, ………………… too much chocolate. (eat)

6   ………………… his parents to be worried, he phoned to tell them he was going to be late. (not want)

7   Our cakes are particularly delicious ………………… with ice cream. (serve)

8   ………………… for a bus for nearly an hour, we eventually gave up and decided to walk. (wait)

9   Rafael had to borrow money from his friend, ………………… his wallet some time during the Journey. (lose)

10   ………………… by an earthquake in the 18th century, the city has been completely rebuilt. (destroy)

D. Complete each sentence b so that it means the same as sentence a, using only TWO words.

1   a   It felt like we’d hardly arrived when we had to leave again.

      b   It felt like we had to leave almost ………………… as we’d arrived.

2   a   During his attempt to walk to the North Pole, the adventurer Pierre Marchant fell and broke his ankle.

      b   ………………… to walk to the North Pole, the adventurer Pierre Marchant fell and broke his ankle.

3   a   Celine organised a party because she wanted to celebrate passing her exams.

      b   Celine organised a party in ………………… celebrate passing her exams.

4   a   It’s not necessary to leave a deposit when you make a reservation.

      b   It’s possible to make a reservation ………………… a deposit

5   a   As he didn’t know any of the other guests, Alex didn’t enjoy the party very much.

      b   ………………… any of the other guests, Alex didn’t enjoy the party very much.

6   a   There are lots of potential advantages, in the same way that there are lots of things that could go wrong.

      b   ………………… there are lots of things that could go wrong, there are also lots of potential advantages.

7   a   You could set off earlier but I don’t think it will make any difference.

      b   ………………… how early you set off, I don’t think it will make any difference.

8   a   It wouldn’t matter how many people wanted to go, there would be plenty of room for everyone.

      b   ………………… people wanted to go, there would be plenty of room for everyone.

9   a   Don’t worry about giving me back the CD. Keep it until you’ve finished with it.

      b   Don’t worry about giving me back the CD. Keep it as ………………… you want.

10 a   Because there were four people who were interested in going on the trip, it was cheaper to take a taxi.

      b   ………………… four people were interested in going on the trip, it was cheaper to take a taxi.

E. Complete the sentences by adding appropriate words to the underlined adverbial clauses.

1   It had already got dark by the time …………………………………… .

2   I wouldn’t want to play tennis every day, much as …………………………………… .

3   The Royale isn’t as nice a hotel as …………………………………… .

4   My brother and I still go fishing together every weekend, just like …………………………………… .

5   People always seem to panic whenever …………………………………… .

6   There is so much traffic on the roads these days that …………………………………… .

7   All flights have been cancelled because …………………………………… .

8   My parents won’t let anyone leave the dinner table until …………………………………… .

9   The match had hardly started when …………………………………… .

10   Painting the kitchen took a lot longer than …………………………………… .

F. Complete at least five of the following sentences so that they are true for you, your town, or people you know. Include an adverbial or participle clause in each one.

1   I had to stand on the school bus this morning since there were no empty seats.

2   No sooner had ………………………………………… .

3   I whenever ………………………………………… someone ………………………………………… .

4   By the time I ………………………………………… .

5   ………………………………………… while ………………………………………… .

6   Being ………………………………………… .

7   I …………………………………………, not wanting ………………………………………… .

8   After going ………………………………………… .

9   I …………………………………………, everyone having ………………………………………… .

10   It ………………………………………… .

G. Circle the correct option.

1   I was watching television ………… I heard a loud bang outside my house.

      a when     b as     c while

2   ………… there were only two people in the band, they were incredibly loud.

      a Although     b Despite     c But

3   Much ………… we enjoy films, we both found this one a bit long and boring.

      a if     b like     c as

4   Since ………… Rome on a school trip when she was 12, Leanne has really wanted to live there.

      a visit     b have visited     c visiting

5   Once …………, this product should be kept in a cool, dark place.

      a opening     b opened     c having opened