English Advanced Grammar Exercises – Complex sentences exercise

A. If a phrase in bold is correct, put a tick. If it is incorrect, rewrite it correctly.

1   Hardly I had sat down when the doorbell rang. …………………………………..

2   Scarcely had Julian finished writing when the teacher told the students to put their pens down. …………………………………..

3   We had barely set off on our journey when the kids started asking when we would get there. …………………………………..

4   No sooner the government changes the tax laws than businesses find a way around them. …………………………………..

5   Scarcely they had finished painting the house when it started to rain. …………………………………..

6   Hardly the new computer system had been installed when it started to go wrong. …………………………………..

7   It’s true that no sooner we had started eating than we realised we had forgotten the potatoes. …………………………………..

8   Barely had the politician started to speak when began the crowd to boo. …………………………………..

9   Hardly the new park was finished when vandals destroyed the flowerbeds. …………………………………..

10   Scarcely Keith had arrived in Argentina when he was arrested. …………………………………..

B. Complete using the words and phrases in the box.

1   ………………………. were the security guards to blame for what happened.

2   ………………………. once did the old woman thank me for helping her.

3   ………………………. seeing the doctor was Theresa allowed to leave hospital.

4   ………………………. will passengers be allowed to carry more than 6 kg of hand luggage.

5   ………………………. were you late, but you also forgot to bring the correct documents.

6   ………………………. during the meeting did anyone mention that the managing director was planning to leave.

7   ………………………. did the passengers know that the driver was really an undercover police officer.

8   ………………………. do you meet anyone as charming as Mr Beeching.

9   ………………………. should unaccompanied children be allowed to enter the area.

10   ………………………. before has the company found itself facing such stiff competition.

C. Complete using the words in bold with the verb in the correct form.

1   Not until the area is made safe ……………………………… . (construction / can continue)

2   In no way ……………………………… (the announcement / affect) how strongly we felt

about the situation.

3   Seldom ……………………………… (you / see) a vintage car in quite such good condition

these days.

4   Not only ……………………………… (Jerry / forget) my birthday, but he also forgot our wedding anniversary.

5   At no time ……………………………… (I / ask) my opinion on the subject.

6   Only when ……………………………… (I / checked) the ticket again did I realise that I had won first prize!

7   Little ……………………………… (Caroline / realise) that I had a big surprise planned for her.

8   Under no circumstances ……………………………… (you / should sign) a contract you haven’t read thoroughly.

9   At no stage ……………………………… (it/ appear) likely that Wilkinson would win the championship.

10   Only if the weather is clear ……………………………… (the space shuttle / will allow) to launch.

D. Complete using a verb from the box in the correct form. Try to use each verb at least once.

Neighbourhood noise

‘There (1) …………………. our new neighbour now,’ said Joe. I looked up and coming along the path (2) …………………. a short, fat man. On his head (3) …………………. a bright red baseball cap. He ignored us and went into the house next door. We waited a moment. From an upstairs window (4) …………………. the sound of loud rock music. Joe sighed.

‘Every day for the past week has been the same,’ he said. ‘Well, today’s going to be different.’ In his hand (5) …………………. a letter from the council. ‘This’ll stop him,’ he said.

We went next door and knocked. After a moment, the door opened and the music suddenly got louder.

There (6) …………………. a little old woman, looking up at us, smiling. On the sofa behind her (7) …………………. a fat old cat.

‘Erm … we’ve come about the noise,’ mumbled Joe, confused at finding the old woman.

‘Eh?’ she said.

‘About the noise. I’ve got a letter from the council,’ shouted Joe. Suddenly, in the doorway (8) …………………. the same fat man I had seen earlier.

‘She’s quite deaf. That’s why she plays her music so loud. Can I help you?’

Joe looked at the little old woman. ‘Er … no. No. That’s okay.’ He screwed the letter up and put it into his pocket.

E. Circle the correct phrase. If both are correct, circle both.

1   Dave doesn’t really trust Ian, and I have to say that neither I do / do I.

2   Such a valuable painting it is / is it that the public are not allowed to get close to it.

3   So we could / could we watch TV while we ate, we moved the television onto the balcony.

4   My dad’s never been abroad, and nor my mum has / has my mum.

5   Such the media interest was / was the media interest in the wedding that there were over a dozen photographers.

6   It’s been a hard season for the team, as last season was / was last season.

7   Russia is a country with vast natural resources, and so China is / is China.

8   We in this country spend more per person on fuel than the French do / do the French.

9   The Minister was forced to resign, such the pressure was / was the pressure on her.

10   So nervous he was / was he that I was almost certain he was lying.

F. Rewrite the sentences, starting with the words given.

1   The window was broken by a cricket ball.

     It ……………………………………………………… .

2   I will never forget the day I heard I’d got into my chosen university.

     The day on ……………………………………………………… .

3   Glynn became a social worker to help people less fortunate than himself.

     The reason ……………………………………………………… .

4   Getting through the summer without getting injured was the only thing the athlete wanted.

     All ……………………………………………………… .

5   The driver didn’t see the motorcyclist.

     What happened ……………………………………………………… .

6   Christopher Columbus discovered America.

     The person ……………………………………………………… .

7   Seeing Patricia cry like that made me feel guilty.

     What ……………………………………………………… .

8   What we had to do first was decide where to meet.

     The first thing ……………………………………………………… .

9   There are lots of facilities where we go camping.

     The place ……………………………………………………… .

10   Einstein proved that energy and mass are basically the same thing.

        What ……………………………………………………… .

G. Write so, such, too or enough in each gap.

1   It was …………………. good a meal that we left the waiter quite a large tip.

2   It’s becoming increasingly clear that there just aren’t …………………. people willing to buy our products online.

3   I’m quite enjoying my maths degree, but I just find statistics …………………. boring!

4   Angela seemed to be having …………………. a good time at the party that I decided not to tell her how late it was.

5   We’ve all been working …………………. hard on the latest project the manager gave us a couple of extra days off.

6   I worry about my grandparents because they have …………………. a lot of health problems.

7   It’s …………………. early to tell whether the business is going to succeed or not.

8   Set the alarm or we’ll never wake up early …………………. to catch the first train.

9   I never knew that Andrew had …………………. few friends.

10   Everyone was surprised when Dan failed because he’s …………………. a good student.

11   A year after losing my job, I had …………………. many debts that I was really beginning to panic.

12   I was hoping to have a word with Alan before he left, but it seems to be …………………. late now.

H. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between three and eight words, including the word given.

1   I had to clear the spare room before I could start decorating. cleared

     Only when ………………………………. start decorating.

2   The phone rang again as soon as I put it down. had

     Hardly ………………………………. it rang again.

3   The Watsons moved to London and very soon after they decided to get divorced. had

     No sooner ………………………………. they decided to get divorced.

4   I had no idea the manager wanted to see me to fire me. realise

     Little ………………………………. the manager wanted to see me to fire me.

5   I was told about the website by Charlie. who

     It ………………………………. me about the website.

6   Buying a plane ticket at the last minute isn’t often possible. to

     Rarely ………………………………. a plane ticket at the last minute.

7   They didn’t ask me anything about my plans for the summer. question

     Not ………………………………. about my plans for the summer.

8   There is no situation in which we will allow the management to lower wages. no

     Under ………………………………. the management to lower wages.

I. Choose the correct answer.

6   In no way ………………. that people will be prevented from organising peaceful protests.

      A this law means

      B means this law

      C does this law mean

      D this law does mean

7   If you don’t put the tent up ………………., it might blow away!

      A too carefully   B so carefully

      C such carefully   D carefully enough

8   No sooner ………………. everyone started to gossip about him.

      A had Mike left than

      B did Mike leave when

      C left Mike when

      D Mike had left than

9   ‘I can’t stand this hot weather!’

     ‘No, ………………. . Dreadful, isn’t it?’

      A so can’t I   B neither can I

      C so I can’t   D nor I can

10   ‘We were at the Rolling Stones concert last weekend.’

       ‘Were you? So ……………….!’

      A I was   B was I being

      C I was there   D was I

J. Write one word in each gap.

Problems close to home

Rarely (1) ……………….. neighbours have the best of relationships for any length of time. Of course, some people become close friends, but only if there is a lot of give and take (2) ……………….. this possible.

(3) ……………….. common are disputes between neighbours that there are many laws to cover arguments over noise, property and rubbish. Before things go (4) ……………….. far for the relationship to be saved, there are a few simple things you can do. The first is (5) ……………….. speak to your neighbour. You’d be amazed at how many arguments are avoided by (6) ……………….. a simple step. Not (7) ……………….. does it give you the chance to express your complaint, it (8) ……………….. gives your neighbour the chance to explain and, perhaps, take action.

Secondly, check your rights. On (9) ……………….. account should you do anything to damage your neighbours’ property, or their overhanging trees if that’s the problem, without knowing what your legal rights are. (10) ……………….. until you are sure you are acting within the law should you do anything. And remember – a little understanding can go a long way.