1. Choose the correct words to complete the sentences.
1 No longer / Not since the summer after leaving school had we all met.
2 Only if / So you train really hard will you be ready for the competition.
3 Such / So surprised were we to meet by chance after all these years that we couldn’t quite believe it.
4 Never / No longer were they married, buy they remained good friends.
5 Had / Would I known you were in town last week, I would have invited you to dinner.
6 There / Had we sat on the summit of the mountain, tired but happy.
Answer
1 Not since 2 Only if 3 So
4 No longer 5 Had 6 There
2. Complete the sentences. Use the cues below.
crash / go • hardly / the prime minister / arrive
in no way / should /you • little / we / know
never / I / witness • seldom / he / state his opinion • up / go
1 ………………………… such a terrible sight as those poor, hungry people.
2 ………………………… feel responsible – it wasn’t your fault.
3 ………………………… when reporters wanted to speak to him.
4 ………………………… how meeting Jess would change our lives on the day when she appeared at our door.
5 ………………………… the red flag, and we were given a penalty.
6 ………………………… but this time he told us exactly what he felt.
7 ………………………… the vase as it hit the floor and broke.
Answer
1 Never had I witnessed
2 In no way should you
3 Hardly had the prime minister arrived
4 Little did we know
5 Up went
6 Seldom did he state his opinion
7 Crash went
3. Correct the sentences.
1 Nowhere we could see Kelly.
………………………………………….
2 No sooner we saw Jake’s face than we realised that something was wrong.
………………………………………….
3 Not until knew I was safe I stopped running.
………………………………………….
4 Under no circumstances you should touch that cable.
………………………………………….
5 Not for one second we didn’t believe Sue was guilty.
………………………………………….
6 Not only he was rude when we arrived after our journey, but he didn’t offer us anything to eat.
………………………………………….
Answer
1 Nowhere could we see Kelly.
2 No sooner did we see / had we seen Jake’s face …
3 Not until I knew I was safe did I stop running.
4 Under no circumstances should you touch that cable.
5 Not for one second did we believe Sue was guilty.
6 Not only was he rude …
4. Rewrite the sentences using the words in brackets so that the meaning stays the same.
1 There are some DVDs in the cupboard if you get bored. (should)
……………………………………, there are some DVDs in the cupboard.
2 I sat down, and the phone rang. (hardly)
…………………………………… when the phone rang.
3 It’s forbidden for you to enter the building. (circumstances)
Under …………………………………… enter the building.
4 You aren’t ready to take the exam. (way)
In …………………………………… ready for the exam.
5 We never believed Mike’s story. (moment)
Not …………………………………… we believe Mike’s story.
6 People didn’t learn the truth for decades. (until)
Not …………………………………… people learn the truth.
7 We were late and our clothes were wet. (only)
…………………………………… late, but our clothes were wet.
8 It didn’t often rain so hard. (seldom)
…………………………………… so hard.
Answer
1 Should you get bored
2 Hardly had I sat down
3 no circumstances should you
4 no way are you
5 for a moment did
6 until decades later did
7 Not only were we
8 Seldom did it rain
5. Complete the extract from a story using the correct form of the words in brackets. Add pronouns where necessary.
A man out walking his dog had heard a commotion and called us to the house. (1) ………………………… (no sooner / arrive) than we noticed something was wrong. (2) ………………………… (not only / be) the patio doors open, but the glass was broken. A pair of curtains flapped in the wind. Although I was an experienced detective with the South African Police Service, (3) ………………………… (seldom / feel) in much danger – but I did then.
Everywhere, there were the signs of a struggle – broken ornaments and furniture. (4) ………………………… (at our feet / lie) the remains of a vase – (5) ………………………… (crunch / go) the pieces underfoot. (6) ………………………… (no sooner / reach) the stairs than we heard strange sounds upstairs.
Two baboons came crashing out of a bedroom and down the stairs. (7) ………………………… (rarely / these apes / come) near the centre of town, but there they were – baring their fearsome teeth at us. (8) ………………………… (not for one moment / hesitate) – one glimpse of them was enough to make us turn and run!
Answer
1 No sooner had we arrived
2 Not only were
3 seldom did I feel
4 At our feet lay
5 crunch went
6 No sooner had we reached / did we reach
7 Rarely do/did these apes come
8 Not for one moment did we hesitate
6. Rewrite the sentences. Use the words below to start.
hardly • in front of • little … know • no longer
not for one moment • should • so • under no circumstances
1 We never thought you were guilty of the crime.
…………………………………………
2 The match had only just started when they scored.
…………………………………………
3 It’s totally forbidden for you to enter that building.
…………………………………………
4 Please call me if you need a lift home.
…………………………………………
5 I don’t have to do that terrible job any more.
…………………………………………
6 I was totally unaware of how close I’d been swimming to a three-metre shark.
…………………………………………
7 I called the police because I was very worried.
…………………………………………
8 There was a tall, thin man standing in front of the house.
…………………………………………
Answer
1 Not for one moment did we think you were guilty of the crime.
2 Hardly had the match started when they scored.
3 Under no circumstances should you enter that building.
4 Should you need a lift home, call me.
5 No longer do I have to do that terrible job.
6 Little did I know how close I’d been swimming to a three-metre shark.
7 So worried was I, I called the police.
8 In front of the house stood a tall, thin man.
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