Sentence Structure – English Grammar Exercises for A1
Writing a short absence email with a reason
Choose the best answer (A, B, or C) to complete each sentence.
1 Dear Boss, I cannot come to work today ______ I am sick.
(a) so
(b) because
(c) but
2 She is staying at home today ______ she has a fever.
(a) because
(b) why
(c) and
3 I need to take a day off ______ I feel very tired.
(a) so
(b) because of
(c) because
4 Teacher: “______ are you absent today?” – Student: “Because I have a cold.”
(a) Why
(b) What
(c) How
5 I am writing this email ______ I cannot go to school today.
(a) why
(b) but
(c) because
6 I can’t attend the morning meeting because I ______ a bad headache.
(a) am have
(b) have
(c) has
7 Are you resting at home because you ______ sick?
(a) feel
(b) feels
(c) are feel
8 He isn’t coming to class because he ______ a terrible cold.
(a) has
(b) have
(c) is have
9 Why doesn’t she join the video call? – ______ her internet is not working.
(a) Because
(b) So
(c) That
10 I am taking some medicine ______ my throat hurts.
(a) and
(b) because
(c) why
11 I am not going to the office because my car ______ start.
(a) doesn’t
(b) don’t
(c) isn’t
12 We can’t work today because the office ______ no electricity.
(a) have
(b) is
(c) has
13 Why is John absent? – He is absent because he ______ feel well.
(a) don’t
(b) doesn’t
(c) isn’t
14 I cannot meet the teacher today ______ I need to visit the doctor.
(a) because of
(b) because
(c) so
15 Because I have a high temperature, I ______ to work today.
(a) cannot go
(b) am not go
(c) not go
16 I am resting in bed because my back ______ a lot.
(a) hurt
(b) hurts
(c) is hurt
17 ______ I have a doctor’s appointment, I will be late for work.
(a) Because
(b) Why
(c) So
18 I will send my homework by email ______ I cannot come to class.
(a) so
(b) because of
(c) because
19 I can’t look at the computer screen because my eyes ______ very red.
(a) do
(b) are
(c) is
20 Please tell the manager that I am absent because I ______ a stomachache.
(a) am have
(b) has
(c) have
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 b
Explanation: (b) is correct. “Because” connects the result (cannot come to work) with the reason (I am sick). (a) is a common mistake (“so” introduces a result, not a reason). (c) is a meaning trap (“but” shows contrast).
2 a
Explanation: (a) is correct. “Because” introduces the reason for staying home. (b) is a structural error (“why” is for asking questions, not connecting clauses). (c) is a common mistake.
3 c
Explanation: (c) is correct. We use “because” before a full clause (Subject + Verb). (b) is a common mistake (“because of” must be followed by a noun, not a full sentence like “I feel”). (a) is a meaning trap.
4 a
Explanation: (a) is correct. “Why” is the question word used to ask for a reason. The answer to a “Why” question usually starts with “Because”. (b) and (c) are incorrect question words for this context.
5 c
Explanation: (c) is correct. It connects the action (writing the email) with the reason (cannot go to school). (a) and (b) are structural and meaning errors.
6 b
Explanation: (b) is correct. The subject is “I”, so the verb is “have”. (a) is a structural error (mixing “am” with the base verb). (c) is a structural error (“has” is for he/she/it).
7 a
Explanation: (a) is correct. The subject is “you”, so the base verb “feel” is used. (b) is a structural error (adding “-s”). (c) is a structural error (mixing “are” and “feel”).
8 a
Explanation: (a) is correct. The subject is “he”, so the verb must be “has”. (b) is a common mistake (using “have” for a singular third-person subject). (c) is a structural error.
9 a
Explanation: (a) is correct. To answer a “Why” question, we start with “Because”. (b) and (c) are incorrect conjunctions for answering “Why”.
10 b
Explanation: (b) is correct. It introduces the reason for taking medicine. (a) and (c) do not make logical or grammatical sense here.
11 a
Explanation: (a) is correct. “My car” is singular (it), so the negative auxiliary is “doesn’t”. (b) is a common mistake. (c) is a structural error (mixing “isn’t” with the base verb “start”).
12 c
Explanation: (c) is correct. “The office” is singular, so it takes the verb “has”. (a) is a common mistake. (b) is a structural error (the office is not electricity; it has no electricity).
13 b
Explanation: (b) is correct. “He” takes the negative auxiliary “doesn’t”. (a) is a common mistake. (c) is a structural error (mixing “isn’t” with the action verb “feel”).
14 b
Explanation: (b) is correct. “Because” is followed by a full sentence (I need to visit…). (a) is a common mistake (“because of” is only followed by a noun). (c) is a meaning trap.
15 a
Explanation: (a) is correct. “Cannot go” is the correct negative structure. (b) is a structural error. (c) is a common mistake (missing the auxiliary).
16 b
Explanation: (b) is correct. “My back” is singular (it), so the verb “hurt” needs an “-s”. (a) is a common mistake. (c) is a structural error.
17 a
Explanation: (a) is correct. “Because” can be placed at the beginning of a sentence to introduce the reason before the result. (b) is a structural error. (c) is a meaning trap.
18 c
Explanation: (c) is correct. Connecting the result (sending homework) with the reason. (a) and (b) are grammatically or logically incorrect.
19 b
Explanation: (b) is correct. “My eyes” is plural, so the “to be” verb is “are”. (a) is a structural error (“do” is not used with adjectives like “red”). (c) is a common mistake (using singular “is” for plural “eyes”).
20 c
Explanation: (c) is correct (“I” + “have”). (a) is a structural error (“am have”). (b) is a structural error (“has” is for he/she/it).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
1 Using “Because”: Use “because” to join two sentences when you want to give a reason.
- Structure: [Result] + because + [Reason].
- Example: I am absent today because I am sick.
2 Because vs. Because of: * Because is followed by a full sentence (Subject + Verb). -> …because I have a fever.
- Because of is followed by a Noun. -> …because of my fever. (Do not say: because of I have a fever ❌).
3 Answering “Why”: If your manager or teacher asks you a question starting with “Why…?”, you should start your answer with “Because…”.
4 Subject-Verb Agreement in Reason Clauses: Ensure the verb inside your “because” clause matches the subject.
- I / You / We / They + have / don’t / feel
- He / She / It + has / doesn’t / feels