How the task looks
Each item is one sentence with a gap. The options are usually linking words (because / because of / although / so that), relative words (who / which / whose / where), or whole parts of a sentence:
______, the match was not cancelled. — a) Despite it rained b) Although the rain c) Although it was raining d) Because of the rain
Two things decide the answer:
- Grammar — does the linker need a full clause (subject + verb) or only a noun? Is the sentence complete after you insert the option?
- Logic — what is the relation between the two parts: cause, result, purpose, contrast, condition, time?
Symbols used below
S = subject; V1 = base form (go); V2 = past simple (went); V3 = past participle (gone); V-ing = -ing form (going). A clause = subject + verb (it was raining). A noun phrase = a noun with its words, without a verb (the heavy rain).
Step-by-step method
- Read both parts of the sentence and say the relation in your own words: “it rained, but the match continued” → contrast.
- Look at what follows the gap: a clause (S + V), a noun / V-ing, or an infinitive?
- Remove options with the wrong logic, then options with the wrong grammar.
- Count the linkers. One link between two clauses is enough: ✗ Although it rained, but we went out.
- Check that the sentence has a main verb. An option that leaves the sentence without a main clause is wrong.
- Read the sentence once more as a whole.
Clause or noun? The most important table
| Meaning | + clause (S + V) | + noun / V-ing |
|---|---|---|
| cause | because, since, as | because of, due to, owing to |
| contrast | although, though, even though, while, whereas | despite, in spite of |
| purpose | so that, in order that | in order to + V1, so as to + V1, to + V1 |
| condition | if, unless, provided (that), as long as, on condition that | in case of, but for, without |
| time | when, while, as, before, after, until, as soon as | during, before, after, until |
Because it was raining, we stayed home. = Because of the rain, we stayed home.
Although he was tired, he kept working. = Despite being tired / Despite his tiredness, he kept working.
✗ Despite of the rain → ✓ Despite the rain / In spite of the rain.
✗ Despite it was raining → ✓ Despite the fact that it was raining.
Linking words by meaning
| Relation | Words | Example |
|---|---|---|
| cause | because, as, since, for (formal, after a comma) | We stayed home, for it was late. |
| result | so, therefore, as a result, that’s why | It was late, so we stayed home. |
| purpose | so that, in order to, to | She left early so that she could catch the train. |
| precaution | in case | Take an umbrella in case it rains. |
| contrast | but, however, although, while, whereas, yet | He is rich, yet he is unhappy. |
| concession | even if, even though, whether … or not, no matter how / what | I will go whether you like it or not. |
| condition | if, unless (= if not), provided that, on condition that | You can stay on condition that you are quiet. |
| addition | and, also, in addition, moreover, besides, as well as | In addition, the prices have gone up. |
| time | when, as, while, as soon as, after, before, until, since | As I was leaving, the phone rang. |
| comparison / manner | as if, as though | He looks as if he hasn’t slept for days. |
Notes:
- In case = because something might happen (a precaution), not “if”: Take a map in case you get lost.
- So that + clause expresses purpose (often with can / could / will / would): He works hard so that he can buy a house. So + clause (after a comma) expresses result: He worked hard, so he bought a house.
- However and therefore link two sentences; they are not ordinary conjunctions: It was cold. However, we went out.
- As has several meanings: cause (As it was late, we left), time (As I was leaving…), comparison (as usual, as tall as).
- But for + noun = if it were not for: But for your help, I would have failed.
So … that, such … that, too, enough
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| so + adjective / adverb + that | The film was so long that I fell asleep. |
| such + (a/an) + adjective + noun + that | It was such a long film that I fell asleep. |
| too + adjective + to + V1 | The box is too heavy to lift. |
| adjective + enough + to + V1 | She is old enough to drive. |
Relative clauses
| Word | Refers to | Example |
|---|---|---|
| who | people (subject or object) | the woman who lives next door |
| whom | people (object, formal; after a preposition) | the man to whom I spoke |
| which | things, animals; a whole idea after a comma | the book which I bought |
| that | people or things in defining clauses only | the book that I bought |
| whose | possession (people and things) | the boy whose bike was stolen |
| where | place (= in/at which) | the town where I was born |
| when | time (= on/in which) | the day when we met |
| why | reason (after the reason) | the reason why he left |
Is something missing in the clause? This is the key test.
- If the clause has no subject, use who / which / that: the man who called (who = subject).
- If the clause already has a subject and an object and only a place / time is missing, use where / when: the room where we found the map (we = subject, the map = object).
- If the clause needs a noun with possession, use whose + noun: a writer whose books are famous.
Preposition + which / whom: the hotel at which we stayed, the house in which he lived (= where he lived). After a preposition use which / whom, never that or who.
Defining and non-defining clauses. A non-defining clause adds extra information and stands between commas. It cannot use that.
✓ My brother, who lives in Paris, is a doctor. ✗ My brother, that lives in Paris, …
Which after a comma can refer to the whole previous idea: He passed the exam, which surprised everyone.
Do not repeat the subject or object inside the clause: ✗ the man who he called me → ✓ the man who called me.
Noun clauses: that, what, whether, how
Sometimes the gap is a whole clause used as a subject or object.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| that | the fact that (no meaning of its own) | We know that the Earth is round. |
| what | the thing(s) that | What she said surprised everyone. |
| whether / if | yes or no | I don’t know whether he will come. |
| how / why / where / when | question words | Why he left is still a mystery. |
Inside these clauses the word order is statement order (subject + verb), not question order:
✓ I wonder where she lives. ✗ I wonder where does she live.
✓ Tell me what he looks like. ✗ Tell me how he looks like. (look like needs an object, and what is that object; how goes with look alone: how he looks.)
What already contains “the thing”, so no noun comes before it: ✗ the thing what I said → ✓ the thing that I said / what I said.
Conditionals
| Type | If-clause | Main clause | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Present Simple | Present Simple | always true: If you heat ice, it melts. |
| 1 | Present Simple | will / can / may + V1 | real future: If it rains, we will stay home. |
| 2 | Past Simple (were) | would / could / might + V1 | unreal now or unlikely: If I were you, I would apologise. |
| 3 | Past Perfect | would / could / might have + V3 | unreal past: If you had called, I would have come. |
| mixed | Past Perfect | would + V1 | past cause → present result: If I had slept, I wouldn’t be tired now. |
- Never use will in the if-clause for the future: ✗ If it will rain.
- Unless = if not. Do not add another not: ✓ Unless you hurry, you will miss the bus.
- In type 2, were is used for all persons in careful English: If I were rich…
- Other ways to say if: provided (that), as long as, on condition that, suppose / supposing, in case of, otherwise (= if not): Hurry up, otherwise you’ll be late.
- Inversion without if: Had I known, I would have helped. (= If I had known) Were I you… Should you need help, call me.
Wish, if only, it’s time, would rather, as if
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| wish / if only + Past Simple | regret about the present | I wish I knew the answer. |
| wish / if only + Past Perfect | regret about the past | I wish I had listened to you. |
| wish + would + V1 | wanting someone/something to change | I wish you would stop talking. |
| It’s (high) time + S + Past Simple | it should happen now | It’s time we went home. |
| would rather + V1 | my preference | I would rather stay at home. |
| would rather + another S + Past Simple | preference about someone else | I would rather you stayed. |
| as if / as though + Past Simple | not real, only seems | He talks as if he knew everything. |
Verb patterns: -ing or to + V1?
| + V-ing | + to + V1 | + object + V1 (no to) |
|---|---|---|
| enjoy, finish, avoid, mind, suggest, keep, practise, deny, admit, consider, give up, can’t help, look forward to, be used to | want, decide, hope, plan, agree, refuse, promise, offer, manage, afford, learn, seem, would like | make, let, have (= arrange), help (also help to) |
Meaning changes:
- stop doing = no longer do; stop to do = stop in order to do something else.
- remember / forget doing = a memory of the past; remember / forget to do = a duty (not) done.
- try doing = do it as an experiment; try to do = make an effort.
- regret doing = be sorry about the past; regret to tell you = be sorry about news now.
After a preposition always V-ing: interested in learning, good at swimming, without saying goodbye, instead of waiting.
Causative: have / get something done = someone else does it for you: I had my hair cut.
Passive of make: They made him wait. → He was made to wait.
Participle clauses
A participle can shorten a clause when the subject is the same:
- Walking home, I met an old friend. (= While I was walking home)
- Having finished the work, she went out. (= After she had finished)
- Built in 1890, the bridge is still in use. (= The bridge, which was built…)
Check that the subject of the main clause really does the action: ✗ Walking home, the rain started. (The rain was not walking.)
The most common mistakes
| ✗ Wrong | ✓ Correct | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Although it rained, but we left. | Although it rained, we left. | one linker is enough |
| despite of the rain | despite the rain | despite has no of |
| because of it was late | because it was late | because of + noun |
| If it will rain, … | If it rains, … | no will in the if-clause |
| Unless you don’t hurry, … | Unless you hurry, … | unless = if not |
| the man who he called | the man who called | no repeated subject |
| My car, that is red, … | My car, which is red, … | no that after a comma |
| I wonder where does she live. | I wonder where she lives. | statement order |
| how we look like | how we look / what we look like | look like needs an object |
| He made me to wait. | He made me wait. | make + object + V1 |
| I wish I would know. | I wish I knew. | wish + Past Simple for now |
| It’s time we go. | It’s time we went. | it’s time + Past Simple |
Worked examples
1. We left early ______ we wouldn’t miss the train.
a) because b) so that c) in order to d) although
Leaving early has a purpose → so that + clause. In order to needs V1, not a clause. Because would give a reason, but “we wouldn’t miss the train” is our aim, not a cause.
2. This is the village ______ my grandparents were born.
a) which b) who c) where d) whose
The clause has a subject (my grandparents) and a verb (were born); only the place is missing → where (= in which).
3. ______ the storm, the ship would have arrived on time.
a) Although b) But for c) Unless d) If
The gap is followed by a noun (the storm), and the main clause is type 3 (would have arrived) → But for = “if it had not been for”. Although, if and unless need a clause.
4. I don’t remember ______ the door when I left.
a) lock b) to lock c) locking d) locked
A memory of a past action → remember + V-ing.
5. It was ______ interesting book that I read it in one night.
a) so b) such an c) so an d) such
such + a/an + adjective + noun + that. An because interesting starts with a vowel sound.
Final checklist
- What is the logical relation: cause, result, purpose, contrast, condition, time?
- After the gap — a clause, a noun / V-ing, or V1?
- Is there only one linker between the two clauses?
- In a relative clause — what is missing: subject, object, place, time, possession?
- In a noun clause — statement word order?
- Conditional — the right type, no will after if?
- Verb pattern — V-ing, to + V1, or V1 without to?
- Is the sentence complete, with a main clause?