Ellipsis & Substitution Exercises PDFSet 2: Verb Phrase Ellipsis & Verbal Substitution
20 questions·14 min·Answers included·Explanations included
Preview: Questions
Fill in the blank with the correct option.
1.I wanted to help, but I couldn't ___.
a) — (nothing; leave the verb phrase out)b) doc) to helpd) be
2.She thinks she won't pass the exam, but I think she ___.
a) doesb) willc) shalld) is
3.He runs faster than I ___.
a) dob) amc) haved) can
4.They said they would finish on time, and they ___.
a) wouldb) werec) dod) did
5.The manager asked all staff to attend the meeting. Most of them ___.
a) were sob) had beenc) wouldd) did so
... and 15 more questions in the PDF
Preview: Answers
1.— (nothing; leave the verb phrase out)
2.will
3.do
4.did
5.did so
... and 15 more answers in the PDF
Preview: Explanations
1."— (nothing; leave the verb phrase out)"(a)
After a modal verb like 'could', we simply leave out the verb phrase. 'I couldn't' = 'I couldn't help'. This is verb phrase ellipsis. 'Do' alone after 'couldn't' is incomplete, and 'to help' is wrong because modals are not followed by 'to'.
2."will"(b)
The original verb phrase is 'will pass the exam'. In VP ellipsis, we keep only the auxiliary: 'she will' = 'she will pass'. We match the same auxiliary — 'will' — from the first clause.
3."do"(a)
In comparisons, we use 'do/does/did' as a substitute for the main verb: 'than I do' = 'than I run'. Present simple uses 'do' for I/you/we/they.
4."did"(d)
'They did' = 'they finished on time'. We use 'did' as a verbal substitute for a past simple action. 'Would' doesn't work because the action actually happened (it's not hypothetical). 'Do' is present tense, but finishing happened in the past.
5."did so"(d)
'Did so' is a formal verbal substitute meaning 'attended the meeting'. 'Do so' is preferred in formal contexts when the subject follows an instruction or expectation.
... and 15 more explanations in the PDF
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