Sentence Patterns Exercise

Test your understanding of various sentence patterns with this exercise.

1. It was careless …………………….. her to repeat that mistake.

of
for
with

The adjective careless can be followed by ‘of + noun / pronoun + to-infinitive’.

2. It is wicked of him ………………………. such things.

for saying
to say

The adjective wicked can be followed by ‘of + noun / pronoun + to-infinitive’.

3. It is no use …………………… about it.

to worry
worrying
for worrying

The pattern is ‘it + be + no use / good etc. + -ing form’.

4. It is strange …………………………

for him to behave like that

that he should have behaved like that
Either could be used here

The pattern is: it + be + adjective / noun + that clause.

5. It is a pity ……………………………..

that you could not pass the test

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 Sentence Patterns Exercise

for you not to pass the test

of you not to pass the test

The pattern is: it + be + adjective / noun + that clause

6. She was too arrogant …………………… to me.

for listening
to listen
to listening

Note the pattern ‘too…to’.

7. She was stupid enough ………………… him.

that she trusted

to trust
for trusting

The pattern is: adjective / adverb + enough + to-infinitive

8. I was so tired …………………………. any further.

to walk
that I could walk
that I could not walk further

The pattern is: so + adjective / adverb + that – clause

9. What a charming girl ………………………..!

is she
she is
Either could be used here

The pattern is: what + adjective + noun + subject + verb

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 Sentence Patterns Exercise

10. …………………………….. tall you have grown!

How
What
What a

In exclamatory sentences we use ‘how’ before adjectives without nouns.

11. If I find your watch, I …………………………… it to you.

will give
would give
would have given

In first conditional sentences, we use a simple present tense in the if-clause and will +
infinitive in the main clause.

12. How …………………….. he plays!

good
well

Well is an adverb. We need an adverb to modify a verb (play)

PLAY AGAIN !

Fill in the blanks.

Answers

1. It was careless of her to repeat that mistake.

2. It is wicked of him to say such things.
3. It is no use worrying about it.
4. It is strange that he should have behaved like that.
5. It is a pity that you could not pass the test.
6. She was too arrogant to listen to me.
7. She was stupid enough to trust him.
8. I was so tired that I could not walk any further.

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 Sentence Patterns Exercise

9. What a charming girl she is!

10. How tall you have grown!
11. If I find your watch, I will give it to you.
12. How well he plays!

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