Advanced English Grammar Practice: Connectors, Modals, and Formal Language

Posted on Oct 17, 2025 in Administration and Management

1. Using Conjunctions and Connectors

Complete the sentences using because, so, such, or because of:

  1. I’m not buying it because it’s too expensive.
  2. I was lost, so I bought a street map.
  3. We couldn’t get into the factory because of the [missing context].
  4. They’ve got such a lot of money, they don’t know what to do.
  5. She didn’t get the job because of her [missing context].
  6. She worked so hard that she made herself ill.
  7. Because the economy in this country is expanding, many [missing context].
  8. Foreign investment has been high because of the tax [missing context].
  9. He is so lazy that he will fail all his exams.
  10. The main road was closed because of some road works. Therefore, [missing context].
  11. They have travelled to Ireland because they wanted to [missing context].
  12. It was such a hot evening that we couldn’t [missing context].
  13. Everything is so expensive these days, isn’t it?
  14. Because of the economic crisis, many companies are [missing context].
  15. My students were really happy because of their good results.

2. Completing a Professional Memo

Complete the memo using appropriate transitional expressions (e.g., Although, First of all, In consequence, also, To sum up, otherwise):

Although we have agreed to try to cut down on staff, there are some problems in the website design department. First of all, the person in charge of updating the website is also in charge of managing the department email. In consequence, when many people write to ask for information and require updated information from the website, she is unable to perform both tasks. To sum up, I suggest we try to reorganise her job to improve efficiency, otherwise our website will [suffer/fail].

3. Expressions for Formal Requests

Complete the sentences using formal request expressions:

  1. Could you inform your manager about the latest figures?
  2. I’d be grateful if you could fax me the documents as soon as [possible].
  3. I’d appreciate it if all the arrangements were made before [the deadline].
  4. Would it be possible to book the meeting room for Tuesday?
  5. I’d like to arrange a meeting with the head of department.
4. Practice with Modal Verbs

Complete the following phrases with the appropriate modal verb (e.g., must, can’t, may, could):

  1. Nobody’s answering. They must be out.
  2. He can’t be from France. He doesn’t speak French.
  3. Do you know if Mark can sing?
  4. May I sit here, please?
  5. They may be away for the weekend but I’m not sure.
  6. With luck, tomorrow could be a sunny day.
  7. You must be tired after such a long flight.
  8. You can’t fly to Dover; there isn’t an airport.
  9. May I make a call on your mobile?
  10. Mary, your friends can stay the night if they want to. They’re [welcome].
  11. He can’t drive; he’s never learned how to.
  12. Passengers must not smoke during take-off.
  13. With luck, tomorrow could be a sunny day to play.
  14. It can’t be true about a dinosaur living in the Congo. It’s i[mpossible].
  15. This could be the right answer but we’ll have to check.
5. Matching Apologies and Meanings (Incomplete)

Note: The original document provided only the matching results, not the sentences or meanings themselves.

  • 1. E
  • 2. A
  • 3. D
  • 4. F
  • 5. B
  • 6. C

6. Choosing Adjectives and Adverbs

Choose the correct word (adjective or adverb) to complete the sentence:

  1. We lost the match because we didn’t play very well.
  2. Tom drove carefully along the narrow road.
  3. I was completely lost.
  4. She speaks perfectly French.
  5. The driver of the car was seriously injured.
  6. I was greatly impressed by their presentation.
  7. I was suddenly surprised by Alice.
  8. John is an intelligent student.
  9. Jack is happy.
  10. Be quiet, please! I’m trying to concentrate.