Certainty, Distance and Qualification

The car ___ start this morning, however often I tried. (past refusal)

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: wouldn't

The car wouldn't start this morning, however often I tried. (past refusal) Will can express characteristic behaviour, willingness or a present inference; would can express past habit, refusal or tentative judgement. Should can express expectation, formal recommendations and conditional inversion. Modal + have + participle refers to an earlier situation rather than merely shifting a tense mechanically.

That ___ be the courier at the door. (confident present inference)

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: will

That will be the courier at the door. (confident present inference) Will can express characteristic behaviour, willingness or a present inference; would can express past habit, refusal or tentative judgement. Should can express expectation, formal recommendations and conditional inversion. Modal + have + participle refers to an earlier situation rather than merely shifting a tense mechanically.

Choose the word or expression: Used after a quantity or time to show that it is approximate.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: or thereabouts

or thereabouts: Used after a quantity or time to show that it is approximate. Example: The journey takes an hour or thereabouts.

___ you require further details, contact us. (formal condition)

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: Should

Should you require further details, contact us. (formal condition) Will can express characteristic behaviour, willingness or a present inference; would can express past habit, refusal or tentative judgement. Should can express expectation, formal recommendations and conditional inversion. Modal + have + participle refers to an earlier situation rather than merely shifting a tense mechanically.

You should have ___ the figures before submitting them.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: checked

You should have checked the figures before submitting them. Will can express characteristic behaviour, willingness or a present inference; would can express past habit, refusal or tentative judgement. Should can express expectation, formal recommendations and conditional inversion. Modal + have + participle refers to an earlier situation rather than merely shifting a tense mechanically.

Choose the word or expression: Used to introduce a general estimate rather than an exact statement.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: roughly speaking

roughly speaking: Used to introduce a general estimate rather than an exact statement. Example: Roughly speaking, half the participants had previous experience.

He will ___ for hours about his garden. (characteristic behaviour)

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: talk

He will talk for hours about his garden. (characteristic behaviour) Will can express characteristic behaviour, willingness or a present inference; would can express past habit, refusal or tentative judgement. Should can express expectation, formal recommendations and conditional inversion. Modal + have + participle refers to an earlier situation rather than merely shifting a tense mechanically.

We may as ___ leave; nobody else is coming.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: well

We may as well leave; nobody else is coming. Can expresses ability and general possibility, while may/might commonly express a specific uncertain possibility. Use be able to where can lacks a form. May/might as well recommends a reasonable available option; might have can express past possibility or criticism depending on context. Concessive may acknowledges a point before a contrast.

Choose the word or expression: A small number of people or things.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: a handful of

a handful of: A small number of people or things. Example: Only a handful of applicants met all the requirements.

She hopes to be ___ to attend.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: able

She hopes to be able to attend. Can expresses ability and general possibility, while may/might commonly express a specific uncertain possibility. Use be able to where can lacks a form. May/might as well recommends a reasonable available option; might have can express past possibility or criticism depending on context. Concessive may acknowledges a point before a contrast.

He may ___ inexperienced, but he learns quickly.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: be

He may be inexperienced, but he learns quickly. Can expresses ability and general possibility, while may/might commonly express a specific uncertain possibility. Use be able to where can lacks a form. May/might as well recommends a reasonable available option; might have can express past possibility or criticism depending on context. Concessive may acknowledges a point before a contrast.

Choose the word or expression: Approximately a stated amount, especially money or a large number.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: in the region of

in the region of: Approximately a stated amount, especially money or a large number. Example: The repairs will cost in the region of ten thousand pounds.

You might have ___ me! (criticism of an omission)

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: warned

You might have warned me! (criticism of an omission) Can expresses ability and general possibility, while may/might commonly express a specific uncertain possibility. Use be able to where can lacks a form. May/might as well recommends a reasonable available option; might have can express past possibility or criticism depending on context. Concessive may acknowledges a point before a contrast.

Winters here ___ be severe. (general possibility)

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: can

Winters here can be severe. (general possibility) Can expresses ability and general possibility, while may/might commonly express a specific uncertain possibility. Use be able to where can lacks a form. May/might as well recommends a reasonable available option; might have can express past possibility or criticism depending on context. Concessive may acknowledges a point before a contrast.

Choose the word or expression: Used to indicate more examples of the same general kind.

Your answer: Unanswered

Correct answer: and so forth

and so forth: Used to indicate more examples of the same general kind. Example: The course covers budgeting, saving, borrowing, and so forth.