Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Had I known, I ___ you.
A. would tell
B. will tell
C. would have told
D. told
Correct Answer: C
'Had I known' is an inverted third conditional equivalent to 'If I had known'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
If I had enough money, I ___ a new laptop.
A. will buy
B. would buy
C. would have bought
D. buy
Correct Answer: B
A second conditional describes a hypothetical present/future situation: 'would buy'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
If you heat ice, it ___.
A. will melt
B. melts
C. would melt
D. melted
Correct Answer: B
A zero conditional states a general truth using present simple in both clauses.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
He is poor, ___ he is honest.
A. but
B. because
C. so
D. unless
Correct Answer: A
'But' joins contrasting ideas.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
No sooner had we sat down ___ the lights went out.
A. when
B. that
C. than
D. then
Correct Answer: C
The fixed construction is 'no sooner...than'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Scarcely had he entered ___ the phone rang.
A. than
B. when
C. then
D. that
Correct Answer: B
The standard pair is 'scarcely/hardly...when'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
I do not know ___ he will come or not.
A. that
B. whether
C. because
D. unless
Correct Answer: B
'Whether...or not' is used for alternatives or uncertainty.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
She is ___ intelligent ___ hardworking.
A. either...or
B. neither...nor
C. both...and
D. whether...or
Correct Answer: C
Both qualities are being affirmed, so 'both...and' is correct.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Not only did he apologize, ___ he also offered compensation.
A. and
B. but
C. so
D. because
Correct Answer: B
The correlative construction is 'not only...but also'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Neither the manager ___ the staff agreed.
A. or
B. and
C. nor
D. but
Correct Answer: C
The correct pair is 'neither...nor'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Both Ali ___ Ahmed were selected.
A. or
B. nor
C. and
D. but
Correct Answer: C
The correlative pair is 'both...and'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
He will not succeed ___ he works hard.
A. if
B. unless
C. because
D. although
Correct Answer: B
'Unless' means 'if not': he will not succeed if he does not work hard.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
___ being tired, he continued working.
A. Although
B. Because
C. Despite
D. Unless
Correct Answer: C
'Despite' is followed by a noun or gerund, not a full finite clause.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
He stayed home ___ he was ill.
A. although
B. because
C. unless
D. despite
Correct Answer: B
'Because' introduces the reason in a finite clause.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
___ he was tired, he continued working.
A. Because
B. Although
C. So
D. Unless
Correct Answer: B
'Although' introduces a contrast between being tired and continuing to work.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. The teacher asked us to read carefully and that we should answer clearly.
B. The teacher asked us to read carefully and answer clearly.
C. The teacher asked us reading carefully and to answer clearly.
D. The teacher asked that us read carefully and answer clearly.
Correct Answer: B
Two bare infinitives after 'asked us to' should be parallel: 'to read...and answer'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
The new policy is intended to reduce costs and ___.
A. efficiency will improve
B. improve efficiency
C. improving efficiency
D. for improving efficiency
Correct Answer: B
The infinitive 'to' can govern both parallel verbs: 'to reduce...and improve'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the parallel sentence.
A. He is responsible for planning, organizing, and to supervise the event.
B. He is responsible for planning, organizing, and supervising the event.
C. He is responsible to plan, organizing, and supervising the event.
D. He is responsible for plan, organize, and supervising the event.
Correct Answer: B
All complements after 'for' should be parallel gerunds.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
The report aims to identify the problem, analyze its causes, and ___.
A. a solution is recommended
B. recommend solutions
C. recommendation of solutions
D. solutions recommending
Correct Answer: B
The verbs should be parallel: identify, analyze, and recommend.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. She is intelligent, hardworking, and has honesty.
B. She is intelligent, hardworking, and honest.
C. She is intelligence, hardworking, and honest.
D. She intelligently, hardworking, and honestly works.
Correct Answer: B
The coordinated descriptions should be parallel adjectives: intelligent, hardworking, honest.