Completing Sentence with examples Edit

Mastering Completing Sentences with examples is essential for English grammar success, broken down into conditionals, clause adding, and proverbs.

For a better understanding, mastering Completing Sentences is best broken down into three core areas:

• Part 1: Conditionals
• Part 2: Adding Clauses
• Part 3: Proverbs

Part 1: Conditionals in Completing Sentences

If I do... and If I did...

When imagining a hypothetical or unreal situation, we use if + past tense (e.g., if I found, if there was, if we didn't).

Note that the meaning is not past:

"What would you do if you won a million pounds?" (We don’t really expect this to happen.)

• I don’t really want to go to their party, but I probably will go. They’d be upset if I didn’t go.
• If there was (or were) an election tomorrow, who would you vote for?

We do not normally use would in the if-part of the sentence:

• I’d be very frightened if somebody pointed a gun at me. (Not: if somebody would point)
• If I did not go to their party, they’d be upset. (Not: if I wouldn’t go)

However, you can use if... would when politely asking somebody to do something:

I would be grateful if you would let me know your decision as soon as possible.

Could and Might

Could and might are also useful in conditional sentences:

• If you took more exercise, you might feel better. (= It is possible that you would feel better)
• If it stopped raining, we could go out. (= We would be able to go out)

If I knew... / I wish I knew...

When you imagine a present situation, we use if + past, but the meaning is present, not past:

• Tom would read more if he had more time. (But he doesn’t have much time)
• If I didn’t want to go to the party, I wouldn’t go. (But I want to go)
• We wouldn’t have any money if we didn’t work. (But we work)
• If you were in my position, what would you do?

We use the past tense similarly after wish (e.g., I wish I knew, I wish you were) to express regret about a current situation:

• I wish I knew Ria’s phone number. (= I don’t know it and I regret this)
• Do you ever wish you could fly? (You can’t fly)
• It rains a lot here. I wish it weren’t so.
• I wish I didn’t have to work tomorrow, but unfortunately I do.

If I were / If I was

After ‘if’ and ‘wish’, you can use ‘were’ instead of ‘was’ for formal or standard grammar (e.g., If I were... / I wish it were...):

• If I were you, I wouldn’t buy that coat. (Or: If I was you...)
• I’d go out if it weren’t so cold. (Or: ...if it wasn’t so cold.)
• I wish Carol were here. (Or: I wish Carol was here.)

If I had known... / I wish I had known...

We use if + had (’d) to talk about hypothetical past situations:

• I didn’t see you when you passed me in the street. If I’d seen you, of course I would have said hello. (But I didn’t see you)
• I decided to stay at home last night. I would have gone out if I hadn’t been so tired. (But I was tired)
• If he had been looking where he was going, he wouldn’t have walked into the wall. (He wasn’t looking)

Compare:

• I’m not hungry. If I was hungry, I would eat something. (Now)
• I wasn’t hungry. If I had been hungry, I would have eaten something. (Past)

Note that ’d can mean either would or had:
If I’d [had] seen you, I’d [would] have said hello.

Wish vs. Hope

You can say “I wish you luck,” “I wish you every success,” or “I wish you a happy birthday,” but you cannot say "I wish that something happens". Instead, use hope for future possibilities:

• I hope you get this letter before you go away. (Not: I wish you have...)
• I hope you have a pleasant stay here. (Not: I wish you have...)

I wish I could (do something) = I regret that I cannot do it:

• I’m sorry I have to go. I wish I could stay longer. (But I can’t)
• I hear the party was great. I wish I could have gone. (But I couldn’t)

We often use ‘I wish’ + ‘would’ to complain about a situation or repeated annoying actions:

• The phone has been ringing for five minutes. I wish somebody would answer it.
• I wish you wouldn’t keep interrupting me.

Conditionals Exercise

Complete the following sentences:

1. If I have enough money, ………………
2. If I found her address, ……………….
3. If he gave her a sweet, ……………..
4. ……………….. he will take a taxi.
5. We would understand him, if ……….
6. I will prepare breakfast, if …………..
7. If I had time, ……….
8. ……………… you will get along with them perfectly.
9. …………. we will go to the zoo.
10. I would have told you, if ………..

Answer Key:

1. I will go to Japan.
2. I would send her an invitation.
3. she would stop crying.
4. If he arrives later,
5. he spoke slowly.
6. I wake up early.
7. I would go shopping with you.
8. If you speak English,
9. If she comes to see us,
10. I had seen him.

Part 2: Adding Clauses in Completing Sentences

You can complete sentences by adding clauses in the following ways:

• By constructing complex or compound sentences
• By adding appropriate linkers and conjunctions

1. By Making Complex Sentences

• I heated my coffee in the microwave, because my coffee was too cold.
• Though he was very rich, he was still very unhappy.
• She returned the computer after she noticed it was damaged.
• When the cost goes up, customers buy less clothing.
• As she was bright and ambitious, she became manager in no time.
• When she was younger, she believed in fairy tales.

2. By Making Compound Sentences

• I think I will buy the red car, or I will lease the blue one.
• I really want to go to work, but I am too sick to drive.
• I am counting my calories, yet I really want dessert.
• He ran out of money, so he had to stop playing poker.
• They got there early, and they got really good seats.
• There was no ice cream in the freezer, nor did they have money to go to the store.
• We have never been to Asia, nor have we visited Africa.

3. By Adding Linkers/Conjunctions

a. Contrasting Linkers

• In spite of / Despite: Followed by a noun phrase.
  Example: He arrived on time despite / in spite of getting up late.
• Although / Even though: Followed by a complete sentence.
  Example: Although the pupils had not studied, they all passed their exams.
• However / Nevertheless / Still / Yet: Introduce a contrast and are typically separated by punctuation.
  Example: Raj did not perform well in the exam; nevertheless, he got a distinction in English.
• On the other hand: Links two contrasting perspectives.
  Example: I like tea. On the other hand, she likes coffee.
• Whereas / While: Links contrasting ideas.
  Example: This film is very interesting, whereas that one is quite boring.

b. Reason and Cause Linkers

• Because / As / Since / Seeing that: Introduce a clause.
  Example: Because it’s late, we should go home.
• Because of / Due to / Owing to: Introduce a noun phrase.
  Example: Due to the weather, we stayed at home.

c. Purpose Linkers

• In order to / So as to / To: Followed by an infinitive verb.
  Example: She uses her video in order to record TV programmes.
• So that / In order that: Followed by a full clause.
  Example: She studied so that she can pass the exam.

d. Consequence Linkers

• As a result / Therefore / Consequently:
  Example: As a result of his brave action, he was awarded a military medal.

e. Addition Linkers

• Moreover / Furthermore / In addition / Besides: Used to add supporting points.
  Example: It is very hot today; moreover, there is a power outage.
• Apart from / As well as: Followed by a noun phrase.
  Example: Apart from English, she speaks French.

f. Exemplification

• For example / For instance:
  Example: Vegetables are a good source of vitamins: for example, oranges have vitamin C.

Adding Clauses Exercise

Complete the following sentences:

1. Though he was late, __________.
2. I wish ___________.
3. Do you know when ____________?
4. It is high time ____________.
5. As soon as we reached the station, __________.
6. No sooner had he reached the class _____________.
7. Please wait here until __________.
8. If I had 10 million taka, ____________.
9. Study attentively lest ____________.
10. He works hard so that _____________.

Answer Key:

1. he finished the work.
2. I could fly like a bird.
3. the next train will arrive?
4. we stopped air pollution.
5. the train left.
6. than the bell rang.
7. I come back.
8. I would buy a car.
9. you should fail.
10. he can shine in life.

Part 3: Proverbs in Completing Sentences

Proverbial sentences must be used in their exact, traditional forms. Here are some common examples:

1. "Two wrongs don't make a right."
   Meaning: When someone harms you, trying to get revenge only makes things worse.
2. "The pen is mightier than the sword."
   Meaning: Ideas and communication are more effective than physical force.
3. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."
   Meaning: Adapt to the customs of the people around you when you are in a new place.
4. "Fortune favors the bold."
   Meaning: People who take brave risks are more successful than those who play it safe.
5. "People who live in glass houses should not throw stones."
   Meaning: Don't criticize others if you have similar faults yourself.
6. "Birds of a feather flock together."
   Meaning: People with similar interests tend to stick together.
7. "There's no such thing as a free lunch."
   Meaning: Everything offered for free usually has a hidden cost.
8. "The early bird catches the worm."
   Meaning: People who wake up and act early have the best chances of success.
9. "God helps those who help themselves."
   Meaning: Success comes to those who work hard rather than just waiting for luck.
10. "Cleanliness is next to godliness."
    Meaning: Being clean and orderly is a great virtue.
11. "Beggars can't be choosers."
    Meaning: If you are dependent on someone's generosity, you must accept what you are given.
12. "Actions speak louder than words."
    Meaning: What you do matters more than what you say you will do.
13. "Practice makes perfect."
    Meaning: Regular practice is essential to mastering a skill.
14. "Too many cooks spoil the broth."
    Meaning: Too many people trying to lead a project leads to confusion and failure.
15. "Easy come, easy go."
    Meaning: Money acquired easily is often spent or lost just as quickly.
16. "One man's trash is another man's treasure."
    Meaning: What one person finds useless, another might value highly.
17. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
    Meaning: Perception of beauty is subjective.
18. "Necessity is the mother of invention."
    Meaning: Difficult situations inspire creative solutions.
19. "Familiarity breeds contempt."
    Meaning: Spending too much time with someone can lead to annoyance.
20. "You can't judge a book by its cover."
    Meaning: Appearances can be deceiving.
21. "The grass is always greener on the other side."
    Meaning: Other people's situations always look better than your own.
22. "Honesty is the best policy."
    Meaning: It is always better to tell the truth.
23. "Don't count your chickens before they hatch."
    Meaning: Don't make plans based on future success before it actually happens.

Proverbs Exercise

Complete the following sentences:

1. Don’t judge a book ____________.
2. Hell hath no fury _____________.
3. Too many cooks ____________.
4. When in Rome, _____________.
5. Where there’s a will, _____________.
6. Don’t make a mountain _____________.
7. Two wrongs ______________.
8. It’s better to be safe __________.
9. Still waters __________.
10. A rolling stone ____________.

Answer Key:

1. by its cover.
2. like a woman scorned.
3. spoil the broth.
4. do as the Romans do.
5. there’s a way.
6. out of an anthill.
7. don’t make a right.
8. than sorry.
9. run deep.
10. gathers no moss.

Frequently Asked Questions About Completing Sentences

What are the main rules for completing sentences with conditionals?

Conditional sentences use structures like if + past tense for hypothetical present situations (e.g., if I had time) and if + past perfect for past counterfactuals to properly complete sentences.

How do you add clauses when completing sentences?

You can complete sentences by creating complex or compound structures using correct grammatical linkers and conjunctions such as although, because, or in spite of.

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