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AVOIDING REPETITION

EXERCISE 1

Fill the gaps with the correct auxiliary or modal verb to avoid repetition:

1.- I hope our guests come soon. If they ......................., the meal will be spoilt.

2.- I thought I’d seen the film before but I ................., so I quite enjoyed it.

3.- A: We’re thinking of going to see the photography exhibition.

B: You ...................... . You’ll really enjoy it.

4.- A: Do you think Joanna will have paid off her debts yet?

B: She ......................., but I doubt it. You know what she’s like with money.

5.- A: I drove past your house last night, about nine o’clock. I was thinking of popping in.

B: You .................... . I wasn’t doing anything.

6.- I couldn’t get my car started this morning. I asked lots of people for help, but nobody ............ . Isn’t that awful?

7.-A: I tried to phone you last night, but you must have been out.

B: I .................... . I stayed in all night.

8.- I hope you get the job. If you ...................., just think how much money you’ll earn!

9.-A: I’m thinking of investing all my money in a record shop.

B: I ..................... . It sounds very risky to me.

10.- My children made their own breakfast this morning, but I wish they ................. They made a terrible mess.

11.- A: I’m not going to phone Mum now. She will be doing the cooking.

B: She ...................... by now. It’s nearly two o’clock.

12.- A: She said she may pass her exam.

B: I hope she .................... . She’s studied really hard.

13.- A: John’s phoned you this morning.

B: Don’t pull my leg. He .................... . He doesn’t know my phone number.

14.- In the last minute, I phone Sheila and invited her to our party. If I ................... she would have never talked
to me again.

15.- A: Shall we call in the plumber? The bath tap is leaking.

B: We ......................., otherwise we won’t be able to sleep tonight with that dripping noise.

16.- My car is so unreliable! When I try to start it every morning, it .......................

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EXERCISE 2

Fill the gaps with the correct auxiliary, modal verb, TO or SO to avoid repetition:

1.- Come on John! Give me a hand with the cleaning. You promised ............

2.- Are you thinking of driving to work today? I .................... if I were you. It’s very foggy. Why not take the train?

3.- A: Did you take my scissors?

B: I ........................., but Anne .................... . Isn’t she making some clothes at the moment?

4.- A: I never see Lionel these days. How is he?

B: We often ............. . He’s fine. He’s into business management at the moment.

5.- I asked him to help me start the cart, but he ............ . Isn’t that mean of him?

6.- A: When are you going to get the car serviced?

B: It ....................................! Can you feel how smoothly it’s going?

7.- A: Oh no! The spare tyre’s flat! Why didn’t you check it before we set out?

B: I thought you ........................ . Sorry.

8.- A: Are we going to stay at home all day?

B: I’m afraid ............ It’s pouring outside!

9.- A: No, I haven’t got a copy of the book you want.

B: Really? I thought you .................... . I was sure I saw a copy on your shelves the

other day.

10.- A: He never seems to be listening when you talk to him.

B: I’m sure he ............... . He just doesn’t respond immediately, that’s all.

11.- A: Clare spent all the money she won on new clothes for the family.

B: I .............................. . I’d have saved some.

12.- I hope Jack likes playing cards. Then we could have a game this evening. If he ..............., we ...................

13.- My children always let me know what time they expect to be back. If they ........................, I’d always be
worrying about where they were.

14.- A: My bank statement says I’m overdrawn. The bank must have made a mistake.

B: They ........................ . It’s all done by computer. Are you sure you worked it out properly?

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__________________________________________________________AUXILIARY VERBS

EXERCISE 3

Fill the gaps with the correct auxiliary, modal verb, TO or SO to avoid repetition:

1.- I tried to repair the car at the weekend, but I ........... I didn’t have the right tools.

2.- A: Come on, John! It’s time you were getting up!

B: I ........... ! I’ll be down in a second

3.- A: You look awful. Why don’t you see a doctor?

B: I .......... . He just gave me some pills ands told me to take things easy

4.- A: It’s a long journey. Take care on the motorway

B: Don’t worry. I ............

5.- I met your sister last night. She thought we’d met before, but we ........... or at least I don’t think............

6.- A: Have you read those reports?

B: No, I ............., but I ................, I promise

7.- The weather forecast said that it could rain this afternoon. If it .........., we’ll have to call off the tennis.

8.- My car isn’t working at the moment. If it ........., I could give you a lift, sorry.

9.- The baby very nearly fell into the fire last night. If I hadn’t managed to catch her in time, she ..............

10.- I learned this morning I got the job I’d applied for. I was delighted. I really didn’t think I ...........

11.- A: I think I’ll give Robert a ring

B: You .......... You haven’t been in touch for ages, and he’ll be pleased to hear from you.

12.- A: Andrew easily beat me in our match yesterday

B: I knew he .......... He’s been playing very well recently

13.- I went to a party last night, but I wish I ............ . It was awful

14.- My husband insists on doing the cooking, but I wish he ......... What he cooks is uneatable.

15.- A: Are you still going to America on your holidays?

B: We ........... We haven’t made our minds yet

16.- He asked me to go to the theatre with him but I don’t really want .....

17.- A: Is that boyfriend of hers coming to the party?

B: I’m afraid ......... . She said she had invited him.

18.- They went to that horrible restaurant although I had warned them not .........

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__________________________________________________________AUXILIARY VERBS

EXERCISE 1

1. Don’t
2. Hadn’t
3. Should
4. Might have
5. Should have
6. Did/would
7. Wasn’t
8. Do
9. Wouldn’t
10. Hadn’t
11. Will have
12. Will
13. Can’t have
14. Hadn’t
15. Should/had better

EXERCISE 2

1. To
2. Wouldn’t
3. Didn’t / might have
4. Do
5. Didn’t/wouldn’t
6. Has been
7. Had
8. So
9. Did
10. Is
11. Wouldn’t have
12. Does / will
13. Didn’t
14. Can’t have

EXERCISE 3

1. Couldn’t
2. Have
3. Did
4. Will
5. Hadn’t / so
6. Haven’t / will
7. Does
8. Were
9. Would have
10. Would
11. Should/had better
12. Would
13. Hadn’t
14. Wouldn’t
15. Might
16. To
17. So
18. to

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