I lay in bed warm and comfortable to the rain against the windows

Correct Answer

• A) listening / beating
  I lay in bed warm and comfortable listening to the rain beating against the windows.

Explanation of the Correct Answer

1. The sentence requires two present participles to describe simultaneous actions. «Listening» describes the action of the subject (I), and «beating» describes the action of the rain.
2. The structure «warm and comfortable listening to…» is a common way to describe a state of being while an action is occurring.
3. «Beating» correctly describes the sound and action of rain against the windows.

Analysis of Other Options

• [Option B]: listen / beat — Incorrect. These are base forms of the verbs and don’t fit the continuous action described.
• [Option C]: to listen / beaten — Incorrect. «To listen» is an infinitive and doesn’t fit the continuous action. «Beaten» is a past participle and doesn’t describe the ongoing action of the rain.
• [Option D]: listen / beaten — Incorrect. «Listen» is a base form, and «beaten» is a past participle, neither of which fit the continuous action described.

Key Takeaways

• Present participles (-ing forms) are used to describe continuous or simultaneous actions.
• Pay attention to the tense and form of verbs to ensure they fit the context of the sentence.

Correct Answer

• A) leaning / talking
  The drunk man was leaning against a lamp-post talking to himself.

Explanation of the Correct Answer

1. The sentence describes two continuous actions happening at the same time. «Leaning» describes the man’s posture, and «talking» describes his action.
2. Both verbs need to be in the present participle form to indicate continuous action.

Analysis of Other Options

• [Option B]: leaning / talked — Incorrect. «Talked» is in the past tense and doesn’t fit the continuous action.
• [Option C]: leaned / talking — Incorrect. «Leaned» is in the past tense and doesn’t fit the continuous action.
• [Option D]: leaned / talked — Incorrect. Both verbs are in the past tense, which doesn’t fit the continuous action.

Key Takeaways

• Use present participles to describe simultaneous, continuous actions.
• Ensure verb tenses are consistent within the sentence.

Correct Answer

• C) to be invited
  I didn’t expect to be invited by him to his marriage ceremony.

Explanation of the Correct Answer

1. The verb «expect» is typically followed by an infinitive phrase. In this case, the passive infinitive «to be invited» is needed because the subject (I) is receiving the invitation.
2. The passive voice is necessary because the subject is not performing the action of inviting but is being invited.

Analysis of Other Options

• [Option A]: be invited — Incorrect. This is the base form of the infinitive without «to,» which is not grammatically correct after «expect.»
• [Option B]: being invited — Incorrect. While «being invited» can function as a gerund, it doesn’t fit the structure of «expect» which requires an infinitive.
• [Option D]: would be invited — Incorrect. This introduces a conditional clause unnecessarily and doesn’t fit the simple expectation context.

Key Takeaways

• Certain verbs, like «expect,» are typically followed by an infinitive phrase.
• Use the passive voice when the subject is receiving the action.

Correct Answer

• A) to have been given
  Janet is fortunate to have been given a scholarship.

Explanation of the Correct Answer

1. The sentence expresses Janet’s fortune in the past relative to the present. The perfect infinitive «to have been given» is used to indicate that the scholarship was awarded before the present moment.
2. The passive voice «to have been given» is used because Janet received the scholarship; she didn’t give it.

Analysis of Other Options

• [Option B]: being given — Incorrect. This is a gerund phrase and doesn’t fit the structure of expressing past fortune.
• [Option C]: having been given — Incorrect. While grammatically correct in some contexts, it’s less common and less clear than the perfect infinitive in this sentence.
• [Option D]: be given — Incorrect. This is the base form of the infinitive and doesn’t indicate that the scholarship was awarded in the past.

Key Takeaways

• Use the perfect infinitive (to have + past participle) to express an action completed before the present.
• Use the passive voice when the subject receives the action.

Correct Answer

• B) not having told
  I’m angry with her for not having told me the truth.

Explanation of the Correct

See Full Answer

1. It’s dark in the hall because there aren’t any windows and there’s just a small lamp.
2. The kitchen is always untidy after you’ve been in there! Why don’t you put your dirty things in the dishwasher?
3. We didn’t do much and had a relaxing weekend.
4. The dining room is a small too for all of the guests.
5. It’s cosy warm and comfortable inside — I don’t want to go out!
6. This bed isn’t comfortable — I won’t be able to sleep.