Check the verb structure
Identify the subject, time reference and any auxiliary before choosing the verb form.
We [1] _____ the concert for months when the weather forecast suddenly changed.
B1
A change of plan
About this lesson
A change of plan · B1. Identify the subject, time reference and any auxiliary before choosing the verb form.
Complete the numbered gaps using the whole English context. Each question targets one gap; compare both grammar and meaning.
10 items
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Use of EnglishB1
Moving the outdoor concert
Complete the numbered gaps using the whole English context. Each question targets one gap; compare both grammar and meaning.
We [1] _____ the concert for months when the weather forecast suddenly changed. The organisers apologised [2] _____ the late decision. While the stage team [3] _____ the equipment, the manager found an indoor hall. Her [4] _____ response saved a great deal of time. [5] _____ the hall was smaller, it had enough space for everyone who had booked. We offered [6] _____ anyone who no longer wished to attend. Most visitors were happy with [7] _____ tickets and kept their reservations. The hall had a side entrance [8] _____ allowed the musicians to unload easily. By the time the doors opened, all the instruments [9] _____ inside. We would have cancelled the concert [10] _____ the hall had not been available.
A little clarity first
Check the word pattern
Read the words on both sides of a gap. Check articles, pronouns, prepositions and fixed expressions as a complete pattern.
The organisers apologised [2] _____ the late decision.
Check the logical connection
Decide whether the surrounding ideas show cause, contrast, condition or reference. Then check the grammar required by the connector.
[5] _____ the hall was smaller, it had enough space for everyone who had booked.
Learning material
Use of EnglishB1
Moving the outdoor concert
Complete the numbered gaps using the whole English context. Each question targets one gap; compare both grammar and meaning.
We [1] _____ the concert for months when the weather forecast suddenly changed. The organisers apologised [2] _____ the late decision. While the stage team [3] _____ the equipment, the manager found an indoor hall. Her [4] _____ response saved a great deal of time. [5] _____ the hall was smaller, it had enough space for everyone who had booked. We offered [6] _____ anyone who no longer wished to attend. Most visitors were happy with [7] _____ tickets and kept their reservations. The hall had a side entrance [8] _____ allowed the musicians to unload easily. By the time the doors opened, all the instruments [9] _____ inside. We would have cancelled the concert [10] _____ the hall had not been available.
01 / 10D01Save it to find it in My collection.
Moving the outdoor concert — gap 1
Choose the word or phrase for gap [1].
Your learning route
01
Step 1 · Warm-up
0/2Warm-up
02
Step 2 · Build the skill
0/2Check the verb structure
Identify the subject, time reference and any auxiliary before choosing the verb form.
We [1] _____ the concert for months when the weather forecast suddenly changed.03
Step 3 · Build the skill
0/1Check the word pattern
Read the words on both sides of a gap. Check articles, pronouns, prepositions and fixed expressions as a complete pattern.
The organisers apologised [2] _____ the late decision.04
Step 4 · Build the skill
0/1Check the logical connection
Decide whether the surrounding ideas show cause, contrast, condition or reference. Then check the grammar required by the connector.
[5] _____ the hall was smaller, it had enough space for everyone who had booked.05
Step 5 · New contexts
0/2New contexts
06
Step 6 · A fresh challenge
0/2A fresh challenge
Practice notes in this unit
0Make mistakes useful.
Keep the first try. Understand the change. Check it in a fresh situation.
No practice notes yet. Try a short warm-up.
Lesson map
B1A change of plan
Lesson points
Check the verb structure
Identify the subject, time reference and any auxiliary before choosing the verb form.
We [1] _____ the concert for months when the weather forecast suddenly changed.Check the word pattern
Read the words on both sides of a gap. Check articles, pronouns, prepositions and fixed expressions as a complete pattern.
The organisers apologised [2] _____ the late decision.Check the logical connection
Decide whether the surrounding ideas show cause, contrast, condition or reference. Then check the grammar required by the connector.
[5] _____ the hall was smaller, it had enough space for everyone who had booked.Questions & answers
Opening an answer records help for that question.
Moving the outdoor concert — gap 1
Choose the word or phrase for gap [1].
- were plan
- had been planning
- have planning
- had plan
Answer & explanation
had been planning
Look at “We [1] _____ the concert for months when the weather forecast suddenly changed.”. This event happened before the other stated past event; the past perfect makes that earlier order explicit. Complete sentence: “We had been planning the concert for months when the weather forecast suddenly changed.”.
Moving the outdoor concert — gap 2
Choose the word or phrase for gap [2].
- of
- for
- at
- to
Answer & explanation
for
Look at “The organisers apologised [2] _____ the late decision.”. This fixed verb, adjective or noun pattern requires the stated preposition; nearby alternatives do not fit the same construction. Complete sentence: “The organisers apologised for the late decision.”.
Moving the outdoor concert — gap 3
Choose the word or phrase for gap [3].
- pack
- will pack
- was packing
- has packing
Answer & explanation
was packing
Look at “While the stage team [3] _____ the equipment, the manager found an indoor hall.”. The action was already in progress when the shorter event occurred; use the past continuous. Complete sentence: “While the stage team was packing the equipment, the manager found an indoor hall.”.
Moving the outdoor concert — gap 4
Choose the word or phrase for gap [4].
- quick
- quickness
- quickly
- quicken
Answer & explanation
quick
Look at “Her [4] _____ response saved a great deal of time.”. The sentence position determines the word class. Choose the noun, adjective or adverb form that performs the required job. Complete sentence: “Her quick response saved a great deal of time.”.
Moving the outdoor concert — gap 5
Choose the word or phrase for gap [5].
- Although
- During
- Despite
- Because of
Answer & explanation
Although
Look at “[5] _____ the hall was smaller, it had enough space for everyone who had booked.”. The ideas contrast. This connector is followed by a full clause; a noun-phrase preposition cannot replace it here. Complete sentence: “Although the hall was smaller, it had enough space for everyone who had booked.”.
Moving the outdoor concert — gap 6
Choose the word or phrase for gap [6].
- to refund
- refunding
- refund
- refunded
Answer & explanation
to refund
Look at “We offered [6] _____ anyone who no longer wished to attend.”. Use to + base verb after this expression to complete its verb pattern or show purpose. Complete sentence: “We offered to refund anyone who no longer wished to attend.”.
Moving the outdoor concert — gap 7
Choose the word or phrase for gap [7].
- their
- theirs
- they
- them
Answer & explanation
their
Look at “Most visitors were happy with [7] _____ tickets and kept their reservations.”. A possessive determiner comes before the noun; an object or independent pronoun cannot fill that position here. Complete sentence: “Most visitors were happy with their tickets and kept their reservations.”.
Moving the outdoor concert — gap 8
Choose the word or phrase for gap [8].
- whose
- where
- who
- which
Answer & explanation
which
Look at “The hall had a side entrance [8] _____ allowed the musicians to unload easily.”. The relative expression must fit its antecedent and its role in the clause; check whether it refers to a person, thing or possession. Complete sentence: “The hall had a side entrance which allowed the musicians to unload easily.”.
Moving the outdoor concert — gap 9
Choose the word or phrase for gap [9].
- have moving
- had move
- had been moved
- were moving
Answer & explanation
had been moved
Look at “By the time the doors opened, all the instruments [9] _____ inside.”. The subject receives the action. Use be in the required tense plus the past participle. Complete sentence: “By the time the doors opened, all the instruments had been moved inside.”.
Moving the outdoor concert — gap 10
Choose the word or phrase for gap [10].
- despite
- if
- unless
- whereas
Answer & explanation
if
Look at “We would have cancelled the concert [10] _____ the hall had not been available.”. The sentence describes a condition or hypothetical consequence. Match the verb form to the stated real or unreal time, rather than mixing patterns. Complete sentence: “We would have cancelled the concert if the hall had not been available.”.