Check the verb structure
Identify the subject, time reference and any auxiliary before choosing the verb form.
Last month, I [1] _____ my first cycling lesson in the park.
A2
Learning to cycle
About this lesson
Learning to cycle · A2. Identify the subject, time reference and any auxiliary before choosing the verb form.
Complete twelve numbered gaps in an original English passage. Read both sides of each gap and use the whole context. The level is an editorial guide.
12 items
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Use of EnglishA2
Learning to cycle
Complete twelve numbered gaps in an original English passage. Read both sides of each gap and use the whole context. The level is an editorial guide.
Last month, I [1] _____ my first cycling lesson in the park. The practice path was wider [2] _____ the street outside my home. While we [3] _____ for the instructor, we checked our helmets.
I was interested [4] _____ learning to ride safely, not just quickly. [5] _____ I felt nervous, the instructor spoke calmly and gave me time. I decided [6] _____ a smaller bicycle for the first lesson.
There were only a [7] _____ other learners on the path. The instructor showed me a bicycle [8] _____ had wide tyres and a low seat. She gave a [9] _____ explanation of how the brakes worked.
At the end of the lesson, I [10] _____ all the way to the gate without help. I thanked her [11] _____ she had helped me become more confident. Now I want [12] _____ more often before I ride on a busy road.
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 practice path was wider [2] _____ the street outside my home.
Check the logical connection
Decide whether the surrounding ideas show cause, contrast, condition or reference. Then check the grammar required by the connector.
[5] _____ I felt nervous, the instructor spoke calmly and gave me time.
Learning material
Use of EnglishA2
Learning to cycle
Complete twelve numbered gaps in an original English passage. Read both sides of each gap and use the whole context. The level is an editorial guide.
Last month, I [1] _____ my first cycling lesson in the park. The practice path was wider [2] _____ the street outside my home. While we [3] _____ for the instructor, we checked our helmets.
I was interested [4] _____ learning to ride safely, not just quickly. [5] _____ I felt nervous, the instructor spoke calmly and gave me time. I decided [6] _____ a smaller bicycle for the first lesson.
There were only a [7] _____ other learners on the path. The instructor showed me a bicycle [8] _____ had wide tyres and a low seat. She gave a [9] _____ explanation of how the brakes worked.
At the end of the lesson, I [10] _____ all the way to the gate without help. I thanked her [11] _____ she had helped me become more confident. Now I want [12] _____ more often before I ride on a busy road.
01 / 12D01Save it to find it in My collection.
Learning to cycle — gap 1
Choose the word or phrase for gap [1].
Your learning route
01
Step 1 · Warm-up
0/3Warm-up
02
Step 2 · Build the skill
0/2Check the word pattern
Read the words on both sides of a gap. Check articles, pronouns, prepositions and fixed expressions as a complete pattern.
The practice path was wider [2] _____ the street outside my home.03
Step 3 · 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] _____ I felt nervous, the instructor spoke calmly and gave me time.04
Step 4 · Build the skill
0/1Check the verb structure
Identify the subject, time reference and any auxiliary before choosing the verb form.
Last month, I [1] _____ my first cycling lesson in the park.05
Step 5 · New contexts
0/3New 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
A2Learning to cycle
Lesson points
Check the verb structure
Identify the subject, time reference and any auxiliary before choosing the verb form.
Last month, I [1] _____ my first cycling lesson in the park.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 practice path was wider [2] _____ the street outside my home.Check the logical connection
Decide whether the surrounding ideas show cause, contrast, condition or reference. Then check the grammar required by the connector.
[5] _____ I felt nervous, the instructor spoke calmly and gave me time.Questions & answers
Opening an answer records help for that question.
Learning to cycle — gap 1
Choose the word or phrase for gap [1].
- take
- taken
- taking
- took
Answer & explanation
took
Look at “Last month, I [1] _____ my first cycling lesson in the park.”. The event is completed in a stated past period, so use the past simple form. Complete sentence: “Last month, I took my first cycling lesson in the park.”.
Learning to cycle — gap 2
Choose the word or phrase for gap [2].
- as
- that
- than
- to
Answer & explanation
than
“than” links the comparative “wider” to the comparison that follows. The comparative is already supplied; this gap tests the connector, not adjective formation. Complete sentence: “The practice path was wider than the street outside my home.”
Learning to cycle — gap 3
Choose the word or phrase for gap [3].
- are waiting
- were waiting
- wait
- will wait
Answer & explanation
were waiting
Look at “While we [3] _____ for the instructor, we checked our helmets.”. The action was already in progress when the shorter event occurred; use the past continuous. Complete sentence: “While we were waiting for the instructor, we checked our helmets.”.
Learning to cycle — gap 4
Choose the word or phrase for gap [4].
- in
- of
- at
- on
Answer & explanation
in
Look at “I was interested [4] _____ learning to ride safely, not just quickly.”. This fixed verb, adjective or noun pattern requires the stated preposition; nearby alternatives do not fit the same construction. Complete sentence: “I was interested in learning to ride safely, not just quickly.”.
Learning to cycle — gap 5
Choose the word or phrase for gap [5].
- During
- Despite
- Although
- Because of
Answer & explanation
Although
Look at “[5] _____ I felt nervous, the instructor spoke calmly and gave me time.”. The ideas contrast. This connector is followed by a full clause; a noun-phrase preposition cannot replace it here. Complete sentence: “Although I felt nervous, the instructor spoke calmly and gave me time.”.
Learning to cycle — gap 6
Choose the word or phrase for gap [6].
- use
- to use
- used
- using
Answer & explanation
to use
Look at “I decided [6] _____ a smaller bicycle for the first lesson.”. Use to + base verb after this expression to complete its verb pattern or show purpose. Complete sentence: “I decided to use a smaller bicycle for the first lesson.”.
Learning to cycle — gap 7
Choose the word or phrase for gap [7].
- few
- much
- each
- little
Answer & explanation
few
Look at “There were only a [7] _____ other learners on the path.”. Match the quantity word to whether the noun is countable and singular, countable and plural, or uncountable. Complete sentence: “There were only a few other learners on the path.”.
Learning to cycle — gap 8
Choose the word or phrase for gap [8].
- whose
- who
- where
- which
Answer & explanation
which
Look at “The instructor showed me a bicycle [8] _____ had wide tyres and a low seat.”. 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 instructor showed me a bicycle which had wide tyres and a low seat.”.
Learning to cycle — gap 9
Choose the word or phrase for gap [9].
- clearer than
- clarity
- clearly
- clear
Answer & explanation
clear
Look at “She gave a [9] _____ explanation of how the brakes worked.”. The sentence position determines the word class. Choose the noun, adjective or adverb form that performs the required job. Complete sentence: “She gave a clear explanation of how the brakes worked.”.
Learning to cycle — gap 10
Choose the word or phrase for gap [10].
- ride
- ridden
- rode
- riding
Answer & explanation
rode
Look at “At the end of the lesson, I [10] _____ all the way to the gate without help.”. The event is completed in a stated past period, so use the past simple form. Complete sentence: “At the end of the lesson, I rode all the way to the gate without help.”.
Learning to cycle — gap 11
Choose the word or phrase for gap [11].
- during
- because of
- despite
- because
Answer & explanation
because
Look at “I thanked her [11] _____ she had helped me become more confident.”. The second clause gives the reason for the first; use a causal connector rather than a contrast or result connector. Complete sentence: “I thanked her because she had helped me become more confident.”.
Learning to cycle — gap 12
Choose the word or phrase for gap [12].
- practised
- practise
- practising
- to practise
Answer & explanation
to practise
Look at “Now I want [12] _____ more often before I ride on a busy road.”. Use to + base verb after this expression to complete its verb pattern or show purpose. Complete sentence: “Now I want to practise more often before I ride on a busy road.”.