I think we'd better leave as soon as we have paid the bill

[svetlana14]

I do not understand the logic behind the purpose of the exercises in Grammar and Vocabulary for Cambridge Advanced and Proficiency by Richard Side and Guy Wellman (2022 edition). Let's take Exercise 3 on page 25, where I have to fill in each of the gaps. The sentence is: 'I think we'd better leave as soon as... the bill.' The answer section suggests the correct answer is 'we've paid.' But doesn't 'we pay' work here as well?


Another example: 'He... on resigning when the news of his promotion came through.' Again, the book suggests just one correct answer 'was on the point of.' Why can’t I use 'on the verge of'? And surprisingly, other answers provide more options, such as 'In our company, is... taken over by a multinational.


This sort of things makes me feel confused and frustrated, and the logic suggests that I cannot provide more than one option if one is given as the correct answer while others provide for a multiple-like-approach. Could you please explain to me how to tackle this sort of dilemma, as it is making the learning process quite demotivating and hard?

 

[emsr2d2]

I do not understand the logic behind the purpose of the exercises in Grammar and Vocabulary for Cambridge Advanced and Proficiency by Richard Side and Guy Wellman (2022 edition). Let's take Exercise 3 on page 25, where I have to fill in each of the gaps. The sentence is: 'I think we'd better leave as soon as ____________ the bill.' The answer section suggests the correct answer is 'we've paid', but doesn't 'we pay' work here as well?

It does. It's less likely from a native speaker but it's grammatically correct and means the same.
(Please use a long straight line to indicate the gap, rather than an ellipsis.

Another example: 'He _____________ on resigning when the news of his promotion came through.' Again, the book suggests just one correct answer - 'was on the point of.' Why can’t I use 'on the verge of'?

"On the verge of" works just as well as "on the point of".

And surprisingly, other answers provide more options, such as 'In our company, is ___________ taken over by a multinational.'

You haven't told us what the options are for the gap. If you're suggesting that "on the point of" and "on the verge of" are also given as options for this one, neither one works. Both would need the word "being" before "taken over by".

This sort of things thing makes/These sorts of things make me feel confused and frustrated, and the logic suggests that I cannot provide more than one option if one is given as the correct answer while others provide for a multiple-like-approach. Could you please explain to me how to tackle this sort of dilemma, as it is making the learning process quite demotivating and hard?

I'm as confused as you at this point. Are you saying that some of the gap-filling exercises make it clear that there should be just one correct option, while others say that multiple correct answers are possible?

 

[svetlana14]

It does. It's less likely from a native speaker but it's grammatically correct and means the same.
(Please use a long straight line to indicate the gap, rather than an ellipsis.

"On the verge of" works just as well as "on the point of".

You haven't told us what the options are for the gap. If you're suggesting that "on the point of" and "on the verge of" are also given as options for this one, neither one works. Both would need the word "being" before "taken over by".

I'm as confused as you at this point. Are you saying that some of the gap-filling exercises make it clear that there should be just one correct option, while others say that multiple correct answers are possible?

Yes. For instance.

It does. It's less likely from a native speaker but it's grammatically correct and means the same.
(Please use a long straight line to indicate the gap, rather than an ellipsis.

1. As to "on the point of", the answer key is just "the point of". There is mentioning that two options work here or "on the verge' is also correct.

 

[emsr2d2]

I'm still confused. Please give us the entire question (about the company being taken over). Give us the whole main sentence including the gap, then give us all the options you could choose from.

 

[jutfrank]

Let me help clear this up. For the benefit of members reading this, here's the exercise and answer key:

Fill each of the gaps in the following sentences with a suitable word or phrase.

Example: I was just about to have a cup of coffee when Sue called.

a) He was ...... resigning when the news of his promotion came through.
b) Our builder told me he ...... best to get the materials as soon as he could.
c) I think we'd better leave this restaurant as soon ...... the bill.
d) If that little boy carries on like that, he ...... accident before long.
e) By the time I qualify, I ...... law for six years.
f) Our company is ...... over by a multi-national.


a) on the point of (or: thinking of / toying with the idea of)
b) would do his
c) as we've paid
d) is going to have (or: will have) an
e) will have been studying
f) to be taken

The aim of this exercise is to practise the points made in the introductory part. If the book is presenting to you the phrase 'on the point of', why would you use 'on the verge of', even if it is correct and means the same thing? Still, I do sympathise with what you say about there being a suggestion that the answers given are the only ones possible.

 

[svetlana14]

Let me help clear this up. For the benefit of members reading this, here's the exercise and answer key:

Fill each of the gaps in the following sentences with a suitable word or phrase.

Example: I was just about to have a cup of coffee when Sue called.

a) He was ...... resigning when the news of his promotion came through.
b) Our builder told me he ...... best to get the materials as soon as he could.
c) I think we'd better leave this restaurant as soon ...... the bill.
d) If that little boy carries on like that, he ...... accident before long.
e) By the time I qualify, I ...... law for six years.
f) Our company is ...... over by a multi-national.


a) on the point of (or: thinking of / toying with the idea of)
b) would do his
c) as we've paid
d) is going to have (or: will have) an
e) will have been studying
f) to be taken

The aim of this exercise is to practise the points made in the introductory part. If the book is presenting to you the phrase 'on the point of', why would you use 'on the verge of', even if it is correct and means the same thing? Still, I do sympathise with what you say about there being a suggestion that the answers given are the only ones possible.

If there are no such examples, what is the guidance? Please look at this example from the same book—p.1, Exercise 1 (2): I'll/I'm going to do that for you, if you like. The correct answer is I'll only. However, I would use both, as it seems self-evident to me that I could have made the decision before the conversation while informing the other party about it during the conversation. What do you think?

 

[emsr2d2]

The use of "if you like" is what makes only "I'll do that for you" correct. The "I'll" is more like "I'm prepared to".

 

[jutfrank]

The correct answer is I'll only. However, I would use both, as it seems self-evident to me that I could have made the decision before the conversation while informing the other party about it during the conversation. What do you think?

The answer is I'll because 'will' is used to make offers such as this. We don't use 'be going to' for that.