English Practice exercise - 3-clause scramble puzzles (1) P4-01W

In each of the following, a sentence is made up of three clauses, which are not in the correct order. Label them 1,2 or 3 according to the position they should have.

NOTE: First try the main clause in the middle position, as this often works best.

 

Example:

      X. so I managed to arrive on time         3

           I took a taxi                                          2

            as soon as I got off the train 1

(As soon as I got off the train, I took a taxi, so I managed to arrive on time.)

Note: it is possible to have ‘I took a taxi as soon as I got off the train so I managed…’ However, we feel that the sentence is better balanced and clearer with the main clause in the middle, and most writers of English would say that to begin with ‘as soon as…’ is better writing style.

 

Now try these: 

 

A.     because I didn’t have enough money.

when I first came to this town

I couldn’t afford a flat

 

B.     there’s a small building

where the river joins the road

which looks like a church

 

C.    whose house was near the station

we often used to visit my grandfather

until he died at the age of 87

 

D.    we decided to drop in on Paul

although it was very late

who never goes to bed before 2am.

 

E.     I need to buy some new shoes

because these are falling to pieces

before the shops close

 

F.     after it got dark

where we were supposed to meet Francois

we went to the café

 

G.    why don’t you write it down

in case you forget my phone number

and keep it in a safe place?

 

H.     before we leave the house

unless it starts raining

we’re going to play football in the park

 

I.         since I didn’t like my boss

If things didn’t improve by the end of the month

I decided to change my job

 

J.      Maria told me all about life in Brazil

while we stood waiting for the bus

after we got to the bus stop