Gaps, Habitual 'Used To' and Concession
Text with gaps: When I first moved to Vigo, I (1) ___ get up at 6 a.m. to catch the ferry. Now I (2) ___ the early ferry, but I still drink coffee on board. (3) ___ the rain, the crossing is beautiful. The ferry company (4) ___ passengers with free Wi-Fi last year. The new timetable means we (5) ___ leave home earlier. Candidate answers: (1) used to; (2) used to; (3) Although; (4) provided; (5) must. The candidate is confident because each answer 'sounds right'. The task is to identify which answers are wrong and why, then complete two transformations: 'I used to take the 7 a.m. ferry, but I don't anymore.' → 'I no longer ...'; 'Although it rained, the crossing was beautiful.' → 'Despite ...'.
1. Identify the incorrect gap answers. For each, give the correct answer and explain the grammar rule in one sentence.
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Gap 2 is wrong. 'Now I used to ...' is impossible because 'used to + infinitive' describes a past habit, not a present state. Correct: am used to - 'be used to + noun/gerund' means 'be accustomed to'.
Gap 3 is wrong. 'Although' must be followed by a clause (Although it rained), but the gap is followed by the noun phrase 'the rain'. Correct: Despite or In spite of.
Gaps 1, 4 and 5 are acceptable: 'used to' for a past habit; 'provided passengers with' follows provide somebody with something; 'must' expresses obligation.
2. Complete the two transformations and explain what each tests.
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I no longer take the 7 a.m. ferry. This tests the contrast between 'used to + infinitive' (past habit) and 'no longer + present simple' (present situation). Do not write 'I no longer used to take'.
Despite the rain, the crossing was beautiful. This tests concession with a noun phrase. 'Despite' cannot take a clause: 'Despite it rained' is wrong. If you keep a clause, use 'Although it rained, ...'.
3. Rewrite the gap 4 sentence in the passive, keeping the same meaning.
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Passengers were provided with free Wi-Fi by the ferry company last year. The active pattern is 'provide somebody with something'; the passive keeps 'with': 'somebody is provided with something'. A common error is 'Passengers were provided free Wi-Fi', which is acceptable in some contexts but less precise here, or 'Passengers were provided with free Wi-Fi from the ferry company', which changes the preposition. Keep the agent with 'by' if you mention the company.