- Ejercicio
- Explicación
- Video
📝 Instructions for the Activity
In this activity, you will see 10 sentences, each with a blank space. Your task is to choose the correct answer from three options.
👉 Only one option is correct, so read carefully and choose the best one!
When you select an answer, the system will automatically check it and tell you if your choice is right or wrong.
At the end of the activity, you will get a summary of all your answers, plus explanations for the correct ones, so you can learn and improve.
This quiz is appropriate for B2 level learners, as it focuses on verb patterns (gerund vs. infinitive) and the nuances of modal meaning (confession, denial, willingness).
💪 Take your time, do your best, and most importantly—have fun learning!
Good luck!
🔍 Advanced Grammar Focus: Reporting Verbs – “Admit” and “Refuse”
In English, reporting verbs are used to convey what someone said, felt, or decided. Among them, “admit” and “refuse” are particularly important, as they express either the acceptance of responsibility or the denial of willingness to do something.
Let’s take a closer look at how these two verbs work.
✅ 1. ADMIT — To acknowledge or confess something
Meaning:
To say or accept that something is true, often something negative, embarrassing, or previously denied.
🔹 Structure 1:
Subject + admit + gerund (-ing form)
Used when the speaker is acknowledging an action.
✅ Example:
He admitted cheating on the exam.
(He confessed that he cheated.)
🔹 Structure 2:
Subject + admit + (that) + clause
“That” is optional, especially in spoken English.
✅ Example:
She admitted (that) she had lied about her age.
(She acknowledged lying.)
✨ More Examples:
- They admitted stealing the documents.
- I admit (that) I was wrong about the results.
- She admitted making a mistake but said it wouldn’t happen again.
❌ 2. REFUSE — To decline or say no to something
Meaning:
To say firmly that you will not do something; to reject a request, offer, or suggestion.
🔹 Structure:
Subject + refuse + to + base verb (infinitive)
Always use the infinitive form after “refuse.”
✅ Example:
He refused to help us.
(He said no to helping.)
🔹 Optional Structure:
Subject + refuse + noun (less common)
✅ Example:
She refused the invitation.
(She declined it.)
✨ More Examples:
- They refused to cooperate with the investigation.
- He refused to answer any questions.
- She refused the promotion out of principle.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: She admitted to cheat on the test.
✅ Correct: She admitted cheating on the test.
❌ Incorrect: He refused helping us.
✅ Correct: He refused to help us.
❌ Incorrect: He refused breaking the rules.
✅ Correct: He admitted breaking the rules.
🧠 Advanced Examples
- She admitted making a mistake but promised to fix it.
- They admitted having been careless with the company’s finances.
- He refused to listen to advice, which eventually led to failure.
- She refused to compromise her principles, even under pressure.
🎯 Final Tip:
Understanding the difference between “admit + gerund” and “refuse + to + verb” is key for expressing accountability, willpower, or firm decisions in both spoken and written English. Practice using both in different tenses and contexts to gain fluency and accuracy.