The following exercises will test your use of ‘even’ in sentences. First, this will practice your use of word order – remember that even is used as an adverb, so it follows adverb word order rules. Usually, it comes before the word that it is changing, so try to place it next to the word that seems unexpected or surprising (or requires a particular emphasis) in a sentence.

The second exercise practises the differences between even, even if, even though, even when and even so – these usually cannot be used in exactly the same way, so check their specific uses in the article about uses of even!

 

Exercise 1: Where should “even” go in these sentences?

1. I can’t make toast.
2. Water is cold, but ice is colder.
3. She had all the toys; she had a toy car.
4. We should go home; we aren’t supposed to be here.
5. That’s a confusing sentence. What does it mean?
6. My car is expensive, but his is more expensive.
7. Greg really wants to go to the cinema. He offered to pay for me.
8. The family were happy. Their grumpy granddad was laughing.
9. I did well in the test, but next time I will do better.
10. You have written the wrong answer – did you hear what I said?!

 

Exercise 2: Choose the right “even” to fill the gaps

For the following sentences, choose between even, even if, even though, even when and even so.

1. _______ it rains, I will go to the park.
2. I can’t go to the party, _______ I like him.
3. I am _______ more confused now that I have read this.
4. He likes to play football, _______ it is raining.
5. Julie did not pass the most recent exam. _______, she will pass the course.
6. We fed all the dogs, _______ the fat one.
7. He is driving home, _______ he has had no sleep.
8. The group meets every Thursday, _______ only a few of them can come.
9. She did not stop laughing, _______ she tripped over.
10.  We brought many types of cheese. _______, there may not be enough.

 

Exercise 1: Answers

1. I can’t even make toast.
2. Water is cold, but ice is even colder.
3. She had all the toys; she even had a toy car.
4. We should go home; we aren’t even supposed to be here.
5. That’s a confusing sentence. What does it even mean?
6. My car is expensive, but his is even more expensive.
7. Greg really wants to go to the cinema. He even offered to pay for me.
8. The family were happy. Even their grumpy granddad was laughing.
9. I did well in the test, but next time I will do even better.
10. You have written the wrong answer – did you even hear what I said?!

 

Exercise 2: Possible Answers

Note, sometimes even when can be used in place of even though or even if.

1. Even if it rains, I will go to the park.
2. I can’t go to the party, even though I want to.
3. I am even more confused now that I have read this.
4. He likes to play football, even if / even when it is raining.
5. Julie did not pass the most recent exam. Even so, she will pass the course.
6. We fed all the dogs, even the fat one.
7. He is driving home, even though he has had no sleep.
8. The group meets every Thursday, even if / even when only a few of them can come.
9. She did not stop laughing, even though / even when she tripped over.
10.  We brought many types of cheese. Even so, there may not be enough.