Question

1. dont get expensive gifts for everyone. ______, bring back some small souvenirs or snacks from your vacation to share with everyone.

options:

• instead
• instead of
• despite

Explanation:

🆕 New Concept Discovered: Transition Words vs. Prepositions
Choosing words based on sentence structure

Step 1: Analyze the sentence structure

The text is divided into two separate, complete sentences:

1. "Don't get expensive gifts for everyone." (An independent clause/imperative sentence)
2. "[Blank], bring back some small souvenirs or snacks from your vacation to share with everyone." (An independent clause starting with a blank followed by a comma)

Because the blank starts a new sentence and is followed immediately by a comma, we need a transition adverb that can stand alone at the beginning of a sentence.

Step 2: Evaluate the options

• Instead: An adverb used to introduce an alternative action. It can stand alone at the beginning of a sentence followed by a comma (e.g., "Instead, do this."). This fits the structure perfectly.
• Instead of: A prepositional phrase. It must be followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund (e.g., "Instead of getting expensive gifts, bring back..."). It cannot stand alone before a comma.
• Despite: A preposition meaning "in spite of." Like "instead of," it must be followed by a noun phrase (e.g., "Despite the cost, bring back..."). It cannot stand alone before a comma here.

Answer:

Instead