Test your understanding of tenses with this grammar exercise. Complete the following sentences.
1I understand that he ............... absent yesterday.
Wrong!
Use "was" because the sentence refers to a completed time in the past, yesterday.
2Wood always ............... on water.
Wrong!
Use "floats" for a general truth with the singular subject "wood".
3It ............... heavily for a week, and the rivers are overflowing.
Wrong!
Use "has been raining" for an action that started in the past and is still affecting the present.
4There are some birds that ............... every year.
Wrong!
Use "migrate" because the plural subject "birds" needs the base form in a relative clause about a repeated habit.
5I ............... to Singapore once.
Wrong!
Use "have been" to talk about a life experience of visiting a place and returning.
6We ............... dinner an hour ago.
Wrong!
Use "had" because "an hour ago" refers to a finished time in the past.
7We ............... nothing to eat since yesterday.
Wrong!
Use "have had" with "since yesterday" to show a situation continuing up to now.
8Her health has improved since she ............... to her native village.
Wrong!
Use "returned" after "since" when the clause names the past starting point.
9I will catch the first bus that ...............
Wrong!
Use "comes" in a future-time clause after "the first bus that".
10See that the patient ............... complete rest.
Wrong!
Use "gets" after "see that" to mean make sure the patient receives complete rest.
Answers
- I understand that he was absent yesterday.
- Wood always floats on water.
- It has been raining heavily for a week, and the rivers are overflowing.
- There are some birds that migrate every year.
- I have been to Singapore once.
- We had dinner an hour ago.
- We have had nothing to eat since yesterday.
- Her health has improved since she returned to her native village.
- I will catch the first bus that comes.
- See that the patient gets complete rest.
