Complete the following sentences using an appropriate verb form.
1They sold the horse because it ............... old.
Wrong!
The past verb "sold" calls for the past form "was" to describe the horse at that time.
2I asked him what his name ...............
Wrong!
After the past reporting verb "asked", the reported question normally uses "was" here.
3He finished first though he ............... late.
Wrong!
The simple past form "began" matches the completed past action "finished".
4Whenever we ..............., we talk about our college days.
Wrong!
For a repeated present habit after "whenever", use the present simple form "meet".
5He told them that they ............... wrong.
Wrong!
After the past reporting verb "told", the reported statement normally uses "were" here.
6He would succeed if he ...............
Wrong!
In this second conditional sentence, the if-clause needs the past form "tried".
7He was so tired that he ............... barely stand.
Wrong!
The past situation "was so tired" takes the past ability form "could".
8Newton discovered that the force of gravitation ............... apples fall.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "makes" and "made" are possible because a scientific fact may stay in the present or follow past-tense sequence.
9He worked hard so that he ............... win first prize.
Wrong!
After the past verb "worked", purpose in the past is expressed with "would".
10When the sun set, we ............... home.
Wrong!
The simple past form "went" describes the next completed action in the past sequence.
Exercise complete
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correct answers
Answers
- They sold the horse because it was old.
- I asked him what his name was.
- He finished first though he began late.
- Whenever we meet, we talk about our college days.
- He told them that they were wrong.
- He would succeed if he tried.
- He was so tired that he could barely stand.
- Newton discovered that the force of gravitation makes / made apples fall.
- He worked hard so that he would win first prize.
- When the sun set, we went home.