Fill in the blanks with an appropriate tense form.
1. Rabid dogs ………………………… by forest rangers in Maine last year.
We need a passive verb here because the subject is not the doer of the action. Something is done to it.
2. His racy lifestyle ……………………….. many women.
We need an active verb here because the subject is the doer of the action.
3. The defeated candidate ………………………….. up and down in a rage.
We need an active verb here because the subject is the doer of the action.
4. All those in favor should ………………………….. their hands.
To raise is to lift something.
5. We all ……………………….. when the judge entered the court.
To rise is to get up on one’s own accord.
6. We …………………………. to stroll around the neighorhood on sunny afternoons.
We use the simple present tense to talk about likes and preferences.
7. The company ……………………….. a large range of products.
Since there is no reference to past time, we use the simple present tense here.
8. Buying a boat ……………………….. low on my list of priorities.
Here the subject is the –ing form buying. When a gerund is the subject, the verb is usually singular.
9. His rapacious ways ………………………… him wealthy but friendless.
We use the simple past tense to simply state that something happened.
10. He rarely …………………………, yet he passed every exam.
When one verb is in the past tense, the other verb will most probably also be in the past tense.
11. I rate that performance one of the best I ……………………………
The present perfect tense is more common with indefinite time expressions like ever and never.
12. Each flood victim ………………………….. with a daily ration.
We need a passive verb here because the subject is not the doer of the action.
Answers
1. Rabid dogs were destroyed by forest rangers in Maine last year.
2. His racy lifestyle fascinated many women.
3. The defeated candidate stamped up and down in a rage.
4. All those in favor should raise their hands.
5. We all rose when the judge entered the court.
6. We like to stroll around the neighborhood on sunny afternoons.
7. The company produces a large range of products.
8. Buying a boat ranks low on my list of priorities.
9. His rapacious ways made him wealthy but friendless.
10. He rarely studied, yet he passed every exam.
11. I rate that performance one of the best I have ever seen.
12. Each flood victim was provided with a daily ration.
