Fill in the blanks.
1Why ............... you phone me in the middle of the night?
Wrong!
Use "did" to form a past simple question with the base verb "phone".
2You ............... until morning.
Wrong!
Use "could have waited" to say that a better past action was possible.
3We have plenty of time, so we ...............
Wrong!
Use "needn't rush" because modal "needn't" is followed by the base verb.
4Why did you stay in a hotel? You ............... with me.
Wrong!
Use "could have stayed" to describe a possible past action that did not happen.
5I understand the situation very well, so you ...............
Wrong!
Use "needn't explain" because modal "needn't" is followed by the base verb.
6You needn't ...............; you could have taken your time.
Wrong!
Use "have rushed" after "needn't" to say the past action was unnecessary.
7I have lost my key, so I ............... another key made.
Wrong!
Use "have to get" to express a present necessity.
8When ............... the last time you saw a doctor?
Wrong!
Use "was" because the subject is singular: "the last time".
9When was the last time you ...............?
Wrong!
Use "got your hair cut" after "the last time" to refer to a past event.
10I want to get this document ............... as soon as possible.
Wrong!
Use "translated" after "get this document" in the causative structure.
11She wanted to know what I ............... in my free time.
Wrong!
Use "did" because reported speech after a past reporting verb usually shifts the tense back.
12They didn't know that I ............... to them.
Wrong!
Use "was listening" because the action was in progress in the past.
Answers
- Why did you phone me in the middle of the night?
- You could have waited until morning.
- We have plenty of time, so we needn’t rush.
- Why did you stay in a hotel? You could have stayed with me.
- I understand the situation very well, so you needn’t explain.
- You needn’t have rushed; you could have taken your time.
- I have lost my key, so I have to get another key made.
- When was the last time you saw a doctor?
- When was the last time you got your hair cut?
- I want to get this document translated as soon as possible.
- She wanted to know what I did in my free time.
- They didn’t know that I was listening to them.
