Fill in the blanks.
1He ............... absent since Monday.
Wrong!
Use "has been" because the absence started in the past and continues now.
2Suddenly I realized that we ............... before.
Wrong!
Use "had met" for an action that happened before another past action.
3I ............... my homework before I went out to play.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "finished" and "had finished" can be used before another past action here.
4She said that she ............... the letter.
Wrong!
Use "had posted" because the present perfect in direct speech usually changes to the past perfect in reported speech.
5The train ............... before we reached the station.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "left" and "had left" are possible because "before" already shows that the train left before we reached the station.
6He lost the watch shortly after he ............... it.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "bought" and "had bought" are possible after "shortly after" when both events are in the past.
7When I reached his house, I found that he ...............
Wrong!
Use "had already gone" because he left before I reached the house.
8He started shouting before I ............... a word.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "said" and "had said" are possible after "before" when both actions are in the past.
9She ............... as a nurse for well over three decades.
Wrong!
Use "has been working" for an activity that began in the past and continues now.
10He ............... at the gate for a long time now.
Wrong!
Use "has been waiting" for an action that began in the past and continues now.
11It ............... 40 minutes by train.
Wrong!
Use "takes" for a general fact about travel time.
12I cannot let ............... of him.
Wrong!
Use "go" in the fixed expression "let go of."
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- He has been absent since Monday.
- Suddenly I realized that we had met before.
- I finished / had finished my homework before I went out to play.
- She said that she had posted the letter.
- The train left / had left before we reached the station.
- He lost the watch shortly after he bought / had bought it.
- When I reached his house, I found that he had already gone.
- He started shouting before I said / had said a word.
- She has been working as a nurse for well over three decades.
- He has been waiting at the gate for a long time now.
- It takes 40 minutes by train.
- I cannot let go of him.