Fill in the blanks with an appropriate verb form.
1. He …………………………… before I reached his house.
We use the past perfect tense for the earlier of two past actions.
2. She always ……………………………… neat clothes.
We use the simple present to talk about the habits of people.
3. I ………………………… never forget what you just told me.
4. I ………………………….. her and she ………………………. at once.
We use the simple past to talk about two past events that took place almost simultaneously.
5. The boy …………………………….. for cheating on the exam.
We need a passive verb form here because the subject is not the doer of the action.
6. I …………………………….. the letter in the morning.
The simple past is the most common tense for talking about finished actions or situations.
7. The winners ………………………………… by the chief guest.
8. I am not worried about the test. I ……………………………… well.
If you have prepared well for the test, you are prepared for the test. We use the present perfect to talk about finished events whose effect is still felt in the present.
9. Hundreds of people ………………………… in the riots.
10. Four members of the family ……………………………. in the accident.
We need a passive form here because they didn’t kill anyone. They were killed.
11. The athlete …………………………. the distance in a record time.
12. After the visitor ………………………….. I went to bed.
Answers
1. He had left before I reached his house.
2. She always wears neat clothes.
3. I will never forget what you just told me.
4. I phoned her and she came at once.
5. The boy was punished for cheating on the exam.
6. I received the letter in the morning.
7. The winners were felicitated by the chief guest.
8. I am not worried about the test. I have prepared well.
9. Hundreds of people died in the riots.
10. Four members of the family were killed in the accident.
11. The athlete ran the distance in record time.
12. After the visitor had left I went to bed.
