Fill in the blanks with a gerund or an infinitive.
1As I walked past his room, I heard him ............... on the phone.
Wrong!
After a verb of perception, "talking" shows an action in progress at that moment.
2I watched her ............... the cats from start to finish.
Wrong!
After "watch", "feed" shows that you saw the complete action from start to finish.
3I saw you ............... stones at that dog just now. Why did you do that?
Wrong!
After a verb of perception, "throwing" shows the action that was in progress when you saw it.
4Suddenly I ............... a strange noise.
Wrong!
For a sudden completed past event, use the simple past "heard".
5My watch is losing time. I must have it ...............
Wrong!
In the pattern "have something done", use the past participle "repaired".
6If you don't leave my place at once, I will have you ...............
Wrong!
In "have someone arrested", the person receives the action, so use "arrested".
7When do I have ............... back?
Wrong!
The obligation form "have to" is followed by the base verb, so the correct phrase is "to be".
8Hardly had I closed my eyes when the phone ...............
Wrong!
After "Hardly had I closed my eyes when", the next completed action uses the simple past "rang".
9Hardly had I closed the door when someone ...............
Wrong!
After "Hardly had I closed the door when", the next completed action uses the simple past "knocked".
10She spends half of her time ...............
Wrong!
After "spend time", use the -ing form "traveling".
11You had better not ............... me up when you come in.
Wrong!
The phrase "had better not" is followed by the base verb "wake".
12"I promise I ............... you back." "You had better."
Wrong!
A promise about the future commonly uses "will pay".
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- As I walked past his room, I heard him talking on the phone.
- I watched her feed the cats from start to finish.
- I saw you throwing stones at that dog just now. Why did you do that?
- Suddenly I heard a strange noise.
- My watch is losing time. I must have it repaired.
- If you don’t leave my place at once, I will have you arrested.
- When do I have to be back?
- Hardly had I closed my eyes when the phone rang.
- Hardly had I closed the door when someone knocked.
- She spends half of her time traveling.
- You had better not wake me up when you come in.
- “I promise I will pay you back.” “You had better.”