Fill in the blanks.
1Malaria ............... still rampant in some swampy regions.
Wrong!
Use "is" for a present fact or state.
2Her constant nagging ............... him.
Wrong!
Use the past simple "provoked"; "provoke" does not agree with the singular subject "nagging", and "provoking" on its own is not a finite verb.
3I spent the afternoon ............... the hedge.
Wrong!
After "spent the afternoon", use the -ing form "pruning".
4He was one of those proud, boastful men you ............... listening to.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"Couldn't bear" matches the past-time description, and "can't bear" is also possible because "those ... men you can't bear listening to" describes a type of person in general.
5The family's privation was ...............
Wrong!
Use "pitiable" to mean deserving pity.
6The little dog ............... the boy everywhere.
Wrong!
Use "follows" because the singular subject "dog" needs a singular present verb.
7Her insulting remarks made me absolutely ...............
Wrong!
Use the adjective "livid" after "made me" to describe how I felt.
8The castaways lived ............... fish and coconuts.
Wrong!
Use "on" in the phrase "live on" to mean survive by eating something.
9A gourmet always ............... the best food, not the most.
Wrong!
Use "wants" for a general fact in the simple present.
10He jumped up from his table, ............... his hat, and ran to the bus stop.
Wrong!
Use "grabbed" to keep the verbs in the same past-tense sequence.
11The boy made a grab at the frog, but it ............... away.
Wrong!
Use "jumped" because the sentence describes a past event.
12India ............... by a Prime Minister and his cabinet.
Wrong!
Use the passive form "is governed" because India receives the action.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- Malaria is still rampant in some swampy regions.
- Her constant nagging provoked him.
- I spent the afternoon pruning the hedge.
- He was one of those proud, boastful men you can’t bear / couldn’t bear listening to.
- The family’s privation was pitiable.
- The little dog follows the boy everywhere.
- Her insulting remarks made me absolutely livid.
- The castaways lived on fish and coconuts.
- A gourmet always wants the best food, not the most.
- He jumped up from his table, grabbed his hat, and ran to the bus stop.
- The boy made a grab at the frog, but it jumped away.
- India is governed by a Prime Minister and his cabinet.