Fill in the blanks with an appropriate tense form.
1. I wanted to know why he …………………….. angry with me.
When the verb in the main clause is in the past tense, we use a past tense in the subordinate clause as well.
2. I will write some letters if I ……………………… time.
When the verb in the main clause is in the future tense, we use a present tense in the subordinate clause to refer to the future.
3. There ……………………… an accident near the bridge.
The present perfect is the most normal tense for giving news of recently finished events.
4. I ………………………. six coffees since morning.
We use the present perfect to say that something has happened several times up to the present.
5. What ……………………… you do then?
Then is a past time expression. We do not use the present perfect tense with past time expressions.
6. ……………………………… to Australia?
We use the present perfect when we are thinking of a period of time up to the present.
7. They made him ……………………… them everything.
The verb make is followed by object + infinitive without to.
8. He …………………………… to visit the children once a week.
We use a passive verb here because the subject is not the doer of the action.
9. She ……………………….. a Greek goddess.
We use the simple present tense to talk about facts.
10. It looks as if the sun ………………………… round the earth.
11. I used to play a lot of tennis when I ……………………….. younger.
When the verb in the main clause is in the past tense, we use a past tense in the subordinate clause as well.
12. Three more of the missing hikers ………………………….
The present perfect tense is the most normal tense for giving news of recent events.
Answers
1. I wanted to know why he was angry with me.
2. I will write some letters if I have time.
3. There has been an accident near the bridge.
4. I have drunk six coffees since morning.
5. What did you do then?
6. Have you ever been to Australia?
7. They made him tell them everything.
8. He is allowed to visit the children once a week.
9. She resembles a Greek goddess.
10. It looks as if the sun goes round the earth.
11. I used to play a lot of tennis when I was younger.
12. Three more of the missing hikers have been found.
