Fill in the blanks with an appropriate tense form.
1She noticed she ............... already late.
Wrong!
After the past reporting verb "noticed", the natural backshifted form is "was".
2She said that it ............... her an hour to finish the report.
Wrong!
After the past reporting verb "said", the natural backshifted form is "took".
3She asked him if he ............... her name.
Wrong!
After the past reporting verb "asked", the natural backshifted form is "knew".
4What did you do with the money you ............... from me?
Wrong!
In this past-time question, the relative clause naturally uses the simple past "borrowed".
5When I opened the door, the cat ............... out.
Wrong!
For two completed past events in sequence, the second event is expressed with "jumped".
6When I was ten, I already ............... I wanted to be a scientist.
Wrong!
The past time marker "when I was ten" calls for the simple past "knew".
7I went to see if she ............... up yet.
Wrong!
Because the waking was before the past action "went", the correct form is "had woken".
8I ............... 80 kilos three months ago.
Wrong!
The finished past time expression "three months ago" takes the simple past "weighed".
9As soon as I ............... the phone down, it rang again.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
With "as soon as", both "put" and "had put" can show the earlier past action before "it rang".
10I ............... that I would get the promotion, but it is beginning to look difficult now.
Wrong!
For an earlier hope that now seems unlikely, use the past perfect "had hoped".
11When I arrived at the party, they ............... home.
Wrong!
Because they left before the speaker arrived, the correct form is "had already gone".
12I was hot because I ............... in the sun for a long time.
Wrong!
For an activity continuing up to a past result, use the past perfect continuous "had been walking".
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- She noticed she was already late.
- She said that it took her an hour to finish the report.
- She asked him if he knew her name.
- What did you do with the money you borrowed from me?
- When I opened the door, the cat jumped out.
- When I was ten, I already knew I wanted to be a scientist.
- I went to see if she had woken up yet.
- I weighed 80 kilos three months ago.
- As soon as I put / had put the phone down, it rang again.
- I had hoped that I would get the promotion, but it is beginning to look difficult now.
- When I arrived at the party, they had already gone home.
- I was hot because I had been walking in the sun for a long time.