Fill in the blanks with an appropriate tense form.
1She said that she ...............
Wrong!
After the past reporting verb "said", use the backshifted form "was not coming".
2Where they have disappeared ............... a mystery.
Wrong!
A present mystery is described with the present verb "is".
3What she ............... shocked me.
Wrong!
The past result "shocked me" matches the past verb "said".
4I will watch a movie if I ............... time tomorrow.
Wrong!
In a future conditional time clause with "if", use the present simple form "have".
5She said that she ............... me.
Wrong!
After the past reporting verb "said", use the backshifted form "loved".
6He asked me if I ............... his keys.
Wrong!
In reported speech, present perfect "have seen" usually backshifts to "had seen".
7The masons said that they ............... the job by evening.
Wrong!
Future "will finish" backshifts after "said" to "would finish".
8As he ............... his leg, he cannot walk now.
Wrong!
Use the present perfect form "has broken" for a past action with a present result.
9She said that she no longer ............... me.
Wrong!
After the past reporting verb "said", use the backshifted form "trusted".
10The children ............... in the garden when it started raining.
Wrong!
Use the past continuous form "were playing" for the background action interrupted by another past action.
11I waited and waited, but she ...............
Wrong!
The past verb "waited" is followed naturally by the past negative form "didn't come".
12I will wait until he ...............
Wrong!
After "until" in a future time clause, use the present simple form "returns".
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- She said that she was not coming.
- Where they have disappeared is a mystery.
- What she said shocked me.
- I will watch a movie if I have time tomorrow.
- She said that she loved me.
- He asked me if I had seen his keys.
- The masons said that they would finish the job by evening.
- As he has broken his leg, he cannot walk now.
- She said that she no longer trusted me.
- The children were playing in the garden when it started raining.
- I waited and waited, but she didn’t come.
- I will wait until he returns.