Fill in the blanks.
1She ............... to magnify all her problems.
Wrong!
For a general habit or characteristic, use the simple present form "tends".
2Each driver maintained that the accident ............... the other's fault.
Wrong!
With the past reporting verb "maintained", the past form "was" is the clearest choice here.
3Was the patient still alive when the doctor ...............?
Wrong!
For a completed event at a definite past time, use "arrived".
4Grandmother ............... to the age of 93.
Wrong!
Because Grandmother's life is complete, the past simple form "lived" is needed.
5The flowers will live longer if you ............... them in water.
Wrong!
In a real future condition after "if", use the present simple form "put".
6Moby Dick ............... one of the classics of American literature.
Wrong!
For a general fact about a singular book title, use "is".
7Good campers ............... leave litter on the campsite.
Wrong!
A negative simple present sentence with the main verb "leave" needs "don't".
8It ............... a lot of nerve to work as a steeplejack.
Wrong!
For a general fact, the simple present form "takes" is correct.
9They caught him napping while he ............... on duty.
Wrong!
For the background situation at that past moment, use "was".
10They ............... vegetables in their backyard.
Wrong!
When people grow crops, the correct verb is "raise".
11The sun ............... in the east.
Wrong!
For the sun moving upward, use "rises".
12The building ............... by a wrecking crew.
Wrong!
The passive past form meaning "was demolished" is "was razed".
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- She tends to magnify all her problems.
- Each driver maintained that the accident was the other’s fault.
- Was the patient still alive when the doctor arrived?
- Grandmother lived to the age of 93.
- The flowers will live longer if you put them in water.
- Moby Dick is one of the classics of American literature.
- Good campers don’t leave litter on the campsite.
- It takes a lot of nerve to work as a steeplejack.
- They caught him napping while he was on duty.
- They raise vegetables in their backyard.
- The sun rises in the east.
- The building was razed by a wrecking crew.