Fill in the blanks with an appropriate tense form.
1If he ............... a good education, he wouldn’t have reached this position.
Wrong!
In a third conditional if-clause, use the past perfect form "hadn't had".
2Tomorrow is difficult. I would rather you ............... on Friday.
Wrong!
After "would rather" with a different subject, use the past form "came" for a future preference.
3Maria ............... for a drink this evening.
Wrong!
For a fixed future arrangement, the present continuous form "is coming" is natural.
4I ............... for twenty years this autumn.
Wrong!
To show duration up to a future point, use the future perfect continuous form "will have been teaching".
5The train ............... at half past six tomorrow morning.
Wrong!
For timetabled future events, the simple present form "leaves" is correct.
6I was tired because I ............... all day.
Wrong!
For an activity continuing before a past result, use "had been working".
7I ............... the shopping. What shall I do now?
Wrong!
For a completed action with a present result, use "have done".
8I ............... many musical instruments, but my favorite is the piano.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
With no specific past time, both "learned" and "have learned" are acceptable here.
9Students should always work hard because universities ............... only the best students.
Wrong!
For a general fact, the simple present form "accept" is correct.
10Developing nations ............... more fossil fuels and raw materials because their economies are growing rapidly.
Wrong!
For a general present need, use the simple present form "need".
11The oil on a duck’s feathers ............... water and prevents the bird from getting soaked in the rain.
Wrong!
For a scientific fact, the simple present form "repels" is correct.
12It is true that I still have some difficulties in English, but I ............... better now.
Wrong!
The stative verb is normally simple here, so "understand" is correct.
Answers
- If he hadn’t had a good education, he wouldn’t have reached this position.
- Tomorrow is difficult. I would rather you came on Friday.
- Maria is coming for a drink this evening.
- I will have been teaching for twenty years this autumn.
- The train leaves at half past six tomorrow morning.
- I was tired because I had been working all day.
- I have done the shopping. What shall I do now?
- I learned / have learned many musical instruments, but my favorite is the piano.
- Students should always work hard because universities accept only the best students.
- Developing nations need more fossil fuels and raw materials because their economies are growing rapidly.
- The oil on a duck’s feathers repels water and prevents the bird from getting soaked in the rain.
- It is true that I still have some difficulties in English, but I understand better now.
