Fill in the blanks with an appropriate tense form.
1. The party invitations ………………………. out.
We use the present perfect tense to simply give news of recent events.
2. The invention of the space rocket …………………….. many years.
The simple past is the most normal tense for talking about finished events in the past.
3. Alexander Graham Bell ……………………… the telephone.
The simple past is the most normal tense for talking about finished events in the past.
4. Saint Patrick ……………………….. Christianity to the Irish.
The simple past is the most normal tense for talking about finished events in the past.
5. Fairy tales ………………………….. most children.
We use the present simple to talk about facts, general truths and habits.
6. He ……………………….. to 90 days in jail.
We need a passive verb here because the subject is not the doer of the action.
7. She …………………………. with joy upon the birth of her grandchild.
We need a passive verb here because the subject is not the doer of the action. Instead, something happened to the subject.
8. How did you know I ……………………….. be there?
When the verb in the main clause is in the past tense, we will need a past tense in the subordinate clause as well.
9. He wanted to visit the land his father ……………………… from.
When the verb in the main clause is in the past tense, we will need a past tense in the subordinate clause as well.
10. Lately I ………………………… making my own clothes.
We use the present perfect to talk about recent events.
11. ……………………….. the packages on the table.
To lay something is to place it somewhere.
12. Which route ................................. I take to Denver?
The simple present is the tense used to ask for or give directions.
Answers
1. The party invitations have been sent out.
2. The invention of the space rocket took many years.
3. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone.
4. Saint Patrick introduced Christianity to the Irish.
5. Fairy tales intrigue most children.
6. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail.
7. She was filled with joy upon the birth of her grandchild.
8. How did you know I would be there?
9. He wanted to visit the land his father came from.
10. Lately I have started making my own clothes.
11. Lay the packages on the table.
12. Which route do I take to Denver?
