Fill in the blanks with an appropriate form of the verb.
1Has the situation ...............?
Wrong!
After "has", we use the past participle "improved" to form the present perfect.
2The accused ............... the verdict with anxiety.
Wrong!
The verb "await" means "wait for" and takes a direct object without "for".
3A widespread outbreak of plague ............... in the 14th century.
Wrong!
With the finished past time "in the 14th century", we use the simple past "occurred".
4He did not ............... any of the samples presented to him.
Wrong!
After "did not", we use the base verb "take".
5Last month I ............... to Canada to see my brother.
Wrong!
With the finished past time "last month", we use the simple past "went".
6There is no use phoning now. They must ...............
Wrong!
For a strong present deduction about a completed action, use "have gone" after "must".
7None of them ............... up.
Wrong!
The phrasal verb "turned up" means "arrived" and is in the simple past.
8He ............... much of his spare time in the library.
Wrong!
For a regular habit with the third-person subject "he", use "spends".
9We were ............... to hear the news.
Wrong!
After "were", the adjective-like past participle "saddened" completes the sentence.
10He ............... ill for a week when his brother came.
Wrong!
For a state continuing up to another past event, use the past perfect "had been".
11We ............... hurry; we have got plenty of time.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "need not" and "don't need to" correctly express lack of necessity here.
12I ............... visit my parents every Sunday; now I go once a month.
Wrong!
For a past habit that is no longer regular, use "used to".
Answers
- Has the situation improved?
- The accused awaited the verdict with anxiety.
- A widespread outbreak of plague occurred in the 14th century.
- He did not take any of the samples presented to him.
- Last month I went to Canada to see my brother.
- There is no use phoning now. They must have gone.
- None of them turned up.
- He spends much of his spare time in the library.
- We were saddened to hear the news.
- He had been ill for a week when his brother came.
- We need not / don’t need to hurry; we have got plenty of time.
- I used to visit my parents every Sunday; now I go once a month.