Fill in the blanks with an appropriate verb form.
1My brother ............... to be an actor.
Wrong!
Use "aspires" because verbs of wish or ambition are normally simple present for a general state.
2I ............... to talk to her ever again.
Wrong!
Use "don't want" because "want" is a stative verb in this present general meaning.
3I asked him why he ............... upset.
Wrong!
Use "was" because reported speech after a past reporting verb usually shifts the tense back.
4I wondered where she ...............
Wrong!
Use "had disappeared" because the present perfect in direct speech becomes past perfect in reported speech.
5She asked me if I ............... speak French.
Wrong!
Use "could" because "can" normally changes to "could" in reported speech after a past reporting verb.
6I will tell you as soon as I ............... from them.
Wrong!
Use "hear" because a present tense is used after "as soon as" to refer to the future.
7She usually ............... really hard.
Wrong!
Use "works" because the simple present with "usually" describes a regular habit.
8Meat ............... with me.
Wrong!
Use "does not agree" because this fixed meaning describes a general reaction to food.
9He never ............... to me.
Wrong!
Use "listens" because "never" here describes a regular habit in the simple present.
10Birds of a feather ............... together.
Wrong!
Use "flock" because proverbs normally use the simple present for general truths.
11I ............... on this project for six months.
Wrong!
Use "have been working" for an action that started in the past and continues up to now.
12Who ............... the light bulb?
Wrong!
Use "invented" because the invention is a completed event in the past.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- My brother aspires to be an actor.
- I don’t want to talk to her ever again.
- I asked him why he was upset.
- I wondered where she had disappeared.
- She asked me if I could speak French.
- I will tell you as soon as I hear from them.
- She usually works really hard.
- Meat does not agree with me.
- He never listens to me.
- Birds of a feather flock together.
- I have been working on this project for six months.
- Who invented the light bulb?