Fill in the blanks with an appropriate tense form.
1If I had the money, I ............... buy a car.
Wrong!
In a second conditional sentence, the main clause uses "would" plus the base verb.
2If I had gone to university, I ............... business.
Wrong!
In a third conditional sentence, the main clause uses "would have studied" to talk about an unreal past result.
3When I opened the window, the cat ............... in.
Wrong!
The past simple "jumped" describes the next completed action in a past sequence.
4I wondered if you ............... free that evening.
Wrong!
In reported speech after a past reporting verb, "were" is the natural backshifted form.
5I thought you ............... like some juice, so I brought you a glass.
Wrong!
After "I thought", "might" is the natural backshifted form for a polite possibility.
6I ............... my phone on this table yesterday, but now it is gone.
Wrong!
With the finished past time expression "yesterday", the simple past "left" is correct.
7When I called her, she ............... at once.
Wrong!
The past simple "came" matches the completed past action "called".
8Who ............... to right now?
Wrong!
For an action happening now, the present continuous question form is "is she talking".
9"You look tired." "Yes, I ..............."
Wrong!
The present perfect continuous "have been running" explains a present result of a recent activity.
10I ............... two letters since lunchtime.
Wrong!
With "since lunchtime", the present perfect "have written" connects the action to the present.
11That is the sixth cookie you ............... since morning.
Wrong!
With "since morning", the present perfect "have eaten" counts actions up to now.
12How long ............... English?
Wrong!
For an activity that started in the past and continues now, use "have you been learning".
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- If I had the money, I would buy a car.
- If I had gone to university, I would have studied business.
- When I opened the window, the cat jumped in.
- I wondered if you were free that evening.
- I thought you might like some juice, so I brought you a glass.
- I left my phone on this table yesterday, but now it is gone.
- When I called her, she came at once.
- Who is she talking to right now?
- “You look tired.” “Yes, I have been running“
- I have written two letters since lunchtime.
- That is the sixth cookie you have eaten since morning.
- How long have you been learning English?