Fill in the blanks.
1As he grew older, his mind ............... further into the past.
Wrong!
The past-time phrase "grew older" makes the simple past "regressed" the best choice.
2I knew it was futile, but I ............... to him nonetheless.
Wrong!
The simple past verb "knew" sets the time, so "talked" is the correct choice.
3If you don't sue now, you ............... your property.
Wrong!
In a first conditional sentence, the main clause uses "will never regain" after the present-tense if-clause.
4The government refunded the overpayment I ............... on my taxes.
Wrong!
The simple past "made" matches the past action described by "refunded".
5The distraught man kept ranting until he ............... away.
Wrong!
The man received the action, so the passive form "was led" is correct.
6If you ............... it properly the first time, you won't have to do it again.
Wrong!
In a first conditional sentence, the if-clause uses the simple present "do".
7The old man ............... all his property to his son.
Wrong!
The sentence describes a completed past action, so "left" is correct.
8She had a knack for prophecy and ............... rarely wrong.
Wrong!
The past verb "had" calls for the matching past form "was".
9They exchange merchandise rather than ............... cash refunds.
Wrong!
After "rather than" in this parallel structure, the base verb "give" matches "exchange".
10He has put most of his money in the bank and ............... on a mere pittance.
Wrong!
The singular subject "he" takes the present simple form "lives".
11Although she suffered many hardships, she ............... in her efforts to get a college education.
Wrong!
The past verb "suffered" is followed naturally by the simple past "persisted".
12Our firm ............... quite a lot of business in the Middle East.
Wrong!
The singular subject "firm" takes the present simple form "does".
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- As he grew older, his mind regressed further into the past.
- I knew it was futile, but I talked to him nonetheless.
- If you don’t sue now, you will never regain your property.
- The government refunded the overpayment I made on my taxes.
- The distraught man kept ranting until he was led away.
- If you do it properly the first time, you won’t have to do it again.
- The old man left all his property to his son.
- She had a knack for prophecy and was rarely wrong.
- They exchange merchandise rather than give cash refunds.
- He has put most of his money in the bank and lives on a mere pittance.
- Although she suffered many hardships, she persisted in her efforts to get a college education.
- Our firm does quite a lot of business in the Middle East.
