Fill in the blanks with an appropriate verb form.
1The song ............... on an old folk tune.
Wrong!
Use the passive form "is based" because the song is founded on an old folk tune.
2The farmer ............... when he bought a barren cow.
Wrong!
Use the passive form "was cheated" because someone cheated the farmer.
3The balloon ............... with a bang.
Wrong!
The correct simple past form is "burst", not a regular past form.
4Good posture ............... from holding the backbone straight.
Wrong!
Use "results" for a general fact with the singular subject "Good posture".
5Abraham Lincoln ............... from an impoverished background.
Wrong!
Use "came" for a completed fact about Abraham Lincoln's past.
6Bacteria ............... in the air we breathe and in the food we eat.
Wrong!
Use "are" because "Bacteria" is a plural subject in standard English.
7The actress ............... for her babyish temper tantrums.
Wrong!
Use the passive form "was known" to describe the actress's reputation in the past.
8Everyone ............... aware of the dangers of smoking.
Wrong!
Use "should be" before the adjective "aware" to give advice.
9He said that he ............... for Alice.
Wrong!
Use "was waiting" because the present continuous normally backshifts after "said".
10He said that he ............... a job.
Wrong!
Use "had found" because the present perfect normally backshifts in reported speech.
11She said that she ............... for ages.
Wrong!
Use "had been waiting" because the present perfect continuous normally backshifts in reported speech.
12He said that he ............... meat.
Wrong!
Use "had never eaten" because the present perfect normally backshifts after a past reporting verb.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- The song is based on an old folk tune.
- The farmer was cheated when he bought a barren cow.
- The balloon burst with a bang.
- Good posture results from holding the backbone straight.
- Abraham Lincoln came from an impoverished background.
- Bacteria are in the air we breathe and in the food we eat.
- The actress was known for her babyish temper tantrums.
- Everyone should be aware of the dangers of smoking.
- He said that he was waiting for Alice.
- He said that he had found a job.
- She said that she had been waiting for ages.
- He said that he had never eaten meat.