Fill in the blanks with an appropriate tense form.
1Their first child ............... in 2006.
Wrong!
Use "was born" for a birth at a specific time in the past.
2I ............... my first car many years ago.
Wrong!
Use "bought" with the finished past time expression "many years ago".
3She ............... in Madrid when she was a child.
Wrong!
Use "lived" for a past situation that is finished now.
4When I called, he ............... in the garage.
Wrong!
Use "was working" for the longer action in progress when another past action happened.
5As I was running up the stairs, I ............... a scream from one of the rooms.
Wrong!
Use "heard" for a short completed action during a longer past action.
6He got up, ............... on his coat, and went away.
Wrong!
Use "put" for one completed action in a sequence of past actions.
7When they were together, they ...............
Wrong!
Use "were constantly fighting" for repeated behaviour during a past period.
8I ............... the doorbell six times last night.
Wrong!
Use "rang" with the finished past time expression "last night".
9Smallpox ............... millions of people before it was eradicated.
Wrong!
Use "killed" for a completed past fact before smallpox was eradicated.
10I ............... for your drinks already, so you do not need to pay.
Wrong!
Use "have paid" with "already" because the completed action has a present result.
11At four o'clock yesterday afternoon, I ...............
Wrong!
Use "was studying" for an action in progress at a specific time in the past.
12I thought you ............... lend me a few pounds.
Wrong!
Use "could" after "I thought" for a polite request in reported thought.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- Their first child was born in 2006.
- I bought my first car many years ago.
- She lived in Madrid when she was a child.
- When I called, he was working in the garage.
- As I was running up the stairs, I heard a scream from one of the rooms.
- He got up, put on his coat, and went away.
- When they were together, they were constantly fighting.
- I rang the doorbell six times last night.
- Smallpox killed millions of people before it was eradicated.
- I have paid for your drinks already, so you do not need to pay.
- At four o’clock yesterday afternoon, I was studying.
- I thought you could lend me a few pounds.