Fill in the blanks.
1The farmers ............... the effect of the drought for years.
Wrong!
Use the simple past "felt" to describe the farmers' experience during the drought period.
2The job ............... someone with a college education.
Wrong!
The stative verb "demands" describes a general requirement of the job.
3She ............... her grandmother more than her mother.
Wrong!
The stative verb "favors" means "looks like" in this sentence.
4We were fearful that she ............... harm herself.
Wrong!
After the past-tense phrase "were fearful," "might" is the natural past form for possibility.
5US Presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both ............... on July 4, 1826.
Wrong!
Use the simple past "died" with the finished time expression "on July 4, 1826."
6You had better ............... that faulty stereo fixed.
Wrong!
The expression "had better" is followed by the base verb "get."
7The old woman ............... so feeble that she couldn't even walk.
Wrong!
Use the past form "was" to match the past result "couldn't even walk."
8When she fell, she ............... a fracture.
Wrong!
Use the simple past "suffered" for the injury that happened when she fell.
9Though it was cold, we ............... the picnic.
Wrong!
Use the simple past "enjoyed" to match the past situation "Though it was cold."
10As she was the only applicant, she ............... the job.
Wrong!
Use the simple past "got" because the reason is introduced with the past form "was."
11I would rather you ............... me alone.
Wrong!
After "would rather," use the past form "left" to talk about a present or future preference.
12She soon realized that she ............... trust him.
Wrong!
After the past-tense verb "realized," "couldn't" is the natural backshifted form.
Answers
- The farmers felt the effect of the drought for years.
- The job demands someone with a college education.
- She favors her grandmother more than her mother.
- We were fearful that she might harm herself.
- US Presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on July 4, 1826.
- You had better get that faulty stereo fixed.
- The old woman was so feeble that she couldn’t even walk.
- When she fell, she suffered a fracture.
- Though it was cold, we enjoyed the picnic.
- As she was the only applicant, she got the job.
- I would rather you left me alone.
- She soon realized that she couldn’t trust him.