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Home / Practice / English
Choosing the right tense, and making the verb agree with its subject.
Question 1 of 12
Which words complete this sentence correctly? By the time we arrived, the concert ___ already ___.
"had already started" is correct. The sentence needs the past perfect, because one thing happened before another thing that is itself in the past. The past perfect is what puts the two in order. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. Check whether the subject is singular or plural before choosing between has and have.
The answer is B. "had already started" is correct. The sentence needs the past perfect, because one thing happened before another thing that is itself in the past. The past perfect is what puts the two in order. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. Check whether the subject is singular or plural before choosing between has and have.
Which words complete this sentence correctly? The workmen ___ the road since Monday.
"have been mending" is correct. The sentence needs the present perfect progressive, because the action started in the past and still matters now. That is what the present perfect is for. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. Read the whole sentence aloud with your choice in place. The wrong tense almost always sounds wrong.
The answer is C. "have been mending" is correct. The sentence needs the present perfect progressive, because the action started in the past and still matters now. That is what the present perfect is for. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. Read the whole sentence aloud with your choice in place. The wrong tense almost always sounds wrong.
Which words complete this sentence correctly? She ___ already ___ the letter by the time I phoned.
"had posted" is correct. The sentence needs the past perfect, because one thing happened before another thing that is itself in the past. The past perfect is what puts the two in order. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. Read the whole sentence aloud with your choice in place. The wrong tense almost always sounds wrong.
The answer is A. "had posted" is correct. The sentence needs the past perfect, because one thing happened before another thing that is itself in the past. The past perfect is what puts the two in order. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. Read the whole sentence aloud with your choice in place. The wrong tense almost always sounds wrong.
Which words complete this sentence correctly? While Isla ___ the dog, it started to hail.
"was walking" is correct. The sentence needs the past progressive, because the action was going on over a stretch of time rather than happening once. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. Read the whole sentence aloud with your choice in place. The wrong tense almost always sounds wrong.
The answer is C. "was walking" is correct. The sentence needs the past progressive, because the action was going on over a stretch of time rather than happening once. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. Read the whole sentence aloud with your choice in place. The wrong tense almost always sounds wrong.
Which words complete this sentence correctly? We ___ our lunch when the fire alarm went off.
"were eating" is correct. The sentence needs the past progressive, because the action was going on over a stretch of time rather than happening once. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. Read the whole sentence aloud with your choice in place. The wrong tense almost always sounds wrong.
The answer is C. "were eating" is correct. The sentence needs the past progressive, because the action was going on over a stretch of time rather than happening once. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. Read the whole sentence aloud with your choice in place. The wrong tense almost always sounds wrong.
Which words complete this sentence correctly? Aisha ___ the violin for three years.
"has played" is correct. The sentence needs the present perfect, because the action started in the past and still matters now. That is what the present perfect is for. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. Check whether the subject is singular or plural before choosing between has and have.
The answer is D. "has played" is correct. The sentence needs the present perfect, because the action started in the past and still matters now. That is what the present perfect is for. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. Check whether the subject is singular or plural before choosing between has and have.
Which words complete this sentence correctly? The lights ___ out three times during the storm.
"went" is correct. The sentence needs the past simple, because it describes something finished, in a time that is over. The irregular past forms — rode, went, fell — have to be learned; adding -ed to them is the commonest error. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. Read the whole sentence aloud with your choice in place. The wrong tense almost always sounds wrong.
The answer is B. "went" is correct. The sentence needs the past simple, because it describes something finished, in a time that is over. The irregular past forms — rode, went, fell — have to be learned; adding -ed to them is the commonest error. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. Read the whole sentence aloud with your choice in place. The wrong tense almost always sounds wrong.
Which words complete this sentence correctly? Each of the girls ___ her own locker.
"has" is correct. The sentence needs the present simple, because it describes something that happens regularly or is simply true. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. Check whether the subject is singular or plural before choosing between has and have.
The answer is A. "has" is correct. The sentence needs the present simple, because it describes something that happens regularly or is simply true. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. Check whether the subject is singular or plural before choosing between has and have.
Which words complete this sentence correctly? I wish I ___ seen the eclipse.
"had" is correct. The sentence needs the past perfect, because one thing happened before another thing that is itself in the past. The past perfect is what puts the two in order. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. Check whether the subject is singular or plural before choosing between has and have.
The answer is B. "had" is correct. The sentence needs the past perfect, because one thing happened before another thing that is itself in the past. The past perfect is what puts the two in order. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. Check whether the subject is singular or plural before choosing between has and have.
Which words complete this sentence correctly? Every morning the ferry ___ at half past six.
"leaves" is correct. The sentence needs the present simple, because it describes something that happens regularly or is simply true. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. Look for a time word — "since", "already", "by the time", "every morning". It usually tells you the tense.
The answer is B. "leaves" is correct. The sentence needs the present simple, because it describes something that happens regularly or is simply true. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. Look for a time word — "since", "already", "by the time", "every morning". It usually tells you the tense.
Which words complete this sentence correctly? The tide ___ in quickly this afternoon.
"is coming" is correct. The sentence needs the present progressive, because the action was going on over a stretch of time rather than happening once. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. "Had" puts one past event before another. If the sentence has two past events, look for it.
The answer is D. "is coming" is correct. The sentence needs the present progressive, because the action was going on over a stretch of time rather than happening once. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. "Had" puts one past event before another. If the sentence has two past events, look for it.
Which words complete this sentence correctly? We ___ to Anglesey twice since Easter.
"have been" is correct. The sentence needs the present perfect, because the action started in the past and still matters now. That is what the present perfect is for. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. Look for a time word — "since", "already", "by the time", "every morning". It usually tells you the tense.
The answer is D. "have been" is correct. The sentence needs the present perfect, because the action started in the past and still matters now. That is what the present perfect is for. Watch the subject as well as the tense: a singular subject takes "has", a plural one takes "have", and getting that agreement wrong is the commonest way to lose the mark even when the tense is right. Look for a time word — "since", "already", "by the time", "every morning". It usually tells you the tense.
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