Fill in the blanks with a verb form that agrees with the subject.
1. I would rather you ……………………… in a hostel than in a hotel.
After would rather we use a past tense to refer to the present or future.
2. You …………………………… invest your money in some profitable business.
Had better does not have a present tense form, but it refers to the present or future. It is used to give strong advice.
3. Did anyone …………………………. any question about me?
We use the infinitive (the first form of the verb) after do, does and did.
4. She …………………………. the book by December.
We use the future perfect tense to say that something will have been done or completed by a certain time in the future.
5. The Pied Piper’s music ……………………………. the rats of Hamelin.
We use the simple past when we are specifically thinking about the past time.
6. We ………………………….. coconut palms in many parts of the country.
Use the simple present tense to talk about facts.
7. Thomas as well as John ……………………… hard.
When we connect two singular nouns with ‘as well as’, the verb is usually singular.
8. Nobody except his parents ……………………….. him.
After nobody we usually use a singular verb.
9. A lot of social issues …………………………… caused by unemployment.
If the noun following ‘a lot of’ is a plural noun, the verb is usually plural.
10. A group of us …………………….. going for a walk in the woods.
A plural verb is usually used after the expressions ‘a number of people’ or ‘a group of people’.
11. Most of my friends …………………………… no interest in politics.
We use a plural verb after most of.
12. Your jeans ………………………. too tight.
Jeans is normally used as a plural.
Answers
1. I would rather you stayed in a hostel than in a hotel.
2. You had better invest your money in some profitable business.
3. Did anyone ask any question about me?
4. She will have completed the book by December.
5. The Pied Piper’s music attracted the rats of Hamelin.
6. We find coconut palms in many parts of the country.
7. Thomas as well as John works hard.
8. Nobody except his parents loves him.
9. A lot of social issues are caused by unemployment.
10. A group of us are going for a walk in the woods.
11. Most of my friends have no interest in politics.
12. Your jeans are too tight.
