Fill in the blanks with an appropriate tense form.
1. If he ………………………….. a good education, he wouldn’t have reached this position.
‘Hadn’t had’ is the past perfect tense form of the verb have. When we use ‘would have + past participle’ in the main clause, the verb in the if-clause should be in the past perfect tense.
2. Tomorrow is difficult. I would rather you .................................. on Friday.
After ‘would rather’, we use past tense with a present or future meaning.
3. Maria …………………............ for a drink this evening.
The present continuous tense is used to talk about pre-planned future events.
4. I ..................................... for twenty years this autumn.
We use the future perfect or future perfect continuous tense to say that something will have been done by a certain time in the future. Although both of these tenses have similar meanings, the future perfect continuous is used to emphasize the continuity of a future achievement.
5. The train ...................................... at half past six tomorrow morning.
For something scheduled in the future we use simple present tense.
6. I was tired because I ..................................... all day.
The past perfect continuous tense is used when we describe a past event as continuing up to a particular time in the past.
7. I ……………………........ the shopping. What shall I do now?
To suggest the completion of an activity in the unspecified or unknown past, we use the present perfect tense. In this case, the speaker doesn’t say when he did the shopping. Here the emphasis is merely on the idea of completion.
8. I …………………………. many musical instruments, but my favorite is the piano.
To suggest the completion of an activity in the unspecified or unknown past, we use the present perfect tense. The present perfect tense is not used with a past time of reference. In that case, we have to use the past simple.
9. Students should always work hard because universities …………………………....... only the best students.
Facts should be in the simple present tense.
10. Developing nations ……………………… fossil fuels and raw materials because their economy …………………….. rapidly.
It is a fact that developing nations need fossil fuels and we use simple present to talk about facts. The present continuous tense is used to talk about an action that is in progress at the moment of speaking.
11. The oil on a duck’s feathers ……………………. water and ……………………. the bird from getting soaked in the rain.
We use the present simple tense to talk about facts.
12. It is true that I still have some difficulties in English, but I ……………………….. better now.
Some verbs refer to states. Examples are: like, hate, believe, understand, etc. Verbs which refer to states are always used in their simple forms.
Answers
1. If he hadn’t had a good education, he wouldn’t have reached this position.
2. Tomorrow is difficult. I would rather you came on Friday.
3. Maria is coming for a drink this evening.
4. I will have been teaching for twenty years this autumn.
5. The train leaves at half past six tomorrow morning.
6. I was tired because I had been working all day.
7. I have done the shopping. What shall I do now?
8. I have learned many musical instruments, but my favorite is the piano.
9. Students should always work hard because universities accept only the best students.
10. Developing nations need fossil fuels and raw materials because their economy is growing rapidly.
11. The oil on a duck’s feathers repels water and prevents the bird from getting soaked in the rain.
12. It is true that I still have some difficulties in English, but I understand better now.
