Fill in the blanks with an appropriate tense form.
1. I will wait here until you …………………..
When both clauses refer to future, use a simple future in the main clause and simple present in the subordinate clause.
2. If I knew that you were coming, I ……………………….. dinner.
In the second conditional, use a simple past in the if-clause and would + first form of the verb in the main clause.
3. If they had paid heed to the warning signs, this …………………………..
In the third conditional, use a past perfect in the if-clause and would + have + past participle in the main clause.
4. It took me quite sometime to get used to ………………………… in a large city.
The to in used to is a preposition. A verb used after a preposition should be in its ing form.
5. What she said ………………………. no sense to me.
6. He asked me if I ………………………. him some money.
'Can you lend me some money?' he asked. He asked if I could lend him some money. Can in direct speech becomes could in indirect speech.
7. I waited and waited but he …………………… come.
When the verb in the main clause is in the simple past, use a past tense in the subordinate clause as well.
8. I …………………………. to anybody.
The present perfect is used to refer to time up to now.
9. I will give you a call when I …………………….. ready.
When both clauses refer to future, use a simple future in the main clause and simple present in the subordinate clause.
10. I asked him where he ……………………….. the previous day.
I asked him, 'Where were you yesterday?' I asked him where he had been the previous day. Simple past in the direct speech becomes past perfect in the indirect speech.
11. It is time you ……………………… a job.
Use a simple past after it is time.
12. I would rather you ………………………… home now.
Use a simple past after would rather.
Answers
- I will wait here until you return.
- If I knew that you were coming, I would prepare dinner.
- If they had paid heed to the warning signs, this would not have happened.
- It took me quite sometime to get used to living in a large city.
- What she said made no sense to me.
- He asked me if I could lend him some money.
- I waited and waited but he didn’t come.
- I have never apologized to anybody.
- I will give you a call when I am ready.
- I asked him where he had been the previous day.
- It is time you found a job.
- I would rather you went home now.
