Gap fills exercise – tenses
Complete the following sentences using appropriate verb forms.
1. The major said that it ……………… him great pleasure to be there that evening.
a) gives
b) gave
c) was giving
2. He said that he ……………… go as soon as it was possible.
a) will
b) would
c) can
3. The teacher often tells me that if I ……………… hard I will fail.
a) didn’t work
b) don’t work
c) hadn’t worked
4. The lecturer said Akbar was just and ……………. the respect of all races and classes.
a) won
b) had won
c) has won
5. He replied that he ………………. to reward his soldiers and that he had kept his word.
a) promised
b) had promised
c) would promise
6. The lion told the mouse that he was very weak and that his teeth ………………… out.
a) fell
b) have fallen
c) had fallen
7. The magistrate asked the accused what ……………… with his hand in the gentleman’s pocket.
a) was he doing
b) he was doing
c) had he done
8. The stranger asked Alice where she ……………..
a) was living
b) lives
c) lived
9. The king asked the philosopher whom he …………….. the happiest man alive.
a) consider
b) considered
c) was considering
10. He asked me whether I ……………….. him.
a) would accompany
b) will accompany
c) have accompanied
Answers
1. The major said that it gave him great pleasure to be there that evening.
2. He said that he would go as soon as it was possible.
3. The teacher often tells me that if I don’t work hard I will fail.
4. The lecturer said Akbar was just and won the respect of all races and classes.
5. He replied that he had promised to reward his soldiers and that he had kept his word.
6. The lion told the mouse that he was very weak and that his teeth had fallen out.
7. The magistrate asked the accused what he was doing with his hand in the gentleman’s pocket.
8. The stranger asked Alice where she lived.
9. The king asked the philosopher whom he considered the happiest man alive.
10. He asked me whether I would accompany him.
Verbs exercise
Complete the following sentences using an appropriate form of the verb.
1. The wind ………………. furiously. (blew / blown)
2. He ……………… to his mother every week. (writes / wrote)
3. My patience …………….. out at last. (wear / wore)
4. In a fit of rage, she ……………… up the letter. (tore / torn)
5. We couldn’t have ………………. a better day for organizing the party. (chose / chosen)
6. The old man was ……………… by a mad dog. (bit / bitten)
7. We ……………….. across the sea. (swam / swum)
8. A portrait of the founder of the company ……………. on the wall. (hung / hanged)
9. She neatly ……………… her books on the table. (lays / lies)
10. The seeds of dissension had already been ……………… (sowed / sown)
Answers
1. The wind blew furiously.
2. He writes to his mother every week.
3. My patience wore out at last.
4. In a fit of rage, she tore up the letter.
5. We couldn’t have chosen a better day for organizing the party.
6. The old man was bitten by a mad dog.
7. We swam across the sea.
8. A portrait of the founder of the company hung on the wall.
9. She neatly lays her books on the table.
10. The seeds of dissension had already been sown.
Common mistakes in the use of verbs
In this article we will take a closer look at some common mistakes in the use of verbs.
Incorrect: I have visited him yesterday.
Correct: I visited him yesterday.
Incorrect: They have finished the work a week ago.
Correct: They finished the work a week ago.
The present perfect tense cannot be used with adverbs that refer to a definite point of time in the past. If you want to say when something happened in the past, you have to use the simple past tense.
Incorrect: We had gone to the movies last night.
Correct: We went to the movies last night.
Incorrect: I had seen him yesterday.
Correct: I saw him yesterday.
The past perfect tense is not used to say that something happened some time ago. That idea is expressed using the simple past tense.
The past perfect tense is only used to suggest that an action had completed before another action commenced.
For example, you can say: We had eaten our dinner before we went to the movies last night.
Incorrect: I had spoken to the boys about my holiday.
Correct: I have spoken to the boys about my holiday.
We use the present perfect tense to talk about actions and situations that happened at an unspecified point of time in the past.
Note that we use the past simple tense if we mention a specific point of time in the past.
Incorrect: He hanged the pictures on the wall.
Correct: He hung the pictures on the wall.
Incorrect: The terrorist was hung.
Correct: The terrorist was hanged.
Use hanged to talk about execution by hanging.
Irregular verbs exercise
Complete the following sentences.
1. The prize was …………………. away by Manchester United.
a) born
b) borne
c) bore
2. The arches have …………………… the weight quite satisfactorily.
a) born
b) borne
c) bored
3. He was ………………… . to poor parents.
a) born
b) borne
4. She has …………………… four children in five years.
a) born
b) borne
5. He …………………. $2000 for the picture.
a) bid
b) bade
c) bode
6. He ………………… them farewell.
a) bid
b) bade
7. After I had ………………….. him farewell, I hurried away.
a) bid
b) bade
c) bidden
8. I ………………… him go away at once.
a) bid
b) bade
c) bidden
9. The Minister ………………….. the foundation stone of the new hospital.
a) lied
b) laid
c) lay
10. The farmer killed the goose that had …………………. a golden egg.
a) laid
b) lain
c) lied
Answers
1. The prize was borne away by Manchester United.
2. The arches have borne the weight quite satisfactorily.
3. He was born to poor parents.
4. She has borne four children in five years.
5. He bid $2000 for the picture.
6. He bade them farewell.
7. After I had bidden him farewell, I hurried away.
8. I bade him go away at once.
9. The Minister laid the foundation stone of the new hospital.
10. The farmer killed the goose that had laid a golden egg.
Phrasal verbs
Here are some common phrasal verbs in English.
Screw up
When something screws up somebody, it confuses or hurts them.
Scratch out
To scratch out is to make a living with great difficulty.
Seal off
To seal off an area is to block it or prevent access to it.
Set off
To set off is to start a journey.
Shake off
To shake something off is to get rid of it.
Spruce up
To spruce up is to smarten up.
Splash out
To splash out is to spend a lot of money on something
Stick around
To stick around is to stay in the same place for a long time.
Dish out
To dish out is to give something (usually criticism) in large amounts
Spew out
To spew something out is to produce a lot of it.
Spark off
To spark something off is to make it happen.
Dish out
To dish something out is to give something (usually something bad) freely and in large amounts.
Shoot off
To shoot off is to leave in a hurry.
Mug up
To mug up is to study hard.
Shake off
To shake something off is to get rid of that.
Stand by (somebody)
To stand by someone is to support them when they need you.
Stand (somebody) up
To stand somebody up is to arrange to meet somebody and not go.
Stand in for
To stand in for somebody is to do their job temporarily.
Stand out
Actually this is an inseparable phrasal verb. When something stands out, it becomes clearly noticeable.
Stand down
To stand down is to resign
Phrasal verbs worksheet
Complete the following sentences using appropriate phrasal verbs. Choose your answers from the options given below. You may have to change the form of the verbs.
(stay away, break in, get on, hold up, set aside, pick up, let off, make off, pull through, make up for)
1. Mother was late because she was …………………. at the office.
2. As you don’t know how to swim, I want you to ………………… from the pond.
3. You must …………………. some money for emergencies.
4. The students who misbehaved in the class were ……………… with a strong warning.
5. Rani ………………. some French during her tour of France.
6. Although Ramesh was very critical, his family hoped that he would ………………..
7. The burglars ……………….. with the stolen goodies.
8. Her experience and confidence ………………….. her lack of degrees.
9. She ………………… well with her neighbors.
10. The thieves ………………… through the back door.
Answers
1. Mother was late because she was held up at the office.
2. As you don’t know how to swim, I want you to stay away from the pond.
3. You must set aside some money for emergencies.
4. The students who misbehaved in the class were let off with a strong warning.
5. Rani picked up some French during her tour of France.
6. Although Ramesh was very critical, his family hoped that he would pull through.
7. The burglars made off with the stolen goodies.
8. Her experience and confidence make up for her lack of degrees.
9. She gets on well with her neighbors.
10. The thieves broke in through the back door.
Subject verb agreement worksheet
Complete the following sentences using a verb form that agrees with the subject.
1. My father joined the cavalry because he ………………. horses.
a) love
b) loves
c) loved
2. Bears often ………………… in caves.
a) hibernate
b) hibernated
c) hibernates
3. His caustic remarks ……………….. our sentiments.
a) hurt
b) hurted
c) hurts
4. Cowboys ……………….. herds of beef cattle.
a) tend
b) tended
c) tends
5. Her laughter was so catching we all …………….. in.
a) join
b) joins
c) joined
6. The social services department …………… specialists for each welfare category.
a) has
b) have
7. The doting husband ……………… to his wife’s every wish.
a) cater
b) caters
8. The politician made a categorical denial of the charges that he ……………… bribes.
a) has taken
b) had taken
9. Let him who is without sin, ……………. the first stone.
a) cast
b) casts
c) casted
Answers
1. My father joined the cavalry because he loved horses.
2. Bears often hibernate in caves.
3. His caustic remarks hurt our sentiments.
4. Cowboys tend herds of beef cattle.
5. Her laughter was so catching we all joined in.
6. The social services department has specialists for each welfare category.
7. The doting husband caters to his wife’s every wish.
8. The politician made a categorical denial of the charges that he had taken bribes.
9. Let him who is without sin, cast the first stone.
Phrasal Verbs Exercise
Phrasal verbs are made up of a verb and a preposition or adverb particle. It is not easy to guess the meaning of a phrasal verb. Test your understanding of phrasal verbs with this grammar exercise.
1. Don't argue with her. She will never ............................
2. The buyer ............................... at the last moment.
3. ......................... your stand with valid arguments.
4. The government must ................................ on drug traffickers and terrorists.
5. She must be praised for ..................................... under so much pressure.
6. Please .............................. us while we complete the paperwork.
7. The scandal .............................. in a couple of weeks.
8. The terrorists .............................. the railway station.
9. You should .......................... those shoes ................... before you go hiking.
10. Violent protests ............................... in various parts of the country.
11. Democracy has ......................... great changes in the lives of ordinary people.
12. Why did you ................................ the fact that she is unemployed?
Answers
1. Don’t argue with her. She will never back down.
2. The buyer backed out at the last moment.
3. Back up your stand with valid arguments.
4. The government must bear down on drug traffickers and terrorists.
5. She must be praised for bearing up under so much pressure.
6. Please bear with us while we complete the paperwork.
7. The scandal blew over in a couple of weeks.
8. The terrorists blew up the railway station.
9. You should break those shoes in before you go hiking.
10. Violent protests broke out in various parts of the country.
11. Democracy has brought about great changes in the lives of ordinary people.
12. Why did you bring up the fact that she is unemployed?
Progressive and Non-progressive Uses of Verbs Exercise
Some verbs are not normally used in progressive (continuous) forms. Some have both progressive and non-progressive forms with different meanings.
This grammar exercise tests your understanding of common progressive and non-progressive verbs.
1. I ....................... fine.
2. I ........................ you shouldn't do this.
3. What ..................... you ..................... about my hair style?
4. I ............................. your dad tomorrow.
5. The fish ......................... awful.
6. I ......................... this song.
7. I rang her up because I ........................... to talk.
8. I ....................... what you mean.
9. The stew ............................ wonderful.
10. If I ....................... the answer, I will tell you.
11. He ............................ 85 kg.
12. ..................... you .................... in God?
Answers
1. I feel / am feeling fine.
2. I feel you shouldn’t do this.
3. What do you think about my hair style?
4. I am seeing your dad tomorrow.
5. The fish smells awful.
6. I like this song.
7. I rang her up because I wanted to talk.
8. I see what you mean.
9. The stew tastes wonderful.
10. If I know the answer, I will tell you.
11. He weighs 85 kg.
12. Do you believe in God?
Would and Should Exercise
The modals ‘would’ and ‘should’ can both be used with first person pronouns I and we as the less definite form of will and shall. Note that should is not normally used with this meaning in American English.
In both British and American English, we use ‘should’ to talk about obligations.
‘Would’ is mainly used to talk about past habits.
Can you use would and should correctly? Test your understanding with this grammar exercise.
1. Everybody ............................. wear seat belts.
2. When we were kids, we ................................ spend hours playing football.
3. I told them we ................................ probably be late.
4. We ................................ be grateful for an early reply.
5. People ............................... drive more carefully.
6. ............................ you like something to eat?
7. ........................... we invite Mary?
8. You ............................... not have called him a fool - it really upset him.
9. I knew that I ............................ write to her, but it seemed too difficult.
10. ............................. we call the police?
11. I wish you ................................... behave like this?
12. I wish it ............................. stop raining.
Answers
1. Everybody should wear seat belts.
2. When we were kids, we would spend hours playing football.
3. I told them we would / should probably be late.
4. We should / would be grateful for an early reply.
5. People should drive more carefully.
6. Would you like something to eat?
7. Should we invite Mary?
8. You should not have called him a fool – it really upset him.
9. I knew that I should write to her, but it seemed too difficult.
10. Should we call the police?
11. I wish you wouldn’t behave like this.
12. I wish it would stop raining.
Phrasal Verbs Exercise
Phrasal verbs are two or three word verbs whose meanings are quite different from the meanings of the individual words in them. Examples are: put off, get along, come up, bring down and put out.
Test your understanding of phrasal verbs with this grammar exercise.
Fill in the blanks with a suitable phrasal verbs.
1. You are quite good at ....................... excuses.
2. The thieves ..................... with the jewels in the middle of the night.
3. Things have finally started ..................... ..
4. Although she was quite upset, she managed to ……………… her tears ………………
5. I think I am ....................... with a flu.
6. She .....................… well with her neighbors.
7. It is really cold. Why don’t you ………………….. your coat?
8. Can you ………………….. with a solution to this problem?
9. The unruly boy was ...................... with a strict warning.
10. I ..................... an old friend of mine yesterday.
11. Profit has been ………………….. recently.
Answers
1. You are quite good at making up excuses.
2. The thieves made off with the jewels in the middle of the night.
3. Things have finally started looking up.
4. Although she was quite upset, she managed to hold her tears back.
5. I think I am going down with a flu.
6. She gets along well with her neighbors.
7. It is really cold. Why don’t you put on your coat?
8. Can you come up with a solution to this problem?
9. The unruly boy was let off with a strict warning.
10. I came across an old friend of mine yesterday.
11. Profit has been falling off recently.
12. Major policy reforms are required to bring about substantial improvements in the housing sector.
Expect, Hope and Wait | Exercise
The words expect, hope and wait have similar meanings; however, they are not always interchangeable.
Complete the following sentences using an appropriate form of expect, hope or wait.
1. She is ……………… a promotion.
2. I am ………………… Maria to come in the evening.
3. I am ………………… to hear from her.
4. He ……………….. to get a bike for his birthday.
5. I have been ………………. for her for hours.
6. She can’t ………………… for her birthday.
7. We are ………………….. rain soon.
8. We are ………………… to get good rains this year.
9. She is quite shy. I ………………….. her to be smarter.
10. Employees are ………………… to start work at 9 o’clock.
11. We are …………………. that you can come and stay with us.
12. We ………………. to hear from her today.
Answers
1. She is expecting a promotion.
2. I am expecting Maria to come in the evening.
3. I am waiting / hoping / expecting to hear from her.
4. He expects / hopes to get a bike for his birthday.
5. I have been waiting for her for hours.
6. She can’t wait for her birthday.
7. We are expecting rain soon.
8. We are expecting / hoping / waiting to get good rains this year.
9. She is quite shy. I expected her to be smarter.
10. Employees are expected to start work at 9 o’clock.
11. We are hoping that you can come and stay with us.
12. We hope / expect / are hoping/ are expecting to hear from her today.
Simple Present or Present Continuous Tense Exercise
We use the simple present tense to talk about general truths, facts, likes, dislikes and preferences. The present continuous tense is used to talk about actions and situations that are going on at the moment of speaking.
1. Rani .......................... with her parents at the moment.
2. My brother ......................... at a bank.
3. I never .......................... up before 9 on Sunday mornings.
4. I ....................... people who ........................... rude to their subordinates.
5. I ......................... this music.
6. ............................. the meat ........................ bad?
7. I .............................. the dentist at 11 am.
8. I ........................... what you mean?
9. He ........................... his dog out for a walk every day before breakfast.
10. If you ....................... too much coffee, you may develop health problems.
11. What time ................................ tomorrow?
12. How often ............................... to the movies?
Answers
1. Rani is staying with her parents at the moment.
2. My brother works at a bank.
3. I never get up before 9 on Sunday mornings.
4. I hate people who are rude to their subordinates.
5. I like this music.
6. Does the meat smell bad?
7. I am seeing the dentist at 11 am.
8. I see what you mean.
9. He takes his dog out for a walk every day before breakfast.
10. If you drink too much coffee, you may develop health problems.
11. What time is she arriving tomorrow?
12. How often do you go to the movies?
Phrasal Verbs Exercise
Phrasal verbs are two or three word verbs whose meanings are very different from the meanings of the individual words in the expression. There are several phrasal verbs in English. While a student is not required to learn all of them, they must at least be familiar with the most common phrasal verbs.
This grammar exercise tests your ability to use phrasal verbs correctly.
Fill in the blanks with an appropriate phrasal verb.
1. The teacher ………………… an explanation of his conduct.
2. ………………… the doctor immediately.
3. Julie ...................... us yesterday.
4. My grandfather cannot ………………… past events.
5. His arrogance ..................... his ruin.
6. The publishers are planning to ………………… a cheap edition of their new dictionary.
7. She …………………. the orphan as her own child.
8. How did these things …………………..?
9. The question ………………… before the municipal corporation last week.
10. He seems to be …………………
11. They ………………… against the gross injustice meted out to them.
12. The rope ……………….. while they were hauling up the pillar.
Answers
1. The teacher called for an explanation of his conduct.
2. Call in the doctor immediately.
3. Julie called on us yesterday.
4. My grandfather cannot call up past events.
5. His arrogance brought about his ruin.
6. The publishers are planning to bring out a cheap edition of their new dictionary.
7. She brought up the orphan as her own child.
8. How did these things come about?
9. The question came up before the municipal corporation last week.
10. He seems to be well off.
11. They cried out against the gross injustice meted out to them.
12. The rope gave way while they were hauling up the pillar.
Phrasal Verbs With Stand, Turn, And Set
There are several phrasal verbs with the words stand, turn and set. This grammar exercise tests your understanding of those phrasal verbs.
1. The factory turns …………………. hundreds of bicycles every day.
2. I did go to their place but they turned me ………………
3. They turned …………………. our offer.
4. Her arrogance turned me ………………..
5. I had invited all of my friends but none of them turned .....................
6. He turned ………………. to be a traitor.
7. The dog turned ………………. the visitor without any provocation.
8. We shall be invincible if we stand ………………… one another.
9. We must have the courage to stand …………………. for our rights.
10. The High court set ………………….. the decree of the lower court.
11. He immediately set ...................... building a business.
12. We set ……………….. in the morning.
Answers
1. The factory turns out hundreds of bicycles every day.
2. I did go to their place but they turned me away.
3. They turned down our offer.
4. Her arrogance turned me off.
5. I had invited all of my friends but none of them turned up.
6. He turned out to be a traitor.
7. The dog turned on the visitor without any provocation.
8. We shall be invincible if we stand by one another.
9. We must have the courage to stand up for our rights.
10. The High court set aside the decree of the lower court.
11. He immediately set about building a business.
12. We set off in the morning.
Sequence of Tenses Exercise
Complete the following sentences using an appropriate tense form.
1. Suddenly we noticed that the clock ………………
2. I never thought that I ………………… see him again.
3. The woman led me to her hut and …………….. me to remain there for the night.
4. We …………….. higher so that we might get a better view of the procession.
5. Euclid proved that the three angles of a triangle …………….. equal to two right angles.
6. I will nurse him so that he …………….. live.
7. I will call you when I …………….
8. He went to the city so that he …………… find work.
9. Wherever he preached, people ……………….. to listen.
10. The thieves stole whatever they ……………… find in the house.
11. He came oftener than we ……………… him to.
12. He stayed at home because he ……………. feeling ill.
Answers
1. Suddenly we noticed that the clock had stopped.
2. I never thought that I would see him again.
3. The woman led me to her hut and told me to remain there for the night.
4. We climbed higher that we might get a better view of the procession.
5. Euclid proved that the three angles of a triangle are equal to two right angles.
6. I will nurse him so that he may live.
7. I will call you when I arrive.
8. He went to the city so that he might find work.
9. Wherever he preached, people gathered to listen.
10. The thieves stole whatever they could find in the house.
11. He came oftener than we expected him to.
12. He stayed at home because he was feeling ill.
Past Or Present Perfect Tense Exercise
Fill in the blanks with a suitable tense form.
1. He .................. all his childhood in a quaint village in China.
2. I ...................... all day yesterday.
3. Mozart died while he ..................... the Requiem.
4. I ..................... the cleaning. What shall I do now?
5. I ................... in India for ten years when I was a child.
6. I can’t play tomorrow because I ................. my leg.
7. My puppy ....................
8. I ................... a lot in Asia and Africa.
9. Once upon a time there .................... a beautiful princess.
10. He .................... hard for years.
11. ....................... Romeo and Juliet on TV last night?
12. My late grandfather ................. a lot for me.
Answers
1. He spent all his childhood in a quaint village in China.
2. I was reading all day yesterday.
3. Mozart died while he was composing the Requiem.
4. I have done the cleaning. What shall I do now?
5. I lived in India for ten years when I was a child.
6. I can’t play tomorrow because I have broken my leg.
7. My puppy has died.
8. I have traveled a lot in Asia and Africa.
9. Once upon a time there lived a beautiful princess.
10. He has worked hard for years.
11. Did you see Romeo and Juliet on TV last night?
12. My late grandfather did a lot for me.
Simple Present And Present Continuous Tense Exercise
Fill in the blanks with a present simple or present continuous tense form.
1. I ............................ my homework.
2. She ..................... as a receptionist.
3. He .......................... with his parents at the moment.
4. I always ........................... up at 6 o'clock.
5. He is busy at the moment. He ......................... to a friend.
6. I'm sorry but I ............................ what you mean.
7. You ............................... too much fat food.
8. Which TV channel ...............................?
9. What time ........................ the train arrive?
10. How often ............................... to the movies?
11. What ................................. at the moment?
12. I usually ...................... early on Mondays.
Answers
1. I am doing my homework.
2. She works as a receptionist.
3. He is staying with his parents at the moment.
4. I always get up at 6 o’clock.
5. He is busy at the moment. He is talking to a friend.
6. I’m sorry but I don’t understand what you mean.
7. You eat too much fat food.
8. Which TV channel do you usually watch?
9. What time does the train arrive?
10. How often do you go to the movies?
11. What are you doing at the moment?
12. I usually get up early on Mondays.
Phrasal Verbs Exercise
Each sentence given below contains an incomplete phrasal verb. Complete the expression by supplying an appropriate preposition or adverb particle.
1. I am going to ask her ………………. to dinner tonight.
2. I won’t be able to get out before you back …………….. your car.
3. My family didn’t back me ………………… over my decision to quit my job.
4. The car blew ……………… after it crashed into the tree.
5. Can you blow this balloon ……………..?
6. The car broke ...................... in the storm.
7. The woman broke …………………. when she learned that she had cancer.
8. If you find the task difficult, break it …………….. into smaller parts.
9. The thieves broke ……………… through the back door.
10. Susie has called ……………. her wedding.
11. I desperately need someone to cheer me ……………..
12. I came ……………… these old letters while organizing the closet.
Answers
1. I am going to ask her out to dinner tonight.
2. I won’t be able to get out before you back up your car.
3. My family didn’t back me up over my decision to quit my job.
4. The car blew up after it crashed into the tree.
5. Can you blow this balloon up?
6. The car broke down in the storm.
7. The woman broke down when she learned that she had cancer.
8. If you find the task difficult, break it down into smaller parts.
9. The thieves broke in through the back door.
10. Susie has called off her wedding.
11. I desperately need someone to cheer me up.
12. I came across these old letters while organizing the closet.
Phrasal Verbs With Go
English has several phrasal verbs with go. Are you familiar with them? Test your knowledge of phrasal verbs with this interactive grammar exercise.
Each sentence given below contains an incomplete phrasal verb. Complete the expression by supplying a suitable preposition or adverb particle.
1. Gambling goes ........................... my principles.
2. She has gone ...................... a lot of hardships.
3. I will go ...................... these files if I get time.
4. Whether you give us your support or not we will go ......................
5. I think I am going ...................... with flu.
6. Have we got enough food to go .....................?
7. We have gone a bit too far. Don't you think we should go ................... now?
8. Although I hadn't provoked the dog, he went ....................... me.
9. Don't forget to go ......................... your notes before exam.
10. Prices of essential commodities have gone .........................
11. He went ........................ his family business as soon as he had completed his MBA.
12. James is going ......................... with a French girl.
Answers
1. Gambling goes against my principles.
2. She has gone through a lot of hardships.
3. I will go through these files if I get time.
4. Whether you give us your support or not we will go ahead.
5. I think I am going down with flu.
6. Have we got enough food to go round?
7. We have gone a bit too far. Don’t you think we should go back now?
8. Although I hadn’t provoked the dog, he went for me.
9. Don’t forget to go over your notes before exam.
10. Prices of essential commodities have gone up.
11. He went into his family business as soon as he had completed his MBA.
12. James is going out with a French girl.
Transitive Or Intransitive
State whether the verbs used in the following sentences are transitive or intransitive.
1. Let’s invite Bob and Sally.
2. You have baffled me.
3. I usually sleep well.
4. Please come here.
5. Our team has won the championship.
6. I bought her some flowers.
7. Marriage changed him for the better.
8. Bob has changed a lot since he got married to Alice.
9. We had to put off our visit to France.
10. You never cease to amaze me.
11. The car won’t start again this morning.
12. She is doing well.
Answers
1. Let’s invite Bob and Sally. (Invite – transitive)
2. You have baffled me. (Baffled – transitive)
3. I usually sleep well. (Sleep – intransitive)
4. Please come here. (Come – intransitive)
5. Our team has won the championship. (Has won – transitive)
6. I bought her some flowers. (Bought – transitive)
7. Marriage changed him for the better. (Changed – transitive)
8. Bob has changed a lot since he got married to Alice. (Changed – intransitive)
9. We had to put off our visit to France. (Transitive – put off)
10. You never cease to amaze me. (Amaze – Transitive)
11. The car won’t start again this morning. (Intransitive)
12. She is doing well. (Intransitive)
Phrasal Verbs With Set
English has several phrasal verbs with set. Can you use them correctly? Take a moment to do this exercise.
1. The children were ....................... going to the movies, but the rain played spoilsport.
2. The girl didn't take even five minutes to ......................... the train set.
3. What sets him ................... from his colleagues is his commitment to his work.
4. She set ................. the novel and started doing her homework.
5. She has faced many ................... in life.
6. He set the stereo ................... on the table.
7. Winter has set ..................
8. Three months after quitting the job, remorse set ...............
9. We set .................... on our voyage in the morning.
10. The decision to build a dam in the ecologically sensitive region set ................... a wave of protests.
11. The merchant set .................... on his journey in the morning.
12. They set .................... the tent in a couple of minutes.
Answers
1. The children were set on going to the movies, but the rain played spoilsport.
2. The girl didn’t take even five minutes to set up the train set.
3. What sets him apart from his colleagues is his commitment to his work.
4. She set aside the novel and started doing her homework.
5. She has faced many setbacks in life.
6. He set the stereo down on the table.
7. Winter has set in.
8. Three months after quitting the job, remorse set in.
9. We set off on our voyage in the morning.
10. The decision to build a dam in the ecologically sensitive region set off a wave of protests.
11. The merchant set out / off on his journey in the morning.
12. They set up the tent in a couple of minutes.
Tenses Exercise
Fill in the blanks with an appropriate verb form.
1. By the time they found him, he .................................
2. He ..................................... many years ago.
3. By that time, everybody ........................................ asleep.
4. She told me that something ........................................ to him.
5. I ............................................ about it until you mentioned it.
6. She ............................................. him at once.
7. I ....................................... him yesterday.
8. He ......................................... in 1960.
9. I ............................................... enough time to finish the job.
10. When I arrived at the party, everybody .......................................... home.
11. I wondered who ........................................... the cat in.
12. I thought I .......................................... the money.
Answers
- By the time they found him, he had died.
- He died many years ago.
- By that time, everybody was asleep.
- She told me that something had happened to him.
- I hadn’t thought about it until you mentioned it.
- She recognized him at once.
- I saw him yesterday.
- He was born in 1960.
- I didn’t get enough time to finish the job.
- When I arrived at the party, everybody had already gone home.
- I wondered who had let the cat in.
- I thought I had sent the money.
Verbs Exercise
Fill in the blanks with an appropriate verb form.
1. He ……………….. the pictures on the wall.
2. The man was ………………….. for murder.
3. I ……………………. him a moment ago.
4. He ………………….. in 1995.
5. He ………………….. ill for about a month.
6. He lost his phone shortly after he ………………………… it.
Please select 2 correct answers
7. I …………………….. you for a long time.
8. I ……………………… him to go.
9. Neither of the messengers ……………………….. returned.
10. The quality of the apples ………………………… not good.
11. One of my sisters ………………………. abroad.
12. The mother cat with her kittens …………………………. hiding under the bed.
Answers
1. He hung the pictures on the wall.
2. The man was hanged for murder.
3. I saw him a moment ago.
4. He graduated in 1995.
5. He has been ill for about a month.
6. He lost his phone shortly after he bought / had bought it.
7. I haven’t seen you for a long time.
8. I told him to go.
9. Neither of the messengers has returned.
10. The quality of the apples was not good.
11. One of my sisters lives abroad.
12. The mother cat with her kittens is hiding under the bed.
Verbs Exercise
Fill in the blanks.
1. …………………….. she know what she is doing?
2. ……………………… forget to give me a call before you leave.
3. ………………………… your shoes before entering the temple.
4. She ……………………………. harder than anybody I know.
5. He was a true patriot who …………………….. for his country.
6. I …………………………… my grandparents every Sunday.
7. Sam ………………………. a good job.
8. We ………………………… the job by Monday.
9. Don’t phone them now. They …………………………. dinner.
10. She ………………………. to him for thirty years.
11. Somebody has ……………………… my purse?
12. She ………………………….. to anyone.
Answers
1. Does she know what she is doing?
2. Don’t forget to give me a call before you leave.
3. Remove your shoes before entering the temple.
4. She works harder than anybody I know.
5. He was a true patriot who would die for his country.
6. I visit my grandparents every Sunday.
7. Sam has found a good job.
8. We will have finished the job by Monday.
9. Don’t phone them now. They will be having dinner.
10. She has been married to him for thirty years.
11. Somebody has stolen my purse?
12. She has never apologized to anyone.
