TENSES

TASK 8

1. After she had bought himself a new automobile, she sold her bicycle.

A            B                                          C       D

Incorrect : B. Himself

Analysis : Because in the sentence the subject is she, so the word himself should be herself. So revision : After she had bought herself a new automobile, she sold her bicycle.

2. After George had returned to his house, he was reading a book.

A                 B           C         D

Incorrect : D. Was Reading

Analysis : Because the sentence "he was reading a book" is the simple past tense, after the word “was” to be followed by verb₂, so the word reading should be read. So revision : After George had returned to his house, he was read a book.

3. After John eaten dinner, he wrote several letters and went to bed.

A                   B                 C                         D

Incorrect : A. Eaten

Analysis : Because the sentence is incomplete. The structure of the sentence is "after S + Had + Verb₃. So the word “eaten” should be preceded by the word “had”. So revision : After John had eaten dinner, he wrote several letters and went to bed.

4. The president went fishing after he has finished with the conferences.

A                              B        C               D

Incorrect : D. Has finished

Analysis : Because the sentence “he has finished with the conferences” is the past perfect tense, the structure of the sentence is "after S + Had + Verb3. So the word “finished” should be preceded by the word “had”. So the word has should be had. So revision : The president went fishing after he had finished with the conferences.

5. The governor has not decided how to deal with the new problems already.

A                          B                                 C                                             D

Incorrect : D. Already

Analysis : The sentence is negative. So the word already should be yet. So revision : The governor has not decided how to deal with the new problems yet.

6. The professor had already given the homework assignment when he had remembered

A                                               B

that  Monday was holiday.

C         D        

Incorrect : B. Had remembered

Analysis : The word had should be has. So revision : The professor had already given the homework assignment when he has remembered that  Monday was holiday.

7. John lived in New York since 1960 to 1975, but he is now living in Detroit.

 A                    B                                              C            D

Incorrect : B. Since

Analysis : Because the sentence is action and began in the present. So the word since should be for. So revision : John lived in New York for 1960 to 1975, but he is now living in Detroit.

8. Before she moved here, Arlene had been president of the organization since four years.

A                                                      B                      C                             D

Incorrect : D. Since

Analysis : Because the sentence is action and began in the present. So the word since should be for. So revision : Before she moved here, Arlene had been president of the organization for four years.

9. Our new neighbors had been living in Arizona since ten years before moving the their

A                                   B                                C                              D

present house.

Incorrect : C. Since

Analysis : Because the sentence is action and began in the present. So the word since should be for. So revision : Our new neighbors had been living in Arizona for ten years before moving the their present house.

10. The volume four of our encyclopedia set has been missing for two months.

A                      B                                           C              D

Incorrect : A. The volume

Analysis : Because in the sentence the word "missing" is used here as an adjective. The adjective here means not able to be found. So the word "the" can be removed, because that would be the usual wording. So revision : Volume four of our encyclopedia set has been missing for two months.