Precis & Composition
English Tenses
Which sentence is standard?
A. I am believing you.
B. I believe you.
C. I have believing you.
D. I was believe you.
Correct Answer: B
'Believe' is normally stative and usually not used in progressive forms.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
She said that she _____ him the previous day.
A. meets
B. had met
C. has met
D. will meet
Correct Answer: B
An action completed before the past reporting moment is naturally expressed with the past perfect.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
The teacher said that the Earth _____ around the Sun.
A. moved
B. moves
C. had moved
D. would move only
Correct Answer: B
A universal truth normally remains in the simple present even after a past reporting verb.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
He said, 'I will help you.' Reported speech: He said that he _____ help me.
A. will
B. would
C. can
D. has
Correct Answer: B
'Will' commonly backshifts to 'would' in reported speech.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
She said, 'I have finished.' Reported speech: She said that she _____ finished.
A. has
B. had
C. was
D. will have
Correct Answer: B
Present perfect normally backshifts to past perfect after a past reporting verb.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
He said, 'I am tired.' The best reported form is: He said that he _____ tired.
A. is
B. was
C. has been
D. will be
Correct Answer: B
With a past reporting verb, present tense commonly backshifts to past tense in reported speech.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
If he were more careful, he _____ that mistake yesterday.
A. would not make
B. would not have made
C. will not make
D. did not make tomorrow
Correct Answer: B
Mixed conditional: a present unreal characteristic is linked to a past result.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
If she had taken the medicine, she _____ better now.
A. would feel
B. would have felt yesterday only
C. will feel yesterday
D. felt tomorrow
Correct Answer: A
This is a mixed conditional: a past unreal condition has a present result.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
If he _____ harder, he would have passed.
A. studied
B. had studied
C. studies
D. would study
Correct Answer: B
Third conditional: 'if + past perfect' and 'would have + past participle'.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
If I _____ you, I would accept the offer.
A. am
B. were
C. had been yesterday
D. will be
Correct Answer: B
In formal hypothetical conditionals, 'were' is used for all persons: 'If I were you...'.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
If I _____ enough money, I will buy the book.
A. have
B. had
C. had had
D. would have
Correct Answer: A
First conditional: present tense in the if-clause and 'will' in the main clause.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
If you heat ice, it _____.
A. will melt always
B. melts
C. melted
D. would melt yesterday
Correct Answer: B
Zero conditional uses simple present in both clauses for general truths.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
I will wait here while you _____ to the manager.
A. will talk
B. talk
C. talked yesterday
D. had talked
Correct Answer: B
In a future time clause with 'while', use a present form rather than 'will'.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
Once he _____ the approval, he will proceed.
A. will receive
B. receives
C. received yesterday
D. had receiving
Correct Answer: B
'Once' introducing a future time/condition clause normally takes a present tense.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
Before you _____ the form, read the instructions carefully.
A. will submit
B. submit
C. submitted yesterday
D. have submitted tomorrow
Correct Answer: B
In a future-reference time clause after 'before', present tense is normally used.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
As soon as she _____, we will start the meeting.
A. will arrive
B. arrives
C. arrived tomorrow
D. had arrived
Correct Answer: B
Future time clauses after 'as soon as' normally use the simple present.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
I will stay here until he _____.
A. will come
B. comes
C. came
D. had come
Correct Answer: B
After 'until' in a future time clause, use a present tense rather than 'will'.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
Did you meet him two days _____?
A. yet
B. since
C. ago
D. already
Correct Answer: C
'Ago' is used with the simple past to count backward from the present.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
He has _____ submitted the form, so no further action is needed.
A. already
B. ago
C. last year
D. yesterday
Correct Answer: A
'Already' is commonly used with the present perfect for an action completed sooner than expected or before now.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
I have never _____ such a difficult question.
A. saw
B. seen
C. see
D. seeing
Correct Answer: B
The present perfect requires the past participle: 'have seen'.