CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
We ___ hurry; there is plenty of time.
A. must not
B. need not
C. should have
D. would
Correct Answer: B
'Need not' means there is no necessity.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
They ___ have reached home by now, but I am not sure.
A. might
B. must not
C. shall
D. ought not
Correct Answer: A
'Might have' expresses uncertainty about a past event.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
He ___ have missed the bus; otherwise, he would be here.
A. may
B. must
C. can
D. shall
Correct Answer: B
'Must have' expresses a strong deduction about a past event.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
You ___ have checked the figures before submitting the report.
A. should
B. should have
C. can
D. will
Correct Answer: B
'Should have + past participle' expresses criticism about a past action.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
She ___ be at the office; her car is not there.
A. must
B. can't
C. ought
D. shall
Correct Answer: B
'Can't' expresses a strong negative deduction.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
He ___ be the manager; everyone is reporting to him.
A. must
B. can't
C. might not
D. shouldn't
Correct Answer: A
'Must' can express a strong logical deduction.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
You ___ smoke in this area.
A. must
B. must not
C. should
D. may
Correct Answer: B
'Must not' expresses prohibition.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
You ___ submit the application before 4 p.m.; it is compulsory.
A. may
B. must
C. might
D. could
Correct Answer: B
'Must' expresses strong obligation.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
By noon tomorrow, the committee ___ the final draft.
A. will have reviewed
B. will be reviewing
C. reviews
D. reviewed
Correct Answer: A
Future perfect describes an action expected to be completed by a future deadline.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
At noon tomorrow, the committee ___ the final draft.
A. reviews
B. will be reviewing
C. reviewed
D. has reviewed
Correct Answer: B
Future continuous describes an action that will be in progress at a specified future time.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
He ___ a book when the lights went out.
A. read
B. was reading
C. has read
D. had reading
Correct Answer: B
An action in progress when another past action occurred takes the past continuous.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
This is the second time she ___ the competition.
A. won
B. has won
C. had win
D. wins yesterday
Correct Answer: B
'This is the second time...' normally takes the present perfect.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
The meeting ___ before we reached the office.
A. starts
B. had started
C. has started tomorrow
D. was start
Correct Answer: B
The meeting began before another past action, so past perfect is appropriate.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
I ___ him since we graduated.
A. did not see
B. have not seen
C. had not saw
D. am not seeing
Correct Answer: B
'Since' with a past starting point commonly requires the present perfect.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
If the weather improves, we ___ the trip.
A. resumed
B. will resume
C. would resume
D. would have resumed
Correct Answer: B
First conditional: present simple in the if-clause and 'will + base verb' in the main clause.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
She told me that she ___ the movie already.
A. saw
B. had seen
C. has seen tomorrow
D. sees
Correct Answer: B
An earlier past action in reported speech is commonly expressed with the past perfect.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
He said that he ___ the document before the deadline.
A. will submit
B. would submit
C. submits
D. has submit
Correct Answer: B
In reported speech after a past reporting verb, 'will' normally becomes 'would'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
By this time next year, I ___ here for a decade.
A. work
B. will have been working
C. worked
D. am working
Correct Answer: B
Future perfect continuous expresses duration up to a future point.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
She ___ for the bus since 7 a.m.
A. waits
B. is waiting
C. has been waiting
D. was waited
Correct Answer: C
An action continuing from a past starting point to the present takes the present perfect continuous.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
He ___ dinner when I called him.
A. had
B. was having
C. has
D. had had yesterday
Correct Answer: B
The ongoing action at the time of the call is expressed with the past continuous.