Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
You ___ have informed the office earlier.
A. should
B. should have
C. may
D. can
Correct Answer: B
'Should have + past participle' expresses criticism about a past action.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
She ___ be at home; I just saw her at the market.
A. must
B. can't
C. ought to
D. shall
Correct Answer: B
'Can't' expresses a strong negative deduction.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
He ___ be very tired after working all night.
A. must
B. can't
C. shouldn't
D. might not
Correct Answer: A
'Must' can express a strong logical deduction.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
You ___ park here; this area is reserved.
A. must
B. must not
C. should
D. may
Correct Answer: B
'Must not' expresses prohibition.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
You ___ submit original documents at the interview; it is mandatory.
A. might
B. must
C. could
D. would
Correct Answer: B
'Must' expresses strong obligation.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
He ___ television when the doorbell rang.
A. watched
B. was watching
C. has watched
D. had watch
Correct Answer: B
The ongoing past action uses the past continuous.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
I ___ him twice this month.
A. met last year
B. have met
C. had met before 2010
D. am meeting yesterday
Correct Answer: B
An unfinished time period such as 'this month' commonly takes the present perfect.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
The train ___ before we reached the platform.
A. leaves
B. had left
C. has left tomorrow
D. was leave
Correct Answer: B
Past perfect shows the train's departure occurred before our arrival.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
She ___ all morning, so she needs a break.
A. studied yesterday
B. has been studying
C. had studied in 2010
D. is study
Correct Answer: B
Present perfect continuous shows an activity continuing up to the present.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
He ___ the email before he left the office.
A. sends
B. had sent
C. has sent tomorrow
D. is sending
Correct Answer: B
The sending occurred before another past action, so past perfect is appropriate.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
By next December, the company ___ this product for five years.
A. will sell
B. will have been selling
C. sold
D. is selling yesterday
Correct Answer: B
Future perfect continuous expresses duration up to a future point.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
I ___ him for years before we became colleagues.
A. know
B. had known
C. have known now
D. am knowing
Correct Answer: B
Past perfect can describe a state that existed before another past event.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
She usually ___ early, but today she ___ late.
A. arrives / is coming
B. is arriving / comes
C. arrive / came
D. arrived / comes
Correct Answer: A
Simple present expresses habit; present continuous expresses a temporary current situation.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
I will inform you as soon as the result ___.
A. will arrive
B. arrives
C. arrived
D. would arrive
Correct Answer: B
Future time clauses after 'as soon as' use the present simple.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
If the weather ___ fine tomorrow, we will travel.
A. will be
B. is
C. was
D. would be
Correct Answer: B
A first conditional uses the simple present in the if-clause.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
He said he ___ the payment the following week.
A. will make
B. would make
C. makes
D. has made
Correct Answer: B
In reported speech after a past reporting verb, 'will' normally backshifts to 'would'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
This is the first time I ___ this software.
A. used
B. have used
C. had use
D. use yesterday
Correct Answer: B
'This is the first time...' normally takes the present perfect.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
She ___ for two hours before the bus finally arrived.
A. waited
B. had been waiting
C. has waited
D. is waiting
Correct Answer: B
Past perfect continuous emphasizes duration before another past event.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
By 10 a.m. tomorrow, he ___ his interview.
A. will have completed
B. will be completing
C. completes
D. completed
Correct Answer: A
Future perfect describes an action completed before a specified future point.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
At 10 a.m. tomorrow, he ___ his interview.
A. attends
B. will be attending
C. attended
D. has attended
Correct Answer: B
Future continuous describes an action in progress at a specific future time.