Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
I wish I ___ harder for the test.
A. study
B. studied
C. had studied
D. would study
Correct Answer: C
For regret about the past, 'wish + past perfect' is used.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
I wish I ___ the answer.
A. know
B. knew
C. will know
D. have known
Correct Answer: B
After 'wish' for a present unreal situation, the past tense is used: 'I wish I knew'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
If he had studied harder, he ___ the exam.
A. would pass
B. will pass
C. would have passed
D. passed
Correct Answer: C
A third conditional uses 'if + past perfect' and 'would have + past participle'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
If I ___ you, I would accept the offer.
A. am
B. was
C. were
D. will be
Correct Answer: C
In formal hypothetical conditionals, 'were' is used for all persons: 'If I were you'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
If it ___ tomorrow, we will cancel the match.
A. will rain
B. rains
C. rained
D. would rain
Correct Answer: B
In a first conditional, the if-clause uses the simple present and the main clause uses 'will'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
He said that he ___ the work the next day.
A. will finish
B. would finish
C. finishes
D. has finished
Correct Answer: B
In reported speech after a past reporting verb, future 'will' normally backshifts to 'would'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
When I entered the room, they ___.
A. talked
B. were talking
C. have talked
D. had talk
Correct Answer: B
An action already in progress when another past action occurred takes the past continuous.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
I ___ this book for two weeks.
A. have had
B. am having
C. had
D. have been having
Correct Answer: A
'Have' meaning possession is normally stative and is used in the present perfect: 'have had'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
She ___ here since 2020.
A. works
B. worked
C. has been working
D. is working
Correct Answer: C
'Since 2020' indicates an action that began in the past and continues to the present, so the present perfect continuous is appropriate.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
By the time we reached the station, the train ___.
A. left
B. has left
C. had left
D. leaves
Correct Answer: C
The earlier of two past actions is expressed with the past perfect: 'had left'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. I have seen him yesterday.
B. I saw him yesterday.
C. I had seen him yesterday.
D. I see him yesterday.
Correct Answer: B
A finished past time expression such as 'yesterday' normally requires the simple past.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Every boy and every girl ___ required to register.
A. are
B. were
C. is
D. have
Correct Answer: C
When 'every' modifies each singular noun joined by 'and', the verb is normally singular.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
There ___ two books and a pen on the desk.
A. is
B. are
C. has
D. was
Correct Answer: B
In standard formal English, the verb agrees with the plural notional subject 'two books and a pen': 'There are...'.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
The furniture in these rooms ___ expensive.
A. are
B. have
C. is
D. were
Correct Answer: C
'Furniture' is an uncountable singular noun.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
The police ___ investigating the case.
A. is
B. are
C. has
D. was
Correct Answer: B
'Police' is normally treated as a plural noun and takes a plural verb.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
None of the information ___ useful.
A. are
B. were
C. have been
D. is
Correct Answer: D
'Information' is uncountable and singular, so 'is' is correct.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Many a student ___ this mistake.
A. make
B. have made
C. makes
D. are making
Correct Answer: C
'Many a + singular noun' takes a singular verb.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
More than one candidate ___ applied for the post.
A. have
B. has
C. are
D. were
Correct Answer: B
'More than one + singular noun' generally takes a singular verb.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
One of the boys ___ absent.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
Correct Answer: B
'One' is the subject and is singular, so 'is' is required.
Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
The captain, along with his players, ___ ready.
A. are
B. were
C. is
D. have
Correct Answer: C
The true subject is 'captain'. Phrases introduced by 'along with' do not affect subject–verb agreement.