Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy the passage but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space. Example: One night four college students (0) __________ (be) out partying late and did not study for the test scheduled for the next day. Answer: (0) were
In the morning, they (1) __________ (think) of a plan. They (2) __________ (make) themselves look dirty with grease and dirt. Then they (3) __________ (go) to the Dean and (4) __________ (say) they (5) __________ (go) out to a wedding last night and on their way back the tyre of their car burst and they had to push the car all the way back. The Dean thought for a minute and said that they could have the re-test after three days. They (6) __________ (thank) him and said they would be ready. On the day of the test, they were made to sit in separate rooms. They agreed as they (7) __________ (prepare) well. But they (8) __________ (get) a rude shock!
Topic: Tenses — correct form of the verb
Answer
(1) thought (2) made (3) went (4) said (5) had gone (6) thanked (7) had prepared (8) got
HOW THE 4 MARKS ARE AWARDED: half a mark per blank, eight blanks, no partial credit within a blank.
FIND THE TENSE FIRST. The worked example gives "(0) were", so the narrative is in the SIMPLE PAST. Blanks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 follow that directly.
TWO BLANKS ARE DIFFERENT, and they are the whole difficulty of this passage: (5) had gone — PAST PERFECT. The students are reporting an event that happened BEFORE they spoke to the Dean ("last night"). When one past event precedes another, the earlier one takes the past perfect. (7) had prepared — PAST PERFECT for the same reason: they agreed to the test BECAUSE they had already prepared. The preparation came first.
THE RULE TO CARRY AWAY: in a past-tense narrative, ask of every blank whether the action happened BEFORE the main sequence. If it did, use "had + past participle".
MARKS LOST MECHANICALLY: copying the passage instead of writing the answers in serial order, and irregular past forms misspelt (thought, went, got).