Do you dream in English?
Interesting experiences
You may well find yourself wishing to describe the first and last times you have had certain interesting experiences. Here is your chance to check that you can do this clearly and fluently!
1.
Pick the answer that completes the blank/s in the best, most suitable and accurate English.
'It was delightful to see once again the paintings she ... ... on a previous visit.'
'It was delightful to see once again the paintings she ... ... on a previous visit.'
... made ...
... did ...
... had made ...
... had done ...
We need the Pluperfect (Past Perfect) here since the paintings date from two steps back into the past; English usually speaks in terms of 'doing' rather than 'making' a painting (possibly because 'make' somehow suggests an artefact in three dimensions, rather than a mere two).
2.
Pick the answer that completes the blank/s in the best, most suitable and accurate English.
'This isn't exactly the first time you ... ... that mistake, is it?'
'This isn't exactly the first time you ... ... that mistake, is it?'
... make ...
... made ...
... have made ...
... are making ...
' ... have made ... ' suggests the recent past (of the latest occurrence), and that there is a sense of continuity or repetition about how it's been happening.
Answer 1 is wrong, if still more or less clear English; Answer 2 is more an American usage; the present form (Answer 4) is not good English, even in context, and more probably reflects a different, foreign usage.
Answer 1 is wrong, if still more or less clear English; Answer 2 is more an American usage; the present form (Answer 4) is not good English, even in context, and more probably reflects a different, foreign usage.
3.
Pick the answer that completes the blank/s in the best, most suitable and accurate English.
'I honestly believed that the last time I came here would be ... .'
'I honestly believed that the last time I came here would be ... .'
... the last time I came here.
...the last time I come here.
...the last time that I come here.
...the last time when I come here.
Believe it or not, Answer 1 is fine; each half of the repeat carries a slightly different sense, but the words themselves work equally well both ways.
There is no need for 'that'/'when' or any form of subjunctive; English is perfectly clear without any such devices (unlike several other fine languages, possibly including yours!).
There is no need for 'that'/'when' or any form of subjunctive; English is perfectly clear without any such devices (unlike several other fine languages, possibly including yours!).
4.
Pick the answer that completes the blank/s in the best, most suitable and accurate English.
'I ... ... to Africa for the last time next week, for my mother's funeral.'
'I ... ... to Africa for the last time next week, for my mother's funeral.'
... flew ...
... was flying ...
... fly ...
... am flying ...
It may be the 'last time', but not until 'next week' ~ so the past tenses (though tempting) in Answers 1 & 2 won't make good sense.
The apparent Present Continuous (meaning future action) in Answer 4 is best; Answer 3 is possible but rather abrupt, even from someone who presumably has other important matters on their mind.
The apparent Present Continuous (meaning future action) in Answer 4 is best; Answer 3 is possible but rather abrupt, even from someone who presumably has other important matters on their mind.
5.
Pick the answer that completes the blank/s in the best, most suitable and accurate English.
'If you already have three sons, what are the chances ... ... a girl?'
'If you already have three sons, what are the chances ... ... a girl?'
... that your next child is ...
... of your next child being ...
... that your next child was ...
... of your next child going to be ...
' ... chance of being ... ' is probably a little more natural than ' ... chance that something is ...' (Answer 1).
'Was' (Answer 3) is clearly wrong in this theoretical context; meanwhile Answer 4 is misconstructed.
'Was' (Answer 3) is clearly wrong in this theoretical context; meanwhile Answer 4 is misconstructed.
6.
Pick the answer that completes the blank/s in the best, most suitable and accurate English.
'She said she felt there had never been an occasion ... ... overshadowed by her husband or family.'
'She said she felt there had never been an occasion ... ... overshadowed by her husband or family.'
... that she feel ...
... that she felt ...
... when she was feeling ...
... when she felt ...
' ... an occasion WHEN ... ' , rather than 'that'.
If there hadn't even been one such occasion, there can be no need for a continuous tense (Answer 3).
If there hadn't even been one such occasion, there can be no need for a continuous tense (Answer 3).
7.
Pick the answer that completes the blank/s in the best, most suitable and accurate English.
'That's the last drink ... ... if I've got to drive you home in this rain.'
'That's the last drink ... ... if I've got to drive you home in this rain.'
... I have ...
... I'm having ...
... I'll have ...
... I've had ...
The context suggests that the speaker is either finishing the drink, or possibly just about to start (or even buy) it ~ with the use of the Present Continuous to imply imminent future action.
The plain present (Answer 1) would be understood but isn't natural here; Answer 3 is possible but, again, somehow slightly less natural in context; despite 'last' suggesting something being past or finished, the past tense in Answer 4 is also wrong here.
The plain present (Answer 1) would be understood but isn't natural here; Answer 3 is possible but, again, somehow slightly less natural in context; despite 'last' suggesting something being past or finished, the past tense in Answer 4 is also wrong here.
8.
Pick the answer that completes the blank/s in the best, most suitable and accurate English.
'Since this lovely school is closing forever at the end of term, that will very sadly be the ... ... '
'Since this lovely school is closing forever at the end of term, that will very sadly be the ... ... '
... first last prize we shall award.
... first last prize we have awarded.
... last first prize we shall award.
... last first prize we have awarded.
It will have been the final First Prize. The verb should be in the past tense (Answer 4, rather than 3) since 'that' suggests that the speaker has already let go of, and passed on, the prize.
9.
Pick the answer that completes the blank/s in the best, most suitable and accurate English.
'Do you remember the very first time you ... ... in English?'
'Do you remember the very first time you ... ... in English?'
... were dreaming ...
... dreamt ...
... are dreaming ...
... are having a dream ...
The Present forms (Answers 3 & 4) are wrong here in reference to a past event; if it was a single event, the continuous / imperfect tense (Answer 1) feels wrong too.
Meanwhile 'dreamt' is a permissible alternative to the 'weak' form 'dreamed' (as in: 'I never dreamt there would be all this trouble/traffic').
Meanwhile 'dreamt' is a permissible alternative to the 'weak' form 'dreamed' (as in: 'I never dreamt there would be all this trouble/traffic').
10.
Pick the answer that completes the blank/s in the best, most suitable and accurate English.
'If they got out of London before the worst of the rush-hour, the earliest they ... ... 7:45 or so.'
'If they got out of London before the worst of the rush-hour, the earliest they ... ... 7:45 or so.'
... could of arrived here for supper would be ...
... would have arrived here for supper could be ...
... could arrive here for supper would be ...
... could arrive here for supper is ...
'could of' (Answer 1) is a common ~ and wrong, however widespread ~ substitution for 'could have'; Answer 2 contains more prissy conditional/subjunctive/modal forms than clear English really needs, and 'would have arrived' (with its sense of the past) is inappropriate here; Answer 4 is possible but perhaps too simple.
Answer 3 balances more clearly and elegantly than any of the others.
Answer 3 balances more clearly and elegantly than any of the others.
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