Subject verb agreement (fill in with the suitable verb)
Either the physicians in this hospital or the chief administrator __________ going to have to make a decision
is
are
Is
(With "either" you choose one of two choices, so it requires a single verb)
(1)_________ firefighters face dangers.
(2)_________ firefighters were the first to arrive at the scene of the accident.
(1) Firefighters face dangers.
(2) The firefighters were the first to arrive at the scene of the accident.
(We do not need an article when talking about job titles in general)
(We use the definite article "the" when talking about a specific event or incident)
They make shoes in that factory (active)
Shoes ___________ in that factory
were made
are made
was made
are made
Passive voice in the present tense
(We use verb to be in the present tense + the past participle of the verb)
My teacher gave me some very useful _______
advice
advise
advice
"advice" is a noun
"advise" is a verb
He is neither brilliant at languages nor in science
Wrong
He is neither brilliant at languages nor at science
(The word "brilliant" is always followed by the preposition "at")
Some of the votes ____________ to have been miscounted
seem
seems
Seem
("some" is a plural word that requires a plural verb)
For dinner I had _________ soup and _______ salad
For dinner I had soup and a salad
(We do not use articles with uncountable nouns)
(We use the indefinite article "a" only with countable singular nouns)
They built the skyscraper in 1934
That skyscraper __________ in 1934
been built
was being built
was built
was built
Passive in the past simple tense
(We use verb to be in the past + the past participle of the verb)
You can borrow my car, but if you ______ it, I'll never talk to you again
damage
harm
damage
(We usually use the word "damage" when referring to objects)
They enjoyed the baseball game despite of the rain
Wrong
They enjoyed the baseball game despite the rain
(There is always a confusion between "despite" which is not followed by "of" and "in spite of" which has the same meaning but must be followed by "of"
Both are commonly used linking words that introduce a contrasting idea
Everyone selected to serve on this jury _________ to be willing to give up a lot of time
has
have
has
("Every" is a singular word that requires a singulr noun)
My cousin studies at ________ North Hennepin Community College. I study at _______ University of Minnesota
My cousin studies at North Hennepin Community College. I study at the University of Minnesota
(Do not use an article with names of universities or colleges)
(We use "the" with names that contain the preposition "of")
The students will finish the course by December
will finish
was finished
will be finished
will be finished
Passive in the future simple tense
(We use will + be + past participle of the verb)
My mother asked me to _________ the table
lie
lay
lay
"lie" to put yourself in a relaxing position
"lay" to put something/ someone on a surface
I wore jeans
Correct
(The nouns "jeans, pants, scissors and glasses" refer to one singular item, they do not require an article)
(Instead, you can use "no article" or "a pair of" )
Honor and glory ______ his reward
are
is
is
(If the nouns connected by "and" suggest one idea to the mind, or refer to the same person or thing, the verb is singular)
My brother is ________ mountain climber, he has climbed _______ Alpes
My brother is a mountain climber, he has climbed the Alpes
(We use the article "the" only for a group of mountains)
(Also, we frequently add the definite article to rivers, oceans and seas)
Ex: The river Nile, The Thames, The Pacific Ocean
They are repairing the streets this month
The streets _______ this month
were repaired
are being repaired
are repaired
are being repaired
Passive in the present continuous tense
(We use verb to be in the present + being + past participle of the verb)
He's a ____________ boy and gets upset easily
sensitive
sensible
sensitive
"sensitive" an emotional person
"sensible" a wise person
He loves team sports as soccer
Wrong
He loves team sports such as soccer
He loves team sports like soccer
(When you want to give an example, use "such as" or "like". Do not use "as")
"Such as" is more formal than like
Exception: Do not use an article with the names of halls or hospitals.
Neither my sister nor I _______ going to the festival this evening
are
am
am
(We only look at the subject that follows "nor")
Henry won_______ second prize in the university jeopardy contest.
Henry won second prize in the university jeopardy contest.
(Use "the" with ordinal numbers and other ranking words like "next" and "last".
Exception: Do not use "the" with ordinal numbers when referring to names of prizes.
The traffic might have delayed Jimmy
Jimmy __________ by the traffic
might been
might have been
might had been
might have been
Passive in the present perfect tense
(We use verb to have in the present tense + been + the past participle of the verb)
From the top of the hill, you have a marvelous _________ of the town
view
scenery
view
"view" to look at a specific place from a specific point
"scenery" the background landscape
My friend recommended me to buy this car
Wrong
My friend recommended that I buy this car
("recommend" follows the same rules as the verb "suggest")
(We use a subject pronoun after the verb rather than an object)
(We do not use "to" after recommend)