Verb competitive exams
50 questions · One Paper
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Question 1 of 50
Choose the correct sentence with the past perfect used for an earlier past action:
ExplanationThe past perfect ('had started') is used correctly for an action completed before another past action (his arrival).
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Question 2 of 50
Choose the correct sentence expressing a present wish contrary to fact:
ExplanationAfter 'wish' for present unreal situations, the subjunctive 'were' is used for all subjects, not 'was'.
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Question 3 of 50
Identify the correct sentence with the past participle of 'to lie' (deceive):
Explanation'Lie' (to deceive) is a regular verb: lie-lied-lied, distinct from 'lie' (to recline): lie-lay-lain.
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Question 4 of 50
Choose the sentence with the correct third conditional structure:
ExplanationThe third conditional (unreal past) requires 'if + past perfect, would have + past participle'.
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Question 5 of 50
Identify the correct sentence with the correct verb form in a conditional type 1:
ExplanationIn the first conditional, the 'if' clause uses present simple, and the main clause uses 'will + base verb'.
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Question 6 of 50
Identify the correct sentence using the present perfect for an action with present relevance:
ExplanationThe present perfect ('have lost') correctly links a past action to its present consequence (can't find them now).
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Question 7 of 50
Choose the correct sentence with the modal perfect expressing past probability:
Explanation'Must have + past participle' correctly expresses a strong assumption about a past action.
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Question 8 of 50
Choose the correct sentence distinguishing 'for' and 'since' with the present perfect:
Explanation'For' is used with a duration of time (five years), and 'since' is used with a specific starting point (2019) — correctly distinguished in option C.
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Question 9 of 50
Select the sentence with the correct past participle of 'lie' (to recline) vs 'lay' (to place):
Explanation'Lie' (to recline) - lay - lain is intransitive; 'lay' (to place) - laid - laid is transitive. Option A correctly uses both.
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Question 10 of 50
Identify the correct sentence with a causative verb:
ExplanationThe causative structure 'have + object + past participle' correctly shows the action was done for the subject by someone else.
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Question 11 of 50
Select the correct sentence with the emphatic 'do' for emphasis:
ExplanationThe emphatic auxiliary 'do' is followed by the base form of the verb ('believe') for emphasis in present simple.
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Question 12 of 50
Identify the sentence with the correct verb form after 'would rather':
Explanation'Would rather' is followed by the bare infinitive (stay), not 'to stay' or a gerund.
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Question 13 of 50
Select the sentence with correct use of 'get' as a causative verb:
Explanation'Get' as a causative verb, unlike 'make' and 'let', is followed by 'to + infinitive'.
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Question 14 of 50
Select the sentence with the correct gerund/infinitive choice after 'avoid':
Explanation'Avoid' is always followed by a gerund (-ing form), never an infinitive.
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Question 15 of 50
Select the correct sentence expressing past unfulfilled obligation:
Explanation'Should have + past participle' expresses an obligation that was not fulfilled in the past.
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Question 16 of 50
Identify the correct sentence using the passive voice for a modal verb:
ExplanationThe passive of a modal verb requires 'modal + be + past participle': 'must be finished'.
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Question 17 of 50
Choose the correct sentence with the verb 'let' as a causative:
Explanation'Let' as a causative verb takes the bare infinitive (go), not 'to go' or other forms.
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Question 18 of 50
Select the sentence with the correct sequence in reported commands:
ExplanationReported commands use 'told/asked + object + to + infinitive'.
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Question 19 of 50
Choose the correct sentence: 'If I ___ you, I would apologize.'
ExplanationIn the subjunctive mood used for hypothetical/unreal conditions, 'were' is used for all persons, not 'was'.
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Question 20 of 50
Identify the correct sentence with the correct verb form after 'enjoy':
Explanation'Enjoy' is followed by a gerund, not an infinitive.
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Question 21 of 50
Identify the sentence correctly distinguishing 'used to' from 'be used to':
Explanation'Used to + verb' shows a past habit, while 'be used to + gerund' shows being accustomed to something — both correctly illustrated.
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Question 22 of 50
Select the sentence with the correct verb agreement for 'a lot of' + uncountable noun:
ExplanationWith an uncountable noun like 'money', 'a lot of' takes the singular verb 'is'.
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Question 23 of 50
Select the sentence with the correct verb tense in a time clause introduced by 'when' (future reference):
ExplanationIn time clauses referring to the future (introduced by 'when', 'after', 'before'), the present simple is used, not 'will'.
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Question 24 of 50
Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement for a compound subject joined by 'and':
ExplanationWhen 'bread and butter' is understood as a single dish/concept, it takes a singular verb despite being joined by 'and'.
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Question 25 of 50
Choose the correct sentence distinguishing transitive and intransitive use of 'grow':
Explanation'Grow' can be used transitively (grow revenue) or intransitively (revenue grew); both structures are grammatically valid, as clarified in option B.
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Question 26 of 50
Identify the correct sentence in the passive voice:
ExplanationThe passive voice requires 'be + past participle'; 'written' is the correct past participle of 'write'.
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Question 27 of 50
Choose the correct sentence with the verb 'need' used as a modal (British formal usage):
Explanation'Need' can function as a modal verb ('needn't + base verb') in formal/British English, without 'to' or an auxiliary.
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Question 28 of 50
Select the sentence with the correct sequence of tenses in reported speech (universal truth exception):
ExplanationWhen reporting a universal truth or scientific fact, the present tense is retained even though the reporting verb is in the past.
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Question 29 of 50
Choose the sentence with the correct use of the present perfect continuous for an ongoing action:
ExplanationThe present perfect continuous ('have been studying') correctly expresses an action that started in the past and continues to the present.
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Question 30 of 50
Identify the sentence with the correct verb tense agreement in a sentence with 'since':
Explanation'Since' pairs with the present perfect tense to indicate an action continuing from a specific point in the past to now.
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Question 31 of 50
Select the correct sentence: 'I suggest that he ___ the report immediately.'
ExplanationAfter verbs like 'suggest' expressing a demand/recommendation, the subjunctive base form 'submit' is used, regardless of subject.
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Question 32 of 50
Select the sentence with the correct use of 'used to' for past habits:
Explanation'Used to + base verb' correctly describes a discontinued past habit.
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Question 33 of 50
Choose the sentence with correct passive transformation of 'They are building a bridge.':
ExplanationThe present continuous passive requires 'is/are being + past participle', matching the tense of the active sentence.
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Question 34 of 50
Identify the correct sentence using 'to' + infinitive expressing purpose:
ExplanationThe infinitive of purpose ('to buy') is the standard structure to express why an action was performed.
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Question 35 of 50
Identify the correct sentence with a stative verb NOT used in continuous form:
Explanation'Know' is a stative verb (expressing a mental state) and is not normally used in the continuous form.
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Question 36 of 50
Choose the sentence with the correct verb agreement for 'a lot of' + plural noun:
Explanation'A lot of' agrees with the noun that follows; 'students' (plural) requires the plural verb 'are'.
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Question 37 of 50
Choose the correct sentence using 'make' as a causative verb:
Explanation'Make' as a causative verb is followed by the bare infinitive (clean), not 'to clean' or a participle.
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Question 38 of 50
Select the correct sentence with a mixed conditional:
ExplanationA mixed conditional combines a past condition (had taken) with a present result (would be), correctly shown in option A.
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Question 39 of 50
Choose the sentence with the correct verb agreement for a subject followed by a phrase beginning with 'along with':
ExplanationPhrases like 'along with', 'as well as', and 'together with' do not affect subject-verb agreement; the verb agrees with the main subject 'manager' (singular).
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Question 40 of 50
Select the correctly reported (indirect) speech: He said, 'I am tired.'
ExplanationIn reported speech, present tense in direct speech typically shifts back to past tense ('am' becomes 'was').
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Question 41 of 50
Identify the correct sentence with a verb of perception followed by a bare infinitive:
ExplanationVerbs of perception (see, hear, watch) can be followed by a bare infinitive for a complete action or a gerund for an action in progress — both correct.
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Question 42 of 50
Choose the sentence with correct usage of the passive causative:
ExplanationThe passive causative 'have + object + past participle' correctly shows that someone else performed the action for the subject.
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Question 43 of 50
Select the sentence with the correct verb form following 'it is time':
ExplanationAfter 'it is time' (implying something should already be happening), the past tense is used to express present urgency, an idiomatic subjunctive-like usage.
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Question 44 of 50
Select the sentence with the correct verb form in a sentence beginning with 'there':
ExplanationIn 'there + be' constructions, the verb agrees with the noun that follows; 'reasons' (plural) requires 'are'.
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Question 45 of 50
Choose the sentence with the correct use of 'have' as a main verb vs auxiliary:
Explanation'Have' functions as a main verb (possession) in the first clause and as an auxiliary (perfect tense) in the second, both correctly conjugated.
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Question 46 of 50
Choose the correct sentence with 'would rather...than' comparing two actions:
ExplanationBoth verbs after 'would rather...than' must be in the bare infinitive form for parallel structure.
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Question 47 of 50
Identify the correct reported speech for: She said, 'I will call you tomorrow.'
Explanation'Will' shifts to 'would' in reported speech when the reporting verb is in the past tense.
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Question 48 of 50
Select the sentence with the correctly conjugated irregular verb 'to swim' in past perfect:
ExplanationThe past participle of 'swim' is 'swum', which is required after 'had' in the past perfect tense.
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Question 49 of 50
Select the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement involving 'either' as a subject alone:
Explanation'Either' used alone as a pronoun subject is singular and takes a singular verb.
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Question 50 of 50
Identify the correct sentence expressing regret using 'wish' + past perfect:
ExplanationTo express regret about a past situation, 'wish' is followed by the past perfect tense ('had studied').
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