Grammar practice questions.

Choose the correct third conditional sentence about the past.

• If we had left earlier, we would have caught the bus.
• If we left earlier, we would catch the bus.
• If we would have left earlier, we had caught the bus.
• If we have left earlier, we would catch the bus.

Answer: If we had left earlier, we would have caught the bus.

Third conditional: if + past perfect, would have + past participle. It describes an imagined past that did not happen.

Yesterday she said, "I am tired." Choose the correct reported speech.

• She said she is tired.
• She said she was tired.
• She said I was tired.
• She said she has been tired.

Answer: She said she was tired.

The words were spoken in the past, so the tense shifts back one step: present simple 'am' becomes past simple 'was'. 'She said I was tired' is wrong because 'I' must change to 'she'.

Choose the correct past passive sentence.

• The bridge built in 1890.
• The bridge was built in 1890.
• The bridge was build in 1890.
• The bridge has built in 1890.

Answer: The bridge was built in 1890.

The past simple passive is 'was/were + past participle'. The past participle of 'build' is 'built'.

Which modal expresses strong obligation? 'You ___ wear a seatbelt; it is the law.'

• might
• could
• must
• should

Answer: must

'Must' expresses strong obligation, often a rule or law. 'Might' and 'could' express possibility, not obligation.

Deduction: 'The lights are off and the car is gone. They ___ have left.' Choose the best modal.

• must
• can't
• needn't
• may not

Answer: must

'Must' expresses a confident deduction based on evidence. Use 'can't' when you are sure something is NOT true.

Choose the correct relative pronoun for this defining relative clause: 'The book ___ I borrowed was fascinating.'

• who
• which
• where
• what

Answer: which

Use 'which' (or 'that') for things. In a defining clause where it is the object, the relative pronoun can even be left out.