Changing Word Forms is a subcategory of Fill-in-the-Blank in which respondents are required to change the forms of words within text (e.g., He (study) was studying when I saw him at the library.). In general, this involves the alteration of verb form, tense, and/or aspect.
ACTIVITIES:
1. Fill in each blank with the correct form of a verb. These are past conditions with a present result.
EXAMPLE: I wasn't born in the U.S. I don't speak English perfectly.
If I had been born in the U.S., I would speak Engfish perfectly.
1. He bought a winning lottery ticket. He's now rich.
If he_______________that lottery ticket, he_______________rich.
2. She didn't marry Edward. She's happy.
If she_______________Edward, she_______________happy.
3. I passed the last course. I'm in this course.
I_______________in this course if I_______________the last course.
4. I'm not you. I didn't buy that car.
If I_______________you, I_______________that car.
Elbaum. S. (1996). Grammar in Context, Book 3, 2nd ed.
2. Work with a partner. Use the correct form of the verb in these sentences.
1. In the summer, the weather (turn)__________warm.
2. The leaves (be)__________green.
3.Flowers (grow)__________and (blossom)__________.
4. People (go)__________swimming in the summer.
5. Children (play)__________outside.
6. The sun (shine)__________every day.
7. The days (be)__________longer in the summertime.
8. School (be)__________out in the summer.
9. There (be)__________a lot of holidays in the summer.
10. Everyone (like)__________the warm weather.
McKay, I. (1996). Grammar Strand 1.
3. Complete these sentences with the correct form of the verb in parentheses. Some of the sentences are active, others are passive.
1. (locate) The Taj Mahal_______________in India.
2. (love) The emperor greatly_______________his wife.
3. (die) She_______________in 1631, giving birth to her fourteenth child.
4. (build) The Taj Mahal_______________in her honor.
5. (finish) The building_______________in 1653.
6. (locate) The Great Wall_______________in China.
7. (begin) The construction_______________in 214 B.C.
8. (make) It_______________of stone and brick.
9. (have) The Great Wall_______________thousands of small towers.
10. (extend) The Great Wall_______________1,500 miles.
Foley, B., Pires, D., and Neblett, E. (1991). Grammar in Action, Book Three.
4. In the blank space in each sentence, write the present perfect form of the verbs in parentheses.
1. Paresh_______________many part-time jobs. (hold)
2. He_______________a cashier at K-Mart. (be)
3. He_______________as a server at an Indian restaurant. (work)
4. He_______________books and mail for the campus library. (deliver)
5. However, Paresh_______________very much money at these jobs. (make, not)
6. He_______________a part-time job that pays enough to send him to college. (have, not)
7. He_______________unhappy and worried recently. (be)
8. He_______________the "help wanted" ads in the Atlanta Constitution. (read)
9. He_______________several letters to prospective employers. (write)
10. Many students_______________the same experience. (have)
Byrd, P. and Benson, B. (1992). Applied English Grammar.
5. Decide whether to use simple or progressive aspect in the following sentences. Both choices may be correct, so prepare to explain why you chose the form you did.
1. Please turn down the radio. I_______________(study) for a test.
2. Jeff_______________(read) the newspaper when the phone rang.
3. I'm afraid those students
might_______________(get) in trouble with immigration because
they
_______________(work) without official permission.
4. I still_______________(not study) as much as my parents want me to.
5. Rebecca_______________(speak) Russian. I wonder where she learned it?
Thewlis, S. (1993). GrammarDimensions, Book Three.
6. Fill in each blank with the negative form of the underlined verb.
EXAMPLE: The president lives in the White House.
The vice president doesn't live in the White House.
1. The governor of Califomia lives in Sacramento.
The governor_______________in Los Angeles.
2. Congress makes the laws.
The president_______________the laws.
3. England has a royal family.
The U.S._______________a royal family.
4. California and NewYork have a large population.
Alaska and Wyoming_______________a large population.
5 .Americans like democracy.
They_______________taxes.
6. The number of representatives depends on the population of the state.
(Note: The subject, 'number,' is a singular noun. It takes a singular verb.)
The number of senators_______________on the population of the state.
7. The University of Illinois is a state university. It receives money from state taxes.
The University of Chicago is a private university. It _______________money from state taxes.
8. We pay tax when we buy gas.
We_______________tax when we buy medicine.
9. The president serves for four years.
He_______________for six years.
Elbaum, S. (1996). Grammar in Context, Book 2, 2nd ed.
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