PSC SLE English Writing: Verb forms and complements

Every original question, with optional answers, explanations and official references. Open an answer to study, or take the test above for instant feedback.

1. Complete: At noon yesterday, Mira was ____ the visitor list.

   1. review
   2. reviews
   3. reviewed
   4. reviewing
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: reviewing

   Was plus the -ing form expresses an action in progress at the stated past time. Reviewing completes the past progressive.

   Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

   Official reference ↗

2. Complete: The service is able ____ with the installation.

   1. to assist
   2. assisting
   3. assisted
   4. assists
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: to assist

   Able is followed by a to-infinitive. To assist completes the expression is able to assist.

   Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

   Official reference ↗

3. Complete: We look forward to ____ your revised proposal.

   1. receive
   2. received
   3. receiving
   4. receives
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: receiving

   In look forward to, to is a preposition. A verb used after it takes the -ing form receiving.

   Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

   Official reference ↗

4. Complete: The clerk decided ____ until the attachment arrived.

   1. waiting
   2. waited
   3. waits
   4. to wait
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: to wait

   Decide takes a to-infinitive in this construction. To wait expresses the chosen action.

   Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

   Official reference ↗

5. Complete: The staff avoided ____ the same data twice.

   1. enter
   2. entered
   3. entering
   4. to enter
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: entering

   Avoid is followed by an -ing complement. Entering names the action being avoided.

   Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

   Official reference ↗

6. Complete: She suggested ____ the first paragraph for clarity.

   1. revise
   2. revising
   3. revised
   4. to revise
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: revising

   Suggest can take an -ing complement directly. Revising fits this structure; suggest to revise is not the required construction.

   Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

   Official reference ↗

7. Complete: Please ____ the revised agenda before lunch.

   1. send
   2. sent
   3. sending
   4. sends
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: send

   An imperative uses the base form send. Please makes the instruction polite but does not change that verb form.

   Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

   Official reference ↗

8. Complete: Before the office opened, the technician had already ____ the sensor.

   1. repaired
   2. repair
   3. repairs
   4. repairing
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: repaired

   Had requires the past participle repaired in this past-perfect construction. It places the completed repair before the opening.

   Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

   Official reference ↗

9. Complete: If I had known about the delay, I would have ____ the visitors.

   1. called
   2. call
   3. calling
   4. calls
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: called

   Would have requires a past participle, here called. It describes the unreal past response to the earlier condition.

   Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

   Official reference ↗

10. Complete: Did the courier ____ the parcel at reception?

    1. left
    2. leaving
    3. leave
    4. leaves
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    Correct answer: leave

    After did, the lexical verb returns to its base form leave. Past time is already carried by did.

    Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

    Official reference ↗

11. Complete: The coordinator will ____ the access code tomorrow.

    1. confirms
    2. confirm
    3. confirmed
    4. confirming
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: confirm

    A modal such as will is followed by the base verb confirm, without an -s or participle ending.

    Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

    Official reference ↗

12. Complete: The analyst made us ____ the totals again.

    1. to review
    2. review
    3. reviewing
    4. reviewed
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: review

    Active make plus an object takes a bare infinitive: made us review. The object us does not add to before the following verb.

    Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

    Official reference ↗

13. Complete: The analyst has ____ the final figures twice.

    1. check
    2. checked
    3. checks
    4. checking
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: checked

    Has combines with the past participle checked to form the present perfect. The other forms cannot complete has in this structure.

    Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

    Official reference ↗

14. Complete: The safety notice must ____ before the room opens.

    1. posted
    2. posting
    3. posts
    4. be posted
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: be posted

    The subject notice receives the action. The passive after must needs be plus past participle: be posted.

    Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

    Official reference ↗