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Stuck in Traffic

This is the original, old-style quiz. If you prefer, click here to go directly to the new, more interactive, version.

John is going straight from work to a park where he is playing softball with some friends. Unfortunately, he is stuck in a traffic jam on Victoria Bridge. The bridge is up because a couple of ships are passing through the ship canal. He is using his cell phone (British: mobile phone) to call his wife Barbara at home.

Click on following links for pop-up pages that explain the present tense forms of the verb to be:    Affirmative   |  Negative  |  Questions (animation)

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Instructions:     Fill the blanks with the correct present tense form of the verb to be.


John: Hi honey.
Barb: Where are you?
John: In my car. I _______ using the cell phone.  
      
 
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     Hint:    The subject is I so you must use the first person singular form of the verb.
 
When you click check, a wrong answer -- or no answer -- will produce a hint.
Barb: But that _______ dangerous.   
      
 
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     Hint:    The subject is that so you must use the third person singular form of the verb.
John: Not really. The traffic _______ not moving at all.  
      
 
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     Hint:    The subject is the traffic so you must use the third person singular form of the verb.
Barb: I _______ surprised. It's not rush hour.  
      
 
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     Hint:    The subject is I so you must use the first person singular form of the verb.
John: No, but I'm on the Victoria Bridge and there _______ two ships going up the ship canal.  
      
 
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     Hint:    The subject is two ships so you must use the third person plural form of the verb.
Barb: What time _______ your softball game?  
      
 
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     Hint:    The subject is your game so you must use the third person singular form of the verb.
John: At 8:30. There _______ lots of time.   
      
 
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     Hint:    Although we use lots, the subject is time so you must use the third person plural form of the verb..
Barb: It's already 8:15. I bet all your friends are there already and everyone _______ wondering where you are.   
      
 
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     Hint:    The subject is everyone and is singular, not plural. Use the third person singular form of the verb.
Later:
John: Hi. Me again. I'm just calling to see if you and the baby _______ all right.
      
 
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     Hint:    The subject is you and the baby so you must use the second person plural form of the verb.
Barb: We're both fine. So tell me, who _______ winning?   
      
 
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     Hint:    The subject is who and is singular in most cases, as it is here. Use the third person singular form of the verb.
John: Nobody _______ winning yet. .  
      
 
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     Hint:    The subject is nobody and is singular. Use the third person singular form of the verb.
Barb: I can hear a lot of noise. What _______ happening?   
      
 
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     Hint:    The subject is what and is usually singular, not plural. Use the third person singular form of the verb.
John: Someone in the other team scored. The spectators in the stand _______ cheering.   
      
 
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     Hint:    The subject is the spectators and is plural. Use the third person plural form of the verb.
Barb: So you have no fans there. Every spectator _______ supporting the other team  
      
 
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     Hint:    The subject is every spectator and is singular, not plural. Use the third person singular form of the verb.
John: That's all right. This is the other team's home ground so the people _______ cheering them, not us. Our turn will come.
      
 
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     Hint:    The subject is people and is plural, not singular. Use the third person singular form of the verb.

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