INTERMEDIATE Test 6

Use on with days of the week and with parts of a particular day: on Friday evening, on Monday morning. Not in, because we say in the evening only when no day is named.

A day plus a part of the day takes on: on Saturday morning. Not in, because in the morning is used only without a day name.

Use in with parts of the day: in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening. The exception is at night.

Use at with clock times: at 7:00, at half past six.

Use on with days of the week: on Sunday, on Tuesday.

Use in with seasons and months: in summer, in April, in June. Not on, which is for days and dates.

No preposition is used before last, next, this and every: last year, next week, this morning. Not in, because in last year is incorrect.

Use in with seasons: in spring, in autumn, in winter.

Use in with years (in 1980) and at in the fixed phrase at the age of 17.

At the same time is a fixed phrase meaning 'together, simultaneously'. Not in, because in the same time is not used with this meaning.

No preposition is used before next: next week. Days take on: on Thursday. Not in next week, which is a common mistake.

Use at with clock times, also with about: at about 3.00.

The deafness and blindness did not cause anything; something else caused them. This needs the past simple passive with a plural subject: were caused by a severe illness. When she was a baby shows the past. Not caused, because that would be active.

The story is in the past, so we need the past simple negative: didn't know. The parents were confused about what to do. Not doesn't know, which is present and singular.

Use the active past simple: they found it difficult means they had problems controlling her. The parents did the action, so it is active. Not were found, which is passive.

Someone told the parents about the teacher, so we need the past passive: they were told about someone. Not told, because the active verb tell needs a person as its object (someone told them).

The story is in the past, so we need a past simple verb: She came to work with Helen. Not begin or start, because they are present forms; the past would be began or started.

Teach someone that… means to help someone learn a fact. The past of teach is taught. Not thought, which is the past of think and looks similar.

In reported speech after a past verb (taught her that…), the verb usually moves into the past: every object had a name. Have in the sense of possession is not used in continuous forms, so is having is wrong.

Someone offered Helen a place, so we need the past passive: Helen was offered a place. Not offered, because that would mean Helen offered something to someone else.

After this shows a finished past action, so we need the past simple: she toured the world. Not tours, which is present.

The story did not make anything; someone made it into a film. This needs the past simple passive: was made into a film. In 1962 shows a finished past time. Not was making, which is active and continuous.