Grammar Interactive Practice
Choose a topic and start practising.
Choose a topic and start practising.
The Siege of Gondor: 3019 T.A.
The situation in Gondor (BE) desperate by the time the messengers reached Rohan. Sauron’s forces (ALREADY / CROSS) the Anduin river and (OCCUPY) the ruined city of Osgiliath. For months, the soldiers of Gondor (TRY) to hold the river bank, but the enemy was too strong.
By mid‑March, the Great Darkness (COVER) the sky, and the sun (NOT / SHINE) for days. While the citizens (PREPARE) for the worst, Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, (LOSE) all hope because he (SECRETLY / USE) the Palantir to look into Mordor. In the streets of Minas Tirith, people (WHISPER) about the ancient prophecy. They (NOT / BELIEVE) that help would come in time. However, far to the North, the King of Rohan (ALREADY / GATHER) his riders. While the Orcs (BUILD) massive siege towers outside the city walls, the Rohirrim (RIDE) through the night. Gondor (RELY) on this alliance for centuries.
When the horns of the North finally (SOUND) in the distance, the soldiers on the walls (REALIZE) that they (NOT / BE) alone. While the battle (RAGE) on the Pelennor Fields, a new threat (APPEAR) from the river. The Orcs (THINK) that their allies, the Corsairs of Umbar, (FINALLY / ARRIVE). They (NOT / KNOW) that a stranger called Aragorn (ALREADY / CAPTURE) the black ships. By the time the ships (REACH) the docks, the enemy (LOSE) their advantage, and the tide of the war (CHANGE) forever.
1. When the Director WATCHED / WAS WATCHING Eva’s training session, she realized that the young girl HAD ALREADY DEVELOPED / ALREADY DEVELOPED a lethal technique.
2. Rhea WOKE UP / WAS WAKING UP in the middle of the night and GRABBED / WAS GRABBING her knife. Someone WAS CLIMBING / CLIMBED through her balcony window!
3. Unfortunately, the assassins from the eastern guild ARRIVED / WERE ARRIVING at the safehouse at midnight, and found that their target HAD ESCAPED / ESCAPED minutes before.
4. The underground doctors TRIED / HAD BEEN TRYING their best to save the hitman, but while they WERE OPERATING / OPERATED, the patient DIED / WAS DYING.
5. Eva realized she HAD MADE / WAS MAKING a mistake. She HAD BEEN STALKING / STALKED the wrong double for an hour.
6. On the night of the vendetta, the concierge of the Grand Hotel HAD JUST FINISHED / JUST FINISHED a long shift, and HADN'T HAD / DIDN'T HAVE any rest for 30 hours.
7. "I'm sorry I DIDN'T ANSWER / WASN'T ANSWERING the radio earlier. I WAS FIGHTING / HAD BEEN FIGHTING three guards in the hallway."
8. The office the Council member was visiting was on the top floor, and because the elevator HADN'T BEEN WORKING / WASN'T WORKING, Rhea WAS / HAD BEEN exhausted by the time she reached the top of the stairs.
9. When the ballerina LOOKED / WAS LOOKING out of the theater window, she saw it HAD BEEN SNOWING / SNOWED, and the streets were covered in white.
10. After the two assassins LANDED / WERE LANDING at the private airstrip, they got into a car that HAD BEEN WAITING / WAS WAITING for them since sunset.
Alex and his girlfriend, Sarah, (MAKE) a deal a month ago: they would both quit junk food and hit the gym every day. However, while Sarah (STICK) to the plan, Alex secretly (BUY) donuts on his way home for weeks.
One night, after he (EAT) a whole pepperoni pizza alone, he fell into a deep, troubled sleep. In his dream, he (LEAVE) alone in a dark, empty gym. Suddenly, his trainer Boris appeared.
Boris (KNOW) all about Alex’s secrets for a long time and (COME) to the gym to punish him. Boris said he (WATCH) Alex through the donut shop window all week.
Alex (TRY) to explain himself, but Boris (JUMP) at him and (THROW) a 20kg barbell toward his feet.
Alex (FIGHT) the urge to give up, and escaping to the locker room, he (CLIMB OUT) of a tiny vent. He ran toward the exit, but Boris (JUMP) on a treadmill and somehow (RIDE) it like a vehicle to catch him.
Just as Alex (REACH) the door, he realized he (LOSE) his keys. Boris loomed over him, shouting that Alex (RUIN) their deal. Just as the trainer (LIFT) a giant kettlebell over Alex’s head, Alex woke up in a cold sweat.
He looked up and saw Sarah; she (ALREADY WAKE UP) and (STARE) at the empty pizza box on his nightstand.
1. Andie HUMMED / WAS HUMMING while she WROTE / WAS WRITING her latest article.
2. Ben HAD BEEN WORKING / HAD WORKED in advertising for years before he WAS MEETING / MET Andie.
3. She WAS CALLING / CALLED her boss because she HAD PROMISED / PROMISED to finish the story on time.
4. They WERE ARGUING / HAD BEEN ARGUING for an hour when they finally DECIDED / WERE DECIDING to calm down.
5. By the time Ben WAS ARRIVING / ARRIVED, Andie PLANNED / HAD PLANNED her next “crazy” move.
6. Ben SMILED / WAS SMILING because he HAD WON / WON the bet.
7. It RAINED / WAS RAINING while they WALKED / WERE WALKING across the bridge together.
8. He WAS OPENING / OPENED the door and INVITED / WAS INVITING her inside.
9. Andie SHOCKED / WAS SHOCKED when she found out she HAD GOT / GOT exactly the reaction she wanted.
10. In the past, people WERE BELIEVING / USED TO BELIEVE that relationships were simple.
11. She RAN / WAS RUNNING to the taxi when she DROPPED / WAS DROPPING her phone.
12. They MADE / HAD MADE the bet before they REALISED / WERE REALISING how complicated it would become.
13. He WAS BREAKING / HAD BROKEN her trust, so she DECIDED / WAS DECIDING to teach him a lesson.
14. Last summer, Ben STAYED / HAD STAYED at his family’s house near the beach.
15. Elvis Presley SANG / WAS SINGING many famous love songs.
16. She WAS OPENING / OPENED the window and LOOKED / WAS LOOKING down at the street.
17. They STOOD / WERE STANDING together when the truth CAME OUT / WAS COMING OUT.
18. Alexander Graham Bell WAS INVENTING / INVENTED the telephone.
19. She BROKE / WAS BREAKING the plate while she WASHED / WAS WASHING the dishes.