"Led" or "lead," "would of" or "would have," "lie" or "lay"? Test your verbal vigor with this fun 10-question quiz!

Last night Jamison repeatedly ________ (text, texted) his colleagues about the contest.

text

texted

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

The past tense of "text" is "texted." It is a regular verb with two syllables.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

The past tense of "text" is "texted." It is a regular verb with two syllables.

If I _______ (had, had had) more time last week, I would have called.

had had

had

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

"Had more time" would work in a sentence about the present, such as this one:

If I had more time, I would call.

Because of the "would have called," though, you need to use the past perfect in the first clause: "had had."

That’s correct! Here’s why:

"Had more time" would work in a sentence about the present, such as this one:

If I had more time, I would call.

Because of the "would have called," though, you need to use the past perfect in the first clause: "had had."

I knew I needed to proofread the memo, but I was tired and decided I should ____ (lie, lay) down for a few minutes first.

lie

lay

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

Use "to lay" when there is a direct object: "He lays the book down."

Use "to lie" when there is no object: "He lies down."

There was no object in this example, so you need "to lie."

That’s correct! Here’s why:

Use "to lay" when there is a direct object: "He lays the book down."

Use "to lie" when there is no object: "He lies down."

There was no object in this example, so you need "to lie."

What is the past participle of "to run"?

run

ran

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

Here are the forms for "to run":

present tense: He runs every day.
past tense: He ran every day.
present perfect: He has run every day.

The past participle is the verb form used right after "has" or "have" in the present perfect.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

Here are the forms for "to run":

present tense: He runs every day.
past tense: He ran every day.
present perfect: He has run every day.

The past participle is the verb form used right after "has" or "have" in the present perfect.

In the middle of the meeting last night, Tim inexplicably ____ (lay, laid) down on the floor.

lay

laid

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

The past tense of "lie down" is "lay down."

That’s correct! Here’s why:

The past tense of "lie down" is "lay down."

When he arrived, they ____ (lead, led) him down a dark, narrow hallway.

lead

led

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

The past tense of "lead" is "led."

That’s correct! Here’s why:

The past tense of "lead" is "led."

If I _______ (was, were) taller, I would be able to reach the shelf where my husband hid the chocolate.

was

were

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

It is common to hear people say "was" in this sentence, but when you are talking about something that is untrue in the present (I am not in fact taller than I am), use "were" in formal English.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

It is common to hear people say "was" in this sentence, but when you are talking about something that is untrue in the present (I am not in fact taller than I am), use "were" in formal English.

Macaroni and cheese ___ (is, are) delicious.

are

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

Macaroni and cheese is the name of a single dish, so use a singular verb here.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

Macaroni and cheese is the name of a single dish, so use a singular verb here.

How many errors does the following sentence contain?

I would of been here earlier, but I missed the bus.

zero

one

two

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

"Would of" should be "would have."

That’s correct! Here’s why:

"Would of" should be "would have."

By the time they found us, we _________ (walked, had walked) 12 miles through the snow.

walked

had walked

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

If one action in the past is completed before another action in the past, use past perfect: "had walked."

That’s correct! Here’s why:

If one action in the past is completed before another action in the past, use past perfect: "had walked."

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