r had waited or had been waiting. The waiting preceded the doctor’s announcement, so you
should use past perfect. Progressive adds a “you are there” feel (good if you’re a fan of hospital
waiting rooms) but isn’t necessary.
s will have waited, will have read. The deadline in the sentence (the end of today’s trip) is your
clue for future perfect tense.
t has refused. Notice the present-past link? Mike declared and Grace is acting now. Hence you
need present perfect tense.
u had sent. The pointing and the hospital-sending are at two different times in the past, with the
hospital occurring first. Go for past perfect for the earlier action.
v will have spoken. The future perfect needs an end point (in this sentence, the end of the
yelling) before which the action occurs.
w has achieved. If he keeps trying, you have a present-tense idea that’s connected to the past
(despite years of practice and on rare occasions). Present perfect connects the present and past.
x has consisted. This sentence has a present-tense clue (at times). The sentence tells you about
the past (at times) and the present (is trying), so present perfect is the one you want.
y had declared. The after at the beginning of the sentence is your clue that one action occurs
before another. Because both are in the past, you need past perfect tense for the earlier action.
A will have given. A deadline at some point in the future calls for future perfect tense.
B has expressed. The sentence ties the present to the past, as you see in the time clues failing
(which implies present) and over the last few weeks (which implies past). The present perfect
tense is perfect for present-past links. (Sorry for the pun.)
C had approached. The sentence discusses two actions in the past. Mike’s action — an approach to
ambassadors — took place before Tim’s action — begging for “a few minutes of your time.” You
express the earlier of two past actions with the past perfect tense.
D will have declared. A future deadline (before Tim makes his next career move) requires future
perfect tense.
E has served. The sentence tells you that David was and still is the ambassador. To link past and
present, go for present perfect tense.
F broken. The verb to break has two irregular forms, broke and broken.
G shook. To shake has two irregular forms, shook and shaken.
H wrote. For correct writing, use wrote, which is the past tense of the verb to write.
I rose. You’ve probably heard that “a rose is a rose by any other name.” Be sure to rise to the
occasion and choose rose or risen, not rised.
J bought. Let this verb remind you of other irregulars, including caught, taught, and thought.
Here’s a line to help you remember: I thought I was in trouble because I caught a cold when I
taught that class of sneezing 10-year-olds, but fortunately I had bought a dozen handkerchiefs
and was well prepared.
K rung. The bell rings, rang, or has/have/had rung.