Grammar help?

[ooohlala]

Okay this is going to be long.

I had a grammar test recently, and I got the following questions wrong. I do not know why. Help?

1) Sentence transformation

(a)
As soon as she opened the book, she saw the photograph.
No sooner _______________________________________.

My answer: No sooner had she opened the book than she saw the photograph.

(b)
I'd prefer you to sign this document now.
I'd rather _________________________.

My answer: I'd rather you sign this document now.

(c)
Few means of entertainment are as enjoyable as the cinema.
The cinema ________________________________________.

My answer: The cinema is more enjoyable than most other means of entertainment.

2) Fill in each blank with a suitable word.

(a) She has come _______ to our way of thinking.

My answer: around

(b) My parents frown _______ the type of music I usually hear.

My answer: upon

3) Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of the verb given in the brackets.

When I opened the door I saw a man on his knees. I asked him what he was doing and he said he was looking for a 50 cent coin he had dropped. Actually he ______ (be) making notes of our conversation! By the time I recovered from the shock of this he ________ (disappeared) round the corner. Curiously enough when I moved my foot I found I _______ (stand) on a 50 cent coin.

My answers: had been, had disappeared, had been standing


Why did I get all this wrong? I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could tell me.

 

[bhaisahab]

Okay this is going to be long.

I had a grammar test recently, and I got the following questions wrong. I do not know why. Help?

1) Sentence transformation

(a)
As soon as she opened the book, she saw the photograph.
No sooner _______________________________________.

My answer: No sooner had she opened the book, than she saw the photograph.

(b)
I'd prefer you to sign this document now.
I'd rather ______you signed___________________.

My answer: I'd rather you sign this document now.

(c)
Few means of entertainment are as enjoyable as the cinema.
The cinema ________________________________________.

My answer: The cinema is more enjoyable than most other means of entertainment.
I can't think of anything better.
2) Fill in each blank with a suitable word.

(a) She has come round_______ to our way of thinking.

My answer: around

(b) My parents frown _______ the type of music I usually hear.

My answer: upon I agree.

3) Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of the verb given in the brackets.

When I opened the door I saw a man on his knees. I asked him what he was doing and he said he was looking for a 50 cent coin he had dropped. Actually he was _ (be) making notes of our conversation! By the time I recovered from the shock of this he had (disappeared) round the corner. Curiously enough when I moved my foot I found I was standing (stand) on a 50 cent coin.

My answers: had been, had disappeared, had been standing


Why did I get all this wrong? I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could tell me.

See above.

 

[ooohlala]

Thank you for your reply.

According to freedictionary.com come around is the same as come round:

Verb 1. come around - change one's position or opinion; "He came around to our point of view"
come round

Is it a rule that 'I'd rather' must be followed by a verb in past tense? Because I've heard native speakers use the present tense as in 'I'd rather you do that'. Is this downright wrong or common in spoken english?

Also I can't see why I can't use 'had been' and 'had been standing' for the first and third blanks respectively in the third question, like this:


When I opened the door I saw a man on his knees. I asked him what he was doing and he said he was looking for a 50 cent coin he had dropped. Actually he had been (be) making notes of our conversation! By the time I recovered from the shock of this he had disappeared (disappeared) round the corner. Curiously enough when I moved my foot I found I had been standing (stand) on a 50 cent coin.

 

[riquecohen]

Come around is the preferred usage in Am. Eng.

 

[bhaisahab]

Thank you for your reply.

According to freedictionary.com come around is the same as come round:

Verb 1. come around - change one's position or opinion; "He came around to our point of view"
come round "Come round" is BrE, "come around" is AmE.

Is it a rule that 'I'd rather' must be followed by a verb in past tense? Because I've heard native speakers use the present tense as in 'I'd rather you do that'. Is this downright wrong or common in spoken English? It's common and also wrong.;-)

Also I can't see why I can't use 'had been' and 'had been standing' for the first and third blanks respectively in the third question, like this:


When I opened the door I saw a man on his knees. I asked him what he was doing and he said he was looking for a 50 cent coin he had dropped. Actually he had been (be) making notes of our conversation! By the time I recovered from the shock of this he had disappeared (disappeared) round the corner. Curiously enough when I moved my foot I found I had been standing (stand) on a 50 cent coin.

If he "had been looking", it means he was no longer looking.

 

[ooohlala]

Um yes, he was no longer making notes of the conversation. After the door was opened. I mean I could think of it that way right? I would have asked the guy 'have you been making notes of our conversation?' and in reported speech that would be 'I asked him if he'd been making notes of our conversation' and I don't see why it can't work in the same way for this question. Sorry if I'm being a bit too anal lol. Thank you anyway

 

[emsr2d2]

I'm assuming that the test was written by a non-native, which might explain the anomalies in the answers.

For example, one sentence they gave:

My parents frown _________ the kind of music I usually hear.

That should read:

My parents frown _________ the kind of music I usually listen to.

 

[ooohlala]

Yes I know that but I didn't bother with correcting it XD

 

[Raymott]

Okay this is going to be long.

I had a grammar test recently, and I got the following questions wrong. I do not know why. Help?

1) Sentence transformation

(a)
As soon as she opened the book, she saw the photograph.
No sooner _______________________________________.

My answer: No sooner did she open the book than she saw the photograph.
You haven't been asked to change the tense from simple past to past perfect.

R.

 

[bhaisahab]

R.

Very good point Raymott, I didn't think of that.

 

[ooohlala]

Wow that's something. Oh well. Thank you everyone