‘be’

Fill the spaces in the following sentences by inserting the correct form of be with, where
necessary, the past participle or present or perfect infinitive of the verb in brackets.
Remember that, in the passive, be can be used in the continuous tenses.

1 They are cutting down all the trees. The countryside …………….... (ruin)
2 The Prime Minister ………..... a speech tonight. (make)
3 If I …………….... you I'd go on to the next exercise.
4 ……………... late once is excusable but.. …………….. late every day is not.
5 He ordered that all lights ……………….... (extinguish)
6 How long you ………………... here?
7 My flat was full of dust because the old house just opposite …………………… (pull down)
8 He asked where he. …………... . it. (put)
I told him to put it on the mantelpiece.
9 It ……………... difficult to read a newspaper upside down? (Use negative.),
10 You …………………..... here till I return. That is an order. (stay)
11 He suggests that prominent people ……………….... to contribute. (ask)
12 Even if you……………. . to go on your knees to him I don't think it would make him change his mind.
13 I………………... on a catering course when I leave school. My parents have arranged it. (go)
14 What is happening now? The injured man .......................... out of the arena. (carry)
15 It's better ………………….. too early than too late,
16 I wish you ……………... here. I miss you very much.
17 Why did you leave him behind? You.. …………………... him with you. (Those were your instructions.)
(take)
18 She is learning Italian. She ………………... , by a professor from Milan. (teach)
19 I know I ………………... half an hour late yesterday but I……………….. , half an hour early tomorrow. -
I'd rather you………………… . punctual every day.
20 It is impossible ………………... right every time.
21 He. ……………….. . here by seven but now it's nine and there's no sign of him. (be)
22 They decided that voting papers …………………. to all members. (send)
23 There ………………….. eggs for breakfast tomorrow?
24 If only I …………………..... there! (But I wasn't.)
25 The Queen ........................ the new hospital next week. (open)
26 I couldn't see the man who was guiding us and I didn't know where w e … … … … … . . . . ( t a k e )
27 It ………….. a trilogy but in the end the author found that he had only enough material for two volumes.
(be)
28 You, ……………… very angry if I refused?
29 The matter……………… . discussed in tomorrow's debate.
30 His mare …………….. in tomorrow's race but he said this morning that she was sick and wouldn't be
running after all. (run)
31 The house wasn't ready; it still ................ and there were pots of paint and ladders everywhere. (paint)
32 They decided that an expurgated edition.. …………….. for use in schools. (print)
33 His works are immensely popular; they ………………... into all the major European languages. (translate)
34 It is high time you ………….... in bed.
35 I had my instructions and I knew exactly what I……………... (do)
36 If this report …………….... believed, we are going to have a very severe drought.