Which word should replace the underlined word? “Last summer my cousin and I [drive] to Corpus Christi, and we spent three days at the beach.”

Use Standard Grammar, Usage, and Spelling to Edit · TELPAS Grades 10–12 writing. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.

Reporting category 2: find and fix an error in a short text. On the real test some of these are typed answers or sentence rewrites. Here they are multiple choice so they can be checked.

The question

Choose the best answer.

Read the sentence. The underlined word has an error. Last summer my cousin and I [drive] to Corpus Christi, and we spent three days at the beach. Which word should replace the underlined word?

• Adriven
• Bdrives
• Cwill drive
• DdroveCorrect answer

Why “drove” is correct

This tests consistent verb tense. 'Last summer' and 'spent' put the whole sentence in the past, so the first verb must be past too. 'Drive' is irregular; its simple past is 'drove'.

Why the other answers are wrong

• driven — 'Driven' is the past participle and needs a helper verb such as 'had' or 'have'.
• drives — 'Drives' is present tense and does not agree with the plural subject 'my cousin and I'.
• will drive — 'Will drive' is future, but 'Last summer' and 'spent' show the trip is in the past.

Practice more of this

More writing practice for Grades 10–12, or see the TELPAS practice test for 10th–12th grade.