Which word should replace the underlined word? “Last weekend, my cousin and I [ride] our bikes along the river trail.”
Use Standard Grammar, Usage, and Spelling to Edit · TELPAS Grades 8–9 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
Read the sentence. Then choose the best answer.
Read the sentence. The underlined word has an error. Last weekend, my cousin and I [ride] our bikes along the river trail. Which word should replace the underlined word?
- ridden
- rides
- rodeCorrect answer
- riding
Why “rode” is correct
This item tests the past tense of an irregular verb. The phrase "last weekend" shows the sentence is in the past, and the past tense of ride is rode, not rided. Irregular verbs have to be memorized, so they are a common error for English learners.
Why the other answers are wrong
- ridden — "Ridden" needs a helping verb, as in "have ridden."
- rides — "Rides" is present tense, but "last weekend" tells us the action is in the past.
- riding — "Riding" needs a helping verb, as in "were riding."
Practice more of this
More writing practice for Grades 8–9, or see the TELPAS practice test for 8th and 9th grade.
This is an independent study resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Texas Education Agency or the official TELPAS program. All questions here are original practice material written to match the published test design.