Which word should replace the underlined word? “By the time the bell rang, Kevin had already [wrote] three pages of his essay.”
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. By the time the bell rang, Kevin had already [wrote] three pages of his essay. Which word should replace the underlined word?
- writed
- writing
- writes
- writtenCorrect answer
Why “written” is correct
This tests the past participle of an irregular verb. After "had," English uses the past participle, and for write that is "written," not "wrote." Students who know the simple past often use it by mistake after has, have or had.
Why the other answers are wrong
- writed — "Writed" is not a word. Write is an irregular verb.
- writing — "Had writing" is not a correct verb form.
- writes — "Writes" is present tense and cannot follow "had."
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.