Open the
brackets, using the correct tense form. Explain the use of the tenses.
Mr Sherlock Holmes (sit) one morning at the breakfast table in his room in Baker
Street. His friend Dr* Watson (stand) near the window, examining a
walking stick which a visitor (forget)
the day before. "To Dr Mortimer, from his friend," was engraved upon
it, with the date "1884". Sherlock Holmes suddenly (turn) to Watson and (say): "The
owner of this stick (have) a dog
which (be) larger than a terrier and
smaller than a mastiff."
"How you (know)?" (ask) Watson in surprise.
"I (examine)
that stick carefully and (notice) the
marks of a dog's teeth on it," (answer)
Holmes. "They (be) too broad for
a terrier and not broad enough for a mastiff. Probably the dog often (carry) the stick behind its master. I
think it must be a spaniel, in fact it (be)
a spaniel."
Holmes (leave)
the breakfast-table and (stand) near
the window as he (say) this. Watson (look)
at him in surprise and (ask):
"How can you be so sure of that?"
"For the simple reason that I (see) the
dog at our door and I (hear) the bell
which its master (ring). I wonder why
Dr Mortimer (want) to see Mr Sherlock
Holmes. Well, we soon (know). Come
in," he (add), there (be) a knock at the door.
* Dr: a written
abbreviation for "Doctor".