The IT consultant …………………… new recommendations for improving our network infrastructure yesterday.

The IT consultant …………………… new recommendations for improving our network infrastructure yesterday.

• is making
• will make
• has make
• made

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English for IT 1 Course Final Exam Answers

The correct answer is:

“made”

The complete sentence becomes:

“The IT consultant made new recommendations for improving our network infrastructure yesterday.”

Explanation of the Answer

The word “yesterday” in the sentence indicates a past action. In English grammar, when we describe an action that was completed in the past, we use the past simple tense. The verb “made” is the past tense of “make,” which fits the context of the sentence perfectly.

Detailed Explanation of the Choices:

1. is making:
   • This is in the present continuous tense and is used to describe an action that is happening right now or is ongoing. For example:
     • “The IT consultant is making new recommendations for improving our network infrastructure.”
   • However, the word “yesterday” clearly refers to the past, making this option incorrect in this context.
2. will make:
   • This is in the future tense and refers to an action that will happen in the future. For example:
     • “The IT consultant will make new recommendations for improving our network infrastructure.”
   • Again, “yesterday” indicates the past, so this option does not fit the sentence.
3. has make:
   • This is grammatically incorrect because “has” should be followed by the past participle of the verb. The correct form would be “has made,” which is in the present perfect tense. The present perfect tense is used to describe an action that happened at an unspecified time before now or has relevance to the present. For example:
     • “The IT consultant has made new recommendations for improving our network infrastructure.”
   • However, the sentence specifies “yesterday,” which refers to a specific time in the past, making “has made” inappropriate here.
4. made:
   • This is in the past simple tense and correctly describes an action that occurred and was completed in the past. This fits the context of the sentence perfectly, as “yesterday” clearly refers to the past.

Understanding the Past Simple Tense

The past simple tense is one of the most commonly used tenses in English and is employed to talk about:

• Actions or events that occurred and were completed in the past.
• A specific point in time (e.g., “yesterday,” “last week,” “two days ago”).

The structure of the past simple tense is straightforward:

1. For regular verbs, add -ed to the base form of the verb (e.g., “work” becomes “worked”).
2. For irregular verbs, the past tense form varies (e.g., “make” becomes “made,” “go” becomes “went”).

Examples of Sentences Using “Made” in the Past Simple Tense

1. The IT consultant made a detailed report on the system vulnerabilities yesterday.
2. She made a compelling case for upgrading the hardware during the meeting last week.
3. Our team made significant progress on the cybersecurity project last month.

Why “Yesterday” Requires the Past Simple Tense

The adverb “yesterday” is a specific time indicator that points to a past event. When you use “yesterday” in a sentence, it is essential to use the past simple tense to reflect that the action occurred in the past.

Examples:

1. Correct: They completed the project yesterday.
2. Incorrect: They have completed the project yesterday. (The present perfect tense does not pair with specific time indicators like “yesterday.”)
3. Incorrect: They will complete the project yesterday. (The future tense cannot describe an action in the past.)

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Mixing Up Tenses

• Many English learners confuse the past simple with the present perfect tense. Remember, the past simple is used with specific time references (e.g., “yesterday”), while the present perfect is used for unspecified times or when the action has relevance to the present.
  • Correct: “The IT consultant made the recommendations yesterday.”
  • Incorrect: “The IT consultant has made the recommendations yesterday.”

2. Incorrect Verb Form

• Using “has make” instead of “has made” is a common mistake. The correct structure for the present perfect tense is:
  • has/have + past participle
  • Examples:
    • Correct: “She has made excellent suggestions.”
    • Incorrect: “She has make excellent suggestions.”

Practical Application in IT Consulting

In the context of IT consulting, clear communication of time and actions is crucial. For example:

1. Past Simple Usage:
   • “The consultant made a backup of the server yesterday.”
   • This clearly indicates the task was completed in the past.
2. Present Continuous Usage:
   • “The consultant is making updates to the network configuration right now.”
   • This highlights an ongoing task.
3. Future Tense Usage:
   • “The consultant will make a detailed report on the firewall settings tomorrow.”
   • This refers to a task planned for the future.

Key Takeaways

1. Use the past simple tense when describing actions completed at a specific time in the past, especially when words like “yesterday” or “last week” are present.
2. Be mindful of verb forms, especially irregular verbs like “make,” which becomes “made” in the past tense.
3. Choose the tense that aligns with the time reference and context of the sentence to ensure clarity and correctness.

In conclusion, the correct answer is “made” because it aligns with the past time reference “yesterday.” Understanding and applying the appropriate tense enhances communication and ensures grammatical accuracy.