'All the better to hear you with,' the Wolf (reply).
'What great big eyes you have, Grandma,' (say) Little Red Riding Hood.
'All the better to see you with,' the Wolf (reply).
He (sit) there watching her and (smile).
He (think), I'm going to eat this child.
Compared with her old Grandmamma
She's going to taste like caviar.’
Then Little Red Riding Hood (say), 'But Grandma,
what a lovely great big furry coat you have on.'
'That's wrong!' (cry) Wolf. 'Have you forgot
To tell me what BIG TEETH I've got?
Ah well, no matter what you say,
I'm going to eat you anyway.'
The small girl smiles. One eyelid flickers.
She whips a pistol from her knickers.
She aims it at the creature's head
And bang bang bang, she shoots him dead.
A few weeks later, in the wood,
I (come) across Miss Riding Hood.
But what a change! No cloak of red,
No silly hood upon her head.
She (say), 'Hello, and do please note
My lovely furry WOLFSKIN COAT.'
EXERCISE ¹ 227. Some regular and irregular verbs are easily confused. Choose the right verb and/or supply the right form.
1. It was our policy to deal with problems as they (arise/rise). 2. You shouldn't walk on a field that's just been (sew/sow). 3. Rock bands have (rise/raise/rouse) millions for charity. 4. All the mistakes in my essay have been (ring). 5. The motor (spring) into life at the touch of a button! 6. I don't know how we'll ever cure her of (lay/lie). 7. It looks as though the terrorists had been (lay/lie) in wait. 8. You don't have to go round (lay/lie) down the law! 9. We've all (lay/lie) bets on the favourite. 10. I've lost count of the number of times she's (lay/lie) to me. 11. Why have they (lie/lay) quiet for so long? 12. How long is it since you (wind/wound) this clock? 13. How many soldiers were (wind/wound) in the gun battle? 14. How many metres down is the (sink) ship? 15. We'll have to wait till the sun has (rise/raise/rouse). 16. Wait till everyone has (wake up/awake). 17. The business was (find/found) in 1842. 18. Flood water (fly/flow) right through our house! 19. How many trees have you (fall/fell) today? 20. The traitors have been (hang). 21. Meat needs to be (hang) for a few days to become tender.