This worksheet provides 18 practice sentences for students to fill in the correct negative past tense forms.

Task Explanation:

The task involves completing sentences using the negative form of "there be" constructions. The goal is to fill in the blanks with the appropriate negative forms of "there were" or "there was," depending on the context and subject (singular or plural).

Solution:

Let's go through each sentence step by step:

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#### 1. There _were not_ nearly so many ships as I expected.
- Subject: "ships" (plural)
- Negative form: "were not"
- Completed: Correct as given.

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#### 2. But never did the time come when there _were not_ other things to do.
- Subject: "things" (plural)
- Negative form: "were not"
- Completed: Correct as given.

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#### 3. There _wasn't_ anything else to do.
- Subject: "anything" (singular, indefinite pronoun)
- Negative form: "wasn't"
- Completed: Correct as given.

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#### 4. There ________ many girls in the factory like Rosie.
- Subject: "girls" (plural)
- Negative form: "were not"
- Completed: "There were not many girls in the factory like Rosie."

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#### 5. As to lodgings, if there ________ houses enough, the cellars might make up the deficiency.
- Subject: "houses" (plural)
- Negative form: "were not"
- Completed: "As to lodgings, if there were not houses enough, the cellars might make up the deficiency."

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#### 6. But there ________ any pleasure in it.
- Subject: "any pleasure" (singular, uncountable noun)
- Negative form: "was not"
- Completed: "But there was not any pleasure in it."

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#### 7. There ________ many people going through this street.
- Subject: "many people" (plural)
- Negative form: "were not"
- Completed: "There were not many people going through this street."

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#### 8. There ________ much left of the soldier.
- Subject: "much" (uncountable noun)
- Negative form: "was not"
- Completed: "There was not much left of the soldier."

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#### 9. Many listened to him and followed his advice; but there ________ a few careless ones who went over to join the party of the governor and the priests.
- Subject: "a few careless ones" (plural)
- Negative form: "were not"
- Completed: "Many listened to him and followed his advice; but there were not a few careless ones who went over to join the party of the governor and the priests."

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#### 10. But there ________ much game.
- Subject: "much game" (uncountable noun)
- Negative form: "was not"
- Completed: "But there was not much game."

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#### 11. There ________ ever no one like her.
- Subject: "no one" (singular, indefinite pronoun)
- Negative form: "was not"
- Completed: "There was not ever no one like her."

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#### 12. But there ________ any other door.
- Subject: "any other door" (singular)
- Negative form: "was not"
- Completed: "But there was not any other door."

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#### 13. There ________ more than a hundred and fifty girls present.
- Subject: "more than a hundred and fifty girls" (plural)
- Negative form: "were not"
- Completed: "There were not more than a hundred and fifty girls present."

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#### 14. There ________ flowers any more.
- Subject: "flowers" (plural)
- Negative form: "were not"
- Completed: "There were not flowers any more."

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#### 15. He soon spied the three hens strutting proudly about, though they were really anxiously wondering if there ________ some grains lying on the ground that they might be glad to eat.
- Subject: "some grains" (plural)
- Negative form: "were not"
- Completed: "He soon spied the three hens strutting proudly about, though they were really anxiously wondering if there were not some grains lying on the ground that they might be glad to eat."

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#### 16. There ________ much use in thinking.
- Subject: "much use" (uncountable noun)
- Negative form: "was not"
- Completed: "There was not much use in thinking."

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#### 17. As if there ________ several millions in the United Kingdom!
- Subject: "several millions" (plural)
- Negative form: "were not"
- Completed: "As if there were not several millions in the United Kingdom!"

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#### 18. There ________ no spots on my father.
- Subject: "no spots" (plural)
- Negative form: "were not"
- Completed: "There were not no spots on my father."

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Final Answer:

Here are the completed sentences with the correct negative forms:

1. There were not nearly so many ships as I expected.
2. But never did the time come when there were not other things to do.
3. There wasn't anything else to do.
4. There were not many girls in the factory like Rosie.
5. As to lodgings, if there were not houses enough, the cellars might make up the deficiency.
6. But there was not any pleasure in it.
7. There were not many people going through this street.
8. There was not much left of the soldier.
9. Many listened to him and followed his advice; but there were not a few careless ones who went over to join the party of the governor and the priests.
10. But there was not much game.
11. There was not ever no one like her.
12. But there was not any other door.
13. There were not more than a hundred and fifty girls present.
14. There were not flowers any more.
15. He soon spied the three hens strutting proudly about, though they were really anxiously wondering if there were not some grains lying on the ground that they might be glad to eat.
16. There was not much use in thinking.
17. As if there were not several millions in the United Kingdom!
18. There were not no spots on my father.

Final Answer:
\boxed{
\begin{aligned}
&1. \text{were not} \\
&2. \text{were not} \\
&3. \text{wasn't} \\
&4. \text{were not} \\
&5. \text{were not} \\
&6. \text{was not} \\
&7. \text{were not} \\
&8. \text{was not} \\
&9. \text{were not} \\
&10. \text{was not} \\
&11. \text{was not} \\
&12. \text{was not} \\
&13. \text{were not} \\
&14. \text{were not} \\
&15. \text{were not} \\
&16. \text{was not} \\
&17. \text{were not} \\
&18. \text{were not}
\end{aligned}
}