English Exercises - Mixed Tenses 4
Level B1 - B2
Choose the most suitable verb form to make sentences.
Answer explanations
I have a temperature, so I am seeing the doctor today.
The state verb see can be used in a progressive form meaning visit/meet.
It was raining heavily when we arrived at the beach resort.
An ongoing situation in the past that is interrupted by a shorter action (arrived) → past progressive
Esther was sure that somebody had stolen her jacket.
We use the past perfect tense for an action or situation that took place before another action or situation in the past (Esther was sure).
The author visiting our school has written more than ten novels.
Use the present perfect simple, not the present perfect continuous, to describe how often or how much something has happened.
It is the second time we have lost a match this season.
It is the first/second/etc. time is usually followed by the present perfect simple.
The men were arrested inside their house where they were preparing to rob a bank.
A longer action in the past, interrupted by a shorter action (were arrested) → past progressive
We want to visit the new attraction as soon as possible.
The state verb want cannot usually be used in a progressive tense.
He is tired because he has been working all day.
Use the present perfect progressive for actions that have continued up to or just before the present and which describe the cause of a present situation.
We expect that the test will be easy.
We use the future simple for predictions based on our personal opinion or belief.
The town is thinking about banning cars in this neighbourhood now.
In most cases, think is a state verb (not used in a progressive form), but think about (an action) can be used in a progressive tense.
They broke her expensive vase last week.
Used to is used to talk about habits or regular actions in the past, not about individual events.
Nathan has gone to the supermarket, but he will be back in half an hour.
Compare has been and has gone:
Has been indicates that someone has visited a place and returned.
Has gone indicates that someone has visited a place (and has not returned yet).