Intermediate / Upper-Intermediate: 4 (tenses

English Grammar Tests » Intermediate / Upper-Intermediate: 4 (tenses - passives)

4 (tenses - passives)

- Tenses
- Passives

Choose the best answer.

When I last talked to him, he ______ English.
- A) studies
- B) study
- C) was studying
- D) studied
I met her at yesterday’s party, but I ______ her by sight for years before that.
- A) had known
- B) have known
- C) will have known
- D) had been known
By 2010, scientists surely ______ a cure for cancer.
- A) are discovering
- B) have been discovered
- C) will have discovered
- D) had discovered
Since the day he ______ ill he ______ a lot of reading.
- A) was / had done
- B) is / has done
- C) was / has done
- D) is / has been done
A: What’s the time?
B: I’m sorry I ______. My watch ______.
- A) can’t tell / stopped
- B) didn’t know / stopped
- C) don’t know / has stopped
- D) don’t know / had stopped
He ______ in the library every night for the last two months.
- A) would be studying
- B) will have studied
- C) has been studied
- D) has been studying
Last Sunday we ____ out of the house where we ____ for five years.
- A) had moved / lived
- B) have moved / had lived
- C) moved / had lived
- D) will move / have lived
We spent hours talking about what we ______ since we left school.
- A) have done
- B) had been doing
- C) have been doing
- D) were doing
They ______ married but in the end they changed their mind.
- A) are going to get
- B) will have been
- C) were going to get
- D) had been
A: Would you like me to give Mike a message for you?
B: Oh, I don’t want to trouble you.
A: It’s no trouble, really. I ______ Mike tomorrow anyway.
- A) am seeing
- B) saw
- C) have seen
- D) would see
When I counted my change I realized they ______ me $ 3 too much.
- A) gave
- B) had given
- C) have given
- D) had been given
When he’d counted his change he ______ it in his pocket.
- A) was put
- B) put
- C) had put
- D) has put
As soon as she ______ out of bed she got dressed.
- A) had got
- B) gets
- C) has got
- D) would get
In a fortnight’s time they ______ their exams.
- A) have taken
- B) will have taken
- C) will have been taken
- D) had taken
They were very rude to us. We ______ there again.
- A) won’t go
- B) hadn’t gone
- C) didn’t go
- D) wouldn’t go
In about forty years’ time we’ll probably ______ on pills.
- A) be living
- B) have been living
- C) have been lived
- D) have lived
A: Why have you set your alarm clock to go off at 5.30?
B: Because I ______ then. I have to catch the early train.
- A) get up
- B) was going to get up
- C) am going to get up
- D) have got
A: I’ve planned my future for the next five years.
B: That is very clever of you. What ______ when you retire?
- A) will you do
- B) are you going to do
- C) have done
- D) do you do
You’ll feel a lot better after you ______ a rest.
- A) had
- B) have had
- C) will have
- D) had had
Next August, while you ______ for your exams, I ______ on a Mediterranean beach.
- A) are preparing / will be
- B) were preparing / would be
- C) prepare / will be
- D) were preparing / was
He ______ my name, so I reminded him.
- A) forgets
- B) has forgotten
- C) had forgotten
- D) forgot
By 5.30 this afternoon, Tom ______ at work for eight hours.
- A) had been
- B) would have been
- C) will have been
- D) has been
She ______ unwell for several days when she was taken to hospital.
- A) had been feeling
- B) has been feeling
- C) was feeling
- D) had felt
During this year we ______ many advances in computer science.
- A) had seen
- B) have seen
- C) saw
- D) are seeing
Our maths teacher ______ us a lot of homework last week but he ______ us very much so far this week.
- A) would give / didn’t give
- B) had given / didn’t give
- C) gave / didn’t given
- D) gave / hasn’t given
It is expected that man ______ on several planets by the end of this century.
- A) would have landed
- B) will be landing
- C) will have been landed
- D) will have landed
A: I’m going to the pop concert. ______with me?
B: Thank you very much. I’d love to.
- A) Are you going to come
- B) Do you come
- C) Will you come
- D) Were you coming
It rained! I didn’t think it ______.
- A) is going to rain
- B) was going to rain
- C) was raining
- D) had rained
I ______ to see you tomorrow, but now I find I can’t.
- A) will come
- B) come
- C) was coming
- D) am coming
He found everything rather strange as he ______ never ______ abroad before.
- A) has / been
- B) will / be
- C) hasn’t / been
- D) had / been
I ______ you know as soon as the telegram ______.
- A) will let / arrives
- B) would let / arrives
- C) will let / arrived
- D) let / had arrived
Please ______ until after the plane ______.
- A) not smoke / takes off
- B) don’t smoke / has taken off
- C) don’t smoke / took off
- D) not smoke / has taken off
It is the first time I ______ of anything like that.
- A) had heard
- B) have heard
- C) hear
- D) am hearing
You’re always late. This is the third time you ______ late this week.
- A) had been
- B) were
- C) have been
- D) will be
It was the first time she ______ ever ______ a prize.
- A) has / won
- B) had / won
- C) is / won
- D) would / win
He ______ about to give up his job when they offered him a rise.
- A) was
- B) is
- C) has been
- D) had been
Yesterday while I ______ in class I ______ the hiccups. The boy next to me told me ______ my breath.
- A) was sitting / had got / to hold
- B) sat / got / to hold
- C) was sitting / got / to hold
- D) am sitting / got / hold
Hello! I ______ to phone you all week. Where ______?
- A) am trying / were you
- B) have tried / did you go
- C) tried / were you
- D) have been trying / have you been
It is time we ______ goodbye to each other. The train is due to leave in a minute.
- A) said
- B) say
- C) will say
- D) had said
I think you should apologize when you______ her.
- A) will see
- B) see
- C) saw
- D) are seen
His clothes are in a mess because he ______ the house all morning.
- A) has been painting
- B) will be painting
- C) had been painting
- D) will have painted
Since I last met him he ______.
- A) will get married
- B) gets married
- C) had got married
- D) has got married
They quarreled last week. They ______ to each other since.
- A) didn’t talk
- B) haven’t talked
- C) don’t talk
- D) hadn’t talked
I ______ much of the film because I fell asleep half-way through.
- A) had seen
- B) didn’t see
- C) wasn’t seen
- D) saw
There is nothing we can do that ____ people from driving too fast.
- A) is stopping
- B) stop
- C) will stop
- D) stopped
I didn’t answer the phone when it ______ because I ______ a shower, so I ______ it until it was too late.
- A) rang / was having / didn’t hear
- B) rung / was having / wasn’t heard
- C) was ringing / had / didn’t hear
- D) rang / was having / wasn’t heard
Last night I ______ you, but the phone was out of order.
- A) would phone
- B) phoned
- C) were going to phone
- D) didn’t phone
She wants us to meet at the cafeteria, but I’d rather we ______ here.
- A) meet
- B) will meet
- C) met
- D) had met
We met at the cafeteria as she wanted. I’d rather we ______ here.
- A) meet
- B) would meet
- C) met
- D) had met
It is likely that by the time you ______ to the shop it______ shut.
- A) will get / will be
- B) got / will be
- C) would get / will
- D) get / will be
______ you ever ______ of him? He is a world-famous violinist.
- A) Won’t / hear
- B) Didn’t / hear
- C) Haven’t / heard
- D) Had / heard
A: Did you turn off the photocopier?
B: The manager ______ already ______ it off.
- A) had / turned
- B) has / turned
- C) was / turned
- D) had been / turned
I ______ what the problem is by tomorrow.
- A) will be discovering
- B) have discovered
- C) will have discovered
- D) will be discovered
By the time I got to the stadium they ______ already ______ for ten minutes.
- A) have / been playing
- B) were/playing
- C) had / been playing
- D) will / have played
Someone ______ my bike last night. ______ you ever ______ your bike stolen?
- A) stole / Did / have
- B) stolen / Have / had
- C) was stolen / Have / had
- D) stole / Have / had
The doctor ______ the patient with a smile and told him that he ______ better.
- A) approached / is looking
- B) approached / was looking
- C) approaches / is looking
- D) had approached / looked
I used to smoke at one time but now I ______ it up.
- A) have given
- B) gave
- C) had given
- D) am given
He ______ silly questions until my patience finally ran out.
- A) has kept asking
- B) kept asking
- C) had been kept asking
- D) was kept asking
He ______ at tennis since he came to the USA.
- A) isn’t beaten
- B) hasn’t beaten
- C) hasn’t been beaten
- D) wasn’t beaten
It is probably about time we ______ the car serviced.
- A) had
- B) would have
- C) will have
- D) have had
A: ______ we ______ somewhere before?
B: Yes, I ______ you at your sister’s wedding.
- A) Didn’t / meet / saw
- B) Haven’t / met / saw
- C) Hadn’t / met / had seen
- D) Haven’t / meet / have seen
The weather ______ worse last year than I ______ it to be.
- A) was / had expected
- B) was / have expected
- C) had been / expected
- D) had been / have expected
I______ hungry at four because I ______ a big lunch at one.
- A) wasn’t / had had
- B) am not / had
- C) was / had had
- D) wouldn’t be / had
I woke up feeling tired this morning because I ______ very well.
- A) haven’t slept
- B) wasn’t sleeping
- C) hadn’t slept
- D) haven’t been sleeping
Go out and get some fresh air! You ______ here reading all morning.
- A) had been sitting
- B) were sitting
- C) are sitting
- D) have been sitting
A: Why are you crying?
B: Well, I ______ up onions for the last five minutes.
- A) have been cutting
- B) will have cut
- C) am cutting
- D) will be cutting
A: Did you spend your holiday in Miami?
B: No. I was ______. It there, but I changed my mind and went to Antalya instead.
- A) spent
- B) have spent
- C) to have spent
- D) to be spent
I don’t think your brother______ rid of his bad cold.
- A) won’t get
- B) had got
- C) has got
- D) hasn’t got
Transport systems ______ likely to change in the future. One probable difference is that there ______ more electric vehicles.
- A) is / will be
- B) are / will be
- C) will / are
- D) will / would be
The men were to ______ but the manager decided to give them a second change.
- A) have been dismissed
- B) dismissed
- C) being dismissed
- D) be dismissing
Mike ______ in a travel agency for six months in 1990. He already had some experience of the tourist industry because he ______ in a Tourist Information office in Bristol two years before.
- A) had worked / had worked
- B) was working / worked
- C) worked / has worked
- D) worked / had worked
The film ______ already ______ when we sat down.
- A) has already / started
- B) was / starting
- C) had / started
- D) have / started
It is due______ in five years’ time.
- A) to complete
- B) be completed
- C) be completing
- D) to be completed
I ______ her a week ago but she ______ yet.
- A) wrote / hasn’t answered
- B) wrote / didn’t answer
- C) had written / hasn’t answered
- D) was written / doesn’t answer
A: What happens to traffic in a traffic jam?
B: It______ up.
- A) is held
- B) will hold
- C) has been held
- D) was held
No one brought up that question at the meeting. That question ______ up at the meeting.
- A) was brought
- B) won’t be brought
- C) hasn’t been brought
- D) wasn’t brought
By the end of this century most of the world’s oil supplies ______.
- A) have used up
- B) will have used up
- C) have been used up
- D) will have been used up
My brother ______ in a restaurant for the summer, but he ______ it very much.
- A) worked / doesn’t like
- B) is working / doesn’t like
- C) has been working / didn’t like
- D) working/doesn’t like
Someone saw him. He was driving a Renault Manager. He ______ a Renault Manager.
- A) saw driving
- B) was seen driving
- C) is seen driving
- D) has been seen drive
There has been a serious accident on the E5, and a section of the motorway ______ to traffic.
- A) was closed
- B) has been closed
- C) had been closed
- D) are closed
People say that Istanbul is one of the world’s most interesting cities. lstanbul ______ one of the world’s most interesting cities.
- A) said to be
- B) is said to be
- C) told to be
- D) was said to be
Long ago, people thought that the earth was flat. Long ago, the earth ______ flat.
- A) was thinking to be
- B) was thought to be
- C) is thought to be
- D) thought to be
When I arrived, no arrangements ______.
- A) had been made
- B) weren’t made
- C) hadn’t been made
- D) have been made
The pilot ______ thought to ______ in the crash.
- A) was / have died
- B) was / be dying
- C) had / have died
- D) has / would die
A: Who’s going to meet him at the airport?
B: He ______ by our ambassador.
- A) is going to be met
- B) will have been met
- C) is going to meet
- D) has gone to meet
This week we’ve had the house ______ into by thieves.
- A) to break
- B) be broken
- C) broken
- D) being broken
A: What do they use this building for?
B: Well, years ago it ______ as a dance hall but now it ______ for offices.
- A) is used / being used
- B) had been used / is using
- C) was used / is used
- D) has been used / is used
A: Were you able to cure the patient?
B: He ______ already ______ by the time I got there.
- A) will / have been cured
- B) had / been cured
- C) had / cured
- D) has / been cured
Mars is the first planet ______.
- A) to discover
- B) was discovered
- C) to be discovered
- D) to have been discovered
They were unhappy with the way things ______.
- A) are going
- B) were going
- C) have been going on
- D) will be going on
Don’t touch that electric stove while it ______.
- A) was being repaired
- B) being repaired
- C) is being repaired
- D) will be repairing
He was 8 kilos overweight and ______ to go on a diet.
- A) is advised
- B) has been advised
- C) was advised
- D) had advised
People like policemen ______ always ______ against flu.
- A) do / vaccinate
- B) are / vaccinated
- C) to be / vaccinated
- D) is / to be vaccinated
His novels ______ into eight languages.
- A) to be translated
- B) has been translated
- C) have translated
- D) have been translated
We usually ______ the news on TV at eight o’clock, but tonight we ______ that new soap opera.
- A) are watching / watched
- B) watch / are watching
- C) are watching / are watching
- D) watch / watched
He noticed that the room ______ recently.
- A) hasn’t been cleaned
- B) was not cleaned
- C) hadn’t been cleaned
- D) won’t be cleaned
I hate it when my boiled egg ______ properly.
- A) not done
- B) isn’t done
- C) wasn’t done
- D) won’t be done
A speech to the nation was ______ by the Prime Minister, but it had to be cancelled at the last minute because of a cabinet crisis.
- A) would make
- B) has been made
- C) being made
- D) to have been made
He ______ empty the contents of his suitcases onto the counter.
- A) was made
- B) was made to
- C) had made
- D) will be made
The authorities feared the missing man was dead. The missing man was feared ______.
- A) being dead
- B) dead
- C) to be dead
- D) was dead
Someone heard him shout for help. He ______ shout for help.
- A) has been heard
- B) is heard to
- C) was heard
- D) was heard to
The authorities will make him pay all his debts. He ______ pay all his debts.
- A) is going to be
- B) will be made
- C) was made to
- D) will be made to
She’s spring-cleaning the house from bottom to top. The house ______ from top to bottom.
- A) is being spring-cleaned
- B) was to be spring-cleaned
- C) has been spring-cleaned
- D) is to be spring-cleaned
The last days of the holiday ______ by rain.
- A) was spoiled
- B) are spoiled
- C) have been spoiled
- D) were spoiled
They have used up all the petrol in the tank. All the petrol in the tank ______ up.
- A) has been using
- B) has been used
- C) will have been used
- D) have been used
I expect the police will find him. I expect he ______ by the police.
- A) to be found
- B) would be found
- C) be found
- D) will be found
People don’t bring up children properly these days. Children ______ properly these days.
- A) didn’t bring up
- B) aren’t bringing up
- C) aren’t brought up
- D) weren’t brought up
They ______ the traffic problem when the plans for the project ______ made last year.
- A) haven’t considered / were being
- B) weren’t considered / were
- C) didn’t consider / was being
- D) didn’t consider / were being
Because of the patient’s health, ______.
- A) the doctor was advised to lose weight
- B) he was advised by the doctor to lose weight
- C) the doctor wants to lose weight
- D) he advised the doctor to lose weight
They hadn’t done any damage to it. No damage ______ to it.
- A) was done
- B) had been done
- C) hadn’t been done
- D) has been done
“They say he robbed the bank.” means: ______.
- A) they say he’s been robbed in the bank.
- B) He is said to rob the bank.
- C) He said he’d robbed the bank.
- D) He is said to have robbed the bank.
A: Did Arsenal beat Galatasaray in the final?
B: ______.
- A) Yes, Arsenal was beaten by Galatasaray in the final.
- B) Yes, Galatasaray beat Arsenal in the final.
- C) No, Galatasaray was beaten by Arsenal
- D) No, Arsenal was beaten by Galatasaray in the final.
People think he is guilty. He ______ guilty
- A) thought to be
- B) thinks he is
- C) is thought to be
- D) thought he was
Foreign investments _____ reduced by 20 per cent since the election.
- A) have been
- B) were
- C) have had
- D) has been
It _____ that the Government would do something to relieve the situation.
- A) is assumed
- B) assumed
- C) was assuming
- D) was assumed
The man who ______ by a snake was given a serum.
- A) is bitten
- B) has been bitten
- C) had been bitten
- D) had bitten
A cease-fire ______ expected to ______ later this month.
- A) was / be declaring
- B) is / be declared
- C) is / declare
- D) has expected / to be declared
A great deal of research ______ into the possible causes of cancer.
- A) are being done
- B) have been done
- C) has been done
- D) has done
She promised that she ______ hospital until she ______ better.
- A) would not leave / was
- B) wouldn’t leave / would be
- C) doesn’t leave / was
- D) didn’t leave / was
New sources of energy ______ developed. This will become increasingly important as oil reserves ______ up.
- A) is being / are used
- B) has been / have been used
- C) are being / are used
- D) have been / is used
The transistor ______ in 1948. As a result of this, both the size and the cost of electronic equipment______ greatly reduced.
- A) was invented / have been
- B) had been invented / has been
- C) was invented / have had
- D) had invented / will be
Radio waves ______ by the ionosphere. This makes it possible ______ short-wave radio signals over great distances.
- A) is reflected / to send
- B) are reflecting / sent
- C) are reflected / sending
- D) are reflected / to send
Plans to develop cars on methanol are likely ______ in the future.
- A) will be realized
- B) will have been realized
- C) to be realized
- D) being realized
There is no bread left because we ______ it all.
- A) have eaten
- B) has been eaten
- C) had eaten
- D) have been eaten
Little ____ she realize that the evening was ____ out very differently.
- A) did / turning
- B) will / to turn
- C) does / to have turned
- D) did / to turn
It is highly probable that more and more solar energy ______ in the future.
- A) will be used
- B) be used
- C) to be used
- D) will be using
There isn’t any more chalk, it ______ all ______.
- A) has / used up
- B) was / used up
- C) has / been used up
- D) had / been used up
You can stop looking for his watch. He ______ just ______ it.
- A) has / been found
- B) has / found
- C) had / found
- D) will / have found
Don’t ask me what cauliflower tastes like. I ______ eating it.
- A) am not trying
- B) didn’t try
- C) haven’t tried
- D) don’t try
I bought another concert ticket in case you ____ to come with me.
- A) wanted
- B) will want
- C) have wanted
- D) would want
We’ll close all the windows in case it ______ while we are out.
- A) rains
- B) rained
- C) will rain
- D) rain
Take an umbrella with you in case it ______.
- A) rained
- B) will rain
- C) should rain
- D) is raining
She ought to pass her exams so long as she ______.
- A) doesn’t panic
- B) won’t panic
- C) shouldn’t panic
- D) didn’t panic
His hopes of making a fortune ______ when his factory burned down.
- A) were dashed
- B) have dashed
- C) was dashed
- D) will be dashed
When eleven o’clock came and he still ______, I began to wonder if he ______ an accident.
- A) didn’t arrive / had
- B) hadn’t arrived / had had
- C) won’t arrive / had had
- D) didn’t arrive / had had
Some patients shout in pain while ______ an injection.
- A) giving
- B) being given
- C) given
- D) have been given
For various reasons, clothing of some type ______ by human beings since the beginning of time.
- A) has worn
- B) was worn
- C) is being worn
- D) has been worn
Considering the weather is so uncertain, the reception ____ indoors.
- A) was held
- B) will be held
- C) to be held
- D) has held
In most non-western countries punishment______ as a deterrent.
- A) is not seen
- B) hasn’t seen
- C) weren’t seen
- D) aren’t seen
If we compare the mass of hydrogen in a star with the rate at which energy ______, we can estimate its potential life.
- A) is being emitted
- B) be emitted
- C) was emitted
- D) will be emitted
It has been predicted that within the next 50 years, scientists ______ a drug to prolong life up to 150 years or more.
- A) are producing
- B) to be produced
- C) will be produced
- D) will have produced
We ______ at the Italian restaurant last night, but it was full, so we ate somewhere else.
- A) were eating
- B) were going to eat
- C) are going to eat
- D) had eaten
The door ______ unless you ______.
- A) won’t open / push
- B) doesn’t open / will push
- C) won’t open / will push
- D) isn’t open / push
His parents ______ married for eight years when he was born.
- A) have been
- B) will be
- C) had been
- D) were
By April 2010, he ______ for this organization for fifteen years.
- A) has been working
- B) will be working
- C) will have been working
- D) had been working
He ______ from the company for several years before they found him out.
- A) has been stealing
- B) had been stealing
- C) was stealing
- D) will have been stolen
He ______ a cold for the last three days.
- A) is fighting off
- B) will have fought off
- C) has been fighting off
- D) was fighting off
The Prime Minister refuses to enter into negotiations with the railway men until they ______ all ______ to work.
- A) are / return
- B) have / returned
- C) had / returned
- D) will / have I returned
In the years ahead, it seems likely that people ______ even greater control over nature.
- A) to acquire
- B) will be acquired
- C) will acquire
- D) will have been acquired
You ______ pleased to hear that your father______ to the committee.
- A) have been / selected
- B) will be / has been selected
- C) are / is selecting
- D) have been / was selected
Hardly _____ I_____ the phone down when it started ringing again.
- A) did / put
- B) will have / put
- C) did / to have put
- D) had / put
The day she agreed to marry him was the happiest he ______ ever ______ in his life.
- A) has / had
- B) had / had
- C) will / have
- D) would / have

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English Grammar in Use With Answers

Students who want help with English grammar. It is written for you to use without a teacher. Will be useful for you if you are not sure of the answers to questions like these: - What is the difference between I did and I have done? - When do we use will for the future? - What is the structure after I wish? - When do we say used to do and when do we say used to doing? - When do we use the? - What is the difference between like and as? These and many other points of English grammar are explained and there are exercises on each point.

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