Mixed Tenses
Mixed Tenses
Mary was an experienced traveller. When she was younger, she _____________________ (FLY)
around a lot. In those days her father _____________________ (BE) a diplomat and every few
years the whole family _____________________ (HAVE TO) move to a different country.
Not long after the plane _____________________ (TAKE) off the captain _____________________
(TELL) the passengers that they _____________________ (HAVE) to return to the airport. For
the first time Mary _____________________ (START) to worry. A few minutes later she
_____________________ (SEE) the lights of the airport and _____________________ (WONDER)
why there were fire engines and ambulances standing nearby. At that time, she
_____________________ (NOT KNOW) that the plane's front wheel _____________________
(FALL) off during take-off.
Suddenly, Mary _____________________ (FEEL) a strange bump and when the plane
_____________________ (COME) to a stop some passengers _____________________ (CRY).
Fortunately, the pilot _____________________ (MAKE) a perfect landing and nobody
_____________________ (BE) injured. Mary was a little shaken but she still _____________________
(HOPE) she would be able to catch the next flight to Warsaw.
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B1 All Tenses T046
1. After Howard ___________________ his studies he intends to work in his father's company.
(FINISH)
2. I ____________________ the instructions on the test sheet when the headmaster came in
and wished all of us good luck. (READ)
3. By the time I finish my thesis I ________________________ on it for over three years. (WORK)
4. Ancient Greek athletes received a wreath of olives after they ___________________ a race.
(WIN)
5. The last time I went to the library I _________________ three books on painting. (BORROW)
6. I ___________________ when I looked down and saw a snake at my feet. (SCREAM)
7. By the time I get to bed I ________________________ for 8 hours. (WORK)
8. Jane _______________________ yet. I _______________________ since noon, but there's no sign
of her. (NOT ARRIVE, WAIT)
9. Yesterday, while I ___________________ in class, I had nosebleed. The boy who
___________________ next to me gave me a paper handkerchief. (SIT, SIT)
10. All the passengers ______________________ their seat belts by the time the pilot made his
announcement. (FASTEN)
11. I'll return his wallet the next time I ___________________ him. (SEE)
12. A small stone struck the windshield while we _______________________ down the gravel
road. (DRIVE)
13. My grandfather ________________________ in an airplane before and he doesn't plan to
do so. (NEVER FLY)
14. At the moment we _____________________ a long spell of rain. It ______________________
constantly for the last three days. (HAVE, RAIN)
15. When I got to the party last night, the other guests _______________________. (ALREADY
ARRIVE)
16. We ________________________ to go on vacation next week. First, we ___________________
to New York for a few days, then we _____________________ at the Super Bowl finals in
Washington. (PLAN, GO, BE)
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B1 All Tenses T047
1. Mario can’t answer the door because he _________________ his hair (WASH).
2. I _____________ to the park yesterday, but I _________________ there today. (GO, NOT BE)
3. He _____________________ when we arrived at 8. (ALREADY SHOWER)
4. I _____________________ anyone interesting since I moved into this apartment. (NOT
MEET)
5. I ______________________ on this island for two years now. (LIVE)
6. Peter ______________________ the gym when I got there (ALREADY LEAVE).
7. Paul usually _________________ his meals in the firm's canteen but today he
_________________ out with his sister. (HAVE, GO)
8. Jeff is a basketball player, but he ____________________ right now because it’s off-season.
(NOT PLAY)
9. The weather was perfect for our picnic yesterday. The sun _________________ and the
birds _________________. (SHINE, SING)
10. Yesterday, I _________________ into an old high school friend whom I _________________ for
ages. (RUN, NOT SEE)
11. My dad _________________ to many conferences since the end of the month. (BE)
12. While dad _________________ him good night stories, he _________________ asleep and
_________________ up until three hours later. (TELL, FALL, NOT WAKE)
13. I _________________ such a violent storm in my whole life (NEVER SEE)
14. The new shop around the corner _________________ next Wednesday (OPEN).
15. When David _________________ on the couch, he suddenly _________________ an explosion
outside. (SLEEP, HEAR)
16. I _________________ a few days off next week. I think I _________________ a few days in
Berlin. (TAKE, SPEND)
17. The city council ___________________ a new shopping centre in town next year. (BUILD)
18. I _________________ in Cyprus at the moment. I _________________ a great time. The weather
_________________ great and the food _________________ delicious here. (BE, HAVE, BE, BE)
19. Ben is a very quick writer. He ___________________ his third book. (JUST FINISH)
20. The last time I _________________ to Brighton was in August. (GO)
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B1 A Cycling Holiday T049
up on the basics.
__________________ (PLAN) our route carefully for months, but we __________________ (FORGET)
one important factor: the weather. It __________________ (RAIN) heavily since our arrival and that
night we __________________ (END UP) sleeping in the waiting room at a railway station.
When we __________________ (RIDE) down a steep hill the next morning my bike
__________________ (SKID) on the wet road and I __________________ (FALL) off. I __________________
(REALISE) immediately that I __________________ (BREAK) my left arm and after a visit to the
hospital I __________________ (CATCH) the next train to Calais for the ferry home.
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B1 All Tenses T050
1. After Maria __________________ her studies, she plans to work in her father's firm (FINISH).
2. By the time I go to bed I _____________________ the work for the day. (COMPLETE)
3. When Jane saw the snake at her feet she __________________. (SCREAM)
4. I __________________ to the library four times this month, but I __________________ a single
book. (BE, NOT BORROW)
6. Before I started the car, all passengers __________________ their seatbelts. (FASTEN)
8. A small stone struck the window while we __________________ down the road. (DRIVE)
9. I ____________________ all the questions since the officers started their interrogation.
(ANSWER)
11. Jane isn’t here yet. I ______________________ for her since noon but she __________________.
(WAIT, NOT COME)
16. The phone _______________________ constantly since Jack announced that he was running
for mayor. (RING)
17. On July 20th 1969 Neil Armstrong __________________ his foot on the moon . Nobody
__________________ that before. (SET, EVER DO)
18. My high school _____________________ the championship before. It’s about time they did.
(NEVER WIN)
19. May I speak to the doctor? - I’m sorry. He __________________ a patient at the moment.
(SEE)
20. Normally people __________________ around about 20 to 30 times every night. (TURN)
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B1 All Tenses T053
2. When she came home her two boys _____________________ football in the backyard.
(PLAY)
4. The whole family _____________________ a few days ago and _____________________ with us
until next Monday. (ARRIVE, STAY)
5. I _____________________ to call you all morning. Where _____________________? (TRY, YOU BE)
8. When I came back to the office, I saw that someone _________________________ through my
belongings. (SEARCH)
10. You're finally here. I ________________________ in your office for over 15 minutes. (WAIT)
12. John Grisham is a famous author who _____________________ several thrillers. His latest
book _____________________ out a few months ago. (WRITE, COME)
14. At the moment she _____________________ a hard time dealing with the children. They
_____________________ so difficult to handle recently. (HAVE, BECOME)
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B1 All Tenses T054
4. Your car is fine now. There was a problem with the gears, but we ___________________ it.
(FIX)
5. After Claire ___________________ for half an hour, she suddenly ___________________ to check
her watch. (RUN, STOP)
7. Look, Mary ___________________ the windows. Nobody ___________________ them for over a
month. (CLEAN, CLEAN))
8. Tina ______________________ her emails for the last two hours. (CHECK)
9. Living in a foreign country was strange at first, but we ___________________ used to it.
(GET)
10. I ___________________ I want any dessert. I ___________________ too much to eat already.
(NOT THINK, HAVE)
11. In our history lesson yesterday my friend and I ___________________ to each other and we
___________________ attention. Suddenly, our history teacher ___________________ right next
to us. (TALK, NOT PAY, STAND).
13. I saw him sitting on the sofa. He ___________________ very tired because he
_______________________ too much. (BE, WORK)
14. John ___________________ our flight this morning, but he ___________________ hotel
arrangements yet. (BOOK, NOT MAKE)
16. We normally ___________________ together every second Sunday, but this month everyone
___________________ on holiday, so we ___________________ any meetings. (GET, BE, NOT
HAVE)
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