ECPE – GRAMMAR TENSES & STRUCTURE

A. Choose the correct answer:

1. The film _________ by now.

a. has started b. will have started c. had started

2. We ___________ candidates tomorrow.

a. have been interviewing b. interview c. will be interviewing

3. They _________ to this exhibition three times so far.

a. have been b. went c. have gone

4. This year’s festival _________ three weeks.

a. lasts b. will last c. will be lasting

5. More families __________ a second car.

a. are buying b. will be buying c. buy

6. The law ________ in effect on May 1st next year.

a. will be coming b. comes c. will come

7. New students ____________ to the office on arrival.

a. will report b. are to report c. are about to report

8. Julie! You _________ very silly today.

a. are b. are being c. have been

9. I’m sorry to say we do not _________ have any vacancies.

a. currently b. shortly c. lately

10. People are __________ getting me confused with my sister.

a. currently b. all the time c. forever

10. In three weeks they __________ renovating the shop.

a. will finish b. are finishing c. will have finished

11. Once you _________ the book, you’ll know what I mean.

a. will read b. have read c. will have read

12.What time _____ the next train ___________?

a. is _____due to arrive b. will ____be arriving c. will ___have arrived

13.The lecture hall is full of students, but Professor Wilkins has not _____ arrived.

a. still b. yet c. already

14.When the ferry _________ the island, get ready to disembark.

a. is approached b. approaches c. will approach

15.The staff has known ________ that they might lose their jobs.

a. recently b. so far c. for a while

16.‘Are you over your illness now?’ ‘Almost, but I _________ tired easily.

a. still am getting b. have still got c. still get

17.‘I’m going away next weekend.’ Will you _________ a camera?

a. have taken b. be taking c. be taken

18. When the bank robbery happened, Jeff _________ at the bank.

a. had worked b. was working c. has worked

19.The room looked fantastic once it __________.

a. has been painted b. was painting c. had been painted

20. I __________ spinach when I was younger but not any more.

a. would like b. was liking c. used to like

21.From the atmosphere in the room it was obvious they ___________.

a. argued b. had been arguing c. have argued

22. Fran __________ her own gifts every Christmas.

a. was making b. would make c. had been making

23. In the summer of 1987, I _________ for a law firm.

a. worked b. had worked c. was working

24. We _________ for hours before we saw any wildlife.

a. had walked b. were walking c. had been walking

25. We couldn’t put down a deposit on the car because we ________ enough
money.

a. weren’t saving b. hadn’t saved c. saved

26.I __________ if you would check this report for me.

a. am wondering b. was wondering c. wonder

27.The studio _________ to release the film in August but they postponed it because
of

the political situation.

a. used to plan b. had planned c. was about to plan

28.Before there were railways, ordinary people _________ for pleasure.

a. were rarely travelling b. were used to travel rarely c. would rarely travel

29.The police arrived just as the thieves _________ the bank.

a. were about to leave b. would leave c. had been leaving

30.No new staff _________ on since January.

a. has taken b. was taken c. has been taken

B. Choose the correct answer:

1. It’s no use _________ around all day if you want to get fit.

a. sit b. to sit c. sitting

2. The new recruits were made ________ 10 km in the pouring rain.

a. run b. running c. to run

3. Do you remember ________ on the beach when you were a kid?

a. to play b. playing c. to be playing

4. Local people are opposed to the airport ________ so close to their village.

a. be built b. be building c. being built

5. Taking up photography can mean ________ to buy a lot of expensive equipment.

a. to have b. have c. having

6. Most people would rather ________ with others than alone.

a. living b. live c. to live

7. Tim pretended ________ a headache as he didn’t want to go to school.

a. having b. to have c. have

8. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean _______ anyone with my thoughtless remark.

a. to offend b. offending c. to have offended

9. According to the invitation, the ceremony was _______ at the hotel.

a. to hold b. to having held c. to be held

10.As the deadline approached, I regretted not ________ my time more productively.

a. spend b. having spent c. spent

11.We appreciated _________ to our neighbour’s wedding.

a. inviting b. being invited c. having invited

12.Sue is really lucky _______ a new car for her birthday!

a. to give b. to be given c. to have been given

13.The accountant is rumoured ________ a large sum of money from the company.

a. to have stolen b. having stolen c. to steal

14.As a child, I always enjoyed ________ to the fair.

a. to be taken b. being taken c. having been taken

15.You’d better not _________ when the boss walks in!

a. having chatted b. to chat c. be chatting

16.I will always regret ________ the chance to travel.

a. not to have b. having not c. not having had

17.Would the plan involve ________ a great deal of money?

a. us to invest b. our investing c. we investing

18.Surely the professor wouldn’t be __________ everyone in the class!

a. too cruel to fail b. so cruel failing c. so cruel as to fail

19.Weren’t you supposed _________ your notes with you to yesterday’s seminar?

a. have brought b. to have brought c. to have been brought

20.Christine and Joyce were careful ________ while they were gossiping.

a. to be not overheard b. to not overhear c. not to be overheard