B2 - U1

VERB TENSES REVIEW
B2 - U1

Multiple Choice

We use the present simple to talk about habits, permanent states and things that are generally true.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

We use the present continuous to emphasize an action in progress around a time in the past.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

We use the past simple to describe finished actions in the past, especially when there is one finished action after another

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

We use the past perfect simple to emphasize that one thing happened before a particular point in the past.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

We use the past perfect continuous to talk about actions we see as temporary, in progress and unfinished in the present.

• true

• false

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Open Ended

Complete the pairs of sentences by putting one of the verbs in brackets into the correct simple form and the other into the correct continuous form.

1a. We usually _______ (spend) the summers with my grandparents at their house on the coast.

1b. This summer, though, my brother is in Costa Rica. He ________ (stay) with a host family there.

Open Ended

Complete the pairs of sentences by putting one of the verbs in brackets into the correct simple form and the other into the correct continuous form.

2a. This weekend I ______ (go) hiking in the mountains with some friends.

2b. The coach _______ (leave) at six every morning, so we should be at the bus station 15 minutes before.

Open Ended

Complete the pairs of sentences by putting one of the verbs in brackets into the correct simple form and the other into the correct continuous form.

3a. I ______ (get) really bad food poisoning while I was in Scotland. I’ve no idea why!

3b. Things got worse when somebody stole my suitcase while I ________ (wait) in the queue to buy train tickets to Glasgow.

Open Ended

Complete the pairs of sentences by putting one of the verbs in brackets into the correct simple form and the other into the correct continuous form.

4a. I spoke good French by the time I left Québec because I ________ (hang out) with the locals for the last few months of the ski season.

4b. It was a great trip, but scary, because I never ______ (try) skiing before.

Multiple Choice

I .............. on a French exchange recently.

• was going

• went

Multiple Choice

I ................... with a French boy named Olivier and his family for three weeks over Easter.

• was staying

• stayed

Multiple Choice

I ................ an amazing time out there.

• had

• was having

Multiple Choice

They ________ me skiing for ten days, which was incredible!

• were taking

• took

Multiple Choice

I ________ before, but (6) I'd been having / I was having lessons on an artificial slope to get myself ready, so I wasn’t completely useless when I got there.

• didn’t go / I'd been having

• hadn't been / I'd been having

• didn’t go / I was having

• hadn't been / I was having

Multiple Choice

Over the next few weeks, both my skiing and my French _________.

• had improved

• improved

Multiple Choice

The only bad thing about the trip was that while we ________ in the mountains, I got really ill.

• had been staying

• were staying

Multiple Choice

I don’t know if it was food poisoning or what, but I ______ really bad.

• felt

• had felt

Multiple Choice

Olivier _________ here in July. I’m a bit worried because I can’t take him to do exciting things like skiing!

• has been coming

• is coming

Multiple Choice

Most of the time here, ______with my friends. (12) I still look / I’m still looking forward to seeing him, though.

• I just hang out / I still look

• I just hang out / I’m still looking

• I’m just hanging out / I still look

• I’m just hanging out / I’m still looking

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You are going to tell a story. Choose one of the situations below. Then plan what you want to say about where you were and when – and what happened during your time there. Think about how to use all four past forms at least once.
a. Something that happened while you were on holiday
b. A time you stayed with other people
c. A place you have visited