PROGRESS Grammar C1 Close-Up

Joanna ________ and left the office; she was tired after a long day at work.

• locked up

• was locking up

• has locked up

• had locked up

Olga knew the company _________ because the general manager was incompetent.

• has failed

• had failed

• was going to fail

• would have failed

My new phone is broken! I _________ it back to the shop for a refund.

• 'll have taken

• took

• 'm going to take

• 'm going to be taking

The profits of the company ________ steadily and investors have lost a lot of money.

• are going to fall

• fall

• are falling

• will be falling

By the time Tamara finishes university, she _________ studying for half of her life!

• is

• will be

• is going to be

• will have been

Answer explanation

With expressions like by the time, we express what WILL HAVE HAPPENED in the future, until a certain point in time.

Rudy is worn out because he has played / has been playing online war games all night.

• has played

• had played

• has been playing

• was playing

Answer explanation

Here, we want to emphasize the RESULT (he's tired) and the DURATION (all night) of the action.

I’ve ____ heard a more ridiculous thing in my life! Surely you’re joking!

Hector was scratching his head wondering what to do _____ Helen was looking for a solution.

Answer explanation

Two continuous actions happening simultaneously in the past with WHILE

Ruben has _______ smashed three world records this week. How does he do it?

_______ she can’t claim bankruptcy! She’s made millions as an actress.

• Why

• Still

• Surely

• How