TENSES

Jane________law at Harvard for four years now.

• is studying

• has been studying

• studies

• studied

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'has been studying' because it indicates an action that started in the past and continues to the present, which fits the context of Jane studying law at Harvard for four years.

This time tomorrow________on the beach sunbathing and drinking freshly squeezed fruit juice!

• I'll have been lying

• I will lie

• I will be lying

• I will have lain

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'I will be lying' because it indicates an action that will be ongoing at a specific future time. The other options do not fit the context of a continuous action happening tomorrow.

We________for three hours and we are very tired.

• waited

• have been waiting

• wait

• had waited

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'have been waiting' because it indicates an action that started in the past and continues to the present, which fits the context of being tired after waiting for three hours.

She________for hours. That's why her eyes are red now.

• cried

• has been crying

• was crying

• has cried

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'has been crying' because it indicates an action that started in the past and continues to the present, explaining her red eyes. The other options do not convey this ongoing aspect.

When I last saw him, he________in London.

• is living

• has been living

• was living

• lived

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'was living' because it indicates a past continuous action that was happening at the time he was last seen. The other options do not fit the past context of the sentence.

By the time he arrives here tomorrow, they________for London.

• would have left

• will have left

• will left

• are leaving

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'will have left' because it indicates a future action that will be completed before another future event (his arrival). The other options do not fit the future perfect tense required here.

Mr. Pike________English at our school for 20 years before he retired last year.

• had been teaching

• has been teaching

• was teaching

• is teaching

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'had been teaching' because it indicates an action that started in the past and continued up to a specific point (his retirement last year), fitting the context of the sentence.

They________for Japan at 10.30 tomorrow.

• will be leaving

• have left

• will have left

• will leave

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'will be leaving' as it indicates a planned action in the future. The sentence refers to a specific time tomorrow, making the future continuous tense appropriate.

When I________to the airport, I realized that I________my passport at home.

• got/had left

• got/left

• had got/had left

• got/was left

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'got/left' because it uses the simple past tense to indicate completed actions. 'I got to the airport' and 'I realized I left my passport' are both straightforward past actions.

I________was angry when you saw me because I________with my sister.

• have been arguing

• had been arguing

• argued

• would argue

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'had been arguing' because it indicates a past action that was ongoing before another past event (seeing me). The other options do not convey this past continuous aspect.