Mixed Tenses (12 Tenses) – English Grammar Exercises for B2
The Head of the Organizing Committee is holding a team meeting to learn from the failures of last year’s event, assess current escalating risks, and finalize the contingency plan for tomorrow’s event.
Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each statement made by the Head of the Organizing Committee during the meeting.
1 Let’s review last year’s disaster. The main sound system ______ entirely exactly when the CEO started his opening speech.
(A) has failed
(B) was failing
(C) failed
(D) fails
2 Tomorrow, the weather forecast is terrible, so all security guards ______ waterproof gear at all times.
(A) must wear
(B) must wearing
(C) have worn
(D) wore
3 Look at the live weather radar right now; that massive storm ______ rapidly towards our outdoor venue.
(A) approaches
(B) is approaching
(C) approached
(D) has approached
4 So far today, our registration team ______ over 500 VIP guests, which is much higher than expected.
(A) had registered
(B) registered
(C) is registering
(D) has registered
5 While our technicians ______ to fix the projector last year, the audience became extremely frustrated.
(A) are trying
(B) have tried
(C) tried
(D) were trying
6 Before we finally opened the main gates last year, a massive crowd ______ in the heavy rain for over three hours.
(A) had already formed
(B) has already formed
(C) already forms
(D) was already forming
7 Please remember that at exactly 9:00 AM tomorrow, the keynote speaker ______ the main presentation, so doors must be locked.
(A) will deliver
(B) will have delivered
(C) delivers
(D) will be delivering
8 The technical crew ______ the backup generators since 6:00 AM today, and they still haven’t found the root cause of the noise.
(A) has been testing
(B) is testing
(C) has tested
(D) tested
9 Last year, we confidently thought the catering team ______ enough food, but we completely ran out by noon.
(A) would bring
(B) will bring
(C) has brought
(D) is going to bring
10 Regardless of any late VIPs tomorrow, the opening ceremony ______ precisely at 8:00 AM.
(A) started
(B) starts
(C) is starting
(D) will have started
11 As soon as the health and safety inspector ______ the venue tomorrow morning, we will unlock the food stalls.
(A) approves
(B) will approve
(C) approved
(D) is approving
12 Last year, we ______ a major issue with fake tickets, which is exactly why we implemented the new QR code system today.
(A) experienced
(B) have experienced
(C) experience
(D) had experienced
13 If the wind speed exceeds 40 km/h tomorrow, we ______ move the entire outdoor exhibition indoors immediately.
(A) will have to
(B) would have to
(C) have to
(D) will having to
14 Currently, the number of ticket cancellations ______ significantly due to the negative news about the incoming typhoon.
(A) is increasing
(B) increases
(C) has increased
(D) increased
15 By the time the very first guest arrives tomorrow, the safety team ______ all emergency exits and fire extinguishers.
(A) will check
(B) has checked
(C) will have checked
(D) will be checking
16 By 8:00 PM tomorrow night, our dedicated volunteers ______ continuously for twelve grueling hours.
(A) will have worked
(B) will work
(C) will have been working
(D) are going to work
17 We suffered a huge data loss last year because we ______ entirely on a local server just before the power outage hit.
(A) had been relying
(B) have been relying
(C) were relying
(D) relied
18 Right now, despite the warnings, I firmly ______ that our secondary backup generator is sufficient for the main stage.
(A) am believing
(B) believe
(C) have believed
(D) believed
19 If we had actively monitored the social media backlash yesterday, we ______ this massive PR crisis today.
(A) would not have faced
(B) will not face
(C) did not face
(D) would not be facing
20 Under no circumstances can we allow anyone into the VIP lounge tomorrow until the bomb squad ______ the area.
(A) will clear
(B) cleared
(C) has cleared
(D) is clearing
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C) failed
- Why it’s correct: The breakdown happened completely and at a specific moment in the past (“last year”, “exactly when”). This requires the Past Simple.
- Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake (Present Perfect cannot be used with a specific past time). (B) Meaning Trap (Past Continuous implies a gradual, unfinished failure, which contradicts “entirely”). (D) Structural Error.
2 (A) must wear
- Why it’s correct: A mandatory safety regulation for the present or future requires the modal verb “must” followed by a bare infinitive.
- Error Analysis: (B) Structural Error (“Must” cannot be followed by V-ing). (C) Meaning Trap. (D) Structural Error (Past tense).
3 (B) is approaching
- Why it’s correct: “Right now” and “Look” are clear indicators of an action happening at the exact moment of speaking, requiring the Present Continuous.
- Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake (Present Simple cannot describe a temporary ongoing action). (C) Structural Error. (D) Meaning Trap (The storm is still moving, it hasn’t finished approaching).
4 (D) has registered
- Why it’s correct: “So far today” refers to an unfinished time period up to the present moment. We use the Present Perfect to count the achievements/results so far.
- Error Analysis: (A) Meaning Trap (Past Perfect is inappropriate for a present context). (B) Common Mistake. (C) Structural Error.
5 (D) were trying
- Why it’s correct: The Past Continuous is used to describe a longer background action (“were trying”) during which another past event (“became”) occurred.
- Error Analysis: (A) Structural Error (Present tense in a past narrative). (B) Meaning Trap. (C) Common Mistake (Past Simple doesn’t emphasize the prolonged effort).
6 (A) had already formed
- Why it’s correct: The crowd formed before the gates opened (both actions happened last year). To show that one past action happened before another, use the Past Perfect.
- Error Analysis: (B) Common Mistake (Mixing Present Perfect with a finished past timeline). (C) Structural Error. (D) Meaning Trap (Focuses on the continuous nature but misses the “completed before” sequence).
7 (D) will be delivering
- Why it’s correct: At a highly specific time in the future (“exactly 9:00 AM tomorrow”), an action will be in progress. This requires the Future Continuous.
- Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake (Future Simple states a general fact, not an “in-progress” action). (B) Meaning Trap (Future Perfect means the presentation would already be finished by 9:00 AM). (C) Structural Error.
8 (A) has been testing
- Why it’s correct: Emphasizes a continuous, uninterrupted process starting in the past (“since 6:00 AM”) and continuing up to the present moment.
- Error Analysis: (B) Common Mistake (Present Continuous cannot be used with “since”). (C) Meaning Trap (Present Perfect Simple emphasizes completion, but they “still haven’t found” the cause, so the continuous struggle is the focus). (D) Structural Error.
9 (A) would bring
- Why it’s correct: “Future in the Past.” Last year, they had a thought (“thought”) about what was going to happen in the future. “Will” must be backshifted to “would”.
- Error Analysis: (B) Common Mistake (Failing to backshift “will”). (C) Structural Error. (D) Meaning Trap (Failing to backshift “is going to”).
10 (B) starts
- Why it’s correct: The Present Simple is used for scheduled events, official timetables, and programs in the future.
- Error Analysis: (A) Structural Error. (C) Meaning Trap (Present Continuous is for personal future arrangements, not official event schedules). (D) Common Mistake.
11 (A) approves
- Why it’s correct: In future time clauses (starting with words like as soon as, when, until, before), we must use the Present Simple, never the Future tense.
- Error Analysis: (B) Common Mistake (A very frequent error is putting “will” right after “as soon as”). (C) Structural Error. (D) Meaning Trap.
12 (A) experienced
- Why it’s correct: The speaker is recounting an event that happened and completely finished at a specific time in the past (“Last year”). Past Simple is required.
- Error Analysis: (B) Common Mistake (Learners often use Present Perfect for “experiences,” ignoring the specific past time marker). (C) Structural Error. (D) Meaning Trap.
13 (A) will have to
- Why it’s correct: This is a First Conditional sentence referring to a real possibility tomorrow. The main clause uses the Future Simple.
- Error Analysis: (B) Meaning Trap (Used for Second Conditional/unreal situations). (C) Common Mistake. (D) Structural Error.
14 (A) is increasing
- Why it’s correct: “Currently” indicates a changing trend or a situation escalating at the moment of speaking, which requires the Present Continuous.
- Error Analysis: (B) Common Mistake (Present Simple cannot show a changing trend). (C) Meaning Trap (Implies the increasing has stopped). (D) Structural Error.
15 (C) will have checked
- Why it’s correct: “By the time…” sets a future deadline. To guarantee that an action will be entirely completed before that deadline, we use the Future Perfect.
- Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake (Future Simple lacks the emphasis on “completion prior to a deadline”). (B) Structural Error. (D) Meaning Trap (Being in the middle of checking when guests arrive is too late for safety).
16 (C) will have been working
- Why it’s correct: Future deadline (“By 8:00 PM tomorrow”) + Duration of an action (“for twelve grueling hours”). This requires the Future Perfect Continuous.
- Error Analysis: (A) Meaning Trap (Future Perfect Simple is grammatically okay but fails to emphasize the continuous, exhausting nature of the work). (B) Structural Error. (D) Common Mistake.
17 (A) had been relying
- Why it’s correct: The Past Perfect Continuous shows a continuous action or state that happened before another event in the past (“power outage hit”), highlighting the root cause of the failure.
- Error Analysis: (B) Common Mistake (Wrong time frame). (C) Meaning Trap (Past Continuous doesn’t convey the accumulated duration before the disaster). (D) Structural Error.
18 (B) believe
- Why it’s correct: “Believe” is a stative verb (a verb of thought/opinion). Stative verbs are almost never used in continuous tenses, regardless of adverbs like “Right now.”
- Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake (Automatically choosing the -ing form just because “Right now” is present). (C) Structural Error. (D) Meaning Trap.
19 (D) would not be facing
- Why it’s correct: Mixed Conditional (Type 3 + Type 2). The condition is in the past (“had monitored yesterday”), but the result is happening in the present (“today”).
- Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake (Strict Type 3 conditional, ignoring the word “today”). (B) Structural Error. (C) Structural Error.
20 (C) has cleared
- Why it’s correct: In future time clauses (after until), you can use the Present Perfect to strongly emphasize that the first action must be 100% finished before the next action is allowed to happen.
- Error Analysis: (A) Common Mistake (Using “will” inside a time clause). (B) Structural Error. (D) Meaning Trap (Allowing people in while the squad is “clearing” is dangerous).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Reviewing Past Failures: * Use the Past Simple to state specific events that failed (The system failed).
- Use the Past Perfect / Past Perfect Continuous to identify the root causes or ongoing mistakes leading up to that failure (We failed because we had been relying on an old server).
- Assessing Current Risks: * Use the Present Continuous for risks, trends, or issues that are escalating right now (The storm is approaching / Cancellations are increasing).
- Future Contingency Planning: * Use the Future Perfect to mandate that a safety check or preparation is finished before a specific deadline (By 7 AM, we will have checked everything).
- Use the Present Simple to refer to official, unchangeable event schedules (The ceremony starts at 8 AM).
- Absolute Safety Rules: * No “will” in Time Clauses: Never use “will” immediately after words like until, before, as soon as. To emphasize that a safety sweep must be fully completed first, use the Present Perfect (Do not open the doors until security has cleared the room).
- Stative Verbs Trap: Do not use verbs of perception or thought (believe, understand, need) in continuous tenses, even during urgent, real-time situations.