Mixed Tenses Test Exercises - Multiple Choice Questions With Answers

This is an advanced level multiple choice test with multiple choice questions on all English tenses including the topics below.

Present Tenses In English

The Present Simple Tense
The Present Continuous Tense
The Present Perfect Tense
The Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Past Tenses In English

The Simple Past Tense
The Past Continuous tense
The Past Perfect Tense
The Past Perfect Continuous Tense

The Future Tenses In English

The Simple Future Tense & Be Going To Future Tense
The Future Continuous Tense
The Future Perfect Tense
The Future Perfect Continuous Tense

Mixed Tenses Test Exercises - Multiple Choice Questions With Answers - Advanced Level 2

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Question 1

A: I must call the police.

B: Why?

A: Because somebody _____ my cheque book.

B: I am sorry to hear that. I hope it will soon be recovered.

A	stole
B	is stealing
C	has stolen
D	steals
E	was stealing

Question 1 Explanation:

Use the present perfect for a recent past action whose result matters now. The cheque book is missing now, so A must call the police: somebody has stolen my cheque book. Not stole: in British English the past simple needs a finished time (yesterday, last night), and none is given here.

Question 2

I _____ a pain in my stomach but it _____ better.

A	am still having / gets
B	have still had / has got
C	was still having / got
D	still have / is getting
E	still had / has got

Question 2 Explanation:

Have meaning 'suffer from a pain' is a state, so it takes the present simple: I still have a pain. The present continuous shows a change in progress: it is getting better. Not am still having: this state use of have is normally not used in the continuous.

Question 3

I guess that my parents _____ the good news yet.

A	didn't hear
B	don't hear
C	isn't hearing
D	haven't heard
E	won't hear

Question 3 Explanation:

Yet in a negative sentence goes with the present perfect in British English. It means 'up to now': they haven't heard the news yet. Not didn't hear: the past simple with yet is American usage, and this set follows British usage.

Question 4

At present, he _____ in an ice-cream factory. This is the third factory in which he _____ this year.

A	is working / has worked
B	works / worked
C	has been working / works
D	works / has been working
E	worked / has been working

Question 4 Explanation:

At present points to a current, possibly temporary job, so use the present continuous: he is working. When we count experiences in an unfinished period (the third factory … this year), we use the present perfect simple: he has worked. Not has been working: after This is the first/second/third… the simple form is used.

Question 5

Oh dear, I _____ my books in the class. Could you go and fetch them for me?

A	left
B	am leaving
C	have left
D	was leaving
E	leave

Question 5 Explanation:

The present perfect shows a past action with a present result. The books are still in the class, so the speaker asks someone to fetch them: I have left my books. Not left: with no past time given and a clear present result, British English prefers the present perfect.

Question 6

He _____. Everything he _____ us so far is true.

A	doesn't lie / told
B	hasn't lied / tells
C	isn't lying / has told
D	wasn't lying / is telling
E	didn't lie / was telling

Question 6 Explanation:

He isn't lying uses the present continuous for what he is saying now. So far means 'up to now', so it needs the present perfect: everything he has told us so far. Not doesn't lie / told: so far does not go with the past simple.

Question 7

I _____ in the garden. That's why I'm so dirty.

A	had worked
B	had been working
C	have been working
D	could work
E	will be working

Question 7 Explanation:

The present perfect continuous shows a recent activity that has a visible result now: I have been working in the garden. That's why I'm so dirty. Not had been working: the past perfect needs a past reference point, but here the result is in the present.

Question 8

I _____ him all day but the line is still engaged.

A	was ringing
B	rang
C	ring
D	have been ringing
E	am ringing

Question 8 Explanation:

All day plus the present result (the line is still engaged) shows a repeated activity from earlier until now. That needs the present perfect continuous: I have been ringing him all day. Not was ringing: the past continuous would cut the action off from the present.

Question 9

It is nice to see that after three days of strikes, the buses _____ today.

A	worked
B	has worked
C	was working
D	work
E	are working

Question 9 Explanation:

Today and the contrast with the strike show a temporary situation happening now. That needs the present continuous: the buses are working today. Buses is plural, so has worked and was working are also wrong in agreement.

Question 10

Zeynep is really a good friend and she _____ to send me a letter each month.

A	never failed
B	never fails
C	is never failing
D	had never failed
E	was never failing

Question 10 Explanation:

Each month shows a habit, so use the present simple: she never fails to send me a letter. Never fail to do something means 'always do it'. Not is never failing: the continuous is not used for a permanent habit like this.

Question 11

I _____ to his office last weekend but there _____ only workers in the building.

A	go / are
B	went / have been
C	have gone / were
D	has gone / are
E	went / were

Question 11 Explanation:

Last weekend is a finished past time, so both verbs take the past simple: I went … there were only workers. Not have gone / were: the present perfect cannot be used with a finished time expression like last weekend.

Question 12

One afternoon last August, the director _____ staff in some stores and _____ them to the fair.

A	selected / sent
B	has selected / has sent
C	selects / sends
D	is selecting / sends
E	was selecting / was sending

Question 12 Explanation:

One afternoon last August is a finished past time, and the two actions happened one after the other. Both take the past simple: selected … sent. Not was selecting / was sending: these are completed actions in sequence, not background actions in progress.

Question 13

Once upon a time, a small person named Little Red Riding Hood _____ plans for the preparation of foodstuffs for her grandmother.

A	is initiated
B	has initiated
C	had been initiating
D	initiated
E	is going to initiate

Question 13 Explanation:

Once upon a time opens a story, and stories tell their main events in the past simple: Little Red Riding Hood initiated plans. Initiate is active here because she made the plans herself. Not had been initiating: there is no earlier past point for a past perfect continuous to refer to.

Question 14

In an effort to make the classics accessible to contemporary readers, I _____ them into the modern American language now.

A	translate
B	am translating
C	have been translated
D	had been translating
E	translated

Question 14 Explanation:

Now signals an activity in progress around the present, so use the present continuous: I am translating them. Not have been translated: that form is passive, but the speaker is the one doing the translating.

Question 15

While my mother _____ in the kitchen, I _____ after my small brother.

A	had cooked / looked
B	was cooking / had been looking
C	was cooking / looked
D	had been cooking / was looking
E	is cooking / will look

Question 15 Explanation:

After while, the past continuous gives the longer background action: While my mother was cooking. The main clause can use the past simple for what the speaker did during that time: I looked after my small brother. Not had been cooking / was looking: nothing in the sentence needs the past perfect.

Question 16

Yesterday, I _____ to my son's school ceremony when it suddenly _____ to rain.

A	went / started
B	was going / was starting
C	went / was starting
D	was going / started
E	have gone / starts

Question 16 Explanation:

The past continuous gives an action in progress (I was going), and the past simple gives the shorter event that interrupts it (it suddenly started). When and suddenly are the clues. Not went / started: this would describe two separate actions, not one interrupting the other.

Question 17

He didn't know what the boy _____ about with the man outside before he _____ in.

A	was talking / was coming
B	had been talking / came
C	was talking / had come
D	talked / was coming
E	was talking / comes

Question 17 Explanation:

The talking went on for some time before another past action (he came in). The past perfect continuous shows a longer activity before a past point: what the boy had been talking about … before he came in. The later action takes the past simple. Not was talking / had come: this reverses the time order.

Question 18

In the Middle Ages, the means of transportation _____ few when compared with today.

A	were
B	was
C	have been
D	were being
E	are being

Question 18 Explanation:

The Middle Ages is a finished period, so use the past simple. Means can be singular or plural, but few shows a plural meaning (several kinds of transport), so the verb is were. Not was: few refers to a number of things.

Question 19

He _____ to the locksmith who _____ the combination of the safe.

A	hurried / checks
B	was hurrying / checks
C	has hurried / was checking
D	hurries / checked
E	hurried / was checking

Question 19 Explanation:

The past simple gives the main completed action (He hurried to the locksmith). The past continuous describes what the locksmith was in the middle of at that moment (who was checking the combination). Not has hurried: the present perfect does not fit a past narrative.

Question 20

You can't see him now. He _____ to Norfolk. He _____ back on Tuesday.

A	goes / arrives
B	went / returned
C	has gone / arrives
D	went / has arrived
E	went / arrived

Question 20 Explanation:

Has gone means he went and is still there, which explains You can't see him now. He arrives back on Tuesday uses the present simple for a fixed, timetabled future arrangement. Not went: British English uses the present perfect when the result (his absence) matters now.

Question 21

People of the area _____ many attempts to improve living conditions but it can't be said they _____ successful so far.

A	made / were
B	are making / were
C	make / are
D	made / are
E	have made / have been

Question 21 Explanation:

So far means 'up to now', so both verbs need the present perfect: have made many attempts … have been successful so far. The attempts and their results are viewed over a period that continues to the present. Not made / were: the past simple does not go with so far.

Question 22

She _____ for her husband since he left for Ohio last month.

A	longs
B	is longing
C	was longing
D	has been longing
E	longed

Question 22 Explanation:

Since he left marks the start of a feeling that continues now. That needs the present perfect continuous: She has been longing for her husband. Not is longing: the present continuous cannot be used with since.

Question 23

We _____ here to watch the sunset. This is what we _____ at the weekends.

A	have gathered / do
B	are gathering / are doing
C	gathered / did
D	gather / have done
E	gathered / have done

Question 23 Explanation:

We have gathered here (present perfect) means we came together and are now here, a present result. At the weekends shows a regular habit, so the second verb is present simple: This is what we do. Not are doing: the continuous is not used for a permanent routine.

Question 24

She _____ everyone by coming one day earlier. We _____ happy to see her.

A	has surprised / will be
B	has surprised / are
C	surprises / were
D	has surprised / were
E	is surprising / are

Question 24 Explanation:

She has just arrived, so her arrival is a recent action with a present effect: She has surprised everyone. Our feeling is a present state, so use the present simple: We are happy to see her. Not has surprised / were: the present perfect frame needs a present verb in the second sentence.

Question 25

How many books _____ you _____ so far?

A	did / read
B	will / read
C	had / read
D	are / going to read
E	have / read

Question 25 Explanation:

So far means 'up to now', so use the present perfect question form: How many books have you read so far? Not did … read: the past simple does not go with so far.

Question 26

I _____ since I learnt that it causes lung cancer.

A	will not smoke
B	had smoked
C	haven't been smoking
D	weren't smoking
E	used to smoke

Question 26 Explanation:

Since I learnt … marks the start of a period that continues to now. That needs a present perfect form: I haven't been smoking (also I haven't smoked). Not used to smoke: used to describes a past habit and cannot go with since.

Question 27

I _____ even one cigarette since I gave it up five months ago.

A	haven't smoked
B	hadn't been smoking
C	hadn't smoked
D	haven't been smoking
E	wouldn't have smoked

Question 27 Explanation:

Since I gave it up links the past to now, so use the present perfect. When we count or mention a quantity (even one cigarette), we use the simple form: I haven't smoked even one cigarette. Not haven't been smoking: the continuous focuses on the activity and does not go with a counted number.

Question 28

She _____ in that company since she graduated from university.

A	will have worked
B	has been working
C	would have worked
D	was working
E	will work

Question 28 Explanation:

Since she graduated marks the start of an activity that continues now, so use the present perfect continuous: She has been working in that company. Not will have worked: the future perfect looks at a point in the future, but here the time frame ends now.

Question 29

Where have you been? I _____ for you for fifteen minutes.

A	had waited
B	had been waiting
C	would be waiting
D	was going to wait
E	have been waiting

Question 29 Explanation:

For fifteen minutes plus Where have you been? shows an activity that started earlier and is still going on. That needs the present perfect continuous: I have been waiting for you for fifteen minutes. Not had been waiting: the past perfect needs a past reference point.

Question 30

Scientists _____ for a cure for the disease ever since the Prime Minister ordered them to do so.

A	are searching
B	were searching
C	had been searching
D	had searched
E	have been searching

Question 30 Explanation:

Ever since + a past event marks the start of an activity that is still going on. That needs the present perfect continuous: Scientists have been searching for a cure. Not had been searching: the past perfect continuous would need a later past reference point, not the present.

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