Auxiliary Verbs

They ____________ won the race before they were given their medals.

• was

• had

• have

• don't

• didn't

Answer explanation

We use the past perfect simple when we want to emphasize that something happened and finished before something else in the past.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

CCSS.L.5.1B

Tom ___________ washing the dishes while his wife was drying them.

• does

• do

• has

• is

• was

Answer explanation

We can use the continuous aspect to describe actions happening at the same time as each other.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

CCSS.L.3.1D

We ___________ working in the office when the power cut occurred.

Answer explanation

We use the past continuous to describe an action that was interrupted in the past.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

CCSS.L.3.1E

Frasier ____________ left the building.

Answer explanation

Present perfect actions describe past actions, but they emphasize their impact on the present.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

CCSS.L.5.1B

Bill __________ teaching the class this week while Mrs Tomkins is away on vacation.

• have

• are

• was

• is

• has

Answer explanation

Present continuous actions don't have to be in the moment of speaking. They can also describe actions that are intermittent, as in the question.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

CCSS.L.3.1E

Don't interrupt your father. He _____________ taking a very important call right now.

Answer explanation

Present Continuous actions refer to something that has not yet been completed.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

CCSS.L.3.1E

Thomas ___________ always interrupting me. I'm getting seriously annoyed with him.

• are

• don't

• does

• has

• is

Answer explanation

While we generally use simple present to describe habitual actions, we can use present continuous to refer to them as well. We do need to use a time expression like 'always', however.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

CCSS.L.3.1E

I have ____________ feeling quite optimistic recently.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

CCSS.L.5.1B

Sarah ____________ been jogging in the local park ever since she moved into her new house.

• does

• do

• have

• was

• has

Answer explanation

By using the continuous form of the present perfect, we can emphasize that the action is being repeated.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

CCSS.L.5.1B

Is this the first time you ___________ taken English classes at an institute?

Answer explanation

We use the present perfect after the expression 'the first/second time'.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

CCSS.L.5.1B