GRAMMAR QUIZ 1 • ANSWER KEY
Group A
Perfect and continuous aspect
Exercise 1
1 am finding: We use the Present Continuous to talk
about a temporary activity in progress around the time
of speaking/now.
2 were taking part: We use the Past Continuous to talk
about a past activity in progress which is a background
for a complete past activity expressed in the Past
Simple.
3 will be getting: We use the Future Continuous to talk
about an activity in progress at a specific point in the
future.
4 had been preparing: We use the Past Perfect
Continuous to talk about a past activity which was in
progress for some time (used with expressions including
for such as for a long time) when another activity took
place.
5 will have discovered: We use the Future Perfect (Simple)
to talk about a future activity completed before a certain
point in the future (used with expressions including by
such as by the time I’m thirty).
6 will have been playing: We use the Future Perfect
Continuous to talk about a future activity which will be in
progress for some time (used with expressions including
for such as for a whole year) at a specific point in the
future.
7 has become: We use the Present Perfect (Simple) to talk
about the results of a complete past activity which are
visible in the present.
Exercise 2
1 has been training: We use the Present Perfect
Continuous to talk about an activity which started in the
past and is continuing at the moment of speaking (used
with expressions including for such as for five months).
2 had bought / bought: We use the Past Perfect (Simple)
to talk about a past activity which took place before
another past activity to clarify their sequence. However,
if the order of activities is logical, it’s also possible to use
the Past Simple.
3 have known: We use the Present Perfect (Simple) to
talk about a state which started in the past and is still
continuing at the moment of speaking (used with
expressions including since such as since we were both
five years old); even though the verb know implies
a process, it can’t be used in the Present Perfect
Continuous as it’s a state verb and as such doesn’t have
a continuous form.
4 will have been: We use the Future Perfect (Simple) to
talk about a state which will be in progress for some
time (used with expressions including for such as for
twenty years) at a specific point in the future; even
though the verb be implies a process, it can’t be used in
the Future Perfect Continuous as it’s a state verb and as
such doesn’t have a continuous form.
© Pearson 2017    FOCUS 5    PHOTOCOPIABLE
Group B
Perfect and continuous aspect
Exercise 1
1 are living: We use the Present Continuous to talk about
a temporary activity in progress around the time of
speaking/now.
2 had been preparing: We use the Past Perfect
Continuous to talk about a past activity which was in
progress for some time (used with expressions including
for such as for many months) when another activity took
place.
3 were laughing: We use the Past Continuous to talk
about a past activity in progress which is a background
for a complete past activity expressed in the Past
Simple.
4 has become: We use the Present Perfect (Simple) to talk
about the results of a complete past activity which are
visible in the present.
5 will be playing: We use the Future Continuous to talk
about an activity in progress at a specific point in the
future.
6 will have finished: We use the Future Perfect (Simple) to
talk about a future activity completed before a certain
point in the future (used with expressions including by
such as by then).
7 will have been reading: We use the Future Perfect
Continuous to talk about a future activity which will be in
progress for some time (used with expressions including
for such as for five hours) at a specific point in the future.
Exercise 2
1 had given / gave: We use the Past Perfect (Simple)
to talk about a past activity which took place before
another past activity to clarify their sequence. However,
if the order of activities is logical, it’s also possible to use
the Past Simple.
2 have been going out: We use the Present Perfect
Continuous to talk about an activity which started in the
past and is continuing at the moment of speaking (used
with expressions including since such as since we were
both fourteen).
3 will have been living: We use the Future Perfect
Continuous to talk about a future activity which will be in
progress for some time (used with expressions including
for such as for ten years) at a specific point in the future.
4 had been dating: We use the Past Perfect Continuous to
talk about a past activity which was in progress for some
time (used with expressions including for such as for four
years) when another activity took place.