Business English Grammar Exercise| Topic: Mixed verb tenses 1

When it comes to Business English, a lot of non-native speakers know the

specific terminology, but still make grammatical mistakes, some of which have
to do with using verb tenses properly. These exercises will help you to practice
choosing the right verb tense in a Business English context.

QUESTIONS:
Fill in each blank with the best response:

1. If he doesn't come in the next 10 minutes, we __________________________ without him.

   started
   would start
   will start

2. He __________________________ a manager when he was 25.

   has become
   became
   was becoming

3. __________________________ the details of the proposed merger.

   Let's to discuss
   Let's discuss
   Let's be discussing

4. Our distributor called while I __________________________ to Jim. (I'm no longer talking to

Jim)
   was talking
   have been talking
   would be talking

5. I thought about your proposal, and I think we __________________________ it.

   accept
   will have accepted
   will accept

6. How long _________________ in sales?

   B or C
   have you worked
   have you been working
7. I have _________________ your proposal, and I'm quite impressed.
   reviewed
   reviewing
   review

8. The mayor failed __________________________ the striking workers to return to contract talks.
   persuade
   A or C
   to persuade

9. The union __________________________ on Tuesday to resume contract talks.

   was being agreed to
   agreed
   has been agreeing

10. Negotiations __________________________ to continue into the weekend.

   are expected
   are expecting
   expect

Topic: Mixed verb tenses 2

QUESTIONS:
Fill in each blank with the best response:

1. __________________________ a strike, the company gave in to the workers' demands.

   Hoping to prevent
   Hoped to prevent
   Hope to prevent

2. Our employees __________________________ our strongest asset.

   are being
   are
   to be

3. __________________________ that for another meeting.

   Let's to leave
   Let's be leaving
   Let's leave
4. Our office usually __________________________ at 5:00 PM, but today we're staying open
until 6.
   closes
   is closing
   closed

5. __________________________ business in third-world countries can be a frustrating

experience. 
   To do
   Having done
   Doing

6. Please ask Robert _________________to the meeting.

   to be coming
   to come
   come

7. By the time my boss gets here, I _________________ my report.

   will have finished
   would be finished
   finish

8. From now on, we __________________________ things differently.

   will be doing
   A or C
   will do

9. If he had told me about this earlier, I __________________________ someone else.

   will have hired
   would have hired
   will hire

10. I __________________________ those changes last week.

   have implemented
   have been implementing
   implemented