Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1The chef ............... the soup right now before sending it out to the dining room.
Wrong!
Use "is tasting" for an action happening now: the chef is actively sampling the soup.
2The new office ............... much brighter since they painted the walls white.
Wrong!
Use "looks" because here it means 'appears', a stative meaning, not an action.
3Can you call back later? Mira ............... trouble with the video link again today.
Wrong!
Use "is having" because it means 'is experiencing' a temporary problem now.
4I ............... your explanation, but the committee still wants to see the original data.
Wrong!
Use "believe" because beliefs and opinions are normally stative, even if they are held now.
5At first glance, the proposal ............... reasonable, although we should check the figures carefully.
Wrong!
Use "seems" because 'seem' expresses a state or impression, not an action in progress.
6Don't book that room; we ............... a strategy meeting there at nine tomorrow.
Wrong!
Use "are having" because 'have' means 'hold/host' an event here, which is a dynamic action arranged for tomorrow.
7After comparing both designs, I ............... the blue one because it is easier to read.
Wrong!
Use "prefer" because preferences are stative opinions, not actions in progress.
8The hotel ............... a small gym, but guests have to reserve a time slot in advance.
Wrong!
Use "has" because the sentence describes possession of a feature: the hotel owns or offers a small gym.
9The technician ............... the gas cylinder carefully to find the leak.
Wrong!
Use "is smelling" because the technician is deliberately using his nose to check something now.
10I ............... the last paragraph, so I need to read the article again.
Wrong!
Use "do not understand" because 'understand' describes a mental state, not an action in progress.
11Don't be fooled; Daniel ............... unusually polite today because he needs a favour.
Wrong!
Use "is being" for temporary behaviour: Daniel is acting unusually polite today.
12I ............... of applying for the transfer, but I have not made a final decision yet.
Wrong!
Use "am thinking" because it means 'am considering' a plan, which is a dynamic mental activity.
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- The chef is tasting the soup right now before sending it out to the dining room.
- The new office looks much brighter since they painted the walls white.
- Can you call back later? Mira is having trouble with the video link again today.
- I believe your explanation, but the committee still wants to see the original data.
- At first glance, the proposal seems reasonable, although we should check the figures carefully.
- Don’t book that room; we are having a strategy meeting there at nine tomorrow.
- After comparing both designs, I prefer the blue one because it is easier to read.
- The hotel has a small gym, but guests have to reserve a time slot in advance.
- The technician is smelling the gas cylinder carefully to find the leak.
- I do not understand the last paragraph, so I need to read the article again.
- Don’t be fooled; Daniel is being unusually polite today because he needs a favour.
- I am thinking of applying for the transfer, but I have not made a final decision yet.
