Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1This access card ............... to a contractor, not to a permanent employee.
Wrong!
Use the simple form for possession or membership as a state, so the correct answer is "belongs".
2The chefs ............... the soup before they decide whether to add more salt.
Wrong!
When people actively test flavour, taste is an action verb, so the correct answer is "are tasting".
3The quarterly reports ............... unusually optimistic after the latest sales figures.
Wrong!
For appearance, use the simple form because it describes a state, so the correct answer is "look".
4I ............... she is the right person for the role, despite her limited experience.
Wrong!
Use the simple form for an opinion or belief, so the correct answer is "think".
5Give me an hour; I ............... about the offer before I decide.
Wrong!
For the active process of considering something, the progressive is natural, so the correct answer is "am thinking".
6The project manager ............... a difficult week, so two colleagues are covering urgent calls for her.
Wrong!
In expressions about experiences, have can be an action verb and can be progressive, so the correct answer is "is having".
7Maya ............... a spare key to the archive, but she rarely needs it.
Wrong!
Use the simple form when have means possession, so the correct answer is "has".
8The specialist ............... a patient now, so can you wait outside for ten minutes?
Wrong!
When see means meet or consult, it can describe an arranged action, so the correct answer is "is seeing".
9From the balcony, I ............... smoke rising behind the station.
Wrong!
For visual perception, see is normally stative and takes the simple form, so the correct answer is "see".
10Although he is normally polite, he ............... rather rude in this interview.
Wrong!
Use the progressive with be for temporary behaviour, so the correct answer is "is being".
11The packaging machine ............... nearly two tonnes, so the floor had to be reinforced.
Wrong!
For a fixed measurement or property, use the simple form, so the correct answer is "weighs".
12Before the courier arrives, the assistants ............... each parcel and printing a label for it.
Wrong!
When weigh means actively measure weight, the progressive is possible for an action in progress, so the correct answer is "are weighing".
Answers
- This access card belongs to a contractor, not to a permanent employee.
- The chefs are tasting the soup before they decide whether to add more salt.
- The quarterly reports look unusually optimistic after the latest sales figures.
- I think she is the right person for the role, despite her limited experience.
- Give me an hour; I am thinking about the offer before I decide.
- The project manager is having a difficult week, so two colleagues are covering urgent calls for her.
- Maya has a spare key to the archive, but she rarely needs it.
- The specialist is seeing a patient now, so can you wait outside for ten minutes?
- From the balcony, I see smoke rising behind the station.
- Although he is normally polite, he is being rather rude in this interview.
- The packaging machine weighs nearly two tonnes, so the floor had to be reinforced.
- Before the courier arrives, the assistants are weighing each parcel and printing a label for it.
