Advanced Grammar Test on English Verb Tenses-3

1. For nearly a decade most governments in the world …………… to find ways of combating environmental problems.

has tried

would have tried

have been trying

could try

2. It is hoped that by the end of the century the growth rate of the world population ……………….. substantially.

will have to be curbed

will curb

will have been curbed

has been curbed

3. Of course nobody knows what the outcome of the election ………… but at the moment Malcolm …………. as the most likely candidate

will be – is regarded

was – would have been regarded

is – has been regarded

would have been – is being regarded

4. Obviously there …………… a remarkable improvement in the condition of the patient since he ………….. surgery.

will be – had undergone

is – undergoes

has been – underwent

would have been – would undergo

5. They ……………. the advantages and the disadvantages of the takeover when I ……….. them an hour or so later.

were discussing – rejoined

have discussed – am rejoining

will discuss – would rejoin

are discussing – will rejoin

6. Before the nationwide vaccination campaign ………….., the infant mortality rate ………….. to an alarming extent.

was introduced – had risen

is being introduced – would rise

will be introduced – rose

had been introduced – has risen

7. Actually, most of the crimes that ……….. last year were not connected with violence, but this is not the picture that ………. up from watching TV coverage of the topic.

were being committed – was built

were committed – builds

would be committed – had been built

had committed – would build

8. By the time Brahms ………… to compose his symphonies, this form ………… well established.

began – had been

had begun – was

was beginning – would have been

has begun – has been

9. When he …………. that very rash promise he didn’t realise what he ……………. himself in for.

made – was letting

has made – lets

was making – has let

will make – would let

10. It wouldn’t have surprised me if he ………………. after that incident.

has resigned

would have resigned

resigned

had resigned