Exercises · Past tenses
Mixed past tenses: a business story
Read the whole story first, then type the correct form of each verb in brackets. You will need the past simple, past continuous and past perfect – and a few present perfect forms for what has happened since. Contractions (I’d, we’ve) and full forms are both accepted.
Need a refresher? Review the rules in 4.1 Past simple or past continuous and 4.2 Past simple or past perfect in our Verb Tenses in Business guide.
1. The first morning
Last March I 1 (start) a new role as head of operations at a logistics company in Rotterdam. I was excited, because I 2 (never / work) in the Netherlands before. On my first morning, I 3 (walk) to the office when my phone 4 (ring). It was the CEO. She 5 (want) to see me immediately.
2. The problem
When I 6 (arrive) at the office, the meeting 7 (already / start). The team looked exhausted – they 8 (work) on a delayed project for months, and our biggest client 9 (just / threaten) to cancel the contract. While the CEO 10 (explain) the situation, I 11 (realise) that we would have to act fast.
3. Since then
Over the next few weeks, we 12 (rebuild) the project plan and 13 (hire) two new engineers. We 14 (deliver) the first phase in June. Since then, things 15 (go) really well, and last week the client 16 (sign) a new three-year deal. I 17 (learn) a lot since I joined the company.
Check a section to see your score here.
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