Grammar, Tense and Register in Clinical Letters Flashcards

Choose the correct form: "Mr Lee ___ hypertension since 2015 and remains on amlodipine."

Answer: has had

Present perfect expresses a condition that began in the past and continues now, signaled by 'since'.

Choose the correct form: "On 3 March, Mrs Ortiz ___ to the emergency department with central chest pain."

Answer: presented

A completed event at a specific past time takes the past simple.

Choose the correct form: "Prior to admission, he ___ ibuprofen daily for two weeks, which likely contributed to his gastric bleed."

Answer: had been taking

Past perfect continuous describes an ongoing action that preceded another past event (admission).

Which sentence correctly describes a planned future appointment in a discharge letter?

Answer: She is scheduled to be reviewed in two weeks.

'Is scheduled to be reviewed' correctly uses a passive infinitive for an arranged future event.

Choose the correct form: "At present, he ___ physiotherapy twice weekly at the outpatient clinic."

Answer: is attending

Present continuous suits a temporary ongoing arrangement marked by 'at present'.

The patient said, "I feel dizzy when I stand up." Which is the most accurate reported version?

Answer: She reported that she felt dizzy on standing.

Reported speech after a past reporting verb typically backshifts present simple to past simple.

Choose the correct form: "Her symptoms ___ three days ago and have progressively worsened."

Answer: began

'Ago' marks a finished past time, which requires the past simple, not the present perfect.