Tenses

These are just a few examples of the different tenses in English. Each tense has its own rules and usage, and mastering them is important for effective communication in English.

Exercise -1

Choose either the simple present or the present progressive form for the verbs in parentheses.

Answers :

1- Most of the people in Korea play a sport.

Answer: play

2- He understands everything the teacher says.

Answer: understands

3- When the party ends, we’ll all go home by bus.

Answer: ends

4- His sister goes to work by train every day.

Answer: goes

5- The boss needs more time to work on the project right now.

Answer: needs

6- Her father is wearing his winter coat today.

Answer: is wearing

7- That old sweater looks new.

Answer: looks

8- I’ll wait for you until the movie begins.

Answer: begins

9- Most students make career plans before they graduate.

Answer: make

10- The students in my class this semester are making a lot of progress in learning English.

Answer: are making

Tenses

Exercise -2
Choose the correct form of the verb from parentheses.

Answers :

1- his food smells delicious.

2- He goes to the gym every week.

3- Right now Tony is washing his car.

4- Laurie always goes to work at seven.

4- He usually phones in the evening.

6- We are going to the movies at six tonight.

7- It may sound strange but I believe his story.

8- I remember my first day at school.

Exercise 3
Choose the correct form of the verb from parentheses.

Answers :

1- At three o’clock in the morning, Mary was reading.

2- I called Linda at ten last night.

3- While I was watching TV, I heard a strange noise.

4- When Bob arrived, everyone was eating.

5- While I was studying, my roommate was listening to the radio.

6- Jerry bought a new car last month.

7- When I heard the knock on the door, I opened it.

8- He was going to the library when he suddenly met her passing by.

Exercise- 4

Most of the sentences contain one mistake. Write True ( T ) or False ( F ) . Correct mistakes.

Answers :

1- The coffee smells wonderful. (Correction: True)

2- Last year we visited the States. (True)

3- The ship sank because the engineer didn’t call for help until it was already sinking. (Correction: True)

4- The reason I get fat is that I always taste things while I’m cooking. (Correction: True)

5- How is Jennifer? Does her health improve? (Correction: False. Should be “Is her health improving?”)

6- You’re quite right. I completely agree with you. (Correction: True)

7- What did you do after you left school? (Correction: True)

8- Now I understand what you’re trying to say! (True)

9- I can’t imagine why you believed all those rumors. (Correction: True)

10- Martin looked forward to a peaceful weekend when his brother arrived with all his friends from the football club. (Correction: False. Should be “Martin was looking forward to a peaceful weekend when his brother arrived with all his friends from the football club.”)

11- Philippa heard the result of the election as she was driving to work, so she called me when she got there. (True)

12- Oh, I’m sorry, I’ve spilt some tea. Where do you keep the paper towels? (Correction: True)

Exercise 5
Select either the past simple or the past perfect form for the verbs in parentheses.

Answers:

1- She felt sick after she had eaten a whole box of chocolates.

2- After the doctor had examined the child, he had a talk with the mother.

3- When I called on my friend, he had gone out.

4- Mary finished her homework when her father came home from his office.

5- I threw away the newspaper after I had read it.

6- After she had spent all her money, she asked her father to help her.

7- The teacher gave back the exercise books after he had corrected them.

8- The sun rose when the farmer had started working.

Exercise 6
Use the present perfect, present perfect continuous, past perfect or the past perfect continuous tense of the verbs given in the parentheses.

Answers :

1- She has been studying since six o’clock this morning.

2- Helen had left by the time we arrived.

3- John has been to Italy.

4- The teacher returned the papers we had prepared for her.

5- I have known him for many years.

6- He had been working there for six years when he decided to quit.

7- She has made ten long-distance telephone calls this morning.

8- David has been writing letters all morning.

Exercise 7
Write the form of the verb specified in parentheses.

Answers :

1- Before Mr. Kaufman’s fourth child was born, he had bought a heavy-duty clothes washer.

2- Unfortunately, Adam had forgotten to attend his memory skills seminar.

3- By this time tomorrow, Tim will have driven across four states.

4- Ira showed me the rubber snake he had won at the state fair.

5- Scientists have measured winds of more than 150 miles an hour during severe thunderstorms.

6- Over the summer, Ronnie had learned to dance the rumba, the tango, and the lambada.

7- By Tuesday, I will have spent my whole paycheck.

8- Arthur has taken four days off this week in order to participate in a croquet tournament.

9- By next year, Eloise and Isaac will have built their own log cabin.

10- Carmel’s mathematics professor has inspired her to become a math major.

Exercise 8
Choose the right variant.

Answers :

1- Everything is going well. We haven’t had any problems so far.

2- Margaret didn’t go to work yesterday.

3- Look! That man over there is wearing the same sweater as you.

4- Your son is much taller than when I last saw him. He has grown a lot.

5- I still don’t know what to do. I haven’t decided yet.

6- I wonder why Jim is being so nice to me today. He isn’t usually like that.

7- Jane had a book open in front of her but she wasn’t reading it.

8- I wasn’t very busy. I didn’t have much to do.

9- Mary wasn’t happy in her new job at first but she is beginning to enjoy it now.

10- After leaving school, Tim found it very difficult to get a job.

11- When Sue heard the news, she wasn’t very pleased.

12- This is a nice restaurant, isn’t it? Is this the first time you’ve been here?

13- I need a new job. I’ve been doing the same job for too long.

14- Ann has gone out. Oh, has she? What time did she go?

15- You look tired. Yes, I’ve been playing basketball.

16- Where do you come from? Are you American?

17- I’d like to see Tina again. It’s a long time since I saw her.

18- Bob and Alice have been married for 20 years.

Exercise 9
Use correct future tense of the verbs in parentheses.

Answers :

1- I will have finished my homework by the time I go out.

2- When my brother arrives, we will have a party.

3- At this time next year, he will be living in Hawaii.

4- As soon as it stops raining, we will leave.

5- By the time you come, he will have studied for two hours.

6- John will buy a house next year.

7- He will come late.

8- They will have been playing for three hours by the time we have dinner.

Exercise-10
Choose the simple or progressive form of the verb.

Answers :

1- Mary always buys a lot of clothes.

2- He was looking at the picture when we saw him.

3- Somebody broke two windows last night.

4- He was thinking about his mother when the door opened.

5- The President thought that the war should stop.

6- How long is it since you bought that coat?

7- Shut up, John! You are / are being very noisy today! (Both forms are correct)

8- I can’t remember all the film, but I’m sure I must have seen it before.

9- I’ll give you a ring when I’m in Paris. Where will you be staying?

10- I don’t know where Henry is. He should have arrived long before this.

Exercise-11
Correct any mistakes in the verb tenses.

Answers :

1- He has been working for Sony since he came to the United States.

2- Most of the children in my country wear a uniform to school.

3- A teacher doesn’t want to have students in her class who have caused a lot of trouble.

4- In kindergarten, teachers usually teach students the alphabet and the spelling of simple words.

5- In the picture, the woman who is sitting in the middle looks like the most powerful member of the family.

6- We see a lot of changes in China because right now a lot of people are trying hard to educate themselves.

7- This is the first time that my brother has been in the hospital.

8- They have been sitting in the restaurant for the last three hours.

9- They will start building a new house as soon as they get a mortgage.

10- Most people do exercises after work.

Exercise-12
Define whether the following sentences are True ( T ) or False ( F ) . Correct mistakes.

Answers :

1- F, I was in Mexico during the summer of 1970.

2- T

3- F, Three years ago he was a student at a university in California.

4- T

5- F, We took the bus downtown, did a few errands, and went to lunch.

6- T

7- F, Last night they recognized us from the party we went to earlier in the week.

8- T

9- T

10- F, He has been studying English for the last five years.

Exercise-13
TEST. Find the correct form of the verb.

Answers:

1- Who speaks French in your family? — I ……… (C) am.

2- When …….. you buy the new TV set? — When ……… (A) did.

3- We …….. never been to London. — We …….. (C) have.

4- Where …….. you going when I met you last night? — Where ……… (A) did.

.5- ……. your friend like to watch TV in the evening? — …….. (B) Does.

6- What are you doing? — I …….. (B) am reading a book.

7- We thought they …….. be late. — We thought they …….. (A) would.

8- Many new buildings …….. built in our town last year. — Many new buildings …….. (C) were.

9- The letter …….. sent tomorrow. — The letter …….. (A) will be.

10- I …….. Dick today. — I …….. (A) haven’t seen.

11- Were you tired after skiing yesterday? — Yes, I …….. (C) was.

12- When we came into the hall they …….. this problem. — When we came into the hall they …….. (A) were discussing.

13- We …….. from the institute in five years. — We …….. (B) graduated.

14- Don’t go out. It…….. hard. — Don’t go out. It…….. (A) is raining.

15- They …….. the institute five years ago. — They …….. (B) entered.

16- Does the professor …….. a lot of experience? — Does the professor …….. (B) have.

17- Did he …….. the weekend in the country? — Did he …….. (B) spend.

18- I shall call you as soon as I …….. home. — I shall call you as soon as I …….. (C) come home.

19- The report …….. ready by 6 o’clock yesterday. — The report …….. (C) had been ready.

20- She usually …….. to bed very early. — She usually …….. (A) goes.

21- Mary goes in for skating. — …….. (C) Does.

22- I like skiing in the forest. — I …….. (C) do.

23- First spring flowers appeared in the fields. — First spring flowers …….. (B) did.

24- She had to miss the last lecture. – had to – miss – last – son

25- The meeting ( ? ) at 5 o’clock. — The meeting …….. (B) began.

26- At 5 o’clock yesterday I ( ? ) to the station. — At 5 o’clock yesterday I …….. (C) went to the station.

27- I ( ? ? ) this text yet. — I …….. (B) haven’t translated this text yet

Exercise-14
TEST. Find the correct form of the verb.

Answers :

1- How long …….. you …….. English? — How long …….. (B) have …….. been learning.

2- She …….. tennis since she was eight. — She …….. (A) has been playing.

3- Bob has a black eye and Bill has a cut lip. Bob and Bill ……… — Bob and Bill …….. (C) have been fighting.

4- You have just arrived to meet your friend who is waiting for you. …….. he …….. long? — …….. (A) Has …….. been waiting.

5- George smokes. He …….. for five years. — He …….. (B) has been smoking.

6- We …….. with my model railway since early morning, — said Jim. — We …….. (C) have been playing.

7- Linda is from Australia. Mow she is travelling round Europe. She began her tour three months ago. She …….. six countries so far. — She …….. (A) has visited.

8- There is a strange smell in the kitchen. …….. you …….. something? — …….. (C) Have …….. been cooking.

9- Tom’s hands are very dirty. He …….. his car for the whole morning. — He …….. (C) has been repairing.

10- Jim …….. tennis three times this week. — Jim …….. (B) has played.

11- Somebody …….. all my porridge. The plate is empty. — Somebody …….. (A) has eaten.

12- He …….. our family since we came to London. — He …….. (C) has known.

13- I …….. Ann for a long time. — I …….. (A) haven’t seen.

14- I was very tired when I arrived home. I …….. hard all day. — I …….. (C) had been working.

15.15- Tom was watching TV. He was feeling very tired. He …….. all day. — He …….. (B) had been studying.

16.16- I tried to call Jack but I couldn’t. He …….. very fast. — He …….. (C) was running.

17- We …….. along the road for about 20 minutes when a car stopped and the driver offered us a lift. — We …….. (B) had been walking.

18- When I arrived, Ann …….. for me. — When I arrived, Ann …….. (A) was waiting.

19- Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins …….. in the south of France for six months when Mr. Jenkins died. — Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins …….. (C) had been living.

20- When I arrived, everyone was sitting around the table with their mouths full. They ……… — They …….. (B) were eating.

Tenses in English, Statements – Exercise

Tenses