PRACTICE EXERCISE ON TENSES

Put the verbs in brackets into their correct tenses

1. This time next week Billy (lie) will be lying on the beach.
2. When I (be) was a child, I (ride) rode a tricycle. (would ride OK, only action verbs
only) (used to ride: past habits)
3. When the telephone rang, I (wash) my hair in the bathroom.
4. The door was open so the dog (run) ran into the living room.
5. Can you help me? I (not understand) do not understand Spanish. (can’t understand)
6. At the beginning of the movie, I (realize) realized that I (see) had seen it before.
7. Why are you (stare) staring at me like this?
8. I (live) have lived/have been living here since the end of last year.
9. I (stand) have stood here for hours and I feel very tired.
10. Ten years ago I (travel) traveled through Asia, but I (not leave) haven’t left the
country since then.
11. Police suspected that Brian (break) had broken the window at his house because he
(want) wanted to make them think that a burglar (steal) had stolen his valuable stamp
collection. They (think) thought that Brian (do) had done this because he (need) needed
the money. However, they (not know) did not know that Brian (fly) had flown to Brazil
the week before, and (be) had been out of the country when the burglary had taken place
(take place).
12. I (finish) will have finished it by the end of this month.
13. It was very late. Martha (turn off) turned off the light and (go) went to bed.
14. The result is coming next week. My friend will certainly (get) get good marks.
15. I think I (start) will start my trip tomorrow.
16. I cannot take any pictures because I (not buy) have not bought a new film yet.
17. She has already (write) written 5 letters.
18. It (be) had been cloudy for days before it (begin) began to rain.
19. When he (wake up) woke up this morning, his mother had already (prepare) prepared
breakfast.
20. Look, she (take) is taking a large umbrella because it is raining (rain).
21. Sara often (have) had black shoes but now she (wear) wears white trainers.
22. After he (hear) had heard the news, he (go) went to the telephone and called (call) a
friend.
23. Jane had already typed (type) 3 letters when the computer crashed (crash).
24. A beautiful morning, the parents were having (have) breakfast while the children
(run) are running about.
25. By noon, we (finish) had finished all our homework.
26. The boys (watch) watch television every night unless they have homework.
27. It (rain) has been raining every afternoon for the past week. The weather forecast
predicts rain for next week too.
28. I (lock) had locked the door before I realized that the keys were inside the house.
29. It’s lovely to wake up in the morning and (hear) hear birds singing.
30. When Mary (reach) reached home this evening, her husband has already cooked
(cook) dinner.

Practice Exercise on tenses 1

Grade12/PPL/2018-2019
31. I (speak) have spoken to Mrs. Dean about your matter and she wants you to see her as
soon as possible.
32. I (drive) had been driving along the road for a kilometer when I realized that I was
(be) on the wrong road.
33. We (watch) were watching T.V when the phone rang.
34. I (think) am thinking about buying a new bike. I have not decided (not decide) yet.
35. Why are you wearing (wear) a heavy coat? It’s really a hot day today.
36. You are a great cook! This cake tastes (taste) wonderful.
37. I (have) am having a party on Friday. You (want) to come?
38. Don’t worry about the cat. It only eats (eat) once a day.
39. When I had gotten (get) home, I (hear) heard David’s phone call.
40. What were you (do) doing when I (call) called you last night. There was (be) no
reply.
41. We (sing) sang some songs and then ate (eat) some sandwiches.
42. The airport was full of people. Some were sleeping (sleep) on benches, some were
shopping (shop), and others were reading (read). Everyone was waiting (wait) for news
of the delayed plane.
43. She (cut) cut her finger while she was peeling (peel) the potatoes.
44. I first (come) came to the town more than 20 years ago.
45. I thought I (see) have seen the movie before but I have not
46. Last night we (arrive) arrived at Sue’s house after she had left (leave).
47. When George (meet) met Diane for the first time, he knew (know) that he had met
(meet) her before.
48. I (go) was going out into the yard to get my bike, but found (find) that someone
(steal) had stolen it.
49. While I was waiting (wait) at the bus stop, I noticed (notice) a new store that had not
been (not be) there the day before.
50. I have loved (love) you since the day we first met (meet).
51. Stop teasing the dog or it (bite) will bite you.
52. Please stay in your seats until the bell rings(ring).
53. When the bus stopped (stop) in a small square, Helen was reading (read) her
magazine and didn’t realize that she had arrived (arrive) at her destination. “This is Santa
Teresa,” Martin said. “You are home! I suppose your cousin is waiting (wait) for us.
Come on. I will carry (carry) the bags.” Helen thought, “All those years when I was
living (live) in New York, I dreamt (dream) of this moment. And now it’s real, I can’t
believe it! Here I am. I am really standing (stand) in the square.” Santa Teresa was
Helen’s birthplace, but she had left (leave) the town at the age of six. She had some
memories of the town, and some photographs, but did she belong (belong) here still? She
didn’t know (not know). Nobody (wait) was waiting in the square. Perhaps her cousin
Maria didn’t receive (not receive) Helen’s letter. “What do we do (do) now?” asked
Martin. “There isn’t even a hotel here!”
54. When did you last go (go) to the movie?
55. I have never been (never be) to Japan before but I have read (read) a lot of books
about it.
56. By the time I get back all my friends have forgotten (forget) me!
57. I can’t go out because I (not finish) have not finished my homework yet.
58. How long had you been working (work) for that company by the time you started
working for mine?

Practice Exercise on tenses 2

Grade12/PPL/2018-2019
59. Fifteen years from now, most people will probably ride (ride) bicycles to work.
60. I’m sorry I can’t see you tonight. I am going out (go out) with my parents.
61. She (be) has been sick sick for the past few weeks.
62. That’s strange! My pen (not be) is not here! It disappeared (disappear)!
63. By the time we get to the theater, the play will have already begun (begin).
64. When did you go (go) to bed on Saturdays?
65. We (have) have had some interesting adventures since the last time we wrote (write).
66. According to the weather forecast, it (snow) will be snowing tomorrow.
67. When I see her again, I (pass) will pass on the news.
68. Oh dear, I (write) have written my name in the wrong place.
69. Although I (not enjoy) do not enjoy rock music, I followed (follow) my friend to the
concert last night.
70. She did (do) very well in the last test although she had not studied (not study) hard for
it.

Practice Exercise on tenses 3

Grade12/PPL/2018-2019