Tenses Exercise

Fill in the blanks with an appropriate verb form.

1. The boys were playing games when it ………………………. raining.

was starting
started
had started

We usually use the simple past for an action that happens in the middle of another action.

2. You were watching TV when I ……………………… for my exam.

prepared
am preparing
was preparing

Continuous tenses are used to talk about two actions that were progressing at the same
time.

3. The phone ………………………. while I was cooking dinner.

rings
rang
was ringing

We usually use the simple past for an action that happens in the middle of another action.

4. How long ……………………… a social activist?

have you been

are you
were you

Perfect tenses are usually used to talk about duration.

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 Tenses Exercise

5. We …………………….. each other for a long time.

knew
are knowing
have known

We normally use perfect tenses with since and for.

6. We ……………………… nothing from all the wars in history.

are learning
have learnt
learnt

When there is no reference to any specific past time, we usually use the present perfect to
talk about finished actions or situations.

7. I ………………………… well for the exam.

prepared
have prepared
had prepared

When there is no reference to any specific past time, we usually use the present perfect to
talk about finished actions or situations.

8. I ……………………….. well for the exam, yet I failed.

prepared
have prepared
was preparing

The past tense in the second clause clearly indicates that the reference is to the past time.

9. The teacher ……………………… an interesting question in the class yesterday.

asks

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 Tenses Exercise

has asked
asked

When there is a definite past time reference we use the simple past to talk about finished
actions or situations.

10. I looked around but I ……………………. anyone.

didn't find
hadn't found
don't find

The reference is to the past time here.

11. She threw a glass at me, but ……………………

was missing
missed
had missed

When one verb is in the past tense, the other verbs will most probably also be in the past
tense.

2. If you don’t hurry, you …………………. the train.

will miss
would miss
missed

PLAY AGAIN !

Answers

1. The boys were playing games when it started raining.

2. You were watching TV when I was preparing for my exam.
3. The phone rang while I was cooking dinner.

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 Tenses Exercise

4. How long have you been a social activist?

5. We have known each other for a long time.
6. We have learned nothing from all the wars in history.
7. I have prepared well for the exam.
8. I prepared well for the exam, yet I failed.
9. The teacher asked an interesting question in the class yesterday.
10. I looked around but I didn’t find anyone.
11. She threw a glass at me, but missed.
12. If you don’t hurry, you will miss the train.

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