Tenses Exercise
SEPTEMBER 12, 2017 -
Fill in the blanks with an appropriate tense form.
1. When I opened my eyes, I
………………. a strange sight.
saw
was seeing
have seen
Correct !
We use the simple past tense to talk about two quickly finished actions
in the past.
2. Every morning she …………….. up
early and gets ready for work.
is waking
wakes
has woken
Correct !
We use the simple present tense to talk about habits and routines.
3. If I knew what he wanted, I
………………. this.
will not permit
would not permit
would not have permitted
Correct !
We use the second conditional to talk about imaginary situations. In
the second conditional, we use a simple past tense in the if-clause
and would + infinitive in the main clause.
4. I ………………….. anything from her
in a long time.
didn't hear
haven't heard
am not hearing
Wrong !
5. The headmaster ……………… to talk
to you.
want
wants
is wanting
Wrong !
The simple present is used to talk about facts.
6. Jane ………………. with her parents.
is living
lives
has lived
Correct !
We use the simple present to talk about permanent situations.
7. We ..................... Greece next month.
visit
will visit
would visit
are visiting
Wrong !
The present continuous tense can be used to talk about future events
if the arrangement already exists.
8. The moon …………….. around the
earth.
is revolving
has revolved
revolves
Wrong !
We use the simple present to talk about facts and general truths.
9. She ………………… a novel.
wrote
writes
has written
Wrong !
We use the present perfect here because there is no reference to
time.
10. All students ………………. in their
work.
handed
have handed
hand
Wrong !
11. I …………………. English for twelve
years.
am teaching
have been teaching
will be teaching
Correct !
We use the present perfect continuous tense to talk about actions and
situations that started in the past and have continued up to the
present.
12. The students ............................. their
dialogues.
rehearse
are rehearsing
Either could be used here
Correct !
We use the present continuous to talk about actions and situations
that are going on at the moment of speaking.
Answers
  1. When I opened my eyes, I saw a strange sight.
     2. Every morning she wakes up early and gets ready for work.
     3. If I knew what he wanted, I would not permit this.
     4. I haven’t heard anything from her in a long time.
     5. The headmaster wants to talk to you.
     6. Jane lives with her parents.
     7. We are visiting Greece next month.
     8. The moon revolves around the earth.
     9. She has written a novel.
     10. All students have handed in their work.
     11. I have been teaching English for twelve years.
     12. The students are rehearsing their dialogues.