EXERCISES (TENSES)

I. Supply the correct verb forms: The simple present tense or The present continuos tense:
1. Be quiet! The baby __________ (sleep).
2. We seldom__________ (eat) before 6:30.
3. Look! A man __________ (run) after the train. He __________ (want) to catch it.
4. The Sun __________ (set) in the West.
5. It __________ (be) often hot in summer.
6. I __________ (do) an exercise on the present tenses at this moment and I __________ (think) that I
__________ (know) how to use it now.
7. My mother sometimes __________ (buy) vegetables at this market.
8. It__________ (be) very cold now.
9. It __________ (rain) much in summer. It__________ (rain) now.
10. Daisy__________ (cook) some food in the kitchen at present. She always __________ (cook) in the
morning.
II. Supply the correct verb form: The present perfect
1. How long you __________ (study) English? For 5 years.
2. I __________ (wait) for two hours, but she __________ (not come) yet.
3. They __________ (live) in Ho Chi Minh City since 1975.
4. She__________ (read) all the books written by Charles Dickens. How many books you __________
(read)?
5. He__________ (not, be) here since Christmas, I wonder where he (live) since then.
6. Jack __________ (go) to Paris for a holiday. He never __________ (be) there.
7. You __________ (sleep) so far? I __________ (ring) the bell for the last twenty minutes.
8. He __________ (write) a novel for two years, but he __________ (not finish) it yet.
9. Mary__________ (lose) her hat and she__________ (look) for it until now.
10. I __________ (see) that film several times because I like it.
III. Supply the correct verb form: Present tenses.
1. Listen! I __________ (think) someone__________ (knock) at the door.
2. Up to the present, we __________ (write) almost every lesson in the book.
3. The Earth__________ (circle) the Sun once every 365 days.
4. The farmers __________ (work) in the field at the moment.
5. How many times you __________ (see) him since he went to Edinburgh?
6. Rivers usually __________ (flow) to the sea.
7. Look! The boy __________ (cry).
8. Do you know that man, who __________ (smoke) there?
9. Mrs Green always __________ (go) to work by bus.
10. We __________ (be) from French. We __________ (be) there for twenty years.
11. That house __________ (belong) to Mr. Green.
12. Mai __________ (lose) her dictionary.
13. I__________ (be) sorry. I __________ (forget) that girl's name already.
14. I __________ (wait) for the manager for two hours.
15. You__________ (ever, see) a lion?
IV. Supply the correct verb form: Simple past or Present perfect.
1. I __________ (see) her before.
2. I__________ (see) her last year.
3. Tom never__________ (be) in Hanoi.
4. I __________ (read) the novel written by Jack London several times before.
5. What you __________ (do) yesterday?
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6. You __________ (watch) TV last night?
7. She __________ (be) born in 1980.
8. He __________ (write) a book since last year.
9. Mr Green. __________ (teach) English in this school since he __________ (graduate) from the
university in 1986.
10. How long you (learn) English?
V. Supply the correct verb form: Simple past or Past continuos.
1. When I__________ (arrive) at this house, he still __________ (sleep).
2. The light __________ (go) out while we __________ (have) dinner.
3. Bill __________ (have) breakfast when I __________ (stop) at this house this morning.
4. As we__________ (cross) the street, we__________ (see) an accident.
5. Tom __________ (see) a serious accident while he __________ (stand) at the bus stop.
6. While my father__________ (read) a newspaper, I __________ (learn) my lesson and my
sister__________ (do) her homework.
7. The children __________ (play) football when their mother __________ (come) back home.
8. The bell __________ (ring) while Tom __________ (take) a bath.
9. I __________ (be) very tired because I __________ (work) all day yesterday.
10. He __________ (sit) in a cafe when I __________ (see) him.
VI. Give the right forms of the verbs in brackets: Simple past or Past perfect.
1. They__________ (go) home after they __________ (finish) their work.
2. She said that she__________ (already, see) Dr. Rice.
3. When we came to the stadium, the match __________ (already, begin).
4. They told me they__________ (not, eat) such kind of food before.
5. He __________ (ask) why we__________ (come) so early.
6. After they had gone, I __________ (sit) down and__________ (rest).
7. Before she __________ (watch) TV, she __________ (do) her homework.
8. After taking a bath, he __________ (go) to bed.
9. What __________ (be) he when he__________ (be) young?
10. It was the first time I__________ (ever, see) such a beautiful girl.
VII. Give the right forms of the verbs in brackets: Past tenses.
1. Yesterday John __________ (go) to the store before he__________ (go) home.
2. Our teacher__________ (tell) us yesterday that he __________ (visit) England in 1970.
3. When John and I got to the theatre, the movie __________ (start) already.
4. Before Alice __________ (go) to sleep, she__________ (call) her family.
5. When the phone __________ (ring), I __________ (have) dinner.
6. Daisy __________ (agree) with other members in the last meeting.
7. What you __________ (do) at 6 p.m yesterday?
8. The little girl asked what__________ (happen) to her ice-cream.
9. He __________ (teach) in this school before he__________ (leave) for England.
10. She __________ (win) the gold medal in 1986.
VIII. Supply the correct tense form of the verbs in brackets.
1. The Pikes__________ (move) to London since 2002.
2. The students __________ (play) badminton at the moment.
3. Mai’s sister__________ (buy) some new story books yesterday.
4. The children usually __________ (visit) their grandparents at weekends.
5. Ba and Phong __________ (know) each other quite well for years.
6. The phone__________ (ring) at midnight last Sunday.
7. The Brown __________ (travel) to Asia many times.
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8. Phong __________ (make) a book report for this group next week.
9. That film __________ (show) on television last month.
10. People __________ (speak) English in India long time ago.
11. They __________ (practice) their music lesson at 7 o’clock last night.
12. Thu __________ (look) after her little brother next Sunday.
13. This book__________ (just publish) by Kim Dong publisher.
14. The kids__________ (sleep) when the bell rang.
15. She __________ (eat) a lot of fruit yesterday.
16. Kim__________ (tell) us some fairy tales tonight.
17. The house __________ (destroy) by the horrible storm last week.
18. Some people __________ (drink) coffee every day.
19. The students in grade 9__________ (have) their final test in May.
20. The boys __________ (swim) across the river in a competition last Saturday.
21. They__________ (talk) to their teacher about the next trip.
22. Tam__________ (award) a silver cup in a tournament two weeks ago.
23. The girls __________ (sew) some clothes for their dolls now.
24. Women__________ (have) to do all the housework long ago.
25. Their parents__________ (go) out for dinner last night.
26. My grandfather__________ (live) in HCM city for ten years.
27. Lan __________ (borrow) some books from the library since Monday.
28. They __________ (leave) Hanoi for HCM city yesterday.
29. Farmers often __________ (harvest) their crops in August.
30. Uyen __________ (take) a bus to school every day.
IX. Put the verb in the right tense or form.
1. When you___________ (go) into the office, Mr John___________ (sit) at the front desk.
2. Our English teacher___________ (explain) that lesson to us tomorrow.
3. We ___________ (wait) for you when you ___________ (get) back tomorrow.
4. What you __________ (do) at 7 p.m next Sunday? I _________(practice) my English lesson then.
5. When I___________ (see) Mr. Pike tomorrow, I___________ (remind) him of that.
6. When you___________ (come) today, I___________ (work) at my desk in Romm 12.
7. He___________ (work) on the report at this time tomorrow.
8. Please wait here until the manager___________ (return).
9. Don't leave until you___________ (see) her.
10. The brown ___________ (do) their housework when you ___________ (come) next Sunday.
1. I___________ (see) a car accident while I___________ (wait) for you on this corner yesterday.
2. Mr. john ___________ (be) principal of our school since last year.
3. Mr. Smith___________ (teach) at this school since he___________ (graduate) in 1980.
4. My father___________ (not watch) TV every night.
5. I___________ (meet) Authur three weeks ago.
6. Yesterday the police ___________ (report) that they ___________ (capture) the thief.
7. My friend ___________ (thank) me for what I had done for him.
8. Someone ___________ (steal) my handbag on the bus.
9. The Browns_________ (live) in Paris for 7 years when the second World War ________(break) down.
10. Last month I ___________ (be) in the hospital for ten days.
11. Don't call me in the afternoon. I usually ___________ (be) away in the afternoon.
12. Mr. Clark ___________ (be) in New York 2 months ago. Mr. Rossi___________ (be) in New York
until 2 months ago.
13. John___________ (drive) that car ever since I___________ (know) him.
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14. People___________ (speak) English in most of Canada.
15. The dog___________ (wag) his tail whenever he ___________ (see) me.
16. What you ___________ (do) when I ___________ (ring) you last night?
17. Up to then I never___________ (see) such a fat man.
18. I___________ (not see) him last Monday.
19. They had sold all the books when we___________ (get) there.
20. I think he___________ (leave) as soon as he (know) the news.
21. She ___________ (play) the piano when our guests___________ (arrive) last night.
22. He___________ (come) and ___________ (see) you soon.
23. I ___________ (come) as soon as I have finished my work. You___________ (be) ready?
24. My mother ___________ (come) to stay with us next weekend.
25. Where you ___________ (spend) your holidays next summer?
26. Violets___________ (bloom) in spring.
27. We___________ (not live) in England for two years now.
28. I ___________ (never forget) what you (just tell) me.
29. They ___________ (prepare) the Christmas dinner at the moment.
30. When I last ___________ (stay) in Cairo, I ___________ (ride) to the Pyramids on a camel that my
friend___________ (borrow) the day before.
31. Our teacher___________ (tell) us yesterday that he ___________ (visit) England in 1970.
32. George ___________ (work) at a university so far.
33. When he lived in Manchester, he ___________ (work) in a bank.
34. Birds___________ (build) their nests in summer and___________ (fly) to the South in winter.
35. I ___________ (lose) my key. (Can) ___________ you help me look for it?
36. My father ___________ (not smoke) for 5 years.
37. My teacher wasn't at home when I ___________ (arrive). He___________ (just go) out.
38. How long Bob and Mary___________ (be) married?
39. You ___________ (receive) any letter from your parents yet?
40. My brother ___________ (join) the army when he___________ (be) young.
41. You___________ (remember) my name or you___________ (forget) it someday?
42. Tom___________ (study) chemistry for three years and then he gave it up.
43. Miss Lee often ___________ (write) when she was on holiday.
44. He ___________ (leave) home two weeks ago and we ___________ (not hear) from him since then.
45. You ___________ (speak) to Mrs. Baker yesterday?
No, I ___________ (not see) her for a long time. I___________ (not can) remember when I
last___________ (see) her.
46. When the teacher came in, the pupils___________ (play) game.
47. Columbus ___________ (discover) America more than 400 years ago.
48. By next month, I ___________ (finish) my first novel.
49. By May 5, we ___________ (live) in this city for ten years.
50. When your father ___________ (die)? I ___________ (not kow) when he___________ (die).
51. Bill said he___________ (forget) to buy a dictionary.
52. He felt asleep while he___________ (do) his homework.
53. We ___________ (not see) them for a long time.
54. It ___________ (rain) when we arrived.
55. Kite and I ___________ (wait) right here until you get back.
56. He'll leave as soon as he ___________ (hear) the news.
57. Dick ___________ (start) school before he seven.
58. How long you ___________ (study) in this school?
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59. We ___________ (not receive) any letter from him since he (leave) four months ago.
60. Where are you? I'm upstairs. I ___________ (have) a bath.
61. I ___________ (speak) to you about that matter after the meeting tonight.
62. At this time next week, we (live) in USA.
63. Hurry up! The train___________ (come).
64. Be quiet! The teacher ___________ (be) angry.
65. Why didn't you listen while I ___________ (speak) to you?
66. Some animals ___________ (not eat) during winter.
67. I___________ (finish) the book before my next birthday.
68. John ___________ (watch) TV at 8 last evening.
69. Mr. Pike ___________ (live) here since last October.
70. Someone ___________ (cut) down all the trees in the garden.
71. The house ___________ (build) two years ago.
72. Listen! The bird___________ (sing).
73. Trees ___________ (plant) since it___________ (stop) raining.
74. Tom Baker___________ (not come) here tomorrow.
75. By the end of last March, I ___________ (study) English for 5 years.
76. He often ___________ (say) O.K when he (talk) with the guests.
77. What you___________ (do) after you___________ (go) home yesterday?
78. How long you___________ (wait) for me? Just a few minutes.
79. He ___________ (do) his homework before he went to the cinema.
80. By noon, I___________ (wait) for her for two hours.
81. By the time you come there, she___________ (make) a big cake.
82. Yesterday thieves___________ (break) into the house and ___________ (steal) a lot of fur coats
while the guests ___________ (dance).
83. When I came in, they all ___________ (sit) round a fire. Mr. Pike___________ (do) a crossword
puzzle, Mrs. Pike ___________ (knit), and the others___________ (read).
84. Mr. Jackson ___________ (paint) his house since last month.
85. She ___________ (ask) me to tell about him several times.
86. The audience___________ (listen) to everything he said last night.
87. At 4 p.m yesterday? Well, I___________ (work) in my office at that time.
88. A: I ___________ (play) football when I was 5 years old.
B: You___________ (play) since you ___________ (come) to England?
A: Oh, yes. I ________ (play) quite a lot. I_________ (join) a club the day after I________ (arrive).
89. I'm preparing to support anything he__________ (say) tomorrow.
90. Sometimes I ___________ (get) up before the Sun___________ (rise).
91. He said he___________ (be) mistaken.
92. Don't speak until someone ___________ (ask) you.
93. Mary ___________ (come) from London.
94. Please be quiet! I ___________ (work).
95. When I ___________ (be) a child, I ___________ (want) to be a doctor.
96. David ___________ (be) born after his father ___________ (die).
97. Long ago, my younger brother often ___________ (cry).
98. I___________ (not send) the parcel until I hear from you.
99. The last train___________ (leave) the station at 5 p.m.
100. Up to now, the teacher ___________ (give) our class five tests
101. They ___________ (build) a house by June next year.
102. We ___________ (start) our plan next week.
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103. By next month I ___________ (leave) for India.
104. I ___________ (hope) it (stop) ___________ raining by 5 o'clock this afternoon.
X. Adverbial time clause.
1. The film ___________ (end) by the time we___________ (get) there.
2. I ___________ (give) her your letter when I ___________ (see) her tomorrow.
3. The river___________ (not begin) to swell until some rain ___________ (fall).
4. Don't come until I___________ (finish) lunch.
5. We'll go out when the rain___________ (stop).
6. I'll wait until he___________ (finish) his novel.
7. Miss Helen ___________ (help) you as soon as she___________ (finish) that letter tomorrow.
8. After the class ___________ (be) over, ask the teacher about that sentence.
9. I ___________ (come) and ___________ (see) you before I leave here.
10. We ___________ (go) home as soon as we have finished our work.
11. I ___________ (wait) here until you ___________ (come) back tomorrow.
12. I___________ (send) you some postcards as soon as I ___________ (arrive) in London.
13. She ___________ (not come) until you ___________ (be) ready.
14. Wait until I ___________ (catch) you.
15. I ___________ (stay) here until he ___________ (answer) me.
XI. Fill in the blanks with a correct form of PAST CONTINUOUS:
1. Alice hurt herself while she ___________ (skate).
2. I met my neighbor while I___________ (walk) home from work.
3. Sally saw a friend while she ___________ (ride) her bicycle along Park St.
4. Peter fell asleep while he ___________ (study).
5. Bob stepped on Jane’s feet while they ___________ (dance) together.
6. I cut myself while I ___________ (shave).
7. Mr. and Mrs. Brown burned themselves while they ___________ (bake) cookies.
8. Tommy had a nightmare while he ___________ (sleep) at a friend’s house.
9. He ___________ (talk) with Mary, when Mrs. Smith came in.
10. They ___________ (study) two hours last night.
11. Jane ___________ (sleep) when the telephone rang.
12. As I ___________ (walk) to the lab, I met my friend.
13. We ___________ (watch) TV last night.
14. The customer ___________ (pay) his cheque when he dropped his credit card.
15. The barber ___________ (cut) my hair yesterday.
16. She ___________ (dance) when she hurt her ankle.
17. It ___________ (rain) hard when I got up.
18. It ___________ (rain) hard last night.