VERB TENSES PRACTICE SHEET

A) Complete the text with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Use the
past simple or the past continuous.
My friends and I (1) ........ were enjoying (enjoy) my birthday party when suddenly
the lights (2) went (go) out. I (3) thought (think) that my brother (4) tried (try) to
scare everyone. I (5) shouted (shout), ‘Switch the lights on!’ but nothing (6)
happened (happen). While we (7) were waiting (wait) in the darkness, somebody
(8) screamed (scream). Suddenly, I felt scared!

B) Complete the passage with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Use the
Present Simple, Present Continuous, Past Simple or the Past Continuous.
Today, it …….( 1 ) seems (seem) that everyone recognises the paintings of Vincent
Van Gogh.
However, few people…….( 2 ) know (know) the sad details of his difficult life. Van
Gogh was
born in 1853 in a small village in the Netherlands. He drew pictures when he was a
boy, but
…….( 3 )……..didn’t consider (not consider) art as a career. When he was 16 years old,
he …( 4 )…….. went (go) to work for a company which bought and sold art. He had
periods of deep depression, which …….( 5 )…….affected (affect) his work, and as a
result, the company ….( 6 )dismissed (dismiss) him 1876. Van Gogh then …….( 7 )
taught (teach) in England and later …….( 8 )gave (give) Bible lessons in Belgium. He
finally decided to become an artist. Between 1880 and 1890, while he …….( 9 )
……..was producing (produce) his famous paintings and drawings, he suffered from
frequent periods of depression. On 27 July 1890, when he was 37, he …….( 10 ) shot
(shoot) himself. He died two days later.

C) Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
- She wasn’t born in Tiznit, but she ….( 1 )…moved (move) here when she was two.
- Sharon ….( 2 )……is thinking (think) about your idea at the moment.
- I ….( 3 )……write (write) in my diary every day.
- That little boy ….( 4 ) is not enjoying (not enjoy) the pony ride. Look, he is crying!
- ….( 5 )…do they know (they / know) my address? Perhaps we should call them.
- Mark ….( 6 )……brought (bring) soft drinks to yesterday’s meeting.
- …….( 7 )did the wind frighten (the wind / frighten) you last night ?
- Yesterday at nine, I ……(8)was having (have) dinner at home.
Yesterday , I ……(8)…… had (have) dinner at home
- Halle Berry …….( 9 )…… married (marry) Kevin Grant last year. She got married to him /
she married
- …….( 10 )………did you pay (you / pay) the phone bill yesterday?

D) Complete the text with the correct tense of the verbs in brackets. Use the
present
simple, present continuous, past simple, past continuous, present perfect or
present
perfect continuous.
My brother, Sam, (1)......... went (go) to a gallery last week to see an exhibition by a
new artist. While Sam (2) was looking (look) at one of the paintings, a man (3)
appeared (appear) next to him. The man asked, ‘(4) are you enjoying (enjoy) the
exhibition?’ Sam said, ‘It’s very good, but I (5) ..... I don’t understand (not
understand) this painting.’ ‘Really? That’s interesting,’ the man replied. Sam said, ‘I
(6)......... have been staring (stare) at it for a long time, but I (7) haven’t decided
(not decide) if I like it yet. The subject is interesting but the style and colours are a bit
simple. What do you think? (8)...have you ever seen (see) this artist before?’ ‘Yes,’
he replied, ‘I am the artist.’ Sam (9) ........blushed (blush) but the man said, ‘Don’t
worry. I like talking about my paintings and I (10) prefer (prefer) people to be
honest.’
E) FILL IN THE GAPS WITH THE RIGHT FORM OF THE VERBS IN BRACKETS.
- Julia ____1____ (study) in London this year, and she really loves ____2____ (be) there.
- When you ____3____ (ring), I was having a bath, so I couldn’t answer the phone.
- The meeting ____4____ (already/finish).We can go home now.
- She ____5____ (just/arrive) home. I’ll give her your message.
- “How long ____6____ (you/live) in this flat?” “I bought it last summer”
- They ____7____ (get) married next month.
- ____8____ (write) a novel is not as difficult as it seems, if you use your imagination.
- When we were children we never ____9____ (throw) stones or ____10____ (break) anything.
We
were very peaceful and quiet.
- While my brothers ___11___ (study), I ___12___ (listen) to music in my room. I didn’t want to
disturb them.
- Who ____13____ (teach) you to play tennis? My father did.
- She has decided she ____14____ (study) Economics at University next year.
- I ____15___ (not go) to school yesterday because I ____16____(not feel) well.
- How often ____17____ (Tom/play) tennis?
- Ann ____18____ (wait) for me when I ____19____(arrive).
- Can you ski? No but I ____20____(learn).
- I am so tired! I ___21____(work) non-stop for the last four hours!
- She ___22___ (not/ be) to Athens before she went with her friends last summer.
- Tomorrow at this time, we ___23___ (have) our maths class.
- Don’t forget ___24___ (buy) some milk!
- By the end of this term, you ___25___(do) many exams.

F) Complete the sentences with the correct tense of the verbs in brackets.

- ……( 1 )…… ( sing ) in the shower helps me to relax.

- Amy …( 2 )… ( write ) a text message to Carl when Rob …( 3 )… ( phone ) her.
- ……( 4 )… ( tidy ) every room in the house becomes the most important thing in life for some
people, and it …( 5 )… ( control ) their lives completely.
- He is usually very serious. He …( 6 )… ( not / often / smile ) but he …( 7 )… ( smile ) at her
now
because he is happy.
- ……( 8 )…… ( ever / ride ) a horse? No, never. This is the first time.
- Tom ……( 9 )…… ( burn ) his hand when he ……( 10 )…… ( cook ) his dinner.
- My hands are dirty because I …(11)…(repair) my bike. I…(12)…(just/finish)!
- At the moment, Sonia .…( 13 )…. ( look ) for a place to live. She …( 14 )… ( stay ) with her
sister
until she finds somewhere.
- How often ……( 15 )… ( you / clean ) your car? It depends on how dirty it is.
- Would you like something to eat? No, thanks, I …( 16 )…( just / have ) lunch.
- Last night I ……( 17 )…… ( drop ) a plate when I ……( 18 )…… ( do ) the washing up.
Fortunately, it ……( 19 )…… ( not / break ).
- There is an ambulance over there because there …( 20 )… ( be ) an accident.
- In ten years’ time, you …(21)…(leave) university and perhaps you …(22)…(live) in another
country.
- People …( 23 )… ( shake ) hands in most countries.
- This animal sometimes …( 24 )…( change ) colour. At the moment it…( 25)…( not / move); it
…(
26 )… ( watch ) its next meal.
- I can’t believe how much you …( 27 )… (change) since the last time I …(28) … (see) you.
- In 1967, two men …( 29 )… ( sail ) near Miami when they …( 30 )… ( send ) a message
asking for
help.
- I …( 31 )… ( be ) angry because there …( 32 )… ( be / not ) enough eggs in the fridge when I
needed
them.
- If you like water, …( 33 )… ( swim ) is great exercise.
- My best friend and I …( 34 )… ( know ) each other for over fifteen years. We still get together
once
a week.
- Tonight, between 9.00 and 9.30, we …(35)…(watch) our favourite TV show.
- …(36)…(you/do) your homework before 5?