Grammar Tenses Mix

Test your knowledge on grammar - English tenses. After submitting your answers, you will see how well you have
done in the test.
What a language course can do
Fill the gaps with the correct tenses.
1. I (learn) English for seven years now.
2. But last year I (not / work) hard enough for English, that's why my marks (not / be)
really that good then.
3. As I (pass / want) my English exam successfully next year, I (study) harder this term.
4. During my last summer holidays, my parents (send) me on a language course to London.
5. It (be) great and I (think) I (learn) a lot.
6. Before I (go) to London, I (not / enjoy) learning English.
7. But while I (do) the language course, I (meet) lots of young people from all over the
world.
8. There I (notice) how important it (be) to speak foreign languages nowadays.
9. Now I (have) much more fun learning English than I (have) before the course.
10. At the moment I (revise) English grammar.
11. And I (begin / already) to read the texts in my English textbooks again.
12. I (think) I (do) one unit every week.
13. My exam (be) on 15 May, so there (not / be) any time to be lost.
14. If I (pass) my exams successfully, I (start) an apprenticeship in September.
15. And after my apprenticeship, maybe I (go) back to London to work there for a while.
16. As you (see / can) , I (become) a real London fan already.
 1. We TV when it started to rain. (to watch)
2. I to visit you yesterday, but you not at home. (to want) (to be)
3. Look! It , so we can't to the beach. (to rain) (to go)
4. There are a lot of clouds! It soon. (to rain)
5. The sun in the east. (to rise)
6. Since 2011 they their son every year. (to visit)
7. While the doctor Mr Jones, his son outside this morning. (to examine) (to
wait)
8. I for my girlfriend for two hours. (to wait)
9. After Larry the film on TV, he decided to buy the book. (to see)
10. Wait a minute, I this box for you. (to carry)

Mixed Tenses - Put the verbs into the correct tenses.

1. Andy is tired because he (work) all day.
2. By 1960 most of Britains old colonies (become) independent.
3. David broke his leg when he (ski) last week.
4. (you/have) a nice time in Rome?
5. (you/finish) your homework yet?
6. He (be) at his computer for six hours.
7. How long (she/have) that car?
8. How many people (die) in the fire yesterday?
9. I (not/know) much about art, but I like some artists.
10. I (wait) for ages when finally the bus arrived.
11. I (receive) a postcard from Jane yesterday.
12. I (correct) all morning, Im exhausted.
13. I (never/be) sailing, whats it like?
14. It was late. Most of the shops (close) .
15. It (rain) when I got up this morning.
16. Janet (start) a new job in September.
17. Nelly (have) a great time in New York at the moment.
18. She was cooking dinner when we (arrive) .
19. She (just/come) back from a Mediterranean cruise.
20. My husband (be) free for most of the afternoon.
21. The children were tired because they (swim) in the pool all afternoon.
22. They (go) to spend six weeks in the USA.
23. We can use the car, I (repair) it.
24. We were tired because we (be) to a party the night before.
25. We (be) too late for the train, it had just left.
26. When I got the airport I realized I (forget) my passport.
27. As soon as they (arrive) we had dinner.
28. When they were driving home last night they (see) a terrible accident.
29. Where (Robert/live) now?
30. Who (Mandy/talk) to?
Show example

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Form of the will-future
1. Tomorrow it in the north-west. (to rain)
2. My friend 12 next Monday. (to be)
3. Hey John! Wait a minute. I a word with you. (to have)
4. She her boss next week. (to contact)
5. I think you this job. (to get)
6. They at about 6 pm. (to arrive)
7. The teacher this exercise. (to explain)
8. He the bottle of water. (to drop)
9. Lots of accidents in that weather. (to happen)
10. She if you show her the spider. (to scream)

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Form of the will-future
1. They back by 6:30 pm. (to be)
2. you me? (to help)
3. When I you again? (to see)
4. His parents him for being late. (not/to punish)
5. they the contract tonight? (to sign)
6. It us three hours to get there. (to take)
7. this concert money for our school club? (to raise)
8. This van with 8 people in it. (not/to break down)
9. The meeting before tomorrow morning. (not/to close)
10. When she me a copy of her essay? (to send)
Table of English Tenses
tense Affirmative/Negative/Question Use Signal Words
Simple A: He speaks. always, every , never,
action in the present taking place
Present N: He does not speak. normally, often, seldom,
Q: Does he speak? regularly, never or several times sometimes, usually
facts if sentences type I (If I talk, )

actions taking place one after another

action set by a timetable or schedule
Present A: He is speaking. at the moment, just, just now,
action taking place in the moment of
Progressive N: He is not speaking. Listen!, Look!, now, right now
Q: Is he speaking? speaking
action taking place only for a limited
period of time
action arranged for the future
Simple Past A: He spoke. yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in
action in the past taking place once,
N: He did not speak. 1990, the other day, last Friday
Q: Did he speak? never or several times if sentence type II (If I talked,
actions taking place one after another )

action taking place in the middle of

another action
Past A: He was speaking. while, as long as
action going on at a certain time in the
Progressive N: He was not speaking.
Q: Was he speaking? past
actions taking place at the same time
action in the past that is interrupted by
another action
Present A: He has spoken. already, ever, just, never, not
putting emphasis on the result
Perfect N: He has not spoken. yet, so far, till now, up to now
Simple Q: Has he spoken? action that is still going on
action that stopped recently
finished action that has an influence on
the present
action that has taken place once, never
or several times before the moment of
speaking
Present A: He has been speaking. all day, for 4 years, since 1993,
putting emphasis on the course or
Perfect N: He has not been speaking. how long?, the whole week
Progressive Q: Has he been speaking? duration (not the result)
action that recently stopped or is still
going on
finished action that influenced the
present
Past A: He had spoken. already, just, never, not yet,
action taking place before a certain time
Perfect N: He had not spoken. once, until that day
Simple Q: Had he spoken? in the past if sentence type III (If I had
sometimes interchangeable with past talked, )

perfect progressive
putting emphasis only on the fact (not
the duration)
Past A: He had been speaking. for, since, the whole day, all
action taking place before a certain time
Perfect N: He had not been speaking. day
Progressive Q: Had he been speaking? in the past
sometimes interchangeable with past
perfect simple
putting emphasis on the duration or
course of an action
Future I A: He will speak. in a year, next , tomorrow
action in the future that cannot be
Simple N: He will not speak. If-Satz Typ I (If you ask her,
Q: Will he speak? influenced she will help you.)
spontaneous decision assumption: I think, probably,
perhaps
assumption with regard to the future
Future I A: He is going to speak. in one year, next week,
decision made for the future
Simple N: He is not going to speak. tomorrow
Q: Is he going to speak? conclusion with regard to the future
(going to)
Future I A: He will be speaking. in one year, next week,
action that is going on at a certain time
Progressive N: He will not be speaking. tomorrow
Q: Will he be speaking? in the future
action that is sure to happen in the near
future
Future II A: He will have spoken. by Monday, in a week
action that will be finished at a certain
Simple N: He will not have spoken.
Q: Will he have spoken? time in the future
Future II A: He will have been speaking. for , the last couple of hours,
action taking place before a certain time
Progressive N: He will not have been speaking. all day long
Q: Will he have been speaking? in the future
putting emphasis on the course of an
action
Conditional A: He would speak. if sentences type II
action that might take place
I Simple N: He would not speak. (If I were you, I would go
Q: Would he speak? home.)
Conditional A: He would be speaking.
action that might take place
I N: He would not be speaking.
Progressive Q: Would he be speaking? putting emphasis on the course /
duration of the action
Conditional A: He would have spoken. if sentences type III
action that might have taken place in
II Simple N: He would not have spoken. (If I had seen that, I would
Q: Would he have spoken? the past have helped.)
Conditional A: He would have been speaking.
action that might have taken place in the
II N: He would not have been
Progressive speaking. past
Q: Would he have been speaking? puts emphasis on the course / duration
of the action
English Tenses Graphic Comparison
Problems with the English tenses? Have a look at the time line, it might help you understand
when to use which tense. As there is a similarity between past, present and future tenses, there
are just a few rules to keep in mind.

If you know how to use the present progressive correctly to express present actions, you will as
well be able to use the past progressive correctly to express past actions.

Legend

Legend
action that takes place once, never or several times
actions that happen one after another
moment in time
actions that suddenly take place

action that started before a certain moment and lasts beyond that moment

period of time actions taking place at the same time

action taking place before a certain moment in time

Result
puts emphasis on the result

action taking place before a certain moment in time

Course / Duration puts emphasis on the course or duration of the action
 Present, past and future, simple and progressive

1) _______________ (you/come) tonight?

2) ____________ (he/eat) rice every day?.
3) I ___________ (work) at the moment..
4) ____________ (he/come) to London often?.
5) He ____________ (play) tennis now..
6) ____________ (you/come) to the cinema later?.
7) They ____________ (not/come) to the party tomorrow..
8) He ____________ (not/play) golf now..
9) ____________ (you/play) tennis this Sunday?.
10) They ____________ (go) to a restaurant every Saturday..
11) She ____________ (not/go) to the cinema very often..
12) You usually ____________ (arrive) late..
13) He normally ____________ (eat) dinner at home..
14) ____________ (you/study) every night?.
15) ____________ (they/work) late usually?.
16) You ____________ (not/go) out later..
17) I ____________ (not/work) tonight..
18) ____________ (she/work) at the moment?
19) I ____________ (not/drink) coffee very often..
20) Julie ____________ (sleep) now.
Exercise on Future I Simple (will)
Put the verbs into the correct form (future I simple). Use will.

Jim asked a fortune teller about his future. Here is what she told him:
1. You (earn) ____________ a lot of money.
2. You (travel) ____________ around the world.
3. You (meet) ____________ lots of interesting people.
4. Everybody (adore) ____________ you.
5. You (not / have) ____________ any problems.
6. Many people (serve) ____________ you.
7. They (anticipate) ____________ your wishes.
8. There (not / be) ____________ anything left to wish for.
9. Everything (be) ____________ perfect.
10. But all these things (happen / only) ____________ if you marry me.
Simple Past or Past Progressive
Exercise 8
Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive).

1. When I (get) ____________ up yesterday, the sun (shine) ____________.

2. It (is) ____________ a beautiful morning.
3. So I (decide) ____________ to cycle around a little.
4. I (go) ____________ to the shed and (take) ____________ out my bike.
5. While I (cycle) ____________ past some villages, I (see) ____________ some people in their
gardens.
6. One man (mow) ____________ the grass while his wife (pick) ____________ strawberries.
7. After one hour of cycling in sunshine, a big fat raincloud suddenly (appear) ____________ and it
(start) ____________ to rain.
8. Luckily, a farmer (notice) ____________ me and (tell) ____________ me to come in.
9. While it (rain) ____________ outside, I (sit) ____________ in the farmer's house.
10. After a while, the sun (come) ____________ out again.
11. I (thank) ____________ the farmer for his hospitality and (move) ____________ on.
Simple Past or Past Progressive
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or past progressive).

1. When I (do) ____________ the washing-up, I (break) ____________ a plate.

2. While Tom (play) ____________ the piano, his mother (do) ____________ the washing-up.
3. He (drink) ____________ some juice and then he (eat) ____________ a few chips.
4. I (have) ____________ dinner when I suddenly (hear) ____________ a loud bang.
5. When my father (work) ____________ in the garden, an old friend (pass) ____________ by to see
him.
6. She (go) ____________ to school, (take) ____________ out her textbook and (begin)
____________ to learn.
7. When it (start) ____________ to rain, our dog (want) ____________ to come inside.
8. When Jane (do) ____________ a language course in Ireland, she (visit) ____________ Blarney
Castle.
9. When I (be) ____________ on my way home, I (see) ____________ an accident.
10. I (not / understand) ____________ what they (talk) ____________ about.

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Simple Present Present Progressive contrasted
1. Look! This lady (not/to eat) ____________ a hamburger.
2. Our cat seldom (to lie)____________ on the sofa.
3. (to text)____________ they ____________ at the moment?
4. I (to like)____________ supermarkets, but my father doesn't.
5. What (to do) ____________ the man ____________ in our garden?
6. We (not/to take)____________ the bus to school.
7. Where (to come)____________ you ____________ from?
8. (to wear)____________ your girlfriend always ____________ green T-shirts?
9. I (to have)____________ a cup of tea now.
10. (to swim)____________ the boy ____________ in the pool right now?
Mixed
_______________ (you/come) tonight?
____________ (he/eat) rice every day?.
I ___________ (work) at the moment..
____________ (he/come) to London often?.
He ____________ (play) tennis now..
____________ (you/come) to the cinema later?.
They ____________ (not/come) to the party tomorrow..
He ____________ (not/play) golf now..
____________ (you/play) tennis this Sunday?.
They ____________ (go) to a restaurant every Saturday..
She ____________ (not/go) to the cinema very often..
You usually ____________ (arrive) late..
He normally ____________ (eat) dinner at home..
____________ (you/study) every night?.
____________ (they/work) late usually?.
You ____________ (not/go) out later..
I ____________ (not/work) tonight..
____________ (she/work) at the moment?
I ____________ (not/drink) coffee very often..
Julie ____________ (sleep) now.

You (earn) ____________ a lot of money.

You (travel) ____________ around the world.
You (meet) ____________ lots of interesting people.
Everybody (adore) ____________ you.
You (not / have) ____________ any problems.
Many people (serve) ____________ you.
They (anticipate) ____________ your wishes.
There (not / be) ____________ anything left to wish for.
Everything (be) ____________ perfect.
But all these things (happen / only) ____________ if you marry me.
When I (get) ____________ up yesterday, the sun (shine) ____________.
It (is) ____________ a beautiful morning.
So I (decide) ____________ to cycle around a little.
I (go) ____________ to the shed and (take) ____________ out my bike.
While I (cycle) ____________ past some villages, I (see) ____________ some people in their gardens.
One man (mow) ____________ the grass while his wife (pick) ____________ strawberries.
After one hour of cycling in sunshine, a big fat raincloud suddenly (appear) ____________ and it (start)
____________ to rain.
Luckily, a farmer (notice) ____________ me and (tell) ____________ me to come in.
While it (rain) ____________ outside, I (sit) ____________ in the farmer's house.
After a while, the sun (come) ____________ out again.
I (thank) ____________ the farmer for his hospitality and (move) ____________ on.
When I (do) ____________ the washing-up, I (break) ____________ a plate.
While Tom (play) ____________ the piano, his mother (do) ____________ the washing-up.
He (drink) ____________ some juice and then he (eat) ____________ a few chips.
I (have) ____________ dinner when I suddenly (hear) ____________ a loud bang.
When my father (work) ____________ in the garden, an old friend (pass) ____________ by to see him.
She (go) ____________ to school, (take) ____________ out her textbook and (begin) ____________ to learn.
When it (start) ____________ to rain, our dog (want) ____________ to come inside.
When Jane (do) ____________ a language course in Ireland, she (visit) ____________ Blarney Castle.
When I (be) ____________ on my way home, I (see) ____________ an accident.
I (not / understand) ____________ what they (talk) ____________ about.
Look! This lady (not/to eat) ____________ a hamburger.
Our cat seldom (to lie)____________ on the sofa.
(to text)____________ they ____________ at the moment?
I (to like)____________ supermarkets, but my father doesn't.
What (to do) ____________ the man ____________ in our garden?
We (not/to take)____________ the bus to school.
Where (to come)____________ you ____________ from?
(to wear)____________ your girlfriend always ____________ green T-shirts?
I (to have)____________ a cup of tea now.
(to swim)____________ the boy ____________ in the pool right now?