Grammar exercise worksheet for practicing verb tenses.
Grammar exercise worksheet with blanks to fill in using appropriate tenses: present tense, present continuous, simple past, past continuous, present perfect, and future (will).
JPG
821×1352
152.2 KB
Free · Personal Use
Quality Assured by Worksheets Library Team
Reviewed for educational accuracy and age-appropriateness
ID: #941143
⭐
Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: grammar exercise - ESL worksheet by teofana
▼
Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: grammar exercise - ESL worksheet by teofana
To solve this grammar exercise, we need to fill in the blanks with the appropriate tenses: present tense, present continuous, simple past, past continuous, present perfect, and future (will). Let's go through each sentence step by step:
---
- Tense: Simple past
- Explanation: The sentence is in the past tense ("was"), so we use the simple past for "have."
- Answer: didn't have
---
- Tense: Past continuous (for "wait") and simple past (for "arrive")
- Explanation: "When" clauses often use the simple past, while the main clause uses the past continuous if an action was ongoing at that time.
- Answer: was waiting, arrived
---
- Tense: Past continuous (for "drive") and simple past (for "happen")
- Explanation: The question asks about an action happening at the exact moment of another event, so we use the past continuous for "drive" and the simple past for "happen."
- Answer: were driving, happened
---
- Tense: Present perfect
- Explanation: The phrase "today" suggests a connection to the present, so we use the present perfect to indicate something that has not happened up to now.
- Answer: haven't seen
---
- B: I have no idea. I (not see) ________ yet.
- Tense: Present perfect
- Explanation: The word "yet" indicates that the action has not occurred up to the present, so we use the present perfect.
- Answer: haven't seen
---
- B: I (learn) ________. My father (teach) ________ me.
- Tense: Present continuous (for both)
- Explanation: The context suggests ongoing actions or learning processes, so we use the present continuous.
- Answer: am learning, is teaching
---
- Tense: Present simple (for "finish") and present continuous (for "work")
- Explanation: "Normally" indicates a regular habit, so we use the present simple. "This week" suggests an ongoing action, so we use the present continuous.
- Answer: finish, am working
---
- Tense: Present simple
- Explanation: This is a general fact about the river, so we use the present simple.
- Answer: flows
---
- Tense: Present continuous
- Explanation: The word "now" indicates an ongoing action, so we use the present continuous.
- Answer: isn't raining
---
- Tense: Present continuous
- Explanation: The context suggests a current feeling, so we use the present continuous.
- Answer: am getting
---
- Tense: Present simple (for "phone") and simple past (for "call")
- Explanation: "Usually" indicates a regular habit, so we use the present simple. "Last Fridays" indicates a past action, so we use the simple past.
- Answer: phones, didn't call
---
- Tense: Past simple (for "ring") and past continuous (for "have")
- Explanation: "While" indicates an ongoing action in the past, so we use the past continuous for "have." The ringing is a completed action, so we use the past simple for "ring."
- Answer: rang, were having
---
- B: That's right, but in the end, I (decide) ________ to stay where I was.
- Tense: Past continuous (for "think") and simple past (for "decide")
- Explanation: "When I last saw you" indicates an ongoing thought at that time, so we use the past continuous for "think." "Decide" is a completed action, so we use the simple past.
- Answer: were thinking, decided
---
- Tense: Present continuous
- Explanation: The context suggests an ongoing action, so we use the present continuous.
- Answer: am studying
---
- Tense: Future (will)
- Explanation: The phrase "next month" indicates a future action, so we use "will."
- Answer: will take
---
- Tense: Present continuous
- Explanation: The context suggests the baby is currently sleeping, so we use the present continuous.
- Answer: is sleeping
---
- Tense: Present continuous
- Explanation: The word "now" indicates an ongoing action, so we use the present continuous.
- Answer: are learning
---
- Tense: Present perfect (for both)
- Explanation: The phrase "yet" indicates a connection to the present, so we use the present perfect for both actions.
- Answer: have read, haven't finished
---
- Tense: Present perfect (for both)
- Explanation: The phrase "how long" often requires the present perfect to indicate duration up to the present.
- Answer: have, learned
---
- Tense: Present perfect
- Explanation: The phrase "two times" indicates a completed action with relevance to the present, so we use the present perfect.
- Answer: have walked
---
- Tense: Present perfect
- Explanation: The phrase "since" indicates a connection to the present, so we use the present perfect.
- Answer: have done
---
- Tense: Simple past
- Explanation: The phrase "two weeks ago" indicates a completed action in the past, so we use the simple past.
- Answer: bought
---
- Tense: Present perfect
- Explanation: The phrase "three times this week" indicates repeated actions up to the present, so we use the present perfect.
- Answer: has been
---
- Tense: Present perfect
- Explanation: The phrase "never" indicates a completed action with relevance to the present, so we use the present perfect.
- Answer: have met
---
- Tense: Simple past
- Explanation: The phrase "5 minutes ago" indicates a completed action in the past, so we use the simple past.
- Answer: went
---
- Tense: Present perfect
- Explanation: The phrase "for 20 years" indicates a duration up to the present, so we use the present perfect.
- Answer: have been
---
- Tense: Past continuous (for "listen") and simple past (for "rush")
- Explanation: "When" indicates an ongoing action in the past, so we use the past continuous for "listen." The rushing is a completed action, so we use the simple past for "rush."
- Answer: were listening, rushed
---
1. didn't have
2. was waiting, arrived
3. were driving, happened
4. haven't seen
5. haven't seen
6. am learning, is teaching
7. finish, am working
8. flows
9. isn't raining
10. am getting
11. phones, didn't call
12. rang, were having
13. were thinking, decided
14. am studying
15. will take
16. is sleeping
17. are learning
18. have read, haven't finished
19. have, learned
20. have walked
21. have done
22. bought
23. has been
24. have met
25. went
26. have been
27. were listening, rushed
Final Answer: \boxed{See above}
---
1. I was in a hurry, so I (not have) ________ time to phone you.
- Tense: Simple past
- Explanation: The sentence is in the past tense ("was"), so we use the simple past for "have."
- Answer: didn't have
---
2. Jenny (wait) ________ for me when I (arrive) ________.
- Tense: Past continuous (for "wait") and simple past (for "arrive")
- Explanation: "When" clauses often use the simple past, while the main clause uses the past continuous if an action was ongoing at that time.
- Answer: was waiting, arrived
---
3. How fast ________ you (drive) ________ when the accident (happen) ________?
- Tense: Past continuous (for "drive") and simple past (for "happen")
- Explanation: The question asks about an action happening at the exact moment of another event, so we use the past continuous for "drive" and the simple past for "happen."
- Answer: were driving, happened
---
4. I (not see) ________ Tom today.
- Tense: Present perfect
- Explanation: The phrase "today" suggests a connection to the present, so we use the present perfect to indicate something that has not happened up to now.
- Answer: haven't seen
---
5. A: Do you know what's that book like?
- B: I have no idea. I (not see) ________ yet.
- Tense: Present perfect
- Explanation: The word "yet" indicates that the action has not occurred up to the present, so we use the present perfect.
- Answer: haven't seen
---
6. A: Can you drive?
- B: I (learn) ________. My father (teach) ________ me.
- Tense: Present continuous (for both)
- Explanation: The context suggests ongoing actions or learning processes, so we use the present continuous.
- Answer: am learning, is teaching
---
7. Normally I (finish) ________ work at five, but this week I (work) ________ until six to earn a little more money.
- Tense: Present simple (for "finish") and present continuous (for "work")
- Explanation: "Normally" indicates a regular habit, so we use the present simple. "This week" suggests an ongoing action, so we use the present continuous.
- Answer: finish, am working
---
8. The River Nile (flow) ________ into the Mediterranean.
- Tense: Present simple
- Explanation: This is a general fact about the river, so we use the present simple.
- Answer: flows
---
9. Let's go out. It (not rain) ________ now.
- Tense: Present continuous
- Explanation: The word "now" indicates an ongoing action, so we use the present continuous.
- Answer: isn't raining
---
10. I (get) ________ hungry. Let's go and have something to eat.
- Tense: Present continuous
- Explanation: The context suggests a current feeling, so we use the present continuous.
- Answer: am getting
---
11. Louise usually (phone) ________ me on Fridays, but she (not call) ________ last Fridays.
- Tense: Present simple (for "phone") and simple past (for "call")
- Explanation: "Usually" indicates a regular habit, so we use the present simple. "Last Fridays" indicates a past action, so we use the simple past.
- Answer: phones, didn't call
---
12. The phone (ring) ________ three times while we (have) ________ dinner last night.
- Tense: Past simple (for "ring") and past continuous (for "have")
- Explanation: "While" indicates an ongoing action in the past, so we use the past continuous for "have." The ringing is a completed action, so we use the past simple for "ring."
- Answer: rang, were having
---
13. A: When I last saw you, you (think) ________ of moving to a new flat.
- B: That's right, but in the end, I (decide) ________ to stay where I was.
- Tense: Past continuous (for "think") and simple past (for "decide")
- Explanation: "When I last saw you" indicates an ongoing thought at that time, so we use the past continuous for "think." "Decide" is a completed action, so we use the simple past.
- Answer: were thinking, decided
---
14. Please don't make so much noise. I (study) ________ .
- Tense: Present continuous
- Explanation: The context suggests an ongoing action, so we use the present continuous.
- Answer: am studying
---
15. Sandra (take) ________ English course next month.
- Tense: Future (will)
- Explanation: The phrase "next month" indicates a future action, so we use "will."
- Answer: will take
---
16. Sshhh... The baby (sleep) ________ .
- Tense: Present continuous
- Explanation: The context suggests the baby is currently sleeping, so we use the present continuous.
- Answer: is sleeping
---
17. We (learn) ________ English now.
- Tense: Present continuous
- Explanation: The word "now" indicates an ongoing action, so we use the present continuous.
- Answer: are learning
---
18. I (read) ________ the novel you gave me, but I (not finish) ________ it yet.
- Tense: Present perfect (for both)
- Explanation: The phrase "yet" indicates a connection to the present, so we use the present perfect for both actions.
- Answer: have read, haven't finished
---
19. How long ________ you (learn) ________ English?
- Tense: Present perfect (for both)
- Explanation: The phrase "how long" often requires the present perfect to indicate duration up to the present.
- Answer: have, learned
---
20. The bird market isn't far away from here. I (walk) ________ there two times.
- Tense: Present perfect
- Explanation: The phrase "two times" indicates a completed action with relevance to the present, so we use the present perfect.
- Answer: have walked
---
21. You must tell me what you (do) ________ since I last saw you.
- Tense: Present perfect
- Explanation: The phrase "since" indicates a connection to the present, so we use the present perfect.
- Answer: have done
---
22. Hadi (buy) ________ a new car two weeks ago.
- Tense: Simple past
- Explanation: The phrase "two weeks ago" indicates a completed action in the past, so we use the simple past.
- Answer: bought
---
23. He (be) ________ late three times this week.
- Tense: Present perfect
- Explanation: The phrase "three times this week" indicates repeated actions up to the present, so we use the present perfect.
- Answer: has been
---
24. A: I don't know Anna's husband. I (never/ meet) ________ him.
- Tense: Present perfect
- Explanation: The phrase "never" indicates a completed action with relevance to the present, so we use the present perfect.
- Answer: have met
---
25. Anna (go) ________ to school 5 minutes ago.
- Tense: Simple past
- Explanation: The phrase "5 minutes ago" indicates a completed action in the past, so we use the simple past.
- Answer: went
---
26. Hadi and Anna are married. They (be) ________ married for 20 years.
- Tense: Present perfect
- Explanation: The phrase "for 20 years" indicates a duration up to the present, so we use the present perfect.
- Answer: have been
---
27. We (listen) ________ to the radio when David (rush) ________ into the room.
- Tense: Past continuous (for "listen") and simple past (for "rush")
- Explanation: "When" indicates an ongoing action in the past, so we use the past continuous for "listen." The rushing is a completed action, so we use the simple past for "rush."
- Answer: were listening, rushed
---
Final Answers:
1. didn't have
2. was waiting, arrived
3. were driving, happened
4. haven't seen
5. haven't seen
6. am learning, is teaching
7. finish, am working
8. flows
9. isn't raining
10. am getting
11. phones, didn't call
12. rang, were having
13. were thinking, decided
14. am studying
15. will take
16. is sleeping
17. are learning
18. have read, haven't finished
19. have, learned
20. have walked
21. have done
22. bought
23. has been
24. have met
25. went
26. have been
27. were listening, rushed
Final Answer: \boxed{See above}
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of grammar exercise worksheet.
