GRAMMAR TEST - ESL worksheets - Free Printable

Let's solve this Grammar Test step by step. The task is to fill in the blanks with the correct verb forms (tenses) based on context.

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1. My sister usually ________ (work) as an engineer but at the moment she ________ (study) for an extra qualification.

- "usually" → present simple: *works*
- "at the moment" → present continuous: *is studying*

✔ Answer: works / is studying

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2. Can you hear the birds? They ________ (sing) in the trees.

- Present action happening now → present continuous

✔ Answer: are singing

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3. Your grandmother ________ (live) in a cottage in Ireland. She ________ (live) there all her life.

- First sentence: general fact → present simple: *lives*
- Second: ongoing action throughout life → present perfect: *has lived*

✔ Answer: lives / has lived

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4. Marina always ________ (arrive) late on Fridays because she very often ________ (miss) the train.

- "always" and "very often" → both indicate habitual actions, so present simple

✔ Answer: arrives / misses

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5. Barbara ________ (be) taller than her brother Ulises.

- Comparison of permanent state → present simple

✔ Answer: is

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6. There was a fire at my friend’s house so he ________ (stay) at a hotel until the damage is repaired.

- Action started in the past and continues → present perfect continuous or present perfect
But since it's still ongoing, and we're talking about current situation:
→ has been staying (emphasizes duration)

✔ Answer: has been staying

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7. I’m Spanish. I ________ (be) born in Cordoba. It ________ (be) a beautiful city.

- "born" → past event → was
- "It" refers to Cordoba → general truth → is

✔ Answer: was / is

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8. I think smoking is unhealthy so now I ________ (try) to give up.

- Current effort → present continuous

✔ Answer: am trying

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9. Look! That young woman ________ (jump) on the bus.

- "Look!" indicates action happening now → present continuous

✔ Answer: is jumping

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10. Statistics show that the Dutch ________ (be) the tallest race.

- General truth → present simple

✔ Answer: are

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11. 50% of British families ________ (keep) pets at home.

- General habit → present simple

✔ Answer: keep

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12. Henry ________ (use) my bike while his car is being repaired.

- Ongoing action during a period → present continuous

✔ Answer: is using

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13. Our teacher is ill today so we ________ (have) a day off at school.

- Result of present condition → present simple (fact)

✔ Answer: have

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14. Sheila is in hospital for a month, she ________ (recover) from an operation.

- Recovery process starting now → present continuous or present perfect continuous

But since it's ongoing and just began → is recovering

✔ Answer: is recovering

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15. I usually ________ (like) eating, but tonight I ________ (not enjoy) the food at all.

- "usually" → present simple: *like*
- "tonight" → current time → present continuous or present simple
But "not enjoy at all" suggests a temporary feeling → don't enjoy

✔ Answer: like / don't enjoy

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16. Everyone in our family ________ (have) blond hair and blue eyes.

- General fact → present simple

Note: "Everyone" takes singular verb

✔ Answer: has

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17. Hurry up! We ________ (not can) miss the bus this morning.

- "Can't" = cannot → negative modal

✔ Answer: can't

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18. The man ________ (pay) the bill at the counter and ________ (run) to his car.

- Two actions in sequence → both past tense
- "pay" → paid
- "run" → ran

✔ Answer: paid / ran

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19. Sonia ________ (park) the car and ________ (enter) the police station yesterday.

- "yesterday" → past tense
- Both verbs: parked / entered

✔ Answer: parked / entered

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## ✔ Final Answers:

1. works / is studying
2. are singing
3. lives / has lived
4. arrives / misses
5. is
6. has been staying
7. was / is
8. am trying
9. is jumping
10. are
11. keep
12. is using
13. have
14. is recovering
15. like / don't enjoy
16. has
17. can't
18. paid / ran
19. parked / entered

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🔍 Explanation Summary:

- Present Simple: For habits, facts, general truths.
- Present Continuous: For actions happening now, temporary situations.
- Past Simple: Completed actions in the past.
- Present Perfect: Actions completed at unspecified times, or experiences.
- Present Perfect Continuous: Emphasizes duration of ongoing actions.
- Modals (can/can't): Used for ability or permission.

This test covers tense usage based on time markers and context — key skills for English grammar mastery.

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