GRAMMAR TEST - ESL worksheets - Free Printable

Let’s go through each sentence one by one. We need to put the verb in brackets into the correct tense — usually present simple, present continuous, past simple, or sometimes future or perfect, depending on context.

We’ll look at clues like:
- “usually” → present simple
- “at the moment”, “now”, “look!” → present continuous
- “yesterday”, “was”, “until the damage is repaired” (but action happened in past) → past simple
- “always”, “often”, “every day” → present simple
- “so now I...” → present continuous for current change
- “born”, “show that”, “statistics” → often present simple for facts
- “while his car is being repaired” → present continuous for temporary situation
- “today”, “this morning” → can be present or past depending on context

Let’s solve each:

1. My sister usually works as an engineer but at the moment she is studying for an extra qualification.
→ “usually” = present simple; “at the moment” = present continuous

2. Can you hear the birds? They are singing in the trees.
→ “Can you hear?” implies right now → present continuous

3. Your grandmother lives in a cottage in Ireland. She has lived there all her life.
→ First part: general fact → present simple. Second part: “all her life” up to now → present perfect. But wait — if she still lives there, and it’s her whole life, we might use present perfect. However, some curricula accept “lived” if they haven’t taught present perfect yet. But since this is grammar test, likely expects present perfect for “all her life”. Let me check common usage: “She has lived there all her life” is correct. BUT — looking at level of other questions, maybe they expect simple past? Wait — no, “all her life” with present result → present perfect. However, let’s see question 7: “I was born” — so they do use past simple for completed actions. For #3, first blank: “lives” (present), second: “has lived” (present perfect). But if the test doesn’t include present perfect, maybe “lived”? Actually, many elementary tests use “lived” for “all her life” even though strictly it should be present perfect. Hmm. Let’s think: if she is still alive and still living there, it’s present perfect. If she died, it would be past simple. The sentence says “Your grandmother” — implies she’s alive. So “has lived”. But let’s check answer key style from similar worksheets — often they use “lived” here. To be safe, I’ll go with standard grammar: “has lived”. But wait — the instruction says “correct tense” — and present perfect is a tense. So yes.

Actually, rethinking: In many school-level grammar tests, especially if present perfect hasn’t been introduced, they might expect “lived”. But since question 18 uses “yesterday” → past simple, and question 6 uses “was” → past, probably they know past tenses. Let’s assume they want accurate grammar. I’ll put “has lived”.

But let’s continue and come back.

4. Marina always arrives late on Fridays because she very often misses the train.
→ “always”, “often” → present simple

5. Barbara is taller than her brother Ulises.
→ permanent state → present simple of “be”

6. There was a fire at my friend's house so he stayed at a hotel until the damage is repaired.
→ “There was” → past event → “stayed” (past simple). Even though “until the damage is repaired” is present, the staying happened in the past.

7. I'm Spanish. I was born in Cordoba. It is a beautiful city.
→ “born” → past simple; “It is” → present fact

8. I think smoking is unhealthy so now I am trying to give up.
→ “now” → present continuous for current effort

9. Look! That young woman is jumping on the bus.
→ “Look!” → happening now → present continuous

10. Statistics show that the Dutch are the tallest race.
→ general truth → present simple

11. 50% of British families keep pets at home.
→ statistic/general fact → present simple

12. Henry is using my bike while his car is being repaired.
→ temporary situation → present continuous

13. Our teacher is ill today so we are having a day off at school.
→ “today” → current situation → present continuous (or could be “have” — but “are having” emphasizes current arrangement)

Wait — “have a day off” can be present simple for scheduled events, but here it’s because teacher is ill today → so likely “are having” to match “is ill”.

14. Sheila is in hospital for a month, she is recovering from an operation.
→ “is in hospital” → current state → “is recovering” (present continuous)

15. I usually like eating, but tonight I am not enjoying the food at all.
→ “usually” → present simple; “tonight” → current experience → present continuous

16. Everyone in our family has blond hair and blue eyes.
→ permanent characteristic → present simple

17. Hurry up! We cannot miss the bus this morning.
→ “cannot” is modal, doesn’t change. Or “can’t”. But verb is “not can” → so “cannot” or “can’t”. Since it’s written as “(not can)”, we write “cannot” or “can not”. Usually “cannot”.

18. The man paid the bill at the counter and ran to his car.
→ sequence of past actions → past simple

19. Sonia parked the car and entered the police station yesterday.
→ “yesterday” → past simple

Now back to #3: Your grandmother lives in a cottage in Ireland. She has lived there all her life.

But let’s confirm: if the test is for beginners, they might expect “lived” for both? No, first is clearly present. Second: “all her life” — if she is still alive, present perfect. If not, past simple. Sentence doesn’t say she died, so present perfect.

However, in many ESL worksheets, they simplify and use past simple for “all her life” even if person is alive. But to be grammatically accurate, I’ll use “has lived”.

But let’s see the pattern: question 7 uses “was born” — past simple for birth, which is correct. For #3, “lives” (present) and “has lived” (present perfect).

I think it’s fine.

Also, for #13: “we are having a day off” — yes, because it’s happening today due to illness.

For #17: “We cannot miss” — “cannot” is one word.

Now let’s list all answers:

1. works, is studying
2. are singing
3. lives, has lived
4. arrives, misses
5. is
6. stayed
7. was, is
8. am trying
9. is jumping
10. are
11. keep
12. is using
13. are having
14. is recovering
15. like, am not enjoying
16. has
17. cannot
18. paid, ran
19. parked, entered

Wait, for #3, is “has lived” acceptable? Let me double-check with common textbook answers. Upon second thought, in many elementary grammar tests, they might expect “lived” for the second blank, treating “all her life” as completed period. But technically, if she is still alive, it should be present perfect. Since the sentence starts with “Your grandmother” (present), she is alive, so “has lived” is better.

But to match the level — looking at other questions, they don’t have any present perfect except possibly this one. Question 6 has “until the damage is repaired” but verb is past. Question 14: “is recovering” — present continuous. So present perfect might be expected.

I’ll stick with “has lived”.

Another point: in #13, “we have a day off” could also be correct as present simple for scheduled event, but “is ill today” suggests immediacy, so “are having” is more natural.

Similarly, #14: “she is recovering” — yes.

#17: “cannot” — yes.

Final list:

1. works, is studying
2. are singing
3. lives, has lived
4. arrives, misses
5. is
6. stayed
7. was, is
8. am trying
9. is jumping
10. are
11. keep
12. is using
13. are having
14. is recovering
15. like, am not enjoying
16. has
17. cannot
18. paid, ran
19. parked, entered

I think that’s correct.

Final Answer:
1. works, is studying
2. are singing
3. lives, has lived
4. arrives, misses
5. is
6. stayed
7. was, is
8. am trying
9. is jumping
10. are
11. keep
12. is using
13. are having
14. is recovering
15. like, am not enjoying
16. has
17. cannot
18. paid, ran
19. parked, entered