Present or Past Tense? - ESL worksheet by Tesa83 - Free Printable

The task involves filling in the blanks with the correct form of the verb provided in parentheses, using either the present tense or the past tense based on the context of the sentence. Below is the solution with explanations for each sentence:

---

1. Yesterday my sister ________ to the airport. (go)

- Context: The sentence mentions "yesterday," which indicates a past action.
- Solution: went
- Explanation: The past tense of "go" is "went."

---

2. I ________ my teeth every day. (brush)

- Context: The sentence mentions "every day," indicating a habitual action in the present.
- Solution: brush
- Explanation: The present tense of "brush" is "brush."

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3. Ken ________ tennis every Sunday. (play)

- Context: The sentence mentions "every Sunday," indicating a habitual action in the present.
- Solution: plays
- Explanation: The present tense of "play" is "plays" (third-person singular).

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4. We ________ ten books at school last year. (read)

- Context: The sentence mentions "last year," indicating a past action.
- Solution: read
- Explanation: The past tense of "read" is "read" (irregular verb).

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5. Our last holiday in Greece ________ nice. (be)

- Context: The sentence mentions "last holiday," indicating a past event.
- Solution: was
- Explanation: The past tense of "be" is "was" (singular subject).

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6. Every day Simon ________ TV. (watch)

- Context: The sentence mentions "every day," indicating a habitual action in the present.
- Solution: watches
- Explanation: The present tense of "watch" is "watches" (third-person singular).

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7. Last summer they ________ a wonderful sandcastle. (build)

- Context: The sentence mentions "last summer," indicating a past action.
- Solution: built
- Explanation: The past tense of "build" is "built."

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8. Last year we ________ a lot of fun with our friends. (have)

- Context: The sentence mentions "last year," indicating a past action.
- Solution: had
- Explanation: The past tense of "have" is "had."

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9. Mum ________ a nice lunch almost every day. (cook)

- Context: The sentence mentions "almost every day," indicating a habitual action in the present.
- Solution: cooks
- Explanation: The present tense of "cook" is "cooks" (third-person singular).

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10. I ________ born in 1989. (be)

- Context: The sentence mentions a specific year in the past.
- Solution: was
- Explanation: The past tense of "be" is "was" (singular subject).

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11. ________ Timmy in Italy last summer? (be)

- Context: The sentence mentions "last summer," indicating a past action. The question format suggests using "were."
- Solution: Were
- Explanation: The past tense of "be" is "were" (plural subject).

---

12. They ________ in Greece last week. (not stay)

- Context: The sentence mentions "last week," indicating a past action. The negative form is required.
- Solution: didn't stay
- Explanation: The past tense of "stay" is "stayed," and the negative form is "didn't stay."

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13. The children often ________ football on Fridays. (play)

- Context: The sentence mentions "often," indicating a habitual action in the present.
- Solution: play
- Explanation: The present tense of "play" is "play" (plural subject).

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14. We ________ in Spain in July. (be)

- Context: The sentence mentions "in July," indicating a past action.
- Solution: were
- Explanation: The past tense of "be" is "were" (plural subject).

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15. She ________ her hair every day. (not wash)

- Context: The sentence mentions "every day," indicating a habitual action in the present. The negative form is required.
- Solution: doesn't wash
- Explanation: The present tense of "wash" is "washes," and the negative form is "doesn't wash" (third-person singular).

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16. Yesterday he ________ a taxi to go to the station. (call)

- Context: The sentence mentions "yesterday," indicating a past action.
- Solution: called
- Explanation: The past tense of "call" is "called."

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17. We ________ very happy two days ago. (not be)

- Context: The sentence mentions "two days ago," indicating a past action. The negative form is required.
- Solution: weren't
- Explanation: The past tense of "be" is "were," and the negative form is "weren't" (plural subject).

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18. I ________ for the test every day. (learn)

- Context: The sentence mentions "every day," indicating a habitual action in the present.
- Solution: learn
- Explanation: The present tense of "learn" is "learn."

---

Final Answer:

```
1. went
2. brush
3. plays
4. read
5. was
6. watches
7. built
8. had
9. cooks
10. was
11. Were
12. didn't stay
13. play
14. were
15. doesn't wash
16. called
17. weren't
18. learn
```

Boxed Final Answer:
\boxed{
\begin{aligned}
&1. \text{went} \\
&2. \text{brush} \\
&3. \text{plays} \\
&4. \text{read} \\
&5. \text{was} \\
&6. \text{watches} \\
&7. \text{built} \\
&8. \text{had} \\
&9. \text{cooks} \\
&10. \text{was} \\
&11. \text{Were} \\
&12. \text{didn't stay} \\
&13. \text{play} \\
&14. \text{were} \\
&15. \text{doesn't wash} \\
&16. \text{called} \\
&17. \text{weren't} \\
&18. \text{learn} \\
\end{aligned}
}