Perfect Tenses worksheet - Free Printable

Let's solve each sentence by filling in the blanks with the correct perfect tense form of the verb. We'll identify the appropriate perfect tense (Present Perfect, Past Perfect, or Future Perfect) based on the context and time expressions.

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1. My mother ________ (cook) food just now.

- "Just now" refers to a recent past action.
- Use Past Perfect for an action completed before another past action or time.
- But here, "just now" is often used with Simple Past, but since it’s asking for perfect tenses, and the action is completed recently, we use:
- ✔ had cooked
- However, "just now" usually goes with Simple Past. But if we insist on perfect tense, Past Perfect fits best when referring to a completed action before a reference point in the past.
- But here, no other past event is mentioned — so Present Perfect might be more natural: *has cooked* — but “just now” typically implies Simple Past.
- But since the instruction says perfect tenses, and “just now” can be interpreted as a moment in the recent past, we go with:

> ✔ has cooked – because it emphasizes the result now (food is ready).
But technically, had cooked would be correct only if there's a later past event.

Wait — let's reconsider:
“Just now” is not a typical marker for perfect tenses. It's better with Simple Past.

But the question asks for perfect tenses, so perhaps it wants Present Perfect.

✔ has cooked → This is acceptable if we're emphasizing that the cooking happened very recently and has relevance now.

> ✔ has cooked

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2. Sita ________ (fall) asleep before nine o’clock.

- "Before nine o'clock" indicates a time in the past.
- The action (falling asleep) happened before a specific time in the past.
- So, we need Past Perfect.

> ✔ had fallen

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3. The train ________ (leave) when we got to the Railway station.

- "When we got" is a past event.
- The train left before this moment.
- So, the leaving happened earlier than "got".
- Use Past Perfect.

> ✔ had left

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4. Sarala did not have any cash because she ________ (lose) her purse.

- The loss of purse caused the lack of cash.
- The losing happened before the present situation ("did not have").
- So, Past Perfect.

> ✔ had lost

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5. I ________ (drink) two cups of milk today.

- "Today" is a period from the past until now.
- The drinking happened at some point during today and is relevant now.
- Use Present Perfect.

> ✔ have drunk

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6. We ________ (live) in this house since 2015.

- "Since 2015" = continuous action from past up to now.
- Use Present Perfect Continuous or Present Perfect.
- Both are possible, but Present Perfect is more common for states like "live".

> ✔ have lived

(Alternatively, have been living is also correct, but have lived is simpler and standard.)

> ✔ have lived

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7. Sam ________ (travel) to Mumbai by the end of this month.

- "By the end of this month" = future time.
- Action will be completed by a future time.
- Use Future Perfect.

> ✔ will have travelled

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8. Ravi ________ (be) here since 8 o’clock.

- "Since 8 o’clock" = ongoing action from past to now.
- Use Present Perfect Continuous or Present Perfect.

> ✔ has been (simple present perfect — state)

Or has been here since 8 o’clock → correct.

> ✔ has been

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9. The rain ________ (stop) before we reach the playground.

- "Before we reach" = future action.
- The stopping will happen before a future event.
- So, use Future Perfect.

> ✔ will have stopped

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10. I ________ (write) a poem today.

- "Today" = ongoing time from past to now.
- Writing may be finished or not — but since it's "today", and likely the action is complete or relevant now.
- Use Present Perfect.

> ✔ have written

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✔ Final Answers:

1. has cooked
2. had fallen
3. had left
4. had lost
5. have drunk
6. have lived
7. will have travelled
8. has been
9. will have stopped
10. have written

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🔍 Explanation Summary:

| Sentence | Tense Used | Reason |
|--------|------------|--------|
| 1 | Present Perfect | Recent action with current relevance |
| 2 | Past Perfect | Action completed before a past time |
| 3 | Past Perfect | Train left before arrival (past event) |
| 4 | Past Perfect | Loss happened before lack of cash |
| 5 | Present Perfect | Action completed today, relevant now |
| 6 | Present Perfect | Continuous action from 2015 to now |
| 7 | Future Perfect | Will be completed by a future time |
| 8 | Present Perfect | Ongoing state since a past time |
| 9 | Future Perfect | Will be completed before a future event |
| 10 | Present Perfect | Completed action within today |

Let me know if you'd like the answers in a printable format!