Tenses - ESL worksheet by kodora - Free Printable

Here are the correct answers for the grammar exercises. I have filled in the blanks based on the rules for each tense section.

A. Simple Present - Present Continuous
1. are you planning; am thinking
*(We use Present Continuous for plans happening now or around this time.)*
2. catches; is going
*(“Usually” means Simple Present. “Today” implies a temporary change, so we use Present Continuous.)*
3. are you preparing; are having
*(The action is happening right now, and the party is a fixed plan for tonight.)*
4. call
*(“Always” indicates a habit, so we use Simple Present.)*
5. does the play start
*(Timetables and schedules use Simple Present.)*
6. is seeing
*(“At the moment” means the action is happening right now.)*
7. do they visit
*(“How often” asks about frequency/habits, so we use Simple Present.)*

B. Simple Present - Present Continuous - Simple Future
1. won’t leave (or *will not leave*)
*(This is a promise or decision about the future.)*
2. are coming; will get (or *are getting*)
*(“Are coming” is a fixed arrangement. “Will get” is a decision made at the moment of speaking.)*
3. will help; ask
*(“If” clauses usually take Simple Present, and the result takes “will”.)*
4. arrives; will you pick (or *are you picking*)
*(Timetables use Simple Present. The question is about a future action.)*
5. go
*(Time clauses with “before” use Simple Present.)*
6. stay
*(“Rarely” describes a habit, so we use Simple Present.)*
7. won’t be (or *will not be*)
*(Prediction about the future.)*

C. Simple Past - Past Continuous
1. ran; told
*(These are consecutive actions in the past: one happened, then the next.)*
2. was cleaning; fell
*(Long action interrupted by a short action.)*
3. were barking; were trying
*(Two long actions happening at the same time in the past.)*
4. were you doing; were answering
*(Asking about actions in progress at a specific time in the past.)*
5. returned; was sleeping
*(Short action interrupting a long action.)*
6. were you doing; walked
*(Long action interrupted by a short action.)*
7. were playing; was painting
*(Two long actions happening simultaneously.)*
8. were laughing; were watching
*(Two simultaneous actions.)*
9. got; ran
*(Sequence of events: first I got up, then I ran.)*

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Final Answer:
A.
1. are you planning / am thinking
2. catches / is going
3. are you preparing / are having
4. call
5. does the play start
6. is seeing
7. do they visit

B.
1. won’t leave
2. are coming / will get
3. will help / ask
4. arrives / will you pick
5. go
6. stay
7. won’t be

C.
1. ran / told
2. was cleaning / fell
3. were barking / were trying
4. were you doing / were answering
5. returned / was sleeping
6. were you doing / walked
7. were playing / was painting
8. were laughing / were watching
9. got / ran