Verb Tenses Exercises - Verb Tenses Worksheet • 7ESL - Free Printable

Let's go through the Verb Tenses Worksheet step by step and solve each section with explanations.

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Section 1: Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentences.

We need to use appropriate verb tenses based on context (past, present, future, perfect, continuous, etc.).

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1. I ________ (write) an email to my friend when the power ________ (go) out.
→ *was writing* / *went*
✔ was writing / went
→ Past continuous for ongoing action interrupted by a past simple event.

2. She ________ (work) at that company for three years now.
→ *has been working*
✔ has been working
→ Present perfect continuous – action started in the past and continues to now.

3. By the time you arrive, I ________ (finish) my homework.
→ *will have finished*
✔ will have finished
→ Future perfect – action completed before another future action.

4. They ________ (live) in Paris for a decade before they ________ (move) to London.
→ *had lived / moved*
✔ had lived / moved
→ Past perfect for action completed before another past action.

5. Right now, she ________ (sit) in the café where they first ________ (meet).
→ *is sitting / met*
✔ is sitting / met
→ Present continuous for current action; simple past for past event.

6. We ________ (see) that movie last night, so we ________ (know) the ending.
→ *saw / know*
✔ saw / know
→ Past simple for completed action; present simple for general truth.

7. He ________ (not/understand) what I ________ (say) because he ________ (not/listen).
→ *didn’t understand / was saying / wasn’t listening*
✔ didn’t understand / was saying / wasn’t listening
→ Past simple for result; past continuous for simultaneous actions.

8. The athletes ________ (train) for the marathon since January.
→ *have been training*
✔ have been training
→ Present perfect continuous – action started in the past and continues.

9. When I ________ (arrive) at the station, the train ________ (already/leave).
→ *arrived / had already left*
✔ arrived / had already left
→ Past simple for main event; past perfect for earlier completed action.

10. She ________ (study) all night and ________ (feel) exhausted in the morning.
→ *had studied / felt*
✔ had studied / felt
→ Past perfect for prior action; past simple for result.

11. I ________ (look) for my keys for the past hour but still ________ (not/find) them.
→ *have been looking / haven’t found*
✔ have been looking / haven’t found
→ Present perfect continuous for ongoing search; present perfect negative.

12. They ________ (be) friends since they ________ (be) children.
→ *have been / were*
✔ have been / were
→ Present perfect continuous for duration from past to now; simple past for childhood.

13. While he ________ (walk) to school, he ________ (find) a lost puppy.
→ *was walking / found*
✔ was walking / found
→ Past continuous for background action; past simple for interruption.

14. The scientist ________ (research) this phenomenon for many years before he ________ (make) a breakthrough.
→ *had been researching / made*
✔ had been researching / made
→ Past perfect continuous for long-term action before a past event.

15. I ________ (never/see) such a beautiful sunset before I ________ (visit) Hawaii.
→ *had never seen / visited*
✔ had never seen / visited
→ Past perfect for experience before a past event.

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Section 2: Choose the correct verb form

Multiple-choice questions with tense selection.

1. She ________ in the library every day.
a) studies
b) is studying
c) study
✔ a) studies
→ Habitual action → Simple present.

2. They ________ to the beach when it started raining.
a) walked
b) were walking
c) walk
✔ b) were walking
→ Interrupted action → Past continuous.

3. I ________ to the new restaurant yet.
a) have
b) have been
c) had been
✔ b) have been
→ "Yet" implies present perfect; "been" needed for experience.

4. We ________ our homework by 8 PM.
a) will finish
b) will have finished
c) finish
✔ b) will have finished
→ Future perfect – completion by a specific time.

5. By this time next week, he ________ all his exams.
a) takes
b) will take
c) took
✔ b) will take
→ Future simple – planned future action.

6. When I was young, I ________ to become an astronaut.
a) wanted
b) have wanted
c) was wanting
✔ a) wanted
→ Past simple for past desire.

7. She ________ as a nurse for five years before she retired.
a) has worked
b) had worked
c) worked
✔ b) had worked
→ Past perfect – action completed before retirement (past event).

8. Every Saturday, he ________ his grandparents.
a) visits
b) is visiting
c) visit
✔ a) visits
→ Habitual action → Simple present.

9. The movie ________ by the time we arrived at the cinema.
a) has started
b) had started
c) will have started
✔ b) had started
→ Past perfect – action completed before arrival.

10. It ________ heavily when I woke up this morning.
a) is raining
b) was raining
c) rains
✔ b) was raining
→ Past continuous – ongoing action at a specific past time.

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Section 3: Error Identification in Verb Tenses

Find and correct the errors.

1. She always go to the gym in the mornings.
✘ "go" → should be goes
✔ She always goes to the gym in the mornings.
→ Subject-verb agreement: “She” needs singular verb.

2. I am understanding everything the teacher explains.
✘ "am understanding" → incorrect for habitual understanding
✔ I understand everything the teacher explains.
→ Use simple present for general ability.

3. They was waiting for us when we arrived.
✘ "was" → should be were
✔ They were waiting for us when we arrived.
→ Plural subject needs plural verb.

4. By next year, I will have graduating from college.
✘ "graduating" → should be graduated
✔ By next year, I will have graduated from college.
→ Future perfect requires past participle.

5. We are having five cats when I was a child.
✘ "are having" → should be had
✔ We had five cats when I was a child.
→ Past time → past simple.

6. He don't like to eat vegetables.
✘ "don't" → should be doesn't
✔ He doesn't like to eat vegetables.
→ Third person singular needs "doesn't".

7. The sun rise in the east every morning.
✘ "rise" → should be rises
✔ The sun rises in the east every morning.
→ Simple present for regular events.

8. When I get home, my dog ran to greet me.
✘ "ran" → should be runs
✔ When I get home, my dog runs to greet me.
→ Conditional or habitual pattern → present simple.

9. She has written a letter when the phone rang.
✘ "has written" → should be was writing
✔ She was writing a letter when the phone rang.
→ Past continuous for ongoing action interrupted.

10. It were raining all day yesterday.
✘ "were" → should be was
✔ It was raining all day yesterday.
→ "It" is singular → "was".

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✔ Final Answers Summary

#### Section 1:
1. was writing / went
2. has been working
3. will have finished
4. had lived / moved
5. is sitting / met
6. saw / know
7. didn’t understand / was saying / wasn’t listening
8. have been training
9. arrived / had already left
10. had studied / felt
11. have been looking / haven’t found
12. have been / were
13. was walking / found
14. had been researching / made
15. had never seen / visited

#### Section 2:
1. a) studies
2. b) were walking
3. b) have been
4. b) will have finished
5. b) will take
6. a) wanted
7. b) had worked
8. a) visits
9. b) had started
10. b) was raining

#### Section 3: Corrections
1. She always goes...
2. I understand...
3. They were waiting...
4. I will have graduated...
5. We had five cats...
6. He doesn't like...
7. The sun rises...
8. my dog runs...
9. She was writing...
10. It was raining...

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This worksheet tests tense accuracy, subject-verb agreement, and logical sequencing of events. Understanding context is key — especially distinguishing between simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous tenses.

Let me know if you'd like a printable version or explanations in simpler terms!