Practice of English tenses: simple exercises and living grammar

English tenses are not just grammatical constructions; they are the foundation for speaking freely, understanding others, and not getting confused between “did,” “have been,” and “will.” At first glance, there seem to be too many of them, but the good news is that everything can be understood, especially if you practice.
The tenses are divided into three main groups: present, past, and future. Each of them has four forms: simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous. Yes, it sounds intimidating, but in reality, everything is logical and repetitive in structure.
On this page, you will find a variety of exercises on English tenses — from simple tasks to tests and comparative exercises. Everything comes with answers, examples, and a convenient structure. These exercises will help:

• beginners — understand the basic rules;
• intermediate learners — practice switching between tenses;
• everyone who wants to speak correctly and confidently.

Table of contents

• Exercise 1: Insert the verb in the correct form (mixed tenses)
• Exercise 2: Identify the tense of the verb
• Exercise 3: Choose the correct tense
• Exercise 4: Correct the errors in the tenses
• Exercise 5: Make sentences according to the given pattern

Exercise 1: Insert the verb in the correct form (mixed tenses)

Exercise 1: Insert the verb in the correct form (mixed tenses)
Put the verb in brackets in the correct tense. Pay attention to the context — in each case, a different tense can be used: present, past, or future.
Example: When I ___ (come) home, they ___ (watch) TV. → came, were watching

Exercise 2: Identify the tense of the verb

Read each sentence and indicate the tense in which the verb is used. Pay attention to auxiliary words, endings, and context.
Example: She was watching TV when I came. → Past Continuous

1. I have never been to Italy.
2. He is playing the guitar right now.
3. We will go to the concert next Friday.
4. They had finished dinner before we arrived.
5. She writes articles for a magazine.
6. I was sleeping when the alarm rang.
7. We are going to travel this summer.
8. He has been working all day.
9. Did you see that movie last night?
10. She will have finished the report by Monday.
11. I read books every evening.
12. The children were making a snowman.
13. He will be waiting for us at the station.
14. Have you done your homework yet?
15. They were tired because they had been running.

✅ You will find the answers to all the tasks at the end of the page:

Exercise 3: Choose the correct tense

Choose the correct form of the verb in context. Pay attention to time markers: now, yesterday, for a long time, by the time, etc.

Exercise 4: Correct the errors in the tenses

There is one error in the use of English tenses in each sentence. Find it and rewrite the sentence correctly.
Example: She working now. → She is working now.

1. I have saw this movie already.
2. He go to school every day.
3. They was playing football yesterday at 5.
4. We will goes shopping tomorrow.
5. She didn’t saw him at the station.
6. I am living in this city since 2012.
7. What you did last weekend?
8. They don’t went to the party.
9. She has read that book yesterday.
10. I was cook dinner when she arrived.
11. He will waiting for us at 6 p.m.
12. My parents have visited me last month.
13. I didn’t ate anything today.
14. She always is late for work.
15. They are knowing the answer.

✅ You will find the answers to all the tasks at the end of the page:

Exercise 5: Make sentences according to the given pattern

For each case:
Form an affirmative sentence.
Form an interrogative sentence.
Form a negative sentence.
Example:
Verb: to work
Tense: Present Simple
Situation: He works in an office.
→ He works in an office.
→ Does he work in an office?
→ He doesn’t work in an office.

1. to play — Past Simple — the children played football
2. to eat — Present Continuous — I am eating breakfast
3. to go — Future Simple — we will go to the sea
4. to sleep — Past Continuous — she was sleeping when you called
5. to be — Present Perfect — they were already at home
6. to write — Future Perfect — he will have written the report by morning
7. to watch — Present Simple — he watches TV series
8. to rain — Past Perfect — it was already raining when we went out
9. to travel — Present Perfect Continuous — I have been traveling all month
10. to study — Future Continuous — she will be studying in the evening
11. to drive — Present Continuous — Dad is driving the car
12. to finish — Past Simple — they finished work
13. to call — Future Simple — Will you call me tomorrow?
14. to live — Present Perfect — We have been living here since 2010
15. to read — Past Continuous — I was reading when you came in

✅ You will find the answers to all the tasks at the end of the page:

Answers

Exercise 1

1. wake up
2. didn’t go
3. were playing
4. will you be doing
5. has never seen
6. were having
7. will be
8. doesn’t like
9. was reading, was cooking
10. have lived
11. has been studying
12. will call, arrive
13. takes
14. haven’t finished
15. will have left

Exercise 2

1. Present Perfect
2. Present Continuous
3. Future Simple
4. Past Perfect
5. Present Simple
6. Past Continuous
7. “Going to” Future
8. Present Perfect Continuous
9. Past Simple
10. Future Perfect
11. Present Simple
12. Past Continuous
13. Future Continuous
14. Present Perfect
15. Past Perfect Continuous

Exercise 3

1. have lost
2. was sleeping
3. are starting
4. went
5. has been learning
6. is sitting
7. will have left
8. cooked
9. drink
10. was walking
11. have / been
12. will rain
13. is reading
14. haven’t seen
15. has worked

Exercise 4

1. I have seen this movie already.
2. He goes to school every day.
3. They were playing football yesterday at 5.
4. We will go shopping tomorrow.
5. She didn’t see him at the station.
6. I have lived in this city since 2012.
7. What did you do last weekend?
8. They didn’t go to the party.
9. She read that book yesterday.
10. I was cooking dinner when she arrived.
11. He will be waiting for us at 6 p.m.
12. My parents visited me last month.
13. I didn’t eat anything today.
14. She is always late for work.
15. They know the answer.

Exercise 5

1.The children played football.
→ Did the children play football?
→ The children didn’t play football.
2.I am eating breakfast.
→ Am I eating breakfast?
→ I am not eating breakfast.
3.We will go to the sea.
→ Will we go to the sea?
→ We won’t go to the sea.
4.She was sleeping when you called.
→ Was she sleeping when you called?
→ She wasn’t sleeping when you called.
5.They have been home already.
→ Have they been home already?
→ They haven’t been home already.
6.He will have written the report by morning.
→ Will he have written the report by morning?
→ He won’t have written the report by morning.
7.He watches series.
→ Does he watch series?
→ He doesn’t watch series.
8.It had rained when we went out.
→ Had it rained when we went out?
→ It hadn’t rained when we went out.
9.I have been traveling all month.
→ Have I been traveling all month?
→ I haven’t been traveling all month.
10.She will be studying in the evening.
→ Will she be studying in the evening?
→ She won’t be studying in the evening.
11.Dad is driving.
→ Is Dad driving?
→ Dad isn’t driving.
12.They finished the work.
→ Did they finish the work?
→ They didn’t finish the work.
13.Will you call me tomorrow?
→ Will you call me tomorrow?
→ You won’t call me tomorrow.
14.We have lived here since 2010.
→ Have we lived here since 2010?
→ We haven’t lived here since 2010.
15.I was reading when you came in.
→ Was I reading when you came in?
→ I wasn’t reading when you came in.