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Practice of English tenses: simple exercises and living grammar

12.06.2025
3 minutes to read
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)
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 1: Insert the verb in the correct form (mixed tenses)

Answer the questions by selecting the correct option.
Exercise 1
Take the quiz
I usually ___ (wake up) at 7 a.m.
Right!
Incorrect
Next
Check
Show results
She ___ (not go) to the party yesterday.
Right!
Incorrect
Next
Check
Show results
They ___ (play) football when it started to rain.
Right!
Incorrect
Next
Check
Show results
What ___ you ___ (do) tomorrow at 3 p.m.?
Right!
Incorrect
Next
Check
Show results
He ___ (never / see) snow before.
Right!
Incorrect
Next
Check
Show results
We ___ (have) dinner when the phone rang.
Right!
Incorrect
Next
Check
Show results
I think she ___ (be) late again.
Right!
Incorrect
Next
Check
Show results
My brother ___ (not like) spicy food.
Right!
Incorrect
Next
Check
Show results
While I ___ (read), my friend ___ (cook).
Right!
Incorrect
Next
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Show results
We ___ (live) in this city since 2015.
Right!
Incorrect
Next
Check
Show results
She ___ (study) English for three years.
Incorrect
Right!
Next
Check
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I ___ (call) you as soon as I ___ (arrive).
Incorrect
Right!
Next
Check
Show results
He usually ___ (take) the bus to school.
Incorrect
Right!
Next
Check
Show results
They ___ (not finish) the project yet.
Incorrect
Right!
Next
Check
Show results
By the time you arrive, we ___ (leave).
Incorrect
Right!
Next
Check
Show results
Excellent command of English tenses
You are confident in your knowledge of the main tenses in English and use them correctly in speech.
Restart
Basic knowledge, but there are gaps
You are familiar with tenses, but sometimes confuse their forms or rules of usage.
Restart
Needs to review the material
You still find it difficult to use English tenses in practice.
Restart

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.
Answer the questions by selecting the correct option.
Exercise 3
Take the quiz
I ___ my keys! I can’t find them.
Incorrect
Incorrect
Right!
Next
Check
Show results
She ___ when I called her.
Right!
Incorrect
Incorrect
Next
Check
Show results
They ___ a new project right now.
Incorrect
Incorrect
Right!
Next
Check
Show results
We ___ to the zoo last weekend.
Incorrect
Right!
Incorrect
Next
Check
Show results
He ___ English for two years.
Incorrect
Right!
Incorrect
Next
Check
Show results
Look! The cat ___ on the table!
Incorrect
Right!
Incorrect
Next
Check
Show results
By 10 p.m., they ___ the party.
Incorrect
Incorrect
Right!
Next
Check
Show results
While I ___ dinner, she was watching TV.
Right!
Incorrect
Incorrect
Next
Check
Show results
We usually ___ coffee in the morning.
Incorrect
Right!
Incorrect
Next
Check
Show results
He ___ home when it started to rain.
Right!
Incorrect
Incorrect
Next
Check
Show results
They ___ never ___ to Spain.
Right!
Incorrect
Incorrect
Next
Check
Show results
I think it ___ tomorrow.
Incorrect
Right!
Incorrect
Next
Check
Show results
She ___ a book at the moment.
Incorrect
Incorrect
Right!
Next
Check
Show results
We ___ this film yet.
Incorrect
Right!
Incorrect
Next
Check
Show results
He ___ for this company since 2010.
Incorrect
Incorrect
Right!
Next
Check
Show results
Excellent command of English tenses
You are confident in your knowledge of the main tenses in English and use them correctly in speech.
Restart
Basic knowledge, but there are gaps
You are familiar with tenses, but sometimes confuse their forms or rules of usage.
Restart
Needs to review the material
You still find it difficult to use English tenses in practice.
Restart

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
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