Tenses Exercises

One of the most important topics in English grammar is tenses. It also happens to be one of the confusing topics for many English language learners. To help you practise and understand the usage of tenses in English, this article provides you with a few exercises.

Table of Contents

• Tenses Exercises with Answers
  • Exercise 1 – Identify the type of tenses
  • Exercise 2 – Change the tense
• Frequently Asked Questions on Tenses

Tenses Exercises with Answers

Do you know the best way to ensure that you are able to remember whatever you’ve learnt for a longer period of time? Practice! So here are two exercises with answers for you. Try it out.

Exercise 1 – Identify the type of tenses

Go through the sentences provided below and identify the type of tenses.

1. Damon drinks coffee every morning.
2. The boy got up late and missed the bus.
3. My mother goes to pray in the temple.
4. The team is playing very well.
5. The school will be closed for winter break.
6. Leonard graduated from college last year.
7. The baby has eaten all the chips.
8. Have you read Pride and Prejudice?
9. The train has just left the station.
10. The sick child has been sleeping for three hours.
11. They have known each other for a long time.
12. Sam was going to school.
13. When I went there, Bucky was playing video games.
14. The workers have been working on the building for a long time.
15. Penny had done her homework when her parents came back.
16. Mr Arnold had been writing his last book for four months.
17. I will move to Delhi soon.
18. Mr Samuel will be staying in New York next week.
19. Beverly will have left before you arrive to see her.
20. Mr Peter will have been teaching for twelve years next month.

Answers

1. Simple Present Tense
2. Simple Past Tense
3. Simple Present Tense
4. Present Continuous Tense
5. Simple Future Tense
6. Simple Past Tense
7. Present Perfect Tense
8. Present Perfect Tense
9. Present Perfect Tense
10. Present Perfect Continuous Tense
11. Present Perfect Tense
12. Past Continuous Tense
13. Past Continuous Tense
14. Present Perfect Continuous Tense
15. Past Perfect Tense
16. Past Perfect Continuous Tense
17. Simple Future Tense
18. Future Continuous Tense
19. Future Perfect Tense
20. Future Perfect Continuous Tense

Exercise 2 – Change the tense

Go through the sentences and change their tenses as directed.

1. The boy speaks the truth. (Present Continuous Tense)
2. Mr Cooper has spoken about Dinosaurs. (Present Perfect Continuous Tense)
3. The boat sailed yesterday. (Simple Present Tense)
4. Amy went to school yesterday. ( Future Continuous Tense)
5. The baby cried for hours. (Present Perfect Continuous Tense)
6. Robert ate all the cookies. (Present Perfect Tense)
7. I have finished my assignment. (Past Perfect Tense)
8. Mr Bert had taught for five years. (Past Perfect Continuous Tense).
9. Dev saw the Prime Minister yesterday. (Future Continuous Tense)
10. Priya shall finish her stitching by then. (Future Perfect Tense)

Answers

1. The boy is speaking the truth.
2. Mr Cooper has been speaking about Dinosaurs.
3. The boat sails today.
4. Amy will be going to school tomorrow.
5. The baby has been crying for hours.
6. Robert has eaten all the cookies.
7. I had finished my assignment.
8. Mr Bert had been teaching for five years
9. Dev will be seeing the Prime Minister tomorrow.
10. Priya shall have finished her stitching by then.