Ever wondered how to perfectly express when something happens in English? English tenses are like a time compass that helps us navigate through past, present, and future. Let’s master each tense with clear definitions, examples, and practical usage.
Tense is a way to show when something happens in a sentence – whether it’s happening now, happened before, or will happen later. It’s like a time stamp for verbs that tells you if an action is in the past, present, or future.
Tense is a grammatical tool that helps us understand the timing of an action by changing the form of a verb. It helps us know if someone is doing something right now (present), did something earlier (past), or will do something later (future).
Examples:
- Present Tense: “I walk” (happening now)
- Past Tense: “I walked” (happened before)
- Future Tense: “I will walk” (going to happen)
| Tense Group | Tense Type | Structure | Example | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Tenses | Simple Present | Subject + base verb | I walk | Habitual actions, general truths |
| Simple Past | Subject + past tense verb | I walked | Completed actions in the past | |
| Simple Future | Subject + will + base verb | I will walk | Planned future actions | |
| Continuous Tenses | Present Continuous | Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing | I am walking | Actions happening right now |
| Past Continuous | Subject + was/were + verb-ing | I was walking | Ongoing actions in the past | |
| Future Continuous | Subject + will be + verb-ing | I will be walking | Ongoing actions in the future | |
| Perfect Tenses | Present Perfect | Subject + have/has + past participle | I have walked | Actions completed in recent past |
| Past Perfect | Subject + had + past participle | I had walked | Actions completed before another past action | |
| Future Perfect | Subject + will have + past participle | I will have walked | Actions that will be completed by a future time | |
| Perfect Continuous Tenses | Present Perfect Continuous | Subject + have/has been + verb-ing | I have been walking | Ongoing actions that started in the past and continue |
| Past Perfect Continuous | Subject + had been + verb-ing | I had been walking | Ongoing actions before another past action | |
| Future Perfect Continuous | Subject + will have been + verb-ing | I will have been walking | Ongoing actions that will continue until a future point |
Present Tense Forms
1. Simple Present
Definition: Expresses habits, routines, facts, or general truths that are always or usually true.
| Structure | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formula | Subject + V1/V1+s | Subject + don’t/doesn’t + V1 | Do/Does + Subject + V1 |
| Example | He plays football. | He doesn’t play football. | Does he play football? |
Usage Examples:
- Facts: Water freezes at 0°C.
- Habits: She walks to work every day.
- Schedules: The train leaves at 9 AM.
2. Present Continuous
Definition: Describes actions happening right now or temporary situations that are ongoing.
| Structure | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formula | Subject + am/is/are + V1+ing | Subject + am/is/are + not + V1+ing | Am/Is/Are + Subject + V1+ing? |
| Example | She is studying now. | She is not studying now. | Is she studying now? |
Usage Examples:
- Current actions: I am writing an email.
- Temporary situations: They are living in Paris this year.
- Future arrangements: We are meeting tomorrow.
3. Present Perfect
Definition: Shows completed actions with present relevance or continuing situations from past to present.
| Structure | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formula | Subject + have/has + V3 | Subject + have/has + not + V3 | Have/Has + Subject + V3? |
| Example | I have finished work. | I haven’t finished work. | Have you finished work? |
Usage Examples:
- Completed actions: She has visited Paris three times.
- Continuing situations: I have lived here for ten years.
- Recent past: They have just arrived.
4. Present Perfect Continuous
Definition: Describes actions that started in the past and continue until now, emphasizing duration.
| Structure | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formula | Subject + have/has been + V1+ing | Subject + have/has not been + V1+ing | Have/Has + Subject + been + V1+ing? |
| Example | I have been working for hours. | I haven’t been working long. | Have you been working long? |
Usage Examples:
- Ongoing actions: We have been waiting since 2 PM.
- Recent continuous: It has been raining all day.
- Explaining present results: I’m tired because I have been running.
Past Tense Forms
1. Simple Past
Definition: Describes completed actions or states in the past with a specific time reference.
| Structure | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formula | Subject + V2 | Subject + didn’t + V1 | Did + Subject + V1? |
| Example | She walked home. | She didn’t walk home. | Did she walk home? |
Usage Examples:
- Completed actions: I visited London last year.
- Past states: He lived in Paris for five years.
- Sequential actions: She went to the store and bought groceries.
2. Past Continuous
Definition: Shows actions in progress at a specific time in the past or actions interrupted by another event.
| Structure | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formula | Subject + was/were + V1+ing | Subject + was/were not + V1+ing | Was/Were + Subject + V1+ing? |
| Example | I was sleeping when you called. | I wasn’t sleeping then. | Were you sleeping? |
Usage Examples:
- Past ongoing actions: They were playing tennis at 3 PM.
- Interrupted actions: I was cooking when the power went out.
- Parallel past actions: While he was reading, she was painting.
3. Past Perfect
Definition: Expresses actions completed before another point in the past.
| Structure | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formula | Subject + had + V3 | Subject + had not + V3 | Had + Subject + V3? |
| Example | I had finished before noon. | I hadn’t finished then. | Had you finished? |
Usage Examples:
- Earlier past actions: When I arrived, they had already left.
- Unfulfilled wishes: If I had studied, I would have passed.
- Reported speech: She said she had seen the movie.
4. Past Perfect Continuous
Definition: Shows actions that continued up until another point in the past, emphasizing duration.
| Structure | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formula | Subject + had been + V1+ing | Subject + had not been + V1+ing | Had + Subject + been + V1+ing? |
| Example | We had been talking for hours. | We hadn’t been talking long. | Had you been talking? |
Usage Examples:
- Duration before past: I had been working for six hours when she called.
- Explaining past results: I was tired because I had been running.
- Past ongoing actions: They had been living there before the war.
Future Tense Forms
1. Simple Future (Will)
Definition: Expresses predictions, spontaneous decisions, or promises about the future.
| Structure | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formula | Subject + will + V1 | Subject + will not + V1 | Will + Subject + V1? |
| Example | I will help you. | I won’t help you. | Will you help me? |
Usage Examples:
- Predictions: It will rain tomorrow.
- Promises: I will call you tonight.
- Spontaneous decisions: I will take this one.
2. Future Continuous
Definition: Describes actions that will be in progress at a specific time in the future.
| Structure | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formula | Subject + will be + V1+ing | Subject + will not be + V1+ing | Will + Subject + be + V1+ing? |
| Example | I will be working at 8 PM. | I won’t be working then. | Will you be working? |
Usage Examples:
- Future ongoing actions: This time tomorrow, I will be flying to Paris.
- Polite enquiries: Will you be using the car later?
- Predicted ongoing actions: He will be studying when you arrive.
3. Future Perfect
Definition: Shows actions that will be completed before a specific point in the future.
| Structure | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formula | Subject + will have + V3 | Subject + will not have + V3 | Will + Subject + have + V3? |
| Example | I will have finished by 5 PM. | I won’t have finished by then. | Will you have finished? |
Usage Examples:
- Completed future: By next week, I will have completed the project.
- Future before future: Before you wake up, I will have left.
- Duration until future: By December, I will have worked here for ten years.
4. Future Perfect Continuous
Definition: Describes actions that will continue up until a specific point in the future, emphasizing duration.
| Structure | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formula | Subject + will have been + V1+ing | Subject + will not have been + V1+ing | Will + Subject + have been + V1+ing? |
| Example | I will have been working for 10 hours. | I won’t have been working that long. | Will you have been working? |
Usage Examples:
- Duration until future: By June, I will have been teaching for 20 years.
- Ongoing future actions: Next week, we will have been living here for a month.
- Future continuous duration: By midnight, it will have been snowing for 24 hours.
Going to’ Future and Special Cases
1. ‘Going to’ Future
Definition: Expresses planned future actions or predictions based on present evidence.
| Structure | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formula | Subject + am/is/are going to + V1 | Subject + am/is/are not going to + V1 | Am/Is/Are + Subject + going to + V1? |
| Example | I am going to study tonight. | I’m not going to study. | Are you going to study? |
Usage Examples:
- Future plans: We are going to buy a house.
- Evidence-based predictions: Look at those clouds! It is going to rain.
- Intentions: I am going to learn Japanese next year.
Special Tense Cases
1. Future in the Past
Definition: Describes future events from a past perspective.
| Structure | Example | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| was/were going to + V1 | I was going to call you. | Changed or abandoned plans |
| would + V1 | She would become famous. | Past predictions |
2. Mixed Time References
| Type | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Zero Conditional | If ice melts, it becomes water. | Universal truths |
| First Conditional | If it rains, I will stay home. | Possible future |
| Second Conditional | If I had money, I would travel. | Hypothetical present |
| Third Conditional | If I had studied, I would have passed. | Impossible past |
Time Markers for Different Tenses
| Tense | Common Time Markers |
|---|---|
| Present Simple | always, usually, often, every day |
| Present Continuous | now, at the moment, currently |
| Present Perfect | just, already, yet, ever, never |
| Past Simple | yesterday, last week, ago, in 2020 |
| Future Simple | tomorrow, next week, in the future |
Common Irregular Verbs Table
| Base Form | Past Simple | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|
| be | was/were | been |
| do | did | done |
| go | went | gone |
| have | had | had |
| say | said | said |
| see | saw | seen |
| take | took | taken |
| write | wrote | written |
Practice Exercises and Common Mistakes
General Tense Practice
- Mixed Tense Exercise Complete with correct tense forms:
| Sentence Start | Correct Form | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| I _____ (wait) here since morning. | have been waiting | Present Perfect Continuous for ongoing action |
| By next month, she _____ (work) here for 10 years. | will have been working | Future Perfect Continuous for duration |
| When I arrived, the movie _____ (already/start). | had already started | Past Perfect for earlier past action |
- Time Clause Exercise
| Base Sentence | Correct Form | Rule Applied |
|---|---|---|
| When I _____ (get) home, I _____ (call) you. | get, will call | Simple Present with Future |
| While she _____ (cook), he _____ (clean). | was cooking, was cleaning | Past Continuous for parallel actions |
| After I _____ (finish), I _____ (help) you. | have finished, will help | Present Perfect with Future |
Common Mistakes and Corrections
1. Present Perfect vs Simple Past
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| I have gone there yesterday. | I went there yesterday. | Specific past time needs Simple Past |
| I already went there. | I have already gone there. | ‘Already’ typically uses Present Perfect |
| I never saw that movie. | I have never seen that movie. | ‘Never’ with present relevance uses Present Perfect |
2. Continuous vs Simple Forms
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| I am knowing the answer. | I know the answer. | State verbs don’t use continuous |
| I see her tomorrow. | I am seeing her tomorrow. | Arranged future needs Present Continuous |
| He is having a car. | He has a car. | Possession uses Simple Present |
Advanced Usage and Special Cases
1. State Verbs Special Rules
| Verb Type | Simple Form | Continuous Form | Meaning Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| think | I think he’s right. (believe) | I’m thinking about it. (considering) | Mental process |
| have | I have a car. (possess) | I’m having lunch. (doing/experiencing) | Action vs. possession |
| look | She looks happy. (appears) | She’s looking at me. (action of seeing) | State vs. action |
| be | She is kind. (permanent) | She’s being kind. (temporary behavior) | Character vs. behavior |
2. Modal Verbs with Different Tenses
| Time | Structure | Example | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | modal + V1 | You should study. | Current advice |
| Past | modal + have + V3 | You should have studied. | Past advice |
| Future | modal + be + V-ing | You must be leaving soon. | Future probability |
3. Passive Voice in Different Tenses
| Tense | Active | Passive | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | They build houses. | Houses are built. | am/is/are + V3 |
| Present Perfect | They have built houses. | Houses have been built. | have/has been + V3 |
| Future | They will build houses. | Houses will be built. | will be + V3 |
4. Conditional Mixed Tenses
| Type | If Clause | Main Clause | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed 1 | If + Present Perfect | Future Simple | Past affecting future |
| Mixed 2 | If + Past Perfect | Would + Present | Past affecting present |
| Mixed 3 | If + Past Perfect | Would + Perfect | Complete hypothetical |
Example Table:
| Conditional | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed 1 | If you have finished work, we will go out. | Past completion affecting future |
| Mixed 2 | If you had told me earlier, I would know now. | Past affecting present knowledge |
| Mixed 3 | If I had studied, I would have passed. | Complete past hypothetical |
Advanced Concepts and Special Applications
1. Perfect Modals in Different Contexts
| Modal Type | Past Form | Example | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Possibility | might/may have + V3 | He might have missed the train. | Past uncertainty |
| Necessity | must have + V3 | She must have left early. | Past logical conclusion |
| Obligation | should have + V3 | You should have called. | Past unfulfilled duty |
| Ability | could have + V3 | I could have won. | Past unrealized ability |
2. Time Clauses with Future Reference
| Time Word | Present Tense | Future Reference | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| when | When I see her | I will tell her | Present for future |
| before | Before she leaves | I will finish | Present with future |
| after | After he has arrived | We will eat | Present Perfect with future |
| until | Until it stops | I will wait | Present for future |
3. Reported Speech Tense Changes
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech | Tense Change |
|---|---|---|
| “I am working” | He said he was working | Present Continuous → Past Continuous |
| “I have finished” | She said she had finished | Present Perfect → Past Perfect |
| “I will help” | They said they would help | Will → Would |
| “I can do it” | He said he could do it | Can → Could |
4. Sequence of Tenses
| First Action | Second Action | Example | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Past Simple | Past Perfect | When I arrived, she had left | Earlier action in Past Perfect |
| Present Perfect | Present | Since he has arrived, he is happy | Current result of past action |
| Future Perfect | Future Simple | By the time you arrive, I will have finished | Completed future before another |
Practical Applications and Complex Usage
1. Narrative Tenses
| Tense Combination | Example | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Past Simple + Past Continuous | I was reading when she called | Background + Main event |
| Past Perfect + Past Simple | After I had eaten, I went to bed | Sequential events |
| Past Continuous + Past Continuous | While I was cooking, she was studying | Parallel actions |
2. Academic Writing Tenses
| Context | Tense | Example | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Literature Review | Present Perfect | Studies have shown that… | Previous research |
| Methodology | Past Simple | The experiment was conducted… | Completed procedures |
| Results | Present Simple | The data indicates that… | Current findings |
| Discussion | Present Perfect/Simple | This study has demonstrated/shows… | Conclusions |
3. Business English Tenses
| Situation | Tense | Example | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emails | Present Perfect | I have attached the report. | Completed actions |
| Meetings | Present Continuous | We are discussing the budget. | Current process |
| Presentations | Going to | We are going to launch next month. | Planned future |
| Negotiations | Would/Could | We would be interested in… | Polite suggestions |
4. Common Expressions with Fixed Tenses
| Expression | Fixed Tense | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Used to | Past Simple | I used to play tennis. | Past habits |
| Would rather | Past/Present | I would rather stay home. | Preferences |
| It’s time | Past Simple | It’s time we left. | Present/Future meaning |
| Wish | Past/Past Perfect | I wish I knew/had known. | Present/Past regrets |
Comprehensive Tense Practice Exercises
( Check the answer below)
Exercise Set 1: Present Tenses
Fill in the blanks with the correct present tense form:
- Sarah _____ (work) at the hospital now.
- They _____ (live) in Paris since 2010.
- I _____ (study) English for six months.
- He usually _____ (take) the bus to work.
- The Earth _____ (revolve) around the Sun.
- We _____ (wait) here for two hours.
- She _____ (cook) dinner every Sunday.
- John _____ (read) this book for a week.
- The baby _____ (sleep) right now.
- They _____ (play) tennis every weekend.
- I _____ (work) on this project since Monday.
- The sun _____ (rise) in the east.
- She _____ (teach) at this school for ten years.
- The children _____ (play) in the garden now.
- He _____ (not/smoke) anymore.
- We _____ (discuss) this issue since morning.
- The train always _____ (leave) on time.
- I _____ (think) about changing my job.
- They _____ (build) a new house currently.
- Mary _____ (practice) piano for three hours.
Exercise Set 2: Past Tenses
Complete with appropriate past tense forms:
- When I arrived, she _____ (already/leave).
- I _____ (study) when you called.
- They _____ (live) here before they moved.
- He _____ (work) all day when I saw him.
- We _____ (wait) for an hour when she came.
Exercise Set 3: Future Tenses
Complete with appropriate future tense forms:
- By next week, I _____ (finish) this project.
- This time tomorrow, we _____ (fly) to Paris.
- He _____ (work) here for ten years by June.
- I _____ (meet) her at 6 PM tomorrow.
- They _____ (arrive) by the time we get there.
- She _____ (study) medicine next year.
- We _____ (live) here for twenty years by 2025.
- The train _____ (leave) at 9 AM tomorrow.
- I _____ (complete) the task before you return.
- They _____ (wait) when you arrive.
Exercise Set 4: Mixed Tenses
Choose the correct tense:
- By the time you get there, I _____ (leave).
- If I _____ (know) earlier, I would have told you.
- She _____ (work) here since she graduated.
- While he _____ (cook), I cleaned the house.
- I _____ (never/see) such a beautiful sunset before.
- When the phone rang, I _____ (take) a shower.
- After she _____ (finish), she went home.
- He _____ (live) here for ten years now.
- I _____ (study) when the earthquake happened.
- They _____ (already/eat) when we arrived.
Exercise Set 5: Special Cases
Fill in the blanks with appropriate tenses:
- I wish I _____ (be) taller.
- If only he _____ (tell) me earlier.
- It’s time we _____ (go) home.
- You’d better _____ (start) working.
- Would you rather _____ (stay) or go?
Exercise Set 6: Mixed Complex Tenses
Complete the sentences with appropriate tenses:
- By the time the police arrived, the thieves _____ (disappear).
- I _____ (work) on this novel for the past three months.
- She _____ (teach) at this school since before I _____ (be) born.
- After we _____ (finish) dinner, we _____ (go) for a walk.
- They _____ (travel) around Europe before they _____ (settle) here.
- While I _____ (shop), I _____ (meet) an old friend.
- He _____ (not/sleep) well since he _____ (start) his new job.
- We _____ (live) here by the time the new mall _____ (open).
- The movie _____ (already/begin) when we _____ (reach) the theater.
- She _____ (study) English before she _____ (move) to London.
Exercise Set 7: Passive Voice Tenses
Transform these sentences into passive voice with correct tenses:
- They build this bridge in 1990. (Past Simple)
- Someone has stolen my wallet. (Present Perfect)
- They are repairing my car. (Present Continuous)
- They will announce the results tomorrow. (Future Simple)
- They had completed the project before the deadline. (Past Perfect)
Exercise Set 8: Conditional Tenses
Complete these conditional sentences:
- If I _____ (have) time, I _____ (help) you yesterday.
- Unless it _____ (rain), we _____ (go) to the beach tomorrow.
- If she _____ (study) harder, she _____ (pass) the exam last week.
- If I _____ (be) you, I _____ (take) the job.
- Had I known earlier, I _____ (come) to help.
Exercise Set 9: Reported Speech Tenses
Change to reported speech with correct tense changes:
- “I am studying.” → He said that…
- “I have finished my work.” → She told me…
- “We will visit Paris.” → They said…
- “I can help you.” → He promised…
- “I have been waiting.” → She mentioned…
Exercise Set 10: Perfect Modal Tenses
Complete with perfect modal forms:
- She _____ (must + work) late last night; her car was there.
- They _____ (could + win) if they tried harder.
- He _____ (should + tell) me about the meeting.
- You _____ (might + lose) your way in the dark.
- We _____ (would + finish) earlier with more help.
Exercise Set 11: Advanced Mixed Tenses
Fill in with appropriate tenses:
- No sooner _____ (I/arrive) than it _____ (start) raining.
- Hardly _____ (she/leave) when the guest _____ (arrive).
- By next month, I _____ (work) here for 20 years.
- Not only _____ (he/lose) his job, but also _____ (he/break) his leg.
- Scarcely _____ (we/begin) when the power _____ (go) out.
Exercise Set 12: Time Clauses
Complete with correct time-related tenses:
- Before she _____ (arrive), we _____ (clean) the house.
- After they _____ (eat), they _____ (watch) a movie.
- As soon as he _____ (come), we _____ (leave).
- Until she _____ (return), we _____ (wait) here.
- The moment _____ (she/walk) in, everyone _____ (start) clapping.
Exercise Set 13: States vs. Actions Tenses
Complete with appropriate tenses based on state or action:
- I _____ (think) she’s right. (state of belief)
- I _____ (think) about the problem. (action of considering)
- He _____ (have) a new car. (possession)
- We _____ (have) lunch now. (action)
- She _____ (look) tired today. (state/appearance)
Exercise Set 14: Future Time Clauses
Use correct tense combinations:
- When she _____ (arrive), we _____ (go) to dinner.
- Before the sun _____ (set), we _____ (reach) the top.
- After I _____ (finish) work, I _____ (call) you.
- As soon as he _____ (get) here, we _____ (leave).
- Until it _____ (stop) raining, we _____ (stay) inside.
Exercise Set 15: Final Mixed Practice
Complete with any appropriate tense:
- By the time you read this, I _____ (already/leave).
- I _____ (never/be) to Paris before last summer.
- She _____ (work) here since she _____ (graduate).
- While he _____ (cook), the phone _____ (ring).
- Tomorrow at this time, I _____ (sit) on the beach.
Answer
Exercise Set 1: Present Tenses
| Question Number | Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sarah _____ (work) at the hospital now. | Sarah is working at the hospital now. |
| 2 | They _____ (live) in Paris since 2010. | They have lived in Paris since 2010. |
| 3 | I _____ (study) English for six months. | I have been studying English for six months. |
| 4 | He usually _____ (take) the bus to work. | He usually takes the bus to work. |
| 5 | The Earth _____ (revolve) around the Sun. | The Earth revolves around the Sun. |
| 6 | We _____ (wait) here for two hours. | We have been waiting here for two hours. |
| 7 | She _____ (cook) dinner every Sunday. | She cooks dinner every Sunday. |
| 8 | John _____ (read) this book for a week. | John has been reading this book for a week. |
| 9 | The baby _____ (sleep) right now. | The baby is sleeping right now. |
| 10 | They _____ (play) tennis every weekend. | They play tennis every weekend. |
| 11 | I _____ (work) on this project since Monday. | I have been working on this project since Monday. |
| 12 | The sun _____ (rise) in the east. | The sun rises in the east. |
| 13 | She _____ (teach) at this school for ten years. | She has been teaching at this school for ten years. |
| 14 | The children _____ (play) in the garden now. | The children are playing in the garden now. |
| 15 | He _____ (not/smoke) anymore. | He does not smoke anymore. |
Exercise Set 2: Past Tenses
| Question Number | Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | When I arrived, she _____ (already/leave). | When I arrived, she had already left. |
| 2 | I _____ (study) when you called. | I was studying when you called. |
| 3 | They _____ (live) here before they moved. | They had lived here before they moved. |
| 4 | He _____ (work) all day when I saw him. | He had been working all day when I saw him. |
| 5 | We _____ (wait) for an hour when she came. | We had been waiting for an hour when she came. |
Exercise Set 3: Future Tenses
| Question Number | Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | By next week, I _____ (finish) this project. | By next week, I will have finished this project. |
| 2 | This time tomorrow, we _____ (fly) to Paris. | This time tomorrow, we will be flying to Paris. |
| 3 | He _____ (work) here for ten years by June. | He will have worked here for ten years by June. |
| 4 | I _____ (meet) her at 6 PM tomorrow. | I will meet her at 6 PM tomorrow. |
| 5 | They _____ (arrive) by the time we get there. | They will have arrived by the time we get there. |
Exercise Set 4: Mixed Tenses
| Question Number | Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | By the time you get there, I _____ (leave). | By the time you get there, I will have left. |
| 2 | If I _____ (know) earlier, I would have told you. | If I had known earlier, I would have told you. |
| 3 | She _____ (work) here since she graduated. | She has been working here since she graduated. |
| 4 | While he _____ (cook), I cleaned the house. | While he was cooking, I cleaned the house. |
| 5 | I _____ (never/see) such a beautiful sunset before. | I had never seen such a beautiful sunset before. |
| 6 | When the phone rang, I _____ (take) a shower. | When the phone rang, I was taking a shower. |
| 7 | After she _____ (finish), she went home. | After she had finished, she went home. |
| 8 | He _____ (live) here for ten years now. | He has lived here for ten years now. |
| 9 | I _____ (study) when the earthquake happened. | I was studying when the earthquake happened. |
| 10 | They _____ (already/eat) when we arrived. | They had already eaten when we arrived. |
Exercise Set 5: Special Cases
| Question Number | Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | I wish I _____ (be) taller. | I wish I were taller. |
| 2 | If only he _____ (tell) me earlier. | If only he had told me earlier. |
| 3 | It’s time we _____ (go) home. | It’s time we went home. |
| 4 | You’d better _____ (start) working. | You’d better start working. |
| 5 | Would you rather _____ (stay) or go? | Would you rather stay or go? |
Exercise Set 6: Mixed Complex Tenses
| Question Number | Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | By the time the police arrived, the thieves _____ (disappear). | By the time the police arrived, the thieves had disappeared. |
| 2 | I _____ (work) on this novel for the past three months. | I have been working on this novel for the past three months. |
| 3 | She _____ (teach) at this school since before I _____ (be) born. | She has been teaching at this school since before I was born. |
| 4 | After we _____ (finish) dinner, we _____ (go) for a walk. | After we had finished dinner, we went for a walk. |
| 5 | They _____ (travel) around Europe before they _____ (settle) here. | They had traveled around Europe before they settled here. |
| 6 | While I _____ (shop), I _____ (meet) an old friend. | While I was shopping, I met an old friend. |
| 7 | He _____ (not/sleep) well since he _____ (start) his new job. | He has not slept well since he started his new job. |
| 8 | We _____ (live) here by the time the new mall _____ (open). | We will have lived here by the time the new mall opens. |
| 9 | The movie _____ (already/begin) when we _____ (reach) the theater. | The movie had already begun when we reached the theater. |
| 10 | She _____ (study) English before she _____ (move) to London. | She had studied English before she moved to London. |
All 16 Tenses in English Grammar
Exercise Set 7: Passive Voice Tenses
| Question Number | Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | They build this bridge in 1990. (Past Simple) | This bridge was built in 1990. |
| 2 | Someone has stolen my wallet. (Present Perfect) | My wallet has been stolen. |
| 3 | They are repairing my car. (Present Continuous) | My car is being repaired. |
| 4 | They will announce the results tomorrow. (Future Simple) | The results will be announced tomorrow. |
| 5 | They had completed the project before the deadline. (Past Perfect) | The project had been completed before the deadline. |
Exercise Set 8: Conditional Tenses
| Question Number | Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | If I _____ (have) time, I _____ (help) you yesterday. | If I had had time, I would have helped you yesterday. |
| 2 | Unless it _____ (rain), we _____ (go) to the beach tomorrow. | Unless it rains, we will go to the beach tomorrow. |
| 3 | If she _____ (study) harder, she _____ (pass) the exam last week. | If she had studied harder, she would have passed the exam last week. |
| 4 | If I _____ (be) you, I _____ (take) the job. | If I were you, I would take the job. |
| 5 | Had I known earlier, I _____ (come) to help. | Had I known earlier, I would have come to help. |
Exercise Set 9: Reported Speech Tenses
| Question Number | Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | “I am studying.” → He said that… | He said that he was studying. |
| 2 | “I have finished my work.” → She told me… | She told me that she had finished her work. |
| 3 | “We will visit Paris.” → They said… | They said that they would visit Paris. |
| 4 | “I can help you.” → He promised… | He promised that he could help me. |
| 5 | “I have been waiting.” → She mentioned… | She mentioned that she had been waiting. |
Exercise Set 10: Perfect Modal Tenses
| Question Number | Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | She _____ (must + work) late last night; her car was there. | She must have worked late last night; her car was there. |
| 2 | They _____ (could + win) if they tried harder. | They could have won if they had tried harder. |
| 3 | He _____ (should + tell) me about the meeting. | He should have told me about the meeting. |
| 4 | You _____ (might + lose) your way in the dark. | You might have lost your way in the dark. |
| 5 | We _____ (would + finish) earlier with more help. | We would have finished earlier with more help. |
Exercise Set 11: Advanced Mixed Tenses
| Question Number | Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No sooner _____ (I/arrive) than it _____ (start) raining. | No sooner had I arrived than it started raining. |
| 2 | Hardly _____ (she/leave) when the guest _____ (arrive). | Hardly had she left when the guest arrived. |
| 3 | By next month, I _____ (work) here for 20 years. | By next month, I will have worked here for 20 years. |
| 4 | Not only _____ (he/lose) his job, but also _____ (he/break) his leg. | Not only did he lose his job, but also he broke his leg. |
| 5 | Scarcely _____ (we/begin) when the power _____ (go) out. | Scarcely had we begun when the power went out. |
Exercise Set 12: Time Clauses
| Question Number | Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Before she _____ (arrive), we _____ (clean) the house. | Before she arrived, we had cleaned the house. |
| 2 | After they _____ (eat), they _____ (watch) a movie. | After they had eaten, they watched a movie. |
| 3 | As soon as he _____ (come), we _____ (leave). | As soon as he comes, we will leave. |
| 4 | Until she _____ (return), we _____ (wait) here. | Until she returns, we will wait here. |
| 5 | The moment _____ (she/walk) in, everyone _____ (start) clapping. | The moment she walked in, everyone started clapping. |
Exercise Set 13: States vs. Actions Tenses
| Question Number | Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | I _____ (think) she’s right. (state of belief) | I think she’s right. |
| 2 | I _____ (think) about the problem. (action of considering) | I am thinking about the problem. |
| 3 | He _____ (have) a new car. (possession) | He has a new car. |
| 4 | We _____ (have) lunch now. (action) | We are having lunch now. |
| 5 | She _____ (look) tired today. (state/appearance) | She looks tired today. |
Exercise Set 14: Future Time Clauses
| Question Number | Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | When she _____ (arrive), we _____ (go) to dinner. | When she arrives, we will go to dinner. |
| 2 | Before the sun _____ (set), we _____ (reach) the top. | Before the sun sets, we will reach the top. |
| 3 | After I _____ (finish) work, I _____ (call) you. | After I finish work, I will call you. |
| 4 | As soon as he _____ (get) here, we _____ (leave). | As soon as he gets here, we will leave. |
| 5 | Until it _____ (stop) raining, we _____ (stay) inside. | Until it stops raining, we will stay inside. |
Exercise Set 15: Final Mixed Practice
| Question Number | Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | By the time you read this, I _____ (already/leave). | By the time you read this, I will have already left. |
| 2 | I _____ (never/be) to Paris before last summer. | I had never been to Paris before last summer. |
| 3 | She _____ (work) here since she _____ (graduate). | She has worked here since she graduated. |
| 4 | While he _____ (cook), the phone _____ (ring). | While he was cooking, the phone rang. |
| 5 | Tomorrow at this time, I _____ (sit) on the beach. | Tomorrow at this time, I will be sitting on the beach. |