Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Exercises Tenses
Exercises Tenses
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
Use either the SIMPLE PRESENT or the PRESENT PROGRESSIVE of the verbs in
brackets.
1. Diane can’t come to the phone because she (wash) .................................... her
hair.
2. Diane (wash) .................................. her hair every day.
3. Kathy usually (sit).......................in the front row during class, but today she (sit)
.......................in the last row.
4. Please be quiet. I (try)................................to concentrate.
5. I wrote to my friend last week. I (wait, still)....................................for a reply.
6. After three days of rain, I’m glad that the sun (shine)..................................... again
today.
7. Every morning the sun (shine).............................. in my bedroom window and
(wake)...................................me up.
8. Mike is a student, but he (go, not)..................................... to school right now
because it’s summer. He (attend).................................college from September to
May every year, but in the summers he (have, usually)........................................a
job at the post office. In fact, he (work).................................. there this summer.
9. I (work, only)................................here for a couple of months because I’m going
abroad in the summer.
10. His only bad habit is that he (talk).................................. too loudly.
11. There is nobody at the door; you (hear, just)................................things.
12. I’m thinking of doing a postgraduate degree – what (you, think).............................?
Is it a good idea?
13. My sister (wait)................................. patiently for her exam results.
14. The film (end)............................with a dramatic car chase.
15. We (have)...................................a great time here in London.
16. Some people still think the sun (go)..............................round the earth.
17. I (play)....................................tennis every weekend.
18. An alcoholic is a person who (drink).............................too much and can’t stop.
19. Why (you, look)....................................at me like this?
20. I (stay)........................................with John for a few weeks until my flat’s ready.
21. Can you explain why water (run, always)........................................downhill?
22. Look! She (wear)......................................the same shoes like me.
B.) SIMPLE PAST VS. PAST PROGRESSIVE
Use the SIMPLE PAST or the PAST PROGRESSIVE in the following sentences.
Use the SIMPLE PAST or the PRESENT PERFECT (PROGRESSIVE) in the following
sentences.
Fill in the correct future form (SIMPLE FUTURE, GOING TO, FUTURE PROGRESSIVE,
FUTURE PERFECT, PRESENT PROGRESSIVE or SIMPLE PRESENT)
Put the verbs in brackets in the correct tense, active or passive. Sometimes more than
one tense is correct.
Jane and Andy (wait)..........................................at the airport in Cape Town to catch their
plane back to London. They (be)....................................on honeymoon in South Africa for
four weeks and they (feel)......................................very relaxed and happy. They (not wait)
...............................................long when their flight (announce)................................ over the
tannoy: “Flight BA 207 to London Heathrow (leave).......................................in one hour. Will
passengers please go to Gate 4and wait there to board?”. Andy (hear)..................................
another announcement: “Flight D 234 to New York (delay)...............................................due
to a technical fault. Will passengers please go to Gate 5and wait there for further
information.”
“Oh dear!” said Jane. “I (hope)....................................people (not get)....................................
confused. What (happen)......................................if someone (get)................................on the
wrong flight?”
“(not be)..........................silly,” said Andy. “That’s impossible. This is an international airport.
All boarding cards (check)......................................before anyone (allow).................................
to board the plane.”
They arrived at Gate 4. Two hours later they still (not board)...................................their plane,
and no explanation (given)................................ . Eventually, there was an announcement:
“We are sorry for the delay. Will all passengers please have their boarding cards ready?
Flights BA 207 to London and D 234 for New York are both now ready to depart”.
“At last!” said Jane. “We (wait)......................................at this airport for nearly five hours by
the time our plane (take off).................................... .
There were only two flight attendants checking boarding cards and ushering passengers on
to their respective flights. But they worked very quickly and soon Jane and Andy (sit) ..........
.....................comfortably in their seats, fastening their seat belts.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.” said the pilot, “and welcome to flight D 234 to New
York.”
Jane and Andy both (leap).....................................to their feet and (run)..............................to
the front of the plane. Fortunately, the pilot (not start).......................................the engines
and Jane and Andy (lead).......................................from Flight D 234 to Flight BA 207 by a
very anxious air steward. They fastened their seat belts for a second time.
“Phew! I (have)...................................enough surprises for one day,” said Andy. “This (not
be).........................................a very relaxing end to our holiday, has it? We need another
holiday! Where (we, go)......................................next year?
“Well,” said Jane, “as we (have)........................................a baby by then, maybe we should
just stay at home.”
“Pardon? What did you say?” whispered Andy.