Tenses Exercise

Fill in the blanks with an appropriate tense form.

1. We ..................................... molecular biology this semester.

study
are studying
studied
We use the present continuous to talk about actions or situations that are going on at the
moment of speaking or 'around now'.

2. Mike ...................................... with his grandmother.

lives
is living
has been living
Simple present is used to talk about facts and more permanent situations.

3. I ...................................... my grandparents last week.

visited
have visited
had visited
We use the past simple to talk about finished events in the past.

4. Did Rahul ................................ another window yesterday?

break
broke
broken
After do, does and did, the verb is used in its infinitive form.

5. I .................................... to all the continents in the world.

went
have been

www.englishgrammar.org
 Tenses Exercise

had gone
To talk about things that we have experienced in life, we use the present perfect tense.

6. I ...................................... many setbacks in life.

have faced
faced
had faced
To talk about things that we have experienced in life, we use the present perfect tense.

7. I ……………………………………… to Shyam for ten years.

am married
have been married
was married
To talk about a life experience that started in the past and has continued up to the present,
we use a present perfect.

8. .................................. have you lived in Chennai?

How long
What long
For what long
Questions in the present perfect usually begin with ‘How long…?’ or ‘Have you ever…?’

9. We ………………………………… in this city for 25 years.

have been living
are living
had been living
The present perfect continuous tense is used to talk about actions and situations that started
in the past and have continued up to the present.

www.englishgrammar.org
 Tenses Exercise

10. I ……………………………….. the plants. What should I do now?

have been watering
have watered
Either could be used here
The present perfect tense is used to talk about finished events. The present perfect
continuous tense cannot be used to talk about finished events.

11. I …………………………………. my homework. Can I watch TV now?

have done
have been doing
Either could be used here
The present perfect tense is used to talk about finished events. The present perfect
continuous tense cannot be used to talk about finished events.

12. I ………………………………. a bath when the telephone

…………………………………..
was having, rang
had, rang
was having, was ringing
We use the past simple to talk about a short action that happens in the middle of a long
action.

PLAY AGAIN !
Answers
1. We are studying molecular biology this semester.

2. Mike lives with his grandmother.

3. I visited my grandparents last week.

www.englishgrammar.org
 Tenses Exercise

4. Did Rahul break another window yesterday?

5. I have been to all the continents in the world.

6. I have faced many setbacks in life.

7. I have been married to Shyam for ten years.

8. How long have you lived in Chennai?

9. We have been living in this city for 25 years.

10. I have watered the plants. What should I do now?

11. I have done my homework. Can I watch TV now?

12. I was having a bath when the telephone rang.

www.englishgrammar.org