NAME

TEST PAPER-TENSES
NO. 1
1. Complete the dialogue using present continuous, present perfect simple, present simple
or present perfect continuous 2p

Mrs Webb: Have you worked as a tourist guide before?

James: Yes, I ………………………………. (guide) groups since I was at university.
Mrs Webb: ………………………………. (you / work) for many agencies?
James: So far I ………………………………. (work) only for Grand Tours.
Mrs Webb: ………………………………. (you / still/ work) for Grand Tours?
James: Yes, I ……………. and I............................................ (enjoy) my job.
Mrs Webb: Which countries ………………………………. (you / visit)?
James: I ………………………………. (travel) all over the world.
Mrs Webb: ………………………………. (you / be) to South America?
James: Yes, I ………………………………. (tour) both North and South America.

2. Put the verbs in the right tense (past simple, past continuous, past perfect simple or past
perfect continuous 2p

It was 9.30, and Adam ……………………………. (sit) in a restaurant waiting for Rose to
arrive. He was tired, because he …………………………… (travel) all afternoon. He
…………………………… (feel) nervous too. He was not sure if she would recognize him
after all this time. It was difficult to believe but they …………………………… (not see)
each other for ten years now. He wondered if she …………………………… (change) much.
Ten years before she …………………………… (be) attractive. He
…………………………… (look) at his watch again. He …………………………… (wait)
for half an hour. She …………………………… (promise) to be there at about 9.00, but she
…………………………… (never be) a very punctual person.

3. Continue the sentences 2p

1. You are forever.................................... ……………………………………………………

2. She finished her homework after ………………………………………………………….
3. When I came home, my sister ……………… already ……………………………………
4. She has been …………………………...........…………………………………………….
5. We always meet on Monday …………………......………………………………………..

4. Write a paragraph starting with this sentence: 2p

As soon as I got up, I realised......................................................................................................

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NAME
TEST PAPER-TENSES
NO. 2

1. Fill in the blanks putting the verbs into the present simple, present continuous, present
perfect simple or present perfect continuous 2p

Dear John,
I ………………………. (be) in Italy for three months now and I ……………………….
(find) a good job. So far I ………………………. (stay) at a hotel but now I
………………………. (not want) to stay here any more. I like to be independent and I don’t
want to spend as much money as I ………………………. (do) for the past three months. I
want to find a nice flat, but it is not easy. I ………………………. (look) at advertisements in
papers, and I ………………………. (also / ask) friends and acquaintances. I
………………………. (already / seen) a few places but I ………………………. (not find)
yet what I ………………………. (look for).

2. Put the verbs in the right tense (past simple, past continuous, past perfect simple or past
perfect continuous 2p

I'm sorry I …………………………… ( leave) without you last night, but I told you to meet
me early because the show started at 8:00. I (try) ............................ to get tickets for that play
for months, and I …………………………… (not want) to miss it. By the time I finally left
the coffee shop where we were supposed to meet, I (have) ......................... five cups of coffee
and I (wait) ................... over an hour. I had to leave because I (arrange) ..................... to meet
Kathy in front of the theater. When I arrived at the theater, Kathy (pick, already)
..................... up the tickets and she ………………………… (wait) for us near the entrance.
She was really angry because she (wait) .............................. for more than half an hour. Kathy
told me you (be) ........... late several times in the past and that she would not make plans with
you again in the future.

3. Continue the sentences 2p

1. My mother is always……………………………………………………………………….
2. I was getting out of the house when………………………………………………………….
3. They have often....................................................................................................................
4. Before he went out, ……………………………………………………………………….
5. They had telephoned me before …………………………………………………………..

4. Write a paragraph starting with this sentence: 2p

As I was going down the street, I noticed..............................................................................

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