Cumulative Tense Test

Name: _______________________________ Date: _____________________________

Part A: Present Tenses (9 marks)

Instructions: Use the present tense to complete the letter below.

Dear Kathleen.

I 1) ..'m writing (write) to tell you my news. My school 2) _________________________ (choose) me to spend six week s at a
school in the U SA. I'm very happy about it! At the moment. I 3) ________________ _________________________ (pack )
things for my trip because I 4) _________________________ (leave) next week . M y mother 5)
_________________________ (book ) the ticket. I 6) _________________________ (wait) for this opportunity for ages, so
I'm very excited. I 7) _________________________ (finish) reading two book s about the U SA and I 8)
_________________________ borrow) another one from the school library. I 9) _________________________ (become)
more and more nervous every day!

Well. I must go now. I've got a lot of things to do. I'll write to you from the U SA.

Love,
T racy

Part B: Past Tenses (20 marks)

Instructions: Choose the correct answer. Instructions: Write the correct past tense in the blank.

1. A: Were you expecting James and Paul to stay for dinner?

B: No, but I …A… a lot of food, so it didn´t matter.
A) Had prepared B) was preparing C) had been preparing

2. A: “Tony has been singing for years, hasn´t he?”

B: “Yes, He ….. his first record when he was sixteen.
A) made B) was making C) had made

3. A: “There was a power out last night”

B: “I know. I ….. some paperwork when the lights went out”
A) had been doing B) was doing C) had done

4. A: Did you see Paul Simon in Concert?

B: No, I was hoping to get tickets, but they …..
A) had sold out B) sold out C) were selling out

5. A: The restaurant was packed last night.

B: Yes. Luckily, I ….. a table in advance.
A) was booking B) had booked C) had been booking

6. A: Did you watch the film yesterday

B: No, it ….. by the time we got home.
A) finished B) was finishing C) had finished

7. A: Did you stay up late last night?

B: No, I ….. all day, so I went to bed early
A) had been working B) worked C) was working

8. A: Did you enjoy your holiday? B: Yes, we …..most of our

time on the beach.
A) had spent B) were spending C) spent

9. A: Kim looked tired this morning.

B: I know. She ….. all night long
A) studied B) had studied C) had been studying

10. We ….. through the woods when we heard a gunshot.

A) had walked B) walked C) were walking

Part C : Future Tenses (15 marks)

Instructions: Put the verb into the correct form. Choose one of the following: simple present, present continuous, simple
future (will / going to), shall, future continuous, future perfect.
1. I feel a bit hungry, I think ………………………………………..………………………………………. (I/ have)
something to eat.
2. Why are you putting on your coat? ………………………………………..………………………………………. (you/ go)
somewhere?
3. What time ………………………………………..……………………………………….(I/ phone) you this evening? About 7:30?
4. Look! That phone is flying towards the airport. ………………………………………..……………………………………….
(it/ land).
5. We must do something soon, before ………………………………………..……………………………………….(it/be) too
late.
6. I’m sorry you’ve decided to leave the company. ………………………………………..…………………………………….
(I/ miss) you when ………………………………………..………………………………………. (you / go)
7. …………………………………..………………………………….(I/ give) you my address? If.……………………..………………………….
(I/ give) you my address, …………………………………..…………………………………. (you / write) to me?
8. Are you still watching that program? What time ………………………………………..……………………………………….
(it/ end)?
9. ………………………………………..………………………………………. (I/go) to London next weekend for a wedding.
My sister ………………………………………..………………………………………. (get) married.
10. I’m not ready yet. ………………………………………..………………………………………. (I/ tell) you when
………………………………………..……………………………………….(I/ be) ready. I promise ……………………………..…………………………….
(I/ not/ be) very long.
11. A: Where are you going?
B: To the hairdresser’s. ……………………………………..………………………………………. (I/ have) to hair cut.
12. She was very rude to me. I refuse to speak to her again until ………………………………………..
………………………………………. (she/ apologise).
13. I wonder where ………………………………………..………………………………………. (we/ live) ten years from now?
14. What do you plan to do when ………………………………………..………………………………………. (you/ finish) your
course at university?
15. Tom is on holiday and he is spending his money very quickly. If he continues
like this, ………………………………………..………………………………………. (he/ spend) all his money before the
end of this holiday.

Part D: Mixed Tenses (15 marks)

Instructions: Complete the sentences using an appropriate word or phrase.

1. Don’t forget ………………………………………..………………………………………. John and Ana an invitation to dinner.

2. They ………………………………………..……………………………. the house for a long time. It’s very dirty!
3. Jane admitted ………………………………………..………………………………………. me lies.
4. I must ………………………………………..………………………………………. my book at school. I can’t find it anywhere.
5. Gill is upset because she ………………………………………..………………………………………. her job.
6. Tom must ………………………………………..……………………………………. in the garden. He looks tired.
7. Paul suggested ………………………………………..………………………………………. to the theatre, but I’d already seen the play.
8. I ………………………………………..………………………………………. to the supermarket for a week. There’s nothing in the fridge.
9. Tom refused …………………………………..………………………………………. his sister with her homework.
10. She’s moving to Madrid this summer because they ……………………..………………………………………. a job in the embassy there.

Bonus (4 marks):

1. When can the simple present tense be used for a future event? Give an example.
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2. When can the present continuous tense be used for a future event? Give an example.
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