Verb Tense Practice Test

Cumulative Verb Tense Review

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses, then click the "Check" button to check your answers.

1. You look really great! (you, work) out at the fitness center recently?

2. A: What (you, do) when the accident occurred?
B: I (try) to change a light bulb that had burnt out.

3. I (have) the same car for more than ten years. I'm thinking about buying a new one.

4. If it (snow) this weekend, we (go) skiing near Lake Tahoe.

5. A: What do you call people who work in libraries?
B: They (call) librarians.

6. I came to England six months ago. I started my economics course three months ago. When I return to Australia, I (study) for nine months and I (be) in England for exactly one year.

7. Sam (arrive) in San Diego a week ago.

8. Samantha (live) in Berlin for more than two years. In fact, she (live) there when the Berlin wall came down.

9. If Vera (keep) drinking, she (lose, eventually) her job.

10. The Maya established a very advanced civilization in the jungles of the Yucatan; however, their culture (disappear, virtually) by the time Europeans first (arrive) in the New World.

11. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John (sleep) .

12. It (rain) all week. I hope it stops by Saturday because I want to go to the beach.

13. Listen Donna, I don't care if you (miss) the bus this morning. You (be) late to work too many times. You are fired!

14. I am sick of rain and bad weather! Hopefully, when we (wake) up tomorrow morning, the sun (shine) .

15. I have not traveled much yet; however, I (visit) the Grand Canyon and San Francisco by the time I leave the United States.

16. I (see) many pictures of the pyramids before I went to Egypt. Pictures of the monuments are very misleading. The pyramids are actually quite small.

17. In the last hundred years, traveling (become) much easier and very comfortable. In the 19th century, it (take) two or three months to cross North America by covered wagon. The trip (be) very rough and often dangerous. Things (change) a great deal in the last hundred and fifty years. Now you can fly from New York to Los Angeles in a matter of hours.

18. Joseph's English (improve, really) , isn't it? He (watch) American television programs and (study) his grammar every day since he first arrived in San Diego. Soon he will be totally fluent.

19. When I (arrive) home last night, I discovered that Jane (prepare) a beautiful candlelight dinner.

20. If you (need) to contact me sometime next week, I (stay) at the Sheraton in San Francisco. 

 

 

 

 

Future Continuous / Future Perfect Continuous

1.

Simona: Margaret is really going to speak Spanish well when she gets back from that language school in Mexico.
Isabelle: Hopefully! She (take) classes for more than six months.
Simona: She is going to be able to speak Spanish with some of our Latin American clients.
Isabelle: Good. Two clients from Peru (visit) us next month when Margaret returns. We need someone to entertain them while they are here.

2.
Jason: I am leaving!
Nurse: If you would please wait, the doctor will be with you in ten minutes. The doctor is having some problems with a patient.
Jason: The doctor was having problems with that patient an hour ago. If I wait another ten minutes, I am sure he (have, still) problems with her. By the time he's finally ready to see me, I (wait) for more than two hours.

3.
Frank: What are you going to be doing tomorrow at five?
Debbie: I (paint) my living room walls.
Frank: Still? How long have you been working on your living room?
Debbie: Forever. By the time I finish, I (redecorate) the living room for over a week.
Frank: Too bad. I was going to ask if you wanted to see a movie. What about the day after tomorrow?
Debbie: Sorry, I (move) furniture and (put) up drapes.

4.
Mr. Jones: What are you going to be doing next year at this time?
Mr. McIntyre: I (work) for a big law firm in New Orleans.
Mr. Jones: I didn't know you were leaving Baton Rouge.
Mr. McIntyre: I got a great job offer which I just can't refuse. Besides, by the time I move, I (live) in Baton Rouge for over twenty years. I think it's about time for a change. 

 

 

 

 

Future Perfect / Future Perfect Continuous

1.

Jack: Have you been watching the Eco-Challenge on TV?
Janet: Isn't that exciting? It has got to be the most unbelievably difficult sporting event in the world.
Jack: I know. By the time they finish the course, they (raft) more than 150 miles down a raging river, (hike) through 80 miles of jungle, (climb) a volcano and (kayak) through shark-infested waters.
Janet: And don't forget that they (move) for at least eight days straight.

2.
Oliver: When are going to get your bachelor's degree, Anne?
Anne: I am going to finish my degree next June. By the time I graduate, I (go) to four different colleges and universities, and I (study) for more than seven years.
Oliver: Wow, that's a long time!
Anne: And I plan to continue on to get a Ph.D.
Oliver: Really? How long is that going to take?
Anne: By the time I finally finish studying, I (be) a student for over 13 years.

3.
Max: Sarah has been in the kitchen all day long.
Jake: It doesn't sound like she's having a very good Thanksgiving.
Max: She (cook) for over seven hours by the time everyone arrives for dinner this afternoon. Hopefully, she (finish) everything by then.
Jake: Maybe we should help her out.

4.
Mike: It's 6:00, and I have been working on my essay for over three hours.
Sid: Do you think you (finish) by 10:00? There's a party at Donna's tonight.
Mike: I (complete, probably) the essay by 10:00, but I (work) on it for more than seven hours, and I don't think I am going to feel like going to a party.

5.
Fred: By the time they finish their trip across Yosemite National Park, they (hike) for more than six days.
Ginger: And they (be, not) in a bed or (have) a shower in almost a week!
Fred: When we pick them up, they (eat) camping food for days, and I am sure they will be starving.
Ginger: I think we had better plan on taking them directly to a restaurant. 

 

 

 

 

Future Perfect / Future Perfect Continuous

1. By the time we get to Chicago this evening, we (drive) more than four hundred miles. We are going to be exhausted.

2. When Sarah goes on vacation next month, she (study) German for over two years. She should be able to communicate fairly well while she is in Austria.

3. I have not traveled much yet; however, I (visit) the Grand Canyon and San Francisco by the time I leave the United States.

4. By the time you finish studying the verb tense tutorial, you (master) all twelve tenses including their passive forms.

5. Drive faster! If you don't hurry up, she (have) the baby by the time we get to the hospital.

6. I came to England six months ago. I started my economics course three months ago. When I return to Australia, I (study) for nine months and I (be) in England for exactly one year.

7. Margie just called and said she would be here at 8 o'clock. By the time she gets here, we (wait) for her for two hours.

8. Frank just changed jobs again. If he keeps this up, he (change) jobs at least four or five times by the end of the year.

9. Come over to my house around 9 o'clock. By then, I (complete) my history essay and we can go see a movie.

10. In June, my grandmother and grandfather (be) married for fifty years. 

 

 

 

 

Simple Future / Future Perfect

1.

Margaret: Do you think everything will be finished when I get back from the store?
Jerry: Don't worry. By the time you get back, I (pick) up the living room and (finish) washing the dishes. Everything will be perfect when your parents arrive.
Margaret: I hope so. They (arrive) around 6 o'clock.
Jerry: Everything (be) spotless by the time they get here.

2.
Nick: I just have two more courses before I graduate from university. By this time next year, I (graduate) , and I will already be looking for a job.
Stacey: Does that scare you? Are you worried about the future?
Nick: Not really. I (go) to a career counselor and get some advice on how to find a good job.
Stacey: That's a good idea.
Nick: I am also going to do an internship so that when I leave school, I (complete, not only) over 13 business courses, but I (work, also) in the real world.

3.
Stan: Did you hear that Christine (take) a vacation in South America this winter?
Fred: I can't believe how often she goes abroad. Where exactly does she want to go?
Stan: She (visit) Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador.
Fred: At this rate, she (visit) every country in the world by the time she's 50.

4.
Judy: How long have you been in Miami?
Elaine: I have only been here for a couple of weeks.
Judy: How long do you plan on staying?
Elaine: I love Miami, so I (stay) here for an extended period of time. When I go back home, I (be) here for more than three months.
Judy: Wow, that's quite a vacation! You (see, definitely) just about everything there is to see in Miami by then.

5.
Jane: I can't believe how late we are! By the time we get to the dinner, everyone (finish, already) eating.
Jack: It's your own fault. You took way too long in the bathroom.
Jane: I couldn't get my hair to look right.
Jack: Who cares? By the time we get there, everyone (left) . Nobody (see, even) your hair. 

 

 

 

 

Simple Present / Simple Future Present Continuous / Future Continuous

1. Right now, I am watching TV. Tomorrow at this time, I (watch) TV as well.

2. Tomorrow after school, I (go) to the beach.

3. I am going on a dream vacation to Tahiti. While you (do) paperwork and (talk) to annoying customers on the phone, I (lie) on a sunny, tropical beach. Are you jealous?

4. We (hide) when Tony (arrive) at his surprise party. As soon as he opens the door, we (jump) out and (scream) , "Surprise!"

5. We work out at the fitness center every day after work. If you (come) over while we (work) out, we will not be able to let you into the house. Just to be safe, we (leave) a key under the welcome mat so you will not have to wait outside.

6. While you (study) at home, Magda (be) in class.

7. When I (get) to the party, Sally and Doug (dance) , John (make) drinks, Sue and Frank (discuss) something controversial, and Mary (complain) about something unimportant. They are always doing the same things. They are so predictable.

8. When you (get) off the plane, I (wait) for you.

9. I am sick of rain and bad weather! Hopefully, when we (wake) up tomorrow morning, the sun (shine) .

10. If you (need) to contact me sometime next week, I (stay) at the Sheraton in San Francisco. 

 

 

 

 

 

Simple Future / Future Continuous

1.

Sandra: Where is Tim going to meet us?
Marcus: He (wait) for us when our train arrives. I am sure he (stand) on the platform when we pull into the station.
Sandra: And then what?
Marcus: We (pick) Michele up at work and go out to dinner.

2.
Ted: When we get to the party, Jerry (watch) TV, Sam (make) drinks, Beth (dance) by herself, and Thad (complain) about his day at work.
Robin: Maybe, this time they won't be doing the same things.
Ted: I am absolutely positive they (do) the same things; they always do the same things.

3.
Florence: Oh, look at that mountain of dirty dishes! Who (wash) all of those?
Jack: I promise I (do) them when I get home from work.
Florence: Thanks.
Jack: When you get home this evening, that mountain will be gone and nice stacks of sparkling clean dishes (sit) in the cabinets.

4.
Doug: If you need to contact me next week, I (stay) at the Hoffman Hotel.
Nancy: I (call) you if there are any problems.
Doug: This is the first time I have ever been away from the kids.
Nancy: Don't worry, they (be) be fine.

5.
Samantha: Just think, next week at this time, I (lie) on a tropical beach in Maui drinking Mai Tais and eating pineapple.
Darren: While you are luxuriating on the beach, I (stress) out over this marketing project. How are you going to enjoy yourself knowing that I am working so hard?
Samantha: I 'll manage somehow.
Darren: You're terrible. Can't you take me with you?
Samantha: No. But I (send) you a postcard of a beautiful, white sand beach.
Darren: Great, that (make) me feel much better. 

 

 

 

 

Simple Present / Simple Future

1.

Michael: After you (leave) work, will you please drop by the grocery store and pick up some milk and bread?
Marie: No problem, I (pick) up the groceries and be home by 6 o'clock.
Michael: Great. You will probably get home before I (do) .

2.
Ari: By the time we (get) to the movie theater, the tickets are going to be sold out.
Sarah: Don't worry. I told Jane we might be arriving just before the movie (start) . She (buy) our tickets and meet us in the lobby.
Ari: That place is huge! We (find, never) her in that crowded lobby.
Sarah: Calm down, we (meet) each other near the entrance.

3.
Terry: If the weather (be) good tomorrow, maybe we should go to the beach.
Jennifer: I have a better idea. If it (be) nice out, we'll go to the beach; and if it (rain) , we'll see a movie.
Terry: I guess we will have to wait until we (get) up in the morning to find out what we are going to do.

4.
Max: What are you going to do tomorrow after work?
Sean: I (meet) some friends at the cafe across the street. Would you like to come along?
Max: No thanks! My brother is coming to town and I (pick) him up from the airport at 7 o'clock.
Sean: We (be, probably) at the cafe until 9 o'clock. Why don't you join us after you (pick) him up.
Max: Sounds good. We (see) you around 8 o'clock.

5.
Lucy: I (call) you as soon as I arrive in Dublin.
Dwain: If I am not there when you (call) , make sure to leave a message.
Lucy: I will. And please don't forget to water my plants and feed the cat.
Dwain: I promise I (take) care of everything while you are in Ireland. 

 

 

 

 

Simple Present / Simple Future

1. Today after I (get) out of class, I (go) to a movie with some friends.

2. When you (arrive) in Stockholm, call my friend Gustav. He (show) you around the city and help you get situated.

3. A: Do you know what you want to do after you (graduate) ?
B: After I (receive) my Master's from Georgetown University, I (go) to graduate school at UCSD in San Diego. I (plan) to complete a Ph.D. in cognitive science.

4. If it (snow) this weekend, we (go) skiing near Lake Tahoe.

5. Your father (plan) to pick you up after school today at 3:00 o'clock. He (meet) you across the street near the ice cream shop. If something happens and he cannot be there, I (pick) you up instead.

6. If the people of the world (stop, not) cutting down huge stretches of rain forest, we (experience) huge changes in the environment during the twenty-first century.

7. If Vera (keep) drinking, she (lose, eventually) her job.

8. I promise you that I (tell, not) your secret to anybody. Even if somebody (ask) me about what happened that day, I (reveal, not) the truth to a single person.

9. She (make) some major changes in her life. She (quit) her job and go back to school. After she (finish) studying, she (get) a better-paying job and buy a house. She is going to improve her life!

10. Tom (call) when he (arrive) in Madrid. He (stay) with you for two or three days until his new apartment (be) available. 

 

 

 

 

Will / Be Going To

1.

Michael: Do you think the Republicans or the Democrats (win) the next election?
Jane: I think the Republicans (win) the next election.
John: No way! The Democrats (win) .

2.
Susan: We (go) camping this weekend. Would you like to come along?
Sam: That sounds great, but I don't have a sleeping bag.
Susan: No problem. I (lend) you one. My family has tons of camping gear.

3.
Barbara: I (buy) a new car this weekend, but I'm a little worried because I don't really know much about cars. I'm afraid the salesman (try) to take advantage of me when he sees how little I know.
Dave: I used to work for a mechanic in high school and I know a lot about cars. I (go) with you to make sure you are not cheated.

4.
Gina: Fred and I (visit) Santa Fe next summer. Have you ever been there?
Margaret: My family lives in Santa Fe! I (give) you my parents' phone number. When you get to Santa Fe, just call them and they (give) you a little tour of the town. They can show you some of the sights that most tourists never see.

5.
Pam: Can you see my future in the crystal ball? What (happen) next year?
Fortune Teller: You (meet) a man from the East Coast, perhaps New York or maybe Boston. You (marry) that mystery man.
Pam: Forget the man! I want to know if I (get) a new job. 

 

 

 

 

 

Will / Be Going To

1.

Mark: What are you doing with those scissors?
Beth: I (cut) that picture of the ocean out of the travel magazine.
Mark: What (you, do) with it?
Beth: I (paint) a watercolor of the ocean for my art class, and I thought I could use this photograph as a model.

2.
Mark: (you, do) me a favor, Sam?
Sam: Sure, what do you want me to do?
Mark: I (change) the broken light bulb in the lamp above the dining room table. I need someone to hold the ladder for me while I am up there.
Sam: No problem, I (hold) it for you.

3.
Gina: Where are you going?
Ted: I (go) to the store to pick up some groceries.
Gina: What (you, get) ?
Ted: I (buy) some milk, some bread, and some coffee.

4.
John: Wow, it's freezing out there.
Jane: I (make) some coffee to warm us up. Do you want a piece of pie as well?
John: Coffee sounds great! But I (have) dinner with some friends later, so I'd better skip the pie.
Jane: I (go) to dinner tonight too, but I'm having a piece of pie anyway.

5.
Frank: I heard you're taking a Spanish class at the community college.
Tom: Yeah, I (go) to Guatemala next spring and I thought knowing a little Spanish would make the trip easier.
Frank: I (visit) my brother in Marseilles next year. Maybe I should take a French class.
Tom: I have a course catalog in the other room. I (go) get it, and we can see whether or not they're offering a French course next semester. 

 

 

 

 

 

Will / Be Going To

1. A: Why are you holding a piece of paper?

B: I (write) a letter to my friends back home in Texas.

2. A: I'm about to fall asleep. I need to wake up!
B: I (get) you a cup of coffee. That will wake you up.

3. A: I can't hear the television!
B: I (turn) it up so you can hear it.

4. We are so excited about our trip next month to France. We (visit) Paris, Nice and Grenoble.

5. Sarah (come) to the party. Oliver (be) there as well.

6. Ted: It is so hot in here!
Sarah: I (turn) the air-conditioning on.

7. I think he (be) the next President of the United States.

8. After I graduate, I (attend) medical school and become a doctor. I have wanted to be a doctor all my life.

9. A: Excuse me, I need to talk to someone about our hotel room. I am afraid it is simply too small for four people.
B: That man at the service counter (help) you.

10. As soon as the weather clears up, we (walk) down to the beach and go swimming. 

 

 

 

 

 

Present and Past Tense Review

Lars: Excuse me, which movie are you waiting for?

Tony: We (wait) for the new Stars Wars movie. In fact, we (wait) here for more than five hours.

Lars: Five hours? When did you arrive?

Tony: We (get) here at 6:00 o'clock this morning. More than forty people (stand, already) here waiting for tickets when we arrived.

Lars: I can't believe that! Are you serious?

Tony: Yeah, people (take) Star Wars movies seriously. In fact, this particular showing has been sold out for over a week. We (wait, just) in line to get a good seat in the theater.

Lars: When did you buy your tickets?

Tony: I (buy) them last week by phone. I (know) tickets would be hard to get because I (see) a news interview with a group of people standing in line to get tickets. They (wait) in line for almost a month to buy tickets for the first showing.

Lars: I don't believe that!

Tony: It's true. They (camp) out in front of Mann's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles for about a month because they (want) to be the first people to see the movie. 

 

 

 

 

 

Present and Past Tenses and Non-Continuous Verbs

1.
a. Look, I (have) two tickets for the circus.
b. Look, I (hold) two tickets for the circus.

2.
a. We (be) there for more than half an hour by the time the show began.
b. We (wait) there for more than half an hour by the time the show began.

3.
a. Sam (sit) in the seat next to me when the clown threw a bucket of water at me.
b. Sam (be) in the seat next to me when the clown threw a bucket of water at me.

4.
a. One clown was juggling while he (balance) a glass of wine on his head.
b. One clown was juggling while he (have) a glass of wine on his head.

5.
a. I (love) the circus ever since I was a child.
b. I (go) to the circus ever since I was a child.

6.
a. Right now, I (see) two elephants doing tricks in the ring.
b. Right now, I (look) at two elephants doing tricks in the ring.

Present Continuous / Simple Past Present Perfect Continuous / Past Perfect Continuous

My English is really getting better. I (try) to learn the language since 1985, but only recently have I been able to make some real progress. By the time I started high school in 1988, I (study) the language for almost three years; however, I was only able to introduce myself and utter a few memorized sentences. For a couple more years, I (struggle) through grammar and vocabulary lessons, which made absolutely no difference. Nothing worked, so I decided to study abroad.

I found an exchange program in England that sounded like the perfect answer. I (stay) with a host family for one month. It was a huge disappointment! I (sit) there the whole time staring at the host mother and father hoping that there would be some breakthrough. Nothing.

When I returned, I mentioned to a friend that I (have) problems with the language for years. He recommended that I spend a year in an English speaking country. I decided to go abroad again. I (research) exchange programs for a couple of weeks and finally decided on a school in the United States.

Well, it worked. I (live) and (study) in the U.S. for more than two years. I (stay) here for at least another year before I return home. By then, I should be completely fluent. 

 

 

 

 

Present Perfect / Past Perfect Present Perfect Continuous / Past Perfect Continuous

1. It is already 9:30 PM and I (wait) here for over an hour. If John does not get here in the next five minutes, I am going to leave.

2. I was really angry at John yesterday. By the time he finally arrived, I (wait) for over an hour. I almost left without him.

3. Did you hear that Ben was fired last month? He (work) for that import company for more than ten years and he (work) in almost every department. Nobody knew the company like he did.

4. I (see) many pictures of the pyramids before I went to Egypt. Pictures of the monuments are very misleading. The pyramids are actually quite small.

5. Sarah (climb) the Matterhorn, (sail) around the world, and (go) on safari in Kenya. She is such an adventurous person.

6. Sarah (climb) the Matterhorn, (sail) around the world and (go) on safari in Kenya by the time she turned twenty-five. She (experience) more by that age than most people do in their entire lives.

7. When Melanie came into the office yesterday, her eyes were red and watery. I think she (cry) .

Past Perfect / Past Perfect Continuous

I'm sorry I left 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 didn't 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 was waiting for us near the entrance. She was really angry because she (wait) for more than half an hour. She said she (give, almost) up and (go) into the theater without us.

Kathy told me you (be) late several times in the past and that she would not make plans with you again in the future. She mentioned that she (miss) several movies because of your late arrivals. I think you owe her an apology. And in the future, I suggest you be on time! 

 

 

 

 

 

Simple Past / Present Perfect / Past Perfect

1. When I (arrive) home last night, I discovered that Jane (prepare) a beautiful candlelight dinner.

2. Since I began acting, I (perform) in two plays, a television commercial and a TV drama. However, I (speak, never even) publicly before I came to Hollywood in 1985.

3. By the time I got to the office, the meeting (begin, already) without me. My boss (be) furious with me and I (be) fired.

4. When I (turn) the radio on yesterday, I (hear) a song that was popular when I was in high school. I (hear, not) the song in years, and it (bring) back some great memories.

5. Last week, I (run) into an ex-girlfriend of mine. We (see, not) each other in years, and both of us (change) a great deal. I (enjoy) talking to her so much that I (ask) her out on a date. We are getting together tonight for dinner.

6. When Jack (enter) the room, I (recognize, not) him because he (lose) so much weight and (grow) a beard. He looked totally different!

7. The Maya established a very advanced civilization in the jungles of the Yucatan; however, their culture (disappear, virtually) by the time Europeans first (arrive) in the New World.

8. I (visit) so many beautiful places since I (come) to Utah. Before moving here, I (hear, never) of Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches, or Canyonlands.

Simple Past / Past Perfect

I can't believe I (get) that apartment. I (submit) my application last week, but I didn't think I had a chance of actually getting it. When I (show) up to take a look around, there were at least twenty other people who (arrive) before me. Most of them (fill, already) out their applications and were already leaving. The landlord said I could still apply, so I did.

I (try) to fill out the form, but I couldn't answer half of the questions. They (want) me to include references, but I didn't want to list my previous landlord because I (have) some problems with him in the past and I knew he wouldn't recommend me. I (end) up listing my father as a reference.

It was total luck that he (decide) to give me the apartment. It turns out that the landlord and my father (go) to high school together. He decided that I could have the apartment before he (look) at my credit report. I really lucked out! 

 

 

 

 

Present Continuous / Present Perfect Continuous

Mr. Smith: So tell me a little bit about yourself, Mr. Harris. I would like to find out a little bit more about your background.

Mr. Harris: I (work) in the insurance industry for over ten years. I worked for Met Life for six years and World Insurance for four and a half. During that time, I heard many good things about Hollings Life Insurance and that's why I (apply) for the new sales position.

Mr. Smith: Tell me a little about your hobbies and interests.

Mr. Harris: In my spare time, I hike in the mountains outside of town, volunteer at the Sierra Club and play tennis. In fact, I (compete) in a tennis tournament this weekend.

Mr. Smith: Really, how long (you, play) tennis ?

Mr. Harris: I (play) since high school. I love the sport.

Mr. Smith: Great! We like dedication here at Hollings Life. You mentioned you volunteer at the Sierra Club. I (work, currently) with them on the sea turtle project. We (try) to create a wildlife sanctuary near the bay.

Mr. Harris: Do you know Frank Harris? He's my brother. He (work, presently) on the same project.

Mr. Smith: I know Frank quite well. Any brother of Frank's would be a welcome addition to Hollings Life. Just one more thing, we (look) for somebody who is fluent in Spanish; many of our clients are from Mexico.

Mr. Harris: No problem. I (study) Spanish since elementary school.

Mr. Smith: Sounds like you are the perfect candidate.