Do you know all the different tenses in English? Can you recognize them by just looking at their form? Here is a grammar exercise to test your understanding of tenses. You just need to read the sentences given below. They are in different tenses. See if you can identify them.
1Who will have come to my rescue?
Wrong!
The verb phrase "will have come" is in the "Future perfect" tense.
2The boy is learning his lessons.
Wrong!
The verb phrase "is learning" is in the "Present continuous" tense.
3Girls outnumber boys in this class.
Wrong!
The verb "outnumber" is in the "Simple present" tense.
4What do you mean?
Wrong!
The verb phrase "do mean" is in the "Simple present" tense.
5I don’t know where she lives.
Wrong!
The verb phrases "do know" and "lives" are in the "Simple present" tense.
6Burglars broke into his shop yesterday.
Wrong!
The verb phrase "broke into" is in the "Simple past" tense.
7I can no longer tolerate this injustice.
Wrong!
The verb phrase "can tolerate" uses present time, so the best choice is "Simple present".
8She has been waiting for his call since morning.
Wrong!
The verb phrase "has been waiting" is in the "Present perfect continuous" tense.
9This time tomorrow I will be playing with my kids.
Wrong!
The verb phrase "will be playing" is in the "Future continuous" tense.
10Somebody has let the cat in.
Wrong!
The verb phrase "has let" is in the "Present perfect" tense.
11Will you please come with me?
Wrong!
The verb phrase "will come" is in the "Simple future" tense.
12She finished the work in time.
Wrong!
The verb "finished" is in the "Simple past" tense.
13Have you learned your lessons?
Wrong!
The verb phrase "Have learned" is in the "Present perfect" tense.
14She had been bedridden for years before her death.
Wrong!
The verb phrase "had been" is in the "Past perfect" tense.
Answers
- Who will have come to my rescue? — Future perfect
- The boy is learning his lessons. — Present continuous
- Girls outnumber boys in this class. — Simple present
- What do you mean? — Simple present
- I don’t know where she lives. — Simple present
- Burglars broke into his shop yesterday. — Simple past
- I can no longer tolerate this injustice. — Simple present
- She has been waiting for his call since morning. — Present perfect continuous
- This time tomorrow I will be playing with my kids. — Future continuous
- Somebody has let the cat in. — Present perfect
- Will you please come with me? — Simple future
- She finished the work in time. — Simple past
- Have you learned your lessons? — Present perfect
- She had been bedridden for years before her death. — Past perfect
