Tenses Exercise (Intermediate Level)

Fill in the blanks with an appropriate tense form.

1. My friend ………………………. a lot.

reads

is reading

read

Correct! Wrong!

We use the simple present to talk about facts.

2. I …………………………. a crime novel now.

read

am reading

have read

Correct! Wrong!

We use the present continuous to talk about an action or situation that is going on at the moment of speaking.

3. ……………………………… The Old Man And The Sea?

Did you read

Have you read

Do you read

Correct! Wrong!

We use the present perfect to talk about finished events when there is no time reference.

4. Yesterday I ………………………… three books from the library.

borrowed

have borrowed

had borrowed

Correct! Wrong!

We use the simple past to say when something happened.

5. He …………………………… like that since his childhood.

was

has been

Correct! Wrong!

The present perfect is used to talk about an action or situation that started in the past and has continued up to the present.

6. He …………………………. captain of the school team two years ago.

was elected

is elected

has elected

Correct! Wrong!

7. All the trains ………………………………. late today.

have run

are running

were running

Correct! Wrong!

8. They ……………………………… several tournaments since he became the captain.

won

were winning

have won

Correct! Wrong!

9. We went home only after we ………………………….. the work.

Please select 2 correct answers

finished

have finished

had finished

Correct! Wrong!

The simple past and past perfect can be used here.

10. The boy ……………………………. home a year ago.

left

has left

had left

Correct! Wrong!

We use the simple past to say when something happened.

11. He ……………………………… to his parents since then.

did not write

has not written

had not written

Correct! Wrong!

12. My brother ……………………………….. with me for three years.

is staying

has been staying

has stayed

Correct! Wrong!

The present perfect continuous puts emphasis on continuity. The present perfect focuses on the idea of completion.

Answers

My friend reads a lot.
I am reading a crime novel now.
Have you read The Old Man And The Sea?
Yesterday I borrowed three books from the library.
He has been like that since his childhood.
He was elected captain of the school team two years ago.
All the trains are running late today.
They have won several tournaments since he became the captain.
We went home only after we finished /had finished the work.
The boy left home a year ago.
He has not written to his parents since then.
My brother has been staying with me for three years.