VERB TENSES Exercise 1: Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences She came into the room while they _ television A watched B have watched C are watching D were watching I a headache since yesterday A had B was having C have had D would have The teacher _ into the room A has still come B has already come C has yet come D has recently come When he failed to meet us, we without him A left B would leave C was leaving D has left He book the tickets, but he had no time to call at the cinema A would B will C is going to D was going to Peter has been trying for an hour, but his car still start A won‘t B wouldn‘t C didn‘t D hasn‘t It‘s an hour since he , so he must be at the office now A is leaving B was leaving C has left D left Most students _ hard for the last few weeks A were working B worked C are working D have been working He up his mind yet A didn‘t make B hasn‘t made C wasn‘t made D wasn‘t making 10 The baby non-stop for the last two hours A cried B was crying C is crying D has been crying Exercise 2: Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences The girl weeps whenever she _ such a story A hears B has heard C will hear D heard As soon as we this new apartment, we A are finding - will move B found - moved C would find - move D find - would move My teacher arrived after we _ for him for ten minutes A was waiting B have waited C had waited D waited This is the first time I to play badminton A have tried B am trying C was trying D would be trying She _ here but she doesn‘t worked here now A has worked B had work C used to work D.used to working Jack went out, but he anyone where he was going A doesn‘t tell B not told C wasn‘t telling D didn‘t tell London the capital of the United Kingdom A is B was C will be D is being Someone at the door Can you hear it? A knocks B is knocking C will knock D was knocking What are you cooking in that saucepan? It good A smells B is smelling C smelled D has smelled 10 I used to swim in this river when I young A am B was C will be D have been Exercise 3: Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences By the year 2050, many people currently employed their jobs A have lost B will be losing C will have lost D are losing Susan _ as a nurse for three years before her marriage A has been working B has worked C worked D is working Since they had that big argument, he crosses the street whenever he her A saw B sees C will see D is seeing This time tomorrow I _ in the swimming pool A am relaxing B relax C will be relaxing D relaxed At the end of this month, we here for ten years A will have been living B are living C live D will be living VERB TENSES The beach was so crowded the other day that we difficulty finding empty spot A have B have had C had D have been having Robert for the company for very long before he was promoted A hasn‘t been working B didn‘t work C hadn‘t been working D wasn‘t working ? Your eyes are red A Did you cry B Were you crying C You didn‘t cry D You not cry He looked tired because he _ for six hours A ran B was running C has been running D had been running 10 In 1875 archeologists the ruins of the Olympic Stadium in Greece A discovered B were discovering C have discovered D had discovered Exercise 4: Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences We very hard at the office lately as we are negotiating an important contract A are working B were working C have been working D had been working You can‘t believe a word he says He A always lies B is always lying C has always lied D will always lie I often find things on the beach I this very old bottle yesterday A found B was finding C had found D.had been finding They _ the new bridge by the end of the year A will complete B will have completed C have completed D had been completing He said he _ his homework since o‘clock A did B has done C had been done D had been doing A taxi collided with his car ten minutes ago but the police yet A has not come B have not come C did not come D had not come At this moment tomorrow night I on a ship A sleep B shall sleep C shall be slept D.shall be sleeping Before leaving home in the morning, she her mother she in the factory that afternoon A had told - would work B told - would work C told - works D had told worked Before you mentioned him, I _ of that author A never hear B have never heard C had never heard D never heard 10 By the end of this year, Tom English for three years A will be studying B has studied C will have studied D has been studying Exercise 5: Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences By the time you finish cooking they _ their homework A will have done B are doing C have been doing D have done Can you tell me how ? A they escaped B they were escaped C did they escape D have they escaped - Does Tom own that car? - No, I think his brother it now A has owned B is owning C owns D can own Fish on the earth for ages A exists B are existing C exist D have existed Firemen to receive an increase in pay next month A will be B are C have been D would be How many times _ him since he went to Hanoi? VERB TENSES A have you seen B you see C did you see D had you seen He _ as a cashier for twenty-five years Then he _ and went to live the country A worked - retired B had been working - retired C has worked - had retired D had been working - had retired He wrote to her a month ago, but I‘m sure he since then A has not written B didn‘t write C was not writing D was not written How many lessons before you passed your tests? A did you have B you have C have you had D were you having 10 How to stop in time when that car shot out in front of you? A did you manage B were you managing C you manage D had you managed Exercise 6: Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences I not feel good I home from work tomorrow A am staying B will be staying C will have stayed D stayed I‘m sorry for keeping you waiting I to make a telephone call to London A have tried B will try C tried D.have been trying I cannot begin sewing my dress until my mother _ it out for me A will cut B cut C has cut D will be cutting I _ everywhere for the pen I yesterday A am searching – had lost B searched - lost C have searched - lost D searched - has lost In a few minutes‘ time, when the clock strikes six, I here for three hours A waited B will have been waiting C have waited D have been waiting I _ sunglasses today because the sun is very strong A am wearing B wear C have been wearing D have worn The car stopped for the children who to cross the road A were waiting B had waited C had been waiting D waited Their football team a championship until last season A has never won B is never winning C had never been winning D had never won After ancient Greek athletes won a race in the Olympics, they _ a simple crown of olive leaves A received B had received C were receiving D have received 10 Even though they for a flat for a month, they _ able to find one anywhere A is looking - are not B have looked – are not C have been looking - have not been D have been looked - have not been Exercise 7: Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences When I last saw him, he in London A has lived B is living C was living D has been living We _ Dorothy since last Saturday A don‘t see B haven‘t seen C didn‘t see D hadn‘t seen The train half an hour ago A has been leaving B left C has left D had left Be careful! Jack the door A has just painted B paint C will have painted D painting My sister for you since yesterday A is looking B was looking C has been looking D looked VERB TENSES I Texas State University now A am attending B attend C was attending D attended He has been selling motorbikes _ A ten years ago B since ten years C for ten years ago D for ten years Christopher Columbus America more than 500 years ago A discovered B had discovered C has discovered D had been discovering He fell down when he _ towards the church A run B runs C was running D had run 10 We there when our father died A still lived B lived still C was still living D were still living Exercise 8: Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences They _ table-tennis when their father comes back home A will play B will be playing C play D would play B, Christmas, I _ for Mr Smith for six years A shall have been working B shall work C have been working D shall be working I in the room right now A am being B was being C have been being D am I to New York three times this year A have been B was C were D had been I‘ll come and see you before I _ for the States A leave B will leave C have left D shall leave The little girl asked what to her friend A has happened B happened C had happened D would have been happened John _ a book when I saw him A is reading B read C was reading D reading He said he return later A will B would C can D would be Our teacher told us yesterday that he _ England in 2004 A was visited B visited C has visited D would be visiting 10 I have been waiting for you _ A since early morning B since A.m C for two hours D All are correct Exercise 9: Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences Oil if you pour it on water A floated B floats C will be floated D float The movie was very boring and many people began to leave early By the end, most people _ A had already left B were already leaving C were already left D had already been leaving The dancing club north of this district A lays B lies C locates D lain Almost everyone for home by the time we arrived A leave B left C leaves D had left By the age of 25, he two famous novels A wrote B writes C has written D had written While her husband was in the army, Mary to him twice a week A was writing B wrote C was written D had written I couldn‘t cut the grass because the lawn mower a few days previously A broke down B has been broken C had broken down D breaks down Up to then I _ such a fat man A never saw B had never seen C never had seen D will never see I have never played badminton before This is the first time I _ to play A try B tried C have tried D am trying 10 Since , I have heard nothing from him A he had left B he left C he has left D he was left VERB TENSES Exercise 10: Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences After I _ lunch, I looked for my bag A had B had had C has had D have had By the end of next year, George _ English for ten years A will have learned B will learn C has learned D would learn The man got out of the car, round to the back and opened the boot A walking B walked C walks D walk For several years, his ambition _ to become a pilot A is B has been C was D had been Henry into the restaurant when the writer was having dinner A was going B went C has gone D had gone He will take the dog out for a walk as soon as he _ dinner A finish B finishes C will finish D.shall have finished Before you asked, the letter A was written B had been written C had written D has been written I shall be glad when he A had gone B did go C went D has gone Ask her to come and see me when she _ her work A finish B has finished C finished D finishing 10 After you finish your work, you a break A should take B have taken C might have taken D takes _I clean the room before the guests arrive? A Shall B Would C Could D Might _I use your computer for a minute? A Might B Could C Must D Would My brother _ attend a university in the USA, but he isn‘t sure yet A should B will C shall D can I think the principal of this school _ give students more freedom in choosing the courses they want to study A would B would like C might D ought to You _ ask for permission before going inside the room A have got to B would C will D might The exhibition is free for all students We _ pay any fee A mustn‘t B shouldn‘t C may not D don‘t have to Is that Tom over there? - No, it be him He‘s not tall at all A shouldn‘t B might not C can‘t D won‘t 10 They are doing very hard on their project It _ be very important to them A should B could C must D would Exercise 12: Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences We _ protect the environment if we continue treating the earth this way A are permitted to B are not allowed to C are unlikely to D are required to me to deliver these flowers to the recipient for you? That‘d be nice A Will you want B Would you like C Are you permitted D Should You look very tired this morning You _ up late last night A shouldn‘t have stayed B mustn‘t stay C couldn‘t have stayed D can‘t stay Readers bring food and drink to the library Please leave them outside Exercise 11: Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences When she was young, she swim across this river A was able to B had better C would D should He stop making personal calls at work, or he will lose his job A would rather B had better C could D will VERB TENSES A aren‘t allowed to B are permitted to C don‘t have to D have to You disturb him He has been very aggressive these days A had better not B hadn‘t better C would rather not D wouldn‘t rather She _ take a five-week business trip That‘s what her boss told her yesterday A is able to B would rather C is to D would like to _ skiing with us this weekend? A Would you go B Would you rather to go C Would you prefer go D Would you like to go Look at all the tools on the floor He somewhere around here Let‘s find him A couldn‘t be working B can‘t be working C couldn‘t be working D must be working Tom _ finish the report as soon as possible He needs it for the meeting tomorrow A is supposed to B is allowed to C isn‘t permitted to D doesn‘t have to 10 _He very hard to get such a good result A could be studying B may be studying C must have studied D should have studied Exercise 13: Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences Who would you , a famous singer or a famous actor? A like meeting B prefer to meet C rather to meet D rather meeting She is leaving She here tonight A wouldn‘t rather stay B wouldn‘t like to stay C doesn‘t want to stay D wouldn‘t prefer to stay Our math class was canceled yesterday The teacher _ busy with something A should be B could be C should have been D could have been Tom watch TV than go to the party with her A would like B isn‘t allowed C isn‘t permitted D would rather You have to wait for him because he a meeting now A may be having B may have had C may not have D may have been having Why don‘t you tell us right now what he ? A would rather not B wouldn‘t prefer to C wouldn‘t rather D would like not to Athletes _ be careful when using medicines or any kinds of drugs A are permitted to B are able to C are allowed to D are required to That player only played in the second half He _ near the end of the game A must have scored B couldn‘t have scored C might have scored D may not have scored ― finish the test yesterday?‖ - ―No, I didn‘t have enough time.‖ A Were you able to B Were you supposed to C Were you permitted to D Were you allowed to 10 The lights in Susan‘s room are still on She her assignment A must have written B might have written C should have written D might be writing Exercise 14: Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences She spoke in a low voice, but I what she was saying A can understand B could understand C were able understand D could have understood The fire spread through the building very quickly, but everyone _ escape A could B can be able C was able to D could be We didn‘t go out last night We to the movies, but we decided to stay at home A could go B can go C could be going D.could have gone VERB TENSES You‘ve been travelling all day You _ tired A must be B have been C are able to D ought to be I hear that your exams are next week You very hard right now A must to study B must be studying C had to study D must have studied The phone rang but I didn‘t hear it I asleep A must be B had to be C ought to be D must have been She passed me on the street without speaking She _ me A mustn‘t see B can‘t see C mustn‘t have seen D can‘t have seen Jack was an excellent tennis player He anybody A can beat B is able to beat C could beat D.was able to beat It‘s really a good movie You _ and see it this evening A should have gone B must have to go C ought to go D used to go 10 I'm not sure where to go on my vacation, but I to Ha Long Bay A able to go B may go C can be going D may not be going Exercise 15: Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences This building finished by the end of last year but there have been so many strikes that it isn‘t finished yet A will have been B should have been C was to have been D may not have been Jenny‘s engagement ring is enormous! It _ have cost a fortune A can B must C could D should Tom painted his bedroom black It looks dark and dreary He _ a different colour A has to choose B should have chosen C must have chosen D could have been choosing I know you didn‘t see me yesterday because I was in Hanoi You me A may not have seen B mustn‘t have seen C shouldn‘t have seen D can‘t have seen They married next week but now they have quarreled and the wedding has been cancelled A will have B were to have been C will have been D should have been Why are you so late? You _ here two hours ago A need have been B must have been C should have been D oughtn‘t to have been I found this baby bird at the foot of a tree It _ from a nest A might not have fallen B must have fallen C can have fallen D ought to have fallen It‘s a pity you didn‘t ask because I you A could help B could have helped C should have helped D would help - The instructions were in French, and I translated them into English for him - You _ them He knows French A needn‘t have translated B oughtn‘t to have translated C shouldn‘t have translated D can‘t have translated 10 - I can‘t think why they didn‘t try to help him - They that he was drowning A couldn‘t have realized B mightn‘t have realized C must have realized D mustn‘t have realized ... never see I have never played badminton before This is the first time I _ to play A try B tried C have tried D am trying 10 Since , I have heard nothing from him A he had left B he left C he... library Please leave them outside Exercise 11 : Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences When she was young, she swim across this river A was able to B had better C... him, I _ of that author A never hear B have never heard C had never heard D never heard 10 By the end of this year, Tom English for three years A will be studying B has studied C will have