Hello. You might have read my book Clear. Correct. Confident. English. Here are more exercises of the 5 Core English Tenses for you:

(I suggest you copy the exercises onto your computer and fill in the gaps. Then, come back and check the correct answers, which are below. Alternatively, you can download the exercises + answers as a document below.)

Simple Present

  1. You should know the routine, we ___________ (to do) it every year.
  2. This concept ____________ (not, to work) here.
  3. Where _______________________ (we, usually, to get) the information from?
  4. This _____________________ (not, to sound) very promising to me! I _________________ (not, to want) to decide it without consulting the manager.
  5.  _____________________ (we, to have) numbers? Can you show me charts please?
  6. We ____________________ (not, to store) the files in this building, we _____________ (to keep) them somewhere around the corner.
  7. Who _____________ (to be) the communication expert for this?
  8.  __________________ (you, to believe) in our company vision? If not, please ________________ (not, to get) yourself involved.
  9. She ________________ (not, to understand) the official requirements, I think.
  10. ________________  (anybody, to understand) the Corona restrictions?

 

Present Continuous

1. Look! Sarah _____________ (to sit) at the hairdresser’s, she _____________ (to get) a new haircut.

2.  Listen how wonderfully Max ____________ (to play) the piano.

3. _______________________ (your sister, to study) for her exams?

4. You need to be quiet now, as your brother ____________ (to have) a telephone call with his possible new boss.

5. Brad ________________ not, to look very happy right now.

6. Our neighbour __________________ (to cut) the hedge and he _______________ (to leave) all the greenery on our property!

7. Listen, Bob _____________ (to start) his presentation, I can tell he _____________ (to get) ready now.

8. I wanted to tell you, I  ____________ (to read) a very interesting book!

9. _______________________ (your assistant, to prepare) the documents now for me? Can I wait?

10. Tom, what’s the matter? ________________ (you, to feel) okay?

 

Simple Past

  1. ________________ (Bob, to talk) to the guy in California last night? I would like an update!
  2. What exactly _______________ (she, to agree on) when she _________________ (to negotiate) this contract?
  3. We ______________ (to have) flexible payments with our customers last year, but it ______________ (not, to work out), so in the end, so we ______________ (must) change it.
  4. When _____________ (to be) the last time when we ______________ (to need) the overhead projector? We might as well give it away.
  5. _______________ (you, to be) hacked year, too? For our company, that ______________ (to have) a major impact on our IT-department.

6. In the meeting this morning, Dave ____________ (to play) the good cop, I ______________ (to take on) the role of the bad cop. And it ____________ (to work).

7. I remember the times when we _____________ (to manage) to increase sales figures in the double-digit range!

8. When _______________ (we, to get) so bad at satisfying our customers’ needs?

9. Hi Mr. Cook, I ________________ (to send) you the tables on Thursday. _______________ (you, to get) them?

10. I am sorry, Mr. Smith is not in today, he _____________ (to leave) for Kopenhagen this morning.

 

Present Perfect (+Continuous)

  1. We _____________ (not yet, to decide) where to go on holiday this year.
  2. _______________ (you, to be) to the doctor? You said something like it.
  3. Today, I still  ________________ (not, to watch) any news. I don’t know what’s going on.
  4. ______________ (you, to see) Bob? I need to talk to him.
  5. Oh no, you _________________  (to forget) to defrost the meat! Now we have nothing to eat.
  6. Where  _______________ (you, to be) all afternoon, I ________________ (to look) for you for an hour
  7. How long _______________ (you, to look) for a new flat now? Seems like a long time…
  8. I _________________ (to work) as a police officer for over ten years now.
  9. For 30 years, my parents __________________ (to live) in the same flat, but we need to think about moving now. It’s too big.
  10. Erik, where do you think you are going? ______________ (you, to finish) your homework?

 

Will-Future

1. If you need it so urgently, I  _____________ (to pop in) at the supermarket after work.

2.  What time, do you think,  ____________________ (you, to do) your homework?

3.  We think that we _____________ (to meet) David at the weekend.

4.  _____________ (you, come) to meet my parents tonight?

5. I think, Mary ______________ (not, to be able) to join us this year, she is getting married.

6. We ___________________ (to be) late if you don’t hurry up.

7. By the time we get there, it __________________(to rain), believe me.

8.  _________________ (you, to work) tomorrow morning?

9. When _____________________ (Peter, to leave) for Paris, do you think?

10. I have charged my power bank now, so I ___________ (to be) okay for the afternoon.

Here is a document with answers:

Exercises + Answers

Exercises without answers