Verb tenses

EXERCISES ON VERB TENSES
A. Present simple and present progressive
I. Complete the sentences, putting the verbs into the correct tense
1. What’s that book you…are reading... ? (read)
2. We usually…go…to the beach at weekends. (go)
3. She…………………..to me every week. (write)
4. “Where’s Kevin?” – “He……………………football with his friends”. (play)
5. My boss………………….to NewYork every three months. (fly)
6. Can you answer the phone? I…………………….. (cook)
7. Look! That man…………………………..get into your car. (get)
8. ………………………to school every morning? (you walk)
9. The bank………………………on Sundays. (not open)
10. Her son………………………her very often. (not visit)
11. He…………………his car every weekend. (wash)
12. I’m sorry, but you can’t talk to him now. He…………………….a shower. (have)
13. “What………………………?” (you do) - My homework.
14. Snakes……………………for most of the day. (sleep)
15. Many people………………………….this kind of food. (not like)
16. Could you be quite, please? I………………………to the radio. (listen)
17. We…………………………at a hotel at the moment. (stay)
18. “Where’s Jack?” - “He……………………….in bed reading books”. (lie)
19. She……………………to work by train. (go)
20. I………………………….for Mary. She’s late. (wait)
II. Circle the correct answer.
1. You’re quiet. What (do you think/ are you thinking) about?
2. What (do you think/ are you thinking) about the new sports centre?
3. I’m sorry but I (am not agreeing/ don’t agree) with you.
4. (Are you looking/ Do you look) for me?
5. (Do you prefer/ Are you preferring) walking to cycling?
6. I (don’t like/ am not liking) him at the moment.
7. I (hear/ am hearing) that you are leaving us.

8. I’m afraid I (am not remembering/ don’t remember) where we first met.
9. “(Do you listen/ Are you listening) to the radio?” –“Just sometimes”
10. “(Do you listen/ Are you listening) to the radio?” – “No you can turn it off”.
11. I (hate/ am hating) cold evenings.
12. I (look/ am looking) forward to my next holiday presently.
13. They are free at the moment. They (don’t do/ are not doing) anything.
14. At the present she (looks/ is looking) much better than a few minutes ago.
15. Why (aren’t you agreeing/ don’t you agree) with the idea?
16. What (is this word meaning/ does this word mean)?
17. I (am not understanding/ don’t understand) what you are saying.
18. Your room is in such a mess! Why (are you always throwing/ do you always throw)
your thing everywhere on the floor?
19. I know they (are watching/ watch) us, so please be careful with every action.
20. I hope you know what I (mean/ am meaning).
I. Complete the sentences, putting the verb into the correct tenses
1. I…………….in Washing ton, though I…………………..in London at the moment.
(live-stay)
2. The car isn’t here today because Sheila…………………….it. She generally…………..
the bus, but the drivers are on strike. (use-use)
3. We usually………………..at home on Fridays, but we came out tonight because
we……………... our anniversary. (stay-celebrate)
4. This river usually………………………..slowly, but today it…………………………
fast as it rained hard yesterday.
5. I…………………………stay with my parents at the moment, though I………………..
my own flat. (stay-have)
6. They usually…………………….at weekends, though they………………….at the
moment. (work-work)
7. He…………………….technique in a school, but at the moment he………………… in
a factory as it is the summer holiday. (teach-work)
8. The business usually………………….money, though it…………………..rather badly

now. (make-do)
9. My father usually…………………….at night, but she……………………..a rest now as
she has been too tired. (work-take)
10. I………………..…..French at the moment, but I…………………..…it well yet.
(study-not speak)
B. Past simple and Past progressive
IV. Complete the sentences, putting the verb into the correct tenses
1. Do you like this picture? My uncle…painted…it. (paint)
2. We..were having…lunch when we heard the news. (have)
3. He broke his arm while he……………………….rugby. (play)
4. Kylie………………………her first film when she was 21. (make)
5. …………………………the football match on T.V yesterday? (you see)
6. I….……………………on the computer when the earthquake happened. (work)
7. Who was that man you………………………….when I came in? (talk)
8. She was so tired that she……………………………for twelve hours. (sleep)
9. The fire………………………..the old church completely. (destroy)
10. I………………………….in the queue when the robber came in. (wait)
11. I…………………………a bath when she phoned. (have)
12. They………………………the door, then they went in. (knock)
13. Mark and Mathersa…………………………in Britain for many years. (live)
14. The police……………………..them a lot of questions before they released them. (ask)
15. We………………………tea when they arrived. (have)
16. What…………………………….when the alarm sounded? (you do)
17. The factory……………………….six thousand cars last year. (make)
18. She……………………….anything to my parents. (not say)
19. James……………….………..through the forest when the storm……………………..
(walk- start).
20. What………………………do when your house…………………….fire? I…………..
(you do-catch-sleep)