Verb Tenses – Examples
If you need verb tenses examples, please go to the last section of this page.
Verb Tenses Exercises
Our verb tenses exercises below review the use of tenses in the English language.
Instructions: Study the basic verb tenses examples in the last section. Then attempt the exercises in this section. The answers are provided at the end of the exercise.
(1) We __________ (meet) at the entrance of the mall before going shopping yesterday.
(2) I __________ (try) to finish the project by the end of the week.
(3) At the end of this month, we __________ (finish) the job.
(4) When my Grandpa was alive, he always __________ (tell) the most interesting stories.
(5) We __________ (just arrive) when she announced that she was getting engaged.
(6) He __________ (buy) a boat last week for $3000.
(7) I __________ (pass) the exam next week if I study hard.
(8) Mary __________ (run) 3 miles every afternoon in order to keep fit.
(9) I __________ (never eat) such a delicious meal in all my life!
(10) Her parents __________ (disapprove) of her decision, but she did it anyway.
(11) She __________ (speak) English very well.
(12) I __________ (play) with my friend tennis yesterday.
(13) I __________ (get) a taxi to work tomorrow.
(14) He __________ (just buy) a new car.
(15) When we arrived home, we saw that someone __________ (break) into the house.
Answers to the Verb Tenses Exercises
(1) met
(2) will try
(3) will have finished
(4) told
(5) had just arrived
(6) bought
(7) will pass
(8) runs
(9) have never eaten
(10) disapproved
(11) speaks
(12) played
(13) will get
(14) has just bought
(15) had broken
Verb Tenses Review
This section reviews the basic active verb tenses.
Present Simple – Active Voice
Example: I walk to work every morning.
Present simple tense is used for actions in the present time.
It is also used for habitual actions or facts.
Past Simple – Active Voice
Example: I walked in the park yesterday.
The past simple tense describes actions that were completed in the past.
Future – Active Voice
Example: I will walk in the park tomorrow.
The future simple tense is for actions that will take place in the future.
Present Perfect – Active Voice
Example: I have walked three miles since I left home this morning.
The present perfect verb form is for past actions that are relevant to the present time.
The present perfect is often used with these words:
already, just, never, since
Past Perfect – Active Voice
Example: I had just walked onto the dance floor when the music began to play.
The past perfect tense describes a past action that has relevance to another past event.
The past perfect can also be used with the words “just” and “never”.
Future Perfect – Active Voice
Example: If I go out every day, I will have walked 15 miles by the end of the week.
The future perfect tense can be used to express plans or predictions.
Grammar Review – Other Verb Tenses
If you are studying English, you already know that there are many other verb forms and tenses.
For example, there is the continuous form and the passive voice.
We will look at the other verb forms in our other grammar exercises on this website.
