English Grammar: Verb Tense Practice and Examples

Present Perfect and Past Simple Exercises

1. Did you see the Bruce Lee film on TV last night? No, but I have seen all his films on video already this year.
2. I have lived in Germany for five years now. I moved here in 1989. I lived in Portugal for a time, but I am living in Rome now.
3. How long have you been learning Italian? I started learning the language when I was 12.
4. I have lost my sunglasses. Have you seen them?
5. My father worked in this shop for twelve years. Then he got a job in a bank.

Past Simple and Past Continuous Practice

1. Bruce paid the bill while Mary was putting her coat on.
2. When she was washing her skirt, she found a pound in the pocket.
3. It was so hot yesterday that we decided to go to the beach. We were putting everything in the car when my father arrived. To our surprise, he told us the battery was going flat.
4. When I was leaving home, I saw a car accident in the street.
5. Someone stole my mobile while I was making a call.

Mixed Tenses: Present, Past, and Future

1. George went to the doctor yesterday. His brother Peter had gone two days before.
2. Helen came to see us yesterday morning. We were really happy to see her because we hadn't seen each other for five years.
3. When we arrived at the airport last night, we heard a terrible noise. We asked the police what had happened, and they told us that a bomb had exploded.
4. Bruce paid the bill while Mary was putting her coat on.
5. As soon as John got up, he took a shower.
6. When I went upstairs, the children were playing games.
7. I was tired; I had been working all day.
8. I bought a new dress yesterday, but when I arrived home, I found a hole in it.
9. When she opened the fridge, she found that Lucy had drunk all the milk.
10. He was exhausted because he had been skiing all day.
11. Don't ring now; she is watching her favorite TV program. All right, I will ring at 8:30.
12. This time next month, the snow will have melted and skiing will be over.