Master English Verb Tenses with Practice Sentences

Verb Forms for Tense Practice

Present Simple, Present Continuous, and Gerunds

• Lives
• Knows
• Rides
• Enjoys
• Watching
• Are looking
• Hunting
• Doesn't hunt
• Is waiting
• Is preparing
• Has

Past Simple and Past Continuous

• Went
• Walked
• Were eating
• Watched
• Were dancing
• Started
• Visited
• Stood
• Looked

Grammar and Spelling Correction Exercises

Sentence Set 1

1. In the Great Fire of Chicago, more than three hundred thousand people died, and many people had pains and several symptoms like sneezing. Did you know that?
2. Some wild predators can't distinguish between their prey and their surroundings, so they use other techniques to catch them.
3. Those mammals are very poisonous and dangerous because it is difficult to survive their bites.
4. We take medicines and unpleasant herbs to fight diseases and death or to prevent germs and viruses from spreading.
5. Jungle insects often hide in their surroundings in holes or by changing their color. Few animals survive in the desert without using disguise.
6. They are pretending to listen to the teacher. They are actually trying to fool him. Somebody opened the door to release the raccoons.
7. Diseases like the plague were very dangerous due to their symptoms, such as bloating and high fever. Living in London at that time was a scary experience.
8. He has a remarkable memory for remembering names, even the date of his grandparents' death. He used to enjoy watching amphibians swimming in the river.
9. Did you use to send letters to your grandparents on Sunday mornings? No, we were never interested in writing to our family, but we loved reading books about the plague.

Sentence Set 2

1. While working for the government, he also spied for the Russians. For 15 years, Robert Hanssen was releasing information to the KGB. Has he been releasing the names of three men working for the FBI?
2. The Russians killed some British traders who received money for secret messages and passwords. The Americans know that there was a former agent, but they can't conceal it for long. Haven't you heard?
3. In that fire, more than three hundred thousand people died, and many people had pains and symptoms like coughing and sneezing. We have been taking drugs and unpleasant herbs to fight against diseases and death or to prevent germs and viruses from spreading.
4. "Have you been working for the secret service for many years?" "Yes, I have, since three offices were opened in the last part of the country. We have just arrived in Europe and have been bringing hidden messages written with invisible ink. Haven't they told you yet?"
5. They are pretending to listen to the teacher because they can't stand listening to what he's saying. Furthermore, to help Anton, although they like studying that subject, they don't feel like doing their homework today. Is she interested in helping them? Have they been waiting for her all day?
6. She is the worst person I have ever met. Have you ever met anybody like her? She is too selfish, but isn't she clever enough?