Grammar: Tenses (Easy-with key)

The following exercises cover a range of tenses, conditionals, and the subjunctive mood, providing practice and reinforcement of these important grammatical structures.

Exercise 1: Simple Present, Present Perfect, and Simple Past

Instructions: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. She __________ (go) to the gym every day.
2. I __________ (see) that movie last week.
3. They __________ (finish) their homework already.
4. He __________ (write) a letter to his friend yesterday.
5. We __________ (live) in this city since 2010.
6. You __________ (eat) lunch yet?
7. They __________ (buy) a new house last month.
8. I __________ (not/meet) her before.
9. The teacher __________ (give) us an assignment yesterday.
10. She __________ (never/be) to Paris.
11. They __________ (work) here for ten years.
12. She __________ (graduate) from college last year.
13. He __________ (always/love) playing soccer.
14. The children __________ (play) outside right now.
15. I __________ (read) that book several times.

Key and Explanation:

1. goes (Present Simple – routine action)
2. saw (Simple Past – action completed in the past)
3. have finished (Present Perfect – action completed with relevance to the present)
4. wrote (Simple Past – action completed in the past)
5. have lived (Present Perfect – started in the past and continues to present)
6. Have you eaten (Present Perfect – asking about an action relevant to the present)
7. bought (Simple Past – action completed in the past)
8. have not met (Present Perfect – action relevant to the present)
9. gave (Simple Past – action completed in the past)
10. has never been (Present Perfect – experience relevant to the present)
11. have worked (Present Perfect – started in the past and continues to present)
12. graduated (Simple Past – action completed in the past)
13. has always loved (Present Perfect – experience relevant to the present)
14. are playing (Present Simple – action happening now)
15. have read (Present Perfect – experience relevant to the present)

Exercise 2: Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Perfect

Instructions: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. By the time we arrived, the movie __________ (start).
2. She __________ (live) in New York for five years before moving to LA.
3. I __________ (never/see) such a beautiful sunset before.
4. They __________ (finish) their work before the deadline.
5. He __________ (study) Japanese for three years.
6. I __________ (just/finish) my homework when you called.
7. When we __________ (arrive) at the party, it __________ (already/start).
8. She __________ (not/visit) her grandparents yet.
9. He __________ (be) to London twice this year.
10. I __________ (know) him since we were kids.
11. By the time I __________ (get) home, she __________ (already/leave).
12. They __________ (build) the new bridge last year.
13. We __________ (be) friends for ten years now.
14. The book __________ (be) on the bestseller list for months before it __________ (finally/get) published.
15. She __________ (learn) to speak Spanish in school.

Key and Explanation:

1. had started (Past Perfect – action completed before another action in the past)
2. had lived (Past Perfect – completed action before another past action)
3. have never seen (Present Perfect – experience relevant to the present)
4. had finished (Past Perfect – completed action before another past action)
5. has studied (Present Perfect – started in the past and continues to present)
6. had just finished (Past Perfect – completed action before another past action)
7. arrived, had already started (Simple Past, Past Perfect – sequence of past actions)
8. has not visited (Present Perfect – action relevant to the present)
9. has been (Present Perfect – experience relevant to the present)
10. have known (Present Perfect – started in the past and continues to present)
11. got, had already left (Simple Past, Past Perfect – sequence of past actions)
12. built (Simple Past – action completed in the past)
13. have been (Present Perfect – started in the past and continues to present)
14. had been, finally got (Past Perfect, Simple Past – sequence of past actions)
15. learned (Simple Past – action completed in the past)

Exercise 3: Conditionals

Instructions: Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in parentheses.

1. If it __________ (rain), we __________ (stay) at home.
2. She __________ (pass) the exam if she __________ (study) harder.
3. If I __________ (be) you, I __________ (accept) the job offer.
4. We __________ (go) to the beach if the weather __________ (be) good tomorrow.
5. If they __________ (know) about the meeting, they __________ (come).
6. If you __________ (call) me, I __________ (answer).
7. If she __________ (be) here, she __________ (help) us.
8. If they __________ (have) enough money, they __________ (buy) a new car.
9. If I __________ (know) the answer, I __________ (tell) you.
10. If we __________ (leave) now, we __________ (get) there on time.
11. If he __________ (study) more, he __________ (get) better grades.
12. If she __________ (practice) more, she __________ (become) a great pianist.
13. If they __________ (not/make) a mistake, they __________ (win) the game.
14. If you __________ (ask) me, I __________ (help) you.
15. If we __________ (not/hurry), we __________ (miss) the train.

Key and Explanation:

1. rains, will stay (First Conditional – real future possibility)
2. would have passed, had studied (Third Conditional – hypothetical past)
3. were, would accept (Second Conditional – hypothetical present/future)
4. will go, is (First Conditional – real future possibility)
5. had known, would have come (Third Conditional – hypothetical past)
6. called, would have answered (Third Conditional – hypothetical past)
7. were, would help (Second Conditional – hypothetical present/future)
8. had, would buy (Second Conditional – hypothetical present/future)
9. knew, would tell (Second Conditional – hypothetical present/future)
10. leave, will get (First Conditional – real future possibility)
11. studied, would get (Second Conditional – hypothetical present/future)
12. practiced, would become (Second Conditional – hypothetical present/future)
13. had not made, would have won (Third Conditional – hypothetical past)
14. asked, would help (Second Conditional – hypothetical present/future)
15. do not hurry, will miss (First Conditional – real future possibility)

Exercise 4: Subjunctive

Instructions: Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in parentheses.

1. If I __________ (be) you, I would apologize.
2. It is essential that she __________ (be) on time.
3. The teacher suggested that he __________ (study) harder.
4. If she __________ (know) the answer, she would tell us.
5. It is important that everyone __________ (be) quiet during the presentation.
6. He recommended that she __________ (take) the job offer.
7. If it __________ (rain) tomorrow, the picnic will be canceled.
8. The doctor insisted that he __________ (stay) in bed.
9. If they __________ (arrive) earlier, they would have caught the train.
10. It is crucial that you __________ (finish) the report by Friday.
11. The judge demanded that the defendant __________ (appear) in court.
12. If he __________ (win) the lottery, he would buy a new house.
13. It is vital that the information __________ (be) accurate.
14. If they __________ (have) more time, they could complete the project.
15. The manager requested that the meeting __________ (start) on time.

Key and Explanation:

1. were (Subjunctive – hypothetical situation)
2. be (Subjunctive – necessity)
3. study (Subjunctive – suggestion)
4. knew (Subjunctive – hypothetical situation)
5. be (Subjunctive – necessity)
6. take (Subjunctive – recommendation)
7. rains (Subjunctive – hypothetical future)
8. stay (Subjunctive – insistence)
9. had arrived (Subjunctive – hypothetical past)
10. finish (Subjunctive – necessity)
11. appear (Subjunctive – demand)
12. won (Subjunctive – hypothetical situation)
13. be (Subjunctive – necessity)
14. had (Subjunctive – hypothetical situation)
15. start (Subjunctive – request)