Tense consistency exercise 2 | English grammar exercises

This exercise tests your knowledge of tenses. Complete the following sentences using an appropriate verb form. Choose your answers from the options given in the brackets.

If you didn't do well or want to learn about tenses before doing this exercise go to the tenses study page. To learn about the correct use of the present perfect continuous tense, go to this study page.

Parents and teachers can print this exercise for their children. Click here for a printer friendly version of this tenses exercise.

1. 'You are all wet.' 'Yes, I .................... gardening.' (was / have been)

2. 'You look tired.' 'Yes, I ..................... running non-stop until 6 o'clock.' (was / have been)

3. I .................... for his reply for well over three weeks. (am waiting / have been waiting)

4. The children ................... in the garden when their mother returned home from work. (have been playing / were playing)

5. I .................. English for six months. (am learning / have been learning)

6. How long ....................... you ....................? (are, waiting; have, been waiting)

7. Susie ...................... ten minutes ago. (phoned / has phoned)

8. This is the first time I ................... her perform. (saw / have seen)

9. I .................. two rooms since lunchtime. (painted / have painted)

10. I ................... in my sister's flat for the last month. (have lived / have been living)

11. I realized that we .................... before. (met / had met / have met)

12. Studies suggest that the universe .................. since the beginning of time. (was expanding / has been expanding)

Answers

1. Have been; 2. Was; 3. Have been waiting; 4. Were playing; 5. Have been learning; 6. Have, been waiting; 7. Phoned; 8. Have seen; 9. Have painted; 10. Have been living; 11. Had met; 12. Has been expanding

Sections in this article

Synthesis of sentences - I
Synthesis of sentences - II
Synthesis of sentences - III
Synthesis of sentences - IV