English Grammar Exercises: Verb Tenses

Posted on Mar 14, 2025 in English

English Grammar Exercises

Dialogue Completion (Present Simple)

Complete the dialogue using the verbs in brackets in the correct form:

A: Why don’t you finish your homework and come and watch TV?

B: Because I don’t understand it. It is too difficult.

A: Why don’t you ask your teacher to explain it?

B: Because I don’t like him.

A: And why don’t you like him?

B: Well, he always shouts at me.

A: Why does he shout at you?

B: Well, I don’t work in class and I don’t do my homework.

A: Well, no wonder he shouts at you. Give me your book now. We’ll try and do it together.

Adverbs of Frequency

Put the words in brackets in the correct place in the sentences:

  1. I always keep my room tidy.
  2. Do you sometimes go on holiday in winter?
  3. He never helps with the housework.
  4. She rarely plays cards.
  5. Does she often visit his friends?
  6. They don’t often eat sweets.
  7. We usually eat a lot of vegetables.
  8. You must never tell lies.
  9. She can always answer the teacher’s questions.

Present Simple vs. Present Continuous

Put the verbs in brackets into Present Simple or Present Continuous:

Caller: Good morning. Is Mr. Green there?

Man: No, he is not here. He is working at the moment. He usually works until 4 p.m.

Caller: What about Mrs. Green? Where is she?

Man: She is doing the shopping. She always does the shopping on Thursday afternoons.

Caller: Where are the children?

Man: They are playing football. They always play football after school.

Caller: How do you know all this? Who are you?

Man: I am the burglar!

Mixed Verb Tense Practice

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense:

  1. He often brings me flowers.
  2. Did you meet Paul yesterday?
  3. Father is working in the garden now.
  4. What are you doing at the moment?
  5. Mr. Jones painted his house last month.
  6. She goes to school on foot every day.
  7. It was hot yesterday.
  8. The baby is not sleeping now.
  9. He never drives fast.
  10. She left Paris in 1987.
  11. She always goes to church on Sunday.
  12. I bought a new bicycle last week.
  13. My family went to the theatre yesterday.
  14. Tom lived in London three years ago.
  15. My mother is making some coffee now.
  16. Sam went to the circus yesterday.
  17. I am talking on the telephone at the moment.
  18. Sally always helps her mother in the house.
  19. I had dinner in a restaurant last Friday.
  20. Listen! The birds are singing in the garden.
  21. I often buy fruit from the greengrocer’s.
  22. My mother is drinking tea now.
  23. Look at Tom and Jim! They are walking up the hill.
  24. That man is laughing at the moment.
  25. The cat is playing with a ball now.
  26. We always wear warm clothes in winter.
  27. He often eats a sandwich at lunchtime.