Present Tenses
Listen! The baby __________ in the next room.
A) cries
B) is crying
C) has cried
D) cried
✅ Answer: B) is crying
(Explanation: "Listen!" indicates an action happening right now, so we use Present Continuous.)
He said, "I don't understand the question." -> He said he ______ the question.
didn't understand
I usually __________ coffee, but this week I __________ tea because I'm sick.
A) drink / drink
B) drink / am drinking
C) am drinking / drink
D) drank / am drinking
✅ Answer: B) drink / am drinking
(Explanation: "Usually" = habit (Present Simple). "This week" = temporary change (Present Continuous).)
If he studies hard, he ______ (pass) the exam
will pass
I __________ breakfast when the postman arrived.
A) had
B) was having
C) have had
D) am having
✅ Answer: B) was having
(Explanation: An ongoing action in the past (having breakfast) interrupted by a short action (arrived) uses Past Continuous.)
Look at those dark clouds! It __________ rain soon.
A) will
B) is going to
C) is raining
D) rains
✅ Answer: B) is going to
(Explanation: When there is present evidence (dark clouds), we use "going to" for a prediction.)
I __________ that movie three times already.
A) see
B) am seeing
C) have seen
D) saw
✅ Answer: C) have seen
(Explanation: "Three times already" connects the past action to the present, so we use Present Perfect.)
He said, "I went to Paris last year." -> He said he ______ to Paris the previous year.
had gone
She __________ her keys. She can't find them anywhere.
A) loses
B) lost
C) has lost
D) was losing
✅ Answer: C) has lost
(Explanation: The action happened in the past but has a present result (she can't find them now). Present Perfect.)
If I ______ (have) a car, I'd drive you to the station.
had
After we __________ dinner, we went for a walk.
A) finish
B) have finished
C) had finished
D) were finishing
✅ Answer: C) had finished
(Explanation: One past action happened before another past action. The earlier one uses Past Perfect.)
Don't worry, I __________ you carry that heavy suitcase.
A) am going to help
B) will help
C) help
D) am helping
✅ Answer: B) will help
(Explanation: A spontaneous offer or decision made at the moment of speaking uses "will".)
She __________ to work every day, but today she __________ the bus.
A) drives / takes
B) is driving / is taking
C) drives / is taking
D) is driving / takes
✅ Answer: C) drives / is taking
(Explanation: "Every day" is a habit (Present Simple). "Today" is a temporary change (Present Continuous).)
I asked, "Will you help me?" -> I asked if he ______ help me.
would
While I __________ through the park, I __________ an old friend.
A) walked / met
B) was walking / was meeting
C) walked / was meeting
D) was walking / met
✅ Answer: D) was walking / met
(Explanation: Long background action (was walking) interrupted by a short action (met).)
She would be happier if she ______ (live) near the sea.
lived
When I was a child, I __________ to be a pilot.
A) want
B) wanted
C) have wanted
D) was wanting
✅ Answer: B) wanted
(Explanation: A finished state in the past. Past Simple is used because "when I was a child" is a completed time period.)
This time next week, we __________ on a beach in Spain.
A) will lie
B) are going to lie
C) will be lying
D) lie
✅ Answer: C) will be lying
(Explanation: An action that will be in progress at a specific time in the future ("this time next week") uses Future Continuous.)
They __________ each other since they were children.
A) know
B) are knowing
C) have known
D) knew
✅ Answer: C) have known
(Explanation: "Since" + a past point in time requires Present Perfect. "Know" is a stative verb, so it cannot be continuous.)
She asked, "Are you a student?" -> She asked if I ______ a student.
was,
We __________ each other for ten years by the time we get married.
A) know
B) will know
C) will have known
D) have known
✅ Answer: C) will have known
(Explanation: "By the time" + a future event requires Future Perfect to show an action completed before that time.)
I would learn Russian if I ______ (have) more time.
had
She __________ the dishes while her brother __________ the floor.
A) washed / vacuumed
B) was washing / was vacuuming
C) has washed / vacuumed
D) washes / vacuums
✅ Answer: B) was washing / was vacuuming
(Explanation: Two actions happening at the same time in the past use Past Continuous.)
The train __________ at 8 PM. We need to leave now.
A) will leave
B) is going to leave
C) leaves
D) will be leaving
✅ Answer: C) leaves
(Explanation: Scheduled events like timetables use Present Simple for the future.)
I'm sure they __________ by now. The plane landed two hours ago.
A) arrive
B) arrived
C) have arrived
D) will have arrived
✅ Answer: C) have arrived
(Explanation: A past action with a present result (they are probably here now). Present Perfect.)
They said, "We have finished our work." -> They said they ______ their work.
had finished
He __________ in a bank before he became a teacher.
A) works
B) has worked
C) had worked
D) was working
✅ Answer: C) had worked
(Explanation: The bank job happened BEFORE he became a teacher (both in the past). Past Perfect is used for the earlier action.)
If I were a bird, I ______ (fly) to a warm country.
would fly
I __________ to call you last night, but I __________ your number.
A) wanted / forgot
B) have wanted / have forgotten
C) was wanting / was forgetting
D) want / forget
✅ Answer: A) wanted / forgot
(Explanation: Both actions are completed and finished in the past. "Last night" is a specific finished time, so we use Past Simple.)
By 2028, I __________ university and will have a job.
A) finish
B) will finish
C) will have finished
D) am finishing
✅ Answer: C) will have finished
(Explanation: "By + a future time" indicates an action that will be completed before that time. This is Future Perfect.)
She __________ French for three years now, and she's still not fluent.
A) studies
B) studied
C) has been studying
D) was studying
✅ Answer: C) has been studying
(Explanation: An action that started in the past and continues to the present, emphasizing the duration. Present Perfect Continuous.)
They asked, "Did you see the film?" -> They asked if I ______ the film.
had seen
By the end of this year, we __________ in this house for a decade.
A) live
B) will live
C) will have lived
D) have lived
✅ Answer: C) will have lived
(Explanation: "By the end of this year" indicates an action that will be completed before that future time. Future Perfect.)
If you ______ (not / water) plants, they die.
don't water
When we got to the cinema, the film __________ already __________.
A) has / started
B) was / starting
C) had / started
D) did / start
✅ Answer: C) had / started
(Explanation: The film started BEFORE we arrived (both in the past). Past Perfect is used for the earlier action.)
This time tomorrow, I __________ my final exam.
A) take
B) will take
C) will be taking
D) am taking
✅ Answer: C) will be taking
(Explanation: "This time tomorrow" = an action in progress at a specific future moment. Future Continuous.)