Tense practice questions with answers

 

20 mix questions from simple past tense, past continuous tense, past perfect tense, past perfect continuous tense

Simple Past Tense:

1.      When ___ (you/arrive) at the party last night?

2.      She ___ (lose) her keys yesterday.

3.      We ___ (not/watch) the movie because we were busy.

4.      ___ (he/call) you last night?

5.      They ___ (buy) a new house last year.

Past Continuous Tense:

6.      I ___ (study) when my mom called me.

7.      What ___ (you/do) at 8 PM yesterday?

8.      While she ___ (cook), the power went out.

9.      We ___ (play) football when it started raining.

10. He ___ (not/sleep) when I entered his room.

Past Perfect Tense:

11. By the time we arrived, the show ___ (already/start).

12. She ___ (never/see) such a beautiful sunset before.

13. When he arrived at the station, the train ___ (already/leave).

14. They ___ (finish) their homework before their parents came home.

15. I ___ (not/meet) him before the conference.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense:

16. She ___ (work) at the company for five years before she quit.

17. We ___ (walk) for hours before we found a place to rest.

18. He was tired because he ___ (run) all morning.

19. How long ___ (they/wait) before the bus arrived?

20. I ___ (not/sleep) well for weeks before I went on vacation.

25 fill-in-the-blank questions using after, before, when, and while in the past tense:

Using "After"

1.      After she ___ (finish) her homework, she went to bed.

2.      They went out after they ___ (eat) dinner.

3.      After I ___ (watch) the movie, I wrote a review.

4.      He felt much better after he ___ (take) the medicine.

5.      After we ___ (arrive) at the airport, we checked in our luggage.

Using "Before"

6.      She had never seen the ocean before she ___ (visit) the beach.

7.      Before I ___ (go) to bed, I brushed my teeth.

8.      Had you already eaten before they ___ (arrive)?

9.      They left before we ___ (have) a chance to say goodbye.

10. Before he ___ (become) a doctor, he had studied for many years.

Using "When"

11. I was cooking when the phone ___ (ring).

12. When she ___ (open) the door, she saw a surprise party.

13. They had already left when I ___ (reach) the station.

14. When we ___ (arrive) at the cinema, the movie had already started.

15. He was walking home when it suddenly ___ (start) to rain.

Using "While"

16. She was singing while he ___ (play) the guitar.

17. While I ___ (wait) for the bus, I met an old friend.

18. The baby started crying while they ___ (have) dinner.

19. While he ___ (watch) TV, his mother was cooking.

20. I saw a rainbow while we ___ (drive) through the countryside.

Mixed Questions

21. After she ___ (leave) the house, she realized she had forgotten her keys.

22. He had already finished his work before the deadline ___ (pass).

23. The lights went out when we ___ (eat) dinner.

24. While they ___ (play) in the garden, it started raining.

25. Before she ___ (be) a teacher, she had worked as a journalist.

25 fill-in-the-blank questions using simple future tense, future continuous tense, future perfect tense, and future perfect continuous tense:

Simple Future Tense

1.      She ___ (call) you tomorrow.

2.      We ___ (visit) our grandparents next weekend.

3.      He ___ (not attend) the meeting.

4.      ___ (you/help) me with my project?

5.      They ___ (arrive) at 5 PM.

Future Continuous Tense

6.      This time next week, I ___ (travel) to Paris.

7.      While you are studying, I ___ (be) at work.

8.      He ___ (not/watch) TV at this hour tomorrow.

9.      What ___ (you/do) at 8 PM tonight?

10. They ___ (have) dinner when we arrive.

Future Perfect Tense

11. By next year, she ___ (complete) her degree.

12. We ___ (finish) our work before the deadline.

13. By the time you wake up, I ___ (leave).

14. How many books ___ (she/read) by the end of the month?

15. The train ___ (already/depart) before we reach the station.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

16. By next year, he ___ (work) in this company for five years.

17. She ___ (study) for hours by the time we arrive.

18. By December, they ___ (live) in this house for ten years.

19. How long ___ (you/wait) when the bus finally arrives?

20. By 2030, scientists ___ (research) this topic for decades.

Mixed Questions

21. I ___ (meet) you at the airport tomorrow.

22. By next summer, we ___ (save) enough money for a vacation.

23. While you are sleeping, I ___ (write) my report.

24. He ___ (not/finish) his work by noon.

25. How long ___ (she/work) at the company by the time she retires?

 Answers

Simple Past Tense

1.      When did you arrive at the party last night?

2.      She lost her keys yesterday.

3.      We did not watch the movie because we were busy.

4.      Did he call you last night?

5.      They bought a new house last year.

Past Continuous Tense

6.      I was studying when my mom called me.

7.      What were you doing at 8 PM yesterday?

8.      While she was cooking, the power went out.

9.      We were playing football when it started raining.

10. He was not sleeping when I entered his room.

Past Perfect Tense

11. By the time we arrived, the show had already started.

12. She had never seen such a beautiful sunset before.

13. When he arrived at the station, the train had already left.

14. They had finished their homework before their parents came home.

15. I had not met him before the conference.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

16. She had been working at the company for five years before she quit.

17. We had been walking for hours before we found a place to rest.

18. He was tired because he had been running all morning.

19. How long had they been waiting before the bus arrived?

20. I had not been sleeping well for weeks before I went on vacation.

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Using "After"

1.      After she had finished her homework, she went to bed.

2.      They went out after they had eaten dinner.

3.      After I had watched the movie, I wrote a review.

4.      He felt much better after he had taken the medicine.

5.      After we had arrived at the airport, we checked in our luggage.

Using "Before"

6.      She had never seen the ocean before she visited the beach.

7.      Before I went to bed, I brushed my teeth.

8.      Had you already eaten before they arrived?

9.      They left before we had a chance to say goodbye.

10. Before he became a doctor, he had studied for many years.

Using "When"

11. I was cooking when the phone rang.

12. When she opened the door, she saw a surprise party.

13. They had already left when I reached the station.

14. When we arrived at the cinema, the movie had already started.

15. He was walking home when it suddenly started to rain.

Using "While"

16. She was singing while he was playing the guitar.

17. While I was waiting for the bus, I met an old friend.

18. The baby started crying while they were having dinner.

19. While he was watching TV, his mother was cooking.

20. I saw a rainbow while we were driving through the countryside.

Mixed Questions

21. After she had left the house, she realized she had forgotten her keys.

22. He had already finished his work before the deadline passed.

23. The lights went out when we were eating dinner.

24. While they were playing in the garden, it started raining.

25. Before she was a teacher, she had worked as a journalist.

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Simple Future Tense

1.      She will call you tomorrow.

2.      We will visit our grandparents next weekend.

3.      He will not attend the meeting.

4.      Will you help me with my project?

5.      They will arrive at 5 PM.

Future Continuous Tense

6.      This time next week, I will be traveling to Paris.

7.      While you are studying, I will be at work.

8.      He will not be watching TV at this hour tomorrow.

9.      What will you be doing at 8 PM tonight?

10. They will be having dinner when we arrive.

Future Perfect Tense

11. By next year, she will have completed her degree.

12. We will have finished our work before the deadline.

13. By the time you wake up, I will have left.

14. How many books will she have read by the end of the month?

15. The train will have already departed before we reach the station.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

16. By next year, he will have been working in this company for five years.

17. She will have been studying for hours by the time we arrive.

18. By December, they will have been living in this house for ten years.

19. How long will you have been waiting when the bus finally arrives?

20. By 2030, scientists will have been researching this topic for decades.

Mixed Questions

21. I will meet you at the airport tomorrow.

22. By next summer, we will have saved enough money for a vacation.

23. While you are sleeping, I will be writing my report.

24. He will not have finished his work by noon.

25. How long will she have been working at the company by the time she retires?