Grammer Test - Tenses

Combine each set of sentences so that the second sentence becomes a when clause. Use the required verb forms:

1. She (prepare) dinner. A quarrel (break out) among the children. ____________ ________________________________________________________________________

2. They (eat) breakfast. They (hear) a knock at the door. _______________________________________________________________________

3. The old man (walk) in the park. A man with a gun (approach) him. _ ____________________________________________________________________

4. The orchestra members (get) ready to start the performance. They (hear) some noice in the rear of the concert hall. _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

5. He (work) for several hours. The mailman (come) with a special delivery letter. ______ _____________________________________________________________________

Select the phrase that fits best below:

1. (a) It didn't rain last week

(b) It hasn't rain

2. (a) I didn't see Jerry since last night

(b) I haven't seen Jerry

3. How long (a) is the man dead?

(b) has the man died?

(c) has the man been dead?

4. The war (a) has been over for many years now

(b) has ended

5. The committee (a) has made its decision before all the

(b) had made facts were in.

6. By the time the police arrived, the man

(a) has been dead for two hours.

(b) had been dead

7. School (a) has started for more than two weeks now.

(b) began

(c) has been in session

8. How long (a) are you living here?

(b) have you been living here?

(c) do you live here?

9. They (a) lived in Iowa for several years when I

(b) were lived first met them.

(c) had lived

10. I studied that subject (a) from 1970 to 1972.

(b) since 1970.

(c) since last year.

Supply each sentence below with a verb form that makes a correct English sentence. For some sentences, several forms are possible.

1. He (already walk) _________________________ out of the house when he (reaslize) _______________ he had no money with him.

2. Her husband (sleep) _______________ soundly when she (go) _________________ into the bedroom to awaken him.

3. They (live) ________________ in England when the war (break out) _____________________.

4. He (water) _________________ the lawn when it (start) ___________________ to rain.

5. They (just return) _________________________ from the beach when some unexpected guests (arive) __________________________.

6. He (never be) _________________ ill in his life until he (go) ___________________ into jungle.

7. The police (ask) ________________ the boy why he (steal) ___________ the money.

8. Almost all the guests (leave) _______________ by the time we (arrive) ________________.

9. I (have) _________________________ this toothache since yesterday.

10. I (not yet see) _______________________________________ that play.

Supply the following paragraph with the correct verb forms:

I was only thirteen then, but I (be) _________________ a full member of my cousin's gang in the inner city. We often (fight) ____________________ with another gang because we (do not) _______________________ want them on our street.

One Saturday night, out gang (chase) _______________ the other gang into a parking lot. Suddenly, someone (point) _____________ a gun at me. Just before he fired, my cousin (step) _________________ in front of me. The bullet (hit) ______________ him in the stomach. They (take) ______________ him to the hospital, but in two weeks he (be) __________________ out and (do) ______________ all right. He (step) __________________ in front of me on purpose.