Introduction
Learning English verb tenses can be challenging, but practice makes perfect! To help you master different tenses—from simple present to passive voice—we’ve prepared 10 fill-in-the-blank exercises with answers. These exercises cover simple past, present continuous, future simple, past perfect, modal verbs, and more. Whether you’re a student, ESL learner, or just refreshing your grammar, these drills will strengthen your understanding of verb forms.
10 Fill-in-the-Blank Verb Tense Exercises (With Answers)
1. Simple Present Tense
Every morning, Sarah _ (wake) up at 6 a.m. She (brush) her teeth and (go) for a jog. After her workout, she (eat) a healthy breakfast. Her routine _ (help) her stay energetic throughout the day.
Answers:
- wakes
- brushes
- goes
- eats
- helps
2. Past Continuous Tense
While I _ (walk) to the park yesterday, it (start) raining heavily. People (run) for shelter, and children (laugh) as they played in the puddles. I _ (carry) an umbrella, so I didn’t get wet.
Answers:
- was walking
- started
- were running
- were laughing
- was carrying
3. Present Perfect Tense
They _ (visit) three countries this year. She (finish) her project, but her brother (not start) his yet. We (see) that movie twice, but we still _ (not understand) the ending.
Answers:
- have visited
- has finished
- has not started
- have seen
- have not understood
4. Simple Past Tense
Last summer, we _ (travel) to the mountains. The weather (be) perfect, and we (hike) every day. One evening, we (see) a beautiful sunset that _ (take) our breath away.
Answers:
- traveled
- was
- hiked
- saw
- took
5. Future Simple Tense
Tomorrow, she _ (attend) an important meeting. After that, she (meet) her friends for lunch. They (discuss) their upcoming trip, and she (share) her travel plans. I hope everything _ (go) well.
Answers:
- will attend
- will meet
- will discuss
- will share
- will go
6. Present Continuous Tense
Right now, the children _ (play) in the garden. Their mother (watch) them from the window while she (prepare) dinner. The birds (sing) loudly, and the sun _ (shine) brightly.
Answers:
- are playing
- is watching
- is preparing
- are singing
- is shining
7. Past Perfect Tense
By the time we _ (reach) the station, the train (already leave). We (forget) to check the schedule earlier. Luckily, a kind stranger (tell) us about the next train, which _ (arrive) in an hour.
Answers:
- reached
- had already left
- had forgotten
- told
- arrived
8. Modal Verbs (Can/Could/Should/Must)
You _ (must) submit the report by Friday. If you need help, you (can) ask your colleagues. Last time, they (could) finish it quickly. You _ (should) also double-check the details before sending it.
Answers:
- must
- can
- could
- should
9. Mixed Tenses (Present, Past, Future)
She usually _ (read) a book before bed, but last night she (watch) a movie instead. Tomorrow, she (start) a new novel that she (buy) last week. She hopes it _ (be) interesting.
Answers:
- reads
- watched
- will start
- bought
- will be
10. Passive Voice
The new bridge _ (build) last year. Many workers (hire) for the project. Now, it (use) by thousands of people daily. The old bridge (damage) in a storm, so it _ (replace) with this stronger one.
Answers:
- was built
- were hired
- is used
- was damaged
- was replaced
Conclusion
Practicing verb tenses through fill-in-the-blank exercises is an effective way to improve your English grammar. These 10 exercises cover essential tenses—simple present, past continuous, future simple, present perfect, passive voice, and more. By checking your answers, you can identify areas for improvement. Keep practicing, and soon, using correct verb forms will become second nature!
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