TENSE REVISION

Exercise 1: Choose the best answer

1. When I got home I found that water...............................down the kitchen walls
A. ran B. was running C. has run D. had been running
2. After he.......................his English course, he went to England to continue his study
A. has finish B. had finished C. was finished D. would finish
3. How.........................since we .....................college?
A. are you- left B. were you- left
C. have you been- have left D. have you been- left
4. I..................much of you lately. We..........................three months ago
A. havent seen- last meet B. didnt see- met
C. havent seen- have meet D. didnt see- have met
5. The Chinese.......................spaghetti dishes for a long time before Marco Polo.................back to Italy
A. made- brought B. have made- brought
C. made- had brought D. had been making- brought
6. When I arrived at the meeting the first speaker.................speaking and the audience...................
A. just finished- were clapping B. had just finished- had clapped
C. had just finished- were clapping D. just finished- had clapped
7. He.............................his job last month and then he..................out of work
A. lost- was B. was lost- had been C. has lost- was D. lost- has been
8. In the last hundred years, travelling.......................much easier and more comfortable
A. become B. has become C. became D. will became
9. In the 19
th
century, it.............two or three months to across North America by covered wagon
A. took B. had taken C. had been taken D. was taking
10. In the past, the trip...................very rough and often dangerous, but things..........a great deal in the
last hundred and fifty years
A. was- have changed B. is- change
C. had been- will change D. has been- changed
11. She................Hanoi last year
A. went B. go C. goes D. is going
12. Now you ..................from New York to Los Angeles in a matter of hours
A. are flying B. would fly C. will fly D. can fly
13. When Carol....................last night, I................my favorite show on television
A. was calling- watched B. called- have watched
C. called- was watching D. had called- watched
14. By the time next summer, you....................your studies
A. completes B. will complete
C. are completing D. will have completed
15. Right now, Jim.................the newspaper and Kathy...............dinner
A. reads- has cooked B. is reading- is cooking
C. has read- was cooking D. read- will be cooking
16. Last night at this time, they................................the same thing. She.................and he............the
newspaper
A. are doing- is cooking- is reading B. were doing- was cooking- was reading
C. was doing- has cooked- is reading D. had done- was cooking- read
17. Sam..............to change a light bulb when he................and.........................
A. was trying-slipped- fell B. tried- was slipping- falling
C. had been trying- slipped- was falling D. has tried- slips- falls


18. Every day I _________up at 6 oclock, _______breakfast at seven oclock and_______for work at 8
oclock
A. get- eat- leave B. have got- eating- leaving C. got- ate- left D. will get- have
eaten- left
19. I.......................... for this company for more then thirty years, and I intend to stay here until
I..............next year
A. am working- will retire B. am going to work- am retiring
C. work- am going to retire D. have been working- retire
20. My mother is the first.................up and the last......................to bed
A. getting- going B. to get- going
C. getting- to go D. to get- to go
21. I must have a bath. I ......................all the afternoon
A. was gardening B. have gardened
C. have been gardening D. had been gardening
22. The team.................a single match so far this season
A. doesnt win B. didnt win C. hasnt won D. hadnt won
23. By the time you receive this letter, I ................for the USA
A. have left B. will leave C. will have left D. am leaving
24. Up to now, the manager ..a lot of information about his secretary.
A. learned B. has learned C. had learned D. learns
25. Where is Mary? _ She her homework in her room.
A. is performing B. is making C. is doing D. is learning
26. While I .along the road, I saw a friend of mine.
A. was cycling B. have cycled C. cycled D. am cycling
27. By the time I . . . . . . . . . . this report, I will give you a ring.
A. type B. will type C. have typed D. will have
typed
28. While my mother ________ a film on TV, my father was cooking dinner. It was March 8
th

yesterday.
A. watched B. was watching C. had watched D. watches
29. The plane from Dallas ________ two hours late, so I missed my connecting flight from Frankfurt to
London.
A. took on B. took in C. took over D. took off
30. When we came, a party _________ in the hall.
A. is being held B. had being held C. will be held D. was being
held
31. He .. in the same house since 1975.
A. has lived B. is living C. lived D. had lived
32. When I came to visit her last night, she ________ a bath.
A. is having B. was having C. has D. had
33.When we arrived at the restaurant, the others __________ .
A. left B. have left C. had left D. are leaving
34. By the end of 2010 we_______ in Ho Chi Minh City for 30 years.
A. work B. will work C. have worked D. will have
worked
35. I learned that the college ________ in 1900
A. found B. was founded
C. founded D. had been founded


36. If I ________ 10 years younger, I _________ the job.
A. am/ will take B. were/ would take C. would be/ took
D. had been / would take
37. By the time he _____________ to the meeting, it had begun for 15 minutes.
A. had gone B. has gone C. went D. was going
38. He began to feel ill while ___________________.
A. he is doing the exam B. he did the exam C. he would do the exam D. he was doing
the exam.
39. Since 1980, scientists the world over _____ a lot of things to fight against AIDS.
A. have done B. are doing C. did D. had done
40. Now my sister _____ a bicycle of her own.
A. is having B. are having C. has D. had
41. Last week, my professor promised that he _____ today.
A. would come B. will come C. comes D. coming
42. My girl friend arrived after I _____ for her about half an hour.
A. was waiting B. had been waiting
C. have been waiting D. have waited
43. I _____ in Quang Ngai before I moved to Binh Thuan.
A. have been living B. have lived
C had lived D. had been living
44. There are many ways _____ to Rome.
A. is leading B. are leading C. leading D. led
45. While I ____________ T.V last night, a mouse ran across the floor.
A. watch B. watched C. am watching D. was watching
46. I still cant believe it! My bicycle _________ last night.
A. was stolen B. had been stolen C. stole D. was being
stolen
47. While they were ________tables, he was _________ the radio.
A. arranging - listening to B. arranging hearing C. laying -listening to D. making- hearing
48. I suddenly remembered that I ........to bring my keys.
A. having forgotten B. have forgotten C. had forgotten D. forgot
49. By the year 2010 many people currently employed ________their jobs.
A. will have lost B. will be losing C. have lost D. are losing
50. By September next year I_______ here for ten years.
A. will be working B. work C. will have been working D. have been working
51. The phone .... for several minutes before I heard it.
a. had been ringing b. has been ringing c. was ringing d. have been ringing
52. I hope youll remember to call me when you .... in Paris.
a. are arriving b. will be arriving c. will arrive d. arrive
5 3. The train ... so hurry and you might catch it.
a. have just arrived b. has just arrived c. has been arriving d. was arriving
54. Fifty years ago, people thought we .... able to control the weather by the 21
st
century, but its still not
possible.
a. will have been b. will be c. would be d. are going to be
55. Russell Crowe has been my favorite actor ... I saw him in Gladiator.
a. after b. when c. since d. as soon as
56. David! I think someone ... at the door!
a. will knock b. knocked c. knocks d. is knocking

57. By the way, Julie and I .... to get married.
a. are deciding b. decided c. will decide d. have decided
58. We ... to meet outside the station at 10 oclock the following morning.
a. have been agreeing b. agrees c. agreeing d. agreed
59. When I ... to the party, Tom and David...., John .... drinks.
a. was coming/ had danced/ singing c. came/ were dancing/ was singing
b. had come/ danced/ sang d. have come/ are dancing/ is singing
60. If you were not sick, .... camping with us?
a. will you go b. would you go c. do you go d. are you going
61. The boy fell while he ...... down the stairs.
a. run b. was running c. running d. runs
62. I am looking for an inexpensive apartment. They ... harder to find.
a. become b. have become c. are becoming d. became
63. On a typical day, the average person ... about 48,000 words.
a. speaks b. was speaking c. spoke d. is speaking
64. If he were the prime minister, he ... more money on building the hospitals.
a. will spend b. would spend c. would have spent d. will have spent
65. His father ... 20 short stories so far.
a. has written b. writes c. wrote d. write
66. From the time he arrived home, he ... a lot of silly questions.
a. ask b. asks c. has asked d. asked
67. We didnt use to get up late when we ... in the countryside.
a. live b. lived c. are living d. were living
68. She has three brothers, all of whom.... in Ho Chi Minh City.
a. is working b. are working c. works d. working
69. She ... him until he introduced his name.
a. didnt realize b. hasnt realized c. doesnt realize d. hadnt realized
70. A thief broke into Harrys flat and .... his TV.
a. stealed b. stolen c. stole d. steal
71. They ... next to each other at the lecture this morning.
a. sit b. sat c. set d. sitted
72. Last Sunday, when they ... an exciting football match on TV, the electricity ... out.
a. were watching/ was going b. watched/ went
c. watched/ was going d. were watching/ went
73. When I was at secondary school, the boy next to me ... in class
a. was always talking b. talked always c. was always talking d. always talked
74. Bread and butter ... my family daily food ten tears ago.
a. is b. was c. were d. be
75. I will see him when he.here tomorrow
a. comes b. will come c. has come d. had come
76. the boy broke a window when theyfootball
a. played b. were playing c. had played d. are playing
77. I .about him when suddenly he came in
a. talk b. talked c. am talking d. was talking
78. Please dont touch anything before.
a. the police will come b. the police comes
c. the police come d. the police would come
79. the teacher gave me a passing grade
a. after taking the test b. after I take the test
c. after I took the test d. after I taken the test
80. I ..her since Ia student
a. know /am b. knew/ was c have known /am d. have known/ was
81. As he.dinner, I..
a. had/had come b. had/ come c had / was coming d. was having/ came
82. When I to him, I ..him your news
a. talk/ give b. will talk/ give c. talk/ will give d. will talk/ will give
83. The light out while we were having tea
a. was going b. went c. had gone d. has gone
84. I ___________ breakfast before I ___________to school.
A. had / had gone B. had had/ had gone C. had / went D. had had / went
85. Television__________ very popular since the 1950s.
A. is B. was C. has been D. had been
86. Everyone was asleep when the enemy_____________.
A. was attacking B. attacked C. had attacked D. attacking
87. We were disappointed that most of the guests_________ when we arrived at the party.
A. leave B. left C. have left D. had left
88. Up to now, I _______ a lot information about her.
A. will learn B. would learn C. have learnt D. learnt
89. When I came to visit her last night, she _________ a bath.
A. has B. have C. was having D. is having
90. Wait here until ______ I you.
A. am calling B. am going to call C. call D. will call
91. My parents first _____ each other at the Olympic Games in 1982.
A. have met B. met C. meet D. had met
92. As soon as Martina saw a fire, she __________ the fire department.
A. was telephoning B. telephoned C. had telephoned D. has telephoned
93. My daughter often says that she wont get married until she_______25 years old.
A. is B. will be C. will have been D. has been
94. It is the largest ship I __________.
A. had seen B. saw C. have ever seen D. see
95. I _______ home until I finish my lesson.
A. havent come B. dont come C. didnt come D. wont come
96. The manager ______ the store before I arrived.
A. closed B. had closed C. has closed D. was closing
97. When the alarm rang, Hai ______ out of bed quickly.
A. was jumping B. has jumped C. had jumped D. jumped
98. When we see Mr. Minh tomorrow, I ____ him of that.
A. will remind B. remind C. have reminded D. reminded
99. Alice _____ for Washington as soon as she had finished her exam.
A. will leave B. would leave C. leaves D. left
100. He died after he ______ ill for a long time.
A. was B. had been C. has been D. is
Exercise 2: Find ONE mistake in each sentence.
1. I have gone as soon as you come back.
A B C D
2. Have you hear a noise just then?
A B C D
3. Thank goodness! I finish my homework now.
A B C D

4. I havent had any news of John for 2003.
A B C D
5. My parents first meet each other at the Olympic Games in 1982.
A B C D
6. For the past two years I did a lot of things.
A B C D
7. When I came to visit her last night, she is having a bath.
A B C D
8. Mary was making a dress when she cuts her finger.
A B C D
9. What are you doing under the desk? I was to find my pen.
A B C D
10. Dont get off the bus until it stopped.
A B C D
11. The mother will wait outside the school until her son will finish his exam
a b c d
12. Mary never went to bed before she has finished her homework
a b c d
13. John said he will invite some of his friends for dinner so Mary had to buy some more food and
drink.
a b c d
14. We have finished our work before tomorrow evening when we have a party
a b c d
15. Mr.Pike likes traveling. By the time he will be 60, he will have visited 15 countries and capitals.
a b c d
16. I will tell John about it when I will see him this afternoon
a b c d
17. I was listening to the radio when the doorbell will ring.
a b c d
18. The last time I have seen him was in 1999.
a b c d
19. By the time the police come, the robber had run away.
a b c d
20. Human had struggled against weeds since the beginning of agriculture.
a b c d
Exercise 3: Rewrite these sentences as directed:
1. Mary began playing the piano 4 years ago
Mary has _______________________________________________
2. My father hasnt been to Hanoi for 5 years
Its _______________________________________________
3. My father is reading a newspaper. He started 2 hours ago
My father has ______________________________________________
4. Its four years since I wrote her
I _________________________________________________________
5. The last time I went to see them was over a year ago
It __________________________________________
6. It is two weeks since it last rained
It has __________________________________________
7. Jane started keeping a diary five years ago
Jane has _________________________________________
8. I last went swimming in 2001
I have ______________________________________________
9. I started to study English when I was 10 years old
Ive _______________________________________________
10. We havent seen Tom since he moved to London
We last ____________________________________________
11. My father hasnt driven a car before
Its ____________________________________________________
12. She has never been to the ballet dancing before
This is ___________________________________________________
13. I went over my lesson and then went to school
Before ____________________________________________________
14. Before he watched TV, he had done all his exercises
After _____________________________________________________
15. My teacher is the most generous person Ive ever met
Ive never _________________________________________________
16. This is the first time I have ever met such a famous person
Ive _____________________________________________________
17. How long is it since they bought the house?
When __________________________________________________
18. I have never read such an interesting novel
This is __________________________________________________
19. After he had worked hard many years, he retired
Before ___________________________________________________
20. When did you collect stamps?
How long ________________________________________________
Exercise 4: Choose the correct answer:
1. She bought this book two weeks ago
a. She has had this book for two weeks b. She has had this book since two weeks
c. She had this book for two weeks d. She has this book for two weeks
2. We last went to the cinema two months ago.
a. We havent gone to the cinema for two months. b. We didnt go to the cinema for two months. c.
c. We didnt want to go to the cinema any more. d. We stopped going to the cinema.
3. John began playing the organ five years ago.
a. John has been playing the organ five years ago. b. John has played the organ since five years .
c. John has been playing the organ for five years. d. John used to play the organ five years ago.
4. Its over ten years since we got married.
a. We got married for over ten years b. We have been married for over ten years
c. We were married for over ten years d. We have been married since over ten years
5. She began to play the piano three years ago.
a. She has played the piano since three years. b. She has played the piano for three years
c. She doesnt play the piano now. d. She stops playing the piano now.
6. Its two years since he last went home.
a. He hasnt gone home for two years. b. The last time he went home was two years ago.
c. He didnt go home two years ago. d. Both a& b are correct.
7. We started to write each other three years ago.
a. We used to write to each other for two years. b. We used to write to each other in two years.
c. We have written to each other for two years. d. We have written to each other since two years.

8. The last time I saw Jim was in 2004
a. I have seen Jim since 2004 b. I havent seen Jim since 2004
c. I have seen Jim for 2004 d. Jim has been seen since 2004
9. They have lived here for 6 years now
a. They moved here for 6 years b. They moved here 6 years ago
c. They are living here for 6 years now d. They were living here since 6 years ago
10. My sister hasnt rung for hours
a. Its was hours since my sister last rang b. My sister hasnt rung for hours
c. Its hours since my sister last rung d. Its for hours since my sister last rung
11. The last time she had a swim was 5 years ago.
a. She hasnt had a swim for 5 years b. She last had a swim for 5 years
c. She didnt have a swim 5 years ago d. a & b are correct
12. Ken began working for that company 2 years ago
a. Ken has been working for that company for two years
b. Ken has been working for that company since two years
c. Ken worked for that company for two years
d. Ken was working for that company for two years
13. I have never seen such an interesting film before.
a. This is the first time I have seen such an interesting film. b. This film is the best I have ever
seen.
c. This is the first time I saw such an interesting film. d. This is the best film that I saw.
14. She hasnt drunk coca-cola before
a. Its time for her to drink coca-cola b. Its the first time she has drunk coca-cola
c. Its the first time since she drank coca-cola d. It is time she drank coca-cola
15. He had done morning exercises before he had breakfast
a. He would do morning exercises before he had breakfast
b. After he had done morning exercises, he had breakfast
c. After he did morning exercises, he had breakfast
d. After he had done morning exercises, he was having breakfast
16. I have never read such a good book before.
a. This is the first time I read a good book . b. This is the first time I have read a good book.
c. This book is the best I have never read. d. This book is the best I read .
17. We had lunch and then went for a walk
a. Before we had lunch, we would go for a walk b. After we had lunch, we went for a walk
c. After we had had lunch, we went for a walk d. We went for a walk when we had lunch
18. How long have you learnt English?
a. When did you learnt English? b. When did you learn English?
c. How long is it since you learnt English? d. b & c are correct
19. Ive never met such an intelligent woman
a. This is the first time I havent met such an intelligent woman
b. It is the first time Ive ever met such an intelligent woman
c. It is the most intelligent woman Ive ever met
d. b & c are correct
20. I have never read such an interesting novel before.
a. This is the first time I have read such an interesting novel b. This novel is the best I have ever read
c. This is the first time I read such an interesting novel d. This is the best novel that I read
21. Its the coldest winter theyve ever had
a. Theyve ever had such a cold winter b. Theyve ever had such cold winter
c. Theyve never had such cold winter d. This is the first time they had such cold winter

22. They travelled across India, and then flew on to Japan
a. After they had travelled across India, they flew on to Japan
b. Before they had flown on to Japan, they travelled across India
c. Before they flew on to Japan, they had travelled across India.
d. a & c are correct
23. I have never seen such beautiful pictures before.
A. These pictures are the most beautiful I have never seen.
B. These pictures are the most beautiful I have ever seen.
C. This is the first time I see beautiful pictures.
D. This is the first time I have seen beautiful pictures.
24. Jack has stopped writing letters to Jill.
A. Jack has no longer stopped writing letters to Jill.
B. Jack used to write letters to Jill.
C. Jack has never written letters to Jill.
D. Jack stopped writing letters to Jill when Jill come.
25. Mary has been working in this company for five years.
A. Mary began to work in this company for five years.
B. Mary began working in this company for five years ago.
C. Mary began to work in this company five years ago
D. Mary has begun to work in this company five years ago.
26. I have never eaten this kind of food before.
A. I used to eat this kind of food before.
B. Before I came here I had ever eaten this kind of food.
C. This is the first time I have ever eaten this kind of food.
D. This is the most delicious food I have ever eaten.
27. She last saw him years ago.
A. She hasnt seen him years ago B. She hasnt seen him for years ago.
C. She didnt see him for years . D. Its years since she last saw him.
28. Its ages since I last saw a Hollywood film.
A. Its ages because I last saw a Hollywood film. B. I havent seen any Hollywood film before.
C. I saw a last Hollywood film since ages ago. D. I havent seen a Hollywood film for a long
time.
29. He hasnt smoked a cigarette for a week.
A. It is for a week that he hasnt smoked a cigarette. B. It is a week since he last smoked a cigarette.
C. It is a cigarette that he smoked a week ago. D. It is a week ago that he smoked a cigarette.
30. It started to rain at 2 oclock and it is still raining.
A. It has been raining at 2 oclock. B. It has been raining since 2 oclock.
C. It has been raining for 2 oclock. D. It has been raining in 2 oclock.
31. They had finished their tea and then they left.
A. They finished their tea after they had left. B. After they had left, they finished their tea.
C. They had left before they finished their tea. D. After they had finished their tea, they left.
32. John began playing the piano 10 years ago.
A. John played the piano 10 years ago. B. John has played the piano for 10 years.
C. John used to play the piano 10 years ago. D. John doesnt play the piano anymore.