Complete the following sentences using appropriate verb forms.

1. The major said that it him great pleasure to be there that evening.
a) gives b) gave c) was giving

2. He said that he go as soon as it was possible.

a) will b) would c) can

3. The teacher often tells me that if I hard I will fail.

a) didnt work b) dont work c) hadnt worked

4. The lecturer said Akbar was just and . the respect of all races and classes.
a) won b) had won c) has won

5. He replied that he . to reward his soldiers and that he had kept his word.
a) promised b) had promised c) would promise

6. The lion told the mouse that he was very weak and that his teeth out.
a) fell b) have fallen c) had fallen

7. The magistrate asked the accused what with his hand in the
gentlemans pocket.
a) was he doing b) he was doing c) had he done

8. The stranger asked Alice where she ..

a) was living b) lives c) lived

9. The king asked the philosopher whom he .. the happiest man alive.
a) consider b) considered c) was considering

10. He asked me whether I .. him.

a) would accompany b) will accompany c) have accompanied

Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word or phrase.

1. You are ............................ a nuisance.
quite rather much

2. The film was..................................

a rather success rather a success rather success

3....................................... a singer is he?

How much How much of a How much of

4. I think he is.................................
bit of a fool a bit of a fool a bit fool
5. It was................................... than a party.
more of an informal meeting more an informal meeting more of informal meeting

6. She is................................ politician than an activist.

more a more of a more

7. He is .............................. an intellectual.
a lot of very much of very much

8.............................. do you want a holiday?

How How well How much
.
9. You made................................ mistakes.
rather a lot quite a few quite few

10. We met............................. people who spoke German.

rather few rather little very little
.
11. I ate................................ meat.
much too much quite too much rather too much

12. We do ............................. of business in China.

quite a lot quite lot much a lot

Can you report questions, statements, requests and commands correctly? Test your
understanding of direct and indirect speech with this interactive grammar exercise.

1. The girl said that she ............................... unwell.

is was has been were

2. He said that his master ............................... his dinner.

is having was having has been having

3. The boy said that the horse .............................. in the night.

has died died had died

4. She told me that she............................. trust me.

doesn't didn't hasn't hadn't

5. He ........................ that he is glad to be here this evening.

says said has said had said

6. The stranger asked where............................

do I live did I live I lived
7. My mother asked me whether I ..................................... a man like him.
will trust would trust trust
.
8. The visitor requested the girl ............................ a glass of water.
that bring to bring bring

9. The mother wrote that she ............................... and longing for her son's return.
is waiting waited was waiting will wait
.
10. I told him that I ............................... his friend for months.
did not see have not seen had not seen

11. He asked me................................

what did I want what I wanted what I want

12. The speaker said that it ......................... him great pleasure to be there that
evening. gives gave had given has given
.
Phrasal verbs are two or three word verbs whose meanings are very different from the
meanings of the individual words in the expression. There are several phrasal verbs in
English.
Fill in the blanks with an appropriate phrasal verb.

1. The teacher an explanation of his conduct.

called off called out called in called for

2. the doctor immediately.

Call on Call in Call at

3. Julie . us yesterday.
called on called in called out

4. My grandfather cannot past events.

call up bring out bring up

5. His arrogance his ruin.

brought in brought up brought about

6. The publishers are planning to a cheap edition of their new

dictionary. bring up bring out bring in

7. She . the orphan as her own child.

brought out brought up brought in brought about

8. How did these things ..?

come up come about bring out bring about
9. The question before the municipal corporation last week.
came out came up came off

10. He seems to be
well out pull off run off well off

11. They against the gross injustice meted out to them.

cried up cried out cried away

12. The rope .. while they were hauling up the pillar.

gave up gave in gave way gave out
Past Simple or Present Perfect Tense Exercise
Source: www.englishgrammar.org
Both the simple past and the present perfect are used to talk about finished actions and
situations. However, there is an important difference between them. The present perfect
tense cannot be used with expressions referring to the past.
Can you use simple past and present perfect tenses correctly? Test your understanding
with
this grammar exercise.
1. I ................................ here when I was a child.
lived
have lived
Here the clause 'when I was a child' clearly shows that we are talking about something
completed in the past. The present perfect is not possible here.
2. I .................................. her since last year.
didn't see
haven't seen
We prefer the present perfect tense with the time expressions since and for.
3. She ................................... unhappy since she left school.
was
has been
We prefer perfect tenses with the time expressions since and for.
4. 'Where is John?' 'He ........................ here ten minutes ago.'
was
has been
We do not use the present perfect tense with time expressions referring to the past.
Past Simple or Present Perfect Tense Exercise
Source: www.englishgrammar.org
5. They ................................... the contract last week.
signed
have signed
The present perfect tense is not used with past time expressions.
6. She ............................... ill for a long time.
was
has been
Perfect tenses are preferred with the time expressions since and for.
7. Somebody ............................ their umbrella in the lobby.
left
has left
We use the present perfect tense to talk about completed past events when there is no
reference to time.
8. ................................ a ghost?
Did you ever see
Have you ever seen
We use the present perfect tense to refer to a period of time that started in the past and
has
continued up to the present.
9. I can't get into my house because I .................................. my keys.
lost
have lost
When there is no time reference we use the present perfect tense to talk about finished
events.
Past Simple or Present Perfect Tense Exercise
Source: www.englishgrammar.org
10. I .................................. six letters since morning.
wrote
have written
11. Sophia .................................... absent since Monday.
was
has been
We prefer perfect tenses with the time expressions since and for.
12. You can't see him now because he ............................. home.
went
has gone
When there is no time reference, we use the present perfect tense to talk about finished
actions.
PLAY AGAIN !
Answers
1. I lived here when I was a child.
2. I havent seen her since last year.
3. She has been unhappy since she left school.
4. Where is John? He was here ten minutes ago.
5. They signed the contract last week.
6. She has been ill for a long time.
7. Somebody has left their umbrella in the lobby.
8. Have you ever seen a ghost?
9. I cant get into my house because I have lost my keys.
10. I have written six letters since morning.
11. Sophia has been absent since Monday.
12. You cant see him now because he has gone home.

Simple past or present perfect tense exercise

Source: www.englishgrammar.org
Can you use simple past and present perfect tenses correctly? Test your understanding
of
tenses with this grammar exercise.
1. His father ............................... last year.
died
has died
When there is a definite past time reference we use the simple past tense.
2. James ........................................ school at fourteen.
has left
left
had left
When there is a definite past time reference we use the simple past tense.
3. I .................................. him for ten years.
knew
know
have known
To talk about an action or situation that started in the past and has continued up to the
present we use the present perfect tense.
4. I ................................. all of her novels.
read
have read
has read
When there is no definite time reference we use the present perfect tense.
Simple past or present perfect tense exercise
Source: www.englishgrammar.org
5. You .................................... me for anything.
never thanked
have never thanked
had never thanked
When there is no definite time reference we use the present perfect tense.
6. I .................................... a strange experience last night.
had
have had
had had
When there is a definite past time reference, we use the simple past tense.
7. Suddenly I .................................. a knock on the door.
have heard
heard
was hearing
We use the simple past tense to simply state that something happened in the past.
8. There ................................ no one to rescue the child.
has been
was
had been
We use the simple past tense to state that something happened or didn't happen in the
past.
9. The fox .................................. to eat the bunch of grapes hanging from the vine.
has wanted
wanted
had wanted
Simple past or present perfect tense exercise
Source: www.englishgrammar.org
We use the simple past tense to say that something happened in the past.
10. This castle ................................... in the 16th century.
has been built
had been built
was built
When there is a definite past time reference we use the simple past tense.
11. I ................................... pity for the poor beggar.
have felt
had felt
felt
We use the simple past tense to say that something happened in the past.
12. You .................................... for the grand finale.
have selected
were
have been selected
When there is no definite time reference we use the present perfect tense.
PLAY AGAIN !
Answers
1. His father died last year.
2. James left school at fourteen.
3. I have known him for ten years.
4. I have read all of her novels.
5. You have never thanked me for anything.
6. I had a strange experience last night.
7. Suddenly I heard a knock on the door.
Simple past or present perfect tense exercise
Source: www.englishgrammar.org
8. There was no one to rescue the child.
9. The fox wanted to eat the bunch of grapes hanging from the vine.
10. This castle was built in the 16th century.
11. I felt pity for the poor beggar.
12. You have been selected for the grand finale.