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ESL AND EFL PRINTABLE GRAMMAR WORKSHEET

Level: adult elementary
Grammar: Tenses: review

1a Read the e-mail.

Dear Ms. May,
I (1) moved to New York City last month. I (2) have been looking for an
affordable apartment since my arrival, but I (3) haven't found one yet that suits
my needs. I (4) was told by a mutual acquaintance, Dave Simpson, that you (5)
own an apartment in Tribeca that is currently vacant and that you (6) are looking
for a new tenant. From Dave's description, I (7) am led to believe the apartment
(8) will suit me very well, and I would very much like to have a look at it. I (9)
was trying to call you all day yesterday, but I was unable to reach you, so I am
sending you this e-mail. I (10) am going to be in town all this week if you are
interested in showing me the apartment.
Many thanks,
Linda Lately

1b Identify the tenses used in the e-mail.

1 simple present 5
2 present continuous __
3 simple present passive __
4 simple past __
5 simple past passive __
6 past continuous __
7 "going to" future ___
9 present perfect __

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9 present perfect continuous __

10 simple future __

1c Match the tenses [from above?] with the functions.

1 happening right now present continuous
2 happened at a stated time in the past _____
3 happened at an unstated time in the past _____
4 likely to happen or definitely to happen _____
5 done by another agent in the past _____
6 done by another agent in the present ______
7 present state or fact _____
8 happening at an unstated time in the past _____
9 happening at a stated time in the past ____
10 definitely planned for the future ___

1d Complete the e-mail. There are some change in the verb tenses and time markers.
Mention four differences in meaning after the changes.
Dear Ms. May,
I (1) am going to move (move) to New York City next month. Right now I (2)
__________ (look) for an affordable apartment that suits my needs. Yesterday
Dave Simpson (3) _____ (tell) me that you (4) _____ (own) an apartment in
Tribeca that is currently vacant and that you (5) ___________ (look for) for a
new tenant ever since Dave left. I (6) ______ (believe) the apartment (7)
_______ (be) perfect for me if a convenient agreement (8) _______ (reach) after
I have a look at the apartment. I (9) _____ (try) to call you tomorrow to arrange
a meeting. What time can I find you home? I (10) ___________ (travel) to New
York next weekend in case you are free and interested in showing me the
apartment.
Many thanks,
Linda Lately

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1 Linda is going to move next month.

2 ___________________________
3 _________________________________
4 _________________________________
5 _________________________________

2 Choose the correct answer to complete the sentences.

1 We _____ a cash bonus every December by our company.
a give b have given c are given

d given

2 Stacey _____ about opening a second shop because the first one is doing so well.
a is thinking

b thought

c thinks

d has been thought

3 My family _____ in Amsterdam for two years when I was a child.

a lives b has lived

c is living

d lived

4 "What are you planning for the weekend?" "I ______ my grandparents in Boston."
a visit

b am going to visit

c am visited

d visiting

5 We ______ on this project for two years and it still isn't done.
a worked

b have worked

c have been working d are working

6 "Are you happy in your new job?" "Yes, I _____ everything about it."
a enjoyed

b enjoy

c have enjoyed

d will enjoy

7 I _____ on a very important document when my computer went down.

a worked

b have worked

c work d was working

8 "I can't get Max to understand my point of view." "I _____ to him and see if I can
help."
a will talk

b talk

c am talking

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d have talked

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9 "Why is Stacy so upset?" "She _____ yesterday that her company is closing next
month."
a told

b has told

c was told

d was telling

10 "London streets are very confusing, aren't they?" "I _____ for six years and I still get
lost!"
a lived b am living

c have lived

d live

3 Fill in the missing tenses using the verbs in parentheses.

When David Renshaw (1) _____ (come) to the attention of our company president in
1980, he (2) _____ (work) in the mail room as a sorter and delivery person. Since that
time David (3) ______ (hold) positions in twelve different departments some of which
(4) ______ (not exist) now and he (5) _____ (rise) to the position of CEO. "I (6) ______
(not ever think) of leaving this company," he (7) _______ (say) now. "It (8) ______ (be)
my home for twenty years, and I hope it (9) ______ (remain) so for another twenty."
David (10) _______ (give) an award in 2009 for CEO of the Year by the local business
community, and he (11) ______ (invite) to speak at many local functions every month.
"David always (12) ______ (tell) you what he thinks, and everyone (13) _____ (admire)
him for that," the head of another company says.

4 Look at diagram and make up a story. Compare the stories with your classmates.

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1. Laura Shade,
journalist for TV2.

2.Investigates a crime
for two years.
3. Finds a lead and
follows the suspect.

5. tries to make her

investigation public when
she receives a threat.

4.Finds out the

suspect is a public
person.

6.Invent
the end.

5 Write about you. Include:

Where you were born and raised.
Where you studied and who your best friends were.
Describe your house and the rooms or parts of the house you most enjoyed.
Where you live and what you do for a living at present.
Describe your home and free time activities.
Write one or two things youve been trying to achieve for the last few years.
Your future plans and ambitions.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE ANSWER KEY

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ANSWER KEY

Grammar: Tenses: review

1b
26
37
41
54
69
7 10
93
92
10 8
1c
2 simple past
3 present perfect
4 simple future
5 past passive
6 present passive
7 simple present
8 present perfect continuous
9 past continuous
10 "going to" future

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1d
2 am looking
3 told
4 own
5 are looking for
6 believe
7 will be perfect
8 is reached
9 will try / am going to try
10 am going to travel
1e
2 Dave Simpson was the previous tenant.
3 A convenient agreement is a condition for renting the apartment.
4 Linda will try to make contact tomorrow.
5 Shes not in NY, so shes planning to travel to see the apartment.
2
1c
2a
3d
4b
5c
6b
7d
8a
9c
10 c

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3
1 came
2 was working
3 has held
4 don't exist
5 has risen
6 have not ever thought
7 says
8 has been
9 will remain
10 was given
11 is invited
12 tells
13 admires
4
The sentences will vary per student
Laura is a journalist for TV2. Shes been investigating crime for two years. Last week she
found a lead and followed the suspect. She found out the suspect was a public person.
She was trying to make her investigation public when she received a threat. Laura
contacted the FBI and they offered protection. Laura made a copy of the
documentation and gave it to the FBI. Justice was made. The criminal went to jail. Laura
read the news on TV2.

5 per student

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