VERB TENSES IN CONTEXT EXERCISE 3 (ESL)
level: Intermediate (B1/B2)
This third mixed tenses exercise focuses specifically on past tense selection: distinguishing between the simple past, present perfect, past perfect, and past continuous. Each sentence contains a contextual clue that points to the right tense; the grammar review below includes a reference table to help you spot those clues.
GRAMMAR REVIEW! Past tense selection — simple past, perfect & continuous
This exercise focuses on four past tenses that are commonly confused at B1/B2 level. Each looks at the past from a slightly different angle.
Key clue words: already, by the time, before → often past perfect | when, while, as + ongoing action → often past continuous | last night/year, ago, in [year] → simple past
This exercise focuses on four past tenses that are commonly confused at B1/B2 level. Each looks at the past from a slightly different angle.
| Tense | What it expresses | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple past | A completed action at a specific past time | She left the office at 6 PM. |
| Present perfect | A past action with a present connection; something started in the past that continues or has recent relevance | He has worked here since 2018. |
| Past perfect | An action completed before another past action — the “earlier past” | By the time we arrived, the film had already started. |
| Past continuous | An action in progress at a specific past moment; often interrupted by another event | I was making dinner when the power went out. |
Key clue words: already, by the time, before → often past perfect | when, while, as + ongoing action → often past continuous | last night/year, ago, in [year] → simple past
Choose the correct verb tense to complete each sentence.
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER VERB TENSE EXERCISES:
Mixed verb tenses 1 (B1/B2)
Mixed verb tenses 2 (B1/B2)
Mixed verb tenses 3 (B1/B2)
Simple past or present perfect? 1 (I)
Simple past or present perfect? 2 (I)
Simple past or present perfect? 3 (I)
Past continuous 1 (B)
Past continuous 2 (B)
Simple past or past continuous? 1 (B1/B2)
Simple past or past continuous? 2 (A1/A2)
Present perfect continuous 1 (B1/B2)
Past perfect 1 (I)
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Mixed verb tenses 1 (B1/B2)
Mixed verb tenses 2 (B1/B2)
Mixed verb tenses 3 (B1/B2)
Simple past or present perfect? 1 (I)
Simple past or present perfect? 2 (I)
Simple past or present perfect? 3 (I)
Past continuous 1 (B)
Past continuous 2 (B)
Simple past or past continuous? 1 (B1/B2)
Simple past or past continuous? 2 (A1/A2)
Present perfect continuous 1 (B1/B2)
Past perfect 1 (I)
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