Tenses exercise

Complete the following sentences.

1. The patient ………………… before the doctor ……………………

a) had died, arrived
b) dead, arrived
c) died, arrived
d) would die, arrived

2. She usually ………………….. white dresses.

a) wears
b) wear
c) was wearing
d) would wear

3. He ……………………. just decided that he …………………….. undertake the job.

a) had, would
b) has, would
c) would, had
d) had, could

4. I …………………….. never forget what you just ………………….. me.

a) will, tell
b) would, told
c) had, told
d) will, told

5. I ……………………. to her and she ……………….. at once.

a) wrote, had come
b) would write, would come
c) write, comes
d) wrote, came

6. When we …………………. the station, the train ……………….. already left.

a) reached, had
b) reached, has
c) had reached, had
d) would reach, had

7. The tomatoes ……………………… picked when they were ripe.

a) are
b) were
c) were being
d) are being

8. The national anthem ……………………….. at the end of the program.

a) is sung
b) was sung
c) were sing
d) has sung

9. The criminals ………………………. arrested.

a) have
b) have been
c) had been
d) were been

10. Many people ……………………. in the riots.

a) died
b) had died
c) is dead
d) was dead

Answers

1. The patient had died before the doctor arrived.

2. She usually wears white dresses.

3. He had just decided that he would undertake the job.

4. I will never forget what you just told me.

5. I wrote to her and she came at once.

6. When we reached the station, the train had already left.

7. The tomatoes were picked when they were ripe.

8. The national anthem was sung at the end of the program.

9. The criminals have been arrested.

10. Many people died in the riots.