Simple Past / Present Perfect / Past Perfect

Verb Tense Exercise

Simple Past / Present Perfect / Past Perfect

Using the words in parentheses, complete the sentences with the correct tense.

1. When I (get) ______ home after school yesterday, I discovered that my mom (bake) ______ a giant chocolate cake for my birthday.

2. Since I started playing soccer, I (score) ______ five goals in games. However, I (never, win) ______ a trophy before this season.

3. By the time I arrived at the zoo, my friends (see, already) ______ all the animals, and they (be) ______ excited to tell me about them.

4. When I (open) ______ the book I got from the library yesterday, I (find) ______ a cool map that (show) ______ hidden treasures!

5. Last Saturday, I (meet) ______ my favorite author at a book signing. I (read, not) ______ any of her books before that day, but I (start) ______ right after!

6. When my brother (walk) ______ into the room, I (not recognize) ______ him because he (cut) ______ his hair short. He looked so different!

7. The dinosaurs (live) ______ on Earth millions of years ago; however, scientists (discover, recently) ______ many fossils to learn about them.

8. I (see) ______ so many amazing stars during the camping trip since I (come) ______ to the national park. Before that, I (never, notice) ______ the stars this clearly!

9. When I (wake up) ______ this morning, I (realize) ______ that I (forget) ______ to pack my lunch for school!

10. By the time we (arrive) ______ at the amusement park, all the best rides (start) ______ without us!

11. Since we (start) ______ our gardening project, we (grow) ______ three different kinds of flowers in our backyard.

12. She (be) ______ very excited because she (practice) ______ her dance routine for the talent show.

13. I (find) ______ a treasure map while I (clean) ______ my room last week!

14. He (not, see) ______ his best friend since they (move) ______ to different towns last year.

15. They (explore) ______ the enchanted forest before they (find) ______ the magical treehouse.

16. My family (travel) ______ to many exciting places by the time I (turn) ______ ten years old.

17. The kids (finish) ______ their homework before they (go) ______ out to play in the park.

18. We (live) ______ in this town for three years before we (move) ______ to the beach.

19. She (take) ______ art classes since she (be) ______ in second grade, and her paintings are amazing!

20. By the time the sun (set) ______, we (have) ______ a fantastic day at the beach.

Verb Tense Exercise Answers

1. When I (get) got home after school yesterday, I discovered that my mom (bake) had baked a giant chocolate cake for my birthday.

2. Since I started playing soccer, I (score) have scored five goals in games. However, I (never, win) had never won a trophy before this season.

3. By the time I arrived at the zoo, my friends (see, already) had already seen all the animals, and they (be) were excited to tell me about them.

4. When I (open) opened the book I got from the library yesterday, I (find) found a cool map that (show) showed hidden treasures!

5. Last Saturday, I (meet) met my favorite author at a book signing. I (read, not) hadn't read any of her books before that day, but I (start) started right after!

6. When my brother (walk) walked into the room, I (not recognize) didn't recognize him because he (cut) had cut his hair short. He looked so different!

7. The dinosaurs (live) lived on Earth millions of years ago; however, scientists (discover, recently) have recently discovered many fossils to learn about them.

8. I (see) have seen so many amazing stars during the camping trip since I (come) came to the national park. Before that, I (never, notice) had never noticed the stars this clearly!

9. When I (wake up) woke up this morning, I (realize) realized that I (forget) had forgotten to pack my lunch for school!

10. By the time we (arrive) arrived at the amusement park, all the best rides (start) had started without us!

11. Since we (start) started our gardening project, we (grow) have grown three different kinds of flowers in our backyard.

12. She (be) was very excited because she (practice) had practiced her dance routine for the talent show.

13. I (find) found a treasure map while I (clean) was cleaning my room last week!

14. He (not, see) has not seen his best friend since they (move) moved to different towns last year.

15. They (explore) explored the enchanted forest before they (find) found the magical treehouse.

16. My family (travel) had traveled to many exciting places by the time I (turn) turned ten years old.

17. The kids (finish) finished their homework before they (go) went out to play in the park.

18. We (live) had lived in this town for three years before we (move) moved to the beach.

19. She (take) has taken art classes since she (be) was in second grade, and her paintings are amazing!

20. By the time the sun (set) set, we (have) had a fantastic day at the beach.