Mixed Verb-tense Exercises

1. When I (arrive) ___________________ home last night, I discoveredthat Jane (prepare) _______________ a beautiful candle-lit dinner.

2. Since I began acting, I (perform) ___________________ in two plays,a television commercial and a TV drama. However, I (speak, nevereven) _____________________ publicly before I came to Hollywood in1985.

3. By the time I got to the office, the meeting (begin, already)__________________ without me. My boss (be) _____________ furiouswith me and I (fire) ___________________.

4. When I (turn) ________________ the radio on yesterday, I (hear)_________________ a song that was popular when I was in highschool. I (hear, not) ____________________ the song in years and it(bring) ____________________ back some great memories.

5. Last week, I (run)_______________ into an ex-girlfriend of mine. We(see, not) ____________________ each other in years and both of us(change) ___________________ a great deal. I (enjoy)__________________ talking to her so much that I (ask)_____________________ her out on a date. We are getting togethertonight for dinner.

6. When Jack (enter) ___________________ the room, I (recognize, not)______________________him because he (lose)____________________ somuch weight and (grow) ____________________ a beard. He lookedtotally different!

7. The Maya established a very advanced civilization in the junglesof the Yucatan; however, their culture (disappear,virtually)_____________________ by the time Europeans first(arrive)____________________ in the New World.

8. I (visit)_____________________ so many beautiful places since I(come)__________________ to Utah. Before moving here, I (hear,never)_____________________ of Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches or Canyonlands

9. A: How long (be)_______________________ in Canada? B: I (study)________________________ here for more than threeyears.

10. I (have)______________________ the same car for more than tenyears. I'm thinking about buying a new one.

11. I (love)________________________ chocolate since I was a child. Youmight even call me a "chocoholic."

12. Matt and Sarah (have)________________________ some difficultiesin their relationship lately, so they (go)_________________________ to amarriage counsellor. I hope they work everything out.

13. John (work)______________________ for the government since hegraduated from Harvard University. Until recently, he(enjoy)_____________________ his work, but now he is talking aboutretiring.

14. Lately, I (think)______________________ about changing my careerbecause I (become)____________________ dissatisfied with theconditions at my company.

15. I (see)_______________________ Judy for more than five years andduring that time I have (see)_______________________ many changesin her personality.

16. It is already 9:30 pm and I (wait)_______________________ here forover an hour. If John does not get here in the next five minutes, I amgoing to leave.

17. I was really angry at John yesterday. By the time he finallyarrived, I (wait)_________________________ for over an hour. I almostleft without him.

18. Did you hear that Ben was fired last month? He (work)_________________________ for that import company for more than tenyears and he (work)________________________ in almost everydepartment. Nobody knew the company like he did.

19. I (see)_______________________ many pictures of the pyramidsbefore I went to Egypt. Pictures of the monuments are verymisleading. The pyramids are actually quite small.

20. Sarah (climb)_______________________ the Matterhorn,(sail)_______________________ around the world and(go)_______________________ on safari in Kenya. She is such anadventurous person.

21. Sarah (climb)_______________________ the Matterhorn,(sail)_______________________ around the world and(go)_______________________ on safari in Kenya by the time she turnedtwenty-five. She (experience)____________________ more by that agethan most people do in their entire lives.

22. When Melanie came into the office yesterday, her eyes were redand watery. I think she (cry)_______________________.

23. A: Did you like the movie "Star Wars"? B: I don't know. I (see, never)_____________________ that movie.

24. Sam (arrive)___________________ in San Diego a week ago.

25. My best friend and I (know)_______________________ each other forover fifteen years.

26. Stinson is a fantastic writer. He (write)______________________ tenvery creative short stories in the last year. One day, he'll be asfamous as Hemingway.

27. I (have, not)_____________________ this much fun since I(be)_______________ a kid.

28. Things (change)______________________ a great deal at Coltech,Inc. When we first (start)___________________ working here threeyears ago, the company (have, only)____________________ sixemployees. Since then, we (expand)____________________ to includemore than 2000 full-time workers.

29. I (tell)_____________________ him to stay on the path while he washiking, but he (wander)____________________ off into the forest and(bite)______________________ by a snake.

30. Listen Donna, I don't care if you (miss)____________________ thebus this morning. You (be)_____________________ late to work toomany times. You are fired!

31. Sam is from Colorado, which is hundreds of miles from the coast,so he (see, never)__________________ the ocean. He should come withus to Miami.

32. How sad! George (dream)______________ of going to Californiabefore died, but he didn't make it. He (see,never)______________________ the ocean.

33. In the last hundred years, travelling(become)_______________________ much easier and very comfortable.In the 19th century, it (take) _________________________ two or threemonths to cross North America by covered wagon. The trip(be)________________________ very rough and often dangerous. Things(change)_________________________ a great deal in the last hundredand fifty years. Now you can fly from New York to Los Angeles in amatter of hours.

34. Jonny, I can't believe how much you(change)_______________________ since the last time I(see)___________________ you. You (grow)_______________________ atleast a foot!

35. This tree (plant)___________________________ by the settlers who(found)_________________________ our city over four hundred yearsago.

36. This mountain (climb, never)______________________________ by

anyone. Several mountaineers (try)______________________ to reachthe top, but nobody (succeed, ever)__________________________. Theclimb is extremely difficult and many people(die)__________________________ trying to reach the summit.

37. I (visit, never)___________________________ Africa, but I(travel)________________________ to South America several times. Thelast time I (go)____________________________ to South America, I(visit)______________________ Brazil and Peru. I(spend)___________________________ two weeks in the Amazon,(hike)___________________ for a week near Machu Picchu and(fly)___________________________ over the Nazca Lines.

38. Right now I am watching T.V. Tomorrow at this time, I(watch)_______________________ T.V. as well.

39. Tomorrow after school, I (go)___________________________ to thebeach.

40. I am going on a dream vacation to Tahiti. While you(do)_______________________ paperwork and (talk)____________________to annoying customers on the phone, I (lie)________________________on a sunny, tropical beach. Are you jealous?

41. We (hide)__________________________ when Tony(arrive)________________________ at his surprise party. As soon as heopens the door, we (jump)_______________________ out and(scream)__________________________, "Surprise!"

42. We work out at the fitness centre everyday after work. If you(come)______________________ over while we(work)_______________________ out, we will not be able to let you intothe house. Just to be safe, we (leave)______________________ a keyunder the welcome mat so you will not have to wait outside.

43. While you (study)______________________ at home, Magda(be)______________________ in class.

44. When I (get)_______________________ to the party, Sally and Doug(dance)_____________________, John (make)________________________drinks, Sue and Frank (discuss)________________________ somethingcontroversial, and Mary (complain)_______________________ aboutsomething unimportant. They are always doing the same things.They are so predictable.

45. When you (got)_______________________ off the plane, I(wait)_______________________ for you.

46. I am sick of rain and bad weather! Hopefully, when we(wake)_______________________ up tomorrow morning, the sun(shine)_________________________.

47. If you (need)__________________________ to contact me sometimenext week, I (stay)_______________________ at the Sheraton in SanFrancisco.