All past tenses – English Grammar Test for B2
Grammar » Grammar Test for B2 » All past tenses – English Grammar Test for B2
Part A – Multiple Choice
1 She ___ her homework before she went out.
(a) finished
(b) had finished
(c) was finishing
2 While we ___ dinner, the phone rang.
(a) were having
(b) had
(c) had had
3 By the time the teacher arrived, the students ___ the exercise.
(a) already completed
(b) had already completed
(c) were completing
4 He ___ football every Sunday when he was young.
(a) played
(b) was playing
(c) had played
5 At 9 p.m. yesterday, I ___ TV.
(a) watched
(b) had watched
(c) was watching
6 We ___ to the park last weekend.
(a) went
(b) had gone
(c) were going
7 When I met her, she ___ in Paris for two years.
(a) lived
(b) had lived
(c) was living
8 They ___ the report before the deadline.
(a) finished
(b) had finished
(c) were finishing
9 I ___ my phone, so I couldn’t call you.
(a) lost
(b) had lost
(c) was losing
10 While I ___ the dishes, my sister answered the phone.
(a) washed
(b) had washed
(c) was washing
11 He ___ in the company for ten years before he resigned.
(a) worked
(b) had worked
(c) was working
12 They ___ lunch when the guests arrived.
(a) had
(b) had had
(c) were having
13 We ___ for two hours before the bus arrived.
(a) waited
(b) were waiting
(c) had been waiting
14 She ___ to London twice before she moved there.
(a) had been
(b) was
(c) went
15 He ___ English for five years before he passed the exam.
(a) had studied
(b) studied
(c) was studying
Part B – Gap-fill
16 When I ___ (arrive), the meeting had already started.
17 She ___ (study) all night, so she was very tired.
18 While we ___ (walk) in the park, it began to rain.
19 He ___ (not/see) her because she had left early.
20 By the time the police came, the thieves ___ (escape).
21 We ___ (wait) for hours before the concert began.
22 They ___ (build) the new school in 2015.
23 She ___ (already/finish) her homework before dinner.
24 I ___ (meet) him while I was living in Rome.
25 The children ___ (play) football when it started snowing.
26 He ___ (not/pay) attention in class yesterday.
27 I ___ (just/go) out when the phone rang.
28 By 10 o’clock, we ___ (already/eat) breakfast.
29 She ___ (write) three letters before lunchtime.
30 He ___ (work) in the garden all morning, so he was exhausted.
Part C – Error Correction
Find and correct the errors.
31 When I was arrived, the bus had already left.
32 She was tired because she was working all day.
33 They had went to the cinema yesterday.
34 While I washed the car, my brother was reading.
35 He didn’t saw her at the party last night.
36 By the time we reached the station, the train already left.
37 She read the book before she had written the report.
38 We were waiting when suddenly the bus had arrived.
39 He didn’t came to the meeting because he was ill.
40 I was finished my homework before dinner.
Part D – Transformation
Rewrite the sentences correctly.
41 I finished my homework. Then I went to bed. (Use Past Perfect)
42 While she cooked, he watched TV. (Use Past Continuous for both)
43 We started the meeting. After that, the manager arrived. (Use Past Perfect)
44 He studied English for two years. Then he moved to Canada. (Use Past Perfect Continuous)
45 She was tired because she worked all day. (Use Past Perfect Continuous)
46 I met him. Before that, I never saw him. (Use Past Perfect)
47 The children played football when it began to rain. (Use Past Continuous)
48 He went to the office at 8. He left at 5. (Use Past Perfect Continuous)
49 The train left. Then we arrived at the station. (Use Past Perfect)
50 She read the book. After that, she wrote a report. (Use Past Perfect)
Part E – Dialogue Completion
51 A: Why were you late?
B: Because I ___ (miss) the bus.
52 A: Did you enjoy your holiday?
B: Yes, we ___ (travel) around Spain for two weeks.
53 A: What ___ (you/do) when the phone rang?
B: I was cooking dinner.
54 A: Had you finished your essay before the deadline?
B: Yes, I ___ (write) it in time.
55 A: How long ___ (you/wait) when the taxi arrived?
B: About an hour.
Part F – Reading Comprehension
Last spring, I visited London with my cousin. We had never been to the UK before, so everything was new and exciting. On the first day, while we were walking along the Thames, we saw the London Eye. Later, we visited the British Museum, where we spent hours looking at ancient objects. My cousin was amazed because she had studied art history at university, so she explained many things to me.
The next day, it rained heavily, but we didn’t mind. We had already planned to spend the day indoors. While we were sitting in a café, I met an old friend from school by chance. I hadn’t seen him for years, and we were both surprised. We talked for a long time, remembering old stories.
At the end of the trip, we agreed that London had been one of the most interesting cities we had ever visited.
56 Where did the narrator go last spring?
57 Had they visited the UK before?
58 What did they see while walking along the Thames?
59 Why was the cousin amazed at the museum?
60 Who did the narrator meet in a café?
Answer
1 (b) had finished – Past Perfect before going out.
2 (a) were having – Past Continuous interrupted by phone.
3 (b) had already completed – Past Perfect before teacher arrived.
4 (a) played – Past Simple habitual.
5 (c) was watching – Past Continuous at specific time.
6 (a) went – Past Simple finished action.
7 (c) was living – Past Continuous for background.
8 (b) had finished – Past Perfect before deadline.
9 (b) had lost – Past Perfect explains reason.
10 (c) was washing – Past Continuous interrupted.
11 (b) had worked – Past Perfect before resignation.
12 (c) were having – Past Continuous at moment.
13 (c) had been waiting – Past Perfect Continuous duration.
14 (a) had been – Past Perfect before moving.
15 (a) had studied – Past Perfect before passing exam.
16 arrived – Past Simple.
17 had been studying – Past Perfect Continuous.
18 were walking – Past Continuous.
19 didn’t see – Past Simple negative.
20 had escaped – Past Perfect.
21 had been waiting – Past Perfect Continuous.
22 built – Past Simple.
23 had already finished – Past Perfect.
24 met – Past Simple.
25 were playing – Past Continuous.
26 didn’t pay – Past Simple negative.
27 had just gone – Past Perfect.
28 had already eaten – Past Perfect.
29 had written – Past Perfect.
30 had been working – Past Perfect Continuous.
31 When I arrived, the bus had already left. – Past Simple + Past Perfect.
32 She was tired because she had been working all day. – Past Perfect Continuous.
33 They went to the cinema yesterday. – Past Simple.
34 While I was washing the car, my brother was reading. – Past Continuous.
35 He didn’t see her at the party last night. – Correct form after “didn’t.”
36 By the time we reached the station, the train had already left. – Past Perfect.
37 She had read the book before she wrote the report. – Past Perfect + Past Simple.
38 We were waiting when suddenly the bus arrived. – Past Continuous + Past Simple.
39 He didn’t come to the meeting because he was ill. – Past Simple negative.
40 I had finished my homework before dinner. – Past Perfect.
41 I had finished my homework before I went to bed. – Past Perfect earlier action.
42 She was cooking while he was watching TV. – Past Continuous simultaneous.
43 We had started the meeting before the manager arrived. – Past Perfect.
44 He had been studying English for two years before he moved. – Past Perfect Continuous.
45 She was tired because she had been working all day. – Past Perfect Continuous.
46 I had never seen him before I met him. – Past Perfect.
47 The children were playing football when it began to rain. – Past Continuous.
48 He had been working in the office from 8 to 5. – Past Perfect Continuous.
49 The train had left when we arrived. – Past Perfect.
50 She had read the book before she wrote the report. – Past Perfect.
51 had missed – Past Perfect explains lateness.
52 travelled – Past Simple for holiday.
53 were you doing – Past Continuous question.
54 had written – Past Perfect completion.
55 had been waiting – Past Perfect Continuous duration.
56 London – Past Simple “visited London.”
57 No – “We had never been to the UK before.”
58 The London Eye – Seen while walking.
59 Because she had studied art history – Past Perfect.
60 An old friend from school – Past Simple event.