All past tenses – English Grammar Test for B2
Grammar » Grammar Test for B2 » All past tenses – English Grammar Test for B2
2 She ___ (study) for hours before she finally took a break.
3 While we ___ (walk) through the park, it started to rain.
4 I ___ (not/see) him yesterday because he had left early.
5 By the time the police came, the thieves ___ (escape).
6 He ___ (watch) TV when the electricity went off.
7 We ___ (wait) for two hours before the bus arrived.
8 They ___ (build) the bridge in 2010.
9 She ___ (already/finish) her homework before dinner.
10 I ___ (meet) her while I was living in Paris.
11 The children ___ (play) football when it began to snow.
12 He ___ (not/pay) attention in class yesterday.
13 I ___ (just/go) out when the phone rang.
14 By 9 o’clock, we ___ (already/eat) breakfast.
15 They ___ (argue) loudly when the teacher came in.
16 She ___ (write) three letters before lunchtime.
17 When we arrived, they ___ (have) dinner.
18 I ___ (read) the book after I had watched the movie.
19 He ___ (not/finish) his work by the deadline.
20 While I ___ (drive) home, I saw an accident.
21 The ground was wet because it ___ (rain) all night.
22 They ___ (move) to London in 1999.
23 She ___ (sleep) when the alarm went off.
24 We ___ (already/decide) before you suggested it.
25 He ___ (work) for the company for 10 years before he quit.
26 When I opened the door, I saw that someone ___ (break) the window.
27 While they ___ (discuss) the problem, the phone rang.
28 She ___ (not/enjoy) the party because she felt sick.
29 At that time last year, I ___ (travel) across Asia.
30 He was tired because he ___ (work) in the garden all day.
Answer
1 arrived – Past Simple for the action at a specific time; train leaving was earlier (Past Perfect).
2 had been studying – Past Perfect Continuous emphasizes duration before a break.
3 were walking – Past Continuous for an action in progress interrupted by rain.
4 didn’t see – Past Simple negative; his leaving was earlier.
5 had escaped – Past Perfect for an earlier completed action.
6 was watching – Past Continuous interrupted by another action.
7 had been waiting – Past Perfect Continuous shows duration before bus came.
8 built – Past Simple for a completed event in 2010.
9 had already finished – Past Perfect before dinner.
10 met – Past Simple for a specific event; “was living” gives background.
11 were playing – Past Continuous for action in progress when interrupted.
12 didn’t pay – Past Simple negative for yesterday.
13 had just gone – Past Perfect with “just” before another action.
14 had already eaten – Past Perfect before 9 o’clock.
15 were arguing – Past Continuous for action in progress when interrupted.
16 had written – Past Perfect for completed actions before lunchtime.
17 were having – Past Continuous to describe an action happening when we arrived.
18 read – Past Simple for a completed action after another.
19 hadn’t finished – Past Perfect negative shows something was not done before a past point.
20 was driving – Past Continuous sets the background for seeing the accident.
21 had been raining – Past Perfect Continuous explains the wet ground.
22 moved – Past Simple for an action in 1999.
23 was sleeping – Past Continuous interrupted by alarm.
24 had already decided – Past Perfect emphasizes decision before suggestion.
25 had worked – Past Perfect for completed duration before quitting.
26 had broken – Past Perfect for earlier action before opening door.
27 were discussing – Past Continuous interrupted by phone ringing.
28 didn’t enjoy – Past Simple negative.
29 was travelling – Past Continuous for an action in progress at that time last year.
30 had been working – Past Perfect Continuous explains cause of tiredness.