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 ___ dinner when the phone rang.
(a) had
(b) was having
(c) had had
2 By the time we arrived, the film ___.
(a) already started
(b) had already started
(c) was starting
3 While I ___ TV, my brother was reading a book.
(a) watched
(b) had watched
(c) was watching
4 He said he ___ to Paris twice before that trip.
(a) had been
(b) was
(c) has been
5 When I met her, she ___ in London for three years.
(a) lived
(b) had lived
(c) was living
6 We ___ in the park when it suddenly began to rain.
(a) walked
(b) were walking
(c) had walked
7 She ___ the report before the manager asked for it.
(a) finished
(b) had finished
(c) was finishing
8 At 10 p.m. yesterday, I ___ for my exam.
(a) studied
(b) was studying
(c) had studied
9 I ___ my keys, so I couldn’t open the door.
(a) lost
(b) was losing
(c) had lost
10 He ___ football every Sunday when he was a child.
(a) was playing
(b) had played
(c) played
11 We ___ for hours before they finally arrived.
(a) waited
(b) were waiting
(c) had been waiting
12 She ___ in the garden when she saw a snake.
(a) worked
(b) had worked
(c) was working
13 I ___ my homework when my friend called.
(a) did
(b) was doing
(c) had done
14 The teacher was angry because the students ___ their assignments.
(a) didn’t finish
(b) hadn’t finished
(c) weren’t finishing
15 By 2000, they ___ in the same house for 20 years.
(a) lived
(b) had lived
(c) were living
Part B – Gap-fill
16 When I ___ (arrive) at the station, the train had already left.
17 She ___ (study) for hours before she finally took a break.
18 While we ___ (walk) through the park, it started to rain.
19 I ___ (not/see) him yesterday because he had left early.
20 By the time the police came, the thieves ___ (escape).
21 He ___ (watch) TV when the electricity went off.
22 We ___ (wait) for two hours before the bus arrived.
23 They ___ (build) the bridge in 2010.
24 She ___ (already/finish) her homework before dinner.
25 I ___ (meet) her while I was living in Paris.
26 The children ___ (play) football when it began to snow.
27 He ___ (not/pay) attention in class yesterday.
28 I ___ (just/go) out when the phone rang.
29 By 9 o’clock, we ___ (already/eat) breakfast.
30 She ___ (write) three letters before lunchtime.
Part C – Error Correction
Find and correct the errors.
31 When I was arrived, the train 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 dishes, my phone was ringing.
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 essay.
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 using the correct past tense.
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 for duration)
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 Italy for two weeks.
53 A: What ___ (you/do) when the phone rang?
B: I was having 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: Almost an hour.
Part F – Reading Comprehension
Last winter, my family and I went skiing in Switzerland. We had never tried skiing before, so we were very excited. On the first day, while we were learning with the instructor, I fell down many times, but it was fun. My sister was better than me because she had been practicing roller-skating for years. By the third day, we had improved a lot and could ski without help. On the last evening, we sat in a café, drinking hot chocolate and talking about our experiences. We agreed that it had been one of the best holidays we had ever had.
56 Where did the family go last winter?
57 Had they tried skiing before?
58 What happened on the first day?
59 Why was the sister better than the narrator?
60 How did the family feel about the holiday?
Answer
1 (b) was having – Past Continuous interrupted by another action.
2 (b) had already started – Past Perfect before arrival.
3 (c) was watching – Past Continuous simultaneous with another action.
4 (a) had been – Past Perfect for experiences before.
5 (c) was living – Past Continuous background situation.
6 (b) were walking – Action in progress.
7 (b) had finished – Past Perfect before another action.
8 (b) was studying – Past Continuous at a specific past time.
9 (c) had lost – Earlier cause.
10 (c) played – Past Simple habitual.
11 (c) had been waiting – Past Perfect Continuous duration.
12 (c) was working – Background action.
13 (b) was doing – Past Continuous interrupted.
14 (b) hadn’t finished – Past Perfect negative.
15 (b) had lived – Past Perfect for duration.
16 arrived – Past Simple; train leaving was earlier.
17 had been studying – Past Perfect Continuous for duration.
18 were walking – Past Continuous interrupted.
19 didn’t see – Past Simple negative.
20 had escaped – Past Perfect before police came.
21 was watching – Past Continuous interrupted.
22 had been waiting – Past Perfect Continuous.
23 built – Past Simple 2010.
24 had already finished – Past Perfect before dinner.
25 met – Past Simple; background “was living.”
26 were playing – Past Continuous.
27 didn’t pay – Past Simple negative.
28 had just gone – Past Perfect with “just.”
29 had already eaten – Past Perfect before 9 o’clock.
30 had written – Past Perfect before lunchtime.
31 When I arrived, the train had already left. – Correct Past Simple.
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 dishes, my phone rang. – Past Continuous + Past Simple.
35 He didn’t see her at the party last night. – Correct base 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 essay. – Past Perfect + Past Simple.
38 We were waiting when suddenly the bus arrived. – Past Simple.
39 He didn’t come to the meeting because he was ill. – Correct base form.
40 I had finished my homework before dinner. – Past Perfect.
41 I had finished my homework before I went to bed. – Past Perfect shows 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 to Canada. – Past Perfect Continuous.
45 She was tired because she had been working all day. – Past Perfect Continuous explains cause.
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 duration.
49 The train had left when we arrived at the station. – Past Perfect earlier event.
50 She had read the book before she wrote a report. – Past Perfect.
51 had missed – Past Perfect explains reason.
52 travelled – Past Simple for holiday action.
53 were you doing – Past Continuous question.
54 had written – Past Perfect completion.
55 had been waiting – Past Perfect Continuous emphasizes duration.
56 Switzerland – Past Simple “went skiing in Switzerland.”
57 No – “We had never tried skiing before.”
58 Narrator fell down many times – Past Simple.
59 Because she had been practicing roller-skating for years – Past Perfect Continuous.
60 They agreed it had been one of the best holidays ever – Past Perfect summary.