Verb Tenses — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. The farmer harvested all the crops before the storm arrived last night.
"Last night" tells you this already happened, so the verb must be in the past tense. "Harvested" is the past tense of "harvest" and fits the sentence's time frame.
2. Listen! The phone is ringing in the other room right now.
"Right now" and "Listen!" both signal the present progressive tense. The formula is a form of "be" plus -ing, so "is" pairs with "ringing" to show an action in progress.
3. The irregular past tense of "throw" is threw.
"Throw" is irregular, so its past tense does not use -ed. Instead, the vowel changes and the correct form is "threw."
4. After lunch we will practice our spelling words for the quiz.
"After lunch" points to a time that has not arrived yet, so the sentence needs the future tense. Adding "will" before "practice" puts the verb into the future.
5. While the teacher spoke, the students were listening carefully.
"Spoke" is past tense, so the other verb in the sentence must also be past. "Were listening" is the past progressive, showing the students' action was ongoing while the teacher spoke.
6. The irregular past tense of "steal" is stole.
"Steal" is an irregular verb whose past tense changes the vowel from "ea" to "o," giving you "stole." Adding -ed would be incorrect.
7. Every afternoon the librarian places new books on the shelves.
"Every afternoon" describes a routine that happens regularly, so the verb must be in the present tense. Because "librarian" is a singular subject, the verb takes an -s ending: "places."
8. Next summer the family will travel to the Grand Canyon.
"Next summer" is a future time signal, so the sentence needs the future tense. Placing "will" before "travel" tells the reader the trip has not happened yet.
9. The irregular past tense of "draw" is drew.
"Draw" is irregular, so it does not follow the -ed rule. The past tense form changes the vowel to give you "drew."
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
We will visit the museum tomorrow.
→ future
present
The dog was barking at the mailman.
→ past progressive
past
She reads a chapter every night.
→ present
past progressive
They swam in the lake last July.
→ past
future
"Will visit" uses the future helper word "will." "Was barking" pairs a past "be" verb with -ing, making it past progressive. "Reads" is a simple present verb. "Swam" is the irregular past tense of "swim."