EF2/3 verb tense exercises

Shifts in Verb Tense
Check the following sentences for confusing shifts in tense. Fix any unsatisfactory verb shifts.

1. If the man buys a new car, he will sell his old one.

2. While Barbara put in her contact lenses, the telephone rang.

3. Billions of people will watch the Olympics before they are over.

4. By the time the movie opened, many fans bought tickets for it.

5. After my aunt visits her mother in the hospital, she will speak to the doctors.

6. I am very mad at my sister because she is rude.

7. The teacher marked the tests as soon as the students left.

Call me as soon as you get home.
Call me when you get home.
Call me asap. (as soon as possible)

8. He hopes the Canucks will win.

9. She wants to show you the green dress (that she bought). adjective clause COMPLEX

10. The boy said that he drank the juice. noun clause COMPLEX














B. Complete these sentences, using the tense suggested.

1. We are patient, so we will get a reception job. (use future tense)

He is a patient at VGH.

2. The dog runs in the park and chews the bone. (use present tense)
The dog had some medicine.
The child had one chewable vitamin.
Swallow the pill whole with water because it is bitter.

3. By the time the fog lifted, I went had gone home by bus. (use past perfect tense)

4. We will leave for Calgary as soon as we finish the job. (use present tense)

5. The youngest student has studied for four years. (use present perfect tense)

6. Yesterday our track team won the competition and got many ribbons/ gold medals. (use past tense)

7. Before the carpenter builds a wall, he always prepares a lot of wood/ he always measures. (use present tense)

8. Before the doctor sees that patient, she will need an appointment/ she will wash her hands/ she will gets her report/ she will put on latex gloves. (use future tense)

9. When the letter arrives, we will open it.
The letter arrived, we opened it.
After the letter arrived, I opened it.



11. When the final report is published, it will be popular. (use future tense)
When the final report is published, I will send it to you.