Verb Tenses

Present Tense:
My brother (pick) up our father at the station right now.

Answer explanation

Present progressive tense. The time signal "right now" suggest that the action is happening in progress at the very moment.

Present Tense:
Katie (work) on her manual for a month now, and it is still not finished.

Answer explanation

The action is continuing to the present time. This means that we can use either present perfect or present perfect progressive tense.

Present Tense:
Every day since last week, the mail carrier (bring) me at least one letter.

Answer explanation

The action is continuing to the present time. This means that we can use either present perfect or present perfect progressive tense.

Present Tense:
I (see) that movie three times.

Answer explanation

The sentence is concerned with the completion of the action. This means that it should use the present perfect tense.

Present Tense:
Colds and cough (be) widespread around this time of year.

Answer explanation

The action seems to be present condition. Therefore, it calls for a verb in the simple present tense.

Past Tense:
Mrs. Suarez (work) on her cross stitch project when a thunderstorm suddenly began.

Answer explanation

The sentence suggests a continuing action that is interrupted by another action. Therefore, the verb should either be in the past perfect progressive tense or past progressive tense.

Past Tense:
Leon (read) all of the stories before the he took the quiz yesterday.

Answer explanation

There are two past actions in the sentence, and the answer is the first action of the two. This means that the past perfect tense should be used.

Past Tense:
The train (pull) into the station hours ago.

Answer explanation

The action seems complete and there are no indication for progression. Therefore, the verb should be in the simple past tense.

Past Tense:
Bryan (run) across the field when he broke his leg.

Answer explanation

The sentence suggests a continuing action that is interrupted by another action. Therefore, the verb should either be in the past perfect progressive tense or past progressive tense.

Past Tense:
The young children (never see) a Philippine eagle before yesterday.

Answer explanation

The sentence suggests an action completed before another past action. Therefore, it should be in the past perfect tense.