More On Mixed Tenses – A Comparison Exercise
The following quiz was originally posted on Goodreads – it’s a quick exercise to test understanding of different tense forms. The questions are based on the 12 basic English tense forms. Complete the following sentences using the appropriate tense form. In the given...
10 Inspiring Quotes about the Importance of Learning
A lot of wise and inspiring things have been said about the importance of learning. I’ve collected some of the ideas that have most appealed to me recently, which I hope will resonate with you, too. These quotes are a great way to encourage the right thinking about...What English tenses exercises would YOU like to see?
Since I published The English Tenses Practical Grammar Guide, I have been working on an exercise book to accompany it, 101 English Tenses Exercises. Containing no less than 101 exercises to really drill all the rules of the tenses. I need your help, though – my...Negative Simple Questions – A Mixed Tenses Exercise
Following on from the quick exercises for negative simple statements, this exercise will test understanding of negative simple question forms. Negative simple questions are formed by placing do, did or will before the subject and not after the subject, or by forming a...
10 Easily Confused Sets of Words and Phrases Explained
A few weeks ago I wrote an article about the differences between the words plain and plane; it’s one of many articles I have on this site exploring confusing, or easily misunderstood, words and phrases. With so much content on this site, I thought it was time I...Forming Negative Simple Tenses – Exercises
Negative simple tenses are formed using either do, does, did, will or the verb to be and not, followed by the bare infinitive. Below is a group of exercises to test this understanding – using the information provides, form complete negative simple sentences. The...What’s the difference between plain and plane?
Plain and plane are easily confused in English – they are homophones, so you may write one when meaning the other. They have a number of distinct definitions where their meanings are completely different – but one meaning where their meanings are very...Exercise – Forming Simple Tense Questions
Questions are formed in the simple tenses by using either do, does, did or will before a bare infinitive, or with the verb to be. The following exercise will help you practice converting simple statements into question form in the past, present and future. Use the...
What does “would that it were” mean?
The new Coen Brother’s film Hail, Caesar! was recently advertised with a trailer focused on the strange English expression “Would that it were so simple.” (if you haven’t seen it, check it out here!). This is an interesting construction, which...Want to Master English?
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