It’s that time of year again: Festive Season, meaning festive articles on ELB! Adding to my collection of seasonal Christmas articles which you can find here, today I’ve got another mixed tenses exercise.

As we did in October for Halloween, this exercise tests vocabulary from one of my lists: Christmas vocabulary for English learners. So, do have a look at that list too, and check in case the words here aren’t familiar!

This exercise combines and contrasts the different tenses, so it may prove tricky, but I’ve given explanations with the answers.

Festive Christmas Mixed Tenses Exercise

Complete the seasonal sentences below by filling in the gaps with the correct English tense form, using the verb in brackets. This is a wide selection of examples, testing all the main aspects of the English tenses, so we have the past, present and future listed below. This can lead to some flexibility but I’ve tried to provide sentences that make one answer most appropriate.

I __________ the crackers for the table, where would you like me to put them? (to get)
They wanted to hang fairy lights over the fireplace, but Reginald __________ it was too dangerous. (to say)
Carly says that all the elves __________ at the North Pole with Father Christmas. (to live)
Janey __________ until twelve for midnight mass this Christmas Eve. (to stay awake)
The children won’t go to bed because they __________ behind the sofa to try and spot Santa. (to wait)
Harold and Lisa opened their Secret Santa gifts to discover they __________ each other the same box of chocolates. (to buy)
This year, I am determined: I __________ all the mince pies. (to eat)
Our wrapping paper is missing, __________ it? (to see, you)
Fred __________ a snowman when he heard carol singers approaching. (to build)
Every year, we __________ as the three wise men and hand out gifts at the school fete. (to dress)
I __________ these gingerbread cookies fresh just this morning. (to cook)
They __________ ever since they kissed under the mistletoe last year. (to date)
All my cousins __________ for Christmas dinner, what will I cook! (to come)
No, I can’t go ice skating, I __________ our tree. (to decorate)

Answers

I have got the crackers for the table, where would you like me to put them? (now/with current meaning)
They wanted to hang fairy lights over the fireplace, but Reginald said it was too dangerous. (simple past, complete action)
Carly says that all the elves live at the North Pole with Father Christmas. (a timeless rule)
Janey will stay awake / is going to stay awake / is staying awake until twelve for midnight mass this Christmas Eve. (future plan; all three are effective here)
The children won’t go to bed because they are waiting behind the sofa to try and spot Santa. (true now)
Harold and Lisa opened their Secret Santa gifts to discover they had bought each other the same box of chocolates. (a past event completed before this described moment)
This year, I am determined: I will eat all the mince pies. (future insistence; ‘am going to eat’ is also possible, and ‘am eating’ could work but is less insistent)
Our wrapping paper is missing, have you seen it? (past action with present impact)
Fred was building a snowman when he heard carol singers approaching. (interrupted past action)
Every year, we dress as the three wise men and hand out gifts at the school fete. (timeless/regular rule)
I cooked these gingerbread cookies fresh just this morning. (simple action complete in the past; ‘just this morning’ gives an extra clue it already happened)
They have been dating ever since they kissed under the mistletoe last year. (ongoing, continuous action started in the past)
All my cousins are coming for Christmas dinner, what will I cook! (planned future event; ‘will come’ and ‘are going to come’ are also possible but sound less casual/decided)
No, I can’t go ice skating, I am decorating our tree. (ongoing present action)