- Which verb form correctly completes the sentence? "When the bus came, Yuki ____ her lunch at home."
Answer: had left
Leaving the lunch happened before another past moment (when the bus came), so the sentence needs the past perfect "had left." Choice C is correct. Choice A is present perfect, Choice B is simple past, and Choice D is past continuous, none of which shows an action finished before the bus came.
- Read the sentence. Which verb correctly completes it? "By next Friday, we ___ our book report."
Answer: will have finished
The words "By next Friday" point to a deadline in the future, so you need the future perfect tense to show the action will be complete before that time. Future perfect is formed with "will have" plus the past participle: "will have finished" fits this perfectly. "Have finished" is present perfect; it shows something completed by now, not by a future date. "Will finish" is simple future; it tells that the action happens later but does not stress that it will already be done before the deadline. "Had finished" is past perfect; it shows an action completed before another action in the past, but this sentence points to the future, not the past. Only "will have finished" correctly matches a future deadline, so it is the best answer.
- Which verb form correctly completes the sentence? "By next Friday, Emma ___ three chapters for her project."
Answer: will have read
The phrase "by next Friday" signals an action that will be finished before a point in the future. That calls for the future perfect tense: "will have read." The choice "has read" is present perfect, which describes something already completed by now, not by a future deadline. The choice "will have written" uses the correct future perfect form, but "written" is the wrong verb—Emma is reading chapters, not writing them. The choice "will read" is simple future; it tells what Emma will do but does not show the reading being complete by next Friday. Only "will have read" matches both the correct tense and the correct verb.
- Read the sentence. Which verb correctly completes it? "So far this week, we ____ our spelling words every night."
Answer: have practiced
The words "So far this week" tell you the practicing started earlier in the week and continues right up to now. That calls for the present perfect tense, which uses "have" or "has" plus a past participle. Because the subject "we" is plural, the right choice is "have practiced." The choice "will have practiced" is the future perfect tense; it describes something that will be finished before a future time, but this action is already happening now. The choice "practiced" is simple past tense, which shows an action that is over and done, so it does not fit an action that continues through the week. The choice "had practiced" is past perfect tense, used to show one past action finished before another past action, but there is no second past event here. Only "have practiced" correctly links the repeated action to the present with "so far this week."
- Read the sentence. Which verb correctly completes it? "We ___ our instruments for two weeks, and we are improving."
Answer: have practiced
This question tests CCSS.L.5.1.b: forming and using perfect verb tenses (present perfect, past perfect, future perfect). Perfect tenses use forms of 'have' (have/has/had/will have) plus the past participle of the main verb. Present perfect (have/has + past participle) shows action started in past that continues or is recently completed with present relevance. Past perfect (had + past participle) shows action completed before another past action. Future perfect (will have + past participle) shows action will be completed before a future time. This sentence requires present perfect tense because it shows an action (practicing) that started in the past (two weeks ago) and continues with present relevance (we are improving). The time marker 'for two weeks' indicates duration from past to present, and 'we are improving' shows present results. Choice B 'have practiced' is correct because it uses have + past participle 'practiced' which correctly shows the ongoing practice and its current effects. The form follows the pattern: subject (we) + have + past participle (practiced), with 'have' agreeing with the plural subject. Choice A 'practiced' represents using simple past instead of present perfect, which fails to connect the past practice to present improvement. This error occurs when students don't recognize that 'for + time period' with present results requires present perfect. To help students: Practice identifying duration markers (for two weeks, since Monday) that signal present perfect. Emphasize the connection between past actions and present results or states. Create cause-effect sentences: We have practiced (cause) → we are improving (present effect). Use personal examples of ongoing activities: 'I have studied Spanish for three years and now I can speak it.' Have students describe their own progress using present perfect + present result. Watch for students using simple past with 'for' + duration, missing the ongoing or present relevance aspect.
- Read the sentence. Which verb correctly completes it? Before the bell rang, Maya ___ her backpack.
Answer: had packed
The sentence describes two past actions, and you need to show which one happened first. Maya finished packing her backpack before the bell rang, so you need the past perfect tense: had plus the past participle packed. That is why 'had packed' is correct. 'Packed' is simple past tense, so it just states an action without showing it happened before the bell rang. 'Has packed' is present perfect tense, which connects a past action to right now, but this whole sentence is set in the past, not the present. 'Will have packed' is future perfect tense, which is used for an action that will finish before some future moment, but the bell already rang, so nothing here is in the future. Only 'had packed' shows one past action was completed before another past action.
- Which verb form correctly completes the sentence? "Emma ___ her lunch already, so she is not hungry."
Answer: has eaten
The word "already" and the present result "she is not hungry" call for the present perfect "has eaten." Choice A is correct. Choice B is simple past, Choice C uses the wrong participle ("ate" instead of "eaten"), and Choice D is past perfect, which does not fit the present result, so none is right.
- Read the sentence. Which verb correctly completes it? Sofia ___ her book report already, so she can play now.
Answer: has finished
This question tests CCSS.L.5.1.b: forming and using perfect verb tenses (present perfect, past perfect, future perfect). Perfect tenses use forms of 'have' (have/has/had/will have) plus the past participle of the main verb. Present perfect (have/has + past participle) shows action started in past that continues or is recently completed with present relevance. Past perfect (had + past participle) shows action completed before another past action. Future perfect (will have + past participle) shows action will be completed before a future time. This sentence requires present perfect tense because it shows a recently completed action (finishing the book report) that has present relevance (she can play now). The time marker 'already' and the present consequence 'so she can play now' indicate present perfect. Choice B 'has finished' is correct because it uses has + finished (past participle) which correctly shows Sofia completed her report in the past with present results. The form follows the pattern: subject (Sofia) + has + past participle (finished), with 'has' agreeing with the singular third-person subject. Choice A 'finished' represents using simple past instead of present perfect. This error occurs when students don't recognize that the action has present relevance or consequences. To help students: Practice identifying time markers like 'already,' 'yet,' 'just,' and 'recently' that signal present perfect. Show how present perfect connects past actions to the present moment. Use sentence frames: '[Subject] has/have [past participle], so [present result].' Practice subject-verb agreement with have (I/you/we/they have; he/she/it has). Watch for students using simple past when showing completed actions with present relevance.
- Which verb form correctly completes the sentence? "By next Friday, Jamal ___ his science project."
Answer: will have finished
The clue "By next Friday" names a future time, and the sentence tells about an action that will be completed before that future moment. That job belongs to the future perfect tense, "will have finished." The choice "will finish" is simple future—it says the action happens, but not that it will be done before another future time. The choice "has finished" is present perfect, which points to something already completed now, not by a future date. The choice "had finished" is past perfect, used for an action completed before another action in the past, so it does not fit a sentence looking ahead to next Friday. Only "will have finished" matches an action finished before a future time.
- Read the sentence. Which verb correctly completes it? By the time class started, Maya ___ her homework.
Answer: had finished
This question tests CCSS.L.5.1.b: forming and using perfect verb tenses (present perfect, past perfect, future perfect). Perfect tenses use forms of 'have' (have/has/had/will have) plus the past participle of the main verb. Present perfect (have/has + past participle) shows action started in past that continues or is recently completed with present relevance. Past perfect (had + past participle) shows action completed before another past action. Future perfect (will have + past participle) shows action will be completed before a future time. This sentence requires past perfect tense because Maya's homework completion happened before class started - two past actions with one occurring before the other. The time marker 'By the time class started' signals that one action was already complete when the other past action occurred. Choice B 'had finished' is correct because it uses had + past participle 'finished' which correctly shows Maya completed her homework before the past moment when class started. The form follows the pattern: subject (Maya) + had + past participle (finished). Choice C 'finished' represents using simple past instead of past perfect. This error occurs when students don't recognize that two past actions require past perfect to show which happened first. To help students: Create timeline visuals showing when actions occur (past perfect: earlier past → later past). Use time marker keywords like 'by the time,' 'before,' 'after,' and 'already' to identify when past perfect is needed. Have students identify the two past time points in the sentence (homework completion → class starting). Practice with sentence frames: 'By the time [past action], [subject] had [past participle].' Watch for: students using simple past for both actions, forgetting the helping verb 'had,' and not recognizing the sequence of past events.
- Which verb form correctly completes the sentence? "By the time class started, Jamal ___ his homework."
Answer: had finished
The homework was done before another past moment (by the time class started), so the sentence needs the past perfect "had finished." Choice C is correct. Choice A is present perfect (wrong for a past moment), Choice B uses the wrong form ("finish" instead of "finished"), and Choice D is simple past, so none fits.
- Which verb form correctly completes the sentence? "Before the bus arrived, Yuki ___ for her library book."
Answer: had looked
The looking happened before another past event (before the bus arrived), so the sentence needs the past perfect "had looked." Choice C is correct. Choice A is past continuous, Choice B is present perfect, and Choice D is simple past, none of which shows an action finished before the bus arrived.
- Read the sentence. Which verb correctly completes it? "By noon tomorrow, Amir ___ his science poster."
Answer: will have made
The clue "By noon tomorrow" tells you the action will be finished before a future time, so you need the future perfect tense: "will have" plus the past participle. "Will have made" is correct because it shows the poster will be completely done before tomorrow's noon deadline. "Made" is simple past, so it says Amir already finished the poster in the past, which does not fit a future deadline. "Will make" is simple future, showing an action that will happen but not one that will be completed before a set future time, so it misses the "by" part. "Has made" is present perfect, which shows an action finished recently with present importance, not one finishing before a future moment. Remember: for a job that will be done before a future time, use "will have" plus the past participle every time.
- Which verb form correctly completes the sentence? "By tomorrow morning, Emma ___ her poster for the fair."
Answer: will have made
The phrase "by tomorrow morning" points to an action that will be finished before a future time, which calls for the future perfect "will have made." Choice A is correct. Choice B is present perfect, Choice C is simple past, and Choice D is passive and does not fit "Emma," so none is right.
- Read the sentence. Which verb correctly completes it? "By the time we arrive, Amir ____ the game."
Answer: will have started
The clue "By the time we arrive" points to a future moment, and we need to show that Amir's action will already be finished before that future point. That is the job of the future perfect tense: "will have" plus the past participle. So "will have started" is the correct answer. "Will be starting" is a future action still in progress, but it does not show the action being completed before another future event. "Had started" is the past perfect tense, which shows one action finished before another action in the PAST, not the future—but our sentence is about a future arrival. "Has been starting" is the present perfect progressive, which describes an ongoing action up to now, and it does not fit a future point of completion. Only "will have started" correctly places a finished action before the future time you arrive.
- Which verb correctly completes the sentence? Chen and Amir ___ friends since second grade.
Answer: have been
The subject "Chen and Amir" is plural, and "since second grade" points to something that started in the past and is still true, so the present perfect "have been" fits. Choice D is correct. Choice C ("has been") is singular and does not agree with a plural subject, Choice A ("had been") is past perfect, and Choice B ("were") is simple past, so none fits both the plural subject and "since."
- Read the sentence. Which verb correctly completes it? "Marcus ____ in this neighborhood since second grade."
Answer: has lived
The words "since second grade" show an action that started in the past and is still true now, so you need the present perfect tense: "has" (matching the singular subject Marcus) plus the past participle "lived." That is why "has lived" is correct. "Lived" is the simple past tense, which shows a finished action and does not connect the past to now, so it clashes with "since." "Had lived" is past perfect, which shows an action completed before another past action, but there is no earlier past event here for it to come before. "Will have lived" is future perfect, which points to an action finished by some future time, but this sentence is about time up to the present, not the future. Only present perfect shows action continuing from second grade to right now.
- Which verb form correctly completes the sentence? "By the time the game ended, Maya ___ two goals."
Answer: had scored
Because one past action (scoring) finished before another past moment (the game ending), the sentence needs the past perfect "had scored." Choice D is correct. Choice A uses the present perfect "has," Choice B is missing the "-ed" on "score," and Choice C is simple past, so none shows the correct past perfect form.
- Read the sentence. Which verb correctly completes it? By noon tomorrow, Amir ___ two chapters for class.
Answer: will have read
The phrase 'By noon tomorrow' names a future deadline, and the reading will be finished before that point. That is exactly what future perfect tense shows, so 'will have read' is the correct choice: it points to a future time and tells you the action is complete by then. 'Has read' uses present perfect, which describes something already finished now — but Amir's reading is not done yet, so it does not fit the future deadline. 'Will be reading' uses future progressive, which shows an action happening or in progress at that future time, not one that is completed by then. 'Would have read' describes something imagined that did not really happen ('he would have read, but he ran out of time'), so it does not match this real future plan. Only future perfect shows an action that will be complete before a stated future moment.
- Read the sentence. Which verb correctly completes it? "Up to now, Chen ___ three chapters of the novel."
Answer: has read
The phrase "Up to now" signals an action that began in the past and adds up to the present moment. That calls for the present perfect tense: has plus the past participle read. Because Chen is one person (third-person singular), "has read" is the correct form. "Had read" is past perfect, which shows something finished before another past event, but there is no earlier past action here for it to come before. "Will read" is future tense, describing something not started yet, which does not fit reading that has already been happening up to now. "Was reading" describes an action in progress at one point in the past, but it does not show the reading building up all the way to the present, which "up to now" requires. Only "has read" captures the accumulation of chapters from the past right up to now.
