A. Bruce Springsteen is a songwriter, singer, and guitarist. Imagine that a reporter is interviewing him. Read the reporter’s questions and Springsteen’s answers. Notice the tenses he uses in his answers.

1. How often do you play the guitar?
I play the guitar every day. (Simple present)

2. What are you doing right now?
I’m playing the guitar. (Present progressive)

3. What did you do yesterday?
I played the guitar. (Simple past)

4. How long have you played the guitar?
I’ve played the guitar for many years. (Present perfect)

5. When will you play the guitar in a concert?
I’ll play the guitar in a concert next week. (Future)

B. Work with a partner. One person reads the reporter’s questions aloud. The other person reads Springsteen’s answers aloud.

C. Write the missing verbs in the song lyrics below. Use the correct verb tense. The first one is done for you.

1. (get, simple past) I _________got________ so down and out in San Francisco.

2. (pick, simple past) I ____________________ up, and

3. (head, simple past) I ____________________ for the sunshine.

4. (leave, simple past) I ____________________ a good thing behind.

5. (seem, simple past) It ____________________ all of our love was in vain.

6. (come, simple past) I ____________________ here looking for a new life, one I wouldn’t have to explain

7. (keep, simple present) to that voice that____________________ me awake at night.

8. (fight, simple past) We ____________________ hard over nothing.

9. (remain, simple past) We fought until nothing ____________________.

10. (carry, present perfect) I ____________________ that nothing for a long time.

11. (carry, simple present) Now I ____________________ my operator’s license.

12. (spend, simple present) I ____________________ my days just running this crane.

13. (clear, future) Hard work ____________________ your mind and body.

14. (burn, future) The hard sun ____________________ out the pain.

15. (look, present progressive) If they ____________________ for me, tell them

16. (wait, present progressive) I ____________________ down at the station.

17. (come, present progressive) My baby ____________________ in on the Tucson train.

Answer Key

1. got
2. picked
3. headed
4. left
5. seemed
6. came
7. keeps
8. fought
9. remained
10. have carried
11. carry
12. spend
13. will clear
14. will burn
15. are looking
16. am waiting
17. is coming

D. Complete questions 1, 4, and 5 below. (There are many possible ways to complete the questions.) Then ask a partner all the questions.

1. How often do you _________________________________________?

2. What are you doing right now?

3. What did you do yesterday?

4. How long have you _________________________________________?

5. When will you _________________________________________?

Sentences in Part C are from from “Tucson Train” by Bruce Springsteen.
Activities in Parts A, B, and D: © Sandra Heyer, 2019. Permission granted to duplicate for classroom use.
Photo of guitar: © William Brodt | dreamstime. Used with permission
Photo of train: © Andrei Shupilo | dreamstime. Used with permission.