WORD ORDER
No matter the grammar topic you are dealing with, the word order is always the same. Keep to it! Check it!
Affirmative? Negative? Question or simple interrogative? Question tag?
Where is the auxiliary placed if needed?
VERB TENSES
Word order is important but it is not enough, that is why you have to make yourself clear one step more than that.
As I know you know, a verb has tenses which have their own
FORM / AUXILIARY / TIME EXPRESSION OR REFERENCE
How does this works when you have to do an exercise?
Eg. Filling the blanks:
First look for the time expression, usually an adverb, that helps you choose and use a particular tense. Got it?
You may not find a time expression that helps you choose and use the right tense but there will always be a clue in the exercise/sentence/text.
Clues like:
The enunciate of the exercise. That is very likely to reduce your options. Read it and follow the instructions!
Another verb used before or after the one you need.
When/while for simple past and past continuous
Yet, just, already for perfect tenses.
Conditionals tense sequence!
