TENSES
Tenses are essential in the English language as they indicate when an action or event occurs. They provide context and clarity to communication by showing whether something happened in the past, is happening in the present, or will happen in the future. Tenses help convey the sequence of events, allowing speakers and writers to express themselves accurately and make their messages more coherent. Understanding and using tenses correctly is crucial for effective communication in English.
1. Which of the following is/are grammatically correct?
A) Ms.Ramani had just completed her work and so she is free now.
B) Mr.Hrushikesh will have written his novel by the end of next year.
C) English is spoken across the world.
D) If he invites me, I will attend the party.
1) A, B, C and D 2) A, C and D only
3) A, B and C only 4) B, C and D only
2. We didn't meet him for many years. The underlined part has to be replaced by
1) hadn’t met 2) will not have met
3) haven’t met 4) hasn’t met
3. Choose the correct option.
Last night, while I ...... (walk) through the street, I ...... (see) two men ...... (stand) at the corner of the modern glass bar.
1) was walking, seen, standing
2) is walking, saw, were standing
3) was walking, saw, are standing
4) was walking, saw, standing
4. Choose the appropriate verb form to complete the sentences.
A: Have you completed your assignment?
B: No, I .......
1) hasn't 2) haven't 3) have 4) amn't
5. In the following sentence, identify the part that has an error.
How long (A)/ are you (B) / learning (C)/ English (D)?
1) C 2) D 3) A 4) B
6. Choose the correct option to make the following sentence complete.
It started to rain when they .......
1) are playing 2) were playing
3) will be playing 4) have been playing
7. Because my visa expired. I ...... from reentering the country.
1) had prevented 2) is prevented
3) was prevented 4) prevented
8. Don’t worry if I have been late tonight. The underlined part has to be replaced by:
1) when I’m 2) when I’ll be
3) if I am 4) if I’ll be
9. Which of the option is correct when the following sentence is transformed?
The candidates should attempt all the questions or they will be disqualified.
1) The candidates should attempt all the questions so they will be disqualified.
2) The candidates will be disqualified or else they should attempt all the questions.
3) The candidates should attempt all the questions as they will be disqualified.
4) Unless the candidates attempt all the questions, they will be disqualified.
10. Choose the verb that fits in the blank.
I can’t go any further. I ........ on that bench for a while.
1) am going to sit 2) had to sit
3) had sit 4) was sat
11. How long are you waiting here?
Choose the part that can improve the underlined part grammatically.
1) you have been 2) you been
3) have you been 4) were you
12. Choose the verb that fits in the blank.
Frank ....... stamps in his spare time. It is his hobby.
1) collect 2) is collecting
3) collects 4) was collect
13. We ...... the fire at 7.00 a.m. and it ...... brightly when they ...... at 8.00 a.m.
1) lighted, burned, had come 2) lit, burnt, came
3) lit, was burning, came 4) lit, burning, came
14. (A) Some people/ (B) are interested/ (C) but the majority/ (D) doesn't care.
Find out which part of the sentence has an error.
1) D 2) B 3) C 4) A
15. “To talk about a situation or an activity that started in the past and has been in progress for a period until now”. We use
1) Present perfect tense
2) Present perfect continuous tense
3) Past continuous tense
4) Past perfect continuous tense
16. When we ........ the street in Mumbai, we ..... that we ...... the name of the apartment of our relatives.
1) reached, had realized, did not know
2) are reaching, realized, did not know
3) reached, realized, did not know
4) were reaching, had realized, do not know
17. Since the villagers ....... about a ghost in the old house for many years, no one has ventured to enter it.
1) have been hear 2) have heard
3) had hear 4) had been hearing
18. Identify the correct question to get the answer given.
Question: ...........
Answer: She has been here for two years.
1) How long did she live here?
2) How long she has been here?
3) How long has she been here?
4) How long will she be here?
19. I was sure that I ........ him before.
1) had met 2) am meeting
3) meet 4) met
20. You know where I live, I ....... in the same place for the past 10 years.
1) live 2) have been living
3) am living 4) have lived
21. Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?
1) What had the men been doing when the policemen arrived?
2) When the policemen arrived what were they doing?
3) What were the men doing when the policemen had arrived?
4) What were the men been doing when the policemen arrived?
22. Choose the sentence that indicates 'on going' actions.
1) Swimming is a good exercise. 2) He is going to buy a new car.
3) She is writing a letter. 4) Seeing is not watching.
23. Choose the sentence in the simple past tense.
1) She sings songs. 2) He cut the mango.
3) I want to meet you. 4) It rains here.
24. Choose the sentence in the present perfect tense.
1) I have a red book. 2) She has a broken chair.
3) Has he just finished his work?
4) She has a finished project in her hand.
25. Identify the question for the following response.
‘He’s been watching TV since 5 O’clock.’
1) How long is he been watching TV?
2) How long has he been watching TV?
3) How long does he been watching TV?
4) How long he has been watching TV?
26. Indira wishes she ........ a new car.
Choose the correct verb that fits the context.
1) had 2) has
3) doesn't had 4) will not had
27. I have lived in Hyderabad for ten years. This sentence means:
1) I started living in Hyderabad ten years ago and I no longer continue to live in Hyderabad.
2) I am living in Hyderabad and I will live in Hyderabad for ten years.
3) I live in Hyderabad only for ten years.
4) I will not live in Hyderabad after ten years.
28. He found that he ....... by the shopkeeper the day before.
Choose the correct tense form that fits the blank.
1) is being cheated 2) has cheated
3) had cheated 4) had been cheated
29. Choose the sentence that indicates an action that has just been completed.
1) I have already watched that movie.
2) I shall watch that movie.
3) I do watch that movie.
4) I watched the movie ten days ago.
30. When an action takes place before a point of time in the past, the action is expressed in:
1) The present perfect tense
2) The past perfect tense
3) The past simple tense
4) The past continuous tense
31. Choose the correct tense that can be used to express an action is going on at some point in future time.
1) The future simple tense
2) The future continuous tense
3) The future perfect tense
4) The simple present tense
32. Three chances ....... to each of the participants. Choose the correct tense form that fits the blank.
1) will be stive 2) will be giving
3) will have been giving 4) will be given
33. Identify the sentence which appropriately uses the future perfect tense.
I) We will have designed this prototype before she gets here tomorrow.
II. She would be calling me after tomorrow.
1) Only I 2) Only II
3) Both I and II 4) Neither I nor II
34. Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.
If you execute your plan properly, you
1) will have succeeded 2) succeed
3) will succeed 4) would succeed
35. Identify the sentence which appropriately uses the simple past tense
I) They had gone to Shimla last year.
II) My performance in yesterday's exam was satisfactory.
1) Only I 2) Only II
3) Both I and II 4) Neither I nor II
36. Select the sentence that uses the simple present tense correctly.
I) Our leaders are just not powerful enough.
II) My parents have not been supportive all my life.
1) Only I 2) Only II
3) Both I and II 4) Neither I nor II
37. She cut her finger.
Choose the correct 'Yes/No' question of the above sentence.
1) Does she cut her finger?
2) Do she cut her finger?
3) Did she cut her finger?
4) Is she cut her finger?
38. After you ........ another 50 meters, you will see a path to your left.
Choose the verb that can be used to fill in the blank.
1) will be gone 2) will go 3) go 4) had gone
39. Select the sentence that uses the simple future tense correctly.
I) I will give you the keys if she says sorry.
II) I will always guide you in the future.
1) Only I 2) Only II
3) Both I and II 4) Neither I nor II
40. I ........ TV at seven O'clock yesterday evening. Choose the correct form of the verb to fill in the blank.
1) was watching 2) were watching
3) are watching 4) have been watching
41. Somebody *ate* my biscuits; The tin is empty. Choose the option that can improve the underlined part.
1) has to eat 2) has eaten
3) had to eat 4) will eat
42. Yesterday the District Educational Officer visited our school. At that time we ......... in the ground.
Fill in the blank with the correct tense form.
1) play 2) are playing
3) were playing 4) have played
43. Do you like my new solar watch? Here, I ........ how it works.
Choose the verb that fits the blank.
1) would be show 2) will to show
3) will show 4) had shown
44. Choose the verb that is not used in the continuous tenses.
1) Watch 2) Love
3) Play 4) Water
45. Choose the sentence in simple past.
1) She reads daily
2) She read the entire book
3) I read the news paper daily
4) We read our lessons every day
46. To describe things that are always true, we use
1) Present continuous 2) Simple future
3) Simple past 4) Present simple
47. Rishi ........ his engineering course by the end of 2027.
1) will completed 2) complete
3) will have completed 4) was completed
48. I ....... here for 3 hours before the power went off.
1) have been watching 2) have watched
3) am watching 4) had been watching
49. Those who ....... in glass houses should not ....... stones at others.
1) lives, throws 2) lives, throw
3) live, throw 4) live, throws
50. Choose the sentence that doesn’t denote the future.
1) He is going to buy a new car. 2) He will buy a new car.
3) He has a new car. 4) He is planning to buy new car.
Answers
1-4; 2-3; 3-4; 4-2; 5-4; 6-2; 7-3; 8-3; 9-4; 10-1; 11-3; 12-3; 13-3; 14-1; 15-2; 16-3; 17-2; 18-3; 19-1; 20-2; 21-2; 22-3; 23-2; 24-3; 25-2; 26-1; 27-1; 28-4; 29-1; 30-2; 31-2; 32-4; 33-1; 34-3; 35-2; 36-1; 37-3; 38-3; 39-3; 40-1; 41-2; 42-3; 43-3; 44-2; 45-2; 46-4; 47-3; 48-4; 49-3; 50-3.
Writer: Ravi Kumar Putnam
