Tense Changes Challenge Quiz

1. What does it mean to have an incorrect tense shift in a sentence?

Using only one tense in the whole paragraph.

Changing verb tense in a way that confuses the time of the actions.

Always changing present tense to past tense.

Using past tense in stories.

An incorrect tense shift happens when verbs switch time in a way that does not match the meaning of the sentence.

Explanation

An incorrect tense shift happens when verbs switch time in a way that does not match the meaning of the sentence.

2. Which sentence uses verb tenses correctly?

Yesterday we go to the park and played soccer.

Yesterday we went to the park and play soccer.

Yesterday we went to the park and played soccer.

Yesterday we go to the park and are playing soccer.

Went and played are both past tense verbs that match the time word yesterday.

Explanation

Went and played are both past tense verbs that match the time word yesterday.

3. Which sentence has an incorrect tense shift?

I walk to school and carry my backpack every day.

I walked to school and carried my backpack yesterday.

I will walk to school and will carry my backpack tomorrow.

I walked to school and carry my backpack yesterday.

Walked is past tense but carry is present while yesterday shows it should all be in the past.

Explanation

Walked is past tense but carry is present while yesterday shows it should all be in the past.

4. When two actions happen at the same time, the verbs are usually in the same tense.

True

False

Matching tenses helps show that the actions happened at the same time.

Explanation

Matching tenses helps show that the actions happened at the same time.

5. Changing verb tense can be correct if the time of the action clearly changes in the sentence.

True

False

We can change tense on purpose when one action happens at a different time than another.

Explanation

We can change tense on purpose when one action happens at a different time than another.

6. Which sentences keep their verb tenses consistent?

We played games and watched a movie last night.

We play games and watched a movie last night.

We will play games and will watch a movie tonight.

We played games and will watch a movie last night.

We are playing games and watched a movie last night.

A uses two past tense verbs and C uses two future tense verbs, so both are consistent.

Explanation

A uses two past tense verbs and C uses two future tense verbs, so both are consistent.

Submit

7. Which sentences have incorrect tense shifts?

He is running and is shouting for help.

He was running and shouted for help.

He is running and shouted for help.

He ran and shouted for help.

He will run and will shout for help.

Sentence C mixes present progressive is running with past shouted while describing the same time.

Explanation

Sentence C mixes present progressive is running with past shouted while describing the same time.

8. Fix the sentence so the tenses match: She opened the door and __________ hello.

Opened and said are both past tense, so the actions match in time.

Explanation

Opened and said are both past tense, so the actions match in time.

Submit

9. Fix the sentence so the tenses match: I read every night and __________ my journal.

Read and write are both present tense habits in this sentence.

Explanation

Read and write are both present tense habits in this sentence.

Submit

10. Direct: "I am tired," she said. Which sentence shows correct indirect speech with a tense change?

She said that she is tired.

She said that she was tired.

She said that she will be tired.

She said that she had been tired.

Am changes to was when we move from direct speech to indirect speech after said.

Explanation

Am changes to was when we move from direct speech to indirect speech after said.

11. Direct: "Water boils at 100 degrees," the teacher said. Which is the best indirect sentence?

The teacher said that water boiled at 100 degrees.

The teacher said that water boils at 100 degrees.

The teacher said that water had boiled at 100 degrees.

The teacher said that water will boil at 100 degrees.

Because this fact is always true, we can keep the present tense boils in indirect speech.

Explanation

Because this fact is always true, we can keep the present tense boils in indirect speech.

12. In reported speech, we often move the verb one step back in time when the reporting verb is in the past.

True

False

We usually change present to past and will to would after a past reporting verb like said.

Explanation

We usually change present to past and will to would after a past reporting verb like said.

13. Which pairs of direct and indirect speech show correct tense changes?

Direct: "I like math," she said. Indirect: She said that she liked math.

Direct: "I will help," he said. Indirect: He said that he would help.

Direct: "I am reading," she said. Indirect: She said that she was reading.

Direct: "I am late," he said. Indirect: He said that he will be late.

Direct: "I can come," they said. Indirect: They said that they can come.

A, B, and C follow the usual patterns like like→liked, will→would, and am reading→was reading.

Explanation

A, B, and C follow the usual patterns like like→liked, will→would, and am reading→was reading.

Submit

14. Fix the tense mistake in the dialogue: "I was walking and __________ a rainbow," he said.

Was walking and saw are both past tense and show actions happening at the same time in the past.

Explanation

Was walking and saw are both past tense and show actions happening at the same time in the past.

Submit

15. Which dialogue line uses consistent verb tenses?

"I am doing my homework and listening to music," she said.

"I am doing my homework and listened to music," she said.

"I did my homework and am listening to music," she said.

"I do my homework and listened to music," she said.

Am doing and listening are both present progressive and match in tense.

Explanation

Am doing and listening are both present progressive and match in tense.

16. Which narrative sentence has an incorrect tense shift?

He walked into the room and sat down.

He walks into the room and sits down.

He walked into the room and sits down.

He will walk into the room and will sit down.

Walked is past but sits is present, so the time of the actions does not match.

Explanation

Walked is past but sits is present, so the time of the actions does not match.

17. Keeping tenses consistent in stories helps readers understand when events happen.

True

False

Clear verb tenses make the order and time of events easier to follow.

Explanation

Clear verb tenses make the order and time of events easier to follow.

18. Sentence: "I was cleaning my room and find an old photo," she said. Which corrected sentences fix the tense?

"I was cleaning my room and found an old photo," she said.

"I cleaned my room and found an old photo," she said.

"I am cleaning my room and found an old photo," she said.

"I was cleaning my room and finds an old photo," she said.

"I clean my room and found an old photo," she said.

A and B keep both verbs in past time so the sentence makes sense.

Explanation

A and B keep both verbs in past time so the sentence makes sense.

Submit

19. To avoid tense mistakes, writers should check that all verbs in a sentence match the same __________ of time unless a change is clearly needed.

Verbs should point to the same period of time so the reader is not confused.

Explanation

Verbs should point to the same period of time so the reader is not confused.

Submit

20. What is the best first step when checking a paragraph for tense errors?

Underline every noun in the paragraph.

Circle all the adjectives.

Find the verbs and see if their tenses match the time words and each other.

Remove all future tense verbs.

Checking the verbs against time words like yesterday or tomorrow shows if the tenses are consistent.

Explanation

Checking the verbs against time words like yesterday or tomorrow shows if the tenses are consistent.

All-in-One Practice: Tense Changes Challenge Quiz