Grammar Challenge: Present And Past Tense Quiz

Reviewed by Heather Baxter
Heather Baxter, BSc (Elementary Education and Teaching) |
K-12 English Expert
Review Board Member
Heather is an educator, with four years of teaching experience. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Teaching. She is skilled in Teaching English as a Second Language and currently works as an Elementary School Teacher at Pinellas County Schools. She made a career transition one year ago to explore a new path in writing and copy editing. Heather's specialization lies in curriculum development and educational materials, but she maintains versatility to work across various industries. Known for her keen attention to detail and a deep passion for language, she possesses a sharp eye for precision.
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  • 1/20 Questions

    Joy:  What did you do last weekend? Jane:  ____________________               

    • I go to the museum.
    • I am at home.
    • I went to the museum.
    • It was interesting.
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About This Quiz

Think you've got a handle on all those tricky verb tenses? Then put your grammar skills to the test with our challenging and fun Present and Past Tenses Quiz! This quiz covers a wide range of tenses, from the basic present simple to the more complex past perfect continuous. We'll learn how to use these tenses to describe actions, states, and events that happen in the present, past, and future.

In this present and past tenses test, you'll get instant feedback on your answers and helpful explanations to reinforce your understanding. We'll challenge you with tricky questions and offer clear explanations for each answer. If you're a student preparing for exams, an English language learner, or just someone who wants to improve their grammar skills, this quiz is for you.

Grammar Challenge: Present And Past Tense Quiz - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    I always ……………..my car twice a week.                

    • Washes

    • Wash

    • Watch

    • Watches

    Correct Answer
    A. Wash
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "wash" because the sentence is in the present tense and the subject "I" is singular. In present tense, when the subject is singular, the verb form should also be singular. Therefore, "wash" is the correct verb form to match the subject "I".

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  • 3. 

    Mark: What does Mack do? John: He's a teacher. He __________ in the junior high school.

    • Teach

    • Teaches

    • Is teaching

    • Taught

    Correct Answer
    A. Teaches
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "teaches" because it is the present tense form of the verb "teach" and agrees with the subject "Mack." The phrase "in the junior high school" provides additional information about where Mack teaches.

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  • 4. 

    I and my friend ……………..our homework every day.                  

    • Do

    • Does

    • Go

    • Goes

    Correct Answer
    A. Do
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "do." In this sentence, "I and my friend" is the subject, which is plural. When the subject is plural, we use the verb "do" to agree with it.

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  • 5. 

    We are actors, We ………………..in movies.  

    • Plays

    • Act

    • Acting

    • Acts

    Correct Answer
    A. Act
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "act." This is because the sentence is in the present tense and the subject "We" is plural. Therefore, the verb should also be in the plural form, which is "act."

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  • 6. 

    Which sentence correctly uses the past perfect tense?

    • I will finish my homework by tomorrow. 

    • She had already finished her work before she went out. 

    • They will have been traveling for three months by the time they return home.

    • None of the above. 

    Correct Answer
    A. She had already finished her work before she went out. 
    Explanation
    Past perfect ("had + past participle") is for an action completed in the past before another past action. It's like saying "this happened first, then this other thing happened." Here, she finished her work, then she went out. The other options use different tenses.

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  • 7. 

    Choose the sentence that accurately describes a habitual action in the past.

    • I used to play the piano every day when I was younger. 

    • She was practicing the violin when I called her. 

    • They have gone to the beach every summer for the past ten years.

    • None of the above.

    Correct Answer
    A. I used to play the piano every day when I was younger. 
    Explanation
    To talk about things we did regularly in the past but don't do now, we use "used to" + verb. It's like saying "I had the habit of..." The other options are different tenses: b) past continuous for an ongoing action, c) present perfect for something with a present result.

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  • 8. 

    I _______ a bike on the last weekend.            

    • Ride

    • Drive

    • Rode

    • Drove

    Correct Answer
    A. Rode
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "rode" because it is the past tense form of the verb "ride". In this sentence, the speaker is referring to an action that happened in the past, specifically on the last weekend. Therefore, "rode" is the appropriate verb form to use in this context.

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  • 9. 

    K: What time did you get up this morning? L:  I _________ up at half-past six.          

    • Get

    • Got

    • Gone

    • Go

    Correct Answer
    A. Got
    Explanation
     The correct answer is "got." In this context, the question is asking about the past, specifically what time the person got up this morning. "Got" is the past tense form of the verb "get," which is the appropriate verb to use in this sentence.

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  • 10. 

    Joy:  What ……………….. Pam …………….? Tim:  She is a student.

    • Is , do

    • Does , does

    • Does , do

    • Is , does

    Correct Answer
    A. Does , do
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "does, do." In the question "What does Pam do?" the word "does" is used to form a question in the third person singular form. "Do" is used because it is the appropriate verb form for the subject "Pam" in the present tense.

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  • 11. 

    John:  When do you get up? Jim:  I……………. at  6 o’clock in the morning.

    • Woke up

    • Get up

    • Gets up

    • Wakes up

    Correct Answer
    A. Get up
    Explanation
    Jim is responding to John's question about when he gets up. The correct answer is "get up" because it is the appropriate verb to use when referring to the action of getting out of bed in the morning.

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  • 12. 

    Which sentence uses the correct tense to describe a future fact or prediction?

    • The sun will rise at 6:30 am tomorrow. 

    • I am going to visit my grandparents next week. 

    • They will have been living in that house for ten years next year.

    • None of the above.

    Correct Answer
    A. The sun will rise at 6:30 am tomorrow. 
    Explanation
    Simple future ("will + verb") is for things we know will happen or predict will happen in the future. It's a simple statement about the future. The other options use different tenses: b) "going to" future for plans, c) future perfect continuous.

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  • 13. 

    Fern:  What does Jenny normally do in her free time? Betty: __________________________________.                                           

    • She read textbooks in her free time.

    • She is reading textbook in her free time.

    • She often read a textbook in her free time.

    • She usually reads textbooks in her free time.

    Correct Answer
    A. She usually reads textbooks in her free time.
    Explanation
    Option D is the most appropriate because it uses the present simple tense "reads" for a habitual action and includes the adverb "usually" to indicate frequency. This makes the sentence clear and grammatically correct.

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  • 14. 

    Which sentence uses the present perfect tense CORRECTLY?

    • I have been to Spain last year. 

    • She has finished her homework yesterday. 

    • They have lived in this house since 2010. 

    • He has eaten breakfast already.

    Correct Answer
    A. They have lived in this house since 2010. 
    Explanation
    The present perfect tense ("have/has + past participle") is tricky because it connects the past to the present. We use it for actions that started in the past but continue to the present or have a result that's still relevant now. "Since 2010" shows an ongoing situation. The other options are wrong because they mix present perfect with specific past times, which need simple past instead.

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  • 15. 

    Identify the sentence with an error in tense usage.

    • She was studying for her exams when the power went out. 

    • They have visited their grandparents last weekend. 

    • He is starting his new job tomorrow.

    • None of the above.

    Correct Answer
    A. They have visited their grandparents last weekend. 
    Explanation
     When we have a specific time in the past ("last weekend"), we use simple past tense ("visited"). Present perfect is for when the time is unfinished or the action has a present result. The other options are correct: a) past continuous for an action interrupted by another, c) present continuous for a future action.

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  • 16. 

    Which sentence uses the past perfect continuous tense CORRECTLY?

    • I had been waiting for an hour when the bus finally arrived. 

    • She had been working on that project since last month. 

    • They had been playing football when it started to rain.

    • None of the above

    Correct Answer
    A. I had been waiting for an hour when the bus finally arrived. 
    Explanation
    This tense is a mouthful! "Had been + present participle" is for an action that was ongoing in the past before something else happened. It emphasizes how long it was happening. Here, the waiting was happening before the arrival. The other options don't need this emphasis or have incorrect time markers.

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  • 17. 

    Which sentence uses the past perfect tense CORRECTLY?

    • I had gone to the store before I went to the gym. 

    • She had been studying all night when she fell asleep. 

    • They had already eaten dinner when we arrived.

    • None of the above. 

    Correct Answer
    A. They had already eaten dinner when we arrived.
    Explanation
    Past perfect ("had + past participle") is for an action completed in the past before another past action. It's like saying "this happened first, then this other thing happened." Here, they ate dinner, then we arrived. The other options either don't need this emphasis or use the wrong tense.

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  • 18. 

    Which sentence correctly uses the present continuous tense for a future arrangement?

    • I am going to a concert next month. 

    • She is studying abroad next semester. 

    • They are getting married next year.

    • None of the above.

    Correct Answer
    A. They are getting married next year.
    Explanation
    We can use present continuous for the future, but it has to be something already fixed, like an arrangement. "Getting married" is a planned event. The other options sound more like intentions or possibilities, not a definite arrangement.

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  • 19. 

    Identify the sentence with an error in tense usage.

    • I have been living in this city for five years. 

    • She had finished her work before she went out. 

    • He is starting his new job tomorrow.

    • None of the above. 

    Correct Answer
    A. I have been living in this city for five years. 
    Explanation
    This should be present perfect continuous ("have been living") because it's an action that started in the past and is still happening now. It's like saying "I started living here and am still living here." The other tenses are correct: b) past perfect for something completed before another past action, c) present continuous for a future action.

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  • 20. 

    Choose the sentence that accurately describes an interrupted action in the past.

    • I was walking in the park when I saw a squirrel. 

    • She had been reading a book when the doorbell rang. 

    • He was eating dinner when the phone rang.

    • None of the above. 

    Correct Answer
    A. I was walking in the park when I saw a squirrel. 
    Explanation
    Past continuous ("was/were + present participle") is like a movie camera in the past, showing an action in progress. Then, something else happens to interrupt it. Here, the walking was interrupted by seeing the squirrel. The other options use different past tenses.

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Heather Baxter |BSc (Elementary Education and Teaching) |
K-12 English Expert
Heather is an educator, with four years of teaching experience. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Teaching. She is skilled in Teaching English as a Second Language and currently works as an Elementary School Teacher at Pinellas County Schools. She made a career transition one year ago to explore a new path in writing and copy editing. Heather's specialization lies in curriculum development and educational materials, but she maintains versatility to work across various industries. Known for her keen attention to detail and a deep passion for language, she possesses a sharp eye for precision.

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  • Jan 30, 2025
    Quiz Edited by
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    Expert Reviewed by
    Heather Baxter
  • Jul 19, 2010
    Quiz Created by
    Maylody
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