Learn About English Grammar Quiz

1. When I arrived, Anthony __________ with his Nintendo.

Was playing

Has been playing

Had been played

Option4

The correct answer is "was playing." This is because the sentence is in the past tense and the verb "was playing" indicates an ongoing action that was happening when the speaker arrived. The other options do not fit the context of the sentence. "Has been playing" is in the present perfect tense and does not match the past tense of the sentence. "Had been played" is in the past perfect tense and suggests that the Nintendo had already been played before the speaker arrived.

Explanation

The correct answer is "was playing." This is because the sentence is in the past tense and the verb "was playing" indicates an ongoing action that was happening when the speaker arrived. The other options do not fit the context of the sentence. "Has been playing" is in the present perfect tense and does not match the past tense of the sentence. "Had been played" is in the past perfect tense and suggests that the Nintendo had already been played before the speaker arrived.

2. I didn't have much to eat at lunch because __________ a lot at breakfast.

I would have eaten

I'd eaten

I was eating

Option4

The correct answer is "I'd eaten" because the phrase "I didn't have much to eat at lunch" suggests that the person didn't eat a lot during lunch. The phrase "because I'd eaten a lot at breakfast" indicates that the reason for not eating much at lunch is because the person had already eaten a lot during breakfast.

Explanation

The correct answer is "I'd eaten" because the phrase "I didn't have much to eat at lunch" suggests that the person didn't eat a lot during lunch. The phrase "because I'd eaten a lot at breakfast" indicates that the reason for not eating much at lunch is because the person had already eaten a lot during breakfast.

3. Shakespeare would be famous even if he __________ "To be or not to be..."

Had not written

Had not been writing

Has not written

Option4

Shakespeare would still be famous even if he had not written the famous quote "To be or not to be..." because he is renowned for his numerous other plays and sonnets. His contributions to literature and his impact on the English language go far beyond just one famous quote.

Explanation

Shakespeare would still be famous even if he had not written the famous quote "To be or not to be..." because he is renowned for his numerous other plays and sonnets. His contributions to literature and his impact on the English language go far beyond just one famous quote.

4. Ram __________ good French because he had been studying for several years.

Spoke

Had spoken

Has spoken

Option4

Ram spoke good French because he had been studying for several years. This implies that Ram had the ability to speak French well because he had been studying it for a long time. The past tense "spoke" indicates that Ram had already spoken French in the past, and the phrase "had been studying" suggests that his studying had been ongoing for a period of time. Therefore, the correct answer is "spoke."

Explanation

Ram spoke good French because he had been studying for several years. This implies that Ram had the ability to speak French well because he had been studying it for a long time. The past tense "spoke" indicates that Ram had already spoken French in the past, and the phrase "had been studying" suggests that his studying had been ongoing for a period of time. Therefore, the correct answer is "spoke."

5. The train wasn't there. It __________ already.

Had been left

Had left

Has left

Option4

The correct answer is "had left". This is because the sentence is in the past tense and the word "already" suggests that the action of leaving the train occurred before a specific point in the past. Therefore, the past perfect tense "had left" is the most appropriate choice.

Explanation

The correct answer is "had left". This is because the sentence is in the past tense and the word "already" suggests that the action of leaving the train occurred before a specific point in the past. Therefore, the past perfect tense "had left" is the most appropriate choice.

6. How long __________ each other when they got married?

Had they known

Have they known

Would they know

Option4

The correct answer is "had they known". This answer is in the past perfect tense, indicating that the action of knowing each other occurred before the action of getting married. The question is asking about the duration of time they knew each other before getting married.

Explanation

The correct answer is "had they known". This answer is in the past perfect tense, indicating that the action of knowing each other occurred before the action of getting married. The question is asking about the duration of time they knew each other before getting married.

7. Tara is exhausted. She __________.

Has been running

Had been running

Has running

Option4

The correct answer is "has been running" because the sentence is in the present perfect continuous tense, indicating an action that started in the past and is still ongoing. The word "exhausted" suggests that Tara is currently tired, which aligns with the present perfect continuous tense.

Explanation

The correct answer is "has been running" because the sentence is in the present perfect continuous tense, indicating an action that started in the past and is still ongoing. The word "exhausted" suggests that Tara is currently tired, which aligns with the present perfect continuous tense.

8. She __________ to speak English before she arrived in America.

Had learned already

Will have already learned

Had already learned

Option4

The correct answer is "had already learned." This is because the sentence is in the past tense and the word "already" indicates that the action of learning English occurred before she arrived in America. The past perfect tense "had learned" is used to show an action that happened before another past action, which is the arrival in America in this case.

Explanation

The correct answer is "had already learned." This is because the sentence is in the past tense and the word "already" indicates that the action of learning English occurred before she arrived in America. The past perfect tense "had learned" is used to show an action that happened before another past action, which is the arrival in America in this case.

9. I __________ from him for ten years when I received his last letter.

Didn't hear

Hadn't been hearing

Hadn't heard

Option4

The correct answer is "hadn't heard" because it indicates that the speaker had not received any communication from him for ten years until they received his last letter. This implies that there was a period of time in the past where the speaker did not hear from him.

Explanation

The correct answer is "hadn't heard" because it indicates that the speaker had not received any communication from him for ten years until they received his last letter. This implies that there was a period of time in the past where the speaker did not hear from him.

10. I __________ long when the alarm went off.

Had been sleeping

Hadn't been sleeping

Will have been sleeping

Option4

The correct answer is "hadn't been sleeping". This is because the sentence is in the past tense and the phrase "when the alarm went off" indicates a specific point in the past. The past perfect continuous tense "hadn't been sleeping" is used to describe an ongoing action that was interrupted by another event in the past, which fits the context of the sentence.

Explanation

The correct answer is "hadn't been sleeping". This is because the sentence is in the past tense and the phrase "when the alarm went off" indicates a specific point in the past. The past perfect continuous tense "hadn't been sleeping" is used to describe an ongoing action that was interrupted by another event in the past, which fits the context of the sentence.