If You Pass This Exam, You've Mastered Tenses

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  • 1/101 Questions

    Shall I _____ the door? (shut)

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About This Quiz

In grammar, tense is a category that expresses time reference. Tenses are usually manifested by the use of specific forms of verbs, particularly in their conjugation patterns. The main tenses found in many languages include the past, present, and future. If you pass this exam, you've mastered tenses!
Good luck on your test!

If You Pass This Exam, Youve Mastered Tenses - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    We couldn’t afford to keep our car, so we _______ it. (sell)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "sold" because the sentence is in the past tense and the verb "sell" needs to be conjugated to match the subject "we". "Sold" is the past tense form of "sell" and is the correct verb form to use in this sentence.

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  • 3. 

    At 10 o’clock tomorrow, she will be in her office. She _____. (work)

    Explanation
    The sentence is talking about a future event at a specific time (10 o'clock tomorrow) and implies that she will be in her office at that time. The use of "will be working" suggests that she will be engaged in the action of working in her office at that specific time.

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  • 4. 

    Thanks for lending me the money. I ____ you back on Friday. (pay)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "will pay" because the speaker is expressing their intention or future plan to repay the money on Friday. The use of "will" indicates a future action, and "pay" is the correct form of the verb to match the subject "I".

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  • 5. 

    You’ve been travelling all day. You ___________. (must/tired)

    Explanation
    After a long day of traveling, it is highly likely that one would feel tired. The phrase "must be tired" implies a strong probability or certainty that the person is tired. This is because traveling can be physically and mentally exhausting, requiring a lot of energy and causing fatigue. Therefore, the correct answer suggests that feeling tired is a logical and expected outcome after a day of travel.

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  • 6. 

    I was enjoying the party, but Chris ______ to go home. (want)

    Explanation
    Chris wanted to go home.

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  • 7. 

    _______ anything from Ben recently? (you/hear)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "Have you heard." This is because the question is asking if the person has received any information or news about Ben recently. The phrase "Have you heard" is commonly used to inquire about someone's knowledge or awareness of a particular topic or event.

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  • 8. 

    A: Can you give Tom this book? b: Sure, I _____ it to him when I see him this afternoon. (give)

    Explanation
    In this conversation, Person A asks Person B if they can give Tom the book. Person B responds by saying "Sure, I will give it to him when I see him this afternoon." The use of "will give" indicates a future action that Person B plans to take. Therefore, "will give" is the correct answer to complete the sentence.

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  • 9. 

    The museum _______ at 4 o’clock on Sundays (close)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "closes". In this sentence, the verb "closes" is used to indicate the action of the museum at a specific time, which is 4 o'clock on Sundays.

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  • 10. 

    I ______ Mary is Canadian, but I’m not sure (think)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "think" because the speaker is expressing uncertainty about Mary's nationality. They are indicating that they believe Mary is Canadian, but they are not completely sure. The verb "think" is appropriate in this context as it conveys the speaker's opinion or belief rather than a definite statement of fact.

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  • 11. 

    It’s a really boring movie. It’s the most boring movie I ______. (ever/see)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "have ever seen" because the sentence is in the present perfect tense and refers to an action that started in the past and continues up to the present. The phrase "have ever seen" emphasizes that out of all the movies the person has watched, this one is the most boring.

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  • 12. 

    I _____ and see you tomorrow if you like. (can/come)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "can come" because the phrase "can come" is used to express the ability or permission to come. In this sentence, the speaker is stating that they have the ability to come and they are willing to do so if the other person wants them to.

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  • 13. 

    You can’t turn right here. You ______ left. (have to/turn)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "have to turn." This is because the sentence is expressing a requirement or obligation to make a left turn instead of a right turn. The phrase "have to" is used to indicate necessity or compulsion, making it the appropriate choice in this context.

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  • 14. 

    ______ caviar? (you/ever/eat)

    Explanation
    The given correct answer "Have you ever eaten" is the correct form of the question, using the present perfect tense to ask about a past experience. It is asking if the person has had the experience of eating caviar at any point in their life.

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  • 15. 

    I lost one of my gloves. I ______ it somewhere. (must/drop)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "must have dropped". This is because the sentence suggests that the speaker lost one of their gloves and they believe that they accidentally dropped it somewhere. The use of "must have" implies a strong assumption or conclusion based on the available evidence, indicating that dropping the glove is the most likely explanation for its loss.

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  • 16. 

    I’ve written the email, but I _______. (sent it/yet)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "have not sent it yet" because the phrase "have not sent" indicates that the action of sending the email has not been completed. The word "yet" emphasizes that the action has not happened up to the present time. Therefore, the email has been written but not yet sent.

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  • 17. 

    Did you eat a lot of sweets when you _____ a child? (be)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "were" because the question is asking about the past, specifically about the time when the person was a child. "Were" is the past tense form of the verb "be" used with the pronoun "you" in the past.

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  • 18. 

    Please don’t make so much noise. I _______ (I / try) to work.

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "am trying" because the sentence is in the present continuous tense, which is used to talk about actions happening at the time of speaking. In this case, the speaker is currently trying to work and is asking others to not make noise.

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  • 19. 

    The fire spread quickly, but everybody _____ to escape. (be able)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "was able". In this sentence, the past tense "was" indicates that the action of being able to escape happened in the past. The phrase "everybody" suggests that all individuals were able to escape, emphasizing the collective ability of everyone to get away from the fire.

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  • 20. 

    We had a lovely room in the hotel. We _____ the lake. (can/see)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "could see" because it is used to express ability or possibility in the past. In this context, it means that the speaker had the ability to see the lake from their room in the hotel.

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  • 21. 

    I _______ English since January. (learn)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "have been learning". This is because the sentence is in the present perfect continuous tense, which is used to talk about an action that started in the past and is still ongoing. In this case, the action of learning English started in January and is still continuing. The present perfect continuous tense is formed using "have been" + the present participle of the verb.

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  • 22. 

    It ______ when I got up. (rain)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "was raining" because the sentence is in the past tense and the verb "rain" needs to be in the past continuous form to match the tense. The word "when" indicates that the action of raining was already happening at the time the speaker got up.

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  • 23. 

    Every morning they meet in the same cafe. They ______ there for years. (go)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "have been going" because the sentence is in the present perfect continuous tense, indicating an action that started in the past and is still ongoing in the present. The phrase "for years" further emphasizes the duration of their daily meetings in the cafe.

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  • 24. 

    As soon as I walked into the room, I ______ gas. (can/smell)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "could smell" because the phrase "as soon as" suggests that the action of smelling the gas occurred immediately after walking into the room. The use of "could" indicates the ability or possibility of smelling the gas in that moment.

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  • 25. 

    Paul and Lucy _____ ten minutes ago. (arrive)

    Explanation
    Paul and Lucy arrived ten minutes ago. The verb "arrived" is the correct answer because it matches the past tense of the sentence and agrees with the subject "Paul and Lucy".

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  • 26. 

    The earth _____ round the sun. (go)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "goes" because it is the third-person singular form of the verb "go" in the present tense. In this sentence, "The earth" is the subject and it is being described as moving or orbiting around the sun. Since it is a singular noun, the verb form "goes" is used.

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  • 27. 

    It’s good to see you again. We ______ each other for a long time. (see)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "have not seen" because the sentence is in the present perfect tense. The phrase "have not seen" indicates that the action of seeing each other has not occurred in the past up until now.

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  • 28. 

    Laura ________ her exam because she studied very hard. (pass)

    Explanation
    Laura was able to successfully complete or achieve a passing grade on her exam because she put in a lot of effort and studied diligently.

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  • 29. 

    Julia _____ (not / drink) tea very often.

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "does not drink" because the sentence is in the present simple tense and is referring to Julia's regular habits. The negative form of the present simple tense is formed by using "do not" or "does not" followed by the base form of the verb. In this case, "does not drink" indicates that Julia does not have the habit of drinking tea frequently.

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  • 30. 

    I was annoyed because ______ late. (they/be)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "they were" because the sentence is in the past tense and "they" is the subject of the sentence. In the past tense, the correct form of the verb "be" for the subject "they" is "were".

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  • 31. 

    Where have you been? I ______ for you for the last half hour. (look)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "have been looking" because the sentence is in the present perfect continuous tense. The speaker is referring to an action that started in the past and is still ongoing in the present. The phrase "have been" indicates the present perfect tense, and "looking" is the present participle form of the verb "look." Therefore, "have been looking" is the appropriate verb form to use in this context.

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  • 32. 

    Mozart _______ more than 600 pieces of music. (write)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "wrote" because it is the past tense form of the verb "write." The sentence is stating that Mozart completed the action of writing more than 600 pieces of music in the past.

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  • 33. 

    I ____ along the road when I saw Dan. So I stopped, and we talked for a while. (walk)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "was walking" because it is used to describe an ongoing action in the past. The sentence indicates that the speaker was in the middle of walking along the road when they saw Dan, so the past continuous tense is appropriate to convey this continuous action.

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  • 34. 

    It’s two years since I last ____ Joe. (see)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "saw" because the sentence is in the past tense and the verb "see" needs to be conjugated in the past tense. "Saw" is the past tense form of "see", indicating that the speaker last saw Joe two years ago.

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  • 35. 

    It’s later than I thought. I ___. (must/go)

    Explanation
    The phrase "It's later than I thought" indicates that the speaker is realizing that they are running out of time. In this context, the verb "must go" suggests a sense of urgency and necessity to leave immediately. Therefore, the correct answer is "must go."

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  • 36. 

    ‘We used to live very near the motorway.’ ‘Did you? It ______ noisy.’ (must/be)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "must have been." This is because the first speaker says they used to live very near the motorway, and the second speaker responds with "Did you? It ______ noisy." The use of "must have been" implies that the second speaker is expressing certainty or strong belief that living near the motorway was noisy.

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  • 37. 

    ‘Don’t forget to pay the bill.’ ‘I ______ it.’ (already/pay)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "have already paid" because the phrase "I have already paid" indicates that the action of paying the bill has already been completed in the past. The use of the present perfect tense "have" and the past participle "paid" shows that the payment occurred before the present moment.

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  • 38. 

    I _____ yesterday because I’d hurt my leg (can run)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "could not run" because the phrase "could not" indicates a lack of ability or capability to perform the action of running. The past tense "could not" suggests that the speaker was unable to run yesterday due to an injury to their leg.

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  • 39. 

    A: I can’t find my phone anywhere. b: You ______ it at work. (might/leave)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "might have left". This is because the speaker is unsure about the location of their phone and is suggesting a possibility that they left it at work. The phrase "might have left" indicates a past possibility or uncertainty about an action that may have occurred.

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  • 40. 

    I ______ a lot of people in the last few days. (meet)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "have met" because the sentence is in the present perfect tense, indicating an action that started in the past and is still ongoing or has just been completed. "Have met" is the present perfect form of the verb "meet," which is used to describe an action that has happened at an unspecified time before now.

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  • 41. 

    I _____ what will happen. (wonder)

    Explanation
    The blank space in the sentence requires a verb that expresses uncertainty or curiosity about a future event. "Wonder" is the correct answer because it is a verb that means to have a feeling of doubt or curiosity about something. In this context, it suggests that the speaker is unsure or curious about what will happen.

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  • 42. 

    We _____ a car. (never/have)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "have never had." This is because the sentence is in the present perfect tense, which is formed by using the auxiliary verb "have" followed by the past participle of the main verb. In this case, the main verb is "had," indicating ownership or possession of a car. The word "never" is placed before the auxiliary verb "have" to indicate that the action of having a car has not occurred at any point in the past.

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  • 43. 

    I don’t know what the film is about. I _______ it. (see)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "have not seen" because the sentence is in the present perfect tense. The phrase "have not seen" indicates that the action of watching the film has not occurred in the past up until now.

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  • 44. 

    This time next week I’ll be on holiday. I _____ on the beach or swimming in the sea. (lie)

    Explanation
    In this sentence, the speaker is talking about a future event that will happen next week. The verb "lie" is used to describe the action of being on the beach or swimming in the sea. Since the sentence is in the future tense and the action will be ongoing, the correct form of the verb is "will be lying."

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  • 45. 

    The situation is already very bad and now it _____ worse (get)

    Explanation
    The sentence is in the present tense and is referring to a situation that is currently bad. The use of "is getting" indicates that the situation is continuing to worsen in the present moment. This suggests that there has been a progression from bad to worse, implying that the situation is deteriorating further.

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  • 46. 

    It ______ all morning. (rain)

    Explanation
    The correct answer is "has been raining" because the sentence is in the present perfect continuous tense. This tense is used to describe an action that started in the past and is still ongoing in the present. In this case, the action of raining started in the morning and is still happening.

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  • 47. 

    ‘Did you call Max?’ ‘Oh no, I forgot. I ____ him now.’ (call)

    Explanation
    The speaker realizes that they forgot to call Max in the past, but they intend to rectify the situation by calling him in the future. Therefore, the correct answer is "will call."

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  • 48. 

    Next year they ______ for 25 years. (be married)

    Explanation
    In this sentence, the phrase "Next year" indicates a future point in time. The verb "be married" is in the present perfect tense, which is used to describe an action that started in the past and is still ongoing or has just ended. The phrase "will have been" is the future perfect tense, which is used to describe an action that will be completed before a specific point in the future. Therefore, "will have been married" is the correct answer, indicating that by next year, they will have been married for 25 years.

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  • 49. 

    We were good friends. We _____ each other well. (know)

    Explanation
    The sentence is in the past tense and refers to a past friendship. The verb "knew" is the correct past tense form of "know" and accurately describes the action of having knowledge about each other.

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  • Current Version
  • Mar 21, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
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  • May 10, 2021
    Quiz Created by
    Alfredhook3
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