Verb Tense MCQ: Grammar Quiz

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  • 1/10 Questions

    Choose the tense that indicates an ongoing past action interrupted by another action: "I __ a book when she called."

    • Read
    • Was reading
    • Has read
    • Reads
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About This Quiz


Are you confident in your understanding of English verb tenses? Put your knowledge to the test with our Verb Tense MCQ. This quiz is designed to assess your ability to identify and use various verb tenses correctly. Each question will present you with a sentence that requires you to select the appropriate verb form to complete it accurately, ranging from simple present to past perfect continuous.

This quiz is an excellent tool for anyone looking to improve their grasp of English grammar, whether you're a student needing to master verb tenses for academic success, a professional aiming to enhance your communication skills, or a language learner seeking to solidify your English proficiency. Let's see how well you can navigate the complexities of verb conjugations and their proper usage in context.

Verb Tense MCQ: Grammar Quiz - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    Which tense fits: "They __ dinner when the phone rang"?

    • Had

    • Have had

    • Were having

    • Have

    Correct Answer
    A. Were having
    Explanation
    "Were having" fits the sentence as it describes an ongoing action (eating dinner) that was interrupted by another action (the phone ringing). The past continuous tense, indicated by "were" plus the -ing form of the verb, is used to denote actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past and often provides a backdrop for another action.

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  • 3. 

    Correct tense for a habitual action: "He usually __ a walk in the evening."

    • Takes

    • Took

    • Is taking

    • Has taken

    Correct Answer
    A. Takes
    Explanation
    "Takes" is the correct answer for describing habitual actions that occur regularly. The simple present tense, which is used here, is typically employed to express daily routines or habitual facts. In this context, "usually" cues the use of the simple present to indicate a regular activity.

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  • 4. 

    What is the correct present perfect continuous tense: "I __ for her reply for two weeks now."

    • Am waiting

    • Have been waiting

    • Waited

    • Will be waiting

    Correct Answer
    A. Have been waiting
    Explanation
    "Have been waiting" employs the present perfect continuous tense, which is used to describe actions that began in the past and continue up to the present. The inclusion of "for two weeks now" indicates that the action of waiting started in the past and is still ongoing, making the present perfect continuous the best fit to express the duration of the activity up to now.

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  • 5. 

    Identify the correct tense: "By next year, I __ my degree."

    • Complete

    • Will complete

    • Have completed

    • Am completing

    Correct Answer
    A. Will complete
    Explanation
    "Will complete" is the appropriate choice because the sentence is discussing a future event, the completion of a degree, expected to happen by next year. The future simple tense, formed with "will" plus the base form of the verb, is used to express actions that are predicted or planned to happen in the future. This tense effectively communicates intentions or definite plans set for times ahead.

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  • 6. 

    What verb is used in "She __ to the store an hour ago"?

    • Goes

    • Will go

    • Went

    • Has gone

    Correct Answer
    A. Went
    Explanation
    "Went" is the correct answer because the sentence describes an action that happened at a specific time in the past, one hour ago. The simple past tense is used for actions completed at a definite time in the past, which is indicated here by "an hour ago." Unlike the present perfect or future tenses, the simple past directly ties the action to a completed timeframe, making it the appropriate choice for this sentence.

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  • 7. 

    Choose the correct form for passive voice in past perfect: "The book __ by the time he arrived."

    • Was written

    • Had been written

    • Was being written

    • Writes

    Correct Answer
    A. Had been written
    Explanation
    "Had been written" is the correct form, using the past perfect passive tense. This tense is necessary because the action (the book being written) was completed before another past action (his arrival). The past perfect passive is formed with "had been" followed by the past participle of the verb, emphasizing that the book's writing was completed at a point in the past before another event occurred.

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  • 8. 

    For a condition that was possible in the past: "If he had known, he __ differently."

    • Acted

    • Would act

    • Had acted

    • Would have acted

    Correct Answer
    A. Would have acted
    Explanation
    "Would have acted" correctly uses the past perfect conditional tense, which is ideal for expressing hypothetical outcomes in the past. This tense suggests that if the condition (knowing) had been met, the outcome (acting differently) would have followed, indicating a missed outcome based on a past condition not being met.

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  • 9. 

    Select the correct future perfect tense: "By the end of the month, we __ all exams."

    • Will finish

    • Finish

    • Will have finished

    • Are finishing

    Correct Answer
    A. Will have finished
    Explanation
    "Will have finished" uses the future perfect tense, appropriate for actions that will be completed before a specific future time. In this case, all exams will be finished by the end of the month. The future perfect is constructed with "will have" followed by the past participle of the verb, signifying completion of an action before another time or event in the future.

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  • 10. 

    What tense should be used: "By the time we get there, the movie __."

    • Starts

    • Will start

    • Will have started

    • Has started

    Correct Answer
    A. Will have started
    Explanation
    "Will have started" is the appropriate tense because it describes an action that will be complete before a specific future time, the time of arrival. The future perfect tense is used here, formed by "will have" plus the past participle, to denote that the start of the movie precedes another future event.

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  • Current Version
  • Sep 04, 2024
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Jul 24, 2009
    Quiz Created by
    Eydie
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