Are you ready to test your knowledge on tenses in English grammar? Check out the following grammar quiz and improve your grammar knowledge. Learn English grammar through MCQ questions followed by four options, answers and explanations for each answer.
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Introduction to English Tense Tests
Understanding English tenses is crucial for effective communication and writing. One way to test your English grammar skill is practicing tense quizzes and tests.
In this article, we have prepared all tenses mixed MCQ questions covering twelve tenses quizzes to help you better understand the usage of tenses.
Tense quiz for all levels
The following tense quizzes cater to learners of all levels, whether beginners seeking to understand basic tense usage or advanced learners refining their mastery of various tenses structures.
Tense Grammar Quiz Questions
Let's start with the tense quizzes. Test your understanding with our Present Simple Quiz, Present Perfect Quiz, Past Tense and Future tenses Quizzes. These quizzes cover essential aspects of the present tense, past tense and future tense ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of your knowledge.
I .......... just ......... the work.
have, finished
has, finished
will, finish
will be , finishing
✅ PRESENT PERFECT TENSE (S+has/have+V3+O) is used to denote a completed action in the recent past.'
For several months now, the construction workers .......... the old building.
have been renovating
has been renovating
were renovating
are renovating
✅ Present perfect continuous (Sub+has/have+been+V4+Obj) tense is used with ‘Since +point of time’, ‘for +period of time + now’, ‘all +present time: all this morning, afternoon, evening, all this week, month, years etc'
By the time they reached the airport, their flight .....already ..... .
had, departed
has, departed
will have, departed
✅ PAST PERFECT TENSE (S+had+V3+O) is used to denote actions completed before a certain moment in the past'
We ........... flowers in the garden. It looks beautiful.
have planted
has planted
planted
are planting
✅ PRESENT PERFECT TENSE (S+has/have+V3+O) is used to denote recent past actions which have results in the present. '
I occasionally ........... my grandparents during the summer vacation.
visit
visits
will visit
have visited
✅ .................... '
She ................ a glass of milk every morning.
takes
take
will take
took
✅ The sentence expresses habitual actions, regular actions. So, SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE (S+V1/V5+O) is used '
All evening, she ........... for the big party tonight.
has been preparing
have been preparing
were preparing
will be preparing
✅ Present perfect continuous (Sub+has/have+been+V4+Obj) tense is used with ‘Since +point of time’, ‘for +period of time + now’, ‘all +present time: all this morning, afternoon, evening, all this week, month, years etc'
Grammar Tense Quiz Questions and Answers
Tense tests and quizzes are important to help improve grammar proficiency. Understanding of tenses boosts language proficiency. Now, try the following multiple choice questions and answers related to past simple, present perfect, present simple and future.
Rony and William ........... video games whenever he finishes his homework.
play
plays
will play
played
✅ SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE (S+V1/V5+O) is used with the adverbs always, seldom, daily, usually, occasionally, hardly, now-a-days, rarely, sometimes, never, generally, frequently, often, every day, every week, every month, every year, once a week, twice......, three times......, whenever, after, every time, etc. '
She .......... the piano for hours all last day.
was practicing
is practicing
has been practicing
will be practicing
✅ PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE (S+was/were+V4+O) is used with 'all day yesterday', 'all last night' , 'all Sunday', 'at this time yesterday', 'at this moment yesterday', etc.'
But today, we .......... to the beach for a picnic.
are going
is going
go
went
✅ PRESENT CONTINUOUS (S+is/am/are+V4+O) is used after short expressions that draw attention like: Stop! Listen! Look! Don’t disturb! Don’t cross the road! After ‘but today, but now’, etc'
He always ........... in the day time.
sleeps
sleep
will sleep
slept
✅ SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE (S+V1/V5+O) is used with the adverbs always, seldom, daily, usually, occasionally, hardly, now-a-days, rarely, sometimes, never, generally, frequently, often, every day, every week, every month, every year, once
a week, twice......, three times......, whenever, after, every time, etc.'
By the time she ARRIVED at the party, everyone .....already .....the cake.
had, eaten
has, eaten
were eating
will eat
✅ PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE (S+was/were+V4+O) is used with 'all day yesterday', 'all last night' , 'all Sunday', 'at this time yesterday', 'at this moment yesterday', etc.'
Don’t disturb! The students .......... for their test tomorrow.
are studying
is studying
will study
have studied
✅ PRESENT CONTINUOUS (S+is/am/are+V4+O) is used after short expressions that draw attention like: Stop! Listen! Look! Don’t disturb! Don’t cross the road! After ‘but today, but now’, etc'
Sometimes, David .......... to read books before bedtime.
likes
like
will like
have liked
✅ SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE (S+V1/V5+O) is used with the adverbs always, seldom, daily, usually, occasionally, hardly, now-a-days, rarely, sometimes, never, generally, frequently, often, every day, every week, every month, every year, once a week, twice......, three times......, whenever, after, every time, etc. '
Tense Quiz Multiple Choice Questions and Answers
Multiple-choice tense tests are important to evaluate our understanding about using different verbs. These tests provide a structured way to assess and improve tense usage through quizzes. So, let’s begin.
Benjamin and Charlotte .......... a celebrity, and he even got their autograph.
have met
has met
met
meet
✅ PRESENT PERFECT TENSE (S+has/have+V3+O) is used to express interesting incidents or experiences.'
Next year, she .......... her new job.
will start
start
will be starting
started
✅ SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE (S+will+V1+O) is used with the FUTURE time ADVERB like: Tomorrow, Next month, Coming Saturday, Next year, Tomorrow morning, Next week, Coming summer.'
I ......... the house, and now it looks spotless.
have cleaned
has cleaned
cleaned
clean
✅ PRESENT PERFECT TENSE (S+has/have+V3+O) is used to denote recent past actions which have results in the present. '
I never ........... in the pool after dark.
swim
swims
swam
have swum
✅ SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE (S+V1/V5+O) is used with the adverbs always, seldom, daily, usually, occasionally, hardly, now-a-days, rarely, sometimes, never, generally, frequently, often, every day, every week, every month, every year, once a week, twice......, three times......, whenever, after, every time, etc. '
Emma and James ........... teachers since 2010.
have been
has been
was
is
✅ PRESENT PERFECT TENSE (S+has/have+V3+O) is used with ‘SINCE + POINT OF TIME or FOR + PERIOD OF TIME’ to denote an action beginning at sometime in the past and continuing up to the present moment.'
He couldn't find his keys because he .......... them earlier.
had misplaced
has misplaced
misplaced
misplaces
✅ PAST PERFECT TENSE (S+had+V3+O) is used to denote actions completed before a certain moment in the past'
I ........... a book of Shakespeare now.
am reading
will read
read
was reading
✅ PRESENT CONTINUOUS (S+is/am/are+V4+O) is used for a temporary action.'
English Grammar Tense Tests Questions and Answers
Testing your English grammar skills is a vital step towards improvement. Our tests cover all 12 tenses, making it an ideal resource for those aiming to strengthen their grasp of grammar. Alright, let's start the quiz now.
You rarely ........ shooting stars in the night sky.
✅ SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE (S+V1/V5+O) is used with the adverbs always, seldom, daily, usually, occasionally, hardly, now-a-days, rarely, sometimes, never, generally, frequently, often, every day, every week, every month, every year, once a week, twice......, three times......, whenever, after, every time, etc. '
Dad ____ TV when he ____home from the office. (not usually watch, come)
doesn't usually watch, comes
don't usually watch, come
doesn't usually watch, is coming
is not usually watching, came
✅ It expresses HABIT. So simple present tense (V1, V5) is used.
Northern California ____ a lot of rain during the wintertime but this winter it ____ at all. (get, not rain)
gets, isn’t raining
got, rains
gets, doesn’t rain
is getting, isn’t raining
✅ The first section talks about PERMANENT SITUATION and the second section talks about TEMPORARY ACTION. So choose the verb accordingly.
Jeremy usually ____ to school by bus but today his dad ____ him. (go, drive)
goes, is driving
went, drove
is going, is driving
goes, drives
✅ It requires SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE. The second section talks about TEMPORARY action at present. So, choose the VERB accordingly.
I can't understand him because I ____any French. (not know)
don't know
didn’t know
haven’t known
doesn’t know
✅ It expresses the PRESENT ABILITY. So, SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE is used i.e. V1/V5.
All this week, he .......... on a challenging project at the office.
has been working
have been working
am working
will be working
✅ Present perfect continuous (Sub+has/have+been+V4+Obj) tense is used with ‘Since +point of time’, ‘for +period of time + now’, ‘all +present time: all this morning, afternoon, evening, all this week, month, years etc'
How did you do on these tenses quizzes? If you got most of them right, congratulations! Your grammar skills are solid.
But if you struggled, don't worry - keep practicing tenses and check out our next sets too.
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