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.
They .......... all the cookies, and there are none left for us.
have eaten
has eaten
ate
eat
✅ PRESENT PERFECT TENSE (S+has/have+V3+O) is used to denote recent past actions which have results in the present. '
All evening, they ........... for the big party tonight.
have been preparing
has 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'
He .......... his teeth every day to keep them clean.
brushes
brush
brushed
will brush
✅ 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. '
It is the first time Maria .......... by plane.
has travelled
have travelled
had travelled
is travelling
✅ PRESENT PERFECT TENSE (S+has/have+V3+O) is used with the expression 'This is the first time, it is the first time''
The boy 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. '
The bus .............. at 5 pm.
leaves
leave
will leave
left
✅ The sentence express scheduled future actions. So, SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE (S+V1/V5+O) is used '
We .......... to Spain last month.
traveled
travel
have traveled
will travel
✅ SIMPLE PAST TENSE (S+V2+O) is used to denote an action completed in the past. This tense is usually used with the PAST TIME ADVERB like: Yesterday, Last+...(week/month)......, In 1995, ...(three hours/two months)....+ago, During my childhood 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.
My friend ........... a family meeting three times a month to discuss important things.
✅ 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. '
They ...........on the project all last night.
were working
is working
has been working
will be working
✅ 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.'
I ........... 5 o’clock plane tomorrow.
take
took
takes
will take
✅ The sentence express scheduled future actions. So, SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE (S+V1/V5+O) is used '
All this week, I .......... on a challenging project at the office.
have been working
has 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'
Tomorrow, I .......... reading my book.
will finish
finish
will have finished
finished
✅ 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.'
Mary occasionally ........... her grandparents during the summer vacation.
visits
visit
will visit
has visited
✅ .................... '
In the past, people .......... on handwritten letters for communication.
relied
rely
have relied
will rely
✅ SIMPLE PAST TENSE (S+V2+O) is used to denote an action completed in the past. This tense is usually used with the PAST TIME ADVERB like: Yesterday, Last+...(week/month)......, In 1995, ...(three hours/two months)....+ago, During my childhood 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.
Our school .......... at 9 am.
starts
start
will start
is starting
✅ The sentence expresses timetable/ travel management. So, SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE (S+V1/V5+O) is used '
The migrants ............. my new job next year.
are starting
is starting
will start
start
✅ PRESENT CONTINUOUS (S+is/am/are+V4+O) is used with the adverbs: now, still, at present, at the moment, at this time, this morning, afternoon, evening, nextday, week, month, year, soon, in the near future, tomorrow morning, etc.'
Since early morning, the kid ................. in the park, enjoying the sunny weather.
has been playing
have been playing
are playing
were playing
✅ 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'
Honesty ........... the best policy.
✅ The sentences is proverbs/quotations. So, SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE (S+V1/V5+O)/ or 'is' is used '
For two hours now, John ........... his guitar skills.
has been practicing
have been practicing
was practicing
is practicing
✅ 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'
We ........... all Sunday to prepare for the party.
were gardening
are gardening
have been gardening
will be gardening
✅ 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.'
Rony ........... video games whenever he finishes his homework.
plays
play
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. '
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.
For two hours now, John and Sarah ........... his guitar skills.
have been practicing
has been practicing
was practicing
is practicing
✅ 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'
She ........... a book on grammar at the moment.
is writing
was writing
has written
will read
✅ PRESENT CONTINUOUS (S+is/am/are+V4+O) is used for a temporary action.'
I .......... the document yet.
have not written
has not written
had not written
will not write
✅ PRESENT PERFECT TENSE (S+has/have+V3+O) is used with the adverbs 'ALREADY', 'RECENTLY', 'JUST', 'NOT+YET''
You ........... to the library once a week to borrow books.
✅ 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. '
All that glitters .......... not gold.
✅ The sentences is proverbs/quotations. So, SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE (S+V1/V5+O)/ or 'is' is used'
They ............ the guitar for ten years.
have played
has played
played
will play
✅ 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.'
Emily and Benjamin ............. the Great Wall of China, and the view was breathtaking.
have visited
has visited
visited
will visit
✅ PRESENT PERFECT TENSE (S+has/have+V3+O) is used to express interesting incidents or experiences.'
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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