Free Tenses MCQs with Answers

545 Tenses MCQs from English, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.

Tenses show when an action or state occurs and whether it is complete, continuing or repeated. The work covers present, past and future forms, including simple, continuous, perfect and perfect continuous constructions, as well as sequence of tenses and the difference between tense and aspect.

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545 questions · page 10 of 28

  • A. Had been searching
  • B. Was searched
  • C. Searched
  • D. Was searching

Explanation: The correct answer is 'had been searching' because it uses the past perfect continuous tense, which is used to describe an action that was…

Correct answer: Had been searching
  • A. Arrived
  • B. Arrives
  • C. Had arrived
  • D. Has arrived

Explanation: The correct answer is had arrived because the sentence is an example of a third conditional, which is used to talk about an unreal…

Correct answer: Had arrived
  • A. Had
  • B. Did
  • C. Was
  • D. Have

Explanation: The correct answer is Option A:had. The phrase 'hardly...when' is used to show that one event occurred almost immediately after another.

Correct answer: Had
  • A. Did
  • B. Had
  • C. Was
  • D. Has

Explanation: The correct answer is 'had'. In the sentence structure 'No sooner...than', the past perfect tense is used to indicate that one action (the…

Correct answer: Had
  • A. Learned
  • B. Was learning
  • C. Had been learning
  • D. Is learning

Explanation: The correct answer is had been learning because it uses the past perfect continuous tense, which is appropriate for describing an ongoing…

Correct answer: Had been learning
  • A. Saw
  • B. Had seen
  • C. Was seeing
  • D. Seen

Explanation: The correct answer is had seen because the sentence is in reported speech, where past perfect tense is used to indicate an action…

Correct answer: Had seen
  • A. Had started
  • B. Has started
  • C. Was starting
  • D. Started

Explanation: The correct answer is 'had started,' which uses the past perfect tense.

Correct answer: Had started
  • A. Was addressing
  • B. Had addressed
  • C. Addressed
  • D. Is addressing

Explanation: The correct answer is 'was addressing' because it is in the past continuous tense, which is used to describe an action that was ongoing at…

Correct answer: Was addressing
  • A. Knows
  • B. Had known
  • C. Has known
  • D. Knew

Explanation: The phrase 'acted as if' suggests a hypothetical or imaginary situation.

Correct answer: Had known
  • A. Leave
  • B. Had left
  • C. Left
  • D. Have left

Explanation: The correct answer is 'had left' because the sentence describes a hypothetical situation about the past, requiring the past perfect tense.

Correct answer: Had left
  • A. Call
  • B. Called
  • C. Will call
  • D. Have called

Explanation: The correct answer iswill callbecause the sentence describes an action that will take place in the future after the speaker arrives.

Correct answer: Will call
  • A. Are playing
  • B. Plays
  • C. Have played
  • D. Will play

Explanation: The correct answer is 'are playing' because the present continuous tense is commonly used to describe scheduled or planned future events.

Correct answer: Are playing
  • A. Is taking
  • B. Takes
  • C. Took
  • D. Will took

Explanation: The correct answer is 'is taking'. The present continuous tense 'is taking' is used to describe a planned event in the near future.

Correct answer: Is taking
  • A. Will watch
  • B. Watched
  • C. Had watched
  • D. Watches

Explanation: The correct answer is 'will watch' because the sentence 'We _ the new movie tonight.' implies an action that is planned to happen in the…

Correct answer: Will watch
  • A. Leave
  • B. Leaves
  • C. Leaving
  • D. Will leaving

Explanation: The correct answer is 'leaves'. In English, the present simple tense is often used for scheduled events, such as transportation…

Correct answer: Leaves
  • A. Give
  • B. Gave
  • C. Will give
  • D. Giving

Explanation: The correct answer iswill givebecause the sentence refers to an event that is planned to happen in the future, specifically at a ceremony.

Correct answer: Will give
  • A. Will
  • B. Is
  • C. Was
  • D. Has

Explanation: The correct answer is 'will' because it is used to make predictions about future events.

Correct answer: Will
  • A. Join
  • B. Joins
  • C. Will join
  • D. Joined

Explanation: The correct answer is 'will join' because the phrase 'after the summer holidays' indicates a future action.

Correct answer: Will join
  • A. Visited
  • B. Visit
  • C. Will visit
  • D. Have visited

Explanation: The correct answer is 'will visit' because the sentence refers to a future event ('this weekend').

Correct answer: Will visit
  • A. Gave
  • B. Will give
  • C. Giving
  • D. Gives

Explanation: The correct answer is Option B: 'will give'. The phrase 'tomorrow' indicates that the action is going to happen in the future.

Correct answer: Will give