Free Tenses MCQs with Answers

11. The Romans ______ to Britain in 54 BC.

• A. Comed
• B. Came
• C. Had come
• D. None of these

Explanation: The definite past time “in 54 BC” requires the simple past tense, came. “Comed” is not a standard past form, and past perfect would require another past reference point.

12. You had already left by seven O' Clock, ________ you ?

• A. didn't
• B. weren't
• C. haven't
• D. hadn't

Explanation: The statement uses the past perfect auxiliary had, so the question tag must use its negative form, hadn't. The subject you remains unchanged in the tag.

13. He used to visit us every week,but he _______ now?

• A. rarely comes
• B. is rarely coming
• C. has rarely come
• D. None of these

Explanation: “Rarely comes” is the simple present used for a current or habitual situation, contrasting with his former weekly visits. The continuous form is unnatural with this habitual meaning.

14. Men ________to abolish wars up to now, but maybe they will find a way in future?

• A. never managed
• B. have never managed
• C. will have never managed
• D. None of these

Explanation: “Up to now” refers to a period continuing until the present, so the present perfect “have never managed” is required. The future perfect does not fit this present-time reference.

15. The headmaster ________ to speak to you?

• A. wants
• B. is wanting
• C. was wanting
• D. None of these

Explanation: “Want” normally expresses a state and is not used in the continuous form in this sentence. Therefore, the simple present “wants” is correct.

16. The Sun_________From Behinds The Clouds.

• A. Immerse
• B. Emerged
• C. Imerged
• D. None Of These

Explanation: “Emerged” is the past form of “emerge,” meaning came out, so the sentence means that the sun came out from behind the clouds. “Immerse” means to put something into a liquid, while “imerged” is misspelled.

17. He will be arriving quite late, so by the time he comes, the play ______ ?

• A. Would have begun
• B. Will begun
• C. Will have begun
• D. Would begun

Explanation: “Will have begun” is the future perfect, used for an action completed before a stated future time: the play will have begun by the time he arrives. “Will begun” lacks the auxiliary “have” and is ungrammatical.

18. The police _______ for the robber for long but they have failed to find him so far.

• A. Have looked
• B. Have been looking
• C. Has looked
• D. Has been looking

Explanation: “Have been looking” is present perfect continuous, showing an activity that began earlier and is still relevant now. “Police” is treated as a plural noun, so “has” cannot be used.

19. Correct the sentence: He got up and run to the door.

• A. He get up and run to the door.
• B. He gets up and run to the door.
• C. He got up and will run to the door.
• D. He got up and ran to the door.Fun & Trivia

Explanation: The two past-tense verbs must be parallel: “got up and ran.” “Run” is the base form and does not agree with the past-tense verb “got.”

20. When I was sleeping, she ________ playing the sitar .

• A. Was
• B. Must be
• C. Were
• D. Is

Explanation: The past continuous is used for two actions happening at the same time in the past: I was sleeping and she was playing. The subject she requires was, not were or is.