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 7 of 28

  • A. Have been cycling
  • B. Was cycling
  • C. Had been cycling
  • D. Were cycling

Explanation: The correct answer is 'have been cycling.' The present perfect continuous tense ('have been cycling') is used because the speaker is…

Correct answer: Have been cycling
  • A. Fell
  • B. Fall
  • C. Had fallen
  • D. Has fallen

Explanation: The correct answer is C: had fallen. The phrase 'once upon a time' suggests a narrative past, and 'had fallen' indicates that the action…

Correct answer: Had fallen
  • A. Went
  • B. Had gone
  • C. Go
  • D. Gone

Explanation: The correct answer is 'went' because it is the simple past tense, which is used to describe actions that were completed at a specific time…

Correct answer: Went
  • A. Were serving
  • B. Was serving
  • C. Have been
  • D. Serve

Explanation: The correct answer is 'was serving'. The past continuous tense ('was serving') is appropriate here as it describes an action ('serving…

Correct answer: Was serving
  • A. Was
  • B. Were
  • C. Have
  • D. Are

Explanation: The correct answer is 'were' because the sentence requires the past continuous tense to describe an ongoing action that was happening when…

Correct answer: Were
  • A. Were
  • B. Was
  • C. Have
  • D. Has

Explanation: The correct question tag is 'was he?' because it mirrors the past tense 'was' used in the main statement and agrees with the singular…

Correct answer: Was
  • A. Go
  • B. Are going
  • C. Were going
  • D. Has gone

Explanation: The correct answer is Option A: go. The sentence 'Each July we go to Turkey for a holiday' uses the simple present tense 'go', which is…

Correct answer: Go
  • A. Left
  • B. Has left
  • C. Leaves
  • D. Had left

Explanation: The correct answer is 'left' because the sentence describes an action completed in the recent past, as indicated by 'just' and 'a few…

Correct answer: Left
  • A. Go
  • B. Goes
  • C. Going
  • D. Gone

Explanation: The sentence 'She _ to the gym every morning' requires the present simple tense.

Correct answer: Goes
  • A. Finish
  • B. Have finished
  • C. Finishes
  • D. Had finished

Explanation: The correct answer is 'have finished' because the sentence is using the present perfect tense, indicated by the word 'already'.

Correct answer: Have finished
  • A. Talk
  • B. Talks
  • C. Are talking
  • D. Talked

Explanation: The correct answer is 'are talking' because the phrase 'right now' indicates that the action is currently in progress, which is expressed…

Correct answer: Are talking
  • A. Is working
  • B. Works
  • C. Has worked
  • D. Worked

Explanation: The correct answer is 'has worked' because the present perfect tense is used to describe actions that started in the past and are still…

Correct answer: Has worked
  • A. Live
  • B. Lived
  • C. Are living
  • D. Have lived

Explanation: The correct answer is 'have lived' because the present perfect tense is used to describe actions that began in the past and continue into…

Correct answer: Have lived
  • A. Rise
  • B. Rises
  • C. Has risen
  • D. Rising

Explanation: The correct answer is 'rises' because the sentence describes a habitual action, which is typically expressed using the simple present…

Correct answer: Rises
  • A. Cries
  • B. Is crying
  • C. Has cried
  • D. Crying

Explanation: The correct answer is Option B: is crying. The phrase 'Look!' suggests that the action is happening right now, which requires the use of…

Correct answer: Is crying
  • A. Lost
  • B. Have lost
  • C. Am losing
  • D. Lose

Explanation: The correct answer is 'have lost' because the present perfect tense is used to express an action that occurred at some unspecified time…

Correct answer: Have lost
  • A. Watch
  • B. Watches
  • C. Is watching
  • D. Has watched

Explanation: The correct answer is 'watches' because the sentence describes a habitual action that occurs every evening.

Correct answer: Watches
  • A. Wait
  • B. Waited
  • C. Are waiting
  • D. Have been waiting

Explanation: The correct answer is have been waiting, which is the present perfect continuous tense.

Correct answer: Have been waiting
  • A. Visit
  • B. Visits
  • C. Visiting
  • D. Has visited

Explanation: The correct answer is 'visits'. The sentence describes a regular activity that happens every Sunday, which requires the simple present…

Correct answer: Visits
  • A. Eat
  • B. Am eating
  • C. Have eaten
  • D. Ate

Explanation: The correct answer is 'am eating' because the present continuous tense is used to describe actions that are happening at this very moment.

Correct answer: Am eating