Practice these important Tenses MCQs to strengthen your command of English grammar. The questions cover frequently tested tense rules and common patterns useful for competitive exams such as SSC, Banking, Railway, NDA and State PSC.
Q1. She ______ to school every day.
A. go
B. goes
C. is going
D. has gone
View Answer
The subject “She” is singular, so the simple present verb takes “-s”: goes.
Q2. I ______ this book twice.
A. read
B. am reading
C. have read
D. had read
View Answer
The action has occurred twice up to the present, so the present perfect tense is appropriate.
Q3. They ______ football when it started raining.
A. played
B. have played
C. were playing
D. had played
View Answer
An action in progress interrupted by another past action takes the past continuous tense.
Q4. By the time we arrived, the train ______.
A. left
B. has left
C. had left
D. was leaving
View Answer
The train left before another past action (“arrived”), so the past perfect tense is required.
Q5. He ______ in Delhi since 2020.
A. lives
B. lived
C. has been living
D. was living
View Answer
An action that began in the past and continues into the present is expressed using the present perfect continuous tense.
Q6. I ______ him yesterday.
A. meet
B. have met
C. met
D. had met
View Answer
“Yesterday” refers to a completed time in the past, so the simple past is used.
Q7. When I reached the station, the train ______.
A. leaves
B. had left
C. has left
D. is leaving
View Answer
The train left before I reached the station. The earlier past action takes the past perfect tense.
Q8. She ______ dinner right now.
A. cooks
B. cooked
C. has cooked
D. is cooking
View Answer
“Right now” indicates an action happening at the moment, so the present continuous tense is used.
Q9. We ______ the project by next Monday.
A. complete
B. completed
C. will have completed
D. have completed
View Answer
An action that will be completed before a specified future time takes the future perfect tense.
Q10. He usually ______ tea in the morning.
A. drinks
B. is drinking
C. drank
D. has drunk
View Answer
“Usually” indicates a habitual action, so the simple present tense is used.
Q11. They ______ here for two hours.
A. waited
B. have been waiting
C. are waiting
D. had waited
View Answer
“For two hours” indicates an action that started in the past and continues to the present, requiring the present perfect continuous.
Q12. She ______ her homework before her mother came.
A. finishes
B. finished
C. had finished
D. has finished
View Answer
The homework was completed before another past action, so the past perfect is used.
Q13. I ______ him for five years.
A. know
B. knew
C. have known
D. am knowing
View Answer
“Know” is generally a stative verb and is not normally used in the continuous form. An action/state continuing until now takes the present perfect.
Q14. The sun ______ in the east.
A. rose
B. rises
C. is rising
D. has risen
View Answer
A universal or general truth is expressed using the simple present tense.
Q15. He ______ to Mumbai last week.
A. goes
B. has gone
C. went
D. had gone
View Answer
“Last week” refers to a completed past period, so the simple past tense is used.
Q16. Listen! Someone ______ at the door.
A. knocks
B. knocked
C. has knocked
D. is knocking
View Answer
“Listen!” indicates an action happening at the moment, so the present continuous is used.
Q17. I ______ my work before he arrived.
A. finished
B. have finished
C. had finished
D. finish
View Answer
The work was completed before another past event, so the past perfect tense is appropriate.
Q18. She ______ in this school since 2018.
A. teaches
B. taught
C. has been teaching
D. was teaching
View Answer
“Since 2018” indicates an action that began in the past and continues into the present.
Q19. We ______ dinner when the guests arrived.
A. were having
B. have had
C. had
D. had had
View Answer
The action was in progress when another past event occurred, so the past continuous is used.
Q20. He ______ the letter already.
A. wrote
B. has written
C. was writing
D. had written
View Answer
“Already” commonly indicates a completed action with present relevance, so the present perfect is used.
Q21. I will call you when I ______ home.
A. will reach
B. reached
C. reach
D. have reached
View Answer
After time conjunctions such as “when,” a present tense is used to refer to a future event.
Q22. If he ______ hard, he will succeed.
A. worked
B. works
C. will work
D. has worked
View Answer
In the first conditional, the “if” clause takes the simple present, while the main clause takes “will” + base verb.
Q23. By next year, she ______ here for ten years.
A. works
B. will work
C. will have been working
D. has worked
View Answer
An action continuing up to a specified future point takes the future perfect continuous.
Q24. The children ______ in the park every evening.
A. play
B. are playing
C. played
D. have played
View Answer
“Every evening” indicates a habitual action, so the simple present is used.
Q25. She ______ the movie before.
A. saw
B. has seen
C. sees
D. is seeing
View Answer
“Before” refers to an experience up to the present, so the present perfect is appropriate.
Q26. When the teacher entered, the students ______.
A. talk
B. have talked
C. were talking
D. had talked
View Answer
The students were in the middle of an action when the teacher entered.
Q27. He ______ his wallet yesterday.
A. loses
B. has lost
C. lost
D. had lost
View Answer
“Yesterday” requires the simple past tense.
Q28. They ______ the work by tomorrow evening.
A. finish
B. finished
C. have finished
D. will have finished
View Answer
The work will be completed before a specified future time, so the future perfect is used.
Q29. She ______ for the exam for three hours.
A. has been studying
B. studied
C. is studied
D. had study
View Answer
The duration “for three hours” with an action continuing to the present calls for the present perfect continuous.
Q30. I ______ him at the party last night.
A. meet
B. met
C. have met
D. had met
View Answer
“Last night” indicates a completed past time, so the simple past is used.
Q31. He ______ TV when I called him.
A. watched
B. watches
C. was watching
D. has watched
View Answer
The action was in progress at the time of another past action.
Q32. We ______ this place many times.
A. visited
B. have visited
C. are visiting
D. had visit
View Answer
Repeated experiences up to the present are expressed using the present perfect.
Q33. After he ______ the work, he went home.
A. finishes
B. has finished
C. had finished
D. is finishing
View Answer
The work was completed before he went home, so the earlier action is expressed in the past perfect.
Q34. The earth ______ around the sun.
A. moved
B. is moving
C. has moved
D. moves
View Answer
A scientific fact is expressed in the simple present tense.
Q35. I ______ my keys. I cannot find them anywhere.
A. lost
B. have lost
C. had lost
D. lose
View Answer
The present result of the past action is important, so the present perfect is used.
Q36. By the time you arrive, I ______ dinner.
A. cook
B. cooked
C. will have cooked
D. have cooked
View Answer
The dinner will be completed before a future event, so the future perfect is required.
Q37. She ______ a letter when the lights went out.
A. wrote
B. was writing
C. has written
D. had written
View Answer
The writing was in progress when the lights went out.
Q38. He ______ here since morning.
A. has been waiting
B. waited
C. waits
D. had waited
View Answer
“Since morning” indicates an action that started earlier and continues to the present.
Q39. She ______ to London next month.
A. went
B. has gone
C. will go
D. had gone
View Answer
“Next month” refers to the future, so the simple future is appropriate.
Q40. I ______ him before he moved to Delhi.
A. know
B. have known
C. had known
D. am knowing
View Answer
The state of knowing occurred before another past event, so the past perfect is used.
Q41. She ______ her work just now.
A. has finished
B. finishes
C. had finished
D. was finishing
View Answer
“Just” commonly indicates a recently completed action with present relevance.
Q42. We ______ for you since 5 p.m.
A. waited
B. have been waiting
C. are waited
D. had wait
View Answer
An action continuing from a point in the past to the present takes the present perfect continuous.
Q43. He ______ the newspaper every morning.
A. reads
B. is reading
C. read
D. has read
View Answer
A regular or habitual action takes the simple present tense.
Q44. When I saw him, he ______ across the road.
A. walks
B. walked
C. was walking
D. has walked
View Answer
The action was in progress when another past action occurred.
Q45. She ______ the report before the meeting began.
A. has submitted
B. had submitted
C. submits
D. is submitting
View Answer
The report was submitted before another past event, so the past perfect is used.
Q46. I ______ breakfast at 8 a.m. yesterday.
A. have
B. had
C. have had
D. was having
View Answer
The sentence refers to a completed action at a definite time in the past, so the simple past is used.
Q47. They ______ the match if they had played better.
A. will win
B. would win
C. would have won
D. have won
View Answer
This is a third conditional sentence referring to an unreal past situation: if + past perfect, would have + past participle.
Q48. If I ______ you, I would accept the offer.
A. am
B. was
C. were
D. have been
View Answer
In the formal second conditional, “were” is used with all persons in the expression “If I were you.”
Q49. He ______ his homework before going out.
A. finishes
B. has finished
C. finished
D. had finished
View Answer
The two actions are connected in a simple past sequence; “finished” is appropriate when the sentence does not require emphasis on an earlier past reference point.
Q50. I ______ this movie three times.
A. saw
B. have seen
C. see
D. am seeing
View Answer
Repeated experience up to the present is expressed using the present perfect tense.
Q51. The baby ______ for the last two hours.
A. cries
B. cried
C. has been crying
D. had cried
View Answer
“For the last two hours” indicates an action continuing from the past to the present.
Q52. By 2030, scientists ______ new solutions to this problem.
A. developed
B. have developed
C. will have developed
D. develop
View Answer
An action expected to be completed by a specified future time takes the future perfect.
Q53. She ______ the piano since childhood.
A. has played
B. played
C. was playing
D. had played
View Answer
The activity began in the past and continues as a life experience up to the present. “Play” can be used in the present perfect here.
Q54. While I ______ to work, I met an old friend.
A. go
B. was going
C. have gone
D. had gone
View Answer
An ongoing past action introduced by “while” takes the past continuous.
Q55. He ______ in the company for ten years before he resigned.
A. works
B. has worked
C. had worked
D. is working
View Answer
The employment occurred before another past action (“resigned”), so the past perfect is suitable.
Q56. The train ______ before we reached the station.
A. leaves
B. left
C. had left
D. has left
View Answer
The train’s departure occurred before our arrival, so the past perfect is used.
Q57. He ______ his room every Sunday.
A. cleans
B. is cleaning
C. cleaned
D. has cleaned
View Answer
“Every Sunday” indicates a regular habit, so the simple present is used.
Q58. I ______ for you tomorrow.
A. waited
B. will wait
C. have waited
D. had waited
View Answer
“Tomorrow” indicates a future action, so the simple future is used.
Q59. She ______ the answer before the teacher explained it.
A. knew
B. knows
C. has known
D. is knowing
View Answer
The verb “knew” describes a state at the time before the teacher’s explanation. “Know” is normally not used in the continuous form.
Q60. We ______ our work by 6 p.m. tomorrow.
A. finished
B. finish
C. will have finished
D. have finished
View Answer
Completion before a specific future time requires the future perfect.
Q61. She ______ to music when I entered the room.
A. listens
B. was listening
C. has listened
D. had listened
View Answer
The activity was in progress when another past action occurred.
Q62. I ______ my friend since Monday.
A. have not seen
B. did not see
C. had not seen
D. am not seeing
View Answer
“Since Monday” connects the past starting point with the present, so the present perfect is used.
Q63. They ______ for two hours before the bus arrived.
A. wait
B. have waited
C. had been waiting
D. are waiting
View Answer
A continuous action lasting for a period before another past event takes the past perfect continuous.
Q64. He ______ the same mistake repeatedly.
A. makes
B. has made
C. made
D. is making
View Answer
Repeated actions up to the present are expressed using the present perfect.
Q65. Water ______ at 100°C.
A. boiled
B. boils
C. is boiling
D. has boiled
View Answer
A scientific fact is expressed in the simple present tense.
Q66. He ______ his work yet.
A. did not finish
B. has not finished
C. had not finished
D. does not finish
View Answer
“Yet” in a negative sentence commonly refers to an action that has not happened up to the present.
Q67. When she came home, her children ______.
A. slept
B. have slept
C. were sleeping
D. had slept
View Answer
The children’s sleep was in progress when she came home.
Q68. I ______ him tomorrow if I get time.
A. met
B. meet
C. will meet
D. have met
View Answer
The main clause of a first conditional takes “will” + base verb.
Q69. Unless you ______ hard, you will not pass.
A. will study
B. studied
C. study
D. have studied
View Answer
“Unless” introduces a condition, and the condition clause takes the simple present for a future meaning.
Q70. He ______ in this office for five years before he moved abroad.
A. has worked
B. had worked
C. works
D. is working
View Answer
The work period occurred before another past event, so the past perfect is used.
Q71. I ______ my breakfast already.
A. have eaten
B. ate
C. eat
D. had eaten
View Answer
“Already” indicates a completed action with relevance to the present, so the present perfect is appropriate.
Q72. She ______ for the bus since 7 o’clock.
A. waited
B. has been waiting
C. waits
D. had waited
View Answer
“Since 7 o’clock” gives the starting point of an action continuing into the present.
Q73. The students ______ the test before the bell rang.
A. complete
B. have completed
C. had completed
D. are completing
View Answer
The test was completed before another past action, so the past perfect is used.
Q74. He ______ to the gym every morning.
A. goes
B. is going
C. went
D. has gone
View Answer
A regular habit is expressed using the simple present tense.
Q75. They ______ the house when I visited them last week.
A. paint
B. have painted
C. were painting
D. had paint
View Answer
The painting was in progress at the time of the past visit.
Q76. By next month, he ______ his course.
A. completes
B. completed
C. will have completed
D. has completed
View Answer
The course will be completed before a specified future time, so the future perfect is used.
Q77. I ______ to the market when it began to rain.
A. was walking
B. walk
C. have walked
D. had walked
View Answer
The action of walking was in progress when the rain began.
Q78. She ______ the letter before I arrived.
A. posts
B. has posted
C. had posted
D. is posting
View Answer
Posting occurred before another past event, so the past perfect is used.
Q79. He ______ English for ten years.
A. has been teaching
B. taught
C. is teaching
D. had taught
View Answer
The action began in the past and continues to the present, with emphasis on duration.
Q80. I ______ this book last month.
A. have bought
B. bought
C. had bought
D. buy
View Answer
“Last month” refers to a completed past period, so the simple past is used.
Q81. If she ______ earlier, she would have caught the train.
A. leaves
B. left
C. had left
D. has left
View Answer
This is a third conditional sentence. The “if” clause requires the past perfect.
Q82. I wish I ______ more time.
A. have
B. had
C. will have
D. am having
View Answer
For a present unreal or contrary-to-fact wish, the simple past is used.
Q83. It ______ since morning.
A. rains
B. rained
C. has been raining
D. had rained
View Answer
The action began earlier and continues into the present, so the present perfect continuous is used.
Q84. He ______ the problem before the manager arrived.
A. solves
B. solved
C. has solved
D. had solved
View Answer
The problem was solved before another past event, requiring the past perfect.
Q85. The teacher ______ the lesson now.
A. explains
B. explained
C. is explaining
D. has explained
View Answer
“Now” indicates an action taking place at the moment, so the present continuous is used.
Q86. We ______ here since 2015.
A. live
B. lived
C. have lived
D. had lived
View Answer
“Since 2015” indicates a state that began in the past and continues to the present. “Live” can be used in the present perfect.
Q87. He ______ his work when his boss arrived.
A. has finished
B. finishes
C. was finishing
D. had finished
View Answer
The action was in progress around the time the boss arrived, so the past continuous is used.
Q88. She ______ never ______ such a beautiful place before.
A. has, seen
B. had, see
C. is, seeing
D. did, seen
View Answer
The correct present perfect structure is has + past participle: “has never seen.”
Q89. By the end of this year, I ______ here for five years.
A. work
B. worked
C. will have been working
D. have worked
View Answer
The action will continue for a duration up to a future point, requiring the future perfect continuous.
Q90. She ______ her keys while she was cleaning the room.
A. finds
B. found
C. has found
D. had find
View Answer
“Found” describes a completed past event that occurred during another past activity.
Q91. He ______ to school before the rain started.
A. had gone
B. goes
C. has gone
D. is going
View Answer
Going to school occurred before the rain started, so the past perfect is used.
Q92. I ______ my friend tomorrow evening.
A. met
B. will meet
C. have met
D. had met
View Answer
“Tomorrow evening” refers to a future action, so the simple future is appropriate.
Q93. The students ______ their homework now.
A. do
B. did
C. have done
D. are doing
View Answer
“Now” indicates an action in progress, so the present continuous is used.
Q94. He ______ the company in 2019.
A. joins
B. has joined
C. joined
D. had joined
View Answer
A definite completed time in the past requires the simple past tense.
Q95. We ______ for an hour before the doctor came.
A. waited
B. had been waiting
C. have waited
D. wait
View Answer
A continuing action lasting for a period before another past event takes the past perfect continuous.
Q96. She ______ already ______ the report.
A. has, submitted
B. did, submit
C. is, submitting
D. had, submit
View Answer
The present perfect structure is has + past participle: “has already submitted.”
Q97. When the police arrived, the thief ______.
A. escapes
B. has escaped
C. had escaped
D. is escaping
View Answer
The thief escaped before the police arrived, so the earlier action takes the past perfect.
Q98. I ______ never ______ such a difficult question.
A. did, see
B. have, seen
C. am, seeing
D. had, see
View Answer
The correct present perfect structure is have + past participle: “have never seen.”
Q99. By next Friday, they ______ the project.
A. complete
B. completed
C. will have completed
D. have completed
View Answer
The project will be completed before a specified future time, so the future perfect is used.
Q100. She ______ in the garden for two hours before it started raining.
A. has worked
B. worked
C. was working
D. had been working
View Answer
The action continued for a duration before another past event, so the past perfect continuous is used.
Regular practice with these tense questions can help you identify the correct verb form quickly and avoid common grammar errors. Focus especially on time expressions such as since, for, already, yet, yesterday, by, when and before, as they often determine the correct tense.
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