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Tenses Quiz: Check Your English Grammar in Minutes

15 quick questions in an English tenses quiz. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Laura DyerUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art representing an English Grammar Tenses Quiz

This tenses quiz helps you spot and fix common tense mistakes so you can use verb forms with confidence. Answer 15 quick multiple-choice questions and see which rules need review. For more focused practice, try our 12 tenses quiz, build speed with a verb tenses quiz, or compare forms in simple vs perfect tenses.

He ____ to work at 8 am every day.
going
go
went
goes
undefined
Listen! She ____ the violin.
is playing
played
plays
has played
undefined
They ____ to Paris last summer.
have gone
are going
went
go
undefined
I am cold. I ____ the window.
am closing
will close
close
closed
undefined
I have lived here ____ 2015.
from
for
in
since
undefined
She ____ for two hours.
had studied
studied
is studying
has been studying
undefined
By the time we arrived, the film ____.
was starting
has started
had started
started
undefined
This time tomorrow, I ____ over the Atlantic.
fly
will fly
am flying
will be flying
undefined
By next June, they ____ their course.
will have finished
finish
will be finishing
have finished
undefined
You have seen this movie, ____?
didn't you
don't you
aren't you
haven't you
undefined
He ____ for hours before the bus finally arrived.
has been waiting
was waiting
had been waiting
waited
undefined
By 2027, I ____ here for a decade.
will have been working
will worked
have worked
will be working
undefined
Rarely ____ such chaos in recent years.
do we see
we have seen
have we seen
had we seen
undefined
It was in 1999 that they ____ in Rome for the first time.
have lived
lived
were living
had lived
undefined
It is essential that he ____ on time.
be
has been
is
was
undefined
If I ____ more careful, I wouldn't be in this mess now.
were
have been
had been
was
undefined
He said he ____ us the following day.
was meeting
would meet
will meet
has met
undefined
I ____ to the gym lately, but I went today.
didn't go
wasn't going
haven't been going
hadn't gone
undefined
This soup ____ good.
is tasting
will taste
tastes
tasted
undefined
You ____ the wrong train; you arrived too early.
can't have taken
should have taken
must have taken
might have taken
undefined
0

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse accuracy of verb tense usage in sentences
  2. Identify correct verb forms for various contexts
  3. Apply proper tense selection in written examples
  4. Evaluate time markers to choose the appropriate tense
  5. Master distinctions between simple, continuous, and perfect tenses
  6. Demonstrate understanding of continuous and perfect aspects

Cheat Sheet

  1. Master the 12 English Tenses - Dive into simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous forms across past, present, and future to solidify your tense foundation. Understanding these forms helps you express timing with precision and flair. Practice regularly to make these structures second nature!
  2. Spot Time Markers - Learn to recognize words like "yesterday," "since," and "will" that signal which tense to use. These little clues will guide you to pick past simple, present perfect, or future forms without a second thought. Soon, you'll sail through sentences confidently!
  3. Differentiate Simple vs. Continuous - Use simple tenses for routines and facts, and continuous tenses for actions in progress or temporary events. Grasping this distinction makes your speech feel lively and accurate. Mix them up to add texture and energy to your storytelling!
  4. Conquer Perfect Tenses - Present perfect connects past actions to now, while past perfect shows what happened before another past event. Mastering these lets you build clear, logical timelines in your writing. Think of them as your narrative's time-travel tools!
  5. Form Negatives & Questions - Practice flipping statements with "do," "have," and "will" to create negatives and questions in every tense. This skill makes your conversations and essays more dynamic and interactive. Soon you'll craft questions and denials with ease!
  6. Use Modals with Confidence - Explore how "can," "may," "must," and other modals change the meaning and mood of your verbs. Incorporating modals enriches your language, letting you express ability, permission, obligation, and possibility. It's like adding emotional seasoning to your sentences!
  7. Read Context Carefully - Let context guide your tense choices, especially in complex sentences with multiple time frames. Spotting cues in surrounding text ensures you maintain clear and coherent timelines. This superpower makes advanced writing feel effortless!
  8. Memorize Irregular Verbs - Get to know common irregular verbs and their past forms - no more guessing whether it's "go/went" or "grow/grew." Building this mental list prevents slip-ups and boosts your writing speed. Flashcards or apps make this both fun and effective!
  9. Spot & Fix Tense Errors - Sharpen your editing eye by identifying mismatched or misplaced tenses in sample texts. Correcting these mistakes reinforces your understanding and polishes your grammar. Treat every error as a mini-lesson on the way to mastery!
  10. Practice with Online Exercises - Reinforce your skills through interactive quizzes, fill-in-the-blank drills, and timed writing prompts. Regular practice cements your knowledge and builds your confidence in real-world usage. Make studying a daily habit and watch your progress skyrocket!
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