MCQ Of Tenses- General English

English Tenses Guide

1. What is a Tense?

Tense shows when an action happens (present / past / future) and its aspect (simple / continuous / perfect / perfect continuous) — whether it’s routine, ongoing, completed, or continuing.

2. Verb Forms You Must Know

• V1 = base form (do, go, eat, play)
• V2 = past simple (did, went, ate, played)
• V3 = past participle (done, gone, eaten, played)
• V-ing = present participle / -ing form (doing, going, eating, playing)

Auxiliaries: be (am / is / are / was / were), have (have / has / had), will (future), do / does / did (used for simple tense negatives/questions)

 

3. The 12 Core Tenses — Formula + Example + Common Signal Words

Tense	Formula (Affirmative)	Example	Common Signal Words / Use
Present Simple	S + V1 (add -s/es for he/she/it)	He reads newspapers.	always, often, every day, usually
Present Continuous	S + am/is/are + V-ing	She is reading now.	now, at the moment, today, these days
Present Perfect	S + has/have + V3	They have finished the work.	already, yet, just, ever, never, since, for
Present Perfect Continuous	S + has/have been + V-ing	He has been studying for 2 hours.	for, since, how long, recently
Past Simple	S + V2	I watched the movie yesterday.	yesterday, last week, in 2010, ago
Past Continuous	S + was/were + V-ing	They were playing at 6 pm.	while, at 6 pm yesterday, when
Past Perfect	S + had + V3	She had left before I arrived.	before, by the time, already
Past Perfect Continuous	S + had been + V-ing	We had been waiting for an hour.	for, since, before
Future Simple (will)	S + will + V1	I will call you tomorrow.	tomorrow, next week, soon
Future Continuous	S + will be + V-ing	He will be travelling at 8 pm.	this time tomorrow, at 8 pm tomorrow
Future Perfect	S + will have + V3	By June I will have finished the project.	by, by the time, before
Future Perfect Continuous	S + will have been + V-ing	By Sep he will have been working here 2 years.	for, by the time

Note: Another common future form: be going to + V1
Example: She is going to start a course next month. (planned)

4. How to Make Negative and Question Forms

Quick patterns for tenses:

• Present Simple: He doesn’t go. / Does he go?
• Present Continuous: They aren’t sleeping. / Are they sleeping?
• Present Perfect: She hasn’t seen it. / Have you seen it?
• Past Simple: I didn’t go. / Did you go?
• Past Continuous: He wasn’t sleeping. / Was he sleeping?
• Past Perfect: They hadn’t arrived. / Had they arrived?
• Future: Won’t she come? / Will they be playing?

5. Usage Help — When to Use Which Tense

Key exam-style hints:

• Present Simple — habits, truths, schedules (watch subject-verb agreement)
• Present Continuous — happening now / temporary
• Present Perfect — experience / result relevant now
• Present Perfect Continuous — action started earlier, still continuing
• Past Simple — completed in past, specific time
• Past Continuous — background action, often interrupted
• Past Perfect — earlier of two past actions
• Future Simple — promises, decisions, predictions
• Be going to — planned future or predictions with evidence
• Future Continuous — in progress at specific future time
• Future Perfect — completed before future moment
• Future Perfect Continuous — duration up to a future moment

6. Common Confusions & Short Rules

• Present Perfect vs Past Simple: I saw it yesterday. / I have seen it.
• Present Perfect vs Perfect Continuous: I have painted (focus result) / I have been painting (focus duration).
• Past Continuous + Past Simple: I was eating when he called.
• Remember auxiliaries in negatives/questions (do/does/did).

7. Quick Memorization Tips

• Simple → do/does/did
• Continuous → be (am/is/are, was/were, will be)
• Perfect → have (has/have/had/will have)
• Perfect Continuous → have + been + V-ing
• Look for time words (yesterday, since, already, etc.)
• Add -s/-es for 3rd person in present simple

MCQ Of Tenses- General English

1. She always ___ tea in the morning.

A) drink B) drinks C) drank D) drinking

2. When I entered the room, they ___ TV.

A) watched B) were watching C) had watched D) have watched

3. By 2026, she ___ her degree.

A) completes B) will complete C) will have completed D) had completed

4. I ___ in this school since 2010.

A) studied B) have studied C) study D) have been studying

5. (Error Spotting) He has finished his homework before I came.

A) He has finished B) his homework C) before I came D) No error

6. If you ___ hard, you will succeed.

A) worked B) work C) have worked D) had worked

7. At this time tomorrow, I ___ in Delhi.

A) am staying B) will stay C) will be staying D) stayed

8. She said that she ___ to the party.

A) will go B) goes C) was going D) is going

9. The train ___ before we reached the station.

A) leaves B) had left C) was leaving D) has left

10. (Error Spotting) She is knowing the answer.

A) She is B) knowing C) the answer D) No error

11. They ___ cricket when it started raining.

A) play B) are playing C) were playing D) played

12. He ___ to Mumbai last year.

A) goes B) went C) gone D) going

13. We ___ our dinner just now.

A) finished B) finish C) have finished D) finishes

14. How long ___ you been waiting?

A) has B) have C) had D) will

15. (Error Spotting) By the time he arrived, we eat our lunch.

A) By the time B) he arrived C) we eat D) our lunch

16. She ___ not come to school yesterday.

A) do B) does C) did D) was

17. This time next week, we ___ for London.

A) will leave B) are leaving C) will be leaving D) left

18. She ___ English for five years.

A) has taught B) is teaching C) was teaching D) will teach

19. By the end of this year, they ___ here for a decade.

A) lived B) live C) will have lived D) had lived

20. (Error Spotting) While I cooked, the phone rang.

A) While I B) cooked C) the phone rang D) No error

21. He ___ his work before the manager came.

A) finishes B) has finished C) had finished D) finished

22. We ___ this movie twice already.

A) see B) saw C) have seen D) had seen

23. I ___ you tomorrow at 5 pm.

A) will meet B) met C) have met D) was meeting

24. (Error Spotting) He told that he will go there.

A) He told B) that he C) will go D) there

25. They ___ in the park when it started raining.

A) are playing B) were playing C) play D) played

26. He ___ to the market every Sunday.

A) go B) goes C) gone D) going

27. When I phoned her, she ___ dinner.

A) cooks B) cooked C) was cooking D) has cooked

28. She ___ not attend the class yesterday.

A) do B) did C) does D) doing

29. They ___ here since 2018.

A) are living B) lived C) have been living D) lives

30. (Error Spotting) She told me that she will come tomorrow.

A) She told B) me that C) she will come D) tomorrow

31. By next month, we ___ this project.

A) complete B) will have completed C) completed D) have completed

32. He usually ___ late on Sundays.

A) gets up B) get up C) got up D) getting up

33. At 9 pm yesterday, I ___ my homework.

A) did B) was doing C) am doing D) have done

34. She ___ never seen the sea before.

A) is B) has C) had D) have

35. They ___ their dinner before the guests arrived.

A) eat B) ate C) had eaten D) eating

36. (Error Spotting) I am seeing her every Sunday.

A) I am B) seeing her C) every Sunday D) No error

37. If he ___ earlier, he would not miss the bus.

A) leaves B) left C) has left D) had left

38. She ___ already completed the assignment.

A) has B) had C) have D) is

39. The children ___ happily when I entered the room.

A) played B) are playing C) were playing D) had played

40. We ___ to Delhi last summer.

A) go B) went C) have gone D) had gone

41. By the end of 2025, she ___ in this company for 10 years.

A) worked B) will have worked C) had worked D) has worked

42. He ___ his keys yesterday.

A) lose B) lost C) has lost D) had lost

43. (Error Spotting) When I was young, I am playing football daily.

A) When I was young B) I am playing C) football daily D) No error

44. He said that he ___ tired.

A) is B) was C) has been D) will be

45. They ___ their homework before 8 pm yesterday.

A) had finished B) finish C) finishes D) have finished

46. She ___ to the market now.

A) goes B) went C) is going D) has gone

47. I ___ here for two hours.

A) waited B) have been waiting C) had waited D) wait

48. The sun ___ in the east.

A) rise B) rises C) rising D) rose

49. At 10 am tomorrow, she ___ her exam.

A) writes B) will be writing C) wrote D) has written

50. (Error Spotting) He told that he is busy.

A) He told B) that he C) is busy D) No error

51. He usually ___ to the office by bus.

A) go B) goes C) went D) going

52. When I reached home, my parents ___ dinner.

A) have B) are having C) had D) were having

53. By next June, I ___ my training.

A) will complete B) will have completed C) completed D) have completed

54. We ___ here for five years.

A) live B) lived C) have lived D) are living

55. (Error Spotting) He has left the office when I reached there.

A) He has left B) the office C) when I reached D) there

56. If it ___ tomorrow, we will not go out.

A) rains B) rained C) rain D) raining

57. This time tomorrow, we ___ on the train.

A) are sitting B) will be sitting C) sit D) sat

58. She said that she ___ the book.

A) reads B) is reading C) was reading D) read

59. The match ___ before we reached the stadium.

A) started B) had started C) was starting D) starts

60. (Error Spotting) He is knowing the answer to this question.

A) He is B) knowing C) the answer D) to this question

61. They ___ football when it began to rain.

A) play B) are playing C) were playing D) played

62. She ___ to London last year.

A) goes B) went C) going D) gone

63. We ___ our lunch just now.

A) finish B) finished C) have finished D) had finished

64. How long ___ you waited here?

A) has B) have C) had D) will

65. (Error Spotting) By the time he arrived, we eat our food.

A) By the time B) he arrived C) we eat D) our food

66. She ___ not go to college yesterday.

A) do B) did C) does D) has

67. Next week at this time, I ___ in Goa.

A) am staying B) will stay C) will be staying D) stayed

68. She ___ English for ten years.

A) is teaching B) was teaching C) has been teaching D) will teach

69. By December, they ___ this house.

A) will build B) will have built C) have built D) built

70. (Error Spotting) While I cleaned the room, she watched TV.

A) While I B) cleaned the room C) she watched TV D) No error

71. She ___ her work before her boss came.

A) finishes B) has finished C) had finished D) finished

72. I ___ this movie three times.

A) saw B) have seen C) seen D) had seen

73. I ___ you next Monday.

A) will meet B) met C) have met D) meeting

74. (Error Spotting) He said that he will be late.

A) He said B) that he C) will be late D) No error

75. They ___ in the park when the rain started.

A) are playing B) were playing C) played D) had played

76. She ___ a letter when the phone rang.

A) writes B) wrote C) was writing D) had written

77. We ___ the Taj Mahal last year.

A) visited B) have visited C) visit D) visiting

78. By the end of this month, I ___ here for two years.

A) lived B) will have lived C) have lived D) had lived

79. I ___ lunch already.

A) had B) have had C) am having D) has

80. (Error Spotting) She was gone to school yesterday.

A) She B) was gone C) to school D) yesterday

81. They ___ cricket every Sunday.

A) play B) plays C) played D) are playing

82. I ___ my keys. I can’t find them.

A) lost B) have lost C) lose D) had lost

83. While the children ___, the teacher entered the class.

A) were playing B) are playing C) played D) playing

84. She ___ her homework before dinner.

A) finished B) finishes C) had finished D) finishing

85. (Error Spotting) I am agree with you.

A) I am B) agree C) with you D) No error

86. Tomorrow at 9 p.m., I ___ TV.

A) watch B) watched C) will be watching D) am watching

87. He ___ in this city since 2010.

A) lives B) lived C) has lived D) is living

88. She said that she ___ tired.

A) is B) was C) has been D) will be

89. If you ___ hard, you will pass.

A) worked B) working C) work D) works

90. (Error Spotting) She has completed the work yesterday.

A) She has B) completed C) the work D) yesterday

91. We ___ a movie when she called.

A) watch B) were watching C) watched D) have watched

92. By 2026, he ___ his degree.

A) will complete B) completes C) completed D) will have completed

93. I ___ him since 2015.

A) know B) knew C) have known D) knowing

94. The train ___ before we reached the station.

A) leaves B) left C) had left D) leaving

95. (Error Spotting) He will discusses the matter tomorrow.

A) He B) will C) discusses D) the matter tomorrow

96. At this time yesterday, I ___ in the library.

A) am sitting B) sat C) was sitting D) will sit

97. I ___ my breakfast yet.

A) did not had B) have not had C) has not had D) had not

98. She ___ her work before 8 a.m. tomorrow.

A) finishes B) finished C) will have finished D) has finished

99. He said he ___ the truth.

A) tells B) told C) was telling D) will tell

100. (Error Spotting) I did not went to the market yesterday.

A) I did B) not went C) to the market D) yesterday

Q101. By the time she arrives, we ___ our work.

A) finish B) have finished C) will have finished D) finished

Q102. He usually ___ tea in the evening.

A) drink B) drinks C) drank D) drinking

Q103. I ___ my homework when my friend came.

A) do B) did C) was doing D) have done

Q104. She ___ her new job last month.

A) start B) starts C) started D) starting

Q105. (Error Spotting) He don’t like fast food.

A) He B) don’t C) like D) fast food

Q106. We ___ to the park every Sunday.

A) go B) goes C) going D) gone

Q107. She ___ her work already.

A) finishes B) finished C) has finished D) finishing

Q108. They ___ TV when the lights went out.

A) watch B) were watching C) watched D) watching

Q109. By the end of this year, I ___ this course.

A) will have completed B) completed C) have completed D) completing

Q110. (Error Spotting) She did not wrote the letter.

A) She B) did not C) wrote D) the letter

Q111. They ___ here since 2018.

A) live B) lived C) have lived D) are living

Q112. She ___ to Delhi tomorrow.

A) go B) goes C) is going D) went

Q113. While he ___, I was reading.

A) cooked B) cooks C) was cooking D) cooking

Q114. The teacher said that the earth ___ round.

A) is B) was C) has been D) will be

Q115. (Error Spotting) She will went to the market tomorrow.

A) She B) will C) went D) to the market tomorrow

Q116. I ___ my bag yesterday.

A) lose B) lost C) have lost D) had lost

Q117. We ___ dinner at 9 p.m. yesterday.

A) have B) had C) has D) having

Q118. By the time you call me, I ___ the work.

A) finish B) finished C) will finish D) will have finished

Q119. She ___ in this company since 2015.

A) works B) is working C) has been working D) worked

Q120. (Error Spotting) He said he will comes tomorrow.

A) He said B) he C) will comes D) tomorrow

Q121. I ___ my phone now.

A) am charging B) charging C) charged D) have charged

Q122. He ___ abroad last year.

A) go B) went C) gone D) going

Q123. At this time tomorrow, we ___ the exam.

A) write B) are writing C) will be writing D) wrote

Q124. They ___ here for two hours before the train arrived.

A) wait B) waited C) had been waiting D) have waited

Q125. (Error Spotting) I am playing football yesterday.

A) I am B) playing C) football D) yesterday

Q126. She ___ her lunch when I met her.

A) is eating B) ate C) was eating D) has eaten

Q127. We ___ our project before the deadline.

A) will finish B) finish C) finishes D) finished

Q128. I ___ never seen such a beautiful place.

A) have B) had C) has D) having

Q129. (Error Spotting) She has went to the market.

A) She B) has C) went D) to the market

Q130. They ___ a movie tomorrow night.

A) watch B) watched C) will watch D) watching

Q131. The train ___ at 6 p.m. yesterday.

A) leave B) left C) leaves D) leaving

Q132. I ___ this book since morning.

A) am reading B) was reading C) have been reading D) read

Q133. He ___ his work before the manager arrived.

A) had completed B) completed C) completes D) completing

Q134. (Error Spotting) He don’t likes pizza.

A) He B) don’t C) likes D) pizza

Q135. At this moment, she ___ a song.

A) sang B) is singing C) was singing D) sings

Q136. They ___ in this town since childhood.

A) live B) lived C) have lived D) are living

Q137. We ___ to the park when it started raining.

A) go B) are going C) went D) were going

Q138. By the time you arrive, we ___ lunch.

A) finish B) finished C) will have finished D) have finished

Q139. (Error Spotting) She was gone before I reached.

A) She B) was gone C) before I D) reached

Q140. He ___ a doctor next year.

A) becomes B) became C) will become D) becoming

Q141. I ___ my phone yesterday.

A) lose B) lost C) have lost D) had lost

Q142. We ___ for an hour before the teacher came.

A) study B) studied C) had been studying D) have studied

Q143. Water ___ at 100°C.

A) boils B) boiled C) is boiling D) has boiled

Q144. They ___ football now.

A) played B) play C) are playing D) have played

Q145. I ___ a letter to my friend yesterday.

A) write B) wrote C) written D) writes

Q146. They ___ many books in their life.

A) read B) have read C) reads D) reading

Q147. She ___ her bag while she was shopping.

A) lose B) lost C) has lost D) was losing

Q148. At this time tomorrow, I ___ to Delhi.

A) travel B) travelling C) will be travelling D) travelled

Q149. He ___ English for five years.

A) teaches B) taught C) has taught D) teaching

Q150. (Error Spotting) They has finished their homework.

A) They B) has C) finished D) their homework

Q151. She ___ her homework when I called her.

A) does B) did C) was doing D) has done

Q152. By next year, I ___ this course.

A) will complete B) will have completed C) completed D) have completed

Q153. He ___ to the gym every morning.

A) go B) goes C) went D) going

Q154. I ___ never seen such a beautiful sunset.

A) have B) had C) has D) having

Q155. (Error Spotting) She has went to the store.

A) She B) has C) went D) to the store

Q156. They ___ a meeting tomorrow.

A) have B) had C) will have D) will hold

Q157. The train ___ at 7 p.m. yesterday.

A) leave B) left C) leaves D) leaving

Q158. I ___ my book since morning.

A) read B) am reading C) have been reading D) reading

Q159. He ___ his work before the manager arrived.

A) completes B) completed C) had completed D) completing

Q160. (Error Spotting) He don’t likes pizza.

A) He B) don’t C) likes D) pizza

Q161. At this moment, she ___ a song.

A) sang B) is singing C) was singing D) sings

Q162. They ___ in this town since childhood.

A) live B) lived C) have lived D) are living

Q163. We ___ to the park when it started raining.

A) go B) are going C) went D) were going

Q164. By the time you arrive, we ___ lunch.

A) finish B) finished C) will have finished D) have finished

Q165. (Error Spotting) She was gone before I reached.

A) She B) was gone C) before I D) reached

Q166. He ___ a doctor next year.

A) becomes B) became C) will become D) becoming

Q167. I ___ my phone yesterday.

A) lose B) lost C) have lost D) had lost

Q168. We ___ for an hour before the teacher came.

A) study B) studied C) had been studying D) have studied

Q169. She ___ in the garden now.

A) works B) is working C) worked D) was working

Q170. (Error Spotting) He said that he will goes home.

A) He said B) that he C) will goes D) home

Q171. They ___ many books in their life.

A) read B) have read C) reads D) reading

Q172. She ___ her bag while she was shopping.

A) lose B) lost C) has lost D) was losing

Q173. At this time tomorrow, I ___ to Delhi.

A) travel B) travelling C) will be travelling D) travelled

Q174. He ___ English for five years.

A) teaches B) taught C) has taught D) teaching

Q175. (Error Spotting) They has finished their homework.

A) They B) has C) finished D) their homework

Q176. I ___ my breakfast already.

A) ate B) have eaten C) eating D) had eaten

Q177. She ___ a movie when I called her.

A) watches B) was watching C) watched D) has watched

Q178. By next month, we ___ this project.

A) will complete B) will have completed C) completed D) have completed

Q179. He ___ to the office every day.

A) go B) goes C) went D) going

Q180. (Error Spotting) She has went to the market.

A) She B) has C) went D) to the market

Q181. They ___ a meeting tomorrow.

A) have B) had C) will have D) will hold

Q182. The train ___ at 6 p.m. yesterday.

A) leave B) left C) leaves D) leaving

Q183. I ___ my book since morning.

A) read B) am reading C) have been reading D) reading

Q184. He ___ his work before the manager arrived.

A) completes B) completed C) had completed D) completing

Q185. (Error Spotting) He don’t likes pizza.

A) He B) don’t C) likes D) pizza

Q186. At this moment, she ___ a song.

A) sang B) is singing C) was singing D) sings

Q187. They ___ in this town since childhood.

A) live B) lived C) have lived D) are living

Q188. We ___ to the park when it started raining.

A) go B) are going C) went D) were going

Q189. By the time you arrive, we ___ lunch.

A) finish B) finished C) will have finished D) have finished

Q190. (Error Spotting) She was gone before I reached.

A) She B) was gone C) before I D) reached

Q191. He ___ a doctor next year.

A) becomes B) became C) will become D) becoming

Q192. I ___ my phone yesterday.

A) lose B) lost C) have lost D) had lost

Q193. We ___ for an hour before the teacher came.

A) study B) studied C) had been studying D) have studied

Q194. She ___ in the garden now.

A) works B) is working C) worked D) was working

Q195. (Error Spotting) He said that he will goes home.

A) He said B) that he C) will goes D) home

Q196. They ___ many books in their life.

A) read B) have read C) reads D) reading

Q197. She ___ her bag while she was shopping.

A) lose B) lost C) has lost D) was losing

Q198. At this time tomorrow, I ___ to Delhi.

A) travel B) travelling C) will be travelling D) travelled

Q199. He ___ English for five years.

A) teaches B) taught C) has taught D) teaching

Q200. (Error Spotting) They has finished their homework.

A) They B) has C) finished D) their homework