Verb Tense practice questions

Verb Tense questions

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1. 1Verb tenseFoundation

   By the time the concert began, the volunteers _____ every chair in the hall. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?By the time the concert began, the volunteers _____ every chair in the hall. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • Aarrangearrange
   • Bhad arrangedhad arranged
   • Cwill arrangewill arrange
   • Dare arrangingare arranging
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   Answer: had arrangedhad arranged

   The arranging was completed before another past event, the concert's beginning. The past perfect "had arranged" shows that sequence.The arranging was completed before another past event, the concert's beginning. The past perfect "had arranged" shows that sequence.

   How did you do?Got itMissed it
2. 2Verb tenseFoundation

   Last summer the crew _____ the trail markers before the first hikers arrived. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?Last summer the crew _____ the trail markers before the first hikers arrived. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • Areplacereplace
   • Bhad replacedhad replaced
   • Cwill replacewill replace
   • Dhave replacedhave replaced
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   Answer: had replacedhad replaced

   Both events are in the past, and the replacing finished before the hikers arrived. The past perfect "had replaced" marks the earlier of two past actions.Both events are in the past, and the replacing finished before the hikers arrived. The past perfect "had replaced" marks the earlier of two past actions.

   How did you do?Got itMissed it
3. 3Verb tenseStandard

   Since the observatory opened in 2018, more than forty thousand visitors _____ through its doors. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?Since the observatory opened in 2018, more than forty thousand visitors _____ through its doors. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • Ahave passedhave passed
   • Bwere passingwere passing
   • Cwill passwill pass
   • Dpassedpassed
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   Answer: have passedhave passed

   "Since" describes an action that began in the past and continues into the present, which is what the present perfect "have passed" expresses."Since" describes an action that began in the past and continues into the present, which is what the present perfect "have passed" expresses.

   How did you do?Got itMissed it
4. 4Verb tenseStandard

   By the time the results are published next spring, the team _____ the experiment three times. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?By the time the results are published next spring, the team _____ the experiment three times. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • Ahad repeatedhad repeated
   • Bhas repeatedhas repeated
   • Cwill have repeatedwill have repeated
   • Drepeatedrepeated
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   Answer: will have repeatedwill have repeated

   The repetitions will be complete before a future moment, which is what the future perfect expresses. The past forms place the action before now rather than before next spring.The repetitions will be complete before a future moment, which is what the future perfect expresses. The past forms place the action before now rather than before next spring.

   How did you do?Got itMissed it
5. 5Verb tenseStandard

   The kiln had cooled for six hours before the potters _____ the door. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?The kiln had cooled for six hours before the potters _____ the door. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • Awill openwill open
   • Bopenopen
   • Chave openedhave opened
   • Dopenedopened
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   Answer: openedopened

   The cooling is already marked as earlier with the past perfect "had cooled", so the later past action takes the simple past.The cooling is already marked as earlier with the past perfect "had cooled", so the later past action takes the simple past.

   How did you do?Got itMissed it
6. 6Verb tenseStandard

   Since the footpath was resurfaced, walker numbers _____ steadily. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?Since the footpath was resurfaced, walker numbers _____ steadily. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

   • Awere risingwere rising
   • Broserose
   • Chave risenhave risen
   • Dwill risewill rise
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   Answer: have risenhave risen

   "Since" marks a change that began in the past and continues, which is what the present perfect expresses."Since" marks a change that began in the past and continues, which is what the present perfect expresses.

   How did you do?Got itMissed it
7. 7Verb tenseStandard

   Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?By the time the survey team arrived in 1954, the last of the cottages ______ empty for a decade.Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? By the time the survey team arrived in 1954, the last of the cottages ______ empty for a decade.

   • Astoodstood
   • Bhad stoodhad stood
   • Chas stoodhas stood
   • Dstandsstands
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   Answer: had stoodhad stood

   The standing came before the 1954 arrival, and the past perfect is what places one past event before another. The present perfect would carry the situation up to now, and the plain past would put both events at the same moment.The standing came before the 1954 arrival, and the past perfect is what places one past event before another. The present perfect would carry the situation up to now, and the plain past would put both events at the same moment.

   How did you do?Got itMissed it
8. 8Verb tenseStandard

   Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?The glacier ______ about 40 meters a year since monitoring began in 1998.Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The glacier ______ about 40 meters a year since monitoring began in 1998.

   • Ahas retreatedhas retreated
   • Bretreatedretreated
   • Chad retreatedhad retreated
   • Dretreatsretreats
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   Answer: has retreatedhas retreated

   "Since 1998" describes a stretch of time running up to the present, and the present perfect is the tense that covers it. The plain past would close the retreat off in the past, and the past perfect needs a later past event to sit before."Since 1998" describes a stretch of time running up to the present, and the present perfect is the tense that covers it. The plain past would close the retreat off in the past, and the past perfect needs a later past event to sit before.

   How did you do?Got itMissed it
9. 9Verb tenseStandard

   Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?By the time the ferry docked, the storm ______ for six hours.Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? By the time the ferry docked, the storm ______ for six hours.

   • Ahad been blowinghad been blowing
   • Bhas been blowinghas been blowing
   • Cblowsblows
   • Dis blowingis blowing
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   Answer: had been blowinghad been blowing

   The storm was already six hours old when the ferry docked, and the past perfect continuous is what places an ongoing action before a past event. The present perfect would run the storm up to now, which the docking rules out.The storm was already six hours old when the ferry docked, and the past perfect continuous is what places an ongoing action before a past event. The present perfect would run the storm up to now, which the docking rules out.

   How did you do?Got itMissed it
10. 10Verb tenseStandard

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?The museum ______ the collection since 1976, and it remains on permanent display.Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The museum ______ the collection since 1976, and it remains on permanent display.

    • Ahas heldhas held
    • Bheldheld
    • Chad heldhad held
    • Dholdsholds
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    Answer: has heldhas held

    "Since 1976" runs from a point in the past up to the present, and the second clause confirms the situation continues, so the present perfect is the tense that covers it. The plain past would close the holding off before now."Since 1976" runs from a point in the past up to the present, and the second clause confirms the situation continues, so the present perfect is the tense that covers it. The plain past would close the holding off before now.

    How did you do?Got itMissed it
11. 11Verb tenseStandard

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?By the time the archive was cataloged in 1994, the letters ______ in the same crate for sixty years.Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? By the time the archive was cataloged in 1994, the letters ______ in the same crate for sixty years.

    • Ahave sathave sat
    • Bsatsat
    • Csitsit
    • Dhad sathad sat
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    Answer: had sathad sat

    The sitting happened before the 1994 cataloguing, and the past perfect is what places one past event before another. The present perfect would run the sitting up to the present, which the cataloguing ended.The sitting happened before the 1994 cataloguing, and the past perfect is what places one past event before another. The present perfect would run the sitting up to the present, which the cataloguing ended.

    How did you do?Got itMissed it
12. 12Verb tenseStandard

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?The society ______ the churchyard every spring since 1974, and it plans to continue.Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The society ______ the churchyard every spring since 1974, and it plans to continue.

    • Asurveyedsurveyed
    • Bhad surveyedhad surveyed
    • Csurveyssurveys
    • Dhas surveyedhas surveyed
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    Answer: has surveyedhas surveyed

    "Since 1974" runs up to the present and the second clause confirms it continues, so the present perfect is the tense that covers it. The plain past would close the surveying off before now."Since 1974" runs up to the present and the second clause confirms it continues, so the present perfect is the tense that covers it. The plain past would close the surveying off before now.

    How did you do?Got itMissed it
13. 13Verb tenseStandard

    Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?By the time the surveyors reached the summit, the cloud ______ for two hours.Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? By the time the surveyors reached the summit, the cloud ______ for two hours.

    • Ahas sathas sat
    • Bsatsat
    • Csitssits
    • Dhad sathad sat
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    Answer: had sathad sat

    The cloud was already two hours old when they arrived, and the past perfect places an ongoing situation before a past event. The present perfect would run it up to now, which the arrival rules out.The cloud was already two hours old when they arrived, and the past perfect places an ongoing situation before a past event. The present perfect would run it up to now, which the arrival rules out.

    How did you do?Got itMissed it
14. 14Verb tenseChallenge

    By the time the inspectors arrive next week, the workshop _____ its safety review. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?By the time the inspectors arrive next week, the workshop _____ its safety review. Which choice completes the sentence so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

    • Ahas completedhas completed
    • Bwill have completedwill have completed
    • Chad completedhad completed
    • Dcompletedcompleted
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    Answer: will have completedwill have completed

    The review will be finished before a stated future moment, which is exactly what the future perfect expresses. The past forms place it before now instead.The review will be finished before a stated future moment, which is exactly what the future perfect expresses. The past forms place it before now instead.

    How did you do?Got itMissed it