Tenses and Verb Forms Verbal Ability Practice Test -- Free Practice

Question 1

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

Water ______ at 100 degrees Celsius at sea level.

A

boiled✓✗

B

is boil✓✗

C

boils✓✗

D

boiling✓✗

Explanation

A scientific fact always takes the simple present, so "boils" is correct. "Boiled" is past, "is boil" is not a valid form, and "boiling" has no helping verb.

Question 2

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

My brother ______ to the office by metro every day.

A

travel✓✗

B

travelling✓✗

C

travels✓✗

D

is travel✓✗

Explanation

"Every day" shows a habit, which takes the simple present, and a singular subject needs the -s form: "travels". "Travel" is the plural form, "travelling" lacks a helping verb, and "is travel" is not a valid form.

Question 3

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

Please keep quiet; the baby ______ in the next room.

A

sleep✓✗

B

sleeps✓✗

C

is sleeping✓✗

D

slept✓✗

Explanation

"Please keep quiet" shows the action is happening now, so the present continuous "is sleeping" fits. The others do not describe an action in progress at this moment.

Question 4

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

We ______ the annual report to the client yesterday.

A

have sent✓✗

B

send✓✗

C

sent✓✗

D

will send✓✗

Explanation

"Yesterday" names a finished time, so the simple past "sent" is needed. The present perfect cannot go with a finished time, and "send" and "will send" are not past forms.

Question 5

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

The results ______ declared next Monday.

A

were✓✗

B

have been✓✗

C

will be✓✗

D

had been✓✗

Explanation

"Next Monday" is a future time, so the simple future "will be" is correct. The other three refer to the past.

Question 6

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

She has ______ three chapters of the book so far.

A

wrote✓✗

B

write✓✗

C

written✓✗

D

writing✓✗

Explanation

"Has" needs the past participle, which is "written". "Wrote" is the simple past, "write" is the base form, and "writing" would need "has been".

Question 7

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

He enjoys ______ cricket on Sundays.

A

to play✓✗

B

play✓✗

C

playing✓✗

D

played✓✗

Explanation

"Enjoy" is followed by a gerund (-ing form), so "playing" is correct. An infinitive, base form or past form cannot follow "enjoys".

Question 8

The sentence below is divided into three parts. Identify the part that has an error. If there is no error, choose "No error".

I have met / the new manager / last week.

A

I have met✓✗

B

the new manager✓✗

C

last week.✓✗

D

No error✓✗

Explanation

"Last week" is a finished past time, so the verb must be simple past: "I met". The present perfect cannot be used with a finished time. The other two parts are correct.

Question 9

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

She ______ in Pune since 2019.

A

lives✓✗

B

is living✓✗

C

lived✓✗

D

has lived✓✗

Explanation

"Since 2019" marks an action that began in the past and continues now, so the present perfect "has lived" is needed. The simple present, present continuous and simple past do not connect the past to the present with "since".

Question 10

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

They ______ on this project for six months, and it is still not finished.

A

are working✓✗

B

worked✓✗

C

have been working✓✗

D

had been worked✓✗

Explanation

The work began six months ago and is still going on, so the present perfect continuous "have been working" fits. "Are working" cannot go with "for six months" here, "worked" suggests it is over, and "had been worked" is not a valid form here.

Question 11

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

While I ______ dinner, the power went off.

A

am having✓✗

B

have had✓✗

C

will have✓✗

D

was having✓✗

Explanation

A longer past action interrupted by a shorter one takes the past continuous, so "was having" is correct. The present and future forms do not match "went off".

Question 12

Choose the pair that correctly fills the two blanks, in order.

By the time the ambulance ______, the patient ______.

A

arrived, had died✓✗

B

arrived, has died✓✗

C

had arrived, died✓✗

D

has arrived, had died✓✗

Explanation

With "by the time", the later action is simple past and the earlier action is past perfect: "arrived, had died". The present perfect does not fit a past story, and "had arrived, died" reverses the order of events.

Question 13

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

The audit team found that the files ______ before the inspection began.

A

have been removed✓✗

B

are removed✓✗

C

will be removed✓✗

D

had been removed✓✗

Explanation

The removal happened before two past events ("found", "began"), and the files received the action, so the past perfect passive "had been removed" is needed. The other forms are not past perfect.

Question 14

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

By December next year, I ______ my degree.

A

will be complete✓✗

B

have completed✓✗

C

will have completed✓✗

D

had completed✓✗

Explanation

"By" plus a future time shows an action finished before that time, which needs the future perfect "will have completed". "Will be complete" has the wrong form, and the other two are not future.

Question 15

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

Don't call me at 9 tonight; I ______ the presentation then.

A

will be giving✓✗

B

gave✓✗

C

have given✓✗

D

had given✓✗

Explanation

An action in progress at a set future time takes the future continuous, so "will be giving" is correct. The other three refer to the past.

Question 16

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

I will call you as soon as I ______ the airport.

A

will reach✓✗

B

reached✓✗

C

reach✓✗

D

would reach✓✗

Explanation

After time words such as "as soon as", a future idea uses the simple present, so "reach" is correct. "Will" is not used in the time clause, and the past forms do not fit "will call".

Question 17

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

If it rains tomorrow, the match ______ cancelled.

A

would have been✓✗

B

was✓✗

C

had been✓✗

D

will be✓✗

Explanation

A real future possibility follows the pattern "if + present, will + verb", so "will be" is correct. The other forms belong to unreal or past situations.

Question 18

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

If I ______ you, I would accept the offer.

A

were✓✗

B

am✓✗

C

will be✓✗

D

have been✓✗

Explanation

An imaginary situation takes "if + past, would + verb", and "were" is used with "I" here. "Am", "will be" and "have been" do not fit "would accept".

Question 19

The sentence below is divided into three parts. Identify the part that has an error. If there is no error, choose "No error".

I am knowing / the answer / to this question.

A

I am knowing✓✗

B

the answer✓✗

C

to this question.✓✗

D

No error✓✗

Explanation

"Know" is a stative verb and is not used in the continuous form, so it should be "I know". The other two parts are correct.

Question 20

The sentence below is divided into three parts. Identify the part that has an error. If there is no error, choose "No error".

He did not / went to / the meeting yesterday.

A

He did not✓✗

B

went to✓✗

C

the meeting yesterday.✓✗

D

No error✓✗

Explanation

After "did not", the base form is used, so "went to" should be "go to". The other two parts are correct.

Question 21

The sentence below is divided into three parts. Identify the part that has an error. If there is no error, choose "No error".

She has been working / at this bank / for over ten years.

A

She has been working✓✗

B

at this bank✓✗

C

for over ten years.✓✗

D

No error✓✗

Explanation

The present perfect continuous with "for over ten years" is correct, and the preposition is right, so the sentence has no error.

Question 22

A part of the sentence is underlined. Choose the option that improves it. If no improvement is needed, choose "No improvement".

The manager decided postponing the meeting.

A

postpone✓✗

B

postponed✓✗

C

to postpone✓✗

D

No improvement✓✗

Explanation

"Decide" is followed by an infinitive, so "to postpone" is correct. The base form, past form and -ing form cannot directly follow "decided".

Question 23

A part of the sentence is underlined. Choose the option that improves it. If no improvement is needed, choose "No improvement".

I look forward to meet you next week.

A

meeting✓✗

B

met✓✗

C

be meet✓✗

D

No improvement✓✗

Explanation

In "look forward to", "to" is a preposition, so a gerund must follow: "meeting". The others are not -ing forms.

Question 24

A part of the sentence is underlined. Choose the option that improves it. If no improvement is needed, choose "No improvement".

She has finished the report an hour ago.

A

had finish✓✗

B

was finish✓✗

C

finished✓✗

D

No improvement✓✗

Explanation

"An hour ago" is a finished time, so the simple past "finished" is needed. "Had finish" and "was finish" are not valid forms.

Question 25

A part of the sentence is underlined. Choose the option that improves it. If no improvement is needed, choose "No improvement".

She had already left when I arrived.

A

has already left✓✗

B

already leaves✓✗

C

will already leave✓✗

D

No improvement✓✗

Explanation

Her leaving came before my arrival, so the past perfect is correct and no change is needed. The other options do not match the past verb "arrived".

Question 26

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

He ______ smoke, but he gave it up last year.

A

is used to✓✗

B

uses to✓✗

C

was used to✓✗

D

used to✓✗

Explanation

A past habit that has ended is shown by "used to" plus the base verb. "Is used to" and "was used to" mean "accustomed to" and would need an -ing form, and "uses to" does not exist.

Question 27

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

She is used to ______ long hours at the hospital.

A

work✓✗

B

worked✓✗

C

works✓✗

D

working✓✗

Explanation

"Be used to" means "accustomed to", and its "to" is a preposition, so a gerund follows: "working". The other forms cannot follow this preposition.

Question 28

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

The supervisor made the interns ______ the report again.

A

write✓✗

B

to write✓✗

C

writing✓✗

D

written✓✗

Explanation

"Make" plus an object takes the base verb without "to", so "write" is correct. "To write" is used only in the passive ("were made to write").

Question 29

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

Hardly ______ the hall when the lights went out.

A

she had entered✓✗

B

did she entered✓✗

C

has she entered✓✗

D

had she entered✓✗

Explanation

A sentence starting with "Hardly" uses inversion, and the earlier action takes the past perfect: "had she entered". "She had entered" has no inversion, "did she entered" uses the wrong verb form, and "has she entered" is the wrong tense.

Question 30

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

No sooner ______ the bell ring than the students rushed out.

A

had✓✗

B

has✓✗

C

did✓✗

D

was✓✗

Explanation

The verb "ring" is the base form, which only goes with "did". "Had" would need "rung", "has" is the wrong tense and would also need "rung", and "was" cannot go with the base verb.

Question 31

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

If the team had tested the software properly, the error ______.

A

would have been detected✓✗

B

is detected✓✗

C

will be detected✓✗

D

was detected✓✗

Explanation

"If + had + past participle" talks about an unreal past, so the result clause needs "would have + past participle". The error is the thing detected, so the passive "would have been detected" is correct. The other three do not complete this pattern.

Question 32

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

I wish I ______ harder for the exam last year.

A

studied✓✗

B

have studied✓✗

C

had studied✓✗

D

would study✓✗

Explanation

A regret about the past takes "wish + past perfect", so "had studied" is correct. "Studied" would refer to the present, and "have studied" and "would study" do not fit "last year".

Question 33

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

It is high time the government ______ strict action on this issue.

A

takes✓✗

B

has taken✓✗

C

will take✓✗

D

took✓✗

Explanation

"It is high time" is followed by the past form even though the meaning is present, so "took" is correct. The present, present perfect and future forms do not follow this phrase.

Question 34

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

He talks as if he ______ the owner of the company, though he is only a clerk.

A

were✓✗

B

be✓✗

C

will be✓✗

D

has been✓✗

Explanation

"As if" with an untrue situation takes the past subjunctive "were". "Be", "will be" and "has been" do not express an unreal idea here.

Question 35

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

The documents have ______ on his desk for weeks.

A

laid✓✗

B

lay✓✗

C

lied✓✗

D

lain✓✗

Explanation

The intransitive verb "lie" (to rest) has the forms lie, lay, lain, so "have lain" is correct. "Laid" belongs to "lay" (to put something down) and needs an object, "lay" is the simple past, and "lied" means "told an untruth".

Question 36

A part of the sentence is underlined. Choose the option that improves it. If no improvement is needed, choose "No improvement".

He said that he will join the firm the following month.

A

has joined✓✗

B

joins✓✗

C

would join✓✗

D

No improvement✓✗

Explanation

After a past reporting verb, "will" changes to "would", and "the following month" confirms reported speech. The other options keep a present time that does not match "said".

Question 37

The sentence below is divided into three parts. Identify the part that has an error. If there is no error, choose "No error".

The company has risen / the salaries / of its staff.

A

The company has risen✓✗

B

the salaries✓✗

C

of its staff.✓✗

D

No error✓✗

Explanation

"Rise" takes no object. With an object ("the salaries"), the verb must be "raise", so it should be "has raised". The other two parts are correct.

Question 38

A part of the sentence is underlined. Choose the option that improves it. If no improvement is needed, choose "No improvement".

He stopped to smoke after the doctor warned him.

A

smoke✓✗

B

to have smoked✓✗

C

smoking✓✗

D

No improvement✓✗

Explanation

"Stop + gerund" means to give up an activity, which is the meaning here. "Stop + to smoke" would mean he paused in order to smoke. The other two forms do not follow "stopped" correctly.

Question 39

Which of these sentences about the training programme is grammatically correct?

A

The committee recommended that he attend the training.✓✗

B

The committee recommended that he attends the training.✓✗

C

The committee recommended that he attended the training.✓✗

D

The committee recommended him attending the training.✓✗

Explanation

After verbs like "recommend" and "suggest", formal English uses the base verb in the "that" clause, so "that he attend" is correct. "Attends" and "attended" are not used in this pattern, and "recommended him attending" is not a valid structure.

Question 40

Read the short passage and choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

Last year the firm moved to a new office. Since then, its sales ______ steadily, and this quarter they are the highest ever.

A

had risen✓✗

B

rise✓✗

C

will have risen✓✗

D

have risen✓✗

Explanation

"Since then" links a past point to the present, and "this quarter they are" shows the time is now, so the present perfect "have risen" is correct. The past perfect and future perfect do not reach the present, and the simple present cannot go with "since then".