WREN & MARTIN's English grammar-Tenses MCQ Class 9

 

English Grammar — Tenses MCQ Class 9

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Q1. Fill in the blank with the correct tense: "The sun _______ in the west." A. is setting B. was setting C. sets D. has set

Q2. Fill in the blank with the correct tense: "She _______ her homework when her friend arrived." A. does B. was doing C. has done D. did

Q3. Identify the error in the following sentence: "When he will come, I will tell him the news." A. When he B. will come C. I will tell D. him the news

Q4. Fill in the blank with the correct tense: "They _______ in this town for the last fifteen years." A. live B. lived C. are living D. have been living

Q5. Fill in the blank with the correct tense: "She _______ the novel before the movie was released." A. reads B. read C. has read D. had read

Q6. Identify the error in the following sentence: "He is knowing the solution to every problem." A. He is B. knowing C. the solution D. to every problem

Q7. Fill in the blank with the correct tense: "By next month, she _______ this course." A. completes B. is completing C. will have completed D. has completed

Q8. Fill in the blank with the correct tense: "I _______ three glasses of water since morning." A. drink B. drank C. have drunk D. was drinking

Q9. Identify the error in the following sentence: "She is living in Delhi since she was born." A. She is living B. in Delhi C. since she D. was born

Q10. Fill in the blank with the correct tense: "Quick! The bus _______ . Let us hurry." A. comes B. came C. is coming D. has come

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Answers with Explanations

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Q1. ✅ C — sets. The setting of the sun in the west is a universal truth or permanent natural fact. Universal truths, scientific facts, and laws of nature are always expressed in simple present tense regardless of when they are stated. Other examples: The earth revolves around the sun. Water boils at 100 degrees.

Q2. ✅ B — was doing. When one action (friend arrived) interrupts another action that was already in progress (doing homework), the action in progress uses past continuous tense: was/were + verb+ing. The interrupting action uses simple past. The word when signals the interruption of the ongoing activity.

Q3. ✅ B — "will come" is the error. After time conjunctions such as when, before, after, until, as soon as, simple present tense is used in the subordinate clause — never future tense (will). Correct: When he comes, I will tell him the news. The future tense (will tell) appears only in the main clause, not in the time clause.

Q4. ✅ D — have been living. The phrase for the last fifteen years signals an action that began in the past and is still continuing in the present. This requires present perfect continuous tense: have/has + been + verb+ing. It emphasises the duration of an ongoing action from a point in the past up to the present moment.

Q5. ✅ D — had read. Two actions occurred in the past — reading the novel and the movie being released. The action that was completed first (reading the novel) must be expressed in past perfect tense (had + past participle). The later action (movie was released) uses simple past. Before signals the sequence clearly.

Q6. ✅ B — "knowing" is the error. Know is a stative verb expressing a state of mind or knowledge. Stative verbs are never used in continuous tenses. They describe permanent states rather than temporary actions. Other stative verbs: believe, understand, remember, love, hate, want, seem. Correct: He knows the solution to every problem.

Q7. ✅ C — will have completed. By next month signals a future point in time by which an action will already be finished. This requires future perfect tense: will + have + past participle. It expresses an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Correct: will have completed. This tense always follows by + future time expression.

Q8. ✅ C — have drunk. Since morning signals that the action began at a specific point in the past and its effect or result is still relevant in the present. This requires present perfect tense: have/has + past participle. Present perfect is used for actions completed in the recent past with a connection to the present moment.

Q9. ✅ A — "She is living" is the error. Since she was born signals an action that began at a specific point in the past and is still continuing in the present. This requires present perfect continuous tense, not present continuous. Correct: She has been living in Delhi since she was born. Present continuous cannot be used with since for long ongoing actions.

Q10. ✅ C — is coming. The word Quick! at the beginning indicates that something is happening right now at this very moment and requires immediate action. Actions happening at the moment of speaking use present continuous tense: is/are + verb+ing. The sentence Let us hurry further confirms that the bus is approaching right now.