tenses

Q1. Which option would be true about the following sentence if it was written in the passive voice? The rogues were vandalising the building before the police arrived.

• 1) The underlined verb phrase will change to ‘were vandalised’.
• 2) The underlined verb phrase will change to ‘was being vandalised’.
• 3) The underlined verb phrase will change to ‘was vandalised’.
• 4) The underlined verb phrase will change to ‘were being vandalised’.

Solution

The underlined verb phrase will change to ‘was being vandalised’.   Passive voice The school building was being vandalised by the rogues when the police arrived.

Q2. Which option would be true about the following sentence if it was written in the active voice? Coco was treated by the best vet in town.

• 1) The underlined verb phrase will change to ‘treat’.
• 2) The underlined verb phrase will change to ‘was being treated’.
• 3) The underlined verb phrase will change to ‘was treated’.
• 4) The underlined verb phrase will change to ‘treated’.

Solution

The underlined verb phrase will change to ‘treated’. Active voice The best vet in town treated Coco.

Q3. What is the tense of the underlined verb? Kasturi is willing to act as a mediator between the two fighting friends.

• 1) Present continuous/progressive
• 2) Simple present
• 3) Future continuous/progressive
• 4) Present perfect

Solution

Kasturi is willing to act as a mediator between the two fighting friends. Willing - Present continuous/progressive

Q4. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate tense forms. El Dorado _____ (be) a legendary city of gold in the ancient world. Its reputation _____ (attract) many gold-seekers in the middle ages. Many men _____ (go) to South America in vain. In the process, many _____(lose) their lives _____(try) to find the exact location of this magical place.

Solution

El Dorado was a legendary city of gold in the ancient world. Its reputation attracted many gold-seekers in the middle ages. Many men went to South America in vain. In the process, many lost their lives trying to find the exact location of this magical place.

Q5. Fill in the blank with a verb in the correct tense. Mohan ______ his car, coats it with a special chemical and buffs it till it shines.

• 1) washes
• 2) washing
• 3) washed
• 4) wash

Solution

Mohan washes his car, coats it with a special chemical and buffs it till it shines. Since the other verbs ‘coats’ and ‘buffs’ are in the simple present tense, ‘washes’ should be used to main consistency.

Q6. What idea does the underlined present progressive verb convey? Gretchen is leaving for Berlin tomorrow.

• 1) Future action
• 2) Present action in repetition
• 3) Universal truth
• 4) Present action

Solution

Gretchen is leaving for Berlin tomorrow. Future action

Q7. Which sentence is incorrect? 

• 1) The sniper is aiming at the terrorist from an old abandoned building.
• 2) Ganesh avoids owing money to anybody.
• 3) Loving what you do is a prerequisite in this field.
• 4) We are all belonging to this glorious nation we call India.

Solution

We are all belonging to this glorious nation we call India. Correct: We all belong to this glorious nation we call India.

Q8. Fill in the blank with the correct tense form. The delicious-looking delicacies _________ divine.

• 1) were smelling
• 2) smell
• 3) are smelling
• 4) was smelling

Solution

The delicious-looking delicacies smell divine.

Q9. Rewrite the paragraph by changing all the verbs to the simple present tense. A group of anti-foreign jingoists known as the Boxers existed in China. The members of this group massacred scores of Christian missionaries. Several foreign ministers and their families were killed. The rebellion weakened China’s power and hastened the Republican Revolution.

Solution

A group of anti-foreign jingoists known as the Boxers exists in China. The members of this group massacre scores of Christian missionaries. Several foreign ministers and their families are killed. The rebellion weakens China’s power and hastens the Republican Revolution.

Q10. What are the tense forms used in the paragraph? It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way. (From The Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens)  

• 1) Past continuous tense
• 2) Simple present tense and simple past tense
• 3) Simple past tense
• 4) Simple past tense and past progressive tense

Solution

The tenses used in the passage are the simple past tense and the past progressive tense.

Q11. Which statement is true for the sentence?  (a) By the time the authorities were notified, (b) the poachers had already fled.

• 1) (a) Occurred first and (b) later.
• 2) Cannot be determined.
• 3) (b) Occurred first and (a) later.
• 4) Both (a) and (b) occurred simultaneously.

Solution

(b) Occurred first and (a) later.

Q12. Fill in the blank with a verb in the correct tense. Carlton had ________ the test too many times before.

• 1) took
• 2) taken
• 3) gave
• 4) gives

Solution

Carlton had taken the test too many times before.

Q13. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate tense forms. Lal Bahadur Shastri ___ (be) the second Prime Minister of independent India. He was successful in ___ (lead) the country during the 1965 war with Pakistan. In order___ (mobilise) the masses and to boost their morale, Shastri ___ (coin) a memorable slogan that is ___ (remember) to this day: “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”.

Solution

Lal Bahadur Shastri was the second Prime Minister of independent India. He was successful in leading the country during the 1965 war with Pakistan. In order to mobilise the masses and to boost their morale, Shastri coined a memorable slogan that is remembered to this day: “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”.

Q14. State whether the following conversion is correct or incorrect. If incorrect, rewrite the statement correctly.  Active Voice Eye-witnesses have furnished the information. Passive Voice The information was furnished by eye-witnesses.

Solution

Incorrect Correct: The information has been furnished by eye-witnesses.

Q15. State whether the following conversion is correct or incorrect. If incorrect, rewrite the statement correctly. Direct: Manjula said, “Mr and Mrs Raghupati were on a vacation.” Indirect: Manjula said that Mr and Mrs Raghupati had been on a vacation.

Solution

Correct

Q16. Fill in the blanks with verbs in their correct tense. Mahua ______ to school every day. En route, she _____ up her friend Gargi. The two girls _____ school on time every day, thanks to Mahua’s fast feet.

• 1) cycles, picks, reach
• 2) cycled, picks, reaches
• 3) cycles, picked, reach
• 4) cycle, pick, reach

Solution

Mahua cycles to school every day. En route, she picks up her friend Gargi. The two girls reach school on time every day, thanks to Mahua’s fast feet.

Q17. Which sentence is grammatically correct? 

• 1) Tariq is thinking deeply.
• 2) Ratna is preferring the shipping magnate for matrimonial alliance.
• 3) The guests are wanting extra helpings of the sweet kheer.
• 4) Durgaprasad is a god-fearing man who is believing in the divine love of the almighty.

Solution

Tariq is thinking deeply.

Q18. Fill in the blanks with the correct tense forms. A certain king ____ (have) a beautiful garden, and in the garden ____ (stand) a tree which ____ (bear) golden apples. These apples ____ (be) always counted, and about the time when they ____ (begin) to grow ripe, it was ____ (find) that every night one of them was gone. The king became very angry at this and ____ (order) the gardener ____ (keep) watch all night under the tree.

Solution

A certain king had a beautiful garden, and in the garden stood a tree which bore golden apples. These apples were always counted, and about the time when they began to grow ripe, it was found that every night one of them was gone. The king became very angry at this and ordered the gardener to keep watch all night under the tree.

Q19. State whether the following conversion is correct or incorrect. If incorrect, rewrite the statement correctly.   Active Voice Will he call me?   Passive Voice Would I be called by him?

Solution

Incorrect Correct: Will I be called by him?

Q20. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate tense forms. I _____ a long list of resolutions for this year. It _____ _____ the year I join the gym. I _____ not complain about fatigue and weakness anymore. I _____ try to keep my promises to people. So that I don’t lose them forever, I _____ stay in touch with all my friends.  

Solution

I have a long list of resolutions for this year. It will be the year I join the gym. I will not complain about fatigue and weakness anymore. I will try to keep my promises to people. So that I don’t lose them forever, I will stay in touch with all my friends.

Q21. Fill in the blank with a verb in the correct tense.  Direct Norris said, “I have seen this movie so many times before.” Indirect Norris said that he ________ that movie so many times before.

• 1) saw
• 2) has seen
• 3) have seen
• 4) had seen

Solution

Norris said that he had seen that movie so many times before.

Q22. Fill in the blanks with the correct tense forms. Ted Geisel (a)_____ (be) a shy man. He was (b) _____(marry) but (c) _____ (have) no children of his own. He was (d) _____(know) to the world as ‘Dr. Seuss’. The genius who (e) _____ (create) characters such as ‘The Cat in the Hat’ and ‘Sam I am’. His style (f) _____ (comprise) the use of silly words, a theme, a funny tone and whimsical creatures.

Solution

Ted Geisel was a shy man. He was married but had no children of his own. He was known to the world as ‘Dr. Seuss’. The genius who created characters such as ‘The Cat in the Hat’ and ‘Sam I am’. His style comprised the use of silly words, a theme, a funny tone and whimsical creatures.

Q23. State whether the following conversion is correct or incorrect. If incorrect, rewrite the statement correctly.  Direct Danish said, “I will read the book.” Indirect Danish said that he will read the book.

Solution

Incorrect Correct: Danish said that he would read the book. Explanation: ‘Will’ becomes ‘Would’ in indirect speech.

Q24. Fill in the blank with a verb in the correct tense. Rochelle and Gia _________ back home when they encountered a homeless man by the roadside.

• 1) had walked
• 2) walk
• 3) were walking
• 4) have walked

Solution

Rochelle and Gia were walking back home when they encountered a homeless man by the roadside.

Q25. Fill in the blank with a verb in the correct tense.   Direct Brenda said, “Will you kindly look into the matter?” Indirect Brenda asked her if she _____ kindly look into the matter.

• 1) wouldn’t
• 2) wont
• 3) will
• 4) would

Solution

Brenda asked her if she would kindly look into the matter.

Q26. Rewrite the paragraph in the past tense.  The chef whips the cream cheese with powdered sugar, vanilla essence and egg yolks till it forms stiff peaks. He then combines the powdered cookies with butter and kneads it into a soft, pliable mass. He brushes the insides of the baking tray with butter and lines it with the cookie dough. The cream cheese and egg yolk mixture is carefully poured in. The mixture is decorated with assorted berries and baked for an hour in a pre-heated oven.

Solution

The chef whipped the cream cheese with powdered sugar, vanilla essence and egg yolks till it formed stiff peaks. He then combined the powdered cookies with butter and kneaded it into a soft, pliable mass. He brushed the insides of the baking tray with butter and lined it with the cookie dough. The cream cheese and egg yolk mixture was carefully poured in. The mixture was decorated with assorted berries and baked for an hour in a pre-heated oven.

Q27. Fill in the blanks with the correct tense forms. Pterosaurs ______(be) sometimes described in the media as ‘flying dinosaurs’. On 26 April 1986, reactor four at the nuclear power plant near Chernobyl, Ukraine ______ (explode). ______(offer) an alternative view to the mainstream Civil Rights movement, Malcolm X advocated for the establishment of a separate black community.

Solution

Pterosaurs are sometimes described in the media as ‘flying dinosaurs’. On 26 April 1986, reactor four at the nuclear power plant near Chernobyl, Ukraine exploded. Offering an alternative view to the mainstream Civil Rights movement, Malcolm X advocated for the establishment of a separate black community.

Q28. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate tense forms. Niccolo Machiavelli (a) _____ (be) born at Florence, May 3, 1469, (b) _____ (see) the troubles of the French invasion (1493) when the Medici (c) _____ (flee), and in 1498 (d) _____ (become) secretary of the Ten, a post he (e) _____ (hold) until the fall of the republic in 1512. He was (f) _____ (employ) in a great variety of missions, (g) _____ (include) one to the Emperor Maximilian, and four to France.

Solution

Niccolo Machiavelli was born at Florence, May 3, 1469, saw the troubles of the French invasion (1493) when the Medici fled, and in 1498 became secretary of the Ten, a post he held until the fall of the republic in 1512. He was employed in a great variety of missions, including one to the Emperor Maximilian, and four to France.

Q29. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate tense forms. Did you (a) _____(know) that your hippocampus is a horseshoe-shaped area of the brain that (b)  _____ (play) an important role in the segregation of information from our memory? It (c)____(be) a part of the limbic system which is associated with emotions and memory. The hippocampus (d)______ (help) in (e)_______(form), organising and storing memories.

Solution

Did you know that your hippocampus is a horseshoe-shaped area of the brain that plays an important role in the segregation of information from our memory? It is a part of the limbic system which is associated with emotions and memory. The hippocampus helps in forming, organising and storing memories.

Q30. What ideas do the underlined simple present tense verbs convey? Cowards die many times before their deaths. Mahesh plays the guitar with great finesse. Krishna boards the Yelahanka bound bus every morning.

Solution

Cowards die many times before their deaths. (Universal truth) Mahesh plays the guitar with great finesse. (Ability) Krishna boards the Yelahanka bound bus every morning. (Habitual action)