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English Language: Middle School: Grades 6, 7 and 8 Quiz - Verbs - Tenses (Part 2) (Questions)

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Here are more questions on verb tenses. This quiz includes past perfect continuous tense and future tense. As a continuation of Verb Tenses (Part 1), this quiz will be on verb tenses. As a quick refresher, a verb is an action word. A verb tells us what the subject(s) of a sentence is(are) doing.

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Actions, however, can and do take place at different times. For instance, verbs can show an action in the past, an action in the present and an action in the future. To define when an action takes place, a verb is written in a “tense” form. These tenses include the following:

PRESENT TENSE: A verb that shows an action that is taking place at that very moment (in the present) is a present tense verb. An example of this tense of a verb would be: “Johnny is kicking the ball on the playground.” From this sentence, we can tell that the action is currently taking place. Present tense verbs often end with and “s.” For example: “To speak” is the root verb. “Carl speaks” shows a current action.

PAST TENSE: A verb that shows that an action took place in the past is a past tense verb. For example, let’s look at the following sentence. “Alfred sailed around the harbor before docking his boat.” In this sentence “sailed” is the past tense of the verb “to sail” and it tells us that the action took place in the past. Many past tense verbs end in “d” or “ed.” For example: “To jog” is the root verb. “Phillip jogged” shows us an action that took place but is not currently taking place in the present.

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE: A verb that shows an action that started in the past but was completed is known as a past perfect continuous tense. It is a verb that is preceded by the words “had been.” An example would be as follows: “Annabel had been singing when the phone rang.” We know the action took place in the past and was a continuous action. A continuous action is shown by the “ing” at the end of a verb. But since Annabel is no longer singing (we know this because the words “had been” precede the verb telling us that the singing had ended), “singing” in this sentence is a past perfect continuous tense.

FUTURE TENSE: A verb that tells us that an action is not taking place but will take place sometime in the future is a future tense verb. An example of this verb usage is as follows: “Betty will act in the next performance.” When the word “will” appears before a verb, it tells us that the action has not yet taken place but will take place in the future.

1. For the sentence below, find the correct verb tense from the choices given.

Jamie will be the Grand Marshall in the July 4th Parade.
[ ] Present tense
[ ] Past tense
[ ] Past perfect continuous tense
[ ] Future tense
2. For the sentence below, find the correct verb tense from the choices given.

He tried to make up with her but she wasn’t ready.
[ ] Present tense
[ ] Past tense
[ ] Past perfect continuous tense
[ ] Future tense
3. For the sentence below, find the correct verb tense from the choices given.

Helen is too busy to stop what she is doing.
[ ] Present tense
[ ] Past tense
[ ] Past perfect continuous tense
[ ] Future tense
4. For the sentence below, find the correct verb tense from the choices given.

They had been working on fixing up the house before he left for a job interview.
[ ] Present tense
[ ] Past tense
[ ] Past perfect continuous tense
[ ] Future tense
5. For the sentence below, find the correct verb tense from the choices given.

She smiles so sweetly.
[ ] Present tense
[ ] Past tense
[ ] Past perfect continuous tense
[ ] Future tense
6. For the sentence below, find the correct verb tense from the choices given.

She skated her way into first place!
[ ] Present tense
[ ] Past tense
[ ] Past perfect continuous tense
[ ] Future tense
7. For the sentence below, find the correct verb tense from the choices given.

The elephant will sit on the stool put in the middle of the ring.
[ ] Present tense
[ ] Past tense
[ ] Past perfect continuous tense
[ ] Future tense
8. For the sentence below, find the correct verb tense from the choices given.

Sally and John had been trying for a baby for years when they finally received their little miracle!
[ ] Present tense
[ ] Past tense
[ ] Past perfect continuous tense
[ ] Future tense
9. For the sentence below, find the correct verb tense from the choices given.

The school’s rally ended peacefully.
[ ] Present tense
[ ] Past tense
[ ] Past perfect continuous tense
[ ] Future tense
10. For the sentence below, find the correct verb tense from the choices given.

The audience will stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance.
[ ] Present tense
[ ] Past tense
[ ] Past perfect continuous tense
[ ] Future tense
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English Language: Middle School: Grades 6, 7 and 8 Quiz - Verbs - Tenses (Part 2) (Answers)
1. For the sentence below, find the correct verb tense from the choices given.

Jamie will be the Grand Marshall in the July 4th Parade.
[ ] Present tense
[ ] Past tense
[ ] Past perfect continuous tense
[x] Future tense
The first thing we need to look for is to see when the action is taking place. When an action has yet to happen, the verb is preceded by the word “will”. This lets us quickly know that the action will take place at a future time. In this sentence the verb is “be” and it is preceded by the word “will” telling us that “be” is a future tense verb. Answer (d) is correct.
2. For the sentence below, find the correct verb tense from the choices given.

He tried to make up with her but she wasn’t ready.
[ ] Present tense
[x] Past tense
[ ] Past perfect continuous tense
[ ] Future tense
We first need to determine what action is in the sentence and then when that action is taking place. A good hint to tell us this is the letter or letters at the end of the verb. In this sentence the verb is “tried” and it ends with an “ed.” Generally, when a verb ends in an “ed” it tells us that an action took place in the past. When an action has taken place in the past it is a past tense verb. Here the verb “tried” shows a past action so Answer (b) is the correct answer.
3. For the sentence below, find the correct verb tense from the choices given.

Helen is too busy to stop what she is doing.
[x] Present tense
[ ] Past tense
[ ] Past perfect continuous tense
[ ] Future tense
The first thing we need to look for is to see when the action is taking place. Generally, when a verb ends in an “s” it is a good clue that the action is currently taking place. When an action is currently taking place it is taking place in the present. Therefore, this sentence is showing a present action and the verb “is” is a present tense verb. Answer (a) is correct.
4. For the sentence below, find the correct verb tense from the choices given.

They had been working on fixing up the house before he left for a job interview.
[ ] Present tense
[ ] Past tense
[x] Past perfect continuous tense
[ ] Future tense
When an action has started in the past and was a continuing action but has since ceased, it is known as a past perfect continuous tense. Part of the clue of a continuous verb is the use of “ing” at the end of the verb. When a verb that ends in “ing” is preceded by the words “had been” it tells us the continuous action has ended. In this sentence the verb is “working”. It is preceded by the words “had been” which quickly tell us that the verb “working” is a past perfect continuous tense. Therefore, Answer (c) is the correct answer.
5. For the sentence below, find the correct verb tense from the choices given.

She smiles so sweetly.
[x] Present tense
[ ] Past tense
[ ] Past perfect continuous tense
[ ] Future tense
The first thing needed to be done is to see when the action is taking place. Generally, when a verb ends in an “s” it is a good clue that the action is currently taking place. In this sentence the verb is “smiles” and it ends with an “s” so it tells us that the action is currently taking place. Therefore, this sentence is showing a present action and the verb “smiles” is a present tense verb. Answer (a) is correct.
6. For the sentence below, find the correct verb tense from the choices given.

She skated her way into first place!
[ ] Present tense
[x] Past tense
[ ] Past perfect continuous tense
[ ] Future tense
First we must determine what action is taking place in the sentence and then when that action takes place. A good hint to tell us this is the letter or letters at the end of the verb. In this sentence the verb is “skated” and it ends with an “ed.” Generally, when a verb ends in an “ed” it tells us that an action took place in the past. When an action has taken place in the past it is a past tense verb. Here the verb “skated” shows a past action so Answer (b) is the correct answer.
7. For the sentence below, find the correct verb tense from the choices given.

The elephant will sit on the stool put in the middle of the ring.
[ ] Present tense
[ ] Past tense
[ ] Past perfect continuous tense
[x] Future tense
To begin, we need to look for when the action in the sentence is taking place. When an action has yet to happen, the verb is preceded by the word “will”. This lets us quickly know that the action will take place at a future time. In this sentence the verb is “sit” and it is preceded by the word “will” telling us that “sit” is a future tense verb. Answer (d) is correct.
8. For the sentence below, find the correct verb tense from the choices given.

Sally and John had been trying for a baby for years when they finally received their little miracle!
[ ] Present tense
[ ] Past tense
[x] Past perfect continuous tense
[ ] Future tense
When an action has started in the past and was a continuing action but has since ceased, it is known as a past perfect continuous tense. Part of the clue of a continuous verb is the use of “ing” at the end of the verb. When a verb that ends in “ing” is preceded by the words “had been” it tells us the continuous action has ended. In this sentence the verb is “trying”. It is preceded by the words “had been” which quickly tell us that the verb “trying” is a past perfect continuous tense. Therefore, Answer (c) is the correct answer.
9. For the sentence below, find the correct verb tense from the choices given.

The school’s rally ended peacefully.
[ ] Present tense
[x] Past tense
[ ] Past perfect continuous tense
[ ] Future tense
First we must determine what action is taking place in the sentence and then when that action takes place. A good hint to tell us this is the letter or letters at the end of the verb. In this sentence the verb is “ended” and it ends with an “ed.” Generally, when a verb ends in an “ed” it tells us that an action took place in the past. When an action has taken place in the past it is a past tense verb. Here the verb “ended” shows a past action so Answer (b) is the correct answer.
10. For the sentence below, find the correct verb tense from the choices given.

The audience will stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance.
[ ] Present tense
[ ] Past tense
[ ] Past perfect continuous tense
[x] Future tense
To begin, we need to look for when the action in the sentence is taking place. When an action has yet to happen, the verb is preceded by the word “will”. This lets us quickly know that the action will take place at a future time. In this sentence the verb is “stand” and it is preceded by the word “will” telling us that “stand” is a future tense verb. Answer (d) is correct.