Practice MCQs for Class 10 English Tense
Review structured MCQ sets for Class 10 English Tense. Built according to official CBSE guidelines, these downloadable questions support daily revision and core concept reinforcement.
Access Tense Questions and Solutions
Access the complete set of multiple-choice questions for Tense below. This focused format allows students to isolate specific topics for thorough review and uninterrupted practice alongside official CBSE textbooks.
Questions
Choose the correct alternative from those given.
Q1. The Headmaster ____ to speak to you. [1 mark]
(a) wants
(b) is wanting
(c) was wanting
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) wants. 'Want' is a stative verb, so it is used in the simple present.
Teacher's Note:
1. 'Want' is a stative verb, so it is used in the simple present.
2. Stative verbs are not normally used in continuous forms.
Q2. I ____ a new bicycle last week. [1 mark]
(a) bought
(b) have bought
(c) had bought
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) bought. 'Last week' is a finished past time, so the simple past is used.
Teacher's Note:
1. 'Last week' is a finished past time, so the simple past is used.
2. The present perfect cannot be used with such a time expression.
Q3. Here are your shoes; I ____ them. [1 mark]
(a) just clean
(b) just cleaned
(c) have just cleaned
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) have just cleaned. 'Just' with a recent action takes the present perfect.
Teacher's Note:
1. 'Just' with a recent action takes the present perfect.
2. The result, clean shoes, is relevant now.
Q4. It ____ since early morning. [1 mark]
(a) rained
(b) is raining
(c) has been raining
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) has been raining. 'Since' with an action that is still going on needs the present perfect continuous.
Teacher's Note:
1. 'Since' with an action that is still going on needs the present perfect continuous.
2. The rain began in the morning and continues.
Q5. I ____ a lot of work today. [1 mark]
(a) did
(b) have done
(c) had done
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) have done. 'Today' is a period that has not ended, so the present perfect is used.
Teacher's Note:
1. 'Today' is a period that has not ended, so the present perfect is used.
2. The simple past would need a finished time.
Q6. I ____ something burning. [1 mark]
(a) smell
(b) am smelling
(c) have been smelling
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) smell. 'Smell' here is a verb of perception, which is used in the simple present.
Teacher's Note:
1. 'Smell' here is a verb of perception, which is used in the simple present.
2. Such verbs are not used in the continuous.
Q7. Look! The sun ____ over the hills. [1 mark]
(a) rises
(b) is rise
(c) is rising
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) is rising. 'Look!' points to an action happening now, so the present continuous is used.
Teacher's Note:
1. 'Look!' points to an action happening now, so the present continuous is used.
2. 'Is rise' is not a correct form.
Q8. She ____ unconscious since four o'clock. [1 mark]
(a) is
(b) was
(c) has been
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) has been. 'Since' with a point of time and a state that continues takes the present perfect.
Teacher's Note:
1. 'Since' with a point of time and a state that continues takes the present perfect.
2. 'Has been' links the past to the present.
Q9. He used to visit us every week, but he ____ now. [1 mark]
(a) rarely comes
(b) is rarely coming
(c) has rarely come
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) rarely comes. A habit in the present is expressed with the simple present.
Teacher's Note:
1. A habit in the present is expressed with the simple present.
2. 'Rarely' is an adverb of frequency used with it.
Q10. We ____ for his call since 4:20. [1 mark]
(a) are waiting
(b) have been waiting
(c) were waiting
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) have been waiting. 'Since 4:20' shows an action that began in the past and is still in progress.
Teacher's Note:
1. 'Since 4:20' shows an action that began in the past and is still in progress.
2. The present perfect continuous is the correct tense.
Q11. The earth ____ around the sun. [1 mark]
(a) move
(b) moves
(c) moved
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) moves. A universal truth is stated in the simple present.
Teacher's Note:
1. A universal truth is stated in the simple present.
2. The subject 'earth' is singular, so the verb takes -s.
Q12. My friends ____ the Prime Minister yesterday. [1 mark]
(a) see
(b) have seen
(c) saw
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) saw. 'Yesterday' fixes the action in the past, so the simple past is used.
Teacher's Note:
1. 'Yesterday' fixes the action in the past, so the simple past is used.
2. The present perfect cannot go with 'yesterday'.
Q13. I ____ him only one letter up to now. [1 mark]
(a) sent
(b) have sent
(c) send
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) have sent. 'Up to now' links the past with the present and needs the present perfect.
Teacher's Note:
1. 'Up to now' links the past with the present and needs the present perfect.
2. It shows a result that continues to the present.
Q14. She ____ worried about something. [1 mark]
(a) looks
(b) looking
(c) is looking
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) looks. 'Look' meaning 'seem' is a linking verb used in the simple present.
Teacher's Note:
1. 'Look' meaning 'seem' is a linking verb used in the simple present.
2. Here it does not describe an action in progress.
Q15. It started to rain while we ____ tennis. [1 mark]
(a) are playing
(b) were playing
(c) had played
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) were playing. A longer past action interrupted by another is in the past continuous.
Teacher's Note:
1. A longer past action interrupted by another is in the past continuous.
2. 'Started to rain' is the shorter, interrupting action.
Q16. He ____ fast when the accident happened. [1 mark]
(a) is driving
(b) was driving
(c) drove
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) was driving. The accident interrupted an action that was already going on in the past.
Teacher's Note:
1. The accident interrupted an action that was already going on in the past.
2. The past continuous is used for such an action.
Q17. He ____ asleep while he was driving. [1 mark]
(a) falls
(b) fell
(c) has fallen
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) fell. The sentence describes a completed past event, so the simple past is used.
Teacher's Note:
1. The sentence describes a completed past event, so the simple past is used.
2. It matches 'was driving' in the same sentence.
Q18. I am sure I ____ him at the party last night. [1 mark]
(a) saw
(b) have seen
(c) had seen
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) saw. 'Last night' is a finished past time and needs the simple past.
Teacher's Note:
1. 'Last night' is a finished past time and needs the simple past.
2. 'Have seen' cannot be used with it.
Q19. He ____ a mill in this town. [1 mark]
(a) have
(b) has
(c) is having
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) has. 'Have' as possession is a stative verb used in the simple present.
Teacher's Note:
1. 'Have' as possession is a stative verb used in the simple present.
2. A singular subject takes 'has'.
Q20. He ____ here for the last five years. [1 mark]
(a) worked
(b) is working
(c) has been working
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (c) has been working. 'For the last five years' shows a period up to now, so the present perfect continuous is used.
Teacher's Note:
1. 'For the last five years' shows a period up to now, so the present perfect continuous is used.
2. The action is still going on.
Q21. The plane ____ at 3:30. [1 mark]
(a) arrives
(b) will arrive
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) arrives. The simple present is used for a timetable or scheduled event.
Teacher's Note:
1. The simple present is used for a timetable or scheduled event.
2. Flight timings are treated as fixed.
Q22. I will phone you when he ____ back. [1 mark]
(a) comes
(b) will come
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) comes. In a time clause the simple present replaces the future.
Teacher's Note:
1. In a time clause the simple present replaces the future.
2. 'Will' is not used after 'when' in such clauses.
Q23. I ____ the Joshis this evening. [1 mark]
(a) visit
(b) am visiting
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) am visiting. A fixed plan or arrangement is shown by the present continuous.
Teacher's Note:
1. A fixed plan or arrangement is shown by the present continuous.
2. 'This evening' shows the future sense.
Q24. Look at those black clouds. It ____. [1 mark]
(a) will rain
(b) is going to rain
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) is going to rain. A prediction based on present evidence uses 'is going to'.
Teacher's Note:
1. A prediction based on present evidence uses 'is going to'.
2. The black clouds are the evidence.
Q25. The train ____ before we reach the station. [1 mark]
(a) arrives
(b) will have arrived
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) will have arrived. An action completed before a future time takes the future perfect.
Teacher's Note:
1. An action completed before a future time takes the future perfect.
2. The train's arrival comes before our reaching the station.
Q26. Perhaps we ____ Mahabaleshwar next month. [1 mark]
(a) visit
(b) will visit
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) will visit. 'Perhaps' expresses a possibility about the future and takes 'will'.
Teacher's Note:
1. 'Perhaps' expresses a possibility about the future and takes 'will'.
2. The simple present would suggest a fixed plan.
Q27. Unless we ____ now we can't be on time. [1 mark]
(a) start
(b) will start
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) start. Conditional clauses with 'unless' use the simple present.
Teacher's Note:
1. Conditional clauses with 'unless' use the simple present.
2. 'Will' is not used in the 'unless' clause.
Q28. I ____ into town later on. Do you want a lift? [1 mark]
(a) drive
(b) will be driving
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (b) will be driving. The future continuous shows an action that will be in progress at a time later on.
Teacher's Note:
1. The future continuous shows an action that will be in progress at a time later on.
2. It also sounds more natural for an offer.
Q29. The next term ____ on 16th November. [1 mark]
(a) begins
(b) is beginning
View Answer & Explanation
Answer: (a) begins. A fixed calendar event is expressed in the simple present.
Teacher's Note:
1. A fixed calendar event is expressed in the simple present.
2. The date makes it a scheduled event.
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Practice MCQs for Class 10 English Tense
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FAQs
You can get most exhaustive CBSE Class 10 English Tenses MCQs Set 02 for free on StudiesToday.com. These MCQs for Class 10 English are updated for the 2026-27 academic session as per CBSE examination standards.
Yes, our CBSE Class 10 English Tenses MCQs Set 02 include the latest type of questions, such as Assertion-Reasoning and Case-based MCQs. 50% of the CBSE paper is now competency-based.
By solving our CBSE Class 10 English Tenses MCQs Set 02, Class 10 students can improve their accuracy and speed which is important as objective questions provide a chance to secure 100% marks in the English.
Yes, English MCQs for Class 10 have answer key and brief explanations to help students understand logic behind the correct option as its important for 2026 competency-focused CBSE exams.
Yes, you can also access online interactive tests for CBSE Class 10 English Tenses MCQs Set 02 on StudiesToday.com as they provide instant answers and score to help you track your progress in English.