Tenses

23 Grade 9 English questions on Tenses, with worked marking schemes. 23 questions are available on this topic in full.

1. Question 1

   1 mark

   Which sentence uses inversion for emphasis?

   A. She never has been so happy.

   B. Never has she been so happy.

   C. She has never been so happy.

   D. She was never so happy as now.

   (1 mark)

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2. Question 2

   1 mark

   Which sentence has a relative clause?

   A. She ran quickly.

   B. She ran because she was late.

   C. She ran and fell.

   D. The book that she borrowed was interesting.

   (1 mark)

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3. Question 3

   1 mark

   Which sentence is grammatically correct?

   A. She suggested that he leaves early.

   B. She suggested that he leave early.

   C. She suggested that he should left early.

   D. She suggested that he is leaving early.

   (1 mark)

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4. Question 4

   1 mark

   Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?

   A. She nearly drove her children to every activity.

   B. She drove her children to nearly every activity.

   C. He gave her flowers that he had picked.

   D. Running to the shop, she dropped her keys.

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme

   A. 'nearly drove' implies almost drove (not drove to almost every activity)

5. Question 5

   1 mark

   Which is the correct tag for: "Seldom does she complain, _______?"

   A. isn't she

   B. is she

   C. does she

   D. doesn't she

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme

   C. Inversion with seldom → negative = positive tag: does she

6. Question 6

   1 mark

   The committee _______ to meet every Tuesday.

   A. are deciding

   B. have deciding

   C. decides

   D. decide

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme

   C. 'Committee' (collective, acting as one) = singular: decides

7. Question 7

   1 mark

   Which sentence uses "lie" (to recline) correctly?

   A. She has lain down after lunch.

   B. B and C

   C. She lied down after lunch.

   D. She lay down after lunch.

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme

   B. lie/lay/lain: lay (past simple), lain (past participle)

8. Question 8

   1 mark

   Which word correctly completes: "Not _______ she spoke did everyone listen."

   A. when

   B. because

   C. until

   D. unless

   (1 mark)

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9. Question 9

   1 mark

   Which sentence demonstrates parallelism?

   A. She likes swimming, running, and cycling.

   B. She likes to swim, running, and to cycle.

   C. She likes swimming, to run, and cycle.

   D. She likes to swim, running, and cycling.

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme

   A. Parallel: swimming, running, cycling (all gerunds)

10. Question 10

    1 mark

    It is high time we _______ action.

    A. took

    B. take

    C. taking

    D. taken

    (1 mark)

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11. Question 11

    1 mark

    Choose the correct form: "Had I known, I _______ differently."

    A. had acted

    B. would have acted

    C. will act

    D. would act

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme

    B. Third conditional: would have + past participle

12. Question 12

    1 mark

    Had the rain not stopped, the event _______ been cancelled.

    A. will have

    B. shall have

    C. could

    D. would have

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13. Question 13

    1 mark

    By the time she graduates, she _______ been in school for sixteen years.

    A. will have

    B. would have

    C. had

    D. will

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14. Question 14

    1 mark

    Choose the correct form: "I would rather he _______ the truth."

    A. tell

    B. told

    C. would tell

    D. tells

    (1 mark)

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15. Question 15

    1 mark

    Which sentence uses the subjunctive correctly?

    A. If I be you, I would study more.

    B. If I were you, I would study more.

    C. If I am you, I would study more.

    D. If I was you, I would study more.

    (1 mark)

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16. Question 16

    1 mark

    I wish I _______ studied harder for the exam.

    A. would

    B. will

    C. have

    D. had

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17. Question 17

    1 mark

    Choose the correct form: "She is _______ to improving education in her community."

    A. devote

    B. devoted

    C. devotedly

    D. devoting

    (1 mark)

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18. Question 18

    1 mark

    Which word correctly fills: "She spoke with _______ authority on the subject."

    A. undeniably an

    B. undeniably

    C. undeniable

    D. undeniably a

    (1 mark)

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19. Question 19

    1 mark

    Which sentence uses the gerund correctly?

    A. She enjoys swim.

    B. She enjoys swimming.

    C. She enjoys to swim.

    D. She enjoys swam.

    (1 mark)

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20. Question 20

    1 mark

    She demanded that he _______ the truth.

    A. tells

    B. telling

    C. tell

    D. told

    (1 mark)

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21. Question 21

    1 mark

    She is _______ than I thought.

    A. more intelligent

    B. most intelligent

    C. intelligenter

    D. intelligent

    (1 mark)

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22. Question 22

    1 mark

    Which sentence uses "whom" correctly?

    A. The woman whom I interviewed was articulate.

    B. Whom shall I say is calling?

    C. Whom do you think will win?

    D. The person whom won the prize was surprised.

    (1 mark)

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23. Question 23

    1 mark

    Choose the correct form: "She is the _______ of the three sisters."

    A. talentedest

    B. much talented

    C. more talented

    D. most talented

    (1 mark)

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