Kerala SSLC · English · Class 10
Grammar – Tenses: Important Questions with Answers
These are 10 important multiple-choice questions from the Kerala SSLC English chapter “Grammar – Tenses” (Kerala SCERT syllabus). Each one shows the correct answer and a short explanation of why it is right. Try answering before you read the answer. ExamSummary has 10 practice questions on this chapter in total.
Q1.She ______ in Kochi for five years.
- A)lives
- B)lived
- C)has lived
- D)is living
Answer: C) has lived
The phrase 'for five years' indicates an action that started in the past and continues to the present. Therefore, the Present Perfect tense ('has lived') is the grammatically correct choice here.
Q2.While I was cooking dinner, the phone ______.
- A)rings
- B)rang
- C)is ringing
- D)had rung
Answer: B) rang
The Past Continuous tense ('was cooking') sets the background for an action that happened suddenly. The interrupting action must be in the Past Simple tense ('rang').
Q3.By next month, the construction team ______ the bridge.
- A)will build
- B)will have built
- C)builds
- D)have built
Answer: B) will have built
The time marker 'By next month' suggests an action that will be completed before a specific point in the future. This requires the Future Perfect tense ('will have built').
Q4.The sun ______ in the east and sets in the west.
- A)rose
- B)rises
- C)has risen
- D)rising
Answer: B) rises
This sentence states a scientific fact or a general truth that is always true. Such statements require the Present Simple tense ('rises').
Q5.I ______ my wallet, so I cannot pay for the ticket.
- A)lose
- B)lost
- C)have lost
- D)am losing
Answer: C) have lost
The speaker is describing a past action with a result in the present (cannot pay). This relationship between past action and present consequence calls for the Present Perfect tense ('have lost').
Q6.When the teacher entered the classroom, the students ______.
- A)talk
- B)talked
- C)were talking
- D)have talked
Answer: C) were talking
The action of talking was in progress at the specific moment the teacher entered. An ongoing action in the past is expressed using the Past Continuous tense ('were talking').
Q7.He said that he ______ very busy that day.
- A)is
- B)was
- C)will be
- D)has been
Answer: B) was
In reported speech, when the reporting verb ('said') is in the past, the tense of the reported clause usually shifts back. Present Simple becomes Past Simple ('was').
Q8.If you heat ice, it ______.
- A)melt
- B)melts
- C)melted
- D)will melt
Answer: B) melts
This is a zero conditional sentence describing a scientific fact or natural law. Both clauses typically use the Present Simple tense, making 'melts' the correct form.
Q9.Listen! Someone ______ at the door.
- A)knocks
- B)knocked
- C)is knocking
- D)has knocked
Answer: C) is knocking
The imperative 'Listen!' indicates that the action is happening right now at the moment of speaking. Actions occurring currently are described using the Present Continuous tense ('is knocking').
Q10.Unless it rains, we ______ the picnic tomorrow.
- A)don't cancel
- B)didn't cancel
- C)won't cancel
- D)aren't cancelling
Answer: C) won't cancel
This is a first conditional sentence referring to a likely future event. The main clause requires the Future Simple tense ('won't cancel') to indicate the result.