Quiz On Present Perfect, Past Simple And Past Perfect
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This is a quiz on present perfect, past simple, and past perfect. Can you guess the correct tense? If you are looking for a way to perfect your grammar skills, the quiz below is perfect for you, and this is because it gives you a way to test out three tenses at once. All the best! Give it a try, and be sure to read the quiz as many times as you need.
Questions and Answers
1.
We first _________ in a small flat.
A.
've lived
B.
Lived
C.
Were living
D.
Was living
Correct Answer
B. Lived
Explanation The correct answer is "lived." This is the correct form of the verb "live" in the past tense. The sentence is stating that the subject lived in a small flat at some point in the past.
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2.
Yes! We ___________ for 18 years.
A.
've been married
B.
Were married
C.
Married
D.
Been married
Correct Answer
A. 've been married
Explanation The correct answer is 've been married because the sentence is in the present perfect tense, indicating an action that started in the past and continues up to the present. The contraction 've is used for the subject "we" and "been married" is the past participle form of the verb "marry".
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3.
We __________ in 1990.
A.
Got married
B.
've married
C.
Were married
D.
Are married
Correct Answer
A. Got married
Explanation The correct answer is "got married" because it is the past tense form of the verb "to get married." This means that the action of getting married occurred in the past.
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4.
I ________ my husband at high school.
A.
've met
B.
Met
C.
Had met
D.
Were met
Correct Answer
A. 've met
Explanation The correct answer is "'ve met". This is because the phrase "I have met" indicates that the speaker met their husband in the past, and the use of "have" implies that the action of meeting occurred at some point before the present moment.
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5.
I _____________ in Buenos Aires since I was born.
A.
've lived
B.
Lived
C.
Were living
D.
Am living
Correct Answer
A. 've lived
Explanation The correct answer is 've lived. This is because the sentence is talking about an action that started in the past (since I was born) and is still continuing in the present. The present perfect tense 've lived is used to express this ongoing action.
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6.
In the year 2000, we ________ to a house in the suburbs.
A.
Moved
B.
've moved
C.
Moving
D.
Were moved
Correct Answer
A. Moved
Explanation In the year 2000, the action of moving to a house in the suburbs took place.
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7.
We ____________ in the same house since then.
A.
Lived
B.
've lived
C.
Had lived
D.
Were living
Correct Answer
B. 've lived
Explanation The correct answer is 've lived. This is because the sentence is in the present perfect tense, indicating an action that started in the past and continues up to the present. The contraction 've is used to show the auxiliary verb "have" with the subject "we". Therefore, the sentence should be "We've lived in the same house since then."
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8.
I _______________ comics since I was a little boy.
A.
Read
B.
Was reading
C.
Reads
D.
Have been reading
E.
Was read
Correct Answer
D. Have been reading
Explanation The correct phrase "have been reading" is used in the sentence "I have been reading comics since I was a little boy" to indicate an action that started in the past and continues up to the present. This is known as the present perfect continuous tense, which is used to emphasize the duration of an activity or to show that the activity is still ongoing.
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9.
We really ___________ Guy Fawkes night last year.
A.
Have enjoyed
B.
Has enjoyed
C.
were enjoyed
D.
Enjoyed
E.
Was enjoyed
Correct Answer
D. Enjoyed
Explanation The verb "enjoyed" is the correct answer because it agrees with the subject "we" in both tense and number. "Have enjoyed" would be incorrect because it is present perfect tense, while the sentence is in past tense. "Has enjoyed" and "were enjoyed" do not agree with the subject "we." "Was enjoyed" is also incorrect because it uses the singular form of the verb instead of the plural form needed for "we."
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10.
It ___________ the Zaragoza Expo icon for one year.
A.
Has been
B.
Was
C.
Have been
D.
Were
E.
Was being
Correct Answer
A. Has been
Explanation The correct answer is "has been". This is because the sentence is referring to an action that started in the past and is still ongoing in the present. "Has been" is the present perfect tense, which is used to describe an action that started in the past and has a connection to the present. In this case, the action of being the Zaragoza Expo icon started in the past and is still ongoing, hence "has been" is the appropriate choice.
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11.
They ____________ horrified in their exam last September
A.
Feel
B.
Was feeling
C.
Felt
D.
Were felt
E.
Have felt
Correct Answer
C. Felt
Explanation In this sentence, the subject "they" is the one who experienced the feeling of being horrified. The verb "felt" is the past tense form of the verb "feel", which is the correct verb to use in this context. Therefore, the correct answer is "felt".
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12.
She ________________ History last year.
A.
Has studied
B.
Have studied
C.
Was studied
D.
Study
E.
Studied
Correct Answer
E. Studied
Explanation The correct answer is "studied". This is because the sentence is in the past tense and "studied" is the past tense form of the verb "study".
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13.
They ______________ Matias López chocolate more than twice a day.
A.
Ate
B.
Has eaten
C.
Have eaten
D.
Were eating
E.
Were eaten
Correct Answer
C. Have eaten
Explanation The correct answer is "have eaten." This is because the sentence is in the present perfect tense, indicating an action that started in the past and continues into the present. The subject "they" is plural, so the correct verb form is "have." "Eaten" is the past participle form of the verb "eat," which is used in the present perfect tense. Therefore, the sentence means that "they" have eaten Matias López chocolate more than twice a day.
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14.
She __________ this computer program in 2005.
A.
Has learnt
B.
Learnt
C.
Was learnt
D.
Have learnt
E.
Has learning
Correct Answer
B. Learnt
Explanation The correct answer is "learnt." This is the past tense form of the verb "learn." It indicates that the action of learning the computer program took place in 2005.
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15.
They ___________ friends since they were two.
A.
Are
B.
Were
C.
Have been
D.
Has been
E.
Were being
Correct Answer
C. Have been
Explanation The correct answer is "have been". This is because the sentence is in the present perfect tense, indicating an action that started in the past and is still ongoing in the present. "Have been" is the correct form of the verb "to be" in the present perfect tense.
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16.
He __________ in his project since May
A.
Was worked
B.
Have worked
C.
Has worked
D.
Worked
E.
Has working
Correct Answer
C. Has worked
Explanation The correct answer is "has worked" because the sentence is in the present perfect tense, which is used to talk about actions or events that started in the past and continue up to the present. The word "since" indicates the starting point of the action, which is May. Therefore, the verb "work" needs to be in the present perfect tense to show that the person has been working on the project from May until now.
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17.
The teacher _________________ for half an hour.
A.
Has explained
B.
Explained
C.
Is explaining
D.
Have explained
E.
Was explained
Correct Answer
A. Has explained
Explanation The correct answer is "has explained" because the sentence is in the present perfect tense, indicating an action that started in the past and is still ongoing. The use of "for half an hour" suggests that the action of explaining started in the past and has continued up until now.
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18.
She (to thank) _____________ him for the chocolates when he gave them to her.
Correct Answer thanked
Explanation The sentence is in the past tense, so the correct form of the verb "to thank" is "thanked." This matches the action of receiving the chocolates and expressing gratitude, both of which happened in the past.
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19.
He (to buy) ________________ some chocolates for her.
Correct Answer bought
Explanation Could be present perfect but simple past is best because he is already waiting at the station for her so he must have bought the chocolates earlier.
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20.
He (to like) _______________ her for a long time.
Correct Answer has liked
Explanation Present perfect clue - for a long time
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21.
She________ just (to leave) ____________ college to go home.
Correct Answer has left/ Has left
Explanation Present perfect clue - just
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22.
So far she (to study) __________________ English for one year in Sydney.
Correct Answer has studied
Explanation Present perfect clue - so far
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23.
She (to live) ____________ in Tokyo 5 years ago.
Correct Answer lived
Explanation Simple past clue - ago
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24.
He ______ always (to wait) ___________ for her at the train station.
Correct Answer has waited
Explanation Present perfect clue - always can be used
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25.
She (to study) ______________ Information Technology in Tokyo. (Simple past)
Correct Answer studied
Explanation She studied Information Technology in Tokyo.
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26.
She (to be) _______________ in Sydney for 5 years.
Correct Answer has been
Explanation Present perfect clue - for 5 years.
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27.
He then (to ask) _________ her out and she said yes immediately!
Correct Answer asked
Explanation Simple past clue - then
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28.
She ... four marathons. Her first one ... in 2001 in Amsterdam.
A.
Has run / has been
B.
Ran / was
C.
Has run / was
D.
Ran / were
Correct Answer
C. Has run / was
Explanation The correct answer is "has run / was." This is because "has run" is the present perfect tense, indicating that the action of running the marathons started in the past and is still ongoing. "Was" is the past tense of the verb "to be," and it is used to describe the specific time when the first marathon took place in 2001.
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29.
We ... to France on holiday last year.
A.
Went
B.
've gone
C.
Go
D.
Had gone
Correct Answer
A. Went
Explanation The correct answer is "went" because it is the past tense form of the verb "go." The sentence is referring to a past action of going to France on holiday last year.
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30.
He ... had a lot of problems recently.
A.
Have
B.
's
C.
Is
D.
Had
Correct Answer
B. 's
Explanation The correct answer is "has". This is because the sentence is referring to a person who has had a lot of problems recently. The word "has" is the correct form of the verb "to have" when used with third person singular subjects, such as he, she, or it.
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31.
She's ... the boss for 6 months now.
A.
Has
B.
Be
C.
Been
D.
Was
Correct Answer
C. Been
Explanation The word "been" is the correct answer because it is the past participle form of the verb "be." In this sentence, it is used to indicate that the subject has held the position of the boss for a period of 6 months.
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32.
I ... him for ages.
A.
Seen
B.
Haven't saw
C.
Haven't seen
D.
Didn't saw
Correct Answer
C. Haven't seen
Explanation The correct answer is "haven't seen". This is because the sentence is in the present perfect tense, which is used to talk about an action that started in the past and is still ongoing or has just been completed. "Haven't seen" is the correct form of the present perfect tense for the pronoun "I".
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33.
... in Trujillo since 2004.
A.
She lived
B.
She's lived
C.
She's live
D.
She's living
Correct Answer
B. She's lived
Explanation The correct answer is "She's lived." This is because the sentence is referring to an action that started in the past and is still ongoing in the present. The use of "has lived" (contracted to "She's lived") indicates a continuous action that began in 2004 and is still happening.
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34.
Research ________ that cycling can help patients overcome their illnesses.
A.
Showed
B.
Has shown
C.
Shows
D.
Showed
Correct Answer
B. Has shown
Explanation The correct answer is "has shown." This is because the verb "has shown" is in the present perfect tense, which indicates an action that started in the past and has continued up until the present. In this case, the action of research showing that cycling can help patients overcome their illnesses started in the past and is still relevant and applicable now.
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35.
Oh, no! My car ________!
A.
Has disappeared
B.
Disappeared
C.
Is disappeared
D.
Had disappeared
Correct Answer
A. Has disappeared
Explanation The correct answer is "has disappeared" because the sentence is in the present perfect tense, indicating an action that started in the past and has a connection to the present. "Has disappeared" is the correct form of the verb "disappear" in the present perfect tense.
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36.
I ________ my hands so I that I can help you with the cooking.
A.
Washed
B.
Have washed
C.
Did wash
D.
Had washed
Correct Answer
B. Have washed
Explanation The correct answer is "have washed" because the sentence is in present perfect tense. The speaker is referring to an action that was completed in the past but has a connection to the present. By using "have washed," the speaker is indicating that they have already washed their hands in the past and are now ready to help with the cooking.
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37.
She ________ about the traffic last week.
A.
Complained
B.
Has complained
C.
Had complained
D.
Is complaining
Correct Answer
A. Complained
Explanation The correct answer is "complained". This is because the sentence is in the past tense, as indicated by the word "last week". Therefore, the verb should also be in the past tense. "Complained" is the correct past tense form of the verb "complain".
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38.
Mr. Robinson _________ the election!
A.
Just won
B.
Has just won
C.
Had win
D.
Had been winning
Correct Answer
B. Has just won
Explanation The phrase "has just won" is the correct answer because it indicates that Mr. Robinson recently won the election. The use of "has" suggests that the action of winning took place in the near past, and the word "just" emphasizes the immediacy of the victory.
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39.
Nobody ______ever ________ that mountain. (climb)
A.
Has ... been climbed
B.
Has ... climb
C.
Have... climbed
D.
Has .... climbed
Correct Answer
D. Has .... climbed
Explanation The correct answer is "has .... climbed" because the sentence is in the present perfect tense, which is used to talk about an action that started in the past and is still relevant in the present. The word "nobody" indicates that no one has climbed the mountain, and the word "ever" emphasizes the idea that it has never happened. Therefore, the correct form is "has climbed," indicating that no one has completed the action of climbing the mountain.
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40.
People ________ to the Moon. (travel)
A.
Has traveled
B.
Have been traveled
C.
Have traveled
D.
Had traveled
Correct Answer
C. Have traveled
Explanation The correct answer is "have traveled". This is because the sentence is referring to the past actions of people traveling to the Moon. "Have traveled" is the correct past tense form of the verb "travel" when used with the subject "people".
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41.
I _________ that movie twenty times. (see)
A.
Have seen
B.
Have saw
C.
Have been seeing
D.
Have see
Correct Answer
A. Have seen
Explanation The correct answer is "have seen" because the sentence is in the present perfect tense, which indicates an action that started in the past and continues up to the present. In this case, the action of seeing the movie started in the past and has been repeated twenty times. The verb "seen" is the past participle form of "see" and is used with the auxiliary verb "have" to form the present perfect tense.
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42.
The children ________ the Indiana Jones movie. (see)
Correct Answer have seen
Explanation The correct answer is "have seen" because it is the present perfect tense of the verb "see" which is used to indicate an action that started in the past and is still relevant in the present. In this case, it implies that the children watched the Indiana Jones movie at some point in the past and the experience is still relevant to the present moment.
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43.
I _________ that book three times. (read)
Correct Answer have read
Explanation The sentence is in the present perfect tense, which is used to talk about an action that started in the past and is still relevant in the present. In this case, the speaker is indicating that they have read the book three times in the past, but it is not specified when the reading occurred. The use of "have read" indicates that the action of reading has been completed multiple times.
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44.
We _________ to Italy before. (go)
Correct Answer have gone
Explanation The correct answer is "have gone" because the sentence is in the present perfect tense, which is used to talk about past actions that are connected to the present. "Have gone" is the correct form of the verb "go" in the present perfect tense.
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45.
I can't believe you _______ just ________ a cake! (made)
Correct Answer have made
Explanation The sentence is in the present perfect tense, which is formed by using "have" (or "has" for third-person singular) followed by the past participle of the verb ("made" in this case). This tense is used to describe an action that has recently been completed, with the word "just" indicating something that happened a short time ago.
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46.
_________he ___________ to his boss yet? (speak)
Correct Answer Has spoken
Explanation The correct answer is "Has spoken" because the question is asking whether the person has already spoken to his boss. The phrase "Has spoken" is the present perfect tense of the verb "speak" and indicates an action that started in the past and is still relevant in the present.
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47.
Tony knew Istanbul so well because he _____________the city several times. (visit)
A.
Had visited
B.
Have been visited
C.
Had been visited
D.
Has visit
Correct Answer
A. Had visited
Explanation The correct answer is "had visited". This is because the sentence is in the past tense and the word "had" indicates that the action of visiting the city occurred before another past event or time. This suggests that Tony had visited Istanbul multiple times in the past.
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48.
She only understood the movie because she _______ the book. (read)
A.
Have read
B.
Had been read
C.
Had read
D.
Has read
Correct Answer
C. Had read
Explanation The correct answer is "had read" because the past perfect tense "had read" indicates that she had completed reading the book before watching the movie. This suggests that her understanding of the movie was possible because she had already familiarized herself with the story through the book.
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49.
I _____never ______such a beautiful beach before I went to Kauai. (see)
A.
Had... seen
B.
Have... seen
C.
Had...saw
D.
Has... been seeing
Correct Answer
A. Had... seen
Explanation The correct answer is "had... seen." This is because the sentence is in the past perfect tense, indicating that the action of seeing the beautiful beach occurred before the speaker went to Kauai. The word "had" is used to show that the action happened in the past, and "seen" is the correct past participle form of the verb "see."
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50.
Joe ______ English before he moved to New York. (study)
A.
Has studied
B.
Have studied
C.
Had been studied
D.
Had studied
Correct Answer
D. Had studied
Explanation The correct answer is "had studied." This is because the sentence is in the past perfect tense, indicating that the action of studying English occurred before another past event (moving to New York). The past perfect tense is formed by using "had" followed by the past participle of the verb, which in this case is "studied."
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