Grammar: Tenses — Class 10 MCQs with Answers
Class 10 CBSE English · Chapter 21
60 practice questions · 20 Easy · 20 Medium · 20 Hard · Updated
Practise the most important Class 10 CBSE English questions from Chapter 21, "Grammar: Tenses". You get 6 timed quizzes made from 60 NCERT-based MCQs, with answers and explanations. The questions are split into 20 Easy, 20 Medium and 20 Hard. Warm up on the basics, then move on to the exam-level questions that top scorers in CBSE Board exams get right.
To score well in "Grammar: Tenses", focus on comprehension, grammar and writing skills. Each MCQ here is timed and uses exam-style marking (+4 correct, −1 wrong, 0 skipped). This helps you stay accurate when time is short, just as real papers need. Every question has a short explanation, so a wrong answer becomes a quick lesson. It is the fastest way to fix gaps before a test.
Use this chapter for focused revision. Start with the Easy set to check your basics on Grammar: Tenses, then move to Medium and Hard to practise applying them. Your accuracy, streaks and XP save automatically. This chapter also adds to your overall Class 10 English mastery score. 12 sample questions are solved in full below, with the answer and a worked explanation. Sign in free to start practising.
Grammar: Tenses — important questions & MCQs with answers (Class 10 English)
12 solved questions from this chapter's difficulty levels, each with its answer and explanation.
- Q1Easy
Fill in the blank: 'The Earth ___ around the Sun once every year.'
A.revolves✓ CorrectB.is revolvingC.revolvedD.has revolvedAnswer: A. revolves
Explanation: A universal truth is expressed in the simple present.
- Q2Easy
Fill in the blank: 'She ___ her homework before the guests arrived.'
A.finishesB.had finished✓ CorrectC.finishedD.has finishedAnswer: B. had finished
Explanation: The earlier of two past actions takes the past perfect.
- Q3Easy
Fill in the blank: 'The train ___ at platform three at 6:15 tomorrow morning.'
A.will be arriveB.arrivedC.arrives✓ CorrectD.is arriving toAnswer: C. arrives
Explanation: A scheduled event in the near future is expressed in the simple present.
- Q4Easy
Fill in the blank: 'Listen! The neighbours ___ that song again.'
A.playedB.have playedC.are playing✓ CorrectD.playAnswer: C. are playing
Explanation: 'Listen!' signals an action happening at this moment, which needs the present continuous.
- Q5Easy
Fill in the blank: 'We ___ to Shimla last December for a family wedding.'
A.have goneB.had goneC.goD.went✓ CorrectAnswer: D. went
Explanation: A finished action with a stated past time takes the simple past.
- Q6Medium
Identify the error: 'She is knowing the answer but refuses to say it aloud.'
A.to say should be sayingB.aloud should be loudlyC.is knowing should be knows✓ CorrectD.refuses should be refuseAnswer: C. is knowing should be knows
Explanation: Stative verbs such as 'know' are not normally used in a continuous form.
- Q7Medium
Choose the correct sentence.
A.Hardly has she entered when the bell rang.B.Hardly had she entered when the bell rang.✓ CorrectC.Hardly she had entered when the bell rang.D.Hardly did she entered when the bell rang.Answer: B. Hardly had she entered when the bell rang.
Explanation: 'Hardly' at the start inverts the subject and auxiliary and pairs with the past perfect.
- Q8Medium
Choose the sentence that expresses a plan already made.
A.We meet the Principal at eleven tomorrow.B.We will have met the Principal at eleven tomorrow.C.We met the Principal at eleven tomorrow.D.We are meeting the Principal at eleven tomorrow.✓ CorrectAnswer: D. We are meeting the Principal at eleven tomorrow.
Explanation: The present continuous is the natural form for a fixed personal arrangement.
- Q9Medium
Identify the error: 'He said that he will come to the meeting tomorrow.'
A.will should be would✓ CorrectB.said should be saysC.that should be omittedD.come should be cameAnswer: A. will should be would
Explanation: After a past reporting verb the following clause shifts into the past form.
- Q10Hard
Fill in the blank: 'Hardly ___ the door when the alarm went off.'
A.did he openedB.has he openedC.had he opened✓ CorrectD.he had openedAnswer: C. had he opened
Explanation: 'Hardly' at the front of a sentence forces inversion of the auxiliary and subject.
- Q11Hard
Fill in the blank: 'Only after the results ___ published did she realise her mistake.'
A.wasB.have beenC.areD.were✓ CorrectAnswer: D. were
Explanation: 'Results' is plural, and the clause describes a completed past event.
- Q12Hard
Choose the sentence that correctly expresses an action finished before a future point.
A.By the time you arrived, I will have packed everything.B.By the time you arrive, I will have packed everything.✓ CorrectC.By the time you will arrive, I will pack everything.D.By the time you arrive, I will packing everything.Answer: B. By the time you arrive, I will have packed everything.
Explanation: The future perfect marks completion before a future moment, and the time clause stays in the present.
Key concepts: Grammar: Tenses (Class 10 English)
The full tense system, and then the rule that governs how tenses interact inside one sentence. Most marks are lost not on forming a tense but on choosing between two that both sound acceptable — so learn the SIGNAL each one answers to.
- Simple present — habits and truths
- A daily habit ('My father LEAVES for his office at eight every day'), a universal truth ('The Earth REVOLVES around the Sun'), and a scientific fact ('Water BOILS at one hundred degrees').
- Present continuous — now
- An action happening at this moment, usually flagged by a word like 'Listen!' or 'Look!' — 'Listen! The neighbours ARE PLAYING that song again.'
- Present perfect — 'since' and 'for'
- A state continuing from a past starting point: 'He HAS TAUGHT in this school SINCE 2019.'
- Simple past — a finished action
- Used with a stated past time: 'We WENT to Shimla LAST DECEMBER.'
- Past continuous — interrupted action
- An action in progress when something else happened: 'While I WAS READING the newspaper, the power went off.'
- Past perfect — the earlier of two
- The action completed first: 'She HAD FINISHED her homework before the guests arrived'; 'The match HAD ENDED before we reached the stadium.'
- Simple present for a timetable
- A scheduled event in the near future takes the simple present: 'The train ARRIVES at platform three at 6:15 tomorrow morning.'
- Present continuous for a fixed plan
- A personal arrangement already made: 'We ARE MEETING the Principal at eleven.'
- Future perfect — a deadline
- 'By this time next year, she WILL HAVE COMPLETED her degree.' The phrase 'by [future time]' is the signal.
- Future continuous
- An action expected to be in progress at a future moment: 'Do not disturb her; she WILL BE STUDYING this evening.'
- Sequence of tenses
- After a past reporting verb the clause shifts back, and 'will' becomes 'would': 'He said that he WOULD come' — not 'will come'.
- The universal-truth exception
- A statement that is always true keeps the present even after a past reporting verb: 'The teacher told us that water BOILS at 100 degrees.'
- Third conditional
- Past perfect in the if-clause with 'would have' in the main clause, for something that did not happen: 'If he HAD WORKED harder, he WOULD HAVE CLEARED the examination.'
- 'As if' takes the past
- Describing an unreal present situation: 'She spoke AS IF she KNEW everything about the case.'
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Start this chapter free →Grammar: Tenses — FAQs
What are the key concepts in Class 10 English Grammar: Tenses?+
The full tense system, and then the rule that governs how tenses interact inside one sentence. Most marks are lost not on forming a tense but on choosing between two that both sound acceptable — so learn the SIGNAL each one answers to. Key ideas include Simple present — habits and truths, Present continuous — now, Present perfect — 'since' and 'for', Simple past — a finished action, Past continuous — interrupted action, Past perfect — the earlier of two.
What does Class 10 English Chapter 21 (Grammar: Tenses) cover on XamBaaz?+
It has 60 NCERT-based MCQs on "Grammar: Tenses": 20 Easy, 20 Medium and 20 Hard. Together they make 6 timed quizzes, and you never get the same set twice. Every question has an instant explanation. They help you prepare for CBSE Board exams.
Are these "Grammar: Tenses" questions free to practise?+
Yes. Sign in with Google to practise "Grammar: Tenses" free. Full unlimited access is ₹999/year. One year from the day you pay. You stay in Class 10 till 31 March; on 1 April your account moves up to Class 11 and the rest of your year carries over. No chapter is charged separately.
How should I revise "Grammar: Tenses" for the exam?+
Start with the Easy quiz to check your basics, then try Medium and Hard to practise applying them. There are 6 timed quizzes on this chapter, so you can come back for a fresh set instead of one you have seen. Read each explanation, retry the questions you miss, and track your accuracy until it stays high.
Are these "Grammar: Tenses" MCQs available with answers?+
Yes. 12 sample questions are shown here in full, each with the correct option and a step-by-step "Why" explanation. Sign in free with Google to start practising, with instant scoring.
Is there negative marking in the "Grammar: Tenses" quizzes?+
Yes. The timed quizzes use exam-style marking: +4 for a right answer, −1 for a wrong one and 0 for a skip. MHT-CET and CBSE board papers have no negative marking. Our mocks for those are scored their way.
What are the important questions from Grammar: Tenses (Class 10 English)?+
The questions that matter most test Simple present — habits and truths, Present continuous — now, Present perfect — 'since' and 'for', Simple past — a finished action, Past continuous — interrupted action, Past perfect — the earlier of two. This page shows 12 solved important MCQs with answers and explanations. Sign in to practise all 60 questions on the chapter as timed quizzes.
Is there an online quiz for Grammar: Tenses?+
Yes — Class 10 English Grammar: Tenses has timed online quizzes at Easy, Medium and Hard levels, with instant scoring and a worked explanation on every question. The first quiz on the chapter is free.