Grammar: Tenses — Class 8 MCQs with Answers
Class 8 CBSE English · Chapter 16
48 practice questions · 16 Easy · 16 Medium · 16 Hard · Updated
Practise the most important Class 8 CBSE English questions from Chapter 16, "Grammar: Tenses". You get 6 timed quizzes made from 48 NCERT-based MCQs, with answers and explanations. The questions are split into 16 Easy, 16 Medium and 16 Hard. Warm up on the basics, then move on to the exam-level questions that set top scorers in CBSE Board exams apart.
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 trains you to stay accurate under time pressure, 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 8 English mastery score. 9 sample questions are solved in full below, with the answer and a worked explanation. Sign in free to start practising.
Key concepts: Grammar: Tenses (Class 8 English)
Tense shows the TIME of an action (present, past or future) and its ASPECT (simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous), giving 12 tenses in all. Master each form, the situation it describes, and the signal words that point to it, then choose the right tense for any sentence.
- Simple Present
- Base verb (add -s/-es for he/she/it). Used for habits, routines, general truths and timetables. Signals: always, usually, every day, often.
- Present Continuous
- is/am/are + verb-ing. Used for an action happening now or a fixed future plan. Signals: now, at the moment, Look!, Listen!
- Present Perfect
- has/have + past participle. Used for a finished action linked to now, or one with an unfinished time. Signals: already, yet, just, ever, never, so far.
- Present Perfect Continuous
- has/have been + verb-ing. Used for an action that began in the past and is still going on. Signals: since, for, all day, how long.
Grammar: Tenses — important questions & MCQs with answers (Class 8 English)
9 solved questions from this chapter's difficulty levels, each with its answer and explanation. The other 39 are timed and scored when you sign in.
- Q1Easy
Name the tense used in the sentence: 'She writes a letter every day.'
A.Present continuous tenseB.Simple present tense✓ CorrectC.Simple past tenseD.Present perfect tenseAnswer: B. Simple present tense
Explanation: A regular habit shown by 'every day' uses the simple present tense.
- Q2Easy
Name the tense used in the sentence: 'They played football yesterday.'
A.Simple past tense✓ CorrectB.Present perfect tenseC.Simple present tenseD.Past continuous tenseAnswer: A. Simple past tense
Explanation: A finished action with the time marker 'yesterday' takes the simple past tense.
- Q3Easy
Name the tense used in the sentence: 'We will meet tomorrow.'
A.Simple present tenseB.Simple future tense✓ CorrectC.Present continuous tenseD.Simple past tenseAnswer: B. Simple future tense
Explanation: 'Will + verb' for an action still to happen is the simple future tense.
- Q4Medium
Choose the correct verb form: 'He ___ television every evening after dinner.' (watch)
A.watches✓ CorrectB.is watchingC.watchedD.has watchedAnswer: A. watches
Explanation: A repeated habit shown by 'every evening' takes the simple present tense.
- Q5Medium
Choose the correct verb form: 'By the time we reached the platform, the train ___.' (leave)
A.has leftB.leftC.had left✓ CorrectD.was leavingAnswer: C. had left
Explanation: The earlier of two past actions takes the past perfect (had + past participle).
- Q6Medium
Choose the correct verb form: 'Next year, I ___ ten years at this company.' (complete)
A.completeB.completedC.am completingD.will have completed✓ CorrectAnswer: D. will have completed
Explanation: An action to be finished before a stated future point takes the future perfect (will have + past participle).
- Q7Hard
Choose the correct verb form: 'By next June, they ___ the new bridge.' (build)
A.will have built✓ CorrectB.will buildC.have builtD.had builtAnswer: A. will have built
Explanation: An action completed before a stated future time ('by next June') takes the future perfect.
- Q8Hard
Choose the correct verb form: 'I ___ that film last week, so I already know the ending.' (see)
A.have seenB.had seenC.seeD.saw✓ CorrectAnswer: D. saw
Explanation: A specific finished time ('last week') requires the simple past, not the present perfect.
- Q9Hard
Choose the sentence with correctly sequenced tenses.
A.After he had eaten, he goes out.B.After he eats, he had gone out.C.After he had eaten, he went out.✓ CorrectD.After he has eaten, he had gone out.Answer: C. After he had eaten, he went out.
Explanation: The earlier past action takes the past perfect ('had eaten') and the later action the simple past ('went').
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Start this chapter free →Grammar: Tenses — FAQs
What are the key concepts in Class 8 English Grammar: Tenses?+
Tense shows the TIME of an action (present, past or future) and its ASPECT (simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous), giving 12 tenses in all. Master each form, the situation it describes, and the signal words that point to it, then choose the right tense for any sentence. Key ideas include Simple Present, Present Continuous, Present Perfect, Present Perfect Continuous.
What does Class 8 English Chapter 16 (Grammar: Tenses) cover on XamBaaz?+
It has 48 NCERT-based MCQs on "Grammar: Tenses": 16 Easy, 16 Medium and 16 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 on a launch offer until 1 December 2026. 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. 9 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 8 English)?+
The questions that matter most test Simple Present, Present Continuous, Present Perfect, Present Perfect Continuous. This page shows 9 solved important MCQs with answers and explanations; all 48 questions on the chapter are available as timed quizzes once you sign in.
Is there an online quiz for Grammar: Tenses?+
Yes — Class 8 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.