This set of English Grammar Exercises (MCQs) focuses on “Sequence of Tenses”.
1. Which of the following does the sequence of tenses not apply to?
a) Adverb Clauses of Purpose
b) Noun Clauses
c) Verb in the Subordinate clause
d) Verb in Principal clause
View Answer
Explanation: The sequence of tenses dictates the tense of the verb in the subordinate clause which follows the principal clause. It applies to adverb clauses of purpose and noun clauses.
2. State whether true or false.
Sequence is connected with the Greek verb ‘sequor’.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: Sequence is derived from the Latin word ‘sequor’. This essentially means ‘to follow’. The sequence of tenses determines the tense of the subordinate clause with relation to the principal clause.
3. Insert the correct tense of verb.
Swathi waited for her professor until he ____________ .
a) arrives
b) will arrive
c) arrived
d) has arrived
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Explanation: Here, the principal clause is in the past tense. The subordinate clause the follows must also be of past tense as well in most cases. However, there may be some exceptions to this.
4. Choose the correct tense.
Wherever Mary goes, her lamb _________ .
a) follows
b) followed
c) Had followed
d) is following
View Answer
Explanation: Here, the principal clause is in the present tense. The subordinate clause that follows can be of any tense as required by the sense. So, the correct option will be “follows”.
5. Which is the correct tense?
Ramu will reach there before Shyam _________________
a) had
b) does
c) did
d) do
View Answer
Explanation: In cases of present and future tense, the subordinate clause the follows can be of any tense as required by the sense. In this case, the future tense in the principal clause is followed by present tense in the subordinate clause.
6. What is the correct tense for the subordinate clause?
Tim worked very hard that he _____________
a) had succeed
b) will succeed
c) might succeed
d) would succeed
View Answer
Explanation: In case of past tense, the subordinate clause the follows is usually of past tense with a few exceptions. In this case, the past tense in the principal clause is followed by past tense in the subordinate clause as well. The correct tense for the subordinate clause is “might succeed”.
7. Pick the correct tense.
My sister said that she ___________ the parcel for me.
a) would collect
b) will collect
c) collects
d) collected
View Answer
Explanation: Here, the principal clause is in past tense. The subordinate clause that follows is of past tense as well in most cases. My sister said that she would collect the parcel for me.
8. Is the following statement true or false?
If the principal clause is in past tense, then the subordinate clause must also be in the past tense.
a) False
b) True
View Answer
Explanation: In most cases, if the principal clause is in the past tense, then the subordinate clause is also in the past tense. But there are a few exceptions to this rule where the past tense in principal clause may be followed by present or future tense with respect to the sense.
9. Fill in the correct tense.
Whenever I see Bob, we ____________ of our high school memories.
a) talked
b) talks
c) will talk
d) talk
View Answer
Explanation: The principal clause in this case is in the present tense. According to the sense here, the subordinate clause is in the present tense as well.
10. Which of the following is the correct tense?
She will wait for him ____________ so that they can go together.
a) reached
b) to reach
c) will reach
d) reaches
View Answer
Explanation: The principal clause here is in future tense. Usually, the principal clause in future tense can be followed by any tense in the subordinate tense in accordance with the sense of the statement.
More English Grammar Exercises on Sequence of Tenses:
- Sequence of Tenses Exercises (Set 2)
- Sequence of Tenses Exercises (Set 3)
- Sequence of Tenses Exercises (Set 4)
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