This set of English Grammar Exercises (MCQs) focuses on “Verb Conjugation – To Be”.
1. Which of the following is the present continuous conjugation of the verb be?
a) is being
b) being
c) been
d) is be
View Answer
Explanation: The continuous tense of the verb “be”, is “being”. However, “being” alone is not present continuous. It needs to be supported by the correct auxiliary verb. For present tense, the auxiliary verb is “is”. Hence, the present continuous conjugation is “is being”.
2. Choose the correct conjugation of the verb Be in the following sentence.
It has been a long time since she travelled abroad.
a) Present Perfect
b) Past Perfect
c) Present Continuous
d) Past Continuous
View Answer
Explanation: Perfect tenses of any verb incorporates the usage of has/had/have. In this sentence, “has” is being used, which means that the tense is definitely Present. There is no –ing for of the verb, so it’s not present perfect continuous. Hence, it is in Present Perfect tense.
3. Complete the sentence using the simple future tense conjugation of the verb be.
It _______ a few weeks before the examination results come out.
a) has been
b) be
c) is
d) will be
View Answer
Explanation: The simple future conjugation of “be” is “will be”. Hence, the answer is: It will be a few weeks before the examination results come out.
4. Which of the following is a singular first person conjugation in simple present tense of the verb “be”?
a) been
b) being
c) am
d) are
View Answer
Explanation: First person words are I/we/us. “I” is followed by “am”, and “we” is followed by “are”. But “we” is plural, not singular. Hence the correct answer is “am”. “Being” is in continuous tense, and “been” is in perfect tense.
5. Identify the tenses of the verb “be” seen in the following pair of sentences, in order.
It has been difficult. But I will be all right.
a) Past Perfect, Simple Future
b) Present Perfect, Simple Future
c) Simple Present, Future Perfect
d) Simple Past, Future Perfect
View Answer
Explanation: In the first sentence, the conjugation of “be” that is used, is “has been”. “Has” shows that it is in present perfect tense. In the second sentence, the conjugation seen, is “will be”. It is in simple future tense. Therefore, in order, the tenses are: Present Perfect, Simple Future.
6. Fill in the blank with the suitable conjugation of “be”.
He ___ at the library all day yesterday.
a) were
b) is
c) am
d) was
View Answer
Explanation: The fact that “yesterday” is being used shows that events from the past are being spoken about. Hence, the past tense of “be”, that is, either “was or “were should be used. “He” is a singular pronoun, so it can’t be followed by “were”. So, the correct sentence is: He was at the library all day yesterday.
7. Convert this sentence to future perfect tense.
My parents are at the supermarket.
a) My parents were at the supermarket.
b) My parents be at the supermarket.
c) My parents will have been at the supermarket.
d) My parents will be at the supermarket.
View Answer
Explanation: Future tense demands that the sentence be converted to a form such that it implies that the action is yet to happen. “Are” is present tense and “were” is past tense, so both are incorrect. Hence, “will” or “would” should be used. However, “will be” and “would be” are just simple future, and not future perfect tense. So the correct answer is: My parents will have been at the supermarket.
8. Identify the tense of the verb “be” in the following sentence.
All the cousins were bored at the family function.
a) Simple Past
b) Past Perfect
c) Past Continuous
d) Past Perfect Continuous
View Answer
Explanation: The conjugation of “be” in this sentence is “were”, which is in simple past tense.
9. Fill in the blank with the past continuous tense of “be”.
The teacher __________ unreasonable when she sent the entire class to the principal.
a) is
b) is being
c) are
d) was being
View Answer
Explanation: In continuous tense, the –ing form of the verb has to be used. So, “being” has to be used. The past continuous tense is “was being”. Hence, the correct answer is: The teacher was being unreasonable when she sent the entire class to the principal.
10. In the following sentence, the past perfect conjugation of “be” is being used.
It had been a long time since she visited her native village.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: The following statement is true. In the perfect tense of any verb, had/has/have is used. Since the question states that past perfect conjugation is seen, “had” should be used along with “be”. The past perfect conjugation of “be” is “had been”.
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