This set of English Grammar Exercises (MCQs) focuses on “Verb Conjugation – Work”.
1. What is the tense of the word work used in the given sentence?
The students have been working on their paper all week.
a) Past Perfect
b) Past Continuous
c) Present Continuous
d) Present Perfect Continuous
View Answer
Explanation: The conjugation of “work” being used here is “have been working”. “Have” shows that it’s a form of perfect tense, more specifically, present perfect tense. But the –ing form of the verb has also been used, implying continuous tense. Hence, it is in Present Perfect Continuous.
2. Which of the following options doesn’t use the verb form of the word work?
a) The new model worked better than expected.
b) The farmers worked very hard to earn their daily break.
c) I can’t come to the party, I have too much work to do.
d) The remote won’t work unless the batteries are replaced.
View Answer
Explanation: The word “work” isn’t used as a verb alone. It can take many forms such as verb, noun, adjective etc. In the context “…I have too much work to do.”, it doesn’t take the form of a verb. In this context text, it is a common noun.
3. Complete the sentence using the most suitable conjugation of work.
The Indian team’s new fielding strategy _________ out pretty well so far.
a) worked
b) will work
c) work
d) has worked
View Answer
Explanation: The fact that the sentence ends with “so far” shows that the new strategy being discussed in the sentence has already been put to the test, and is continuing to. Hence, future tense shouldn’t be used. Past tense also shouldn’t be used as the event aren’t entirely in the past. So, past perfect tense should be used. The answer is: The Indian team’s new fielding strategy has worked out pretty well so far.
4. Which of the following options is the present continuous conjugation of “work”?
a) is working
b) works
c) worked
d) has been working
View Answer
Explanation: The continuous tense of all verbs use the –ing form. But present continuous doesn’t use has/had/have. Hence, the present continuous conjugation of “work” is “is working”.
5. The conjugation “working” can be used as an adjective as well as a verb.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: The statement is true. “Working” isn’t an action alone. It can be used as an adjective as well, such as: She is a working mother who juggles her office work and household responsibilities very efficiently.
6. What is the tense of the word work used in the given sentence?
Bees are insects that work in a hierarchy and follow the rule of division of labor.
a) Present Perfect
b) Simple Present
c) Simple Past
d) Past Continuous
View Answer
Explanation: The conjugation used in this sentence is “work”. Also, the above sentence is a scientific fact of nature that can’t be altered. Hence, it’s in simple present tense.
7. Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate conjugation of “work”.
The ants _____ hard to prepare for winter, while the grasshoppers sang, danced and made merry.
a) worked
b) are working
c) will work
d) had worked
View Answer
Explanation: In the end of the sentence, the phrase “…sang, danced and made merry” is used. This phrase is in simple past tense. The action performed by the ants occurred at the same time that the grasshoppers sang, danced and made merry. Hence the verb “work” should take the same tense as the actions performed by the grasshoppers, which is simple past tense. The complete answer is: The ants worked hard to prepare for winter, while the grasshoppers sang, danced and made merry.
8. Change the voice of the sentence.
The research team is working on a new drug.
a) A new drug is being worked on by the research team.
b) The research team works on a new drug.
c) The research team has been working on a new drug.
d) A new drug has been working by the research team.
View Answer
Explanation: The sentence is originally in active voice, and has to be converted to passive voice. While converting from active voice to passive voice, the main subject is acted upon by the verb, instead of it performing whatever action is implied by the verb. So in passive voice, the main subject would be the new drug. The passive voice of “working” is “being worked on by”. The answer is: A new drug is being worked on by the research team.
9. Which option contains a pair of conjugations that fall under the same tense category?
a) “have worked” and “worked”
b) “is working” and “has been working”
c) “is working” and “are working”
d) “will work” and “will be working”
View Answer
Explanation: Both “is working” and “are working” fall under the category of present continuous tense. They differ due as one of them (is working) is used in the context of a singular subject and the other (are working) is used for a plural subject. But tense-wise, they fall under the same category.
10. Identify the tense of “work” in the following sentence.
The interns will be working alongside regular employees to experience the real office grind.
a) Future Continuous
b) Simple Present
c) Simple Future
d) Past Continuous
View Answer
Explanation: The sentence clearly discusses things that are yet to happen, so future tense should be used. The events being discussed are to continue happening for a sizable time period. So, continuous should be used. So, the sentence is in future continuous tense.
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