This set of English Grammar Exercises (MCQs) focuses on “Verb Conjugation – Write”.
1. Change the tense of the following sentence to simple future.
The students wrote their entrance exam at 1 o’clock.
a) The students write their entrance exam at 1 o’clock.
b) The students are writing their entrance exam at 1 o’clock.
c) The students will write their entrance exam at 1 o’clock.
d) The students have written their entrance exam at 1 o’clock.
View Answer
Explanation: “Write”, “are writing” and have written are all forms of past tense. Hence the sentence that is in simple future tense would be: The students will write their entrance exam at 1 o’clock.
2. What tense of “write” is seen in the following sentence?
He is writing a paper about the great works of William Shakespeare.
a) Present Continuous
b) Simple Present
c) Simple Past
d) Past Continuous
View Answer
Explanation: The sentence uses the –ing form of the verb, which means that it is a form of Continuous Tense. The word is accompanied by “is”, an auxiliary verb that is used in present tense. Hence, the tense is present continuous.
3. Which of the following options uses the past perfect conjugation of the word write?
a) You will be writing your exams on E-Tabs from this year onwards.
b) Mrs. Jones had written a memoir about her life as a theatre artist.
c) Her daughter writes a diary entry every night.
d) The community wrote a letter of complaint to the Sanitation Department.
View Answer
Explanation: Perfect tense demands the use of had/has/have. Hence, among the given options, the answer would be: Mrs. Jones had written a memoir about her life as a theatre artist.
4. Fill in the blank with past continuous tense of write.
He _________ deep, meaningful poems every night.
a) wrote
b) will write
c) has written
d) was writing
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Explanation: “Wrote” is simple past tense, “will write” is simple future, and “has written” is present perfect tense. Hence the complete sentence is: He was writing deep, meaningful poems every night.
5. The word “writing” can be used only as a continuous tense verb.
a) True
b) False
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Explanation: “Writing” doesn’t take the form of a present continuous tense verb alone. It can be used as a noun as well. Eg: The writing on the wall was in an ancient dialect.
6. Identify the tense of “write” in the following sentence.
Grandma wrote out a shopping list and handed it to me.
a) Present Perfect
b) Simple Present
c) Simple Past
d) Past Continuous
View Answer
Explanation: The conjugation of write in this sentence is “wrote”. Hence, this sentence is in simple past tense.
7. Identify the tenses of the verb “write” in the following sentence, in the order that they are used.
Great Uncle Bill had originally written that Sam would get 30% of his property, but after Sam broke his trust, Uncle wrote him off of his will.
a) Simple Past, Simple Present
b) Past Perfect, Past Continuous
c) Past Perfect, Simple Past
d) Present Perfect, Simple Present
View Answer
Explanation: First, “had written” is used, which is in past perfect tense. Next, “wrote” is used, which is in simple past tense. Hence, in order, the conjugations are in: Past Perfect, Simple Past.
8. In which sentence is the word “writing” being used as an adjective?
a) I’m writing the keywords alone, so that I don’t forget anything afterwards.
b) She was writing a curriculum vita to send out to various companies.
c) She made a rough sketch of the machine on a writing pad.
d) You will be writing a weekly column in a very popular magazine.
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Explanation: In the phrase “writing pad”, the word “writing” describes the pad. Hence, in that context it’s not a verb, but an adjective.
9. Fill in the blank with the most suitable conjugation of write.
Rahul didn’t hear the doorbell ring because he ___________ his homework essay with complete concentration.
a) was writing
b) had written
c) will write
d) writes
View Answer
Explanation: The sentence starts in simple past, hence it should compulsorily progress with a form of past tense. Using “had written” would be incorrect as it describes the action like it is already over. But in this sentence, the action was IN PROGRESS the same time that the doorbell rang. Actions that are in progress, whether in past, present or future tense, should be written using continuous tense. Hence, complete sentence would be: Rahul didn’t hear the doorbell ring because he was writing his homework essay with complete concentration.
10. Change the voice of the sentence.
A new song is being written by Ed Sheeran.
a) Ed Sheeran writes a new song.
b) Ed Sheeran was being written a new song.
c) A new song has been written by Ed Sheeran
d) Ed Sheeran is writing a new song.
View Answer
Explanation: The conjugation “is being written by” shows that the sentence is in passive voice, because the main subject is being acted by the verb. In active voice, the main subject should change to the one that is performing the action implied by the verb. In this sentence, that would be the person, Ed Sheeran. The active voice of “is being written by” is “is writing”. So, the answer is: Ed Sheeran is writing a new song.
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