Precis & Composition
English Tenses
She did not _____ the instructions.
A. understood
B. understand
C. understands
D. understanding
Correct Answer: B
After 'did not', the main verb remains in the base form.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
Did he _____ the application on time?
A. submitted
B. submit
C. submits
D. submitting
Correct Answer: B
After auxiliary 'did', use the base form of the main verb.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
The Quaid _____ Pakistan's first Governor-General in 1947.
A. becomes
B. became
C. has become
D. becoming
Correct Answer: B
A historical event tied to a definite past time takes the simple past.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
When I was a child, I _____ in Multan.
A. live
B. lived
C. have lived
D. am living
Correct Answer: B
A past state that is no longer presented as current takes the simple past.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
She _____ me yesterday.
A. calls
B. has called
C. called
D. is calling
Correct Answer: C
'Yesterday' is a finished past-time expression, so the simple past is required.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
He _____ the examination last year.
A. passes
B. passed
C. has passed
D. had pass
Correct Answer: B
A completed action at a definite finished time in the past takes the simple past.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
Which verb is least likely to be used in the present perfect continuous in its normal stative meaning?
A. work
B. wait
C. know
D. study
Correct Answer: C
'Know' is normally stative. We say 'I have known him for years', not normally 'I have been knowing him'.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
For two months, researchers _____ data from different districts.
A. collect
B. have been collecting
C. collected yesterday
D. had collecting
Correct Answer: B
Duration continuing to the present is emphasized with the present perfect continuous.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
Why are your clothes dirty? — I _____ the car.
A. wash
B. have been washing
C. washed yesterday
D. had wash
Correct Answer: B
Present evidence of a recent activity commonly calls for the present perfect continuous.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
He _____ too much recently; he needs rest.
A. works
B. has been working
C. worked in 2020
D. had work
Correct Answer: B
'Recently' plus an ongoing repeated activity with present consequences favors the present perfect continuous.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
Which sentence is better for an ongoing temporary activity?
A. I have worked on this file all afternoon.
B. I have been working on this file all afternoon.
C. I worked on this file tomorrow.
D. I am worked on this file.
Correct Answer: B
The continuous form emphasizes the ongoing nature and duration of an activity.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
I _____ this article since 9 a.m., but I have not finished it yet.
A. write
B. have been writing
C. wrote
D. had written
Correct Answer: B
The unfinished activity and stated duration favor the present perfect continuous.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
How long _____ you _____ for this department?
A. do / work
B. have / been working
C. did / worked
D. are / work
Correct Answer: B
'How long' plus an activity continuing until now commonly takes the present perfect continuous.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
She is tired because she _____ all day.
A. works
B. has been working
C. worked last year
D. had work
Correct Answer: B
The present perfect continuous can explain a present result caused by a recent ongoing activity.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
It _____ since morning.
A. rains
B. has been raining
C. rained yesterday
D. is rain
Correct Answer: B
An activity that began in the past and is still continuing can take the present perfect continuous.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
They _____ for the exam for three hours.
A. study
B. have been studying
C. had studied yesterday
D. are study
Correct Answer: B
The present perfect continuous emphasizes duration from the past up to the present.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
It is the first time she _____ abroad.
A. travels
B. has travelled
C. travelled yesterday
D. had travelling
Correct Answer: B
After 'It is the first time...', English normally uses the present perfect.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
The minister _____ not _____ the decision yet.
A. has / announced
B. did / announce
C. is / announce
D. had / announces
Correct Answer: A
'Yet' in a negative sentence commonly takes the present perfect.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
Which sentence is incorrect?
A. I have seen him today.
B. I saw him yesterday.
C. I have seen him yesterday.
D. I have already seen him.
Correct Answer: C
The present perfect is normally not used with a finished past-time expression such as 'yesterday'.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
The government _____ three new schemes this year.
A. launched yesterday
B. has launched
C. had launched last year
D. is launch
Correct Answer: B
'This year' is an unfinished time period if the year is still continuing, so the present perfect is appropriate.