Precis & Composition
English Tenses
This is the best essay I _____ ever _____.
A. have / read
B. had / read
C. did / read
D. am / reading
Correct Answer: A
After superlatives referring to experience up to the present, the present perfect is standard.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
I _____ him since 2020.
A. know
B. have known
C. am knowing
D. knew
Correct Answer: B
A state that began in the past and continues to the present takes the present perfect.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
He _____ to Lahore several times.
A. has been
B. has gone
C. went yesterday
D. is being
Correct Answer: A
'Has been to' means he visited and returned. 'Has gone to' would imply he is still there or on the way.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
_____ you ever _____ a competitive examination before?
A. Did / take
B. Have / taken
C. Are / taking
D. Had / took
Correct Answer: B
'Ever' with life experience up to now usually takes the present perfect.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
She _____ just _____ the report.
A. has / completed
B. did / complete
C. is / completing
D. had / completed yesterday
Correct Answer: A
'Just' commonly occurs with the present perfect for a very recent completed action with present relevance.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
I _____ this book three times.
A. read
B. have read
C. am reading
D. had read yesterday
Correct Answer: B
The present perfect is used for repeated experience up to the present when no finished past time is specified.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
Choose the best option: 'More and more candidates _____ online resources for preparation.'
A. use always
B. are using
C. used now
D. have use
Correct Answer: B
A current trend or gradual change is commonly expressed with the present continuous.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
At present, the committee _____ the new policy.
A. reviews
B. is reviewing
C. reviewed
D. has review
Correct Answer: B
'At present' strongly signals an activity in progress now.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
We _____ at the Serena Hotel during our visit next week.
A. stay
B. are staying
C. stayed
D. have stayed
Correct Answer: B
A fixed future arrangement can be expressed by the present continuous.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
The economy _____ rapidly this year.
A. changes
B. is changing
C. changed every day
D. has change
Correct Answer: B
A developing or changing situation around the present often takes the present continuous.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
Which sentence is normally unacceptable in standard English?
A. I am reading a report.
B. She is considering the proposal.
C. I am knowing the answer.
D. They are waiting outside.
Correct Answer: C
'Know' is a stative verb and is not normally used in the progressive aspect.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
He is always _____ his keys.
A. lose
B. losing
C. lost
D. has lost
Correct Answer: B
Present continuous with 'always' can express repeated behavior that annoys or surprises the speaker.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
Why _____ you _____ at me like that?
A. do / look
B. are / looking
C. have / looked
D. did / looking
Correct Answer: B
A temporary action occurring now is expressed by the present continuous.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
She _____ her cousin this evening.
A. visits
B. is visiting
C. visited
D. has visited yesterday
Correct Answer: B
The present continuous can express a definite personal arrangement in the near future.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
I _____ for my competitive examination these days.
A. prepare
B. am preparing
C. have prepared yesterday
D. prepared
Correct Answer: B
'These days' often indicates a temporary activity around the present time, so the present continuous is appropriate.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
Look! The children _____ in the rain.
A. play
B. are playing
C. have played
D. played
Correct Answer: B
An action happening at the moment of speaking takes the present continuous.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
The committee _____ every Monday to review applications.
A. meet
B. meets
C. is meeting always
D. has met yesterday
Correct Answer: B
A repeated regular event takes the simple present. In standard singular agreement, 'committee meets' is correct.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
Every student in the class _____ a dictionary.
A. have
B. has
C. are having
D. have had
Correct Answer: B
'Every student' is singular and takes a singular verb in the simple present.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
I will call you when the meeting _____.
A. will end
B. ends
C. ended
D. has been ending
Correct Answer: B
Future time clauses introduced by 'when' normally use a present tense rather than 'will'.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
If he _____ hard, he will pass the examination.
A. study
B. studies
C. will study
D. studied
Correct Answer: B
In a first conditional, the if-clause normally uses the simple present, not 'will'.