Grade 10 English – 2.3.1 Word Classes: Verbs Quiz

1. Which word is the main verb in the sentence: "The student studies for the exam every evening"?

student
evening
for
studies
Explanation:

The main verb shows the action of the subject. 'studies' is the action the student does; the others are noun or preposition.

2. Choose the correct past form of the irregular verb 'go' to complete the sentence: "Yesterday they ____ to the market."

went
goed
gone
going
Explanation:

'Go' is irregular; its simple past form is 'went'. 'Gone' is a past participle, 'goed' and 'going' are incorrect here.

3. Which sentence uses a modal verb to show ability?

They should visit the museum.
She must finish her homework.
He can swim across the river.
I might come tomorrow.
Explanation:

'Can' is a modal that expresses ability (being able to do something). The others express obligation, advice, or possibility.

4. Identify the gerund in the sentence: "Walking to school keeps me healthy."

keeps
to
healthy
Walking
Explanation:

A gerund is the -ing form used as a noun. 'Walking' is the subject of the sentence and functions as a noun here.

5. Which verb form completes this present perfect sentence correctly? "She ____ her homework already."

did
has done
does
had done
Explanation:

Present perfect requires 'has' or 'have' + past participle. For 'she' use 'has done'.

6. Choose the correct passive form: "The teacher will mark the exams tomorrow." → "The exams ____ tomorrow."

are marked
will marked
were marked
will be marked
Explanation:

To form the future passive use 'will be' + past participle: 'will be marked'.

7. Which of the following is a transitive verb (requires an object)?

arrive
sleep
eat
fall
Explanation:

A transitive verb takes an object ('eat an apple'). 'Sleep', 'arrive', and 'fall' are typically intransitive (do not need an object).

8. Select the correct form after 'want': "I want ____ to Nairobi next week."

going
to go
went
go
Explanation:

After 'want' we use the infinitive with 'to' for the intended action: 'want to go'.

9. Which word in the sentence is a helping (auxiliary) verb? "They have finished the project."

they
have
project
finished
Explanation:

'Have' is the auxiliary used with a past participle ('finished') to form the present perfect tense.

10. Choose the correct present continuous form: "Right now, the choir ____ a hymn."

sings
has sung
is singing
sing
Explanation:

Present continuous uses 'be' (is) + present participle (-ing) to show actions happening now: 'is singing'.

11. Which verb form correctly completes the sentence using the causative 'have': "I will ____ my car repaired tomorrow."

having
had
have
have to
Explanation:

Causative 'have' is followed by object + past participle: 'have my car repaired.' 'Have' as the main verb fits here.

12. Identify the phrasal verb in the sentence: "The class carried on despite the noise."

class
carried on
despite
the
Explanation:

A phrasal verb is a verb plus particle with a specific meaning. 'Carried on' means continued; the others are not phrasal verbs.

13. Which sentence shows correct subject-verb agreement for a plural subject?

The boys is running every evening.
The boys runs every evening.
The boys runs daily.
The boys run every evening.
Explanation:

Plural subject 'boys' takes the base verb 'run' (no -s). 'Runs' and 'is running' are incorrect for this simple present with plural subject.

14. Choose the correct form to complete the sentence with a verb of perception: "I saw the dogs ____ in the yard."

to play
playing
play
plays
Explanation:

After verbs of perception like 'saw' we use the present participle to indicate ongoing action: 'saw the dogs playing.'

15. Which form correctly completes the conditional sentence (type 2): "If I were the principal, I ____ school uniforms optional."

made
would make
make
will make
Explanation:

Second conditional (unlikely present) uses 'if' + past, and 'would' + base verb: 'If I were..., I would make...'.

16. Identify the past participle used in the perfect tense: "They have eaten all the mangoes."

all
eaten
mangoes
have
Explanation:

'Eaten' is the past participle used with 'have' to form the present perfect: 'have eaten.'

17. Which verb is stative (describes a state rather than an action)?

dance
run
think (meaning believe)
jump
Explanation:

When 'think' means 'believe' it is a stative verb (describes a mental state). 'Run', 'jump', 'dance' are dynamic action verbs.

18. Choose the correct verb form after 'used to': "He ____ football when he was a boy."

plays
used to play
is used to playing
played
Explanation:

'Used to' + base verb describes a past habitual action: 'used to play.' 'Played' could also indicate past but doesn't show habitual contrast as clearly.

19. Which sentence correctly uses the imperative verb form?

She is closing the door.
Do you close the door?
Close the door, please.
He closes the door.
Explanation:

Imperative sentences give commands or requests and use the base verb without a subject: 'Close the door.'

20. Select the correct verb to complete the relative clause: "The student who ____ top of the class will receive a prize."

is
be
were
are
Explanation:

The relative clause refers to 'The student' (singular), so the singular verb 'is' is required: 'who is top of the class.'

21. Which verb form is used after 'prefer' when comparing two actions? "I prefer ____ by bus rather than walking."

travels
traveling
traveled
to travel
Explanation:

After 'prefer' when stating a choice between actions, we often use 'prefer to' + infinitive: 'prefer to travel.' 'Traveling' could be used in other structures but the infinitive is standard here.

22. Identify the correct past perfect form to show an earlier action: "By the time the teacher arrived, the students ____ their notes."

finished
had finished
have finished
will have finished
Explanation:

Past perfect ('had' + past participle) indicates an action completed before another past action: 'had finished' before the teacher arrived.

23. Which sentence correctly uses an infinitive as the purpose of an action?

She went to the shop to buy bread.
She went to the shop bought bread.
She went to the shop buys bread.
She went to the shop buying bread.
Explanation:

The infinitive 'to buy' expresses purpose (why she went). The other options are grammatically incorrect.

24. Choose the correct continuous perfect form: "They ____ for three hours by 6 pm."

study
studied
will study
will have been studying
Explanation:

The future perfect continuous ('will have been' + -ing) expresses an action that will have been ongoing for a period by a certain time: 'will have been studying for three hours by 6 pm.'

25. Which verb correctly completes the sentence that uses the passive with a reporting verb: "It is said that the new policy ____ next term."

implements
will be implemented
was implementing
implement
Explanation:

A passive future action is formed with 'will be' + past participle: 'will be implemented.' This fits passive reporting.

26. Identify the verb in the sentence: "The students sat quietly in the assembly hall."

hall
quietly
sat
students
Explanation:

Sat is the action done by the students and is the main verb in the past tense.

27. Complete the sentence correctly: "By the time the teacher arrived, the class ____."

was already starting
has already started
already starts
had already started
Explanation:

The past perfect 'had already started' shows the class began before the teacher's arrival (an earlier past action).

28. Which word is a transitive verb in the sentence: "She opened the school gate."

the
opened
school
she
Explanation:

Opened is transitive because it takes a direct object ('the school gate') that receives the action.

29. Which word is an intransitive verb in the sentence: "The bird flew away."

flew
away
bird
the
Explanation:

Flew is intransitive here because it does not take a direct object; it describes the bird's movement.

30. Choose the correct auxiliary to form the passive: "The letter ____ written by the student."

is
has
was
will
Explanation:

For past passive we use 'was' + past participle: 'The letter was written by the student.'

31. Which modal verb expresses obligation in: "You ____ submit the form by Friday."

can
may
might
must
Explanation:

'Must' expresses obligation or necessity to submit the form.

32. Choose the correct form: "He enjoys ____ football after school."

plays
to play
playing
played
Explanation:

After 'enjoy' we use a gerund (verb+ing): 'enjoys playing'.

33. Select the past participle to complete: "They have ____ the homework."

finishes
finish
finished
finishing
Explanation:

'Finished' is the past participle used with 'have' to form the present perfect: 'have finished'.

34. Which verb in the sentence is mainly stative: "I believe his explanation."

believe
I
explanation
his
Explanation:

'Believe' is a stative verb expressing a mental state, not a physical action.

35. Choose the correct progressive form: "She ____ a book right now."

read
reads
is reading
will read
Explanation:

Present continuous 'is reading' shows an action happening at this moment.

36. Which sentence shows a causative meaning of allowing?

The party was at her house.
She goes to the party.
Her friends went to the party.
Her parents let her go to the party.
Explanation:

'Let' is a causative verb meaning to allow someone to do something.

37. Identify the infinitive in the sentence: "To study hard is important for exams."

important
To study
hard
is
Explanation:

'To study' is an infinitive functioning as the subject of the sentence.

38. Which word is a linking verb in: "She seems tired after the match."

seems
she
after
tired
Explanation:

'Seems' links the subject to the adjective 'tired' and does not show physical action.

39. Choose correct subject-verb agreement: "The football team ____ ready for the match."

are
is
be
were
Explanation:

In standard usage a team as a unit takes a singular verb: 'The team is ready.'

40. Pick the correct past form of the irregular verb 'teach'.

taught
teaching
teach
teached
Explanation:

'Teach' is irregular; its past simple and past participle form is 'taught'.

41. Which sentence is the passive form of "The chef cooked the meal"?

The chef cooked the meal by himself.
The meal was cooked by the chef.
The chef was cooked by the meal.
The meal cooked the chef.
Explanation:

Passive voice swaps subject and object: 'The meal' (object) becomes the subject with 'was' + past participle.

42. What does the phrasal verb 'called off' mean in: "They called off the match due to rain."

postponed to later
cancelled
phoned
played
Explanation:

'Called off' commonly means 'cancelled' (the event will not take place).

43. Which verb takes a gerund (verb+ing) after it in this list: "She suggested ____ earlier."

leaving
leave
to leave
left
Explanation:

After 'suggest' we use a gerund or a that-clause: 'suggested leaving' is correct.

44. Identify the part that expresses purpose in: "He went to the shop to buy maize meal."

He went
to buy maize meal
maize meal
the shop
Explanation:

The infinitive phrase 'to buy maize meal' shows the purpose of going to the shop.

45. Choose the correct future continuous form: "By 10pm tonight I ____ dinner."

will have eaten
will eat
will be eating
am eating
Explanation:

Future continuous 'will be eating' describes an action in progress at a specific future time.

46. In the sentence "She has been working all morning," which word is the main verb?

has
all
working
been
Explanation:

'Working' is the main verb (present participle). 'Has' and 'been' are auxiliary verbs forming the perfect progressive.

47. Which sentence contains a catenative verb (a verb that can be followed by another verb)?

She left early yesterday.
Early birds sing.
She wants to leave early.
She is early.
Explanation:

'Wants' is a catenative verb followed by the infinitive 'to leave' forming a verb chain.

48. Which structure shows a passive with a modal: "The report ____ finished by Friday."

must be
be finished
finished must
must
Explanation:

A modal + 'be' + past participle forms passive: 'must be finished' expresses necessity in passive voice.

49. Choose the correct form after 'wish' for an unreal present: "I wish I ____ richer."

were
am
was
be
Explanation:

For present unreal wishes use the past subjunctive 'were' (I wish I were richer).

50. In "The cake smells good," what role does 'smells' play?

action verb
auxiliary verb
modal verb
linking verb
Explanation:

'Smells' links the subject 'the cake' to the adjective 'good' and describes a state, not an action.