UPSR Common Mistakes on Tenses (with example)

UPSR TENSES

UPSR is around the corner. I believe some of the pupils, teachers and parents are still confused 

with the usage of tenses in the 20 objective questions which is the first part of the comprehension

paper. Here, I would like like to show you how to choose the most suitable answers for questions

involving tenses. Before we start, it is good for you to understand that in primary school there are a

total of four different tenses that bring different meanings. Refer to the notes below to understand

more about it.

Have a look at the sample questions below. They are based on 

UPSR format. The highlighted words are the key words that you 

must find out before answering the questions. 

1.	Peter always ______ before he goes to bed.
(a)	go ( x as Peter is singular)
(b)	went (there is no past tense word)
(c)	gone
(d)	goes (/ as this is singular)

2.	One of my friends ______ a prefect.
(a)	is ( / as one of my friends show there is only one person)
(b)	are
(c)	am
(d)	was ( x as there is no past tense)

3.	The wind ______ strongly.
(a)	blow
(b)	blows ( / as wind is uncountable = singular)
(c)	blew
(d)	blowing

4.	The pair of red shoes ______ mine.
(a)	is ( / as collective noun is consider as one)
(b)	was
(c)	are
(d)	were

5.	______ is good for our health.
(a)	jog
(b)	jogged
(c)	jogging (/ as this is the gerund)
(d)	jogs

6.	When the postman ______ in front of the gate, the dog ______ at her.
(a)	opened, barked (/ this is a past tense sentence so both blanks must be past tense.
(b)	opens, barked ( x as both tenses do not match)
(c)	opened, barks ( x as both tenses do not match)
(d)	opening, barking ( x this is not a continuous tense)

7.	Peter will ______ to the party tonight.
(a)	go ( / as word after the modal verbs is usually Base Word)
(b)	goes
(c)	gone
(d)	went

8.	John does not ______ any friend.
(a)	have ( / the word after do, does and did is usually base word)
(b)	has
(c)	had
(d)	having

9.	She has ______ her work. (has + past participle = 已经)
(a)	finish
(b)	finishing
(c)	finished ( / a past participle)
(d)	finishes

10.	______ your homework now.
(a)	Do ( /, base word as the first word of a sentence is also considered as an "order")
(b)	Does
(c)	Doing
(d)	Did

11.	Jane is ______ by the car. (被)
(a)	injure
(b)	injuring
(c)	injured (/ as this is a passive sentence)
(d)	injures