USE OF TENSES

Q 6.0 What is Tense?

Tense is a form that a verb takes to show the time of action or a state expressed by the
verb.
1.
The Present Tense
:
I sing a song.
2.
The Past Tense
:
I sang a song yesterday.
3.
The Future Tense
:
I shall sing a song tomorrow.
Read the Following sentences:
1.
I call
2.
I am calling
3.
I have called
4.
I have been calling
All these refer to the present time, and therefore, are all in the Present Tense. But there is
a distinction in the way in which the action is regarded.
In sentence 1, the action is mentioned simply. There is no reference to the
completeness of the action. The verb call in the sentence is, therefore, said to be in the
Simple Present Tense.
In sentence 2, the action is mentioned as incomplete, that is, as still going on.
Hence the verb am calling is said to be in the Present Continuous Tense.
In sentence 3, the action is mentioned as finished, complete or perfect. Hence the
verb have called is said to be in the Present Perfect Tense.
In sentence 4, the action is mentioned as having been going on continuously but
not completed at the present moment. Hence the verb have been calling is said to be in
the Present Perfect Continuous Tense.
So the Present Tense has four forms:
1. Simple Present (also called Present Indefinite)
2. Present Continuous
3. Present Perfect
4. Present Perfect Continuous
Just as the Present Tense has four forms, the Past Tense also has the following four forms:
1. I called
(Simple Past or Past Indefinite)
2. I was calling.
(Past Continuous)
3. I had called.
(Past Perfect)
4. I had been calling.
(Past Perfect Continuous)
Similarly, the Future Tense has the following four forms:
1. I shall call
(Simple Future or Future Indefinite)
2. I shall be calling.
(Future Continuous)
3. I shall have called.
(Future Perfect)
4. I shall have been calling.
(Future Perfect continuous)
1. Present
Indefinite
Continuous

2. Past
Indefinite
Continuous

3. Future
Indefinite
Continuous

Perfect
Perfect Continuous

Perfect
Perfect Continuous

TENSE SIMPLE

CONTINUOUS

PERFECT

PERFECT
CONTINUOUS

Present
Active

Calls (s/es)

is/am/are calling

Passive

is/am/are

is/am/are

has/have
called
has/have
been called

has/have been
calling
No passive

Past
Active

called

Was/were calling

had called

had been calling

was/were
called

Was/were being
called

had been
called

No passive

Future
Active

Will/shall

Will/shall calling

Passive

be called

No Passive

Will/shall
have called
Will/shall
have been
called

Will/shall been
calling
No passive

Passive

Perfect
Perfect Continuous

Q 2. Use of Tenses:
1.
Present Indefinite Tense
(a)
To express what is actually taking place at the present moment, as.
1.
I play
2.
The boys sing a song.
3.
Here comes Ram.
4.
See how he works!
(b)
To express a habitual action, a habit or a custom; as,
1.
She smokes.
2.
I get up early in the morning.
3.
He goes for a walk every day.
4.
Cows eat grass.
(c)
To express a general truth, as,
1.
The earth revolves round the sun.
2.
Man is mortal.
3.
Sugar is sweet.
4.
Man proposes; God disposes.
(d)
To express the Past Tense in narrating past events in an exciting or a vivid
manner, as,
The plane takes off. Suddenly, a young man in black clothes rushes into the cockpit. He carries a revolver in his hand. Two more young men and a young girl
appear on the scene with hand grenades in their hands. They shout : Nobody
shall try to get up. Keep where your are!
(e)
To express a future event, which is already arranged, as
1.
The ship sails for England next week.

(f)
(g)
(h)

2.
Our examination begins on Wednesday.
To quote authors, as,
1.
Keats says, A thing of beauty is a joy for ever.
2.
Pope writes, A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
In conditional sentences clauses of one type, as,
1.
If I go to Delhi, I shall bring a camera for you.
2.
If Yuvraj plays in this match, we shall win.
With Verbs which cannot be used in the continuous form, as,
1.
She loves me. (It is wrong to say : she is loving me.)
2.
I know you. (not I am knowing you)
3.
It seems proper.
4.
Virtue means goodness.
Exercise 1.

Supply the correct form (Present Indefinite Tense) of the verb in brackets:
1.
Who (swim) in the pond everyday?
2.
We (burn) fuel to get heat.
3.
Here (come) the bride.
4.
The sum (rise) in the east.
5.
They (come) to school by bus.
6.
I (go) for a walk every day.
7.
The Governor (arrive) tomorrow morning.
8.
Raindrop (fall) from the clouds.
9.
You always (speak) the truth.
10.
I (be) the people, the mob, the crowd.
11.
Father asked me, How (be) you?
12.
I (not object) to this proposal,
13.
He (not like) mangoes,.
14.
Whenthe train (leave) ?
15.
The boys (know) the answer.
Exercise 2.
Fill the blanks with Present Continuous form of the verbs given in brackets:
1.
What..you..now?
(d)
2.
Theyto London next week.
(go)
3.
Meerato see me tomorrow.
(come)
4.
We..football.
(play)
5.
I.notes.
(not take)
6.
Why.he..at me?
(laugh)
7.
Rajan..a book.
(write)
8.
The boys.in the river.
(not swim)
9.
The workersthe walls.
(paint)
10.
Why..he..his clothes?
(change)
11.
She.the candles.
(blow out)
12.
The old man..with cold.
(shiver)

Q 3 Preset Perfect Tense

This tense is used for the following purposes:
(a)
To indicate an action which has just been over, e.g.
1.
I have finished my work.
2.
She has drafted the application.
(b)
To denote a past action, the results of which are still present, e.g.
1.
He has opened a new shop.
2.
I have lived there for six months.
3.
I have lived there for six months.
(c)
In adverbial clauses beginning with when, if before after,
as soon as or till and when the principal verb is in Future Tense, e.g.
1.
As soon as I have finished this job, I shall come to see you.
2.
I shall ring up after I have talked to her.
Exercise 5
Rewrite the following sentences using the Present Perfect Tense of the verb in brackets:
1.
We (know) each other for the pas ten years.
2.
The appointed day (come)
3.
Do you know what (happen) to his leg?
4.
I (finish) my work.
5.
I (never deceive) you.
6.
The train.just. (arrive)
7.
I shall go there after he (finish) his homework.
8.
Why.theythere? (go)
9.
..sheher meals? (have)
10.
I (never see) the Taj.
Q 6. 1.4 Present Perfect Continuous Tense
This tense is used to denote an action that began in the past and continuing up to the
present, e.g.
1.
It has been raining since morning.
2.
We have been living in this house for two years.
(The use of preposition for or since in a sentence in the present perfect
continuous tense is essential.)

Practice Exercise 7
Complete the following sentences using the Present Perfect Continuous Tense
1.
Wefor you for two hours.
(wait)
2.
It.since morning.
(rain)
3.
Whoat the door for ten minutes ?
(knock)
4.
They.here since 1997.
(live)
5.
The girlsfor two hours.
(sing)
6.
.hefrom fever since Monday ?
(not suffer)

7.
8.
9.
10.

You.this book since January.

.the tap..for two hours ?
Whyyou..since yesterday ?
Why..he.to school for three days?

(write)
(not run)
(fight)
(not come)

Q 6.1.5 Past Indefinite or Simple Past Tense

This tense is used for following purposes:
(a)
To express a single act or even that happened in the past, e.g.
1. He broke this table.
2. They were in the garden.
3. She was absent yesterday.
(b)
To express a habitual action or custom in the past, e.g.
1. She got up at 4 a. m. every day.
2. Our ancestors were honest and hard working.
(c)
As a substitute for the Past Continuous Tense, e.g.
1. While they played, we took tea.
2. While we talked, they slept.
Exercise 8
Fill in the blanks with the Past Indefinite form of the verbs given in brackets:
1.
Meera..(turn) and.(move) to the door.
2.
We.(see) a lion in the jungle.
3.
I.(meet) him yesterday.
4.
While the girls(sing) we.(dance).
5.
He..(go) out for ten minutes.
6.
Who.(break) the window yesterday ?
7.
She.(send) him a letter last month.
8.
They(know) the answer.
9.
We..(copy) from the blackboard.
10.
The dog..(bites) the postman.
11.
The birds..(fly) away.
12.
The little girl.(cry) bitterly.
Q 6.1.6 Past Continuous Tense
This tense is used to denote an action that was going on at some time in the past, e.g.
1.
They were playing hockey.
2.
She was singing a song.
Exercise 10
Fill the blanks with Past Continuous Tense of the verbs given in brackets:
1. I..the truth.
2. A spider.over my body.
3. When we arrived, theylaunch.
4. When I came, she..
5. What.he..when you arrived ?
6. The plane..violently.

(speak)
(crawl)
(have)
(sing)
(do)

7. My motherrice.
8. Why..you..?
9. What..you..last evening ?
10. We.a film when they came.

(shake)
(cook)
(run)
(watch)

Q 6.1.7 Past Perfect Tense

This tense is used to denote an action which had been completed before another action
began in the past. It is most often used in a complex sentence, e.g.
1.
When I reached there, she had finished her work.
2.
The doctor arrived after the patient had died.
Note: (i)
The Past Perfect cannot be used to denote an isolated action
in the past. For that, Past Indefinite should be used.
(ii)
Tarely, however, when the Past Perfect is used by itself in
simple sentence, it implies another action which followed,
e.g.
He had already finished his paper.
Exercise 12
Fill in the blanks with suitable form (Past Perfect Tense) of the verbs:
1.
He..justhis breakfast when I arrived.
(Finish)
2.
The Nawab.(die) years before his son took over.
3.
The train..(leave) before he reached the station.
4.
The patient(die) before the doctor arrived.
5.
The ship.(sink) before help could reach.
6.
He..(complete) his work when Meera came.
7.
Why..you.home till then ?
(not reach)
8.
I.. (never expect) it to come this way.
9.
.they.. (buy) the tickets before the train arrived?
10.
Mother(tell) him not go there.
11.
Mathmood.(be known) well throughout the city.
12.
We.often..such messages.
(receive)
Q 6.1.8 Past Perfect Continuous Tense
This tense is used to denote an action that had been going on at or before some point of
time in the past, e.g.
1.
he had been living in this locality for two years before he became my
friend.
2.
She had been meeting her boy-friend regularly before it came to the notice
of her parents.
Exercise 14
Fill in the blanks with the Past Perfect Continuous Tense of the verbs given in brackets
1.
We.. (wait) for you for ten hours when you come.
2.
He said that he (live) here for ten years before they met him.

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

She told me that she(work) for the last four hours before the light
went off.
Seema. (sure) from fever for a moments of examinations started.
She . (knit) a sweater for a month before she fell ill.
It (rain) for two days.
The farmer(milk) the cows for an hour before the bell rang.
She.. (teach) us English since 2001.
The police (look for) this thief for the last five years.
The boys .. (learn) their lessons for two hours before the test
started.

Q 6.1.9 Future Indefinite Tense

This tense is used to denote a single action in the future, e.g.
1.
I shall go to see my friend.
2.
He will help me.
3.
They will come here tomorrow.
Exercise 15
Rewrite the following sentences changing the Verb in the each sentence into the Future
Indefinite Tense:
1.
Malcom closed his eyes.
2.
I am going home.
3.
The boys have been playing cricket.
4.
She has finished her homework.
5.
I had written a letter before here arrived.
6.
They paint pictures.
7.
We are locking the door.
8.
Madan is listening to the radio.
9.
The teacher teaches us a new lesson.
10.
Kalpana has been dancing and singing.
11.
Did you go there?
12.
Why did you break the window pane?
Exercise 18
Rewrite the following sentences afte3r changing the Tense into the Future Continuous:
1.
I boarded a plane.
2.
She was playing on the harmonium.
3.
The peon rings the bell.
4.
Hari bought this watch from this shop.
5.
They are reading newspapers.
6.
We have been playing football.
7.
Mamta has cooked the dinner.
8.
She sang a beautiful song.
9.
The children have eaten a chocolate ice-cream.
10
He had been collecting stamps.
Q 6.1.12 Future Perfect Continuous Tense:

This tense denotes an action that will have been going on at or before some point of uim
in the future e.g.
1.
She will have been dancing for two hours before we reach there.
2.
I shall have been working for seven days before my employer comes back.
Exercise 20
Fill in the blanks with Future Perfect continuous Tense of the Verbs:
1.
Itin Shimla since morning
(snow)
2.
Whatyou..?
(write)
3.
We. (play) for three hours when you come here.
4.
Anand (live) in Jaipur for ten years.
5.
She (read) this book for ten days.
6.
I. (live) in Chennai for two months.
7.
.the tap .. (run) for an hour before you turn it off?
8.
The mechanic (repair) my car for an hour.
9.
He (suffer) from fever for six days before you get him admitted
to the hospital.
10.
Sita. (knit) my sweater, for a month before she leaves for
Mumbai.
Q 6.1.13 Some Important Points to be Remembered
I.
A past tense in the Main clause of a sentence having two or more clauses must be
followed by a Past Tense in the Subordinate Clause, e.g.
(a)
He passed the examination because he had worked very hard.
(b)
She told me that she would meet me in the market.3
(c)
We laughed as soon as he started singing.
(d)
He cried when she insulted him.
(e)
He came soon after you rang him up.
Exceptions to this rule
(a)
If the subordinate clauses expresses some universal or habitual fact, its
verb can remain in the present tense, e.g.
1.
She remarked that honesty is the best policy.
2.
The teacher said that the earth is round.
2.

Tense

SIMPLE PRESENT
Affirmative

Negative

I play.
We play
You play
He/she/it plays.
They play
Ravi plays
Boys play

I do not play.
We do not play.
You do not play.
He/she/it does not play.
They do not play.
Ravi does not play.
Boys do not play.

Interrogative
Do I play?
Do we play?
Do you play?
Does he/she/it plays?
Do they play?
Does Ravi plays?
Do boys play?

Negative Interrogative
Do I do not play?
Do we do not play?
Do you do not play?
Does he/she/it does not play?
Do they do not play?
Do Ravi not play?
Do boys do not play?

Affirmative
I am playing
We are playing.
You are play
He/she/it is playing.
They are playing
Ravi is playing
Boys are playing

Negative
I am not playing
We are not playing.
You are not play
He/she/it is not playing.
They are not playing
Ravi is not playing
Boys are not playing

Interrogative
Am I playing?
Are we playing?
Are you playing?
Is he/she/it playing?
Are they playing?
Is Ravi playing?
Are boys playing?

Negative interrogative
Am I not playing?
Are we not playing?
Are you not playing?
Is he/she/it not playing?
Are they not playing?
Is Ravi not playing?
Are boys not playing?

PRESNET PERFECT

Affirmative
I have played.
We have played.
You have played.
He/she/it has played.
They have played.
Ravi has played.
Boys have played

Interrogative
Have I played?
Have we played?
Have you played?
Has he/she/it played?
Have they played?
Has Ravi played?
Has boys played?

Negative
I do have not played.
We have not played.
You have not played.
He/she/it has not played.
They have not played.
Ravi have not played.
Boys have not played.

Negative interrogative
Have I not played?
Have we not played?
Have you not played?
Has he/she/it not played?
Have they not played?
Has Ravi not played?
Has boys not played?

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS 4.

Affirmative
I (we, you, they) have
been playing.
We have been playing.
You have been playing.
He (she/it) has been
playing
They have been
playing.
Ravi has been playing
Boys have been
playing

Negative
I (we, you, they) have not
been playing.
We have been not playing.
You have not been playing.
He/she/it has not been
playing
They have not been
playing.
Ravi has not been playing
Boys have not been
playing.

Interrogative
Have I (we, you, they)
been playing?
Have we been playing?
Have you been
playing?.
Has he/she/it been
playing?
Have they been
playing?
Has Ravi been playing?
Have Boys been

playing?

SIMPLE PAST TESNE 5.

Affirmative
I played.
We played.
You played.
He/she/it played.
They played.
Ravi played.
Boys played.

Negative
I did not play.
We did not play.
You did not play.
He/she/it did not play.
They did not play.
Ravi did not play.
Boys did not play.

Interrogative
Did I play?
Did we play?
Did you play?
Did he/she/it play?
Did they play?
Did Ravi play?
Did boys play?

Negative interrogative
Did I not play?
Did we not play?
Did you not play?
Did he/she/it not play?
Did they not play?
Did Ravi not play?
Did boys not play?

PAST PERFECT TENSE 7.

Affirmative

Negative

I had played.
We had played.
You had played.
He/she/it had played.
They had played.
Ravi had played.
Boys had played.

I had not played.

We had not played.
You had not played.
He/she/it had not played.
They had not played.
Ravi had not played.
Boys had not played.

Interrogative
Had I played?
Had we played?
Had you played?
Had he/she/it played?
Had they played?
Had Ravi played?
Had boys played?

Negative interrogative
Had I not played?
Had we not played?
Had you not played?
Had he/she/it not played?
Had they not played?
Had Ravi not played?
Had boys not played?

PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

Affirmative
I was playing
We were playing.
You were playing.
He/she/it was playing.
They were playing
Ravi was playing
Boys were playing

Interrogative
Was I playing?
Were we playing?
Were you playing?
Was he/she/it playing?
Were they playing?
Was Ravi playing?
Were boys playing?
PAST

Negative
I was not playing
We were not playing.
You were not playing.
He/she/it was not playing.
They were not playing
Ravi was not playing
Boys were not playing

Negative Interrogative
Was I not playing?
Were we not playing?
Were you not playing?
Was he/she/it not playing?
Were they not playing?
Was Ravi not playing?
Were boys not playing?
PERFECT

CONTINUOUS TENSE

Affirmative
I had been playing.
We had been playing.
You had been playing.
He/she/it had been playing.
They had been playing.
Ravi had been playing.
Boys had been playing.

Negative
I had not been played.
We had not been played.
You had not been played.
He/she/it had not been played.
They had not been played.
Ravi had not been played.
Boys had not been played.

Interrogative
Had I been playing?
Had we been playing?
Had you been playing?
Had he/she/it been playing?
Had they been playing?
Had Ravi been playing?
Had boys been playing?

Negative interrogative
Had I not been playing?
Had we not been playing?
Had you not been playing?
Had he/she/it not been playing?
Had they not been playing?
Had Ravi not been playing?
Had boys not been playing?

C. 2
TENSE
EXERCISE NO 2
Use the correct form of the Verb given in brackets:
1.
My brother often__________ (go) to see English films.
2.
Vegetables _____________ (come) to our town from the villages nearby.
3.
He always ___________ (take) his coffee without sugar.
4.
Ice ___________ (melt) above to our town from the villages nearby.
5.
The Ganga __________ (rise) in the Himalayas and _________ (flow)
into the Bay of Bengal.
6.
Our School ___________ (begin) with prayer every day.
7.
A brave man __________ (not lose) heart.
8.
She hardly ever _________ (play) on her veena these days.
9.
A gentleman ___________ (not laugh) at others.
10.
Madhu __________ (keep) awake till midnight these days.
11.
Lions __________ (not live) on fruit and vegetables.
12.
What __________ (make) the moon go round the earth?
13.
Irregular work _________ (not bring) success.
14
This parcel ________ (contain) a gift for you.
15.
My friends often _____________ (send) me presents.
Hints

1. goes 2. come 3. takes 4. melts 5. rises, flows 6. begins 7,. Doesnt lose 8. plays
9. doesnt laugh keeps 11. dont live 12. makes 13. doesnt bring 14. contains 15.
send.
THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Q 2.05 The Present Continuous is used
(1)
To express an action going on at the time of speaking; as,
He is writing a letter.
The boys are playing hockey.
(2)
To express some habit or custom; as,
She is working regularly these days.
He is always telling lies.
(3)
To indicate an action that is planned to take place in the near future; as,
I am going to Mumbai tomorrow.
She is coming here in the evening.
(4)
To describe a temporary action which may not be actually going on at the
time of speaking; as,
I am playing cricket these days.
We are learning French at school.
EXERCISE 4
Use the correct form of the Verb given in brackets:
(Present Simple or Present Progressive)
1.
He ____________ (know) several persons here.
2.
Leela ____________ (do) her homework. Dont disturb her.
3.
I __________ (believe) what you say.
4.
Run fat ! The Train ___________ (whistle)
5.
He _________ (resemble) his father.
6.
Look ! Smoke ___________ (come) out of that window.
7.
He _____________ (want) to buy a scooter.
8.
The Principal ___________ (speak) to the teachers. You cant meet him at
this time
9.
This house __________ (belong) to my uncle. He __________ (build)
10.
another house also.
11.
They ___________ (build) a bridge across the river.
12.
I ________ (have) a new radio-set.
13.
He __________ (seem) to be sick.
14.
The commission ___________ (prepare) its report.
15.
He ____________ (still sleep) in his room.
Hints
1. knows 2. is doing 3. believe 4. is whistling 5. resembles 6. is coming 7. wants
8. is speaking 9. belongs, is building 10. is happening, see 11. are building 12.
have 13. seems 14. is preparing 15. is still sleeping
EXERCISE 6

Fill in the blanks with correct Tense form Tense form of the verb given in brackets:
(Past Simple or Present Perfect)
1.
He ___________ (be) a teacher since 1984.
2.
I dont know him because I ___________ (never meet) him.
3.
I _________ (come) to this town in 1980.
4.
Two convicts ___________ (escape) from prison last night.
5.
He ___________ (already entertain) the guests for two hours.
6.
He ___________ (get) a new car now.
7.
He ___________ (buy) it last month.
8.
I __________ (already see) this film.
9.
I ___________ (see) it in Mumbai last month.
10.
Your officer will be angry with you because you ____________ (not
work) properly.
11.
He ____________ (tour) India for a month last year.
12.
No he ___________ (write) a book about it.
13.
Here is your note-book. I ___________ (correct) it.
14.
He _________ (leave) his house some days ago.
15.
He ___________ (not come) back yet.
Hints
1. has been 2. have never met 3. came 4. escaped 5. has already entertained 6. has
got 7. bought 8. have already seen 9. saw 10. have not worked 11. has written 13.
have corrected 14. left 15. has not come
EXERCISE 9
Fill in the blanks with the correct Tense form of the verb given in brackets:
1.
Last Saturday I _____________ (stay) at home.
2.
Who ______________ (play) the hero in that film?
3.
She was sick; so she __________ (not come) to party.
4.
We ___________ (eat) dinner at ten last night.
5.
She _________ (walk) to college yesterday morning.
6.
He often _________ (write) to his daughter when she ________ (be) away
to England.
7.
Radha ____________ (buy) a new saree last month.
8.
You __________ (send) for your friend? He has come.
9.
He _________ (not go) to his office on Saturday. He had fever.
10.
We __________ (drink) coffee for breakfast yesterday.
11.
It __________ (not rain) heavily last summer.
12.
The Sun _______ (rise) yesterday at five o/clock.
13.
The brave Rajput women _______ (prefer) death to dishonour.
14.
I _________ (have) work and __________ (not go) out to lunch.
15.
When he was unmarried, he often _________ (arrive) home late and his
father _________ (be) angry with him.
Hints

1. stayed 2. played 3. did not come 4. ale 5. walked 6. wrote, was 7. bought 8. Did
you send. 9. did not go 10. drank 11. did not rain 12. rose 13. preferred 14. had,
did not go 15. arrived, was.
EXERCISE 11
Fill in the blanks with correct Tense form (Past Simple or Past Progressive) of the verbs
given in brackets:
Note: (1)
For an action begun and continuing in past time, use the Past Continuous.
(2)
For an action completed in the past, use the Past Simple.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

I ___________ (read) a novel when my friend came.

I ___________ (go) to bed early last night.
At midnight I __________ (lie) awake in my bed.
As I ____________ (go) to my school, I met an old friend of mine.
He jumped off the train while It ___________ (move).
I did not see that the teacher ____________ (stand) behind me.
It __________ (begin) to rain just as we moved out.
I head that the child __________ (cry).
He looked out of the window to see what ___________ (happen) in the street.
I saw that two policemen _______________ (chase) a thief.
I ___________ (have) my lunch when the postman came.
When I ___________ (see) him last the was quite healthy.
A thief ___________ (break) into our house last night.
I ___________ (sleep) on the roof when it _____________ (start) raining.
Ashoka ______________ (decide) to give up war and became a Buddhist.
Hints
1. was reading 2. went 3. lay 4. was going 5. was moving 6. was standing 7. began
8. was crying 9. was happening 10. were chasing 11. was having 13 broke 14. was
sleeping 15. decide
EXERCISE 13

Fill in the blanks with the right Tense form (Past Simple or Past Perfect) of the verbs
given in brackets:
Note: In order to express two related action completed in the past
(1)
The past Perfect (had + V3) is used for the action that took place first.
(2)
The Past Simple (V2) is used for the action that took place later.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

He said that he ___________ (write) the letter.

Mohan __________ (reach) home before it started raining.
She said that she _____________ (win) the first prize.
We ___________ (understand) the poem after the teacher had explained it
to us.
He had broken the lock before I ____________ (bring) the key.

6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

The boys said that they __________ finish their work.

We _________ (reach) the ground before the match started.
He __________ (not put) on his clothes when the bell rang.
We __________ (have) our dinner before she left.
The officer was glad to find that the clerk ___________ (type) all the
letters.
I __________(close) the book after I had read it.
The patient ___________ (die) before the doctor came.
The teacher said that the boys __________ (go) on a picnic.
He __________ (not see) me before that.
He __________ (not recognize) me when I went to meet him.

Hints
1. had written 2. had reached 3. had won 4. understood 5. brought 6. had finished
7. had reached 8. had not put 9. had had 10. had typed 11. closed 12. had died 13.
had gone 14. had not seen 15. did not recognize.
EXERCISE NO 16
Fill in the blanks with correct Tense form of the verbs given in brackets:
(Use Present Simple, Past Simple or Future Simple.)
1.
This February. Then the next month _________ (be) March.
2.
He always _________ (find) fault with others.
3.
It ___________ (happen) in the year 1924.
4.
I __________ (leave) for Kolkata day after tomorrow.
5.
He __________ (come) to see you but you were not at home.
6.
My birthday __________ (fall) on a Sunday last year.
7.
My birthday ___________ (fall) on a Sunday next year.
8.
A stitch in time __________ (save) none.
9.
God _____________ (help) those who help themselves.
10.
It ___________ (rain) last night.
11
I think it __________ (rain) tomorrow.
12.
It __________ (not behave) good boys to tell lies.
13.
They ________ (get) married on the coming Tuesday.
14.
I am going to Mumbai and __________ (stay) there for a week.
15.
The war __________ (end) three months ago.
Hints.
1. will be 2. finds 3. happened 4. shall leave 5. came 6. fell 7. will fail 8. saves 9.
helps 10. rained 11. will rain 12. does not behove 13. will get 14. will stay 15.
ended.
THE FUTURE CONTINUOUS
2.15

The Future Continuous is used to express an action going on at some point in

future time; as,

I shall be reading the paper then.

They will be playing a match at that time.
2.16 This tense is also used to indicate some future plan; as,
We shall be staying there for a week.
I shall be visiting this place regularly.
Note: (1)
The Future Indefinite Tense (Future Simple) indicates some point of time
in the future.
(2)
The Future Continuous Tense (Future Progressive) indicates some period
of time in the future.
(3)
In the following sentences, the use of Future Indefinite seems to be as
appropriate as the use of Future Continuous:
1.
I shall do this work at 7 a. m. tomorrow.
(Future Indefinite)
2.
I shall be doing this work at 7 a.m. tomorrow.
(Future Continuous)
But note the difference in the meanings of the sentences:
1.
I shall do this work at 7 a.m. tomorrow.
(and I shall not start earlier than that)
2.
I shall be doing this work at 7a.m. tomorrow.
(I shall start before 7 a.m. and shall continue working even after 7 a.m.)
The Future indefinite show that the action begins at the started future
moment. The Future Continuous shows that the action began before the
stated moment in the future.

EXERCISE 17
Fill in the blanks with correct Tense form (Future Simple or Future Progressive) of the
verbs given in brackets:
1.
I ______________ (reach) there at five oclock.
2.
We ___________ (wait) for you when you come back.
3.
He ____________ (lie) in bed when you go to his room.
4.
I ___________ (finish) this work by tomorrow evening.
5.
He ___________ (live) in London at this time next year.
6.
The sky is dark. I think it __________rain.
7.
It __________ (rain) by the time you get ready to leave.
8.
The Principal ___________ (talk) to the students about this problem.
9.
I ___________ (see) what I can do for you.
10.
Dont come next week, I _____________ (prepare) for my examination.
11.
You ___________ (please return) my money just now?
12.
He ___________ (pass) through a forest at this time.
13
They __________ (live) in their new hose by next year.
14.
When you come, I __________ (sit) in the school library.
15.
Bill always has to work on Sundays: so he will say, I__________ (work)
as usual.
Hints
1. shall reach 2. shall be waiting 3. will be lying 4. will finish 5. will be living 6.
will rain 7. will be raining 8. will talk 9. shall see 10. shall be preparing 11. Will
you please return.12. will be passing 13. will be living 14. will be sitting
15. shall be working.

2.17

THE FUTURE PERFECT

The Future Perfect is used to indicate the completion of an action by a certain
future time; as,
I shall have finished my homework by evening.
She will have cleaned the room before you reach there.
EXERCISE NO 19

Fill in the blanks with the correct Tense form of the verbs given in brackets:
(Present Perfect, Past Perfect or Future Perfect)
1.
I ___________ (finish) my work just now.
2.
I ___________ (finish) my work before he came.
3.
I ___________ (finish) my work by the time you come back in the
evening.
4.
The train _________ (come). Try to find a seat for me.
5.
The train _________ (come).. when I reached the station.
6.
The train _________ (come) before you reach the station.
7.
I ___________ (read) the book which you gave me.
8.
I ____________ (already read) the book which you gave me.
9.
I ____________ (read) the whole book before you come back.

10.
11.
12.
14.
15.

We ___________ (do) all these exercises by the time the teacher comes.
They __________ (not yet return) from the market.
The clock __________ (just strike) twelve.
He _________ (eat) all the food by the time we return.
She ___________ (discuss) the matter with her parents by next Tuesday.

Hints
1. have finished.2. had finished 3. will have finished 4. has come 5. had come 6.
will have come 7. have read 8. had already ready 9. will have read 10. will have
done 11. have not yet returned 12. has just struck 13. will have written 14. will
have eaten 15. will have discussed.
EXERCISE 13
Fill in the blanks using the correct form of the words given in brackets:
1.
The Sun comes up in the east and (go) down in the west.
When the sum . (rise), it is morning. When the sun..
(set), it is evening.
When does the sun shine? The sun. (shine) during the day. The
moon and the starts (shine) during the night.
Does the sun rise in the east or in the west ? It .. (rise) in the
east. Where does the sun set? It. (set) in the west.
In winter the sun.. (rise) at about seven oclock and
(set) at about five oclock. In summer the sun . (rise) at about
five oclock and .(set) at about seven oclock.
2

When evening .. (come) it (get) dark. What do we do

when it (get) dark ? We (turn) the lights on. If we
have electric light in our houses, there are switches. The switch is usually
near the door. When it.. (get) dark, we .. (turn) the
light on. We . (push) the switch. When we (go) dark,
we .. (turn) the light on. We .. (turn) the light off. We
(push) the switch again.
What do you do when you. (want) to listen to the radio ? You
. (switch) the set on. There are usually three or four controls on a
radio set. When you .. (turn) this control to the left, you
(switch) the set off.

3.

When Rita wants to make tea, she(go) into the kitchen and
.. (take) the kettle to the water tap. She.............. (take) the lid
off the kettle,.............. (hold) the kettle under the tap, .. (turn)
the water on, and (fill) the kettle. Then she .. (turn)

the water off, . (put) the lid back on the kettle, and ..
(put) the kettle on the gas stove.
Next, Rita wants to make tea, she (strike) a match and
............. (light) the gas. As soon as the water .. (boil), she
(empty) this water out and then (put) some
tea-leaves in the pot. Then she .. (fill) the teapot with boiling
water. In two or three minutes the tea is ready to pour out.
4.

When Aslam wants to get on his bicycle, he . (take) hold of the

handlebars with both hands. He (put) his left foot on the left
pedal. He (push) himself forward with his right foot. When
the bicycle . (move) forward, he (raise) his right leg over
the saddle. He (put) his right foot on the right pedal,
(push) the pedal down, and ..(lower) himself on to the saddle.

5.

Mrs. Soni gets up at half past six every morning and .. (go) to
the bathroom. She . (wish), (clean) her teeth and
. (comb) her hair.
Then she (prepare) breakfast for her husband. Her husband
. (go) to work and after that she (wake) Ashok
and Pinkie up. Pinkie is only three years old. Mrs. Soni .. (wash)
And . (dress) Pinkie. She (cook) breakfast of the
children and then she (wash) the dishes. She (do)
all her housework. After that she . (go) for shopping. She
. (take) Pinkie with her.

The Sun shines during the day. It . (not shine) at night. The moon
and the stars.. (shine) at night. They (not shine) during
the day.
Sometimes there are clouds in the sky. Then the sun . (not
shine). It .. (go) behind the clouds,. The stars also ..
(not twinkle) when there are clouds. The clouds . (cover) the
moon and the stars.
The moon . (revolve) round the earth. The earth .. (not
revolve) round the moon. It .. (revolve) round the sun. The sun
(not revolve) round the earth. Other planets like Mars and
Venus also . (revolve) round the Sun.

7.

A dog was crossing a stream. He . (have) a bone in his mouth.

He . (see) his shadow in the water. He (think) it was
another dog with a bigger piece of meat. The dog .. (open) his
mouth to attack the shadow. The piece of meat (fall) from his
mouth. He. (lose) the meat.

8.

9.

10.

A mouse ran across the nose of a sleeping lion. The mouse .

(wake) the lion. The lion (be) going tio kill the mouse. The
mouse .. (beg) for its life. The lion . (give) it its wish.
Some time later the lion (fall) into a trap. He.
(cannot) escape from it. The mouse . (hear) the roars of the lion.
It . (go) to the trap. It (bite) through the ropes, and
thus the lion (get) his freedom again.
Amrit .. (buy) a camera from his friend. Deepak last month.
Deepak ..(sell) the camera to him for tow hundred rupees. Amrit
. (pay) at that time. Deepak.. (give) Amrit a book
with complete directions. Amrit . (read) all the directions
carefully. He (keep) the camera in a leather case for protection.
Then Amrit (take) photos of all his friends.
One day Mohandas .. (steal) a piece of gold. Stealing was a great
sin. He (know) that he had committed a great crime. He
(decide) never to steal again in his life. He . (write)
a confession of his crime and . (read) the confession. He
(tear) up the paper without saying a word. The pieces of paper
. (fall) to the floor. He . (sink) back on his bed.
Mohandas (leave) the room with tears in his eyes.

11.

Very few people were coming to eat at the Taj Mahal Restaurant, and its
owner . (not know) what to do. The food in his restaurant was
cheap and good, but nobody.. (seem) to want to eat there.
Then he .. (do) something that . (change) all that. In a
few weeks his restaurant was full of men with their lady friends.
Whenever a gentleman (come) in with a lady, a smiling
waiter . (give) each of them a beautiful menu. The
menu.. (look) exactly the same on the outside, but there was an
important difference inside. The menu that the waiter. (give) to
the man (tell) the correct price for each a much higher price ! So
when the man calmly.. (order) dish after dish the lady .
(think) he was much more generous than he really was.

12.

Mrs. Toofat always seemed to be ill and unhappy. She often ..

(have) painful headaches Medicines .. (not seem) to make her any
better. So at last her husband . (take) gher to an elderly doctor.
The doctor . (examine) her carefully and . (ask) her a
lot of questions. Then he suddenly. (put) his arms around her
and .(give) her a big kiss. Mrs. Toofat at once (look)
better and happier. You see?. (say) the doctor to her husband,
that is all she needs. I suggest that she. (have) the same thing
every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and he .. (smile).

13.

When Lalita wants to make tea, she will go into the kitchen and .
(take) the kettle to the water tap. She. (take) the lid off the kettle,
.. (hold) the kettle under the tap, .. (turn) the water
on and .. (fill) the kettle. Then she .(turn) the water off,
(put) the lid back on the kettle, and . (put) the
kettle on the gas-stove.
Next, Lalita .. (turn) the gas on. She (strike) a
match, and . (light) the gas. As soon as the water .
(boil), she (pour) some of it into the tea-pot to warm it.
She. (empty) this water out and then (put) some tea
leaves in the pot. Then she. (fill) the pot with boiling water. In
two or three minutes the tea. (be) ready to pour out.

14.

A dog . (be) the only animal that .. (not have) to work for
a living. A hen (have) to lay eggs and a cow (have) to
give milk. But a dog .. (make) its living by giving you nothing but
love.

15.

When I . (be) five years old, my father . (buy) a li9ttle

puppy. I love him. As soon as he (see) me or . (hear)
my voice, he..(run) to greet me with leaps of joy and barks of sheer
ecstasy.

16

I just (receive) a letter from my old friend Shindie. He

(say) that he (go) to England next year. He .. (live) in
London with his uncle. Shindie . (join) the University of
London. His uncle .. (pay) for his education. After a few years, he
.. (return) to India as a Bachelor of Arts. But I . (think)
he (not be) a real bachelor. Most probably he .. (bring)
back a British girl as his wife.

17.

Phool Sing was cutting a branch off a tree in his field. While he .
(saw) it, a man .. (pass) by the field. He stopped and said,
Excuse me, but if you continue to saw that branch like that, you.
(fall) down with it. He said this because Phool Singh. . (sit) on
the branch and .. (cut) it at a place between himself and the trunk
of the tree.
Phool Sing said nothing. He thought: This is a foolish person who
(have) no work to do. He .. (go) about telling other
people what not to do.
The man . (continue) on his way.
Of course, after a few minutes, the branch fell and Phool Singh fell down
with it.

My God ! he cried. That man knows the future, And he ran after the
man to ask him how long he .. (go) to live. But the man ..
(go).
18.

When night came, Hamlet .. (join) the soldiers who ..

(guard) the walls. He . (meet) them at the place where the ghost
. (appear) the previous night. It .. (be) very cold there,
but they .. (an) hear voices of laughing and singing inside the
castle.

19.

There . (be) tow kinds of people in this world, the tender-minded,

and the tough-minded. The tender-minded cannot . (face) life.
Criticism just (cut) them to the quick. It (hurt) and
. (wound) them terribly. Problems and obstacles . (fill)
them with fear, Adversity and opposition.. (overwhelm) them. But
there.. (be) also the tough-minded. They (not like)
criticism any better than anyone else. But they from criticism all the good
points it . (contain) and simple .. (blow) the chaff
away.

20.

Bernard Shaw once (remark) : if you .. (teach) a man

anything, he .. (never learn). Shaw was right. Learning is an
active process. We . (learn) by doing. So, if you
(desire) to master the rules you . (study) in this book, apply
them in you speech and writing. Apply thee rules at every opportunity. If
you dont, you.. (forget) them quickly. Only knowledge that
(use) sticks in your mind.

21.

There (be) a great rush at the counter yesterday. I .

(want) to get a ticket for the move. It.. (be) the first day of its
release. The manger suddenly (appear) on the scene and
.. (announce) that the show (cancel) for reasons
beyond control.

22.

Yesterday a Blue Line bus .. (run) over a school boy

who.. (cross) the road. The boy (injure) seriously and
(rush) to the hospital. The passengers (catch)
of the driver and . (hand) him over to the police

23.

The wedding procession (already start) when we .

(reach) Mohans house. While we (be) on way to the place,
we .. (decide) not to dance at all but the scene .. (prove)
so attractive, that we (draw) into it.

24.

Once there was king. He .. (know) for his benevolence. Every day
he (feed) the hungry and .(give) clothes to the poor
before he .. (take) his food He (do) so for many years.
He .. (love) by his subjects.

Hints.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.

goes; rises; sets; shines; shine; rises; sets; rises; sets; sets;
comes; gets; gets; turn; gets; turn; push; go; turn; push; want; switch; turn;
switch; turn; switch;
goes; takes; takes; holds; turn; fills; turns; puts; puts; turns; strikes; lights;
boils; empties; puts; fills.
takes; puts; pushes; is moving; raises; puts; pushes; lowers;
goes; washes; cleans; combs; prepares; goes; wakes; washes; dress; cooks;
washes; does; goes; takes;
does not shine; shine; do not shine; does not shine; goes; do not twinkle;
cover; revolves; does not revolve; revolves; does not revolve; revolve.
had; saw; thought; opened; fell; lost.
woke; was; begged; gave; fell; couldnt heard; went; bit; got.
bought; sold; paid; knew; gave; read; kept; took;
stole; knew; decide; wrote; handed; read; tone; fell; sank; left.
did not know; seemed; did; changed; came ; gave; looked; gave; told;
gave; told; ordered; thought.
had; did not seem; took; examined; asked; put; gave; looked; said; has;
smiled.
take; will take; hold; turn; fill; will turn; up put; put; will turn; will strike;
light; boils; will pour; will empty; put; will fill; will be.
is; doesnt have; has; has; makes.
was; bought; called; loved; could; saw; heard; would run.
have just received; says; is going; will live; will join; will pay; will return;
think; wont be; will bring.
was swing; passed; will fall; was sitting; cutting; has; goes (is going);
continued; was going; had gone
joined; were guiding; met; had appeared; was; could; cried; has appeared.
are; face; cuts; hurts; wounds; fill; overwhelm; are; do not like; know;
extract; contains; below.
remarked; teach; will never learn; learn; desire; have studied; will forget;
is used.
was; wanted; was; appeared; announced; had been cancelled.
ran; was crossing; was injured; was rushed; caught; handed.
had already started; reached; were; decided; proved; were drawn.
was known; fed; gave; took; did; was loved.
STRUCTURES IN THE PRESENT TENSE

Read the following sentences carefully1. PRESENT INDEFINITE TENSE

(i)

Affirmative Sentences

I read my book.
He loves his school
You help the poor.
They love their country.
(ii)

Negative Sentence I do not read my book.

He does not love his school.
You do not help the poor.
They do not love their country.

(iii)

Interrogative Sentences: Affirmative Do I read my book?

Does he love his school?
Do you help the poor?

(iv)

Interrogative Sentences: Negative Do I not read my book?

Does he not over his school?
Do you not help the poor?
Where does he not go?
Rules

Rule 1 -

Affirmative Sentences I, We You, They and Plural noun use Verb first form.
He, She, It and Singular noun use Verb first Form in s, es or ies.
[See (i)]

Rule 2 -

Negative Sentences I, We, You , They and Plural noun use Verb first form
before do not .
He, She, It and Singular noun use Verb first Form in before does not.
[See (ii)]

Rule 3 -

Two type of Interrogative Sentences. First Sentences start according Subject

Do or Does after Subject and Verb first form.
Second Sentences start who, what, where, How and question mark word after
use Verb first form.
[See (iii)]

Rule 4 -

Interrogative Sentences Negative use Verb before not .

2. PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

(i)

Affirmative Sentences I am reading my book.

He is going to school.
They are playing football.
You are going.

[See (iv)]

(ii)

Negative Sentences I am not reading my book.

He is not going to school.
You are not going.

(iii)

Interrogative Sentences: Affirmative Am I reading my book?

Is he going to School?
Are you going?
Where are you going?

(iv)

Interrogative Sentences : Negative Am I not reading my book?

Is he not going to school?
Are you not going?
Where are you not going?
Rules

Rule 1 -

Affirmative sentences I, with Am and You, They, We and Plural Noun use are.
He, She, It and Singular Noun use is and Verb first form with ing.
[See (i)]

Rule 2 -

Negative sentences in Is, Am or Are after not.

[See (ii)]

Rule 3 -

Interrogative sentences in auxiliary verb Is, Am or Are start.

If start What, Who, How and Where in start after stage same.
[See (iii)]

Rule 4 -

Interrogative Negative sentences main Verb before not.

SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE OR PRESENT INDEFINITE TENSE
(In Tabular Form)

AFFIRMATIVE

NEGATIVE

INTERROGATIVE

INTERROGATIVE
NEGATIVE

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

(In Tabular Form)
AFFIRMATIVE

NEGATIVE

INTERROGATIVE

3. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

(i)

Affirmative Sentences I have read my book.

You have finished your work.
He has gone to Calcutta.
They have left Agra.

(ii)

Negative Sentences I have not read my book.

You have not finished your work.
He has not gone to Calcutta.
They have not left Agra.

(iii)

Interrogative Sentences: Affirmative Have I read my book?

Have you finished your work?
Has he gone to Calcutta?
Have they left Agra?

(iv)

Interrogative Sentences: Negative -

INTERROGATIVE
NEGATIVE

Have I not read my book?

Have you not finished your work?
Has he not gone to Calcutta?
Have they not left Agra?
What have they not done?
Rules
Rule 1 -

Affirmative sentences I, with Am and You, They, We and Plural Noun use
have Verb third form.
He, She, It and Singular Noun use has and Verb third form with ing.
[See (i)]

Rule 2 -

Negative sentences in Have or Has after not.

[See (ii)]

Rule 3 -

Interrogative sentences in auxiliary verb Have or Has start.

If start What, Who, How and Where in start after stage same.
[See (iii)]

Rule 4 -

Interrogative Negative sentences main Verb before not.

[See (iv)]
4. PRESNET PERFIECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

(i)

Affirmative Sentences I have been working for four hours.

He has been sleeping since 6 Oclock.
You have been living since July.

(ii)

Negative Sentences I have not been working for four hours.

He has not been sleeping since 6 Oclock.
You have not been living since July.

(iii)

Interrogative Sentences: Affirmative Have I been working for four hours?

Has he been sleeping since 6 Oclock?
Why has the child been weeping for two hours?

(iv)

Interrogative Sentences: Negative Have I not been working for four hours?
Has he not been sleeping since 6Oclock?
Why have you not been reading since the morning?
Rules

Rule 1 -

Perfect Continuous Tense starting time of point to use Since for example
Since July; Since 4 Oclock; Since Monday; Since 1964 etc.
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

Verb go
AFFIRMATIVE

(In Tabular Form)

NEGATIVE

INTERROGATIVE

INTERROGATIVE
NEGATIVE

PRESNET PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

Verb go
AFFIRMATIVE

(In Tabular Form)

NEGATIVE

INTERROGATIVE

INTERROGATIVE
NEGATIVE

(Starting point of time) use for, for example For five hours, For fifteen
years.
Rule 2 -

Affirmative sentences I, We, You, They and Plural noun with Have been
use.
He, She, It and Singular noun with use Has been and Verb First Form with
ing.
[See (i)]

Rule 3 -

Negative sentences in Has or Have after use not

Rule 4 -

Interrogative sentences in Has or Have sentences start Interrogative adverb

Has or Have
[See (iii)]

Rule 5 -

Interrogative negative sentences in been before use not.

[See (ii)]

[See (iv)]
PAST TENSE
Read the following sentences carefully
(I)

1. PAST INDEFINITE TENSE

Affirmative Sentences
I helped my friend.
You loved your school.
He wrote a book.

(ii)

Negative Sentences I did not help my friend.

You did not love your school.
He did not write a book.

(iii)

Interrogative Sentences: Affirmative Did I help my friend?

Did you love your school?
Did you write a book?
Where did you go?

(iv)

Interrogative Sentences: Negative Did I not help my friend?

Did you not love your school?
Where did you not go?
PAST CONTNUOUS TENSE

(i)

Affirmative Sentences I was reading my book.

Hews going to school.

They were playing foot ball.

You were going.
(ii)

Negative sentences I was not reading my book.

He was not going to school.
You were not going.

(iii)

Interrogative Sentences: Affirmative Was I reading my book?

Was he going to school?
Were you going?
Where were you going?

(iv)

Interrogative Sentences: Negative Was I not reading my book?

Was he not going to school?
Were you not going?
Where were you not going?
SIMPLE PAST OR PAST INDEFINITE TENSE

Verb go
AFFIRMATIVE

(In Tabular Form)

NEGATIVE

INTERROGATIVE

INTERROGATIVE
NEGATIVE

PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

Verb go
AFFIRMATIVE

(In tabular Form)

NEGATIVE

INTERROGATIVE

INTERROGATIVE

NEGATIVE

3. PASTPERFECT TENSE
(i)

Affirmative Sentences He had left India before independence.

He had already gone.
I had taken my dinner before sunset.
He had gone before you reached there.
The patient had died before the doctor reached.
Mohan came after Ram had left.

(ii)

Negative Sentences I did not take my dinner after the sun had set.
He had not gone before you reached there.
The patient had not died before the doctor reached.

(iii)

Interrogative Sentence: Affirmative Did I take my dinner after the sun had set?
Had he gone before you reached there?
Had he gone before you reached there?
Why had you gone before the came?

(iv)

Interrogative Sentences: Negative Had I not taken my dinner before the sun set?
Had he not gone before you reached there?
Had the patient not died before the doctor reached?
Why had you not gone before he came?
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

(i)

Affirmative Sentences I had been working for for four hours.

He had been sleeping since 6 Oclock.
We had been living in Delhi since 1980.

(ii)

Negative Sentences I had not been working for four hours.

He had not been sleeping since 6 Oclock.
We had not been living in Delhi since 1960.

(iii)

Interrogative Sentences: Affirmative Had he been working for four hours?

Had he been sleeping since 6 Oclock?
Had we been living in Delhi since 1980?
Why had the child been weeping for tow hours?

(iv)

Interrogative Sentences: Negative Had I not been working for four hours?
Had he not been sleeping since 6 Oclock?
Had we not been living in Delhi since 1980?
Why had you not been reading since the morning?

Verb go
AFFIRMATIVE

PAST PERFECT TENSE

(In Tabular Form)
NEGATIVE
INTERROGATIVE

INTERROGATIVE
NEGATIVE

Verb go
AFFIRMATIVE

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

(In Tabular Form)
NEGATIVE
INTERROGATIVE
INTERROGATIVE
NEGATIVE

FUTURE TENSE
Read the following sentence carefully
1. FUTURE INDEFINITE TENSE
(i)

Affirmative Sentences I shall help you.

He will come to-day.
You will do your work.
They will go to Kanpur.

(ii)

Negative Sentences I shall not help you.

He will not com to-day.
You will not do your work.
They will not go to Kanpur.

(iii)

Interrogative Sentences: Affirmative Shall I help you?

Will he come to-day?
Will you do your work?
Will they go to Kanpur?
Where will they go?

(iv)

Interrogative Sentences: Negative Shall I not help you?

Will he not come to-day?
Will you not do your work?
Will they not go to Kanpur?
Where will they not go?
2.

FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE

(i)

Affirmative Sentences I shall be helping you.

You will be going to Kanpur.
He will be coming to-day.

(ii)

Negative Sentences I shall not be helping your.

You will not be going to Kanpur.
He will not be coming to-day.

(iii)

Interrogative Sentences: Affirmative Shall I be helping you?

Will you be going to Kanpur?
Will he be coming to-day?

Where will you be going?

(iv)

Interrogative Sentence: Negative

Shall I not be helping you?
Will you not be going to Kanpur?
Will he not becoming to-day?
Where will you not be going?

Verb go
AFFIRMATIVE

Verb go
AFFIRMATIVE

SIMPLE FUTURE OR INDEFINITE TENSE

(In Tabular Form)
NEGATIVE
INTERROGATIVE
INTERROGATIVE
NEGATIVE

FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE

(In Tabular Form)
NEGATIVE
INTERROGATIVE

INTERROGATIVE
NEGATIVE

FUTURE PERFECT TENSE

(i)

Affirmative Sentences I shall have finished my work.

You will have gone before he comes.
He will have reached the station before the train leaves.

(ii)

Negative Sentences I shall not have finished my work.

You will not have gone before the comes.
He will not have reached the station before the train leaves.

(iii)

Interrogative Sentences: Affirmative Shall I have finished my work?

Will You have gone before he come?
Will he have reached the station before the train leaves?
Why will he have gone before you reach?

(iv)

Interrogative Sentences: Negative Shall I not have finished my work?

Will you not have gone before he comes?
Will he not have reached the station before the leaves?
Why will he not have gone before you reach?
FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

(i)

Affirmative Sentences I shall have been reading for four hours.

He will have been living in Delhi since 1980.
You will have been waiting for him for tow hours.

(ii)

Negative Sentence I shall not have been reading for four hours.
He will not have been living in Delhi since 1980.
You will not have been waiting for him for two hours.

(iii)

Interrogative Sentences: Affirmative Shall I have been reading for four hours?
Will he have been living in Delhi since 1980?
Why will he have been waking for four hours?

(iv)

Interrogative Sentence: Negative Shall I not been reading for four hours?
Will he not have been living in Delhi since 1980?
Why will he not have been waiting for us since the morning?

Verb go
AFFIRMATIVE

Verb go
AFFIRMATIVE

FUTURE PERFECT TENSE

(In Tabular Form)
NEGATIVE
INTERROGATIVE

INTERROGATIVE
NEGATIVE

FUTURE PERECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

(In Tabular Form)
NEGATIVE

INTERROGATIVE

Revision Exercise 1.
Correct the following sentences:
1.
I had been married in 1990.
2.
She finished her work when I met her.
3.
They had gone to Calcutta last night.
4.
Who had invented the gramophone?
5.
The fair had been over ten days ago.

INTERROGATIVE
NEGATIVE

6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

He had come to my room whi9le I was reading.

I saw her when I had been passing yesterday.
He was ill for a week when the doctor was sent for.
The rain had ceased yesterday.
I have written my application yesterday.
The lion had been caged last night.
I understood what you say.
I lived twenty years in Bombay.
He had come only yesterday.
Examinations have been held next month.

Hints (1) was married; (2) had finished; (3) went to Calcutta; (4) invented; (5)
was over; (6) came to my room; (7) was passing; (8) had been ill; (9) ceased yesterday;
(10) wrote my application; (11) was caged; (12) understand; (13) have lived; (14) came;
(15) will be held/are going to be held.
Exercise 2
Choose the correct verb form from those given in brackets:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

He (has, is having) a house in Bombay.

The earth (moves, moved) round the sun.
We (saw, have seen) the Prime Minister yesterday.
I shall meet you when he (come, will come) back.
It started raining while we (played, were playing) football.
Can I have some mile before I (go, am going) to bed?
He (fell, had fallen) asleep while he was driving.
I am sure I (met, had met) him at the station yesterday.
He (is living, has been living) in this house for ten years.
He thanked me for what I (have done, had done) for him.
She (is, will be) twenty next birthday.
We (have been working, are working) in this factory for five years.
She (is, wanting, wants) to be a doctor.
If you (start, started) at once, you will reach there by this evening.
He (went, had gone) out five minutes ago

Hints (1) has; (2) moves; (3) saw; (4) comes; (5) were playing (6) go; (7) had
fallen; (8) met; (9) has been living; (10) had done; (11) will be; (12) have
been working 1(13) wants; (14) starts; (15) went.