TENSES : REVISION

Read the following sentences carefully:

1. I play tennis every day.
2. We played a match yesterday.
3. They will play with us tomorrow.
In sentence 1, the verb play refers to present time.
In sentence 2, the verb played refers to past time.
In sentence 3, the verb will play refers to future time.
Thus verb may refer to

1. Present Time
2. Past Time or
3. Future Time.
Since three main time divisions are: present, past and future, they may be
represented by three main blocks of tenses:

1. The Present Tense

2. The Past Tense
3. The Future Tense
Depending on the interest and attitude of the speaker indicated by them, tenses are
divided as

1. indefinite or simple,
2. continuous or progressive,
past tense : was / were + (verb+ing) was dancing
3. perfect, and
4. perfect continuous.
This classification takes into account both form and function.
These four sub-divisions of each tense clearly indicate the stage of action:
e.g.

1. The Simple form simply states an action. It does not say anything
about the completion of the action—whether it is complete or not.
2. The Continuous form indicates that the action is in progress. It is still
going on.
3. The Perfect form indicates that the action has been completed.
4. The Perfect Continuous form shows that the action which began
sometime before, is still in progress.
Thus, the tense of a verb shows not only the time of an action or event, but also the
state of an action.
In other words, we may say that tense is the form of a verb which shows the time at
which an event occurs and the degree of completeness / incompleteness of the
event.
Read the following sentences:

1. I write a letter (Simple Present)

2. I am writing a letter. (Present Continuous)
 3. I have written a letter. (Present Perfect)
4. I have been writing a letter since 7 a.m. (Present Perfect Continuous)
The verbs in the above sentences refer to present time. Therefore, these sentences
are in the present tense.
The Past Tense also has the following four forms:

1. I wrote a letter yesterday. (Simple Past)

2. I was writing a letter when Dheeraj entered the room. (Past Continuous)
3. I had written before you came. (Past Perfect)
4. I had been writing letters all day yesterday. (Past Perfect Continuous)
5. When I joined school in 2001, Ms Sushmita Banerjee had been teaching the
senior secondary division.

Similarly, the Future Tense has the following four forms:

1. I shall write to you tomorrow. (Simple Future) planning

2. I shall be writing on reaching home. (Future Continuous)
planning + imagining the beginning of action
3. I shall have written a letter by evening. (Future Perfect Tense)
planning + imagining the end of action
4. I shall have been writing for an hour before you arrive. (Future Perfect
Continuous)
planning + imagining the continuation of action
Now study, the following tense chart giving the forms of the verb ‘write’:

TENSE CHART

Tense Simple Continuous Perfect Perfect Continuous

write am writing, is has written have has been writing, have

Present writes writing, are writing written been writing

was writing were

Past wrote writing had written had been writing

shall have
shall write shall be writing will written will have shall have been writing will
Future will write be writing written have been writing
 CBSE Class 9-11 English Grammar – Tenses in
Conditional Sentences
A conditional sentence has two parts—the main clause and the conditional clause
(if—clause). There are three types of conditions:
Type I : Possible — relating to future.
Type II : Probable or Hypothetical —unfulfilled condition of the Present.
Type III : Impossible or Imaginary — unfulfilled condition of the Past.
The tenses of verbs in the two clauses follow this pattern.

Type If-clause (Conditional clause) Main clause

First form of the verb

I (V1 or V1 s/es) eat / eats Shall/will/may/can + first form of the verb (V 1)

Should/would/might/could + first form of the verb

II Second form of the Verb (V 2) ate (V1)

Had + third form of the Verb (had + Should/would/might/could + have + third form of the
III (V3) eaten verb (V3)

Examples:
1. You will pass if you work hard.
2. What shall I do if I miss the last bus?
3. If I were you, I would not seek his help.
4. She would have come if you had sent a proper invitation.

EXERCISE 1
(Solved)
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs given in brackets:
1. He ……………….. (beat) the thief if he catches the man.
2. She might catch the bus if she………………..(run) fast.
3. They would have won if they ………………..(play) well.
4. If you ……………….. (inform) me I would have reached the station.
5. If she ………………..(not work) hard, she will fail.
6. Unless they ………………..(request) me, I would not go.
7. If you ……………….. (help) me, I would have completed this job.
8. If I ……………….. (be) a bird I would fly to you.
9. In case you ……………….. (see) Avish, give him this book.
10. Unless she ……………….. (mend) her ways, she will suffer.
Answers:
1. will beat 2. ran 3. had played 4. had informed 5. does not work 6. requested 7. had
helped 8. were 9. see 10. mends.
Related Links

EXERCISE 2
(Solved)
Fill in the blanks in the following passages with the appropriate tense forms of the
verbs given in brackets:

1. My younger brother, Tinu, (a) ………………. (fall) off his bicycle

yesterday. He (b) ……………….. (hurt) his right ankle
and (c) ……………….. (be) in bed since then. The
doctor (d) ……………….. just (examine) him
and (e) ………………..(advise) him complete rest for a week. He
hopes that Tinu (f) ……………….. (recover) soon.
2. The match (a) ………………..(begin) before we reached the stadium.
There (b)……………….. (be) a great rush at the gate.
People (c) ……………….. (argue) with the security guards. Entering
the stadium (d)……………….. (prove) a tedious job.
I (e)……………….. (be) able to forget this nasty experience in the
years to come. I (f) ………………..(decide) never to watch an event in
an overcrowded place.
3. When I (a)……………….. (look) at the Palace in the morning sunlight, I
was amazed. It (b) ……………….. (seem) an architectural wonder.
I (c) ……………….. (watch) it from different angles
and (d) ……………….. (take) snaps. Perhaps my
movements (e) ……………….. (make) the guards suspicious. They at
once (f) ……………….. (catch) hold of my camera and spoke rudely to
me.
4. It is estimated that India (a) ……………….. (make) rapid strides in
science in the coming years. For that
we (b) ……………….. (need) good science teachers, labs and
equipment. Unfortunately, the existing scenario (c) ……………….. (not
present) an encouraging sight. The
nation (d) ……………….. (lack) administrators with a vision.
Scientists (e) ……………….. (be) more interested in foreign
assignments than research at home. Students too (f) ………………..
not (lag) behind.
5. you ever (a) ………………. (hear) of paperless office?
You (b) ……………….. certainly (say), “no”. Well, very soon the old
favourite of pen-pushers (c) ……………….. (make) an unceremonious
exit. You (d) ……………….. already (see) it happening in the banks.
Where (e) ……………….. (be) those bulky ledgers? A smart
computer (f) ……………….. (replace) them quietly.
Answers:
1. (a) fell (b) hurt (c) has been (d) has examined (e) advised (f) will
recover
 2. (a) had begun (b) was (c) were arguing (d) proved (e) will not
be (f) have decided
3. (a) looked (b) seemed (c) watched (d) took (e) had made (f) caught
4. (a) will (is going to) make (b) need (c) does not
present (d) lacks (e) are (f) do not lag
5. (a) Have…………heard (b) will………….say (c) will (is going to)
make (d) have already seen (e) are (f) has replaced.

EXERCISE 3
(Solved)
Transform the following sentences as directed using suitable form of verbs:’

1. They usually go to work by cm. (Use singular subject)

2. I was getting ready for college when the phone-bell rang. (Plural
subject)
3. I visit my parents every Sunday. (Change subject to third person
singular)
4. Ritu likes only this doll. (Into negative)
5. None but the brave deserve the fair. (Into affirmative)
6. When can their glory fade? (Into assertive)
7. Who would like to be a slave? (Into assertive)
8. Navin left no plan untried. (Into affirmative)
9. As soon as we had left home it began to rain. (Use No
sooner…..Than)
10. What a wild attack! (Into assertive)
Answers:
1. He usually goes to work by car.
2. We were getting ready for college when the phone-bell rang.
3. He/she visits his/her parents every Sunday.
4. Ritu likes nothing but this doll.
5. Only the brave deserve the fair.
6. Their glory can never fade.
7. None would like to be a slave.
8. Navin tried every plan.
9. No sooner had we left home than it began to rain.
No sooner did we leave home than it began to rain.
10. It was a (very) wild attack.

EXERCISE 4
(Solved)
Note. Sometimes passive form of the verb is also used.
1. Rewrite using the correct form of the verbs in the brackets:
I (a) ……………… (expect) him here yesterday.
He (b)……………… (not come) till today. No-
one (c) ……………… (know) what (d) ……………… (happen) to him.
I (e) ……………… (worry) about him. I hope
he (f) ……………… (be) safe.
2. Rewrite using the correct form of the verbs in the brackets:
There (a) ……………… (be) a great rush at the counter yesterday.
 I (b) ……………… (want) to get a ticket for the movie.
It (c) ……………… (be) the first day of release. The manager
suddenly (d) ……………… (appear) on the scene
and (e) ……………… (announce) that the
show (f) ……………… (cancel) for reason beyond control.
3. Read the following paragraph and fill in the blanks with
appropriate form of verbs given in the brackets:
Yesterday a blueline bus (a) ……………… (run) over a school boy
who (b) ……………… (cross) the road. The
boy (c)……………… (injure) seriously and (d)……………… (rush) to
the hospital. The passengers (e) ……………… (catch) hold of the
driver and (f) ……………… (hand) him over to the police.
4. Read the following paragraph and fill in the blanks with the
correct form of verbs given in the brackets:
The wedding procession was yet (a) ………………(start).
It (b) ……………… (wait) for us to reach.
We (c) ………………(decide) not (d) ……………… (dance) at all. But
when we (e) ……………… (reach) the scene,
we (f) ……………… (draw) into it.
5. Read the following paragraph and fill in the blanks with the
correct form of the verbs given in the brackets:
The wedding procession already (a) ……………… (start) when
we (b) ……………… (reach) Mohan’s house. While
we (c) ……………… (be) on way to the place
we (d) ……………… (decide) not to dance at all. But the
scene (e) ……………… (prove) so attractive, that
we (f) ……………… (draw) into it.
6. Rewrite using the correct form of the verbs in the brackets:
The shot wounded the elephant. It (a)……………… (rush) back into
the forest. I (b) ……………… (run) after it
but (c) ……………… (can) not catch it. I (d) ……………… (lose) it in
the dark and (e)……………… (return) empty-handed.
I (f)……………… (disappoint).
7. Read the following paragraph and fill in the blanks with the
correct form of the verb:
Once there was a king. He (a) ……………… (know) for his
benevolence. Everyday he (b) ……………… (feed) the hungry
and (c) ……………… (clothes) the poor before
he (d) ……………… (take) his food. He (e) ……………… (do) so for
many years. He (f) ……………… (love) by his subjects.
8. Fill in the correct form of the verbs given in the brackets:
(i) While Rome was (a) ……………… (bum), Nero
was (b) ……………… (play) on the fiddle.
(ii) Since India (c) ……………… (become) independent many other
countries (d) ……………… (get) their independence too.
(iii) I (e)……………… (have) my lunch when the
postman (f) ……………… (knock).
9. Read the following passage and fill in the blanks with correct
forms of the verbs given in brackets:
Joan of Arc (a) ……………… (fight) the enemy, when
 she (b) ……………… (capture). She (c) ……………… (make) to stand
on trial by the enemy. They (d) ……………… (accuse) her of being evil
because she said that she (e) ……………… (talk) to the angel.
She (f) ……………… (declare) a witch and
sentenced to death.
10. Read the following matter and fill in the blanks with the correct
form of verb: Dear Heena,
I (a) ……………… just (hear) that my mother isn’t very well,
and (b) ………………(like) to see her. The trouble is I can’t take my
dog Tim with me. (c) ………………you think
you (d) ………………(be) able to possibly look after him for a week? If
you can have him, I can bring him along any time
that (e) ……………… (suit) you. But if it (f) ……………… (be) not
convenient, do not hesitate to say so.
Love,
Sarika
11. Read the following passage and fill in the blanks with correct
forms of the verbs given in brackets:
I (a) ……………… (come) in very late last night and unfortunately the
dog (b) ……………… (wake) up and (c) ………………(start) to bark.
This (d) ……………… (awake) my mother. She (e) ……………… (not
hear) my voice because the dog (f) ……………… (bark) very loudly.
12. Fill in the blanks with suitable form of verbs given in the brackets:
Comrades, you all (a) ……………… (hear) about the strange dream
that I (b) ………………have last night. But I (c) ……………… (come) to
the dream later. I do not think, comrades that
I (d) ……………… (be) with you for many months longer and before I
die, I feel it my duty to (e) ……………… (pass) on to you such wisdom
as I (f)……………… (acquire).
Answers:
1. (a) expected (b) has not come (c) knows (d) has happened (e) am
worried (f) is
2. (a) was (b) wanted (c) was (d) appeared (e) announced (f) had been
cancelled
3. (a) ran (b) was crossing (c) was injured (d) was
rushed (e) caught (f) handed
4. (a) to start (b) had been waiting (c) had decided (d) to
dance (e) reached (f) were drawn
5. (a) had already
started (b) reached (c) were (d) decided (e) proved (f) were drawn
6. (a) rushed (b) ran (c) could (d) lost (e) returned (f) was disappointed
7. (a) was known (b) fed (c) clothed (d) took (e) did (f) was loved
8. (a) burning (b) (i) playing (ii) (c) became (d) have got (iii) (e) was
having (f) knocked
9. (a) was fighting (b) was captured (c) was
made (d) accused (e) talked (f) was declared
10. (a) have just heard (b) would like (c) Do (d) would be (e) suits (f) is
11. (a) came (b) woke (c) started (d) awoke (e) did not hear (f) was
barking
 12. (a) have heard (b) had (c) will come (d) will be (e) pass (f) have
acquired.
INTEGRATED TASKS

I. ERROR CORRECTION
EXERCISE 5
(Solved)
Correct the following sentences using proper tense forms.
1. I am liking it very much.
2. She is knowing you very well.
3. Mohit is seeing the bus coming.
4. It rains now, we can’t go out.
5. Water vapour is condensing to form clouds.
6. Madhu is always writing beautiful poems.
7. The poem is going round the earth.
8. These students prepare for their exams these days.
9. Why do you work so hard today?
10. My uncle has arrived from Mumbai last night.
11. Ravi is owning two cars. ‘
12. Reena reads at this moment.
13. She do not finish her home work yet.
14. If you will work hard, you will pass.
15. I already sent a telegram to Manish, before I received your phone call.
Answers:
1. I like it very much.
2. She knows you very well.
3. Mohit sees the bus coming.
4. It is raining now, we can’t go out.
5. Water vapour condenses to form clouds.
6. Madhu always writes beautiful poems.
7. The poem goes round the earth.
8. These students are preparing for their exams, these days.
9. Why are you working so hard today?
10. My uncle arrived from Mumbai last night.
11. Ravi owns two cars.
12. Reena is reading at this moment.
13. She has not finished her homework yet.
14. If you work hard, you will pass.
15. I had already sent a telegram to Manish, before I received your phone
call.
II. EDITING TASK
(i) ERROR CORRECTION
EXERCISE 6
(Solved)
There is an error in the form of verb in each of the following lines. Find the error.
Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet as given below.
Remember to underline the word that you have supplied.
Answers:

(ii) OMISSIONS
EXERCISE 7
(Solved)
In the following passage, one word has been omitted in each line. Write the missing
word along with the word that comes before and the word that comes after it in your
answer sheet. Ensure that the word that forms your answer is underlined as shown
below:

Answers:

(iii) REORDERING OF SENTENCES

EXERCISE 8
(Solved)
Look at the following sentences given in a disorderly form. Rearrange them to
form meaningful sentences.
1. Theatre/he/the/goes/seldom/to
2. penguin/I/a/seen/never/have
3. did/come/he/yesterday/here/not
 4. gone/mother/just/out/my/has
5. don’t/nests/build/cuckoos.
6. it/night/heavily/rained/last.
7. persons/knows several/he/here
8. I/advice/parents’/I/listened/my/had/to/wish
9. he/message/I/if/your/give/him/comes/will
10. wife/room/he/up/entered/stood/his/the/whenever
Answers:
1. He seldom goes to the theatre.
2. I have never seen a penguin.
3. He did not come here yesterday.
4. My mother has just gone out.
5. Cuckoos don’t build nests.
6. It rained heavily last night.
7. He knows several persons here.
8. I wish I had listened to my parents’ advice.
9. If he comes I will give him your message.
10. Whenever his wife entered the room, he stood up OR
He stood up whenever his wife entered the room.
CBSE Class 11 English Grammar – Tenses (The Present Tense)

 1.1 I. THE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

 1.2 2. THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

CBSE Class 11 English Grammar –

Tenses (The Present Tense)
I. THE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
(a) Statements
Form. Subject + the infinitive (without to) + ………….
When the Subject is Third Person singular, ‘s’ or ‘es’ is added to the first form of the
verb.
Examples:
1. I learn my lesson daily.
2. We love our parents.
3. You read the Hindu daily.
4. A cow lives on grass.
5. He/she helps the poor
6. They reach the school in time.
SPELLING RULES:
1. Add ‘es’ to the first form of the verb if it ends in ‘ch’, ‘sh’, ‘o’ or ‘x’: as —
teaches, rushes, goes, passes or fixes.
2. If a verb ends in ‘y’ and there is a consonant before ‘y’;
change ‘y’ into ‘i ’ and add ‘es’ to the verb; as—
cry —> cries; fly —> flies; try —> tries
Exception. If there is vowel before ‘y’ add only ‘s’ to the first form of
the verb; as—
enjoy —> enjoys, obey —> obeys; pray —> prays.
 3. To all verbs, add only ‘s’; as
sits, plays, rims, speaks.
(b) Interrogative Sentences
Form. Do/does + subject + the infinitive (without to) + …………. ?
When the subject is third Person Singular, we use ‘Does’. For other subjects we use
‘do’:
Examples:
1. Do you learn your lesson daily?
2. Does he help the poor?
3. Does she know me?
4. Why does the girl cry?
(c) Negative Sentences
Form. Subject + do not/does not + the infinitive + …………. .
Use ‘does not’ if the subject is third person singular. With other subjects use ‘do not’:
Examples:
1. She does not hate anyone.
2. They do not welcome us.
Exceptions. ‘Never’ is followed by bare infinitive or infinitive + s/es as in statements.
The negative sense is conveyed by ‘never’ itself; sis—
1. I never tease animals.
2. She never tells a lie.
(d) Negative Interrogative Sentences
Form. Do not/Does not + subject + the infinitive + …………. ?
Examples:
1. Don’t you like this new film?
2. Doesn’t she help the poor with money?
(e) Emphatic Use of ‘Do/Does’
Form. Subject + do/does + the infinitive …………. .
Examples:
1. She does drink, but not in public.
2. I do go to the gym, but only on Sundays.
Important Note. Use only the first form of the verb after do and does.
Adverbs. The Simple Present Tense is used with the words:
always, often, frequently, generally, usually, sometimes, everyday, every week,
every month, daily, once a week, twice a week, etc.
The Use of Simple Present Tense
1. To express a habitual action; as—
I go to the temple daily.
She always speaks the truth.
My grandmother tells us a story every evening.
2. To express a universal truth; as—
The earth moves round the sun.
The sun rises in the east.
Water freezes into ice at 0°C.
3. To express a situation or a fact that is permanent; as—
The Taj stands on the bank of the Yamuna.
My house faces north.
This road leads to Ambala.
4. To express an action which must happen in the near future; as—
Her marriage comes off next month.
 Ravi goes to England next year.
We leave at 7 a.m. tomorrow.
5. To read or write a subordinate clause (of time or condition) when
the main clause refers to future; as
If you come, we shall be happy.
If you work hard, you will pass.
We will not wait here until he comes.
He will come out when the bell rings.
EXERCISE 1
Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the verbs given in brackets:
1. Birds …………………………….. (fly) in the air.
2. She always …………………………….. (keep) her word.
3. The Gita…………………………….. (say) : Man is mortal.
4. The Muslims …………………………….. (bury) their dead.
5. The sun…………………………….. (shine) by day.
6. The milkman…………………………….. (not come) here twice a day.
7. The Ganga…………………………….. (rise) from the Himalayas.
8. …………………………….. you
…………………………….. (understand) what I say?
9. Wheat…………………………….. (sell) at seven rupees a kilo.
10. Beauty…………………………….. (need) no ornaments.
11. She usually…………………………….. (write) in black ink.
12. Barking dogs seldom…………………………….. (bite).
13. This train generally…………………………….. (run) late.
14. He often…………………………….. (forget) his purse.
15. …………………………….. he …………………………….. (go) to school
everyday?
16. …………………………….. your
friends…………………………….. (play) games?
17. If it …………………………….. (rain), we shall cancel the match.
18. If she …………………………….. (hear) of my marriage she will be
shocked.
Answers:
l. fly, 2.keeps, 3.says, 4. bury, 5.shines, 6.does not come, 7.rises, 8.Do (you)
understand, 9. sells, 10. needs, 11. writes, 12. bite, 13. runs, 14. forgets, 15. Does,
go, 16. Do, play, 17. rains, 18. hears.
2. THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE
(a) Statements
Form. Subject + is lam/are + Present Participle (Bare infinitive + ing or verb + ing)
Examples:
1. I am writing a letter.
2. Uday is reading a book.
3. Children are playing in the field.
SPELLING RULES:
While adding ‘ing’ to the first form of the verb, remember the following:
1. If the verb ends in ‘e’, this final ‘e’ is dropped before adding ‘ing’; as—
come — coming, use — using,
tease — teasing, waste — wasting.
Exception. dye — dyeing; die — dying.
 2. When the verb is of one syllable and has a vowel before the final
consonant, double the final consonant before adding ‘ing’; as—
hit—hitting, run—running, shop—shopping.
3. If the verb is of two or more syllables with stress falling on the last
syllable, double the final consonant before adding ‘ing’; as—
begin — beginning, submit — submitting.
4. If the verb ends in a single ‘l’ preceded by a vowel, double the ‘l’ before
adding ‘ing’; as—fulfil—fulfilling.
compel —compelling; quarrel —quarrelling.
(b) Interrogative Sentences
Form. Is/ am/ are + Subject + Present Participle ……………….. ?
Examples:
1. Is Madhu watching television?
2. Are they coming to the party?
3. Why are you making a noise?
Note. The ‘wh’ – question word comes before is/am/are.
(c) Negative Sentences
Form. Subject + is / am / are + not + Present Participle.
Examples:
1. We are not going out today.
2. Hemant is not flying a kite now.
3. I am not wasting my time.
(d) Negative Interrogative Sentences
Form. Is I am/are + Subject + not + Present Participle + ?
Examples:
1. Is the gardener not watering the plants now?
2. Are they not coming to the party this evening?
Important Note:
The following verbs are not normally used in the present continuous tense (The non-
conclusive actions can be conveyed by using the Simple Present):
(i) Verbs of Perception : see, hear, smell, notice.
(ii) Verbs of Thinking : think, feel, know, mean, mind, remember, forget, believe,
imagine, agree, doubt, understand etc.
(iii) Verbs of Feeling : admire, adore, care, desire, wish, love, hate, like, dislike,
forgive, want.
(iv) Verbs of Possession : have, owe, own, belong, possess.
(v) Verbs of Appearance : appear, seem, resemble, etc.
(vi) Miscellaneous Verbs : consist, contain, cost, depend, etc.
Examples:
1. I smell something burning.
2. He thinks he left his diary in his office.
3. It is raining, but she wants to go home.