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Tense

2 TENSE
CHAPTER

Tense

TENSE

1. Present 2. Past 3. Future

Sub-Division:- • Indefinite • Continuous • Perfect • Perfect Continuous

formula confusing

CONFUSING PAIR :
(1) Simple Present and Present Continuous
(2) Continous and Perfect Continuous
(3) Present Perfect and Simple Past
(4) Simple Past and Past Perfect
(1) PRESENT INDEFINITE: Present Indefinite
(i) Routine action • Regular action - I come here daily.
• Irregular action - Earthquakes come in Japan.
• Habits - He smokes.
• Universal truth - The sun rises in the east.
(ii) Newspaper headlines sports commentary simple present tense

PM signs deal.
Sachin strikes the ball and off it goes across the boundary line.
(iii) planned simple present tense

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Tense
The Prime Minister leaves for China next week.
Formulae: + ve  Sub + V1 + obj.( Sub I, we, they, you plural )
- ve  Sub + do not (don’t) + V1 + obj.
Ques  Do + Sub + V1 + obj?
Do + Sub + not+ V1 + obj?
Don't + Sub + V1 + obj?

+ ve  Sub + V1 + s/es + obj. ( sub he, she, it, name singular )

- ve  Sub + does not (doesn’t) + V1 + obj.
Ques  Does + Sub + V1 + obj?
Does + Sub + not+ V1 + obj?
Doesn't + Sub + V1 + obj?
Correct the following sentences:-
(1) What he knows about you? (×)
What does he know about you?.()
(2) I don't know what he knows about you.()
(3) The appeal of the victims to transfer the cases related to riots to some
other States do not affect the merit of the case. (change do to does)

'what' 'what' 'Question form'

'what' 'what' 'sentence form'
'question form'

(3) verb sub main sub verb

Subject match
SIMPLE PAST

 simple past
I saw you but you did not see me.
Formulae: Sub + V2 + obj
Sub + did not (didn't) + V1 + obj
Did + Sub + V1 + obj ?
Did + Sub + not + V1 + obj ?
Didn't + sub + V1 + obj ?

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Tense
'It's time' 'It's high time' sub sub
verb 2nd form
It's time you should study. (×)
It's time you studied. ()
 'It's time' to to verb Ist form
It's time to study.

(1) You do come

 here everyday. ()
V1

(2) He did make

 a mistake. ()
V1

 do, does did Helping verb positive

main verb do, does did main verb
main verb 'v1' form
Past Tense
I have come yesterday (×)
I came yesterday ()
SIMPLE FUTURE
 Simple Future tense
I shall meet you.
Formulae: + ve  Sub + shall/ will + V1 + obj
-ve  Sub + shall/ will + not + V1 + obj
Sub + shan't/ won't + V1 + obj
Ques  Shall/will + sub + V1 + obj ?
Shall/ will + sub + not + V1 + obj ?
Shan't/ won't + sub + V1 + obj ?

Shall/will Modals
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
 Present Continuous tense

(1) I am studying Tense now.

 'Present Continuous Tense'

(1) Coastal areas are getting submerged.

(2) Population is increasing day by day.
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Tense
Present Continuous Tense

I am going to Mumbai tomorrow.

Formulae: + ve  Sub + is/ am/ are + v1 + ing+ obj
- ve  Sub + is/ are/ am/ + not + v1 + ing+ obj
Sub + isn't/ aren't/ am not + v1 + ing+ obj
Ques  Is/ am/ are + S + v1 + ing+ obj?
Is/ am/ are + S + not + v1 + ing+ obj?
Isn't/ aren't + S + v1 + ing+ obj?
'am not' contracted form Question Tag aren't

I am fine, aren't I ?
 Is/am/are
Is – he/she/it/name/singular
Am – I
Are – you/we/they/all/plural
My father is working in a bank and my brother is studying is a school. (×)
My father works in a bank and my brother studies in a school. ( )
 'routine' Present Continuous 'simple present'
routine action present continuous
tense
I am preparing for competitive exams now-a-days.
PAST CONTINUOUS
 Past Continuous tense
I was waiting for you
Formulae: + Ve  Sub + was/were + V 1 + ing + obj
- Ve  Sub + was/were + not + V 1 + ing + obj
Sub + wasn't/weren't + V 1 + ing + obj
Ques  Was/were + Sub + V1 + ing + obj?
Was/were + Sub + not+ V1 + ing + obj?
Wasn't/weren't + Sub + V1 + ing + obj?

 Was/were
Was  He/she/it/name/singular/I
Were  You/we/they/plural/all
 sub 'were' 'were' 'helping verb'
'main verb'

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Tense

were
1. I wish, I 
  a bird.

M. V .

were
2. He pretended as if he 
 
 sleeping.
H.V.

FUTURE CONTINUOUS
 Future Continuous tense
We shall be taking the exam at this time, next month.
Formulae: + Ve  Sub + shall/ will + be + V1 + ing + obj
- Ve  Sub + shall/ will + not + be + V1 + ing + obj
Sub + shan't/ won't + be + V1 + ing + obj
Ques  Will/shall + Sub + be+V1 + ing + obj?
Will/shall + Sub + not+ be+ V1 + ing + obj?
Won't/shan't + Sub +be+ V1 + ing + obj?
verbs continuous tense verbs
'ing' form

,slsVERBSdh lwph
(1) Verbs of Perception- See, taste, smell, hear, prefer, please, notice, recognize.
(2) Verbs of Thinking Process- Think, know, mean, mind, remember, suppose.
(3) Verbs Showing Possession- Own, have, belong, comprise, possess, contain, consist.
(4) Verbs expressing Feelings or State of Mind- Believe, like, dislike, love, adore,
want, wish, desire, hate, agree, trust, imagine.
(5) Verbs in General- Look, seem, appear, affect, resemble, cost, require, become,
hope, refuse.

1. He is owing a car. (×)

He owns a car. ()
2. This house is belonging to me. (×)
This house belongs to me. ()
3. I am not meaning anything wrong. (×)
I don't mean anything wrong. ()
4. I am seeing a man standing there. (×)
I see a man standing there. ()
'have' 'have' 'ing' 'have'
/ enjoy 'have' 'ing'
I am having a piece of cake. ()
I am having a car. (×)
I have a car. ()
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Tense
 Think, remember, feel, look, appear etc. 'ing'
'ing' form
eg- 2 4
1. I am thinking you are right. (×)
I think you are right. ()
2. I am thinking of you. ()
3. It was appearing as if they were going to kill us. (×)
It appeared as if they were going to kill us.()
4. You are looking good. ()
2. Gerund Present participle verb 'ing' form
(1) Being ill, I could not come.
(2) Getting a job is easy now-a-days.
(3) Seeing is believing.
(4) Swimming is a good exercise.
Verb (Advance)
3. preposition verb verb 'ing' form

(1) Bats are capable of hearing

  the ultrasonic waves.
V1 +ing

(2) We must keep away from smoking .


V1 +ing

PRESENT PERFECT
 Present Perfect Tense
He has come to Delhi recently.
 Present
perfect Tense
We have progressed a lot.
We have reached the moon.
Formulae: + Ve  Sub + has/ have + V3 + obj

- Ve  Sub + has/ have + not + V3 + obj

Sub + hasn't/ haven't + V3 + obj
Ques  Has/ have + Sub + V3 + obj ?
Has/ have + Sub +not+ V3 + obj ?
Hasn't/ haven't + Sub + V3 + obj ?

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Tense
Has/have
has - He/ She/ It/ Name/Singular
have- I/ We/ They/ You/ Plural/ All

1. Science has given us many new inventions. ()

2. We have reached the moon. ()
1. Science has given us many new inventions in the 19th century. (×)
2. We have reached the moon on 22nd Oct, 2008. (×)
 Present perfect Simple past tense

1. Science gave us many life saving drugs in the 19th century. ()
2. We reached the moon on 22nd Oct, 2008. ()
1. I have had enough problems here ()
He has had his breakfast ()
have form ( have forms helping verb had ( had
main verb Present perfect Past perfect Formulae
fit
2. recently, already, yet, so far perfect tense 'yet'
perfect tense -ve
He has not reached home yet (present perfect)
He had not done any work so far. (past perfect)
3. since simple past since present perfect
I
haven't
  since he
seen him left
India
.
Present perfect Simple past

1. present perfect modal perfect form

He may have grown old since she
last
saw him.

 
Modal in perfect form Simple past

2. since simple past since

Since he joined the army , he has not taken any leave.

     
Simple past Present perfect

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Tense
PAST PERFECT

1. I saw him before he stopped his car. (×)

I had seen him before he stopped his car. ()
2. Before he understood anything the robber fled. (×)
Before he understood anything the robber had fled. ()
3. I met him after I finished my work. (×)
I met him after I had finished my work. ()
4. By the time I reached the theatre, the show started. (×)
By the time I reached the theatre, the show had started. ()
5. When Anand reached his village, he found that the news about him had preceded
him. ()

 formation
1 action before 2 nd action
st

Past Perfect Sim ple Past

 formation

2nd action 1st action

Before ,
S.Past Past Perfect
 formation

2nd action after 1st action

Simple Past Past Perfect
 formation
2nd action 1st action
By the time ,
Simple Past Past Perfect
 Past Past perfect Simple
Past tense.
Formulae: + Ve  Sub + had + V3 + obj
- Ve  Sub + had + not (hadn't) + V3 + obj
Ques  Had + sub + V3 + obj ?
Had + sub +not + V3 + obj ?
Hadn't + sub + V3 + obj ?

When Anand reached his village, he found that the news about him had preceded him.

 Anand (Simple Past) News

(Precede action 'simple past'
'past perfect tense' 'news Past perfect tense
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Tense
FUTURE PERFECT
 Future Perfect
You will have finished your syllabus by this time next year.
sentence formation
By the time I
reach
the station,
  the train
 will have left.
 
 
By the time, Simple Present Future Perfect

By the time, Simple Present, Future Perfect

Formulae: + Ve  Sub + will/shall + have + V3 + obj
- Ve  Sub + will/shall + not + have + V3 + obj
Sub + won't/shan't + have + V3 + obj
Ques  Will/shall + Sub + have+ V3 + obj ?
Will/shall + Sub + not + have + V3 + obj ?
Won't/shan't + Sub +have + V3 + obj ?

1. By the time I

reach
the station,
 the train
will have left
   .
Simple Present Future Perfect

2. By the time I

reached the station
  , the
train
had left
.
Simple Past Past Perfect

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

 Present Perfect Continuous tense

I have been living in Delhi for five years.

Formulae:
+ Ve  Sub + has/ have + been + V1 + ing + obj+ for/ since + time.
- Ve  Sub + has/ have + not + been + V1 + ing + obj+ for/ since + time.
Sub + hasn't/ haven't + been + V1 + ing + obj+ for/ since + time.
Ques  Has/ have + Sub + + been + V1+ ing + obj + for/ since + time?
Has/have + Sub +not+ been + V1+ing + obj + for/since +time?
Hasn't/ haven't + Sub + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/ since + time?
I am teaching you since an hour. (×)
I have been teaching you for an hour. ()

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Tense
 For- 'For'
For two hours, for last 2 years
For five days, for last 2 months
For 10 years, for last 3 weeks
 Since- since
Since monday, since the beginning
Since 2008, since time immemorial
Since 7 P.M., since last year
Since 'since'

Days → Monday, Tuesday etc.

Dates → 7th May, 8th July etc.
Calendar
Years → 2005, 2007 etc.
Since Months → May, June etc.
Occasions → Holi, Diwali etc.

Clock 7 o' clock, 8 p.m etc.

Stages of life Childhood, adolescence etc.
Part of each day Morning, last night, noon etc.

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

 Past Perfect Continuous Tense

I had been waiting for you since morning.

Formulae: + Ve  Sub + had + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/ since + time.
-Ve  Sub + had + not (hadn't) + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/ since + time.
Ques  Had + sub + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/ since + time ?
Had + sub + not+ been + V1 + ing + obj + for/ since + time ?
Hadn't + sub + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/ since + time ?

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

 Future Perfect Continuous tense

I shall have been living in Delhi for five years by the end of this year.
He will have been playing from 2 O' clock

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Tense

Formulae: + Ve  Sub + shall/will + have + been + V1 +ing + obj +for/ from+time

- Ve  Sub + shall/will + not + have + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/from + time
Sub + shan't/won't + have + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/ from + time
Ques  Will/shall+sub + have + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/ from+time?
Will/shall + sub + not + have + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/from + time ?
Won't/shan't + sub + have + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/ from + time ?

1. verbs : 'ing' continuous/perfect continuous

tense verb 'ing' form 'verbs'
continuous tense indefinite tense
I am knowing you. (×)
I know you. ()
2. verbs 'perfect continuous' 'Perfect Tense'
I have been knowing him for five years. (×)
I have known him for five years. ()
3. For/Since perfect and perfect continuous tense
I have been living in Delhi for five years. ()
I had known him for two years. ()
4. Since + time perfect perfect
continuous tense
I ate nothing since morning. (×)
I have eaten nothing since morning. ()

SPOTTING THE ERROR

1. (a) I have not seen him since twenty years/ (b) and so I cannot say with certainty/
(c) whether he is alive or dead./ (d) No error
2. (a) When he did not find his cook in the kitchen/ (b) he asked his wife/ (c) where
had he gone./ (d) No error
3. (a) Although I am playing cricket/ (b) for more than three years/ (c) I have not been
able to score a century/ (d) No error
4. (a) I do not know where could he have gone/ (b) so early/ (c) in the morning./ (d) No error
5. (a) By the time/ (b) we got our tickets and entered the cinema theatre,/ (c) the
show was already begun./ (d) No error
6. (a) By the time/ (b) we will get our tickets and enter the cinema theatre,/ (c) the
show will have already begun./ (d) No error
7. (a) Gowri told me/ (b) his name after/ (c) he left./ (d) No error

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Tense

8. (a) we have been/ (b) celebrating many festivals/ (c) since centuries./ (d) No error
9. (a) Old age and infirmity/ (b) had began to/ (c) catch up with him./ (d) No error
10. (a) The passer-by told us/ (b) where was the marriage hall/ (c) and even led us to it./
(d) No error
11. (a) I have passed / (b) the examination/ (c) two years ago/ (d) No error
12. (a) Since he joined/ (b) this post, he did not take/ (c) any bribe./ (d) No error
13. (a) Perhaps you know/ (b) that I have passed/ (c) the examination in 1990./ (d) No
error
14. (a) He has read four plays/ (b) written by Shakespeare/ (c) by the end of his vacation./
(d) No error
15. (a) When they stole / (b) the money/ (c) and where did they hide it?./ (d) No error
16. (a) The teacher/ (b) has took/ (c) the responsibility/ (d) No error.
17. (a) For time immemorial/ (b) sea shells have been used by man/ (c) in many ways./ (d)
No error
18. (a) The river is in spate/ (b) and it has overflown/ (c) its banks./ (d) No error
19. (a) The little boy/ (b) had been waiting for his turn/ (c) since a long time./ (d) No
error
20. (a) This T.V. serial/ (b) is going on/ (c) for 3 years./ (d) No error
21. (a) In the early years of the renaissance of Bharatanatyam, hereditary dancers
have their own set of accompanists/ (b) who lived with the dancers and travelled
with them from place to place/ (c) when they gave performances./ (d) No error
22. (a) This is turned out to be/ (b) one of our most successful projects/ (c) and we have
made quite/ (d) a large profit from it./ (e) No error
23. (a) He is given me/ (b) a lot of documents/ (c) to read before/ (d) the presentation
tomorrow./ (e) No error
24. (a) Since the trip home/ (b) was expensive I/ (c) did not went home/ (d) during the
holidays./ (e) No error
25. (a) As she is late/ (b) for work yesterday she decided/ (c) to skip breakfast and/ (d)
leave for office./ (e) No error
26. (a) As soon as the CEO entered the office, the/ (b) union leaders approached him/
(c) and report the matter to him./ (d) No error
27. (a) The college/ (b) is running a computer course/ (c) since 2007./ (d) No error
28. (a) Did he tell you/ (b) why he hasn’t/ (c) come yesterday?/ (d) No error
29. (a) Last night I dream/ (b) I was a Sheikh on the 169th floor/ (c) of Burj Khalifa./ (d)
No error
30. (a) She and her sister/ (b) were working here/ (c) since 1983./ (d) No error

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Tense
31. (a) Nobody saw him/ (b) since the fire broke/ (c) in his locality./ (d) No error
32. (a) By this time next year/ (b) Ramesh will take/ (c) his degree./ (d) No error
33. (a) The families/ (b) are living in Gulmohar Park/ (c) for the last two decades./ (d)
No error
34. (a) My uncle/ (b) has left/ (c) for Bombay last Saturday./ (d) No error
35. (a) Good heavens !/ (b) How has she/ (c) grown !/ (d) No error
36. (a) I ate/ (b) nothing/ (c) since morning/ (d) No error
37. (a) He/ (b) is having/ (c) many friends here/ (d) No error
38. (a) When I went there/ (b) Charles is playing/ (c) a game of chess/ (d) No error
39. (a) The vaccine/ (b) when hit the market/ (c) is dogged by controversy/ (d) No error
40. (a) The victim tried to tell us/ (b) what has happened but/ (c) his voice was not audible./
(d) No error
41. (a) Our history can be seen as a long evolutionary dialectical development/(b) in
which there have been/ (c) a painstaking forging of rational and moral self./(d) No
error
42. (a) Last year two Italian prisoners of war/ (b) escapes from a prison camp/ (c) in
Kenya during the war./ (d) No error
43. (a) Madhuri Dixit/ (b) is having/ (c) a large fan following./ (d) No error
44. (a) No one heard anything/ (b) about him since/ (c) he left India for good./ (d) No error
45. (a) Before the teacher/ (b) could finish the question/ (c) the students gave the
correct answer./ (d) No error
46. (a) She did not prepare/ (b) her/ (c) breakfast yet./ (d) No error
47. (a) Perhaps you do not know/ (b) I am owning/ (c) a farm house besides two bungalows./
(d) No error
48. (a) When Anand reached his village/ (b) he found that / (c) the news about him
preceded him./ (d) No error
49. (a) She will already return/ (b) home/ (c) when he arrives./ (d) No error
50. (a) Each one of them/ (b) has have his share/ (c) of joy and sorrow./ (d) No error
51. (a) This custom/ (b) has come down/ (c) since times immemorial./ (d) No error
52. (a) Since his arrival in India,/ (b) he is visiting as many villages as he can/ (c) to
acquire a firsthand knowledge of the rural India./ (d) No error.
53. (a) Believe me, I/ (b) am believing/ (c) whatever you have said./ (d) No error.
54. (a) It is time/ (b) we should have done/ (c) something useful/ (d) No error.
55. (a) Mother said,/ (b) “Son,/ (c) you have finished your homework?”/ (d) No error.
56. (a) I am going to buy/ (b) a computer/ (c) when the prices comes down./ (d) No error.
57. (a) I wish/ (b) I have learnt swimming/ (c) when I was young./ (d) No error.
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Tense

Answers with explanation

1. (a) 'twenty years' 'since' 'for'
2. (c) 'he' had helping verb
subject
3. (a) 'am' 'have been' present perfect continuous tense'
4. (a) He could
5. (c) was 'had'
'Past perfect tense' 'simple past tense'
6. (b) 'will' 'we get our tickets' formation
'simple present tense'
'future perfect tense
7. (c) 'he had left' formation
Simple Past after Past
Perfect

 st
2nd Action 1 Action

8. (c) 'since' 'for' 'centuries'

9. (b) had V3 'begun'
10. (b) marriage hall 'was'
11. (a) I passed (Simple past) formation
present perfect Simple past tense
12. (b) 'He did not take 'he has not taken'
Since S + V2 S + has + V3 (Present Perfect point )
   
S . Past Pres . Perf .

13. (b) 'I passed' formation II

14. (a) 'He will have read' 'He has read'
future perfect tense
15. (a) 'When they stole' 'When did they steal'
16. (b) has V3 'taken'
17. (a) Time immemorial 'for'
'since'
18. (b) 'Overflow' V3 overflowed
19. (c) 'since' 'for' 'a long time'
20. (b) Is going 'has been going' present perfect Continuous
tense
21. (a) 'early years of renaissance' hereditary
dancers 'have' 'had'
22. (a) 'This is turned out' ' this has turned out' present perfect

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Tense
tense

23. (a) 'He is given me' 'he has given me'

24. (c) did not V1 'went' 'go'
25. (a) 'She is late' 'she was late' yesterday

26. (c) 'report' 'reported' verb 'report' verb 'V2' form

27. (b) is 'running' 'has been running'
28. (b) 'he hasn't ' 'he hadn't' 11
29. (a) 'last night V2 dream dreamed dreamt
30. (b) 'were' 'had been' since + time (since 1983)
Past Perfect Continuous tense
31. (a) 'Nobody has seen him' Since 'simple past' Since
'Present perfect'
32. (b) 'Ramesh will take' 'Ramesh will have taken'

33. (b) 'are' 'have been'

34. (b) has left 'left' 11
35. (b) 'has she' 'she has'
36. (a) 'I ate' I have eaten' 'Since/for + time' perfect
perfect Continuous tense
37. (b) 'is having' 'has' 'have' 'to possess' 'have'
'ing'
38. (b) 'is' 'was' 'When I went there'

39. (c) 'is' was vaccine when hit' simple past tense

40. (b) 'has' 'had' victim

Past Perfect tense
41. (b) 'have' 'has'
42. (b) 'escapes' 'escaped'
43. (b) 'is having' 'has'
44. (a) 'No one heard' 'no one has heard'
45. (c) 'the students gave' 'the students had given'
Before Simple Past , Past  (Past Perfect
Perfect
  st

2nd Action 1 Action

English – from Plinth to Paramount 39

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Tense
46. (a) 'She did not prepare' 'she has not prepared' 'yet'
'Present perfect negative sentences
47. (b) 'I am owning' 'I own'
48. (c) 'Preceded' 'had preceded (47 Past Perfect

49. (a) 'Will have already returned' 6

50. (b) 'has' V3 'had'
51. (c) 'times' 'time'
52. (b) 'is' 'has been'
53. (b) 'am believing' 'believe'
54. (b) 'we should have done' 'we did'
55. (c) 'you have' 'have you'
56. (c) 'Prices comes' 'price comes'
57. (b) 'have' 'had' Past

40 English – from Plinth to Paramount

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