Tenses

  • Tenses are divided into past, present and future.
  • There are two aspects in English – The continuous and the perfect. The continuous aspect shows that an action is still in progress, while the perfect aspects shows that the work is complete.

Uses of the Present Simple Tense:

  • The simple present tense is used to express universal truths, facts, customs.
  • To express a permanent state.

Uses of Present Continuous Tense:

  • The Present Continuous tense is used for an action that is in progress at the time of speaking.
  • It is used to describe an action that is planned to take place in the near future.

Present Perfect Tense:

  • The present Perfect Tense is used to express an action that has been recently completed.
  • It is used for an action which began in the past and is still continuing.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense:

  • The Present Perfect Tense is used to express an action which began at some time in the past and is still continuing.
  • It is used to express an action which has already been finished.

Simple Past Tense:

  • The simple Past Tense is used for an activity done in the past.
  • It is used to express a habitual or regular action in the past.

The Past Continuous Tense:

  • The Past Continuous Tense is used to express an action in progress in the past.
  • To describe two or more actions continuing at the same time.

Past Perfect Tense:

  • The Past Perfect Tense is used to describe an action taking place before a particular time in the past.
  • It is also used to express an unfulfilled wish.

Past Continuous Tense:

  • The Past Continuous Tense is used to express a repeated action in the past.
  • It is also used to describe an action in past that had begun and had been going for sometimes before another action took place in the past.

Simple Future Tense:

  • The Simple Future Tense is used to express the speaker’s opinion, for something to be done in the future.
  • It is also used for an action that is yet to take place.

Future Perfect Tense

  • The Future Perfect Tense is used to express speaker’s belief that something that something has taken place.
  • It is also used to express an action that is expected to be completely by a certain time in future.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense:

  • The Future Perfect Continuous Tense is used to express an action as being in progress over a period of time that will end at some point in the future.

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs given in the brackets.

1. The Police _________ four thieves last night.(catch)

2. I was _________ food when he came in.(cook)

3. It __________ since 9 O’ clock.(rain)

4. I certainly __________ my colleague if I had been there.(help)

5. Stars _________ in the sky at night. (twinkle)

6. All the students ________ the classwork when the teacher came in.(do)

7. Nagesh __________ tomorrow from Patna.(come)

8. The patient __________ before the doctor came. (die)

9. I saw that the policemen _________ the thieves.(chase)

10. He saw very rude person, I _________ him. (not help)

Answers 

1. Caught                    2. Cooking                     3. Has been raining          4. Would have helped                  5. Twinkle            6. Were doing           7. Will come                  8. Had died                         9. Were chasing                            10. Won’t help

Questions For practice:

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs given in the brackets.

1. Water _______ on heating. (evaporates)

2. Shantanu __________all the chocolates. (eat)

3. Farmers _________the field.(plough)

4. If I _________ you i would not repeated that mistake. (be)

5. I ___________ this book for last four years.(write)

6. I __________ you in writing the essay.(help)

7. Two aeroplanes ________ flying in the sky.(be)

8. He ________back yet.(not come)

9. While I ________ to music, my younger son was dancing.(listen)

10. Some of my Friends _________ the Taj Mahal last week. (visit)

                                                    MODALS

Modals are verbs such as can, must, could, would, etc. Which are used with main verbs to express such ideas as possibility, permission, obligation, etc.

1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate modals.

1. We ________ obey parents. (have to, must)

2. She ________ pass this time. (ought to, has to)

3. He _________ not buy a car.  (has to, needs)

4. You _________tell the truth. (ought to, must)

5. She__________ do yoga daily. (Should, need to)

6. She _______finish this work before I go. (has to, must)

7. We ________ prepare our lessons well before examination.(ought to, must)

8. Do you ___________cook your own meal? (should, have to)

9. The villagers __________use lamp a few years ago.

10. The old lady _________take a bath daily before having meal.

Answers 

1. Have to                        2. Ought to                            3. Needs                            4. Ought to                          5. Should

6. Must                            7. Ought to                            8. Have to                         9. Had to                              10. Should

Questions for Practice: 

1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate modals:

1. We __________pay attention to our studies. (Ought to, Should)

2. You __________not litter the classroom. (Should, Could)

3. I ________talk to you immediately (Need to, Ought to)

4. They will _________clear all the doubts before the starting of meeting. (Have to, Had to)

5. You _________ not use the office phone for private calls. (Must, Have to)

6. You ________ consult a doctor. (Should, Ought to)

7. She __________to work a little harder. (Ought to, Must)

8. You ___________take this medicine. (Have to, must)

9. You __________look after your old parents. (Should, Have to)

10. They __________not send the letter now.(need, would)