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Tense & Sequence

English Language · Grammar

Useful for: SSC CGL, IBPS Banking, CTET, KVS, NVS, OTET, OSSTET, REET

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Overview

Every word has a job (noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, interjection), and the tense of the verb fixes the time of the action.

Key points

Nouns name; pronouns replace nouns; adjectives describe nouns; adverbs describe verbs, adjectives or other adverbs.
Twelve tenses = 3 times × 4 aspects (simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous).
Present perfect (has/have + V3) links the past with the present and is not used with a definite past time ("yesterday").
Past perfect (had + V3) marks the earlier of two past actions.
Use since with a point of time and for with a period of time.

Explanation

The same word can change its part of speech: "fast" is an adjective (a fast train) and an adverb (he runs fast).
Stative verbs (know, like, own, believe) are not normally used in continuous tenses.
Future time clauses after when/if/until use the present tense: "I will call you when I reach."
Present perfect continuous shows an action continuing up to now: "She has been teaching here since 2015."

Step by step

Read the whole sentence and find its subject, verb and tense.
Apply the specific rule (agreement, article, preposition, tense).
Re-read the corrected sentence for meaning and style.

Examples

"He has gone to Delhi yesterday" → "He went to Delhi yesterday" (definite past time needs simple past).
"When I reached the station, the train had left" — the earlier action takes the past perfect.
"I am knowing the answer" → "I know the answer" (know is a stative verb).

Traps and advanced points

Trap: Using present perfect with "yesterday", "last year" or "ago".
Trap: Using will after "when/if" in time clauses.
Trap: Putting stative verbs in the -ing form.

Quick revision

Definite past time → simple past.
Earlier of two past actions → had + V3.
Since + point, for + period.

Practice MCQs

For Nisha in Pune, choose the correct sentence for an activity that began in 2000 and is still continuing.
1. Nisha has been working in Pune since 2000.
2. Nisha was been working in Pune since 2000.
3. Nisha is working in Pune since 2000.
4. Nisha has working in Pune since 2000.
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Answer: (a) Nisha has been working in Pune since 2000.. Use the present perfect continuous for a continuing action from a past starting point.
For Ravi in Bhopal, choose the correct sentence for an activity that began in 2001 and is still continuing.
1. Ravi has training in Bhopal since 2001.
2. Ravi was been training in Bhopal since 2001.
3. Ravi is training in Bhopal since 2001.
4. Ravi has been training in Bhopal since 2001.
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Answer: (d) Ravi has been training in Bhopal since 2001.. Use the present perfect continuous for a continuing action from a past starting point.
For Tara in Indore, choose the correct sentence for an activity that began in 2011 and is still continuing.
1. Tara is training in Indore since 2011.
2. Tara has training in Indore since 2011.
3. Tara was been training in Indore since 2011.
4. Tara has been training in Indore since 2011.
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Answer: (d) Tara has been training in Indore since 2011.. Use the present perfect continuous for a continuing action from a past starting point.
For Arjun in Jaipur, choose the correct sentence for an activity that began in 2018 and is still continuing.
1. Arjun has studying in Jaipur since 2018.
2. Arjun was been studying in Jaipur since 2018.
3. Arjun has been studying in Jaipur since 2018.
4. Arjun is studying in Jaipur since 2018.
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Answer: (c) Arjun has been studying in Jaipur since 2018.. Use the present perfect continuous for a continuing action from a past starting point.
For Asha in Kochi, choose the correct sentence for an activity that began in 2008 and is still continuing.
1. Asha is studying in Kochi since 2008.
2. Asha has been studying in Kochi since 2008.
3. Asha was been studying in Kochi since 2008.
4. Asha has studying in Kochi since 2008.
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Answer: (b) Asha has been studying in Kochi since 2008.. Use the present perfect continuous for a continuing action from a past starting point.
Choose the correct verb: She ___ to school every day.
1. go
2. going
3. gone
4. goes
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Answer: (d) goes. Singular subject 'She' ke saath simple present me verb + s lagta hai → 'goes'.
Identify the adverb: 'He runs quickly.'
1. he
2. -
3. quickly
4. runs
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Answer: (c) quickly. 'Quickly' adverb hai — ye verb 'runs' ko modify karta hai (kaise bhaagta hai).
Choose the correct tense: 'They ___ dinner when I arrived.'
1. were having
2. have
3. has had
4. are having
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Answer: (a) were having. Past me ek kaam chal raha tha jab dusra hua → Past Continuous 'were having'.
Which word is a preposition in: 'The book is on the table'?
1. table
2. is
3. on
4. book
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Answer: (c) on. 'On' preposition hai — ye book aur table ke beech position/relation batata hai.
Choose the correct form: 'Each of the students ___ a book.'
1. having
2. are
3. has
4. have
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Answer: (c) has. 'Each' singular hota hai, isliye singular verb 'has'.
Identify the conjunction: 'She is poor but honest.'
1. she
2. but
3. poor
4. honest
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Answer: (b) but. 'But' conjunction hai — do ideas (poor, honest) ko jodta hai.
Choose the correct article: 'He is ___ honest man.'
1. no article
2. an
3. a
4. the
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Answer: (b) an. 'Honest' me 'h' silent hai, uchcharan vowel sound (o) se shuru hota → 'an'.
Which is the correct past participle (V3) of 'write'?
1. wrote
2. writing
3. writed
4. written
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Answer: (d) written. Write (V1) → wrote (V2) → written (V3).
Choose the correct pronoun: 'Neither of the boys did ___ homework.'
1. his
2. their
3. them
4. its
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Answer: (a) his. 'Neither' singular hai, isliye singular pronoun 'his'.
Identify the abstract noun: 'Honesty is the best policy.'
1. is
2. Honesty
3. policy
4. best
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Answer: (b) Honesty. 'Honesty' abstract noun hai — jise chhu nahi sakte (a quality).