CBSE Class 11 English Tenses Worksheet Set 01

Tenses

Tense is a grammar term used to indicate whether a sentence or verb is an action in the past, the present or the future.

Simple Present Tense

Structure: S + M.V1 / M.V5 + O

Uses of Simple Present Tense

Rule (1): This tense is used to express habitual, regular or repeated action.

(i) Mukesh goes to bed at 10 p.m.

(ii) He always comes here on Sunday.

Rule (2): This tense is used to express universal truth, principle and permanent activities.

(i) The sun rises in the east.

(ii) Two and two makes four.

Rule (3): This tense is used to express possession.

(i) This pen belongs to me.

(ii) He owns a big building.

Rule (4): This tense is used to express mental activity, emotions and feelings.

(i) He believes in God.

(ii) He understands my problem.

Rule (5): This tense is used to express fixed programme or fixed plan of future time. It denotes future time.

(i) The college reopens in October.

Meaning: (The college will reopen in October.)

(ii) Your exam starts at 9:00 a.m.

Meaning: (The exam will start at 9:00 a.m.)

Rule (6): This tense is used to give instructions or directions.

(i) You walk for two hundred metres, then you turn left.

(ii) Open the packet and pour the content into hot water.

Rule (7): This tense is used when an action is happening right now.

(i) Ganguli runs after the ball, catches it and throws it on the stumps.

Rule (8): This tense is used to express someone’s statement.

(i) Shakespeare says, “The course of true love never runs smooth”.

(ii) Keats says, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.”

Present Continuous Tense

Structure: S + is/ are/ am + M.V4+O

Uses of Present Continuous Tense

Rule (1): This tense is used to describe an action taking place in the current moment.

(i) Mukesh is coming now.

(ii) They are playing.

Rule (2): This tense is used for a temporary action which may not be actually happening at the time of speaking, but may continue for longer period or shorter period.

(i) I am living in a rented house.

(ii) He is studying in Berlin this year.

Rule (3): This tense is used for a fixed programme or plan of the nearest future (time).

(i) He is going to Chennai tonight.

(ii) She is going home tomorrow.

Rule (4): This tense is used to describe or emphasis a continuing series of repeated action.

(i) You are constantly complaining about your neighbour.

(ii) Harry and Sally are always arguing.

Present Prefect Tense

Structure: S + has/ have + M.V3 + O

Uses of Present Prefect Tense

• Rule (1): This tense is used to indicate/denote completed activities in the immediate past.
  • (She has written a letter.
  • I have just bought a pen.
• Rule (2): This tense is used to express the past action which are continued in the present time (or their effect is in the present time).
  • He has cut his finger.
    (It is bleeding now.)
  • She has finished her work.
    (She is free now.)
• Rule (3): This tense is used to denote an action started at some time in the past and is continuing in the present moment. The preposition for/ since is used with such actions, according to needs.
  • I have lived in this house since 1992.
    (Now also I am living in this house.)
  • He has taught in this school for five years.
    (Now also he is teaching in this school.)
• Rule (4): This tense is used to express the past actions which have been completed in the past time, but their time is not given and not definite.
  • She has gone to America.
  • Have you read ‘The Arabian Nights’?
• Rule (5): This tense is never used with the past time expressing words, such as last year, last week, last month, yesterday, the other day, ago, etc.
  • I have seen him last year. (✔)
  • I saw him last year. (✖)
  • He has arrived last week. (✔)
  • He arrived last week. (✖)

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Structure: S + has been/have been + M.V4+Object + for/since + time

Uses of Present Perfect Continuous Tense

• Rule (1): This tense is used for an action which began at some time in the past and is still continuing.
  • She has been reading a novel since morning.
  • It has been raining since last Monday.
• Rule (2): This tense is used for an action which began at some time in the past and continued for some time. It has been temporarily closed or finished at this time (moment). But its effect is continuing now.
  • It has been raining, so the pavement is wet.
  • He has been studying since morning, so he’s tired.

Simple Past Tense

Structure: S + M.V2 + O

Use of Simple Past tense

• This tense is used for an action which completed at some certain time in the past.
  • He went to Mumbai yesterday.
  • She came to see me last night.

Past Continuous Tense

Structure: S + was/ were + M.V4 + O

Use of Past Continuous Tense

• This tense is used to express an action going at some time in the past. The time of the action may or may not be indicated.
  • I was writing this book yesterday morning.
  • She saw me as she was passing by yesterday.

Past Perfect Tense

Structure: S + had + M.V3 + O

Use of Past Perfect Tense

• If the two actions took place in the past, out of which, the first action is completed first and the second action is completed next, the first completed action is called previous action and past perfect tense is used with it (the previous action), and the second completed action which happened next is called subsequent action and simple past tense is used with it (the subsequent action).
  • The crops had destroyed before it rained.
  • The bell had rung before I reached the school.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Structure: S + had + been + M.V4 + O

Use of Past Perfect Continuous Tense

• It is generally used to depict an action that started at some time in the past and continued until a specific time in the past. This tense refers to an action that had been progressing until a certain point in the past.
  • He had been eating cereal out of the box when Dad walked into the room.
  • I had been working at the restaurant for two years when I got the promotion.

Simple Future Tense

Structure: S + shall/will + M.V1 + O

Use of Simple Future Tense

• This tense is used to talk about things that haven’t happened yet.
  • Ravi will fly across the Pacific at 2’o clock tomorrow.
  • She will join Delhi University in July this year.

Future Continuous Tense

Structure: S + shall/will + be + M.V4 + O

Uses of Future Continuous Tense

• Rule (1): This tense is used to make predictions about the present.
  • Mother will be cooking dinner now.
  • (She will be getting ready for school.
• Rule (2): This tense is used to talk about future events that will be in progress at a specific time in future.
  • This time tomorrow, I will be celebrating my birthday.
  • This time next week, I will be taking my exam.

Future Perfect Tense

Structure: S + shall/will + have + M.V3 + O

Uses of Future Perfect Tense

• Rule (1): This tense is used to indicate the completion of an action by a certain future time.
  • His brother will have finished the work by next month.
  • She will have come back home by evening.
• Rule (2): This tense is used to express likelihood (possibility) or inference (guess), which is in its relation with the past.
  • You will have heard the name of Mother Teresa.
  • You will have read the Gita.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

Structure: S + shall/will + have + been + M.V4 + O

Use of Future Perfect Continuous Tense

• This tense is used to express an action which will be continued in future up to a certain time.
  • Lata will have been singing from morning.
  • The farmers will have been working in the field.

Time Expression—Present, Past, and Future Perfect Continuous Tenses

• (a) Time expression implies that action is/was/will be continuing from the past into the present. Action is/was not yet complete. The time expression is normally indicated by ‘since, for, how long, whole, all, throughout, all along’.
• (b) Time expression can be used with both continuous and indefinite.
  • Continuous + Time Expression = Perfect Continuous (Present, Past, Future)
  • Indefinite + Time Expression = Perfect (Present, Past, Future)

Asaf Khan who (a) ____________ the expedition against the city, (b) ____________ that the little country which (c) ____________ by a woman would (d) ____________ very easily without (e) ____________ even a blow. It was to his surprise when he (f) ____________ that the city (g) ____________ to offer a strong resistance. He (h) ____________ with him only a small force to fight the battle.

Question. Asaf Khan who (a) ____________ the expedition against the city,
(a) had led
(b) led
(c) was leading
(d) has led
Answer: (b) led

Question. (b) ____________ that the little country which
(a) expected
(b) has been expecting
(c) had expected
(d) was expected
Answer: (c) had expected

Question. which (c) ____________ by a woman would
(a) rule
(b) was ruled
(c) is ruled
(d) was ruling
Answer: (b) was ruled

Question. would (d) ____________ very easily
(a) was taken
(b) be taken
(c) will be taken
(d) is taking
Answer: (b) be taken

Question. without (e) ____________ even a blow.
(a) striking
(b) is striking
(c) has been striking
(d) has struck
Answer: (a) striking

Question. It was to his surprise when he (f) ____________
(a) found
(b) had found
(c) finds
(d) will find
Answer: (a) found

Question. that the city (g) ____________ to offer a strong resistance.
(a) was preparing
(b) is preparing
(c) was prepared
(d) is prepared
Answer: (c) was prepared

Question. He (h) ____________ with him only a small force to fight the battle.
(a) had brought
(b) brought
(c) has brought
(d) had been brought
Answer: (a) had brought

Question. There have been heavy rains so the Narmada (flow) pretty fast
Answer: There have been heavy rains, so the Narmada is flowing pretty fast.

Question. They (work) diligently because they are paid well.
Answer: They work diligently because they are paid well.

Question. After the derailment, the trains are again (run) on time.
Answer: After the derailment, the trains are again running on time.

Question. We (do) our assignments. Now we can go out and play.
Answer: We have done our assignments. Now we can go out and play.

Question. The bus (break down) yesterday but the driver (repair) it.
Answer: The bus broke down yesterday but the driver has repaired it.

Question. The temperature (soar) to 45°C but it again (come) down.
Answer: The temperature had soared to 45°C but it again came down.