Tense is the form taken by a verb to indicate time and continuance or completeness of action. The continuance or completeness of action is denoted by four subcategories.

Simple Tense: It is used for habitual or routine actions in the Present Tense, action which is over in the Past Tense and action to happen in the Future Tense.
Continuous Tense: The action is incomplete or continuous or going on.
Perfect Tense: The action is complete, finished, or perfect with respect to a certain point of time.
Perfect Continuous Tense: The action is going on continuously over a long period of time and is yet to be finished.

The different tenses and the verb forms used in each tense

Name of Tenses	Verb form used in Tenses with Example
Present simple / indefinite	Verb / verb + s/es She writes a paper
Present continuous / Progressive	Is/am/are + verb + ing She is writing a paper
Present perfect	Has / have + third form of verb She has written a paper
Present perfect continuous	Has / have + been + verb + ing She has been writing a paper
Past simple / indefinite	Second form of verb only She wrote a paper
Past continuous / Progressive	Was / were + verb + ing She was writing a paper
Past perfect	Had + third form of verb She had written a paper
Past perfect continuous	Had been + verb + ing She had been writing a paper
Future simple / indefinite	Shall / will + verb She will write a paper
Future continuous / Progressive	Shall / will + be + verb + ing She will be writing a paper
Future perfect	Shall / will + Have + past participle She will have written a paper
Future perfect continuous	Shall / will + have been + verb + ing She will have been writing a paper

Uses of Simple Present Tense

Verb Forms: Verb / verb+s/es
1. To express a habitual action.
For example:
I get up every day at five o’clock.
2. To express general truths
For example:
Fortune favours the brave.
3. In vivid narrative, as substitute for the simple past.
For example:
Immediately the Sultan hurries to his capital.
4. To indicate a future event that is part of a fixed programme or timetable.
For example:
The train leaves at 5:20 am.
Note: We can also use will leave in place of leaves.
5. It is used to introduce quotations.
For example:
Keats says, ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever.
6. In exclamatory’ sentences beginning with here and there to express what is actually taking place in the present.
For example:
Here comes the bus!
7. When two actions of the future are being talked about, one dependent on the other, the former action is represented by present simple and the latter by future simple.
For example:
We shall go when the child comes back home.
Uses of Present Continuous Tense
Verb Forms: is/am/are + verb + ing
1. For an action going on at the time of speaking.
For example:
The boys are playing cricket in the ground.
2. For a temporary action that may not be actually happening at the time of speaking but was happening in the recent past and is still happening in the recent future.
For example:
I am reading Sidney Sheldon now a days.
3. To express changing or developing situations.
For example:
India is progressing day by day.
4. For an action that is planned or arranged to take place in the near future.
For example:
I am going to cinema tonight.
Note: But it is not good to use the present continuous for slightly distant future. So, don’t say “I am going to cinema next week.”
Rather, use the future simple.
So, it is better if you say “I will go to the cinema next week.”
5. When the reference is to a particularly obstinate habit, the present continuous is used instead of present simple. An adverb like always, continually, constantly is also used.
For example:
It is no use scolding him; he always does what is forbidden. (Incorrect)
Note: that his doing what is forbidden has become a die-hard habit. The habit persists in spite of advice or warning. So, we should use the present continuous.
For example:
It is no use scolding him; he is always doing what is forbidden. (Correct)

Uses of Present Perfect Tense
Verb Forms: Has / have + third form of verb
1. To indicate the completed activities in the immediate past.
For example:
He has just gone out.
2. Action completed in the immediate past or an action of the past whose effect lingers in the present.
For example:
I wrote three books. (Incorrect)
The given sentence appears to be incomplete. The reader of the sentence immediately queries- “When did you write three books?” It would be a different case if you said
For example:
I wrote books.
Then the reader would infer that you wrote books in the past as a profession or hobby. But when you are being so specific as to say “three books”, we immediately feel the need of a time frame.
Since no time frame is mentioned, we assume it to be ‘by now’. So, we have something to the effect.
For example:
I have written three books by now.
This ‘by now’ is implied and need not be written.
So, for example:
I have written three books. (Correct)
3. The present perfect is never used with adverbs of past time. In such cases, the past simple should be used.
For example:
India has won the match last week (Incorrect)
“Last week” is not immediate past. You may therefore be tempted to use the present perfect. But remember that the immediate past here does not go unindicated. Last week is being used as an adverb of past time.
So, For example:
India won the match last week. (Correct)
4. To express past actions whose time is not given and not definite – actions with their effect continuing in the present.
For example:
I have never known him to be angry.
Have you read ‘Gulliver’s Travels’?
5. To describe the past events when we think more of their effect in the present than of the action itself.
For example:
I have cut my finger.
6. For long actions and situations which started in the near past and went on until very recently.
For example:
I have read three chapters since this morning.
Uses of Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Verb Forms: Has / have + been + verb + ing
For an action, which began at some time in the past and is still continuing. With the present perfect continuous tense an adverb or phrase that expresses time is used.
For example:
I have been reading this book since morning.
They have been building the bridge for several months.
Uses of Simple Past Tense
Verb Forms: Second form of verb only
1. To indicate an action completed in the past. Generally, adverbs or adverb phrases of past time are used in the past simple tense.
For example:
The steamer sailed yesterday.
He went home some time back.
2. To express imaginary present situations or imaginary future events that may not happen.
For example:
If I had longer holidays, I would be very happy.
If I got rich, I would travel all over the world.
3. When this tense is used without an adverb of time, then time may be either implied or indicated by the context.
For example:
I didn’t sleep well. (i.e., last night)
4. For past habits ‘used to’ is added to the verb.
For example:
She used to carry an umbrella.
Uses of Past Continuous Tense
Verb Forms: Was / were + verb + ing
1. To denote an action going on at some time in the past. The time of the action may or may not be indicated.
For example:
It was getting darker.
We were listening to the radio all evening.
2. When a new action happened in the middle of a longer action. In this case Past simple and Past continuous are used together. Past simple is used for the new action.
For example:
The light went out while I was reading.
3. For persistent habits in the past.
For example:
She was always chewing gum.
Uses of Past Perfect Tense
Verb Forms: Had + third form of verb
When two actions happened in the past. In this case it is necessary to show which action happened earlier than the other. Here past perfect is used for the action, which happened earlier.
For example:
When I reached the station the train had started.
I had done my exercise when Hari came to see me.
Past perfect continuous Tense
Verb Forms: Had been + verb + ing
An action that began before a certain point of time in the past and was continuing at the given point of time in the sentence. A time expression like since last year, for the last few days is generally put after perfect continuous tense.
For example:
At that time he had been writing a novel for two months.
Here, At that time is the given point of time and for two months is the point of time in the past.
Uses of Simple Future Tense
Verb Forms: Shall / will + verb
For an action that has still to take place.
For example:
I shall see him tomorrow.
Tomorrow will be Sunday.

Uses of Future Continuous Tense
Verb Forms: Shall / will + be + verb + ing
1. Represents an action as going on at sometime in the future.
For example:
I shall be reading the paper then.
2. Represents the future events that are planned.
For example:
He will be meeting us next week.
Uses of Future Perfect Tense
Verb Forms: Shall / will + Have + past participle
To indicate the completion of an event by a certain future time.
For example:
I shall have written my exercise by that time.
Uses of Future Perfect Continuous Tense
Verb Forms: Shall / will + have been + verb + ing
1. The future perfect continuous tense indicates an action represented it being in progress over a period of time that will end in the future. Generally, the time period is mentioned along with it.
For example:
By next July we shall have been living here for four years.
2. Event occurring at the same time must be given in the same tense.
For example:
When he fainted his brother was with him.
3. Will or Shall cannot be used twice in the same sentence even if both the actions refer to the future tense.
For example:
I shall come if he will call me. (Incorrect)
I shall come if he calls me. (Correct)
4. With the phrases as if and as though the past tense and plural form of the verb should be used.
For example:
He behaves as if he is a king. (Incorrect)
He behaves as if he were a king. (Correct)
5. With the word ‘wish’ four verbs are used namely were, had, could and would.
‘Were’ is used when the wish seems to be unrealisable.
For example:
I wish I were a king.
6. ‘Had’ is used when our wish is a lament over the past happening.
For example:
I wish I had accepted that job.
7. ‘Would’ is used when we refer to the future.
For example:
I wish I would get a ticket.
8. ‘Could’ is used when we wish that something that has happened already should have happened otherwise.
For example:
He did not go because he was busy yesterday. I wish he could go with you.
9. ‘For’ is used for a period of time.
For example:
He has been working for two hours.
10. ‘Since’ is used with a point of time.
For example:
He has been working since morning.
11. In case of conditional sentences ‘had’ and ‘would have’ are used.
For example:
If I had met him I would have invited him.

Fill in the blanks in the following with the correct form of the verb given in (Present Tense)
1. I ……… in Model Town. (live)
2. The mother ……… food for us. (cook)
3. She ……. to temple every morning. (go)
4. He ……… on me whenever he wants. call)
5. I …….. what my sister (eat)
6. My father …………. from his office in the evening. (return)
7. They …………. football every evening. (play)
8. I …………. everybody well. (wish)
9. The cat …………. rats. (kill)
10. The farmers ………….. rain. (need)
Answers:
1. live
2. cooks
3. goes
4. call
5. eat, eats
6. returns
7. play
8. wish
9. kills
10. need

Fill in the following blanks with correct tense of the verbs given in brackets :
1. Look ! the sun ………… (rise)
2. Why ……….. you ………….. so fast ? (run)
3. The children ………. .in the park. (play)
4. Mohini ……….. a novel now. (read)
5. Water …………. from the running tap. (flow)
6. …………… it ………… outside now ? (rain)
7. What …………. your sister these days ? (do)
8. I ………… tonight. (return)
9. They …………… for Kanpur tomorrow. (leave)
10. Why ………… you ……….. a noise ? (make)
Answers
1. is rising
2. are, running
3. are playing
4. is reading
5. is flowing
6. Is, raining
7. is, doing
8. am returning
9. are leaving
10. are, making

Fill in the following blanks with correct tense (present) of the verbs given in brackets :
1. Where ………… you ………… your purse ? (lose)
2. ………… she not yet her work ? (finish)
3. How many sums ………… she ………… ? (solve)
4. My sister ………… from Meerut presently. (return)
5. Raju ………… Saroj since 1980. (know)
6. Asha ………… never ………… the Red Fort. (see)
7. ………… you not ………… your bath as yet ? (take)
8. I ………… not ………… my lesson. (revise)
9. We ………… not ………… from Rajni for the last four months. (hear)
10. She ………… in Delhi for eight years. (live)
Answers:
1. have, lost
2. Has, finished
3. has. solved
4. has returned
5. has known
6. has, seen
7. Have, taken
8. have, revised
9. have, heard
10. has lived

Fill in the following blanks with correct tense (present) of the verbs given in brackets :
1. It ………… outside for half an hour. (hail)
2. The storm ………… since 4 O’clock. (howl)
3. I ………… for the bus since morning. (wait)
4. Since when ………… you ………… in this school ? (read)
5. It ………… not ………… since midnight. (rain)
6. She ………… midnight oil for five years. (burn)
7. I ………… for the examination for one year. (prepare)
8. Malaria ………… in this city since July. (rage)
9. How long ………… you ………… for me ? (wait)
10. The washerman ………… our clothes since 1985. (wash)
Answers:
1. has been hailing
2. has been howling
3. have been waiting
4. have, been reading
5. has, been raining/has, rained
6. has bumt/has been burning
7. have been preparing
8. has been raging
9. have, been waiting/have, waited
10. has been washing

Insert the correct form of the verb given in the brackets
1. The boys ……….. a song. (sing)
2. I …………. in the school which is the best in the city. (read)
3. The sun ………….. during the day. (shine)
4. God …………… those who ………….. themselves. (kelp)
5. Farmers …………….. a hard life. (lead)
6. Mr. Ram Lal ……………. us English. (teach)
7. He ……………. his lesson regularly. (learn)
8. The toy ……………… a child happy. (make)
9. He ……………… to bed at 10 pm. (go)
10. You ……………… up at 5 am. (wake)

(For Practice)

I. Fill in the blanks with correct present tense form of the verbs given in brackets :
1. Water ………… at 100°C. (boil)
2. We ………… a hockey match tomorrow. (play)
3. ………… your brother ………… his account ? (clear)
4. The cattle ………… in the field. (graze)
5. She ………… meat several times. (taste)

II. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs (present tense) given in brackets :
1. There ………… (go) the bell !
2. If you ………… not ………… (obey), you will be punished.
3. ………… you ………… (go) for a walk daily ?
4. The players ………… (warm) themselves up at the moment.
5. The train ………… just ………… (arrive).

III. Supply the correct form of the verbs (present tense) given in brackets :
1. Ask him what he (want).
2. The girls (rehearse) a play for the School Day.
3. She (absent) herself since Monday last.
4. What (make) you laugh ?
5. I (fly) to New York next week.

Fill in the following blanks with correct tense of the verbs given
1. I ………… your letter this morning. (receive)
2. How many deer ………… you ………… in the zoo ? (see)
3. My father ………… a new house last month. ( busy)
4. Prices ………… by forty per cent last year. (rise)
5. Columbus ………… America. (discover)
6. Thousands of people ………… their lives in the earthquake. (lose)
7. Gangu ………… ten rupees from me. (borrow)
8. When ………… you ………… from Allahabad ? (return)
9. I ………… to her house on foot. (go)
10. A thief ………… into our garage last night. (break)
Answers:
1. received
2. did, see
3. bought
4. rose
5. discovered
6. lost
7. borrowed
8. did, return
9. went
10. broke

Fill in the following blanks with correct tense of the verbs given Tense)
1. The baby ………… in the room.
2. Children ………… a noise in the class.
3. Why ………… you ………… at her ?
4. We saw the aeroplane while it …………
5. The students ………… their morning prayer when I reached their school.
6. I ………… my beard when the telephone bell rang.
7. My mother ………… when I returned home.
8. The old lady ………… the Gita when the guests arrived. (read)
9. Mother ………… tea for us when the school bus homed. (prepare)
10. She found that the baby ………… bitterly. (cry)
Answers:
1. was weeping
2. were making
3. did, look
4. was taking off
5. were saying
6. was shaving
7. was sleeping
8. was reading
9. was preparing
10. was crying

Fill in the following blanks with correct tense of the verbs given in brackets. (Past Tense)
1. Mohan ………….. already ………….. his breakfast. (take)
2. If she ………….. for the examination she would not have failed. (prepare)
3. The bell ………….. before I reached the school. (go)
4. The patient ………….. before the doctor arrived. (die)
5. She ………….. not ………….. the place before her husband permitted her. (leave)
6. ………….. the child ………….. before his mother returned from office ? (sleep)
7. The rain ………….. when we stepped out of our house. (stop)
8. If you ………….. her, she would have got first division. (help)
9. The cinema show ………….. when I reached the hall. (start’
10. If she ………….. a bus, she would have caught the train. (board)
Answers:
1. has, taken
2. had prepared
3. had gone
4. had died
5. had, left
6. Had, slept
7. had stopped
8. had helped
9. had started
10. had boarded

CBSE Class 8 English Grammar Tenses

April 25, 2019 by Veerendra

CBSE Class 8 English Grammar Tenses are part of NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English. Here we have given CBSE Class 8 English Grammar Tenses.

CBSE Class 8 English Grammar Tenses

1. Read the following sentences carefully :

Birds fly in the air.
My brother flew to England last week.
I shall fly a kite on Sunday. –

In the first sentence the Verb ‘fly’ refers to the Present time, in the second sentence the Verb ‘flew’ refers to the action in the Past, while the Verb in the third sentence ‘shall fly’ refers to the Future.

2. The Tense of a Verb shows the time when an action takes place.
There are three Tenses :

I. Present Tense
II. Past Tense
III. Future Tense

3. In order to show at what stage an action is, each of the three tenses has been sub-divided into four heads. These sub-divisions are—

Tense	Indefinite	Continuous or Progressive	Perfect	Perfect Continuous
Present	I play	I am playing	I have played	I have been playing
Past	I played	I was playing	I had played	I had been playing
Future	I shall play	I shall be playing	I shall have played	I shall have been playing

Thus, the tense of a verb does not show the time of an action or event alone. It shows the state of that action also.

I. The Present Tense

A. Simple Present Tense
The Simple Present is used to express :
(i) A habitual action
(ii) A general truth
(iii) What is happening (in exclamatory sentences only)
(iv) An order or request.

(i) A habitual action :
I go for a walk daily.
He comes to school at 8 O’clock.

(ii) General truth :
The sun rises in the east.
Two and two make four.

(iii) What is happening :
Here comes the chief guest !

(iv) An order or request :
Obey your teachers.

Exercise 1
(Solved)

B. Present Continuous Tense
(Is/am/are + Verb + ing)

(i) In order to form the Present Continuous Tense, we add Present Participle to is, am or are. The Present Participle is formed by adding ‘ing’ to the first form of the verb.
‘Is’ is used with he, she, it or Third Person Singular Noun, ‘am is used with T and ‘are’ is used with we, you, they and plural Nouns.
Examples: She is singing a song.

(ii) In Interrogative form, the helping verb is used before the subject.
[Is/am/are + Subject + (Verb + ing)……….. ?]
Examples : Are you going home ?

(iii) In Negative form, we add ‘not between the Principal Verb and the operative helping verb.
[Subject + is/am/are + not + (Verb + ing) …]
Examples: She is not weeping.

Uses of the Present Continuous Tense
The Present Continuous Tense is used with the words—at this time, at present, at the moment, now, nowadays, still etc. and in the following cases :

(a) To describe an action in progress and/or the continuity of the action.
The girls are singing a chorus.

(b) To describe an action in progress, but not necessarily at the time of speaking.
India is exporting onions to the Middle East.
What are you writing these days ?

Exercise 2
(Solved)

C. Present Perfect Tense
(Subject + Has /have + III form of the verb)

(i) In the Present Perfect Tense the past participle (III) form of the verb is used with has or have. ‘Has’ is added with third person singular subjects, as—‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’ and ‘Have’ is added with T, ‘we’, ‘you, ‘they’ and plural nouns.
He has won a prize.
You have insulted me.
I have taken the dose of medicine.

(ii) In Interrogative form [Has, have are placed before the subject.]
(Has/have + Subject + III form of the Verb…?)
Have they crossed the river ?
Where have you seen my brother ?

(iii) In Negative form [‘not’ is used between the main verb and the helping verb.]
(Subject + has/have + not + III form of the Verb…)
She has not come yet.
I have not received any information.

Uses of the Present Perfect Tense
The Present Perfect Tense is used with the words : yet, as yet, already, just, just now, so far, since, ever since, presently, once, twice, thrice etc. and in the following cases :

(a) To express an action that has been recently completed.
I have just received the letter.

(b) To describe an action the time of which is not given.
The train has steamed in.

(d) To express an action that began in the Past and still continues.
He has worked in this school for five years, (is still working)

Exercise 3
(Solved)

D. Present Perfect Continuous Tense
[Subject + has/have + been + I form of the Verb + ing…)

In order to form the Present Perfect Continuous Tense, we put has been or have been before the Present Participle Form of the Verb ; as—
It has been raining for two hours.
I have been flying a kite since 2 O’clock.

(a) The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used to describe an action that began in the Past, is still continuing and may extend into the Future ; as—
She has been waiting for you for three hours.
They have been playing cards since 10 A.M.

(b) This tense is also used to express an action in a sentence which begins with ‘For how long or ‘Since when’, as in—
For how long have you been sitting here ?
Since when has he been living in this house ?

(c) This tense is also used to express an action which began in the past and has been just completed. However, its result is visible in the present, as in—
I have been studying since morning and I am much tired now.
She has been washing the dishes for an hour and her clothes are dirty now.
Note : Since is used fora point of time.
For is used for a period of time.

Exercise 4
(Solved)

Exercise 5
(For Practice)

Exercise 6
(For Practice)

II. The Past Tense

A. The Past Indefinite Tense
Or
The Simple Past Tense
(Subject + II form of the Verb…)

In the Simple Past (Past Indefinite) Tense the second form of the Verb is used :
as—
He came here yesterday.
‘Did’ is used in the Interrogative and Negative sentences. ‘Did’ is also used to lay emphasis. Only the first form of the Verb is used with ‘did’.

(i) In Interrogative Sentences [‘did is placed before the subject and verb in first form after it ; as—]
(Did + Subject + I form of the Verb…?)
Did you show me your homework ?

(ii) In Negative Sentences [‘did not’ is put after the subject and first form of the verb is used thereafter : as—]
(Subject + did + not + I form of the Verb…)
I did not apply for leave.
Exception—I never told a lie.
(This sentence means—I did not ever tell a lie)

(iii) To lay emphasis
I did try to solve the question but was not able to solve it.

Uses of the Past Indefinite Tense
The Past Indefinite (Simple Past) Tense is used :
(a) To express an action completed in the past with reference to the time of speaking.
I saw many birds in the zoo.
(b) To express habitual or regular action in the Past.
Gandhiji always spoke the truth.
(c) To express an event which occurred at a particular point in the Past.
My father came back home yesterday.
(d) To express an action which occupied a period of time in the Past, but is now ended.
We lived in this house for ten years. (do not live now)
I stayed at the Green Hotel for two months. (not staying now)
(e) To express an action where some word, showing past action (yesterday, ago. last, etc.) is given in the sentence, as,
He received your message yesterday.
I passed the S.S.C. Examination last year.

Mark the correct use of the Past Indefinite Tense in the following sentences.

Incorrect	Correct
1. He has passed the Secondary School Examination in 1978.	He passed the Secondary School Examination in 1978.
2. They have left for Agra yesterday.	They left for Agra yesterday.
3. She has written a letter to her father last evening.	She wrote a letter to her father last evening.
4. Babar has founded the Mughal Empire.	Babar founded the Mughal Empire.

Note: The difference in the meaning of the following sentences :

(i) He has worked in this office for five years. (He is still working here)
(ii) He worked in this office for five years. (He is no longer working here)

Exercise 7
(Solved)

B. The Past Continuous Tense
(Subject + was /were + I form of the Verb + ing…)

(i) The Past Continuous Tense denotes an action going on in the past. In order to form Past Continuous Tense we add Present Participle to was or were ; as—
The train was running at full speed.

(ii) In Negative form [‘not’ is placed between the helping verb and the principal verb ; as—]
(Subject + was/were + not + Verb + ing…)
She was not weeping.

(iii) In Interrogative form [the helping verb is placed before the subject ; as—] (Was/were + Subject + Verb + ing + … ?)
Were the sheep grazing in the field?

Uses of the Past Continuous Tense
(i) The Past Continuous Tense is used to express an action that was happening in the Past at the time of speaking. The time of the action may or may not be mentioned.
Examples: The old lady was crying at the top of her voice.
They were not making a noise.

(ii) The use of this tense with Simple Past Tense denotes that the previous action was going on when the latter action took place; as—
My mother was cooking the food when I reached home.

Exercise 8
(Solved)

C. THE PAST PERFECT TENSE
(Subject + had + III form of the Verb )

We often make mistakes while using the Past Perfect Tense. We use ‘had’ at random wherever we view ‘past action’ in a sentence in our mother-tongue.
I had gone to Delhi yesterday.
This sentence should be formed in Simple past.
I went to Delhi yesterday.
The structure of Past Perfect is—
In order to form the Past Perfect Tense we use ‘had’ before the Past Participle (III) form of the Verb.

(i) In Interrogative form [‘Had is used before the subject]
(Had + Subject + not + in form of the Verb + ……… ?)
Had he left when you came ?

(ii) In Negative form [‘not is used after ‘had’]
(Subject + had + not + III form of the Verb + ………… )
I had not seen you before.

Uses of the Past Perfect Tense
(a) The Past Perfect Tense is used to express an action completed before another action took place ; as—
When he came to me, I had posted the letter.
(b) (i) It is also used to express an unfulfilled action in the past ; as—
If she had worked hard she would have passed.
(ii) It is also used to express an unfulfilled wish in the past ; as—
I wish I had won the election.
(c) To denote the action or event which has been completed before some point of
time.
By afternoon he had completed much work.

Use of Past Indefinite and Past Perfect Tenses in Time Clauses
We can express time by using some ‘time-denoting’ Adverbs or through Adverbial clauses of Time. The combination of two past actions depends upon their mutual relevance.
Examples: I had waited for my friend until he arrived.
After he had sailed many days, the mariner reached the coast.

Exercise 9
(Solved)

D. The Past Perfect Continuous Tense
(Subject + had + been + Present Participle…)

(a) The Past Perfect Continuous Tense expresses an action that had been going on for some time in the past. In order to use this tense we use had been with Present Participle (ing) form of the verb.
Examples: Children had been playing since morning.

(b) The Past Perfect Continuous Tense is also used to express an action that had been going on for some time before another action took place in the past ; as—
Examples: They had been playing chess for two hours when I joined them.
(i) In Interrogative form, ‘had precedes the subject and ‘been’ comes after the subject; as—
Had he been quarrelling with you for some time ?
(ii) In negative form, ‘not’ is placed after ‘had’ and before ‘been’ ; as—
They had not been working on this project for many years.

Exercise 10
(Solved)

Fill in the following blanks with correct tense of the verbs given in brackets (Past Tense).
1. She ………….. hard since December. (study)
2. Sarla ………….. her lover for many years. (befool)
3. How long ………….. the two neighbours ………….. when a third one joined them ? (quarrel)
4. I ………….. for four hours when you knocked at my door. (sleep)
5. Tenzing ………….. to climb Everest for many years before he succeeded in his mission. (try)
Answers:
1. had been studying
2. had been befooling
3. had, been quarrelling
4. had slept
5. had been trying.

(For Practice)

I. Rewrite the following sentences changing the Verbs into the Past Tense :
1. Our hen lays one egg daily.
2. Whenever my mother comes, she brings toys for me.
3. She knows that your brother turns with a tide.
4. Anyone who travels by railway through India can see that the country is well supplied with natural wealth.
5. He behaves nicely at tables, talks gently, remains cheerful, thinks of others, keeps an eye on the company and tries to be pleasant and polite in every way.

II. Rewrite the following sentences changing the Verbs into the Present Tense :
1. No one knew what was in store for him.
2. Work, not worth, shall rule mankind.
3. Why did he abuse you ?
4. Fortunately the fighting was over soon.
5. Meanwhile President Kennedy’s father fell ill.
6. A school bus accident killed scores of children.

CBSE Class 8 English Grammar Tenses

April 25, 2019 by Veerendra

CBSE Class 8 English Grammar Tenses are part of NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English. Here we have given CBSE Class 8 English Grammar Tenses.

CBSE Class 8 English Grammar Tenses

1. Read the following sentences carefully :

Birds fly in the air.
My brother flew to England last week.
I shall fly a kite on Sunday. –

2. The Tense of a Verb shows the time when an action takes place.
There are three Tenses :

I. Present Tense
II. Past Tense
III. Future Tense

3. In order to show at what stage an action is, each of the three tenses has been sub-divided into four heads. These sub-divisions are—

Tense	Indefinite	Continuous or Progressive	Perfect	Perfect Continuous
Present	I play	I am playing	I have played	I have been playing
Past	I played	I was playing	I had played	I had been playing
Future	I shall play	I shall be playing	I shall have played	I shall have been playing

Thus, the tense of a verb does not show the time of an action or event alone. It shows the state of that action also.

I. The Present Tense

A. Simple Present Tense
The Simple Present is used to express :
(i) A habitual action
(ii) A general truth
(iii) What is happening (in exclamatory sentences only)
(iv) An order or request.

(i) A habitual action :
I go for a walk daily.
He comes to school at 8 O’clock.

(ii) General truth :
The sun rises in the east.
Two and two make four.

(iii) What is happening :
Here comes the chief guest !

(iv) An order or request :
Obey your teachers.

Exercise 1
(Solved)

B. Present Continuous Tense
(Is/am/are + Verb + ing)

(ii) In Interrogative form, the helping verb is used before the subject.
[Is/am/are + Subject + (Verb + ing)……….. ?]
Examples : Are you going home ?

(iii) In Negative form, we add ‘not between the Principal Verb and the operative helping verb.
[Subject + is/am/are + not + (Verb + ing) …]
Examples: She is not weeping.

Uses of the Present Continuous Tense
The Present Continuous Tense is used with the words—at this time, at present, at the moment, now, nowadays, still etc. and in the following cases :

(a) To describe an action in progress and/or the continuity of the action.
The girls are singing a chorus.

(b) To describe an action in progress, but not necessarily at the time of speaking.
India is exporting onions to the Middle East.
What are you writing these days ?

Exercise 2
(Solved)

C. Present Perfect Tense
(Subject + Has /have + III form of the verb)

(ii) In Interrogative form [Has, have are placed before the subject.]
(Has/have + Subject + III form of the Verb…?)
Have they crossed the river ?
Where have you seen my brother ?

(iii) In Negative form [‘not’ is used between the main verb and the helping verb.]
(Subject + has/have + not + III form of the Verb…)
She has not come yet.
I have not received any information.

(a) To express an action that has been recently completed.
I have just received the letter.

(b) To describe an action the time of which is not given.
The train has steamed in.

(d) To express an action that began in the Past and still continues.
He has worked in this school for five years, (is still working)

Exercise 3
(Solved)

D. Present Perfect Continuous Tense
[Subject + has/have + been + I form of the Verb + ing…)

Exercise 4
(Solved)

Exercise 5
(For Practice)

Exercise 6
(For Practice)

II. The Past Tense

A. The Past Indefinite Tense
Or
The Simple Past Tense
(Subject + II form of the Verb…)

(i) In Interrogative Sentences [‘did is placed before the subject and verb in first form after it ; as—]
(Did + Subject + I form of the Verb…?)
Did you show me your homework ?

(iii) To lay emphasis
I did try to solve the question but was not able to solve it.

Mark the correct use of the Past Indefinite Tense in the following sentences.

Incorrect	Correct
1. He has passed the Secondary School Examination in 1978.	He passed the Secondary School Examination in 1978.
2. They have left for Agra yesterday.	They left for Agra yesterday.
3. She has written a letter to her father last evening.	She wrote a letter to her father last evening.
4. Babar has founded the Mughal Empire.	Babar founded the Mughal Empire.

Note: The difference in the meaning of the following sentences :

(i) He has worked in this office for five years. (He is still working here)
(ii) He worked in this office for five years. (He is no longer working here)

Exercise 7
(Solved)

B. The Past Continuous Tense
(Subject + was /were + I form of the Verb + ing…)

(i) The Past Continuous Tense denotes an action going on in the past. In order to form Past Continuous Tense we add Present Participle to was or were ; as—
The train was running at full speed.

(ii) In Negative form [‘not’ is placed between the helping verb and the principal verb ; as—]
(Subject + was/were + not + Verb + ing…)
She was not weeping.

(iii) In Interrogative form [the helping verb is placed before the subject ; as—] (Was/were + Subject + Verb + ing + … ?)
Were the sheep grazing in the field?

(ii) The use of this tense with Simple Past Tense denotes that the previous action was going on when the latter action took place; as—
My mother was cooking the food when I reached home.

Exercise 8
(Solved)

C. THE PAST PERFECT TENSE
(Subject + had + III form of the Verb )

(i) In Interrogative form [‘Had is used before the subject]
(Had + Subject + not + in form of the Verb + ……… ?)
Had he left when you came ?

(ii) In Negative form [‘not is used after ‘had’]
(Subject + had + not + III form of the Verb + ………… )
I had not seen you before.

Exercise 9
(Solved)

D. The Past Perfect Continuous Tense
(Subject + had + been + Present Participle…)

Exercise 10
(Solved)

Exercise 11
(For Practice)

III. THE FUTURE TENSE

A. The Simple Future/Future Indefinite Tense
(Shall/ will + Verb)
The Future Indefinite Tense is used to express the action or event which is likely to happen in Future. In this tense we use shall/will between the subject and the first form of the verb. Normally we use ‘shall with pronouns of first person (I, We). In the same way. we use ‘will with the pronouns of second person (you) and third person (he, she, it, they).
(i) In Negative sentences ‘not’ is added after ‘shall/‘will as the case may be ; as— We shall not see the picture today.
(ii) In Interrogative sentences ‘will’/‘shall’ is placed before the subject and first form of the verb after it ; as—
Will you go to college today ?

B. THe Future Continuous Tense
(Will/shall + be + Verb + ing)
The Future Continuous Tense is used to express an event that is expected to take place in the normal course or at some time in the future ; as—
We shall be playing a football match on Sunday.
The new edition of this book will be coming out shortly.
When I reach Calcutta, it will be raining heavily there.
Will you be taking part in the debate ? (Interrogative)
The farmers will not be watering the plants at this time. (Negative)

C. The Future Perfect Tense
(Shall/will + have + III form of the Verb)
(i) The Future Perfect Tense expresses an action which is expected to be completed by a certain time in the Future ; as—
She will have covered half of her journey by Monday next.
(ii) The Future Perfect Tense sometimes expresses the speaker’s belief that something has taken place. In such sentences it does not express the Future ; as—
“You will have discussed the plans how to celebrate the function”, said my mother.
(iii) It is also used for an action which at a given future time will be in the past; as—
In two years’ time (i.e., two years from now) I shall have taken my degree.

Exercise 12
(Solved)

Fill in the following blanks with correct tense of the verbs given in brackets.
1. The picture ………….. by the time we reach the hall. (start)
2. ………….. you your studies by 2009 ? (finish)
3. The farmers ………….. not ………….. the harvest before September. (reap)
4. I ………….. exercise before the sun rises. (take)
5. He ………….. his lesson by next week.
Answers: (learn)
1. will have started
2. Will, have finished
3. will, have reaped
4. shall have taken
5. will have learnt

I. Rewrite the following sentences changing the Verb into the Future Tense :
1. I reached the station after the train had left.
2. The log of wood broke and they fell into the ditch.
3. They bound his hand and foot and held him fast.
4. I broke the lock open and got into the room.
5. The gardener was watering the plants.
6. You have really committed a blunder.
7. He found her weeping bitterly.

II. Correct the following sentences :
1. He has left for his native village yesterday.
2. I had completed the work.
3. He told me that he has solved all the sums.
4. I informed you about this before.
5. I know you for many years.
6. She had seen a lion in the circus.
7. He is pass in English and is fail in Mathematics.
8. If you help me, I give you a reward.
9. It is raining heavily since a week.
10. The patient died before the doctor arrived.
11. He will meet me as soon as he will return.
12. The teacher punished the boys because they are making a noise.
Answers:
I. 1. I shall reach the station before the train leaves.
2. The log of wood will break and they will fall into the ditch.
3. They will bind his hand and foot and hold him fast.
4. I shall break the lock open and get into the room.
5. The gardener will be watering the plants.
6. You will have really committed a blunder.
7. He will find her weeping bitterly.

II. 1. He left his native village yesterday.
2. I completed the work.
3. He tells me that he has solved all the sums.
4. 1 had informed you about this before.
5. I have known you for many years.
6. She saw a lion in the circus.
7. He has passed in English but failed in Mathematics.
8. If you help me. I will give you a reward.
9. It has been raining heavily for a week.
10. The patient had died before the doctor arrived.
11. He will meet me as soon as he returns.
12. The teacher punished the boys because they were making a noise.

Fill in the blanks choosing one word for each blank from the box. You may use a word or phrase more than once.

knocked, injured, had died was reading, died, was turning sat, slipped, was mowing crossed, arrived.

1. He ………….. the room and ………….. down in the chair.
2. As he ………….. left on the road, a bus ………….. him down.
3. He ………….. and ………….. his leg.
4. The passenger ………….. a newspaper.
5. He was seventy years old when he …………..
6. The doctor came after the patient …………..
7. I noticed that his hair ………….. grey.
8. When we he ………….. the lawn.
Answers:
1. crossed, sat
2. was turning, knocked
3. slipped, injured
4. was reading
5. died
6. had died
7. was turning
8. arrived, was mowing

Last night a dozen armed men enter a house. (a) _________
They were arm with sticks. First they (b) _________
attack the owner. When he resisted, he (c) _________
was beat up with the sticks. They (d) _________
loots cash and ornaments. They had (e) _________
lock him in a bathroom. (f) _________
Answers:
(a) enter — entered
(b) arm — armed
(c) attack — attacked
(d) beat — beaten
(e) loots — looted
(f) lock — locked

(For Practice)

The following passage has not been edited. There is an error in each line. Write the error along with the correction. Do not forget to underline the correction.
A young man from Punjab decide to go (a) _________
to Canada. He meet an agent in Delhi. (b) _________
The agent tell him that he would have (c) _________
to paid rupees seven lacs. The youngman (d) _________
agree to pay the amount. The agent (e) _________
demanded some advance which was also pay. (f) _________
Later, the agent is discovered to be a fraud. (g) _________

(For Practice)

Rearrange the following to make meaningful sentences :
1. Sudhir / coming / Tuesday / on / is.
2. be given / he / a thrashing / should
3. they / in / the doctor / called
4. the President / the prizes / away / gave
5. I / my friends / a sad farewell / bade
6. elected / President / Gopal / we.

(For Practice)

Fill in the following blanks with correct tense of the verbs given in the brackets : (Future Tense)
1. Dinesh ………….. for us at the appointed time. (wait)
2. When Sarla calls on me, I ………….. my clothes. (iron)
3. The gardener ………….. the plants next month. (water)
4. Sonu ………….. his lesson tomorrow at this time. (revise)
5. Mohini ………….. tea when you enter her room. (make)
6. The patient ………….. rest when the doctor arrives. (take)
7. The peon ………….. the bell when I reach the school. (ring)
8. Sharda ………….. for Madras this time tomorrow. (leave)
9. We ………….. our courses by the end of January. (complete)

(For Practice)

Fill in the following blanks writh correct tense of the verbs given in brackets using future tense.
1. They ………….. the sums since morning. (solve)
2. We ………….. in the river for three hours before noon. (bathe)
3. We ………….. our time during examination days. (not waste)
4. The farmers ………….. the fields since 2008. (plough)
5. ………….. he ………….. for you for an hour ? (wait)
6. By next year, I ………….. in Jaipur for seven years. (live)
7. Our school team ………….. the other team for the seventh time. (defeat)
8. She ………….. since 8 A.M. before I reach home at noon. (study)

(For Practice)

Fill in the blanks in the following sentences with the simple or the progressive (continuous) form of the verb.
1. The Indians ………….. in India, (live)
2. He ………….. to office every morning, (go)
3. My aunt ………….. with us for a few weeks, (stay)
4. Jack cannot come out to play at the moment as he ………….. his homework, (do)
5. They ………….. to Joshi Math for the summer, (go)
6. A vegetarian never ………….. meat, (eat)
7. Some birds ………….. every year, (migrate)
8. A milliner ………….. ladies’ hats, (sell)

Fill in the blanks in the following sentences using one o f the options from the brackets :
1. A teetotaller ………….. (drink/drinks/drank/drinking) no wine.
2. Do you ………….. (prefer/preferred/preferring/preferable) tea to coffee ?
3. I felt the earth ………….. (slipping/slip /slipped/going) under my feet.
4. I ………….. (think/thought/am thinking/was thinking) you are right.
5. I ………….. (took/taking/taken/have taken) my dinner an hour ago.
6. The train ………….. (did not arrive/will not arrive/has not arrived/had not arrived) yet.
7. If you ………….. (come/came/will come/shall come) in time you will get a seat.
8. T he train had left before we ………….. (reach/reached/had reached/will reach) the station.
9. We could start taking dinner if only John ………….. (is/were/was/are) here.
10. If you ………….. (heat/heated/heating/will heat) the ice it melts.
Answers:
1. drinks
2. prefer
3. slip
4. think
5. took
6. has not arrived
7. come
8. reached
9. were
10. heat

The underlined words in the following sentences have been wrongly used. Supply the correct word/ words from the options given below each sentence :
Question 1.
Ask him what he want,
(a) wants
(b) wanted
(c) has wanted
(d) wanting

Question 2.
There came the train.
(a) come
(b) comes
(c) has come
(d) had come

Question 3.
The guest have just now,
(a) leaves
(b) left
(c) leaving
(d) has left

Question 4.
I receive your letter this morning.
(a) received
(b) receives
(c) have received
(d) had received

Question 5.
A thief break into that house last night.
(a) breaking
(b) broke
(c) broken
(d) has broken

Question 6.
The bell go before I reached the school.
(a) went
(b) gone
(c) has gone
(d) had gone

Question 7.
If you had run you catch the train.
(a) caught
(b) catching
(c) would have caught
(d) had caught

Question 8.
If you help me. I could have passed.
(a) helping
(b) have helped
(c) had helped
(d) helped

Question 9.
The train go by the time we reach.
(a) went
(b) will go
(c) will be going
(d) will have gon

Question 10.
I is ill for a week.
(a) am
(b) was
(c) have been
(d) had been

Answers:
1. (a) wants
2. (b) comes
3. (d) has left
4. (a) received
5. (b) broke
6. (d) had gone
7. (c) would have caught
8. (c) had helped
9. (d) will have gone
10. (c) have been