Reading Skill 03 – 07

Writing Skill with Grammar

• Determiners 08 – 11

• Tenses 12 – 17

• Modals 18 – 20

• Subject- Verb Concord 21 – 29

• Reported speech 30 – 34

Creative Writing Skills 35 – 36

Literature(Beehive)
(Prose)
• The Fun They Had 38

• The Sound of Music 39

• The Little Girl 40

• A Truly Beautiful Mind 41

• The Snake and The Mirror 42

• My Childhood 43 – 44

• Reach for the Top 45 – 47

• Kathmandu 48 – 49

• If I Were You 50 – 51

(Poetry)
• The Road Not Taken 53 – 54

• Wind 55 – 56
• Rain on The Roof 57 – 58

• The Lake Isle of Innisfree 59

• A Legend of The Northland 60 – 62

• No Men are Foreign 63

• On Killing a Tree 64 – 65

• A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal 66

Literature(Moments)
• The Lost Child 68 – 69

• The Adventure of Toto 70 – 71

• Iswaran the Storyteller 72 – 73

• In the Kingdom of Fools 74 - 75

• The Happy Prince 76 – 77

• The Last Leaf 78 – 79

• A House is not a Home 80 – 81

• The Beggar 82 – 83
 Reading Skill
1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions/complete the sentences that follow:
The choices we make on a daily basis—wearing a seatbelt, lifting heavy objects correctly or purposely staying out of any
dangerous situation—can either ensure our safety or bring about potentially harmful circumstances. You and I need to make a
decision that we are going to get our lives in order. Exercising self-control, self-discipline and establishing boundaries and borders
in our lives are some of the most important things we can do. A life without discipline is one that’s filled with carelessness. We
can think it’s kind of exciting to live life on the edge. We like the image of “Yeah! That’s me! Living on the edge! Woo-hoo!” It’s
become a popular way to look at life. But if you see, even highways have lines, which provide margins for our safety while we’re
driving. If we go over one side, we’ll go into the ditch. If we cross over the line in the middle, we could get killed. And we like those
lines because they help to keep us safe. Sometimes we don’t even realize how lines help to keep us safe. I’m not proud of this, but
for the first 20 years of my life at work, I ignored my limits. I felt horrible, physically, most of the time. I used to tell myself, “I know
I have limits and that I’ve reached them, but I’m going to ignore them and see if or how long I can get by with it.” I ran to doctors,
trying to make myself feel better through pills, vitamins, natural stuff and anything I could get my hands on. Some of the doctors
would tell me, “It’s just stress.” That just made me mad. I thought stress meant you don’t like what you do or can’t handle life, and
I love what I do. But I kept pushing myself, travelling, doing speaking engagements and so on— simply exhausting myself. Finally,
I understood I was living an unsustainable life and needed to make some changes in my outlook and lifestyle. You and I don’t have
to be like everyone else or keep up with anyone else. Each of us needs to be exactly the way we are, and we don’t have to apologize
for it. We’re not all alike, and we need to find a comfort zone in which we can enjoy our lives instead of making ourselves sick with
an overload of stress and pressure.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the characteristics are apt about the writer in the following context: “I know I have limits and that I’ve reached
them, but I’m going to ignore them and see if or how long I can get by with it.” ?
1. negligent
2. indecisive
3. spontaneous
4. reckless
5. purposeless
6. patient
A. 2 and 5 B. 3 and 6
C. 1 and 4 D. 2 and 3
Answer: C

2. The reason why living on the edge has become popular is because of the:
A. constant need for something different. B. population being much younger.
C. exhausting effort to make changes. D. strong tendency to stay within our limits.
Answer: A

3. The phrase “potentially harmful circumstances” refers to circumstances that can:

A. certainly be dangerous. B. be fairly dangerous.
C. be possibly dangerous. D. seldom be dangerous.
Answer: C

4. Choose the option that correctly states the two meanings of ‘outlook’, as used in the passage.
1. A person’s evaluation of life.
2. A person’s experiences in life.
3. A person’s point of view towards life.
4. A person’s regrets in life.
5. A person’s general attitude to life.
A. (1) and (4) B. (2) and (3)
C. (3) and (5) D. (4) and (5)
Answer: C

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5. The author explains the importance of discipline and boundaries in our lives using the example of:
A. road accidents. B. traffic rules.
C. lines on the highway. D. safe driving.
Answer: C

2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions/complete the sentences that follow:
Milkha Singh, also known as The Flying Sikh, was an Indian track and field sprinter who was introduced to the sport while serving
in the Indian Army. He is the only athlete to win gold in 400 metres at the Asian Games as well as the Commonwealth Games. He
also won gold medals in the 1958 and 1962 Asian Games. He represented India in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, the
1960 Summer Olympics in Rome and the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo) He was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-
highest civilian honour, in recognition of his sporting achievements. The race for which Singh is best remembered is his fourth-
place finish in the 400 metres final at the 1960 Olympic Games. He led the race till the 200 m mark before easing off, allowing
others to pass him. Singh’s fourth-place time of 45.73 seconds was the Indian national record for almost 40 years. From beginnings
that saw him orphaned and displaced during the partition of India, Singh became a sporting icon in the country. In 2008, journalist
Rohit Baijnath described Singh as “the finest athlete India has ever produced”. He was disappointed with his debut performance
at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. 1 returned to India, chastened by my poor performance in Melbourne. I had been so excited by
the prospects of being part of the Indian Olympics team, but, hadn’t realized how strong and professional the competition would
be. My success in India had filled me with a false sense of pride and it was only when I was on the track that I saw how
inconsequential my talents were when pitted against superbly fit and seasoned athletes. It was then that I understood what
competition actually meant, and that if I wanted to succeed on the international arena, I must be prepared to test my mettle
against the best athletes in the world.” Then he decided to make sprinting the sole focus of his life. “Running had thus become my
God, my religion and my beloved”. My life during those two years was governed by strict rules and regulations and a self-imposed
penance. Every morning I would rise at the crack of dawn, get into my sports kit and dash off to the track, where I would run two
or three miles cross-country in the company of my coach.” On how he pushed himself through the tough days of vigorous training.
“I practiced so strenuously that often I was drained of all energy, and there were times when I would increase my speed to such
an extent that after my rounds, I would vomit blood or drop-down down unconscious through sheer exercise. My doctors and
coaches warned me, asked me to slow down to maintain my health and equilibrium but my determination was too strong to give
up. My only focus was to become the best athlete in the world. But then images of a packed stadium filled with cheering
spectators, wildly applauding me as I crossed the finishing line, would flash across my mind and I would start again, encouraged
by visions of victory.”

Question/Answer
1. What is Milka Singh known as? What realization did Milkha Singh have when he was on the track during the Melbourne
Olympics?.
Answer: Milkha Singh was known as ‘The Flying Sikh’. He realised how inconsequential his talents were when pitied against
superbly fit seasoned athletes. He also realised that he needed to prepare well to test his mettle against the best athletes in the
world.

2. List any two of Milkha Singh’s achievements.

Answer: (i) The only athlete to win 400 meters at the Asian Games as well as Commonwealth Games. (ii) Won gold in 1958 and
1962 Asian Games. His national record stood unbroken for 40 years.

3. What strict rules and regulations did Milkha Singh follow?

Answer: Every morning he would rise at the crack of the dawn, get into his sports kit and dash off to the track, where he would
run two or three miles cross-country with his coach.

4. State two consequences of his hard and strenuous practice.

Answer: ( i) He was drained of all energy. (ii) He would vomit blood or drop-down unconscious through sheer exercise.

5. What motivated Milkha Singh to become the best athlete in the world?
Answer: A ball game he was motivated by his vision of victory at a packed stadium with spectators cheering and applauding him
as he crossed the finishing line.

6. Explain the phrase ‘I would start again’ in the last sentence.

Answer: ‘I would start again’ means here that he was encouraged to shun any complacency and start again with the double energy
and determination to become the best athlete.

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3. Read the passage given below and answer the questions/complete the sentences that follow:
The story of Joanne Kathleen Rowling’s near magical rise to fame is almost as well known as the characters she creates. Rowling
was constantly writing and telling stories to her younger sister Dianne. “The first story I ever wrote down was about a rabbit
called Rabbit.” Rowling said in an interview. “He got the measles and was visited by his friends including a giant bee called Miss
Bee. And ever since Rabbit and Miss Bee, I have always wanted to be a writer, though I rarely told anyone so. However, my parents,
both of whom come from impoverished backgrounds and neither of whom had been to college, took the view that my overactive
imagination was an amusing personal quirk that would never pay a mortgage or secure a pension. A writer from the age of six,
with two unpublished novels in the drawer, she was stuck on a train when Harry walked into her mind fully formed. She spent
the next five years constructing the plots of seven books, one for every year of his secondary school life. Rowling says she started
writing the first book, Harry’ Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, in Portugal, where she was teaching English. At first nobody wanted
to publish Harry Potter. She was told that plot was too complex. Refusing to compromise, she found a publisher. n 1997 Rowling
received her first royalty cheque. By book three, she had sky rocketed to the top of the publishing world. A row of zeroes appeared
on the author’s bank balance and her life was turned upside down. Day and night she had journalists knocking on the unanswered
door of her flat. Rowling’s quality control has become legendary, as her obsession with accuracy. She’s thrilled with Stephen Fry’s
taped version of the books and outraged that an Italian dust jacket showed Harry minus his glasses. “Don’t they understand that
the glasses are the clue to his vulnerability.” Annual earnings of J.K. Rowling from 2010 to 2019

Question/Answer
1. Explain J.K. Rowling’s ‘near magical rise to fame’.
Answer: J.k. Rowling’s near magical rise to fame is well known as the character she creates I.e. her popular characters led her to
magical fame. She was on top of the world of publishing house after the book three was published and her bank balance increased
tremendously.

2. What reason did the publishers give for rejecting Rowling’s book?
Answer: She was told that her plot of Harry Potter was too complex.

3. What was the drawback of achieving fame?

Answer: The draw back was that she was approached day and night by journalists knocking at the door of her flat. It was
becoming a nuisance and she did not respond all of them.

4. Why was Rowling outraged with the Italian dust jacket?

Answer: She was obsessed with quality and accuracy and therefore was outraged at an Italian just Jacket for showing Harry
without glasses.

5. Find a word in the last para that means the same as ‘insecure/helpless.
Answer: vulnerability

6. According to the graph, how many years did it take Rowling to become very successful?
Answer: It took around 6 years for Rowlings to become very successful.

4. Read the passage given below and answer the questions/complete the sentences that follow:
With novel Coronavirus spreading rapidly all over the country, there are only three states right now, Meghalaya, Sikkim and
Andaman and Nicobar Islands, that have less than 1,000 people infected with the disease. Lakshadweep, of course, still hasn’t
reported even a single case till now, the only region in India entirely free of the epidemic. Otherwise, even the relatively smaller
states now have significantly large spread of the disease. Goa, for example, has seen more than 7,000 of its people infected by the
5
virus till now. Tripura has over 5,500 cases, while Manipur has more than 3,000, and Nagaland a little less than 2,500. Puducherry
has more than 4,000 cases, while even Daman and Diu has over 1,300 people infected. And in each of these states, the numbers
are rising at a fast pace, at a rate higher than the national level. The infections had initially reached these states in the first and
second week of May, when the lockdown was relaxed for the first time to enable people stuck in different parts of the country to
return to their native places. After a period of very slow growth, the number of cases have begun to rise rapidly in the last one
month. In Goa, for example, the total number of infected people has nearly doubled in the last 15 days. Same has happened in
Puducherry, as well. Tuesday was one of those rare occasions when the number of active cases in the country, those who are yet
to recover from the disease, went down compared to the previous day. That is because the number of recoveries, combined with
the number of deaths, exceeded the new cases that were detected on Tuesday.

With over 52,500 new cases detected in the country, the total number of infections crossed 19 lakh, out of `which 12.82 lakh
people have recovered from the disease. The number of dead is now close to 40,000.
8. The number of recoveries on Tuesday was the highest-ever for a single day. More than 51,700 people were declared to have
been recovered. Three days earlier, the number of recoveries had crossed 50,000 for the first time, but in the next two days the
number had fallen to much lower levels.

Question/Answer
1. __________ is the only region in India which is entirely free of the epidemic.
A. Andaman and Nicobar Islands B. Maharashtra
C. Lakshadweep D. Tripura
Answer: c

2. What is common among Goa, Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland, Puducherry and Daman and Diu?
A. the numbers are rising at a fast pace at rates lower B. the numbers are falling at a fast pace at rates equal
than the national level than the national level
C. the numbers are rising at a fast pace at rates D. none of these
higher than the national level
Answer: C

3. Which date in the graph shows the highest jump of detected cases in a day?
1. July 30 2. July 31
3. August 1 4. August 2
Answer: B

4. More than 51,700 people were declared to have been recovered on _______.
A. Wednesday B. Sunday
C. Tuesday D. Monday
Answer: C

5. When had the number of recoveries crossed 50,000 for the first time?
A. two days earlier B. Tuesday
C. three days earlier than Tuesday D. none of these
Answer: C

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5. Read the passage given below and answer the questions/complete the sentences that follow:
Australia’s 2019-2020 Bushfire Season was not Normal Data from satellite sources assembled by the United Nations Environment
Programme’s (UNEP) World Environment Situation Room confirms that the wildfires in Australia in the last two months of 2019
and the first six weeks of 2020 were far from normal. 2019 was the second hottest year on record since 1880, and Australia
recorded its warmest temperatures ever in December 2019. “Rising temperatures continue to melt records. The past decade was
the hottest on record. Scientists tell us that ocean temperatures are now rising at the equivalent of five Hiroshima bombs a second.
One million species are in near-term danger of extinction. Our planet is burning,” says United Nations Secretary-General Antonio
Guterres. “The trend is very clear: 37 of the last 40 years were the warmest recorded since 1880, and the six warmest years
recorded were the last six years,” says Pascal Peduzzi, Director of UNEP’s Global Resource Information Database in Geneva. “For
those who think Australia is always burning, graphs clearly show that these fires were exceptional.” “This service, accessible via
the UNEP’s World Environment Situation Room, is provided for all countries at national and provincial levels. It identifies trends
in wildfire activity since 2003, when the data first became available and monitoring began. We have sliced and diced the satellite-
based data on wildfires worldwide from 2009 to the present day. We analyse the wildfires’ data by month, type of land cover,
protected area, province and nation to produce information products,” Peduzzi adds. (Source: UN Environment)

Question/Answer
1. What do the reports confirm about the 2019-20 Australian fires?
A. the fires were not normal B. the fires were normal
C. the fires were natural D. data inconclusive
Answer: A

2. What was the difference in the recorded temperatures in 2019 from the 1880s?
A. 2019 recorded the wettest temperatures since B. 2019 recorded the hottest temperatures ever
1880s
C. 2019 recorded the cooler temperatures than D. 2019 recorded the warmest temperatures since
1880s 1880s
Answer: D

3. What comparison has been made between the rising sea temperatures and Hiroshima?
A. ocean temperatures are rising at the equivalent of B. ocean temperatures are rising at the equivalent of
three Hiroshima bombs a second five Hiroshima bombs a second
C. ocean temperatures are rising at the equivalent of D. none of these
five Hiroshima bombs an hour
Answer: B

4. Which of the following independent data source is NOT PRESENT in the given graph?
A. NASA B. NOAA
C. ISRO D. JMA
Answer: C

7
 Writing Skill with Grammar

Determiners
Determiner’ is a word used before a norm to indicate which things or people we are talking about. The words ‘a’, ‘the’, ‘my’, ‘this’,
‘some’, ‘many’, etc. are called determiners:
• He is a good boy.
• The boy you met is my friend.
• This novel is very interesting.
• I have some information about the accident.
• There were many people at the station.

All the italicised words are determiners and they limit the meaning of the nouns that follow them.

Kinds of Determiners:
Pre Articles Demonstratives Possessives Ordinals Cordinals Quantifiers Distributives Interro-
determiners or gative
numerals
all. all, of, a, an, this. these,that, My, our, First, One, two, much, each, every, what,
half, half of, the those your, his, second, three, ten, some, no, either, which,
both, dounle. quite, her, next, hundred, any, many, neither whose,
twice such what, thousand, enough, etc.
etc. etc. several, lot
of, little,
few, all,
both,
another,
etc.

Pre-determiners:
Pre-determiners are the words which occur before a determiner to limit the meaning of a noun:
All the boys joined the race.
He drank half of the milk.
You will get all the information.
She stayed there all of the time.Both the boys were present.
He gets twice the pay that I get.
He has rather a pleasant personality.
What a mess you have made!
I paid double the sum for this bed.
It was quite a shock.
He has such a beautiful wife.

Articles:
The article system in English consists of the definite article ‘the’ and the indefinite article ‘a’ or ‘anWe can think of nouns in a
specific or general way. When we refer to particular people or things or something that has already been mentioned or can be
understood, we use the definite article ‘the’. When we refer to singular nouns for the first time, or refer to things in a general way,
we use the indefinite article ‘a’ or ‘an’.

The Definite Article ‘The’:

• We can use the definite article before any common noun:
He threw the ball into the river.
The boys were not in the class.
• We use the definite article to refer to specific persons or things:
I want to meet the principal in the school.
The tourists crossed the river in a boat.
• The definite article is used to refer to the things that are only one in the world:

8
 The moon and stars were shining in the sky.
The sun sets in the west.
The earth revolves round the sun.
• We use the definite article with the words such as school, university, prison, when we are referring to a particular building:
They will visit the school on Monday.
I met him in the university.
• The definite article may be used with the countable nouns that are used in the singular to refer to things more general:
If you break the law, you will be punished.
He played the violin for half an hour.
• The definite article is used to refer to the parts of the body:
Smoking is harmful for the lungs.
He caught him by the neck.
There was an injury in the right eye.
• The definite article is used with time expressions:
I met her in the evening.
She came here in the morning.
• We use the definite article before something that has already been mentioned.
I met a man at the station.
The man belonged to Tamil Nadu.
• The definite article is used before a noun that is followed by a relative clause or a prepositional phrase:
The man I met at the station belonged to Haryana.
He put the sweater on the table.
• The definite article is used to refer to familiar things we use regularly:
She looked at the ceiling.
Suddenly the lights went out.
• The definite article is used before dates or periods of time:
We met on the 15th of October.
It is a popular music of the 1940s.`
• The definite article is used before the names of seas, rivers, deserts, mountains,
The ship crossed the Pacific Ocean.
Delhi stands on the banks of the Yamuna.
The Sahara is a famous desert.
They came across the Himalayas.
• The definite article is used before the names of large public buildings:
They visited the Taj Mahal.
They went to the Town Hall.
• The definite article is used before the superlative adjectives:
He is the- best boy in the class.
She is the most beautiful girl in the school.
• The definite article is used before adjectives such as rich, poor, deaf, dumb, blind, to use them as nouns:
The rich and the poor went to the fair.
We should help the blind.
• We use the definite article before the nationals of a country or continent:
The Indians are very religious.
Some of the Europeans live here.
• We use the definite article before the names of trains and ships:
The Rajdhani Express is a very fast train.
The Queen Elizabeth is a famous ship.

The Indefinite Articles-‘a’, ‘an’:

The indefinite articles (‘a’, ‘an’) are used when we talk about people in a general or indefinite way.
• The article ‘a’ is used before the words which begin with consonant sounds and ‘an’ is used before the words beginning with
vowel sounds. However, some words start with a vowel letter but begin with a consonant sound. So we use the article ‘a’
before these words:
He is a European.
This is a unique idea.
There is a one-parent family.
He is teaching at a university.

9
• We use an before words which begin with a vowel sound:
The girl bought an orange.
He is an Indian.
He had an umbrella in his hand.
• Some words begin with a silent So we use an before them:
He is an honest man.
He is an heir to the throne.
I met him an hour ago.
• We use ‘a’ or ‘an’ before singular countable nouns:
Kolkata is a big city.
The dog is an animal.
• We use ‘a’ or ‘an’ before the names of occupations and professions:
His father is an engineer.
He is a pilot.
• When we use ‘a’ before ‘little’ and few’, there is a change in the meaning of these words. ‘A few’ is used with plural countable
nouns, and ‘a little’ with uncountable nouns. ‘Few’ means not many, while ‘a few’ means a small number. ‘Little’ means not
much, while ‘a little’ means some:
Few people visit this temple now.
I know a few students of this school.
There is little water in the bucket.
There is a little milk in the bottle.
• We use ‘a’, ‘an’ before an adjective in a noun phrase:
She is a good girl.
She told me an interesting story.
• We use ‘an’ with abbreviations beginning with the following letters: A, F, H, I, L, M, N, O, R, S, X (They shoud have vowel
sounds).
His father is an M.P.
He is an N.R.I.
She got an X-Ray done.
• We use the indefinite article before certain nouns considered as a single unit:
She bought a knife and fork.
The old lady had a cup and saucer in her hand.

Demonstratives: This, These, That, Those

The demonstrative determiners are used to talk about persons or things that have already been mentioned.
This and These refer to the things that are near and can be seen. ‘That’ and ‘Those’ are used to refer to the things that are at a
distance but can be seen.
• We lived in this house for four years.
• She bought these books.
• Those boys are very mischievous.
• I like this school.
• I met her this week.

‘This’ and ‘that’ are used for singular nouns and ‘‘these’’ and ‘those’ for plural nouns.
• Can you lift that box?
• Would you like to buy those books?
• These boys have done their work.
• I have already met that man.

Possessives: My, our, your, his, her, its, their. The possessives are used to show possession.
• He is my uncle.
• Our neighbour is a rich man.
• Your daughter is beautiful.
• What is her age?
• What is his name?
• Do you know its value?
• Their house is very big.

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Ordinals: first, second, next, last, etc.
The ordinals show what position something has in a series:
• He is the first boy who has joined this school.
• I shall meet him the next week.
• He is the last man to help you.

Cardinals: one, two, three, hundred, etc.

Cardinals are ordinary numbers like one, two, three, etc. They show how many of something there are:
• There were only ten boys in the class.
• She lived for eighty years.
• He has two daughters.
• I met three young men at the station.
• He balanced himself on one foot.

Quantifiers: much, some, several, a lot of, both, all, etc.

The quantifiers refer to the quantity of things or amount of something.
• There were some people at the airport.
• Lots of people would like to have your job.
• They didn’t make much progress.
• There is no milk in the bottle.
• There is enough powder in the can.
• I have forgotten some of the details.
• They had enough guests already.
• All children enjoyed the show.
• There was little water in the jug.
• It has not made any difference to me. He drank a lot of water.

Distributives: each, every, either, neither.

Distributive determiners refer to each single member of a group.
• Each is used when we talk about the members of a group individually and every when we make a general statement. Both
are followed by a singular countable noun:
o He met each guest.
o The minister visited every flood-affected area.
o I agree with every word he says.
o Each request will be considered.

• Either is used to talk about two things, but usually indicates that only one of the two is involved.
• Either of the two girls should come here.
• Neither is the negative of
o Neither member came to attend the meeting.
• Either can also mean
o People stood in either side (both sides) of the road.
• Neither is followed by a singular noun.
• Neither boy said anything.
• Neither answer is correct.

Interrogatives: what, which, whose, etc.

The interrogative determiners are used for asking questions:
• What subjects are you studying?
• Which colour do you like the most?
• Whose house is this?

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 Tenses
Introduction to Tenses

In English grammar, verbs are often used in a way that it indicates or denotes the time when an event occurred. These verbs that
take up different forms to indicate the time of an action, event or condition by changing its form are called as tenses. Tenses can
be broadly classified into three broad categories:
1. Past Tense
2. Present Tense
3. Future Tense

Past, Present & Future

Past Tense
This tense is used to refer to something that happened in the past. Sometimes, past tense is also called as ‘simple past tense’.
Example: We stayed in a hotel.
• Past Indefinite tense: The past indefinite tense describes an action that happened and was completed in the past. Example:
I walked to the park yesterday. Example: He went there.
• Past continuous tense: This type of past tense is used to describe an event or occurrence that is ongoing or continuing in
the past. Example: We were playing tennis at the club.
• Past Perfect Tense: This type of tense is used to describe an event in the past that has been completed. Example: We had
completed our match before she had come.
• Past Perfect Continuous: This type of past tense verb is used to indicate an event, action or occurrence that started before
another event, action or occurrence in the past. We can say that one action or event interrupted another. Example: I had been
playing the drums since school time.

Present Tense
This tense is used to refer or indicate to something that occurs in the present. The simple present or indefinite present tense is
used to describe an action, event, or condition that is occurring in the present while being spoken about or written. Example: The
dogs’ bark.
• Present Indefinite tense: The present indefinite tense describes actions or states that are general, habitual, or regular
occurrences in the present. Example: I walk to work every day.
• Present Continuous Tense: This tense indicates the continuous nature of an act or event in the present and has not been
completed. The activity has begun in the past and will be completed in the future. Example: She is preparing chicken
sandwiches for breakfast.
• Present Perfect Tense: This tense is used to describe an action that had begun in the past, continues into the present and
has just been completed. The time of occurrence of the action is generally not mentioned. This tense is also used to describe
an action happened in the past before another action took place. Example: I have just completed my dinner.
• Present Perfect Continuous Tense: This tense is used to describe an action, event or occurrence that has begun in the past
and continues into the present. It is also used for an action that began and just finished in the past or in cases where there is
no mention of time. Example: They have been trying to contact her.

Future Tense
This tense is used to refer to or indicate something that hasn’t happened at the time of speaking or writing. ‘Simple Future Tense’
commonly formed with the use of words ‘will’ and ‘shall’. Example: We shall be there by noon.
• Future Indefinite tense: "future indefinite tense" as referring to a general or indefinite future time, we can consider it as an
extension of the simple future tense. Example: He will go.
• Future Continuous Tense: This tense is used to describe actions that are ongoing or continuing in the future. It is commonly
used in sentences by using the simple future tense of the verb with the present participle i.e ‘-ing’. Example: His parents will
be attending the convocation.
• Future Perfect Tense: Is used to refer or describe an event that will be completed sometime in the future before another
action takes place. It is written by using the past participle of the verb with the simple future tense of the verb. Example: I
will have completed 10 years of work in August this year.
• Future Perfect Continuous Tense: This tense is used to describe an action that is continuing into the future and will be
completed at a specified time in the future. This tense is written using the future perfect tense of the verb with the present
participle. Example: I shall have been living in Mumbai for five years by May 2019.

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Past Tense

As we can understand from the name, past tense verbs are used to indicate an action, event or condition that has happened in the
past. Each tense has four aspects that talks about the completion of the event or action and based on that, we have four types of
past tense verbs:
• Simple Past Tense
• Past Continuous Tense
• Past Perfect Tense
• Past Perfect Continuous Tense.

Simple Past Tense

The simple past tense is used to indicate or describe something that happened or existed in the past. The situations or conditions
to use a simple past tense is to:
• Describe an action, event or condition that occurred in the past or at a specified time
• Refer or describe an action that has been completed and there is no time mentioned.
• Describe an action or occurrence of an event that is done repeatedly and regularly.
• Describe a state of mind in the past or a feeling that was felt in the past.
• Refer to someone who has died
• Describe events that have occurred in quick succession in the past.

Formulating the Simple Past Tense Verb

To formulate the simple past tense verb, we add ‘- ed’. For verbs ending in ‘e’, we add ‘-d’ and. However, there are some simple past
tense verbs such as cut, put, set etc which remain the same in the present and past tense. Examples are,
• He worked at the Cheesecake Factory.
• I often brought my lunch to school.

Past Continuous Tense

Past continuous tense is used to indicate an ongoing event in the past. Other conditions where past continuous tense is used are:
• To show that someone is in the middle of an action. Example: I was calling him when he came home.
• Is used to describe an action taking place when another occurred. Example: While they were painting the door, I was painting
the windows.
• For an action that was taking place in the past when an interrupted action happened. Example: While he was working on his
laptop, he fell asleep.

Formulating the Past Continuous Tense

The past continuous tense is formed using the past tense of the verb to be(was/were) and the present participle verbs ending in
-‘ing’. These two tenses can be used together to indicate that an action happened while another was in progress.

Past Perfect Tense

The past perfect tense in a sentence or conversation describes an event that happened in the past before another event in the
simple past tense was completed in the past. The situations where a Past Perfect Tense is used are to:
• Indicate an event that has occurred and been completed in the past. Example: meenu had borrowed money from the bank to
buy her new car.
• Describe an event or action which happened before a definite time in the past. Example: we had cleaned up the terrace before
the watchman arrived.
• Describe an action that happened in the past before another action took place. Example: we had reached their house after
the dinner was over.

Past Perfect Tense is also used to describe a state. Example: Their wives had become good friends at the wedding. A very important
use of the Past Perfect Tense is that it is used to clarify which event happened earlier when two actions were completed in the
past. Example: I had read those books that you bought for me.

Formulating the Past Perfect Tense

The past perfect tense is formed with the past tense of the auxiliary verb have i.e which is had and the past participle of the main
verb.

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Past Perfect Continuous Tense
This tense is used to describe actions that were going on in the past up until another action in the past happened. They are often
used in the following situations:
• For an action that has occurred over a period of time having begun in the past.
• To describe an action which started and finished in the past before another past action.
• It is also regularly used in the reported speech where the present perfect continuous tense becomes past perfect continuous
tense.

Unlike the past continuous and past perfect tenses, past perfect continuous tense is not used to indicate state, state of mind or
feelings. Examples:
• I had been studying.
• It had been raining hard for several hours and the streets got flooded.
• If it had not been raining, we would have gone to the park.

Formulating the Past Perfect Continuous Tense

This tense is formed with the past perfect tense of the verb ‘to be’, which is ‘had been’ and the present participle of the verb i.e ‘-
ing’.

Present Tense

Types of Present Tense

The present tense is of four types. Namely,
• Simple present tense.
• Present continuous tense.
• Present perfect tense.
• Present perfect continuous tense.

Simple Present Tense

The simple present tense uses the same verb form as the root form of the verb. We use the simple present tense in the following
conditions:
• To show a fact or something that is always true.
• For activities that we do daily -regularly or habitually.
• To express thoughts, feelings, opinions and beliefs.
• For a planned action or an event that will happen in the future.
• We use this tense with a few adverbs to indicate something that happens rarely.
• We use it in news, reported speech such as in sports commentaries, a narration of books and stories etc.
• For schedules, plans and programmes.
• To give instructions.

Formulating a Simple Present Tense

When the singular form of the subject or a singular pronoun is used, the verb is used in the simple present tense by adding a ‘-s’
to it. For example,
• This person goes to the library often.
• When does the flight to Seychelles depart from Mumbai airport?
• I always wake up at 6 am.
• We agree with most of your plan.
• I like chocolates.

Present Continuous Tense

This tense describes a continued or ongoing action at the present time. In other words, it expresses an action which is in progress
at the time of speaking and has not yet been completed. In the following conditions we use the present continuous tense:
• As mentioned above, when an action that is occurring at the time of speaking.
• When an action in the future is mentioned without specifying when it will occur.
• When we talk about a planned or arranged event or action that is set to take place at a specified time in the future.
• In conditions where the action or event is occurring but not necessarily while we speak.
• It is used in a changing situation.
• We use it with adverbs such as ‘always’ which describe an action that happens frequently.
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Formulating the Present Continuous Tense
It is formed from the present tense of the auxiliary verb ‘to be’ and the present participle of the verb ‘-ing’. For example,
• The noise is beginning to give me a headache.
• I am complaining to his mother about him.
• Why aren’t you doing your homework, Ravi?

Present Perfect Tense

The Present Perfect Tense is used in case of repeated actions, in those actions where the time is not important, and actions that
began in the past but are not finished yet and will probably finish in the present as we speak. We can use the present perfect tense
in the following scenarios:
• For actions or events that began in the past and have continued into the present.
• To show an action that has been completed.
• To indicate a time period that has not yet finished.
• Used with phrases that begin with “This is the first” or “second time” and so on..
• To describe or express an action that is repeated in the past.
• Used to indicate or describe actions that have been completed in the recent past.

Formulating the Present Perfect Tense

To form the present perfect tense, we need to use the simple present tense of the auxiliary verb ‘have’ or ‘has’ based on whether
the noun being referred to is plural or singular. The past participle of the verb follows the auxiliary verb. We can also write as:
have/has + past participle. Let us see some examples,
• We have known each other for a very long time.
• There have been many contenders for this role.
• Has there ever been a war during your lifetime?
• I have just eaten.
• We have had the same car for 8 years.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

To describe or indicate an event that is going on at this moment we use the present perfect continuous tense. We use this tense
in the following conditions:
• To describe an event that began in the past and is continuing into the future.
• To tell about an activity or event that began in the past and is now over(just recently completed or over).
• When there is no mention of time.

Formulating the Present Perfect Continuous Tense

The two parts of the present perfect continuous tense are:
i. The present perfect tense of the verb ‘to be’: ‘have been’ or ‘has been’ and
ii. The present participle of the main verb ‘-ing.

Some examples of present perfect continuous tense are,

• My hands are very dirty as I have been painting the walls.
• They have been trying to contact her.
• I have been working for them for the last seven months.
• The party has been going on all night.

Future Tense

Types of Future Tense

There are four types of future tense:
• Simple Future Tense
• Future continuous Tense
• Future Perfect Tense
• Future Perfect Progressive Tense
Let us understand more about each one of them and how they can be used to refer to the future.

Simple Future Tense

• It is also used to denote facts or events of certainty.
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• It is used to give a warning or take a spontaneous decision.
• To express readiness.
• Make an offer or suggestion using ‘shall’.
• To give an invitation or an order to someone.

It can be used in affirmative, interrogative and negative sentences. Both ‘shall’ and ‘will’ can be used in simple future tense
sentences, but modern English uses ‘Will’ rather than ‘shall’.

Examples:
• I’ll prepare dinner.
• Why won’t you tell her the truth?
• It will rain tomorrow.

Future Continuous/Progressive Tense

The future continuous or future progressive tense is used to denote an event that is ongoing in the future. It is made up of two
elements: a simple future of the verb ‘to be’ + the present participle (-ing). The future progressive tense is used in the following
condition:
• To extend ourselves in the future.
• To predict future events.
• Ask or inquire about events in the future.
• To refer to events in the future that have a continuous nature or occur regularly.

Examples:
• In the afternoon, I’ll still be stuck in meetings.
• By October, I will be swimming like a pro.
• He will be coming to the meeting.

Future Perfect Tense

The future perfect tense is a bit complicated as compared to the two types mentioned above. It is used to refer to an action which
will have been completed at some time in the future.
The future perfect is composed of two elements: the simple future of the verb “to have” (will have) + the past participle of the
main verb. It can be used in the affirmative, negative and affirmative and negative of interrogative sentences.

Examples:
• By the time you get this letter, I will have left.
• She will have arrived by lunch.
• Won’t they have joined us by 7 pm?

Future Perfect Progressive Tense

This tense is used to describe an event that is ongoing and will complete sometime in the future. A time reference is used to
indicate the starting time of the event or action or how long it has been continuing. Commonly used words to indicate time
reference are ‘since’ and ‘for’.
The future perfect progressive is composed of two elements: the main verb in the present participle(base form of verb + -ing) +
Auxilliary verb ‘will have been’

Examples:
• They will have been living in Mumbai for 10 years.
• You will have been starting your shop since May.
• Next year, I will have been working at this company for one year.
• I will have been walking for 3 hours.

Other Ways of Depicting Future Tense

Apart from using the future tense form of the verbs, there are other ways of indicating or talking about events in the future.
• Using present continuous tense
o I am leaving for Paris tomorrow.
o We are staying with friends when we get to Boston.

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• Using simple present tense
o She has her accounts lecture in the morning.
o I have an English exam next Friday.
• Using the word ‘going’
o He’s going to be a skilled clinician.
o Is it going to rain this evening?

• Mentioning denote obligations

o You are to delete the mail right now.
o You are to leave this room before 8 am tomorrow.

• Referring to the immediate future

o He is about to leave
o We are just about to leave for the wedding reception.

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