time and tense Flashcards
1.Our Vedas and Upnishads (a)/ asked us to tread (b)/ the path of honesty. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CGL (main) 2010]
1.(b) General or universal truth is expressed in the present simple tense. Therefore, ‘asked us to tread’ should be ‘ask us to tread’.
2.They are having (a)/ a birthday party at home (b)/ next week. (c)/ No error (d)
2.(a) Fixed plans are expressed in the present continuous tense. Time adverbials like, next week, months, etc., refer to a future time. Therefore, ‘They are having’ is correct and there is no error in the sentence.
3.I sleep (a)/ rather late (b)/ last night. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CPO (Main) 2014]
3.(a) The past simple tense is used for an action which took place in the past. Time phrases like, last night, last week, etc., are used in the past simple. Hence, ‘I sleep’ should be ‘I slept’.
4.Two years passed (a)/ since (b)/ my cousin died. (c)/ No error (d)
4.(d) The sentence is grammatically correct. Remember that the present perfect is often used with adverbs of duration such as: ‘since + clause and for + time’.
5.I am hearing that (a)/ the meeting is (b)/ likely to be postponed. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC LDC 2005]
5.(a) Part (a) contains the error. The verb ‘hear’ is a state verb. Since ‘hear’ is a state verb, it cannot be used in the continuous tenses. ‘I am hearing that’ should be ‘I hear that’.
6.He did not miss (a)/ a single lecture (b)/ till today. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Statistical Investigator 2008]
6.(a) The error lies in part (a) of the sentence. Remember that the present perfect tense refers to an activity which extends over a period of time. Adverbs of duration such as since and for are common with the present perfect. Therefore, ‘He did not miss’ should be ‘he has not missed’.
7.This TV serial (a)/ is going on (b)/ for three years. (c)/ No error (d) [CDS 2010]
7.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘Is going on’ should be ‘has been going on’.
8.By the time you arrive tomorrow (a)/ I have finished (b)/ my work. (c)/ No error (d)
8.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘I have finished’ should be ‘I shall have finished. The future perfect tense is used for a finished action in the future.
9.When he was arriving (a)/ the party was (b)/ in full swing. (c)/ No error (d) [NDA 2009]
9.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘When he was arriving’ should be ‘when he arrived’. Part (a) of the sentence refers to a shorter action.
10.The student flatly denied (a)/ that he had copied (b)/ in the examination hall. (c)/ No error (d) [NDA 2011]
10.(d) When we describe the sequence of actions in the past, the past perfect is used for the earlier action and the past simple is used for the subsequent action.
11.Though we drove fast, the train left (a)/ before we could reach (b)/ the station. (c)/ No error (d) [NDA 2012]
11.(a) Part (a) of the sentence contains error. ‘The train left’ should be replaced with ‘the train had left’.
12.I went to the house but (a)/ could not see him (b)/ because he went out before I arrived. (c)/ No error (d) [CDS 2009]
12.(c) Part (c) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. When we stress anearlier action, the past perfect is used. Therefore, ‘because he went out before I arrived’ should be ‘because he had gone out before I arrived’.
13.He admits that (a)/ he is not following (b)/ the instructions. (c)/ No error (d) [CDS 2009]
13.(b) When ‘follow’ means understand, it should not be used in the continuous tenses.
14.Life on boardship (a)/ was not as I expected (b)/ it to be. (c)/ No error (d) [CDS 2009]
14.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘I expected’ should be ‘I had expected’. For a further explanation see explanatory note 9.
15.The watch is a valuable present from my uncle (a)/ and it costed him (b)/ more than two thousand rupees. (c)/ No error (d) [CDS 2008]
15.(b) The error lies in part (b) of the sentence. Because the past form of ‘cost’ is ‘cost’, ‘and it costed him’ should be ‘and it cost him’.
16.I saw him (a)/ a couple of times (b)/ since May. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Section Officer 2003]
16.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. Remember that the present perfect tense refers to an activity which extends over a period of time up to the present. Adverbs of times duration, such as ‘since’ and ‘for’, are common with the present perfect.
17.I have passed (a) the examination (b)/ two years ago. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Section Officer 2006]
17.(b) The past simple tense is used with the time expression ‘ago’.
18.The train had left (a)/ when he had reached (b)/ the station. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Section Officer 2008]
18.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. When we stress a subsequent action, the past simple tense is used. Therefore, ‘when he had reached’ should be ‘when he reached’.
19.Gowri told me (a)/ his name after (b)/ he left. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CGL 2012]
19.(c) Part (c) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. When we stress an earlier action, the past perfect tense is used. Therefore, ‘he left’ should be ‘he had left’.
20.He was suffering (a)/ from illness (b)/ when we visited him last year. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC FCI 2012]
20.(d) The sentence contains no error. Part (a) of the sentence refers to a longer background action and part (c) of the sentence refers to a short action in the past. The action in part (a) was in progress when the action in part (c) took place. Therefore, the sentence is grammatically correct.
21.He ate (a)/ nothing (b)/ since yesterday. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Data Entry Operatior 2010]
21.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. Remember that the present perfect is often used with adverbs of duration, such as since and for. Therefore, ‘He ate’ should be ‘He has eaten’.
22.Fifty years have passed (a)/ since (b)/ Subhash Chandra Bose has died. (c)/ No error (d) [Railways Mumbai 1996]
22.(c) Part (c) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. When we refer to an action which extends over a period of time up to now, the present perfect tense is often used with time adverbials such as since + past simple tense. Therefore, ‘Subhash Chandra Bose has died’ should be ‘Subhash Chandra Bose died’.
23.Alka is suggesting (a)/ I should (b)/ write to him. (c)/ No error (d)
23.(a) Part (a) is grammatically incorrect. ‘Suggest’ is a performative verb. A performative verb is not used in the continuous tense. It is used in the present simple tense. Therefore, ‘Alka is suggesting’ should be ‘Alka suggests’.
24.The Prime Minister is saying (a)/ that India will be (b)/ a developed country in a decade. (c)/ No error (d)
24.(b) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. When we quote statement, the present simple tense is used with the verb ‘say’. ‘The’ Prime Minister is saying’ should be ‘The Prime Minister says’.
25.You can’t see Rohit. (a)/ He has a bath (b)/ now. (c)/ No error (d)
25.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. The present continuous is used for actions happening at the time of speaking. Typical time expressions now, at the moment or at present, etc., are used with the present continuous. Therefore, ‘He has a bath’ should be ‘He is having a bath’.
26.I think (a)/ Ravi would pass (b)/ the examination. (c)/ No error (d)
26.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. Remember that the present simple tense is often used with I think, I hope, I expect, I know. Therefore, ‘Ravi would pass’ should be ‘Ravi will pass’.
27.We are knowing (a)/ each other (b)/ for a long time. (c)/ No error (d)
27.(a) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘Know’ is a stative verb. It cannot be used in the continuous tense. It is used in the simple tenses. Therefore, ‘We are knowing’ should be ‘We know’.
28.I came into (a)/ the room when (b)/ Raman listened to the news. (c)/ No error (d)
28.(c) Part (c) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. The past continuous is a longer background action and the past simple tense is used for a shorter action that interrupted or happened in the middle of the past continuous action. Therefore, ‘Raman listened to the news’ should be ‘Raman was listening to the news’.
29.She hurt her back (a)/ while she played (b)/ tennis yesterday. (c)/ No error (d)
29.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. The past continuous tense is used for a longer background action. Therefore, ‘while she played’ should be ‘while she was playing’.
30.This time yesterday (a)/ I am watering (b)/ the flowers. (c)/ No error (d)
30.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. The past continuous tense is used to talk about an action that was going on at a particular time in the past. ‘This time yesterday’ refers to a particular time in the past. Therefore, ‘I am watering’ should be ‘I was watering’.
31.When we visited her (a)/ she was ill (b)/ for two weeks. (c)/ No error (d)
31.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. The past perfect tense is used for a past state. Therefore, ‘she was ill’ should be ‘she had been ill’.
32.I was walking to the market for minutes (a)/ when I realized that (b)/ I had left my wallet. (c)/ No error (d)
32.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. The past perfect continuous tense is used for an action in progress over a period of time in the past. Therefore, ‘I was walking to the market for ten minutes’ should be ‘I had been walking to the market for ten minutes’.
33.I promise (a)/ I help you (b)/ whenever you call me. (c)/ No error (d)
33.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘I promise’ is followed by the future simple tense. Therefore, ‘I help you’ should be ‘I shall help you’.
34.When are you (a)/ starting to buy (b)/ a new car. (c)/ No error (d)
34.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘Be going to’expresses intentions or likelihood. Therefore, ‘staring to buy’ should be ‘going to buy’.
35.By July next year (a)/ I shall be writing this book (b)/ for ten years. (c)/ No error (d)
35.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘For ten years’ suggests that the sentence should be in the future perfect continuous tense. Therefore, ‘I shall be writing this book’ should be ‘I shall have been writing this book’.
36.By the time she gets back home (a)/ I have done (b)/ the housework. (c)/ No error (d)
36.(b) The error lies in part (b) of the sentence. ‘By the time she gets back home’ provides a clue. ‘I have done’ should be ‘I shall have done’.
37.My father is (a)/ sixty-year old (b)/ last Tuesday. (c)/ No error (d)
37.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘Last Tuesday’ suggest a past situation. Therefore, ‘My father is’ should be ‘My father was’.
38.The match began (a)/ before (b)/ they reached the stadium. (c)/ No error (d)
38.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘The match began’ should be ‘The match had begun’.
39.The Minister would speak (a)/ next Tuesday (b)/ on this issue. (c)/ No error (d)
39.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘The Minister would speak’ should be ‘The Minister will speak’.
40.The wind blew (a)/ and my hands (b)/ almost froze. (c)/ No error (d)
40.(d) The sentence contains no error.
41.Kalidas (a)/ has written (b)/ Meghaduttam. (c)/ No error (d)
41.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘Has written’ should be ‘wrote’.
42.Suboth is ill (a)/ for (b)/ three months. (c)/ No error (d)
42.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘Subodh is ill’ should be ‘Subodh has been ill’.
43.I am seeing (a)/ the man (b)/ outside the door. (c)/ No error (d)
43.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘I am seeing’ should be ‘I see’.
44.Vishal has watched (a)/ this movie (b)/ yesterday. (c)/ No error (d)
44.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘Vishal has watched’ should be ‘Vishal watched’.
45.I am liking (a)/ being (b)/ in Delhi. (c)/ No error (d)
45.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘I am liking’ should be ‘I like’.
46.I finish the book (a)/ before (b)/ my next birthday. (c)/ No error (d)
46.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘I finish the book’ should be ‘I will finish’
47.You (a)/ are not understanding (b)/ my difficulties. (c)/ No error (d)
47.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘Are not understanding’ should be ‘do not understand’.
48.Whatever he was today is only because (a)/ of his mother who (b)/ was a renowned scientist. (c)/ No error (d)
48.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘Whatever he was today is only because’ should be’ whatever he is today is only because’.
49.Three years ago (a)/ an earthquake had destroyed (b)/ their city. (c)/ No error (d)
49.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘An earthquake had destroyed ‘should be ‘an earthquake destroyed’.
- Our customers are always visit (a)/ our branches to discuss their problems (b)/ with our staff. (c)/ No error (d)
- (a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘Our customers are always visit’ should be ‘Our customers always visit’.
1.At this turn of the conversation Vikram blurted out (a)/ that he was not knowing me (b)/ when I used to live in the same town as he. (c)/ No error (d) [CDS 2009]
1.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘Know’ is a stative verb. Therefore, it cannot be used in the continuous tenses. Therefore, ‘that he was not knowing me’ should be ‘that he did not know me’.
2.Although they are living in the country (a)/ since they were married (b)/ they are now moving to the town. (c)/ No error (d) [NDA 2011]
2.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. The present perfect continuous tense is used for an action which started in the past and is still going on. Therefore, ‘Although they are living in the country’ should be ‘Although they have been living in the country’.
3.She neither has visit (a)/ nor will visit (b)/ her family any time soon. (c)/ No error (d)
3.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect because the auxiliary verb ‘has’ is followed by the past participle form of a verb. Hence, ‘she neither has visit’ should be ‘she neither has visited’.
4.The ruins of the spillway vital clue (a)/ to the epic struggle that unfold as generations of Khmer engineers (b)/ coped with a water system that grew complex and unruly. (c)/ No error (d) [SC CGL (PT) 2015]
4.(b) The error lies in part (b) of the sentence. Because part (b) forms part of past narration, ‘Unfold’ should be ‘Unfolded’.
5.The lady was broken with grief (a)/ when she heard the sad news of the train disaster (b)/ in which her brother was killed. (c)/ No error (d) [NDA 2008]
5.(c) Part (c) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘In which her brother was killed’. The past perfect tense should have been used to emphasize the earlier action.
6.It is time (a)/ we should accept all our people as equals (b)/ and as partners in the task of building a strong and united nation. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CGL (PT) 2013]
6.(b) The error lies in part (b) of the sentence. ‘It is time’ is followed by a subject and by a past simple tense. It is time + subject + past time simple, expresses a present or future meaning. Therefore, ‘We should accept’ should be ‘we accepted’.
7.When the plane landed (a)/ he found that (b)/ one of the wings is damaged (c)/ No error (d)
7.(c) The error lies in part (c) of the sentence. Past narration requires a verb in the past tense. Therefore, ‘One of the wings is damaged’ should be ‘One of the wings was damaged’.
8.People who are not belonging to (a)/ any nationalist party (b)/ want to divide the country. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Stenographer 2005]
8.(a) The error lies in part (a) of the sentence. Because ‘belong to’ is a stative verb, it cannot be used in the continuous tenses. Therefore, ‘people who are not belonging to’ should be ‘people who do not belong to’.
9.The boy laid in the shelter (a)/ for a long time before (b)/ somebody came to rescue him. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Section Officer 2008]
9.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. The past of ‘lie’ is ‘lay’, not ‘laid’. Therefore, ‘The boy laid in the shelter’ should be ‘The boy lay in the shelter’.
10.His assistants have (a)/ and are still doing excellent (b)/ work for the organisation. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CGL 2010]
10.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. Leaving out a main verb often renders a sentence incorrect. The auxiliary verb ‘have’ requires the past participle form of a verb. Part (b) provides a clue that ‘do’ is the main verb. Hence, ‘His assistants have’ should be ‘His assistants have done’.
11.He had no right (a)/ to attend this meeting since he (b)/ has not been invited for the same. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CGL TIER-II 2010]
11.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. Because the sentence refers to a present state, part (a) should be in the present simple tense. Therefore, ‘He had no right’ should be ‘He has no right’.
12.Ramesh smiled when he was remembering (a)/ his hard early years (b)/ and his long road to success. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CGL 2010]
12.(a) The error lies in part (a) of the sentence. Remember is a stative verb and cannot be used in the continuous tenses. It is used in the simple tenses.Therefore, ‘he was remembering’ should be ‘he remembered’.