Chapter 04 — Tense, aspect and sequence

Track: common | Study time: 75–100 minutes | Recall task: write the rule before checking the key.

Pareeksha English foundation notes

1. Tenses

A tense shows the time of an action and its type. There are three times (present, past, future) and four types (simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous).

Tense | Form | Example

Simple present | V1 (s/es with he, she, it) | She walks to school.

Present continuous | is/am/are + V-ing | She is walking now.

Present perfect | has/have + V3 | She has walked two miles.

Present perfect continuous | has/have been + V-ing | She has been walking for an hour.

Simple past | V2 | She walked yesterday.

Past continuous | was/were + V-ing | She was walking when it rained.

Past perfect | had + V3 | She had walked before he came.

Past perfect continuous | had been + V-ing | She had been walking for an hour.

Simple future | will/shall + V1 | She will walk tomorrow.

Future continuous | will be + V-ing | She will be walking at six.

Future perfect | will have + V3 | She will have walked by noon.

Main uses:

• Simple present: habits, general truths and fixed timetables. "The sun rises in the east." "The train leaves at six."
• Present perfect: an action finished at an unstated time, with a link to now. "I have finished my work." Do not use it with a definite past time. Wrong: "I have seen him yesterday." Right: "I saw him yesterday."
• Present perfect with since and for: "since" is for a point in time (since 2020, since Monday); "for" is for a period (for two years).
• Past perfect: the earlier of two past actions. "The train had left when we reached the station."
• Future time in "if" and "when" clauses: use the present tense. Right: "If it rains, we will stay home." Wrong: "If it will rain, we will stay home."
• Stative verbs are generally not used in continuous form when they describe a state: know, understand, like, love, want, believe, belong, own. Some verbs can take a continuous form with a different, temporary or active meaning. Wrong: "I am knowing him." Right: "I know him."
• Sequence of tenses: if the main verb is past, the subordinate verb is usually past too. "He said that he was tired." A universal truth stays in present: "The teacher said that the earth moves round the sun."

Worked reasoning and learner clinic

Tense selection is a three-part decision: locate the time reference, decide whether the action is complete or continuing, and relate it to any second event. A time word is evidence, not an automatic answer. “Since” often points to a continuing state, but the sentence still determines whether present perfect or another form is appropriate.

Simple and continuous. Simple forms report a fact, habit or complete event. Continuous forms place attention on an action in progress at a particular time. Compare “She reads the file every day” with “She is reading the file now.” The second is temporary and current; it is not a general habit.

Perfect forms. Present perfect joins a past event to the present without a finished past-time label. Past perfect places one past event before another. Future perfect looks back from a future point. Ask “before what?” or “by when?” before selecting a perfect form.

Common learner transfer. Telugu often allows time information to be carried by context and verb morphology differently from English. In English, an auxiliary may be essential: “has submitted”, “was waiting”, “will have completed”. Do not remove the auxiliary simply because the meaning seems recoverable. Check the complete verb phrase.

Sequence and consistency. A paragraph can describe a past event using simple past while using past perfect for an earlier event and present tense for a current general truth. The aim is not to keep one tense everywhere; it is to change tense only when the time relation changes.

Telugu-medium transfer check

Put the time reference on a line before choosing the tense: repeated habit, action in progress, completed past event, or earlier past event. Use aspect to show duration or completion where the context requires it.

Retrieval practice

For each verb, circle the time marker and explain what another clause or deadline changes. Rewrite one sentence using a different time clue and adjust the verb accordingly.

Error-log prompt

Log the cue you overlooked—‘since’, ‘by tomorrow’, ‘while’ or ‘yesterday’—then write a pair of sentences that contrast the two forms.

Study plate 04. Recall the sequence before you begin the question set.

Chapter 04 practice questions

001. Choose the correct sentence.

A. Each of the boy have a pen.

B. Each of the boys have a pen.

C. Each of the boys are having a pen.

D. Each of the boys has a pen.

Key: D | Explanation: "Each" takes a singular verb. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

002. Find the part with the error: "The list of items (A) are (B) very long (C) today. (D)"

A. D

B. B

C. A

D. C

Key: B | Explanation: The subject "list" is singular, so "is" is needed. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

003. Find the part with the error: "She is (A) angry on (B) me (C) for being late. (D)"

A. C

B. A

C. D

D. B

Key: D | Explanation: "Angry with" is correct for a person. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

004. Which phrase is redundant?

A. Return back

B. Come home

C. Sit down

D. Go ahead

Key: A | Explanation: "Return" already means "go back". Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

005. Which is correct?

A. Between you and I

B. Among you and I

C. Between you and me

D. Between me and you's

Key: C | Explanation: After a preposition, the object form "me" is used. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

006. Find the part with the error: "I have (A) been living (B) here since (C) five years. (D)"

A. D

B. A

C. C

D. B

Key: C | Explanation: "For" is used with a period of time. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

007. Find the part with the error: "Neither of the two girls (A) have (B) finished (C) the work. (D)"

A. C

B. A

C. D

D. B

Key: D | Explanation: "Neither" is singular, so "has" is needed. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

008. Find the part with the error: "The furniture (A) in the room (B) are (C) very old. (D)"

A. D

B. C

C. B

D. A

Key: B | Explanation: "Furniture" is singular, so "is" is needed. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

009. Find the part with the error: "He asked me (A) that where (B) I was going. (C)"

A. B

B. C

C. A

D. D

Key: A | Explanation: A reported question does not use "that". Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

010. Find the part with the error: "She prefers (A) walking than (B) running (C) every day. (D)"

A. C

B. D

C. B

D. A

Key: C | Explanation: "Prefer ... to" is the correct form. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

011. Find the part with the error: "He is (A) more cleverer (B) than (C) his brother. (D)"

A. A

B. B

C. C

D. D

Key: B | Explanation: "More cleverer" is a double comparative. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

012. Find the part with the error: "Hardly (A) he had (B) left (C) when the phone rang. (D)"

A. C

B. A

C. D

D. B

Key: D | Explanation: After "hardly" the helping verb comes first: "had he left". Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

013. Find the part with the error: "If I (A) was (B) you, I would (C) go. (D)"

A. B

B. D

C. C

D. A

Key: A | Explanation: "Were" is used in unreal conditions. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

014. Find the part with the error: "She is (A) good in (B) English (C) and Maths. (D)"

A. C

B. D

C. A

D. B

Key: D | Explanation: "Good at" is the fixed form. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

015. Find the part with the error: “He suggested (A) to take (B) a rest (C) after lunch. (D)”

A. C

B. D

C. B

D. A

Key: C | Explanation: “Suggest” is followed by a gerund or a that-clause; “suggested to take” is not the standard pattern here. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

016. Find the part with the error: "She likes (A) singing, (B) to dance (C) and painting. (D)"

A. C

B. B

C. D

D. A

Key: A | Explanation: The items in a list should have the same form: "dancing". Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

017. Choose the best replacement for the underlined part: "He **do not like** coffee."

A. does not likes

B. does not like

C. do not likes

D. did not liked

Key: B | Explanation: "He" takes "does", and the main verb stays in V1. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

018. Choose the best replacement for the underlined part: "I **am knowing** him for ten years."

A. have known

B. have knowing

C. had know

D. am known

Key: A | Explanation: "Know" is a stative verb; the present perfect is used with "for". Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

019. Choose the best replacement for the underlined part: "One of the **boy are** absent."

A. boys were

B. boy is

C. boys are

D. boys is

Key: D | Explanation: "One of" takes a plural noun and a singular verb. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

020. Choose the best replacement for the underlined part: "The sun **rises** in the east."

A. is rising

B. rises

C. rose

D. has risen

Key: B | Explanation: The sentence is correct; a general truth uses the simple present. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

021. Choose the best replacement for the underlined part: "**Each of the students** have a book."

A. Each of students have

B. Each of the student has

C. Each of the students has

D. Each students have

Key: C | Explanation: "Each" takes a singular verb. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

022. Choose the best replacement for the underlined part: "When I reached, the train **already left**."

A. had already left

B. has already left

C. was already leaving

D. already leave

Key: A | Explanation: The earlier past action takes the past perfect. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

023. Choose the best replacement for the underlined part: "He is **not only a poet but also paints**."

A. not only a poet but also a painter

B. not only poet but also paints

C. not only a poet but paints

D. not a poet and also painter

Key: A | Explanation: The two parts must have the same structure. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

024. Consider these statements. 1. "Fewer" is used for countable nouns. 2. "Less" is used for countable nouns.

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Key: A | Explanation: "Less" is for uncountable nouns. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

025. Consider these statements. 1. "Little" means almost none. 2. "A little" means some.

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Key: C | Explanation: Both statements are correct. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

026. Consider these statements. 1. "Hardly" takes "when". 2. "No sooner" takes "when".

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Key: A | Explanation: "No sooner" takes "than". Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

027. Consider these statements. 1. In error spotting, if no part has an error, "No error" is chosen. 2. "No error" should be chosen without checking the parts.

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Key: A | Explanation: Each part must be checked first. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

028. Consider these statements. 1. "Elder" is used for relations in a family. 2. "Older" is used for general age.

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Key: C | Explanation: Both statements are correct. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

029. Match the confusing pair with the correct sense.

A. effect - to influence

B. affect - to influence

C. accept - to leave out

D. except - to receive

Key: B | Explanation: "Affect" is a verb meaning to influence. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

030. Match the sentence with the conditional type.

A. If I were you, I would go - Type 3

B. If I had money, I would buy it - Type 1

C. If he had studied, he would have passed - Type 2

D. If it rains, we will stay - Type 1

Key: D | Explanation: Present + will shows Type 1. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

031. Match the item with the error type.

A. senior than - article error

B. return back - redundancy

C. more better - tense error

D. good in - voice error

Key: B | Explanation: "Return back" repeats the idea. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

032. Which sentence is correct?

A. The committee are decided as a single body to meet.

B. The committee were decide as a single body to meet.

C. The committee have decided as a single body to meet.

D. The committee has decided as a single body to meet.

Key: D | Explanation: A committee acting as one unit takes a singular verb. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

033. Find the part with the error: "She gave (A) me a good (B) advices (C) yesterday. (D)"

A. A

B. B

C. D

D. C

Key: D | Explanation: "Advice" is uncountable and has no plural. Locate the smallest faulty unit and repair it without changing the intended meaning. A sentence can contain one error even when the rest is correct.

034. She ___ at this clinic since 2021.

A. worked

B. has worked

C. is working

D. works

Key: B | Explanation: A continuing state from a past point to now takes the present perfect; “since” marks the starting point.

035. By the time we reached the gate, the bus ___.

A. had left

B. will leave

C. left

D. has left

Key: A | Explanation: The bus departure happened before another past event, so use past perfect.

036. If the team ___ early, it will finish before noon.

A. had arrived

B. arrives

C. will arrive

D. arrived

Key: B | Explanation: Use present simple in the if-clause for a real future condition.

037. At 8 p.m. yesterday, they ___ the report.

A. prepare

B. were preparing

C. have prepared

D. will prepare

Key: B | Explanation: A past action in progress at a stated past time takes past continuous.

038. I ___ the answer yesterday.

A. checked

B. had checked now

C. am checking

D. have checked

Key: A | Explanation: A definite past-time marker such as “yesterday” normally takes simple past.

039. The train ___ at 6 tomorrow morning.

A. is leave

B. has leave

C. leave

D. leaves

Key: D | Explanation: A fixed timetable can use the simple present for a future event.

040. He ___ the same route every day.

A. has took

B. take

C. takes

D. is taking yesterday

Key: C | Explanation: A repeated habit uses simple present; third-person singular adds -s.

041. When the officer called, I ___ dinner.

A. cook

B. was cooking

C. have cooked

D. will cook

Key: B | Explanation: The activity was in progress when another past action occurred.

042. They ___ the forms before the office closed.

A. had submitted

B. will submit

C. have submit

D. submit

Key: A | Explanation: The submission was completed before a later past event.

043. By next week, we ___ the revision.

A. will have completed

B. completed

C. complete

D. will complete

Key: A | Explanation: Future perfect marks completion before a future deadline.