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English Grammar · Chapter 10 · Tenses

Tenses

A tense is the form of a verb that shows when an action happens — past, present or future — and how it happens: as a simple fact, in progress, completed, or completed-and-ongoing. Three times × four aspects = twelve tenses. Learn each with its "catchwords" (the signal words that give it away), then master the handful of rules that decide most exam questions. This chapter does both.एक काल (tense) क्रिया का वह रूप है जो दिखाता है कि कार्य कब होता है — भूत, वर्तमान या भविष्य — और कैसे: साधारण तथ्य, जारी, पूर्ण, या पूर्ण-व-जारी। तीन काल × चार पक्ष = बारह tense। हर एक को उसके "catchwords" (संकेत-शब्द) सहित सीखें, फिर वे कुछ नियम साधें जो अधिकांश परीक्षा प्रश्न तय करते हैं। यह अध्याय दोनों करता है।
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Topic 01

Present Tenses

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TenseFormUse · catchwords
Simple PresentV1 / V1+shabit, universal truth · usually, every day, always
Present Continuousis/am/are + V-inghappening now / fixed plan · now, right now
Present Perfecthas/have + V3past action with present relevance · just, already, ever, yet
Present Perfect Cont.has/have been + V-ingstarted in past, still going · for, since, lately
📝 Self-testस्वयं-परीक्षण 4 MCQs

"This train ___ at eight every morning." Choose the correct verb."This train ___ at eight every morning." सही क्रिया चुनें।

  1. has left
  2. leaves
  3. left
  4. is leaving
✔ B. "every morning" (habit) → simple present "leaves".✔ B. "every morning" (आदत) → simple present "leaves"।

"She ___ her homework right now." Choose the correct verb."She ___ her homework right now." सही क्रिया चुनें।

  1. did
  2. has done
  3. is doing
  4. does
✔ C. "right now" → present continuous "is doing".✔ C. "right now" → present continuous "is doing"।

"He ___ his graduation already." Choose the correct verb."He ___ his graduation already." सही क्रिया चुनें।

  1. is completing
  2. complete
  3. completes
  4. has completed
✔ D. "already" → present perfect "has completed".✔ D. "already" → present perfect "has completed"।

The catchword "every day" signals which tense?"every day" संकेत-शब्द किस tense का सूचक है?

  1. simple past
  2. present continuous
  3. present perfect
  4. simple present
✔ D. Regular/habitual action → simple present.✔ D. नियमित/आदतन कार्य → simple present।
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Topic 02

Past Tenses

TenseFormUse · catchwords
Simple PastV2finished past action · yesterday, last week, ago
Past Continuouswas/were + V-ingaction in progress in the past · while
Past Perfecthad + V3the earlier of two past actions · before, by the time
Past Perfect Cont.had been + V-ingongoing up to a past point · for, since
📝 Self-testस्वयं-परीक्षण 4 MCQs

"Raman ___ for the movie yesterday." Choose the correct verb."Raman ___ for the movie yesterday." सही क्रिया चुनें।

  1. went
  2. goes
  3. had gone
  4. has gone
✔ A. "yesterday" → simple past "went".✔ A. "yesterday" → simple past "went"।

"She ___ TV when he called her." Choose the correct verb."She ___ TV when he called her." सही क्रिया चुनें।

  1. watches
  2. watched
  3. has watched
  4. was watching
✔ D. An action in progress in the past → past continuous "was watching".✔ D. भूत में जारी कार्य → past continuous "was watching"।

"The train ___ before we reached the station." Choose the correct verb."The train ___ before we reached the station." सही क्रिया चुनें।

  1. had left
  2. has left
  3. left
  4. was leaving
✔ A. The earlier of two past actions → past perfect "had left".✔ A. दो भूत कार्यों में पहला → past perfect "had left"।

The catchword "while" most often signals which tense?"while" संकेत-शब्द अधिकतर किस tense का सूचक है?

  1. past perfect
  2. past continuous
  3. simple present
  4. simple past
✔ B. "while" marks an ongoing past action → past continuous.✔ B. "while" जारी भूत कार्य → past continuous।
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Topic 03

Future Tenses

TenseFormUse · catchwords
Simple Futurewill/shall + V1a future action · tomorrow, next week
Future Continuouswill be + V-ingaction in progress in the future
Future Perfectwill have + V3finished by a future time · by, by the time
Future Perfect Cont.will have been + V-ingongoing up to a future point · for, by the time
📝 Self-testस्वयं-परीक्षण 4 MCQs

"She ___ dinner tomorrow." Choose the correct verb."She ___ dinner tomorrow." सही क्रिया चुनें।

  1. will cook
  2. is cooking
  3. cooked
  4. cooks
✔ A. "tomorrow" → simple future "will cook".✔ A. "tomorrow" → simple future "will cook"।

"He ___ to Shimla next week." (an ongoing plan) Choose the correct verb."He ___ to Shimla next week." (जारी योजना) सही क्रिया चुनें।

  1. has gone
  2. went
  3. will be going
  4. goes
✔ C. Action in progress in the future → future continuous "will be going".✔ C. भविष्य में जारी कार्य → future continuous "will be going"।

"She ___ by the time you reach her home." Choose the correct verb."She ___ by the time you reach her home." सही क्रिया चुनें।

  1. will have gone
  2. goes
  3. has gone
  4. will go
✔ A. Finished by a future time → future perfect "will have gone".✔ A. भविष्य के समय तक पूर्ण → future perfect "will have gone"।

"By the time" (an action completed before a future point) signals:"By the time" (भविष्य से पहले पूर्ण कार्य) सूचक है:

  1. simple present
  2. simple future
  3. future perfect
  4. past perfect
✔ C. Completion by a future time → future perfect.✔ C. भविष्य के समय तक पूर्णता → future perfect।
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Topic 04

Key Tense Rules

  • For an action that started in the past and still continues, use the present perfect continuous, not the present continuous: It is raining for two days → It has been raining for two days.भूत में शुरू होकर अब भी जारी कार्य के लिए present perfect continuous, present continuous नहीं: It has been raining for two days।
  • With a past-time adverb (yesterday, last week), always use the simple past: I have seen him yesterday → I saw him yesterday.भूत-समय adverb (yesterday, last week) के साथ हमेशा simple past: I saw him yesterday।
  • If the main clause is future, the subordinate clause after when/if is present, not future: I will call you when dinner will be ready → …when dinner is ready.मुख्य उपवाक्य भविष्य हो, तो when/if के बाद अधीन उपवाक्य वर्तमान में: …when dinner is ready।
  • For the earlier of two past actions, use the past perfect: "The bell had rung before the teacher came."दो भूत कार्यों में पहले के लिए past perfect: "The bell had rung before the teacher came."
📝 Self-testस्वयं-परीक्षण 4 MCQs

Choose the correct sentence:सही वाक्य चुनें:

  1. It is raining for two days.
  2. It has been raining for two days.
  3. It was raining for two days.
  4. It rains for two days.
✔ B. Started in the past, still continuing → present perfect continuous.✔ B. भूत में शुरू, अब भी जारी → present perfect continuous।

Choose the correct sentence:सही वाक्य चुनें:

  1. I have seen him yesterday.
  2. I saw him yesterday.
  3. I have been seeing him yesterday.
  4. I had seen him yesterday.
✔ B. With "yesterday" use the simple past → "saw".✔ B. "yesterday" के साथ simple past → "saw"।

Choose the correct sentence:सही वाक्य चुनें:

  1. He will help you if you asked him.
  2. He will help you if you will ask him.
  3. He will help you if you ask him.
  4. He helps you if you will ask him.
✔ C. After "if", use the present tense when the main clause is future.✔ C. मुख्य भविष्य होने पर "if" के बाद वर्तमान।

Choose the correct sentence:सही वाक्य चुनें:

  1. He said that he is suffering from fever for three days.
  2. He said that he was suffering from fever for three days.
  3. He said that he suffers from fever for three days.
  4. He said that he had been suffering from fever for three days.
✔ D. Ongoing up to a past point → past perfect continuous "had been suffering".✔ D. भूत बिंदु तक जारी → past perfect continuous "had been suffering"।

Test Yourself · Tenses

12 questions on the twelve tenses and the key tense rules. Tap an option to check, then read Why.

बारह tense और मुख्य tense नियमों पर 12 प्रश्न। जाँचने के लिए विकल्प पर टैप करें, फिर Why पढ़ें।