Tenses

Introduction

Tense is one of the most important and frequently tested topics in English Grammar. Almost every competitive examination such as UPSC (CSAT), SSC (CGL, CHSL, MTS), RRB (NTPC, Group D), Banking Exams (IBPS, SBI PO/Clerk), CAT, XAT, CDS, NDA, State PSCs includes multiple questions directly or indirectly based on tenses.

Tenses play a crucial role in:

Sentence formation
Subject–verb agreement
Error detection
Sentence correction
Fill in the blanks
Cloze tests
Active–Passive Voice
Direct–Indirect Speech

This chapter “Tenses : Introduction” is designed as a one-stop conceptual foundation. Instead of jumping directly into individual tenses, this note builds clarity of concept, structure, usage, timelines, and exam logic, which is essential before studying Present, Past, and Future tenses in detail.

What is Tense?

Definition

Tense refers to the form of a verb that shows the time of an action or state.

In simple words:

Tense tells us when an action happens.

Examples:

He writes a letter. (Present)
He wrote a letter. (Past)
He will write a letter. (Future)

Why Are Tenses Important in Competitive Exams?

Wrong tense leads to grammatical error
Tense affects meaning and logic of a sentence
Many questions test sequence of tenses
Tense is linked with:
- Time expressions
- Conjunctions
- Conditional sentences
- Reported speech

SSC and Banking exams frequently test tense-based errors, while CAT and UPSC test tense usage in comprehension and sentence correction.

Verb: The Core of Tense

Tense cannot be understood without understanding verbs.

What is a Verb?

A verb is a word that expresses:

Action (run, write, eat)
State (be, seem, exist)
Possession (have, own)

Tense is always shown through the verb.

Forms of a Verb (Very Important)

Every verb has three main forms:

Verb Form	Name	Example (write)
V1	Base / Present Form	write
V2	Past Form	wrote
V3	Past Participle	written
V-ing	Present Participle	writing

Exam Note: Confusion between V2 and V3 is one of the most common mistakes in competitive exams.

Time and Tense: Difference

Time	Tense
Actual time (past, present, future)	Grammatical form of verb
Universal concept	Grammar-specific concept

Example:

I am going tomorrow.
- Time → Future
- Tense → Present Continuous

This concept is extremely important for advanced exam questions.

Classification of Tenses (Basic Structure)

English grammar has three main tenses:

Present Tense – action related to present time
Past Tense – action related to past time
Future Tense – action related to future time

Each tense is further divided into four sub-types.

The Four Aspects of Tense

Each tense has four aspects, which show the nature or continuity of action.

1. Simple (Indefinite) Aspect

Shows habitual, general, or factual actions
No emphasis on completion or duration

Example:

He works hard.

2. Continuous (Progressive) Aspect

Shows action in progress
Emphasizes duration

Example:

He is working hard.

3. Perfect Aspect

Shows completed action
Focuses on result

Example:

He has worked hard.

4. Perfect Continuous Aspect

Shows action started in the past and continuing
Focuses on duration + completion

Example:

He has been working hard.

Complete Tense Chart (Overview)

Time	Simple	Continuous	Perfect	Perfect Continuous
Present	writes	is writing	has written	has been writing
Past	wrote	was writing	had written	had been writing
Future	will write	will be writing	will have written	will have been writing

This chart is the foundation of the entire tense system.

Auxiliary Verbs and Tenses

Tenses heavily depend on auxiliary (helping) verbs.

Primary Auxiliaries

Be → am, is, are, was, were, been, being
Have → has, have, had
Do → do, does, did

Modal Auxiliaries (Future sense)

will, shall, can, could, may, might, must, should

Exam Tip: Wrong auxiliary usage is a major source of errors.

Use of “Do” in Tenses

The auxiliary do/does/did is used:

To form negatives
To form questions
For emphasis

Examples:

He does not like coffee.
Did you finish your work?
I do believe you.

Time Expressions and Tenses

Certain words are closely associated with specific tenses.

Common Time Indicators

Present → always, usually, often, now
Past → yesterday, ago, last night
Perfect → already, yet, just, ever, never
Continuous → now, at present, at the moment

Exam Warning: Time indicators often decide the correct tense in fill-in-the-blank questions.

Tense and Subject–Verb Agreement

Tense selection must agree with the subject in number and person.

Examples:

He is working.
They are working.

Incorrect agreement is a common SSC and Banking trap.

Sequence of Tenses (Introduction)

Sequence of tense refers to the relationship between tenses in a sentence, especially in reported speech.

Example:

He said that he was tired.

A detailed discussion is done in advanced tense chapters, but understanding this base is essential.

Common Errors Related to Tenses

Mixing past and present without logic
Wrong use of perfect tense
Confusion between simple and continuous
Incorrect auxiliary verbs
Ignoring time expressions

Tenses in Error Detection Questions

Example:

He has went to the market. ❌
He has gone to the market. ✅

Such errors are frequently asked in SSC CGL and Banking exams.

Tenses in Cloze Test

In cloze tests, tense is decided by:

Context of passage
Time flow
Linking words

Logical consistency is more important than memorization.

Preparation Strategy for Tenses

Learn verb forms thoroughly
Understand tense logic, not just formulas
Practice sentence-based questions
Revise auxiliary verbs regularly
Solve previous year questions

Importance of Strong Tense Foundation

A strong foundation in tenses helps in:

Active–Passive Voice
Direct–Indirect Speech
Conditional sentences
Paragraph writing
Reading comprehension accuracy

Conclusion

Tenses are the backbone of English grammar. Without a clear understanding of tense concepts, it is impossible to master advanced grammar topics. This introductory chapter provides the conceptual clarity and exam-oriented foundation required before studying each tense in detail.

Once this base is strong, learning Present, Past, and Future Tenses individually becomes easy and logical.

Prepared By Bachchantop.com – Empowering learners with clear concepts and exam-focused content.