When have gives, takes or does!

When “have” means give, take or do, it can be used in the present continuous tense also.

1. We are having a party today. 2. They are having very difficult times these days.

But we should not write sentences like the following:

1. Incorrect: I am having a book. 2. Incorrect: She is having a small baby.

3. Incorrect: This book is having six chapters.

Have some hope!

There are some verbs that, if used in past perfect tense, would indicate action left incomplete. These verbs express hope,
wish, desire and imagination. Examples: Wish, hope, want, expect, intend, suppose, think. Also remember that an infinitive
is used after the past perfect form of these verbs.

1. I had expected to find him here. (But could not find him here.)
2. She had hoped to pass in the first division. (But could not)
3. I had wished to buy a new car. (But could not)

Perfect infinitives can also be used in place of simple infinitives:

1. I had expected to have found him here. 2. She had hoped to have passed in the first division.
3. I had wished to have bought a new car.

Had a good time?

As a main verb, had means possess, experience etc. Had is the past tense of have .

For example, “I had a good time” means “ I experienced a good time.”

This is one sentence that continues to confuse students:

I have had a good time.

Is this right? Have and had together? Past tense and present tense as neighbours?

Well, we need not get confused because we know “have” is both a main and an auxiliary verb. “Had” is the main verb meaning
“experienced”. “Have” is the auxiliary used for making perfect tense. Let us rewrite the above sentence.

I have experienced a good time.

Ha! Now it is not so bad, is it?

Sometimes have had, has had or had had are used together. Do not get spooked if you see sentences like the following:

1. I have had my breakfast. 2. She has had her breakfast.

3. She had had her breakfast very early. 4. He will have had his breakfast by now.

Have an obligation

1. I have to go to office.

Now, that is an obligation, plain and simple. Come what may, I better go.

Suppose I do not have to go to office. How can we turn this obligation around into a negative? Here are two ways:

1. I haven’t to go to office today . 2. I don’t have to go to office on a holiday.

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Had I …

Sometimes “had” is used to express condition, wish or imagination.

1. Had I been a king! 2. Had I seen the Olympic games!

3. Had I won a lottery! 4. He behaved as if he had been my master.

You have been a “has-been”?

These sentences show that some action started in the past and also ended in the past, and is not
continuing in the present.

1. I have been a Professor. (I am not a Professor now.)

2. I have been to England. (I am not there now.)
3. He has been a sportsman. (Now he is not.)
4. He is a bit of a has-been. (Do you think you are praising him when you say this? Why?)

When “do” does it better!

Special effect

It sometimes happens that we want to change the order of words to gain some particular effect. The use of do then comes handy.
1. He knows little of the harm being caused to him.
2. Little does he know of the harm being caused to him.

Don’t you think there is a little more drama in the second version of the sentence?

To avoid repetition

1. Repetitive: He sings well and she sings well. 2. Better: He sings well and so does she.

To add emphasis

1. Normal: You made a mistake. 2. Forceful: You did make a mistake.

To make a request or invitation more persuasive

1. Normal: Come to the party. 2. More persuasive: Do come to the party.

Not “has gone”

Sometimes “Go” is used in the sense of “Lose”. In that case we should write is gone or was gone, or is lost or was lost, not has
or had gone or lost.

1. Incorrect: My suitcase has lost. 2. Correct: My suitcase is lost.

3. Incorrect: My suitcase has gone in the train. 4. Correct: My suitcase was gone in the train.

Ought to do

Ought to is used to express moral obligation, desirability or strong probability. Remember that ought is always followed by an
infinitive with to.

1. We ought to serve our fellowmen. (Moral obligation) 2 . You ought to get married now. (Desirability)
3. It ought to rain. (Strong probability)

Would you please?

Habitual action: Would is used to express habitual action in the past. Here, would takes the place of used to. For example,
She would teach the children every day.

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Express a condition

1. She would be killed if she goes. ( Future ) (There is some possibility of her going.)
2. She would be killed if she went. ( Future ) – (There is no possibility of her going.)
3. She would have been killed if she had gone. ( Past ) – (She didn’t go.)

Polite request: Would you lend me your pen?

Probability: The match would be over by now.

Strong desire: I wish I would be at home now.

Need you dare?

These are four words we use regularly. These are also the words we are likely to misuse. Meet need, needn’t, dare and daren’t
in their various forms.

1. I need a pen. 2. You/they need a pen.

3. He needs a pen. 4. I/you/he/they needed a pen.
5. I don’t need a pen. 6. She doesn’t need a pen.
7. He need not fear me. 8. He need never fear me.
9. He need hardly take my help. 10. He need scarcely demand any more help.
11. Need he go there? 12. Need he try again?
13. Do I need to go with him? 14. Does he need to go with you?
15. Did you need to behave like this? 16. You needn’t work so hard.
17. He needn’t go there. 18. They needn’t go there.
19. He needn’t have gone there. (unnecessary) 20. He needn’t have behaved like this. (improper)
21. He dares me to climb to the peak. 22. I dare you to compete with me.
23. They dare me to move this boulder. 24. He dare not fight with me.
25. I dare not stand before you. 26. They dare not question my integrity.
27. He dare hardly speak before me. 28. Dare he speak before you?
29. Dare he repeat the mistake? 30. Does he dare to challenge you?
31. Did he dare to argue with you? 32. Do I dare to stand before him?
33. He daren’t come before me. 34. I daren’t go there alone.
35. He daren’t have gone alone in the deep wood. 36. You daren’t have challenged him like this.

WATCH OUT!
Common errors Th e co r r e c t fo r m W hy ? ( T h e t h e o r y )
1 He has and will play H e h a s p la y e d , an d w il l W h e n t h er e i s o n l y o n e
cricket. play, cricket. a u x i l i a r y t o t w o pr i n c i p a l
2 H is c h i l d ha s b e e n s e l e c t e d His child ha s been v e r bs , i t s h o u l d c o r r e c t l y
f o r i n t e r v i e w w h il e o t h e r s selected for in terview a s s o c ia t e w i t h bo t h .
f a i le d t o qu a l i f y . w h i l e o t h e r s ha v e f a i l e d
to qualif y.
3 H e n e i t h er ha s n o r w i l l h el p H e n e i t h er ha s he lp e d n o r
you. will help you.
4 H e h a s no t a n d s ho u l d n o t H e ha s no t t o l d a n d
t e l l a l i e. s ho u ld n o t t e l l a l i e.
5 T h e p o a c h e r s w er e c a u gh t Th e p o ac h e r s w e r e c au g h t V e r bs l i k e f a l l, l ie , r i s e
y e s t e r d a y w h e n t h ey f e l l yesterday wh en they felled and sit ar e m ad e
t r ee s i l l e g a l l y . t r ee s i l l e g a l l y . t r an s i t i v e by a s l i g h t
6 H e la i d s t i l l o n t h e c a r p e t . H e la y s t i l l o n t h e c a r pe t . c h an g e i n t h e ir s p e l l i n g .
7 R is e y o u r h a n ds i f y o u a r e Raise your hands if you Th e t r a n s i t i v e i s t h e
i n s u p po r t o f t h i s c a n d i da t e . a r e in s u p po r t o f t h i s causative of the
c a n d i da t e . c o r r es p o n di n g
8 T h e b o o ks ar e la y ing o n t h e Th e b o o k s a r e ly i ng o n t h e intransitive verbs.
table . table.
9 P l e a s e l i e t h es e c o a t s a c r o s s Please la y t h es e coats
my bed for now. across my bed for now.
10 H e h a s l a id i n b e d a l l d a y ; I He has lain in bed all day;
wonder if he’s sick. I w o n d er i f h e ’ s s i c k .
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When a question tags along!

Question tags are part of normal conversations. But do you get it right every time? You should check it out, shouldn’t you?

1. You love me, don’t you? 2. Let us now play, shall we?
3. You don’t love me, do you? 4. Don’t go there, will you?
5. He is a good man, isn’t he? 6. He is not a good man, is he?
7. He doesn’t work hard, does he? 8. He works hard, doesn’t he?
9. He rarely comes here, does he? 10. Few people are interested in this scheme, are they?
11. No one will come, will he / will they? 12. Any one can come, can’t he / can’t they?
13. All of us will go, won’t we? 14. None of us has done it, have we?
15. All of you can do it, can’t you? 16. None of you can do it, can you?
17. All of them were present, weren’t they? 18. None of them were present, were they?
19. Everything is lost, isn’t it? 20. Nothing is lost, is it?
21. I am only a student, aren’t I? 22. I am not a student, am I?
23. There is no good college, is there? 24. There is a good college, isn’t there?
25. I need a book, don’t I? 26. He needs a book, doesn’t he?
27. He used to live here, didn’t he? 28. Ring the bell, will you?
29. Don’t ring the bell, will you? 30. Let us now go for dinner, shall we?
31. Let us form a society, shall we? 32. Let them read here, will you?
33. Let her take the book, will you?

More about LAY and LIE

The verbs to lay and to lie are probably the two most confusing verbs in English. Because they are so widely used they are worth
paying a little extra attention to.

Present Past Past Present

Stem Tense Participle Participle
lay laid laid laying
lie (down) lay lain lying
lie (untruth) lied lied lying

To “lay” means to put or place something down. It always takes an object. If you can use the verb put in your sentence you need
a form of the verb to lay .

1. I usually lay the keys on the table.

2. Yesterday I laid the book on the table.
3. I had just laid the book on the table when the phone rang.
4. I’m laying the book on the table.

To “lie” means to rest, relax, or place oneself in a horizontal position. It does not take an object. If you can use the verb recline
in your sentence, you need a form of the verb to lie.

1. I lie on the floor for fifteen minutes every afternoon.

2. Yesterday I lay on the floor for fifteen minutes.
3. I have lain on the floor for fifteen minutes every afternoon as long as I can remember.
4. I’m lying on the floor for fifteen minutes (so don’t bother me).

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 WATCH OUT!
C o m m o n er r o r s The correct form W h y ? ( Th e t h eo r y )
1 I bid him to quit the I bi d h i m q u i t t h e T h e in f i n i t i v e i s u s e d w i t h o u t
organisation. organisation. “to” aft er ver bs like help,
2 Y o u n e e d n o t t o w o r ry Y o u n e e d n o t w o r r y a bo u t w a t ch , b i d , d a r e , h e a r , l e t ,
about us. us. make, need and see.
3 S h e h e a r d h e r t o w e ep . S h e h e a r d h er w e e p .
4 I a g r e e f o r h e l p i n g yo u o u t I ag r e e t o h e l p y o u o u t i n T h e f o l lo w i ng v e r b s a r e
in trouble. trouble. f o l l o w e d b y t h e in f i n i t i v e :
A g r ee , a r r a n g e , a t t e m p t ,
care, ceas e, consent , dec ide,
determine, en deavour, f all,
f o r g et , h e s i t a t e , h o p e , l e a r n ,
m a n ag e , n e g l e ct , p r e p a r e ,
promise, propose, refuse,
r e g r et , r e m e m b e r , s e e m ,
s w e ar , u n d e r t a k e .
5 There is not alternative but T h e r e i s n o al t e r n a t i v e b u t P r e p o s i t i o n s “b u t ” a n d
t o h e lp h i m o u t . help him out. “except” take the infinitive
without “to”.
6 I w o u l d r a th e r t o g o f o r I w o u l d r a t h er g o f o r E x p r es s i o n s “ w o u l d r a t h e r ,
batting. b at t i n g . w o u ld s o o n e r , r a t h e r t h a n ,
s o o n e r t h a n a n d h a d b e t t er ”
are follow ed by infinitive
without “to”.
7 He hear d the lion roared. H e h e a r d t h e l i o n r o a r in g . V e r bs o f s e n s a t i o n l i k e h e a r ,
8 T h e t e a c h er c a u g h t t h e T h e t e a c h e r ca u g h t t h e list en, look, observe,
students napped. students napping. p e r c ei v e , s e e a n d s m e l l , a n d
verbs like catch, keep, leave
and start ar e followed by a
noun/pro no un + present
participle

9 I like my food boiling. I like my food bo iled. T h e f o l lo w i ng v e r b s a r e

followed by a
noun/pro no un + past
participle
G e t (c a u s a t i v e ) , h a v e
(causative), like, make,
prefer, wish , want, etc.

10 He flew for H e f l e w f o r Lo n d o n a t 8 A p r e s e n t p a r t i ci p l e s h o u l d
London at 8
a.m .,
r a .m . , a n d a r r i v e d t h e r e
twelve hours later.
n o t be u s e d t o ex p r e s s a n
action that is not occurring
Pu nt e

arriving at the sam e time as that of

there tw elve t h e ac t i o n o f t h e p r i n c i p a l
hours later. verb.

Now you know why that sentence about flying to London is wrong. What about this sentence?

Kumble bowled extremely well, conceding only eight runs in his last four overs.

Can we apply the “London” logic to this sentence and say that Kumble is wrong? Actually, this sentence
is correct.

Why is London wrong and Kumble right (apart from the fact that he is the first
Indian to reach the 500 Test Match Wickets)?

Here we have two parts: Kumble bowled extremely well. He conceded only eight runs in his last four overs. Now, both these
actions are happening together. He is conceding runs while he is bowling. Whereas our London-bound friend was trying the
impossible task of starting for London and arriving there at the same time.

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 WATCH O UT!
Common errors Th e c o r r e c t f o r m Why? (The theory)
Avoid to over write as m uch Avoid overwriting as The following verbs
1
as possible. much as possible. a r e fo l l o w e d b y a
gerund (ing):
Avoid, detest, dislike,
enjoy, can’t help (in the
sense of avoid), keep (in
the sense of continue),
min d, pr even t , r isk,
I am a c c u s t o m e d t o t e a c h I a m a c c u s t o m ed t o stop, accustomed to, fed
2
students . teaching stud ents. up with , h abituat ed to,
is not good, is no use, is
used to, looking forward
to, t ire d of, t ired with ,
with a view to an d is
worth.

B e i s u s e d i n t h e p as t
They were to be married Th e y w e r e t o ha v e b e e n tense with th e perfect
last month but had to married last mon th bu t i n f i n i t i v e t o i n di c a t e a n
3
postpone the weddin g until had to postpon e th e a r r a n g e m en t t h a t w a s
next month. wedding un til ne xt month. “ m a de ” b u t n o t “ c a r r i e d
out”.
I am sorry for my being
4 I a m s o r r y f o r I b e i n g l a t e.
lat e. The noun or pronoun
Nobody c an prevent me Nobody c an prevent my c o m i n g b ef o r e a g e r u n d
5
going there. going there. must be used in
It d e p e n d s u p o n y o u possessive case.
It depen ds upon your
6 understanding the
understan ding the s itu ation.
situation .
Ther e is a ch anc e of the Th e r e i s a c h a n c e o f t h e If th e noun coming
7
milk’s turning sour. m i l k t u r ni n g s o u r . before the gerund is a
lifeless thing , it should
Ther e is dang er of the Th e r e i s d a n g e r o f t h e r o o f
8 not be used in the
roof’s fa lling in r ains. fa l l i ng i n r a i n s .
possessive case.
9 I avo id to go th ere. I avo id going th ere . After the following verbs
o n l y a g e r u n d s h o u ld b e
used (not an infinitive):
Feel, m ind, avoid,
con sider , enjo y, e xcuse ,
We just missed to catch the We just miss ed cat ching f i n i s h , m i s s , c an ’ t h e l p ,
10
train . the train. l o o k f o r w a r d , t o g i ve u p ,
go on, it is n o good an d
it is no use.

Drunken driver drank more!

There are some past participles which are used as pure adjectives, and not as the past
participle form of verbs. They are—drunken, molten, bounden, cloven, graven, stricken,
shrunken, sunken and shorn. They can qualify only a noun, as: a drunken driver, molten
lava, bounden duty, cloven foot, graven image, stricken heart, shrunken face, sunken ship and
shorn sheep. The normal past participle forms of these are: Drunk, melted, bound, clove,
graved, struck, shrunk, sunk and sheared.

To “to” or not to “to”?

Infinitive without “to”

The infinitive is used without “to” after these verbs: hear, see, feel, make, let, bid, watch, behold, know, notice, observe, need not
and dare not.

1. He bade me go. (not to go) 2. We shall watch him dance. (not to dance)
3. Let him sing. (not to sing) 4. Make him work. (not to work)
5. Behold/see/observe him play. (not to play) 6. My teacher helped me learn tables fast. (not to help)
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But if the verbs listed above are used passively, they will take the infinitive with “to”.

1. He was made to do it. 2. He was known to have hidden the treasure.

3. He was bidden to go. 4. He was seen to be crossing the river.

Infinitives do not take “to” after these expressions: had better, had rather, would sooner, would rather, sooner than, rather
than and had sooner.

1. He had better resign. 2. He would rather withdraw.

3. I would sooner resign than serve in these conditions. 4 . I would study rather than waste my time.

“To” is not used with the infinitive after the conjunction “than”: He is better able to write than speak.

“To” is not used with the infinitive after the preposition “but”, provided that but has “do” verb before it.

1. She can do nothing but weep. 2. We did nothing but play.

If “have” or “has” or “had” has a noun or a pronoun after it, the infinitive following will not have “to” with it.

No “to” With “to”

1. I will have you remember me. 1. There is no book to read.
2. He had him know his fault. 2. I have no time to waste.
3. He will have me forget my insult. 3. He is not a man to be respected.
4. I saw him dance. 4. I have a horse to sell.
5. I bid you go. 5. This book is good to read.
6. I will have you accept your fault. 6. Mangoes are sweet to eat.
7. I am eager to go.
8. The weather is pleasant to enjoy.

In such sentences, the infinitive is used only in active voice, not in passive voice.

Incorrect Correct
1. The problem is easy to be solved. 1. The problem is easy to solve.
2. He h as a horse to be sold. 2. He has a horse to sell.
3. I have a house to be furnished. 3. I have a house to furnish.
4. He is hard to be pleased . 4. He is hard to please.
5. These mangoes are sweet to be 5. These m angoes ar e sweet to eat.
eaten. 6. He is to blame.
6. He is to be blamed. 7. Tea is easy to prepare.
7. Tea is easy to be prepared. 8. He h as a point to make.
8. He h as a point to b e made.

But, in the following cases, the passive voice is followed by “to”:

1. [Correct]: It was not to be found . ( Possibility )

2. [Correct]: The man said, “If I were to give birth to a child, I would bear it in my womb for a year.” ( Hypothesis )

Some verbs when joined with an infinitive show the occurrence of an action. They also carry the sense of sudden occurrence of the
action concerned. These verbs are: happen, seem, chance and appear.

1. I happened to see a snake. 2. He seemed to have forgotten me.

3. I chanced to meet him in the market. 4. He appeared to recognise me.

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Model use of modals

A modal is a verb (like “can”, “might” and “must”) used with another verb to express an idea or possibility that is not expressed by the
main verb of the sentence. You make use of modals everyday. Study the following sentences:

1. May I come in, sir? 40. Will you have tea with me?
2. May I sit on this chair? 41. Will you lend me your pen for a minute?
3. You may come in. (Permission) 42. Will you not support me?
4. You may sit on this chair. (Permission) 43. Would you have tea with me?
5. It may rain. (Possibility) 44. Wouldn’t/won’t you have tea with me?
6. He may be late. (Doubt) 45. Would you mind having tea with me? (Remember that
“would” shows more courtesy.)
7. It might rain. (Very little possibility)
8. He might come today. 46. He will only talk about his sons. (Habit)

9. He might pass. 47. He will play upon his guitar till midnight. (Habit)

10. He might change his mind. 48. The train will have crossed Allahabad.

11. Might I use your pen, please? 49. He will have left the office by now.

12. Might I borrow your pen for an hour? 50. If he had worked a little harder, he would have secured
first division.
13. Might I go now?
51. Had he come a few days earlier, he would have seen his
14. You might go now. mother.
15. May you live long! (Wish) 52. He would often spend his evenings in the club.
16. May God help you! (Wish) 53. He would often go for swimming. (Used to)
17. I came so early that I may find you at home. (Purpose) 54. I would rather remain at home. (Used to)
18. Work hard so that you may pass. (Purpose) 55. I would rather break than bend.
19. He may have submitted his application. 56. I would sooner give up my claim.
20. He may have given him some help. 57. Should you come in time, I would give you a prize. (If)
21. The robber might have killed him. (He escaped being killed.) 58. Should I seek his help, he would certainly help me. (If)
22. He might have robbed me. 59. I would like to know your future plan.
23. The thief might have escaped from the police custody. 60. He would like to know your future plan.
24. He said, “My father may come today.” 61. I would prefer to travel by bus.
25. He said that his father might come that day. 62. He would be glad to meet you.
26. You might pay a little more attention to your studies. 63. I would be inclined to go with you.
(Dissatisfaction)
64. I wish you would not refuse me.
27. You might come a little earlier. (Expectation – a little
negative) 65. I wish you would study science. Note—After “wish” we
do not use “will”.
28. Could you lend me your pen?
66. You must come to office at 10 o’clock.
29. Could you give me a lift by your car?
67. You mustn’t jump out from a moving train.
30. He asked me, “Can you help me?”
68. This book must be very popular.
31. He asked me if I could help him.
69. We must love our country.
32. He said, “I cannot go there.”
70. We must be kind to the poor.
33. He said that he could not go there.
71. You must drive cautiously.
34. He could have passed the examination. (But he did not.)
72. You must avoid strong drinks.
35. You could have reached in time. (But did not.)
73. He laboured very hard. He must have secured first division.
36. He could have avoided the accident.
74. He started very early. He must have caught the train.
37. Shall I lock the gate? (i.e. Do I have your permission to lock
75. He talks very proudly. He must be an arrogant person.
the gate?)
76. He spoke very fluently. He must have been an orator.
38. Shall I bring my father tomorrow? (i.e. Do I have your
permission to bring my father tomorrow?)
39. Shall he be allowed to go? (i.e. Does he have your permission
to go?)

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DESSERTS: YUM-YUM!

A few transitive verbs like eat, read, smell, taste etc, even in an activity form, are sometimes used in a passive sense.

Incorrect: The mangoes are tasted sour.

It is true that the mangoes are tasted. Mangoes do not taste. Yet the above sentence would
imply that The mangoes are tasted when they are sour. Like “Some vegetables are eaten raw.”
means “Some vegetables are eaten in their raw state or when they are raw.”) But common
knowledge tells us that people in general prefer sweet mangoes. What the writer intends is
the meaning The mangoes are sour when tasted. This comes out in the following sentence.

Correct: The mangoes taste sour.

Incorrect : This fruit is smelt sweet.

This would mean that this fruit is smelt when it is sweet. Do you know of any such fruit bound by such
convention? What the writer intends to say is that this fruit is sweet when smelt, So,

Correct: This fruit smells sweet.

Exercise

Let’s check your command of verbs. Pick the right form of the verb from the brackets.

1. I (lay, laid) the baby in his crib half an hour ago.

2. I have been (lying, laying) down too much lately.
3. He had just (lain, laid) his head on the desk for ten minutes.
4. Either of the two professors (make, makes) a good mentor in physics.
5. Neither the stallion nor the two mares (likes, like) being saddled.
6. In our college, economics (attract, attracts) more students than ever.
7. Yesterday, without warning, one of the pipes in the building (burst, bursted).
8. Esha, along with her cousin, (organise, organises) the music festival every year.
9. He (wrote, had written) his wife a letter once a week, whether he was on the road or at home.

Answers

1. laid 2. lying 3. laid 4. makes 5. like 6. attracts 7. burst 8. organises 9. wrote.

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 Tenses
Do tenses make you tense?

Tense is a form of a verb which shows the time at which an action happened.

It is significant to know the tense of a verb, because if we know the tense, we know the time of action as well as the state of action.

Take a simple sentence, I love you. It is different from:

1. I had loved you (before I left college)

2. I loved you (in college)
3. I shall love you (if you spend some more money on me).

The difference is of course in the tense. You know that the sentence I love you is in the present; sentences (1) and (2) are in the
past; and (3) is in the future. So, you have no problem with time. You can easily know whether it is in the past, present or future.

The story of IIM Prospect

Suppose there’s a student of PT called IIM Prospect, who normally goes to sleep while reading grammar. If I were to report that,
I would say He sleeps. This is the simple present tense, which is used when we talk about things in general. In this case, it
is a habitual action. Since I am simply making a statement about his habit, the verb takes the simple present tense.

Suppose I enter his room for a surprise check one day at, say, 1 p.m., and I see that he is sleeping. This is the present
continuous tense. I do not use the simple present tense here because I may not be making a simple statement that he sleeps.
I am making a statement about what he was doing when I observed him. So, it is more definite. I see that at that moment that
action was continuing. I do not know whether he has been sleeping for some time or whether he is fully asleep. I just observe him
at a particular point of time and I see an action continuing. Hence, the present continuous tense.

Suppose I go to his room again at 1.30 p.m. I now see that he has slept. It is the present perfect tense as the action is
complete; he is completely asleep. At 1 p.m., when I noticed him for the first time, I was not sure if he was completely asleep. Now
I am. At the same time, I do not know if he has been completely asleep for the past 10 to 15 minutes. I observe him now, at 1.30
p.m., and I see that the action is in the complete state.

I have used the verb sleep as example, because this verb demonstrates well the play on the word complete. The word
complete is applicable in both the senses of its meaning, completed as in over and complete as in completely. He has slept
can also mean that he has finished sleeping and has got up. It can also mean that he is completely asleep, and not just dozing.
Most other verbs generally take the perfect tense in the sense of the action being over. For example, he has drunk two
glasses of lemonade, means he has finished drinking two glasses.

Now, if I go to the IIM Prospect’s room again at 3.30 p.m., I see that he has been sleeping for the past two hours. This is the
present perfect continuous tense. That is, the action is still continuing and has been continuing for some time now. The
difference between the continuous tense and the perfect continuous is that in continuous, we only know that at the time of
reference, the action is continuing. In the case of perfect continuous, the action is continuing, but we are also given information
about a time period for which it has been continuing.

We must be careful about another thing here, about the difference between for and since. He has been sleeping for two
hours, or since 1.30 p.m., i.e. for a duration and since a point of time. We should be careful that for is not used with the word
all. He has been sleeping all morning. Also, we use since when we refer to some action. He has been sleeping since he
returned.

You may question that we also use the simple tense when giving information about duration. For example, I slept for two hours.
Yes, this is correct. It is not necessary that whenever we mention duration of action, it must be the perfect continuous. It is the other
way round. Whenever we use the perfect continuous, the duration of action should be specified.

So, are you clear about the tenses for the corresponding states of action? If you are clear, then you have understood tenses. This
is because it is all the same in the past and the future. It is just that the time changes. If we go to the past or the future tenses, we
see that they are the same as the present tenses. It has only changed from the present to the past or the future.

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Suppose I want to tell a colleague the next day about my surprise check at IIM Prospect’s place, I would change only the time of the
tense in the same sentences.

1. You know IIM Prospect slept yesterday.

2. I went to observe him for the first time at 1 p.m., and I saw that he was sleeping.
3. I observed him again at 1.30 p.m. and I saw that he had slept.
4. When I saw him for the last time at 3.30 p.m., I was surprised to see that he had been sleeping for two hours, since
1.30 p.m.

We see that the sentences are the same except for the fact that they are reported as having happened in the past.

He slept is a simple statement about something that happened in the past. He was sleeping suggests that at the point
of observation, that action was continuing. It doesn’t say from when it has been continuing as in the case of present continuous.
He had slept gives the information that at the point of observation the action was complete. He had been sleeping tells us
that he was still sleeping when last observed and had been doing so for some time.

Suppose I were to tell someone to check on IIM Prospect the next day and ask him to verify my prediction about his habit. I would
now change the same sentences to read:

1. He will sleep tomorrow.

2. If you go to his place around 1 p.m., he will be sleeping.
3. If you again check on him around 1.30 p.m., you will see that he will have slept.
4. Go to him again around 3.30 p.m. and he will have been sleeping for two hours.

Present Past Future

Simple He sleeps. He slept. He will sleep.
Continuous He is sleeping. He was sleeping. He will be sleeping
Perfect He has slept. He had slept. He will have slept.
Perfect continuous He has been sleeping. He had been sleeping. He will have been sleeping.

Now, don’t you dare follow IIM Prospect’s example and go to sleep! You have some work to do.

Correct the following sentences.

1. I had been married in 1990.

2. She finished her work when I met her.
3. They had gone to Calcutta last night.
4. Who had invented the gramophone?
5. The fair had been over ten days ago.
6. He had come to my room while I was reading.
7. I saw her when I had been passing yesterday.
8. He was ill for a week when the doctor was sent for.
9. The rain had ceased yesterday. Phew!
10. I have written my application yesterday. This should be
11. The lion had been caged last night.
12. I understood what you say.
EASY!!
13. I lived in Bombay for twenty years.
14. He had come only yesterday.
15. Examinations have been held next month.

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Solutions

1. married or was married 2. had finished

3. went to Calcutta 4. invented
5. was over 6. came into my room
7. was passing 8. had been ill
9. ceased yesterday 10. wrote my application
11. was caged 12. understand
13. have lived 14. came
15. will be held or are going to be held.

Observe and learn

1. Betty taught for ten years. (Simple past)

The implication is that Betty has retired.
2. Betty has taught for ten years. (Present perfect)
Implies that she is still teaching.
3. John raised vegetables and later sold them. (Past)
4. John sold vegetables that he had raised. (Past perfect)
5. Renee washed the car when George arrived. (Simple past)
She waited until George arrived and then washed the car.
6. Renee had washed the car when George arrived. (Past perfect)
She had already finished washing the car by the time he arrived.
7. This Saturday I will finish my housework. (Simple future)
8. By Saturday noon, I will have finished my housework. (Future perfect)
9. The children love their new tree house, which they built themselves.
“ Love” is present tense, referring to a current state (they still love it now). “Built” is past, referring to an action completed
before the current time frame (they are not still building it.)
10. Before they even began deliberations, many jury members had reached a verdict.
“ Began” is past tense, referring to an action completed before the current time frame. “Had reached” is past perfect, referring
to action from a time frame before that of another past event (the action of reaching was completed before the action of
beginning.)
11. Wor ker s a re inst a lling ext ra lou dspeak er s becaus e th e m u sic in t o n igh t’ s co n cer t w ill need ampli fic at io n .
“ Are installing” is present progressive, referring to an ongoing action in the current time frame (the workers are still installing,
and have not finished). “Will need” is future, referring to action expected to begin after the current time frame (the concert will
start in the future, and that’s when it will need amplification.)
12. I have run in four marathons.
Implication is I may run in more marathons.
13. Before injuring my leg, I ran in four marathons.
Implication is my injury prevents me from running in any more marathons.
14. By the time the Senator finished (past) his speech, the audience had lost (past perfect) interest.
15. By the time the Senator finishes (present: habitual action) his speech, the audience has lost (present perfect) interest.
16. By the time the Senator finishes (present: suggesting future time) his speech, the audience will have lost (future
perfect) interest.
17. After everyone had finished (past perfect) the main course, we offered (past) our guests dessert.
18. After everyone has finished (present perfect) the main course, we offer (present: habitual action) our guests dessert.
19. After everyone has finished (present perfect) the main course, we will offer (future: specific one-time action) our
guests dessert.
20. Long before the sun rose (past), the birds had arrived (past perfect) at the feeder.
21. Long before the sun rises (present: habitual action), the birds have arrived (present perfect) at the feeder.
22. Long before the sun rises (present: suggesting future time), the birds will have arrived (future perfect) at the
feeder.

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 Incorrect Correct
The ocean conta ins rich m inerals The ocean conta ins rich m inerals that w a sh dow n
that wa shed down from rivers and from rivers and stream s.
streams. “Contains” is present tense, referring to a current state.
“W ashed dow n” is past, but should be present (“wash
d own”) because th e m inerals are still being w ashed dow n.
About noon the sky darkened, a About noon the sky darkened, a breeze sprang up,
breeze s p ra ng up , and a low rum ble and a low rum ble a nnounced the approaching
a nnoun ces the approac hing storm . storm.
Yesterday we had w alk ed to school Yesterday we wa lked to school but later rode the
but later rode the bus h om e. bus home.
“Had w alked” is past perfect tense but should be
past to m aintain c onsistency w ith the tim e fram e
(“yesterday”). “Ro de” is past, referring to an actio n
completed before the current time frame.
Kapil Dev had played for m ore than K apil Dev ha d b e e n pla y ing fo r m o re than a
a decade when Tendulkar entered the decade when Ten dulkar entered th e Indian team .
Indian team .

He hinted that he wants money. H e h inted that he w a nted m oney .

He replied that he w ill c om e. H e replied that h e w ould com e.
I never thought that I shall see him I never thought that I should (or would) see him
again . again.
Newton discovered that the apple N ewton discovere d that the apple falls due to
fell due to gravity. gravity.
He said that honesty wa s the best H e said that honesty is the best policy.
policy.
Just as the sun rose, the rooster Just as the sun rose, the rooster crowed.
crows. O R Just as the su n rises, the rooster crows.
M ozart finished about two thirds of M ozart ha d finish ed about tw o th irds of the
the Requiem when he died. R equiem w hen he died.
By the tim e I write to Leo he w ill B y the tim e I write to Leo, he w ill prob ab ly ha ve
probably move. moved.
Being a French colony, Senegal is a Having been a French colony, Senegal is a
Francophone nation. Francophone nation.
The crim inal escaped fro m custody The crim inal esca ped from custody and is believed
and is believed to flee the country. to have fled the country.
Som e ar chaeologists believe that the S om e archaeologists believe that the M inoans of
Minoans of 3,700 years ago had 3 ,700 years ago p ractised a religion that involved
pra ctise d a religion that involved h um an sacrifice.
hum an s acrifice.
If the experiment works, it w ill be If the experim ent works, it w ill rep resent a
represe nting a quantum leap forward quantum leap forw ard for pharm ac eutical ch em istr y.
for pharm aceutical chemis try.
He had seen that movie recently, so H e saw that m ovie recently, so h e doesn’t want to
he doesn ’t want to see it tonight. s ee it tonight.
W hen sh e retires, she w ill save W hen she retires, she will have saved enough
enough m oney to allow h er to live m oney to allow her to live com for tably.
comfortably.
She a lr ead y clos ed the do or behind S he ha d a lread y closed behind h er w hen it
her when it occurred to h er that she o ccurred to h er th at she wouldn’t be able to get
wasn’t able to get back in later. back in.
I did no t see (or had n ot seen) him I have not seen him since last Saturday.
since las t Saturday.
If it rain s tom orrow , w e cancel our If it rains tom orro w, we w ill cancel our plans.
plans.
W hen Bill arrived, Sal still did not W hen Bill arrived, Sal still ha d no t beg un to u nlo ad
begin to un load the truc k. the truck.
To g o t o w ar is to have t ra ve lled To go to w ar is t o go to h ell. OR
to h ell. T o ha ve gone to w ar is to have t ra ve lled to h ell.
Seeing the obstacle w o uld ha ve Having seen the obstacle would have allowed
a llow ed him to alter his course. h im to alter his c ourse.
O R Seeing the o bstacle w ould a llow him to alter
h is course.

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 Types of tenses
Present simple
Incorrect Correct
He is taking a walk every morning. He takes a walk every morning.
Two and two are making four. Two and two make four.
OR
Two and two makes four.
H e r e i s c o m i ng t h e b u s ! Here comes the bus!
Michael reads the newspaper and then gave Michael read the newspaper and then gave
it back to Michelle. it back to Michelle.
Last week at the movies, this guy talks Last week at the movies, this guy talked
through the entire film. through the entire film.
The Indian team is going to the Caribbean The Indian team goes to the Caribbean
next month. next month.
C o r r ec t b u t le s s c o m m o n c o n s t r u c t i o n . C o r r ec t a n d m o r e c o m m o n c o n s t r u c t io n .
Present simple tense is used to depict the following:

Present action : She dances beautifully.

Habitual action : He practises every day.

Literary (in the broadest sense) or artistic action :

1. In the comics, Dagwood Bumstead begs Blondie for food every time she cooks.
2. King Lear is already old when the play begins.
3. Chagall’s characters float in midair in his paintings.

Timeless or universally accepted truth:

1. Galileo discovered that the earth revolves around the sun.

2. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

Present continuous

Present continuous is used:

To express an action going on at the time of speaking

For example, if you are sitting indoors, and you lament not being able to go out because of the heavy rain, you say, “It is raining
heavily”. If you say, “It rains heavily”, you are not referring to the falling of the rain at the moment of speaking, but to a
phenomenon that occurs regularly, as in: “It rains heavily in equatorial regions and hilly areas.”

To expr ess a tempor ary action which may not be actually happening at the time of s peaking

For example, if you are a teacher but work on a project temporarily, you say, “I am working on a project.” This you may say in a
conversation even though you are not working at the moment of speaking. You cannot say, “I work on a project.” Because this would
give the false impression that you are a project worker by profession. As things stand in the given circumstances, the appropriate
statements would be, “I teach. I am working on a project.”

To express an action that is planned or arranged to take place in the near future

He is going to the city tomorrow.

When the reference is to a particularly obstinate habit, the present continuous is used instead of present simple.
An adverb like “always”, “continually” and “constantly” is also used.

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Incorrect: It is no use scolding him; he always does what is forbidden.
Note that his doing what is forbidden has become a die-hard habit. The habit persists in spite of advice or warning. So, we should use
the present continuous.
Correct: It is no use scolding him; he is always doing what is forbidden.

The following verbs are normally used in the present simple instead of the present continuous.
Wow!
Quite a
 Verbs of appearing: appear, look, seem. mouthful.
 Verbs of emotion: want, wish, desire, feel, like, love, hate, hope, prefer, refuse.
 Verbs of perception: see, hear, smell, notice, recognise.
 Verbs of possession: belong to, consist of, contain, have, own, possess.
 Verbs of thinking: agree, believe, consider, forget, imagine, know, mean, mind, remember, suppose, think, trust, understand.
 The verb “be”:
Incorrect: The allegation is appearing to be true.
Correct: The allegation appears to be true.

Do you think it is right to say: “He is appearing on the stage for the first time”? This is right because appear here does not mean
look or seem. It means present oneself formally or publicly .

Present perfect

Present perfect is used:

To express past actions whose time is not known and not definite.

Incorrect Correct
I wrote three books. I have written three books.
T h e o r i g i n a l s e n t en c e a p p ea r s t o b e
i n c o m p l et e. T h e r ea d e r o f t h e s en t en c e
i m m ed ia t e ly q u er i e s : “ W h e n d id y o u w r i t e
t h r ee b o o k s ? ” I t w o u l d b e a d i f f e r en t c a s e i f
you had said: “I wrote books”. Then the
r ea d e r w o u l d i n f e r t h a t y o u w r o t e b o o k s i n
the past as a profession or hobby. But when
y o u a r e b ei n g s o s p e c i f i c a s t o s a y “ t h r ee
b o o k s ” , w e i m m ed i a t e l y f ee l t h e n ee d o f a
t i m e f r a m e. S i n c e n o t i m e f r a m e i s
m en t i o n e d , w e a s s u m e i t t o b e b y n o w ( n o t
d e f i ni t e ) . S o , w e h a v e s o m et h i n g t o t h e
e f f ec t : I h a v e w r i t t e n t h r e e b o o k s b y n o w .
T h i s b y n o w i s i m p l i ed a n d n e ed n o t b e
written.
India has won the match last week. India won the match last week.
They are building the road since March T h e y h a v e b e e n b u il d i n g t h e r o a d s i n c e
last. March last.
I have been knowing him for a long time. I have known him for a long time.
He just came. He has just come.
R e m em b er t h a t “ j u s t ” c a n b e u s ed w i t h t h e
p r e s e n t p e r f ec t t en s e b u t n o t w i t h t h e
s i m p le p a s t t e n s e.

To depict an action that started in the past and is still going on

I have lived in this apartment for eight years. (… and I’m still here.)

To depict an action that has been completed but is somehow still connected to the present

1. I have bought a house on your block. (….and will now be living there.)
2. He has drunk too much wine. (… and now has a headache.)
3. The Aussies have won the World Cup! (… they have just won it, recently.)
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Past simple

Past simple tense is used:

Hey!
After “It is time or it is high time” That’s news
to me!
It is time we started working.

To express past actions

1. I met her last year. 2. I visited Jaipur every year.

3. The Aussies won the World Series last year. 4. I ate dinner and went to bed.

Past continuous

Incorrect Correct
When I saw her, she wrote a poem with full When I saw her, she was writing a poem
attention. with full attention.
She always chewed gum. She was always chewing gum.

Past perfect

1. Incorrect: He wrote a novel even before he was 10 years old.

2. Correct: He had written a novel even before he was 10 years old.

If two actions happen in the past, the earlier one is denoted by past perfect while the later one is denoted by past
simple.

1. The Yankees were winning ( past perfect ) when I fell ( past ) asleep.
2. I had deposited money in the bank when my friend came to borrow from me.

Future tense

Use the future tense to convey an action that has not yet taken place

1. Stacey will go back to school one day. 2. Nancy finishes school next spring.

The present tense “finishes” functions in the future tense as a result of its context (next spring), which is perfectly acceptable.

Use the future perfect tense to convey an action that will be completed in the future

By next year, Ellen will have written her third novel.

Progressive (continuous)

Use the progressive tense to convey a continuous or perpetual action taking place within any other tense (past,
present or future)

1. Lisa is studying economics.

2. Tom has been praying for rain.
3. In September, Doug will have been painting for twenty years.

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Will and shall

We use shall with the first person and will with the second and third person in normal sentences.

1. I shall go there. 2. We shall entertain them.

3. He will go there. 4. They will entertain us.

However, if there is a tone of determination or threat or promise, etc., which necessitates emphasis, the reverse takes
place.

1. I will do it. 2. We will not spare them.

3. He shall do it. 4. You shall receive your treat tomorrow.

Nowadays, we do not use shall with second and third person even in the special case. But for our purpose, we have to be
clear with the traditional rules of grammar.

Two bachelors

Hear the story of the two bachelors to understand the difference between will and shall.

Two bachelors are about to die. Ram says, “I will die and none shall marry me.” Shyam
says, “I shall die and none will marry me.”

Are they confused their grammar in their last moments? Actually not! Their statements
are correct but they are stating two different things.

Ram just wants to die and does not want anyone to marry him.

Shyam is worried that he is going to die a bachelor. So, shall is used with the first person
and will with the second person.

Hopefully, both bachelors will die in peace.

Will and would

We use would instead of will, when we are talking about something that had been predicted at some time in the past. It is like a
future-in-the-past tense.

1. Everyone believed that he would marry Malti.

2. No one believed that he would score a century. (At some time in the past this had been predicted).

We also use would instead of will, when we talk about something that was predicted to happen in the
future because it was habitual.

Had Bradman been alive today, he would have scored many more centuries.

Sometimes we use would with a negative connotation as in sentences with a dependent and independent
clause.

I would if I could. (This sentence obviously means that I won’t do it because I can’t do it.)

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 Exercises
Exercise # 01

Choose the correct verb form from those given in brackets.

1. He (has, is having) a house in Bombay.

2. The earth (moves, moved) round the sun.
3. We (saw, have seen) the Prime Minister yesterday.
4. I shall meet you when he (comes, will come) back.
5. It started raining while we (played, were playing) football.
6. Can I have some milk before I (go, am going) to bed?
7. He (fell, had fallen) asleep while he was driving.
8. I am sure I (met, had met) him at the station yesterday.
9. He (is living, has been living) in this house (since, for) ten years.
10. He thanked me for what I (have done, had done) for him.
11. She (is, will be) twenty next Monday.
12. We (have been working, are working) in this factory (since, for) five years.
13. She (is wanting, wants) to be a doctor.
14. If you (start, started) at once, you will reach there by this evening.
15. He (went, had gone) out five minutes ago.

Exercise # 02

Choose the correct verb form from those given in brackets.

1. He (wants, is wanting) to talk to you.

2. You (bought, had bought) a new scooter last week.
3. I (have just cleaned, just cleaned) my shoes.
4. She (has done, did) a lot of work today.
5. I shall return your book when I (will come, come) next time.
6. She (has been, is) ill (since, for) a week.
7. I know all about this book because I (read, have read) it twice.
8. I (didn’t see, have not seen) him since we met a year ago.
9. I (smell, am smelling) something burning.
10. My father (arrives, will have arrived) tomorrow morning.
11. We (finished, have finished) our lunch half an hour ago.
12. Did you think you (have seen, had seen) him sometime earlier also?
13. The train (has left, will have left) before we reach the station.
14. He jumped off the train while it (ran, was running, had been running).
15. He rarely (comes, is coming) these days.

Exercise # 03

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb given against each sentence.

1. It is years since I ... him. (See)

2. Of late he ... me. (Not meet)
3. In a fit of rage, she ... up the letters. (Tear)
4. The old man ... by a mad dog. (Bite)
5. A better day for this function could not ... (Choose)
6. The cart ... in the mud. (Stick)
7. She had ... all through the winter. (Work)
8. I wish I ... him. (Know)
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9. If only I ... her. (Know)
10. I ... him a week ago. (See)
11. He ... here for more than five years. (Work)
12. Take your raincoat in case it ... (Rain)
13. I ... to my office tomorrow. (Go)
14. He often ... late. (Reach)
15. My sister ... twenty on Deepawali day. (Be)

Exercise # 04
Correct the following sentences.

1. It is high time you resolve your differences.

2. He retired to bed before we reached there.
3. I know him since many years.
4. I am having a car.
5. He left for America next week.
6. I will return as soon as he came.
7. She is reading since the morning.
8. I wish I know him.
9. I met him before he came to the town.
10. You won’t pass until you will not work hard.
11. I write an essay this time.
12. It is time we will begin the work.
13. Don’t get down the bus until it will not stop.
14. He lives in Calcutta now.
15. I am going to office every day by bus.
16. He is teaching at this school from 1985.
17. He is having his breakfast at 8 a.m.
18. He has passed M. A. last year.
19. He already does his work.
20. Who has discovered the force of gravitation?

Exercise # 05

Correct the errors, if any, in the use of tenses in the following paragraph.

By the time Paul arrived at the house it is too late. The door was open, the light was on and his wife has disappeared. People
are still walking home from work and the sidewalk in front of his house pulsed with a slow but steady stream of neighbours who
stared at him as they passed. In the twilight, the streetlamp’s glow casts dim and surreal highlights on the odd assortment of
objects in his yard, the treadmill and the ten potted plants arranged in alphabetical order on the front walk. Looking back furtively
over his shoulder as he folds the treadmill and secured its dangling electrical cord, Paul gives the impression of some agitation as
he pushed the machine through the door and into the foyer of his home. One of the pots is an inch and a half out of alignment.
Sighing, he nudged it into place and picked up a leaf that fell when the pot moved.

Exercise # 06

Correct the errors, if any, in the use of tenses in the following paragraph.

Vincent Van Gogh is probably most well known in America for cutting off a large piece of his own ear with a razor in a fit of rage after
a violent quarrel with Paul Gauguin with whom he was sharing a house at the time. While trying to establish an artists’ colony in the
South of France, Gauguin and Van Gogh live together in the “Yellow House” for several months, during which time their arguments
over art escalated to the virulent stage. Van Gogh also suffers from manic depression; a serious mental illness characterised by
dramatic mood swings from very high highs to very low lows. Unfortunately, the time of the quarrel with Gauguin coincided with one
of Van Gogh’s low periods, causing him to be almost prostrate with despair. Van Gogh wrapped the piece of ear in a sheet of
newspaper and gives it to a local prostitute, an action that causes outrage among the local populace and prompted his brother
Theo, with whom he had a very close relationship, to encourage Van Gogh to commit himself to an asylum. The flamboyance of the
event was unfortunate in many ways, but primarily because it became the event most associated with the name of Van Gogh and
tended to diminish the importance of his work in the eyes of many.

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 Exercise # 07

Correct the errors, if any, in the use of tenses in the following paragraph.

After Israel left school, he come by the office to get some money for snacks. He is wearing his favourite shirt, the one with the
broad blue and gray stripes. He was asking the receptionist if his mother is in her office when the fire alarm begins to sound.
Everyone went crazy with fear. People begun to run all over the office like their hair was on fire. Israel remained calm. He saw
that a woman had fell on the floor, so he run over to assist her. While helping her up, Israel seen smoke beginning to come from
underneath the employee lounge door. Quickly, he got the woman to her feet and escorts her out the fire exit. The fire department
sirens could be heard in the distance. Israel looks around the crowd in a panic searching for his mother. He could not find her
anywhere. He starts to yell her name but soon realises that more than 100 other mothers are there and could answer to “MOM.”
So, Israel yelled out his mother’s first name in the hope of getting her attention.

Exercise # 08

Correct the errors, if any, in the use of tenses in the following paragraph.

The fireman have already arrived and set up a safety perimeter. A nice fireman sees Israel wandering around calling for his mom.
In hopes of keeping Israel occupied and in trying to help him find his mother, the fireman takes Israel to a checkpoint station set up
by the American Red Cross. Here, employees and customers from the building could register their names so that their safe exit could
be accounted for. The scared and confused young man of only 10 years steps forward to enter his name and to check for his
mother’s name. Nervously, he run his finger down the list and begun to shake as the list came to an end and his mother’s name had
not yet appeared. The tears began to well up in his eyes as he is shuffled to a canopy-covered holding area across the street in
an abandoned parking lot.

Exercise # 09

Correct the errors, if any, in the use of tenses in the following paragraph.

Israel sat on an old ice chest that was being used as a makeshift chair. Off to his left he could see where the EMTs are treating
people with minor injuries and were loading some of the more critical patients into the ambulances. Searching the faces of those
being treated for minor injuries, Israel recognised a woman dressed in a pretty floral dress. Her hair a mess, streaked in soot, the
heel of her shoe broken, she hobbled to a stretcher and began to receive treatment for her ankle injury. Israel rubbed his eyes; he
couldn’t believe it! There before him, after all that confusion and anxiety stands his mother.

Solutions
Exercise # 01 to 09

Exercise # 01 7. have read

1. ha s 2. moves 8. have not seen
3. saw 4. comes 9. smell
5. were playing 6. go 10. arrives
7. had fallen 8. met 11. f inished 12. had seen
9. has been living, for 10. had done 13. will have left 14. was running
11. will be 12. have been working, for 15. comes.
13. wants 14. start
15. went. Exercise # 03
1. saw 2. has not met
Exercise # 02 3. t o re 4. was bitten
1. wants 2. b o ug h t 5. have been chosen 6. was stuck
3. have just cleaned 4. has done 7. had been working 8. k ne w
5. come 6. has been, for 9. had known 10. saw
11. has worked 12. rains
13. shall go 14. reaches
15. will be

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Exercise # 04 Exercise # 06
1. resolved 2. had retired Is, was sharing, had lived, had escalated, suffered, coincided, wrapped, gave,
3. have known, for 4. h a ve caused, prompted, had, was, has become, has tended.
5. leaves 6. he comes
7. has been reading 8. k ne w Exercise # 07
9. had met 10. until you work hard Came, was, was wearing, was asking, was, began, began, remained, saw, had
11. am writing 12. began the work fallen, ran, saw, escorted, looked, started, realised, were.
13. until it stops 14. is living
15. go 16. has been teaching, since Exercise # 08
17. has his breakfast 18. pa ss ed Had already arrived, saw, took, stepped, ran, began, was shuffled.
19. has already done 20. discovered.
Exercise # 09
Exercise # 05 Were treating, were loading, recognised, stood.
Arrived, was, was, was, had disappeared, were, pulsed, stared, passed, cast,
arranged, folded, secured, gave, pushed, was, nudged, picked, had fallen,
moved.

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 Articles
Most of us are highly prone to commit errors related to “articles”, as there is no such thing as “articles” in Hindi or any other
Indian language. But to an accomplished speaker of English, the wrong usage (or omission) of articles can be very jarring to the
ears.

There is no escape. CAT lays a lot of emphasis on articles. So we have to learn to use the right
article in the right place or to omit the article where it is not required. Almost 40 percent grammar
questions in the CAT are from articles.

The good news: There are only three articles.

The bad news: There are enough rules and exceptions to confuse you unless you pay close attention to the theory and practise,
practise and practise.

Three forms of articles

There are three forms of articles. “A” and “an” are called the indefinite articles. “The” is the definite article.

“A” or “an”?

Should you use “a” or “an” before a noun? This depends upon the spellings, sound or pronunciation of the noun.

“A” is used before nouns that begin with a consonant.

Examples: A boy, a table, a house, a book.

“A” is also used before words beginning with a vowel that is pronounced with a consonant sound.
Examples: A European, a unique chance, a one-rupee note, a usual sight, a universal
truth, a utensil, a uniform, etc.
Note: You will see that all these words begin with the sound of “y” or “w” (which are
consonants) and not with the sound of any vowel.

“An” is used before those words which begin with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u).
Phew!
Examples: An enemy, an ox, an inkpot, an ass. This should be
EASY!
“An” is also used before those words which begin with a silent “h”.
Examples: An hour, an honourable man, an honest person, an heir, an hour, etc.

Some abbreviations are pronounced with a vowel sound and therefore “an””is used before
them.
Examples: An MBA, an MP, an MLA, an FIR, an HMT, an RTO, etc.

If these abbreviations are used in their full form, they take article “a”. Examples: A Member of Parliament (an MP), a Master of Arts
(an MA).

When to use the indefinite article, “a” or “an”

Representing a whole class

When a singular countable noun represents a whole class, the indefinite article is used before the noun.

1. A cow has horns. (All cows have horns.) 2. An eagle flies very high. (All eagles fly very high.)
3. A dog is a faithful animal. 4. A rose smells very sweet.

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More than one noun or adjective

When more than one noun or adjective point to one person or thing, “a” or “an” is used before the first noun or adjective and its
form is determined by the same first word.

But if the nouns or adjectives point to different persons or things, “a” or “an” is used before each word,
and the form of the article is determined by each word separately.

1. He gave me a red and blue pencil. (Only one pencil)

Really!!
2. He gave me a red and a blue pencil. (Two pencils)
3. Here is an ugly and foolish man. (One person)
4. Here are an ugly and a foolish man. (Two persons)

After such, so, what, how, etc.

1. I have never seen such a beautiful picture. (Not a such beautiful)

2. Such a thing has never happened before.
3. It was such a fine show.
4. He gave us such a pleasant surprise.
5. I have never seen so beautiful a picture. (Not a so beautiful picture)
6. It was so fine a show.
7. He gave us so pleasant a surprise.
8. I have never read so interesting a novel.
9. What a hot day!
10. What a cruel act!
11. What a pretty child!
12. What a good chance!
13. How good a chance!

Watch out for the following expressions:

Many a man, such a beautiful girl, such a house, what a man, what a place, as gentle a girl as she, as brave a man as he, how good
a boy, how excellent an opportunity, so serious an attempt, so brave a man, too clear an answer, too far a place.

Numerical expressions

“A” or “an” is used before some numerical expressions also.

Examples: a couple, a dozen, a score, a hundred, a thousand, a million, a lot of, a great many of, etc.

1. A couple of people were there. 2. He gave me a thousand rupees.

3. A great many visitors had turned up. 4. A score of houses had been damaged.

Expressions of price, speed, ratio, etc.

“A” or “an” is also used with expressions of price, speed, ratio, etc.

1. The train is running at 90 kilometres an hour.

2. Bananas are available at 10 rupees a dozen.
3. Sugar sells at 10 rupees a kilo.
4. Colour and water are mixed in a ratio of one to five. (Not “the ratio”)
5. Take this medicine three times a day.

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With a surname

If we know only the surname of a person, and know nothing more, we use “a” before the surname.

1. A Mr. Sharma came in the morning. 2. I met a Mrs. Peters on the train.
3. A Miss Renick is a regular visitor here. 4. A Ms. Puri is waiting for you.

With some typical phrases

“A” or “an” is also used before some typical expressions.

Such expressions include: To make a noise, to take a fancy to, to have a headache or a pain, to take a liking to, to have a
cold, to have a mind of one’s own, to have an eye to, to make a fire, to be in a hurry, to be in a temper, to have a taste for.

When to use the definite article, “The”

Before definite person or thing

Article “the” is used before a definitely specified person or thing. In other words, “the” is used before a person or a thing which has
already been referred to earlier, or which has been specified in some other way.

1. This is the house in which my friend lives. (Here a house cannot be used because the house has been specified as the
one where my friend lives.)
2. The place where I was born is far away from here.
3. This is the book I purchased yesterday.
4. He is the gentleman whom I introduced to you last year.

Unique common nouns

“The” is used before all those common nouns which are only one or believed to be only one (but which are not proper nouns).

1. The earth is round. 2. The sky is blue.

3. The sun has risen. 4. The moon shines.

Before representative singular nouns

1. The cow is a gentle animal. 2. The rose is a sweet smelling flower.

3. The apple is good for children. 4. The horse lives on grass.

Please note that in all these cases, it is also correct to use “a”. So we can also say, “a cow”, “a rose”, “an apple” and
“a horse”.

“The” is not used before man, woman, or mankind, even if they represent the whole class.

1. Man is a social animal. (Not The man) 2. Woman is man’s partner. (Not The woman)

Before names of mountains, rivers, oceans, lakes, bays, islands, etc.

1. The Ganges is a holy river. 2. The Himalayas are the highest mountains.
3. The Red Sea is a small sea. 4. The British Isles are in Europe.

But “the” is not used before a single specified peak or hill.

1. Mount Everest (not the Mount Everest) 2. Mount Abu (not the Mount Abu)

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Before the titles of books, magazines or newspapers

Examples: The Ramayana, The Iliad, The Vedas, The Gulliver’s Travels.

But if the author’s name is mentioned with the title of a book, “the” is not used.
Examples: Homer’s Iliad, Tulsi’s Ramcharitmanas, Shakespeare’s Tempest.

Before musical instruments

The flute, the guitar, the orchestra.

Before superlative adjectives or adverbs

The highest mountain, the longest river, the best boy, the most important point, the most honourable man.

Before the proper noun which carries its qualifying adjective before it

1. The great Caesar 2. The immortal Shakespeare

3. The gentle-hearted Lamb 4. The brave Rana Pratap
5. The late Mrs. Indira Gandhi.

Before the common noun which expresses the sense of an abstract noun

1. The patriot in him did not let him yield. 2. The warrior in him kept his morale high.
3. The father in him came to his support at last.

Before proper nouns that stand for some nation or people

1. The English are very hard working. 2. The French are very fashionable.
3. The German are heroic people.

If “the” is not used before such countries or nations, they would mean the language of those countries or nations. Thus “English”
means “English Language”, and “The English” means “English people”.

Before a noun to give it the force of the superlative

1. He is the scholar of the day. 2. He is the historian on this period.

3. PT is the institute to join for MBA entrance training.

Before ordinal numbers

The first, the fifth, the fourth, the 4th, the 8th, the 3rd, the 2nd, the 15th of April, the fifteenth of April, George the Fifth,
Henry the 8th.

But if these ordinal numbers are written in Roman figures, “the” is not used.

Examples: V Chapter, Canto XII, George V, Henry VIII.

Before names of professions

1. He has joined the bar. 2. He has gone to the navy.

3. I am interested in the teaching profession. 4. He is a member of the bench.

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Before common nouns used as appositions to proper nouns

1. Delhi, the capital of India 2. Nehru, the great patriot

3. Rana Pratap, the great warrior

When to omit articles

Before plural nouns

Normally no article is used before plural nouns.

1. Birds fly. 2. Cows give milk. 3. I love books.

But if the plural noun points to some specific or special thing, “the” is used.

1. The birds of Africa are large in size. 2. The cows of Haryana give much milk.

Before a proper noun

1. Ram is coming. 2. Mohan loves his sister.

Some of us have a peculiar tendency to use “the” before proper nouns. For example, we say, “India will not attack the
Pakistan”. This is very painful to hear. Please avoid this mistake.

Before an abstract noun

1. Love is blind. 2. Wisdom comes with age.

3. This is real beauty.

Before a material noun

1. Gold is costly. 2. Silver is white.

3. Cotton grows in our country. 4. Water is life.

Note: Normally, no article is used before uncountable nouns. If these nouns are followed by some prepositional phrase (with in or
of), they become countable nouns. In such cases, “the” is used before them.

1. Kalidas is the Shakespeare of India. 2. The beauty of Kashmir is remarkable.

3. The gold of Kollar fields is not of high quality. 4. The milk in the cup has turned sour.
5. The wisdom of Solomon was known far and wide.

Before collective nouns

1. Society will not permit it. 2. Parliament is in session.

3. Jury has given its verdict. 4. Army is on the move.

Before names of certain countries

Normally no article is used before the names of countries or states. But “the” is used before the names of the following countries and
states: The USA, the UK, the Sudan, the Netherlands, the Congo, etc.

Before names of languages, diseases, festivals, seasons

1. I know English. 2. He knows French.

3. Cholera has broken out. 4. He is coming on Christmas.
5. These are winter sports. 6. Let us visit Shimla in spring.
7. I don’t travel in summer.
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Before names of games, sports and meals

1. I am late for dinner. 2. I have breakfast quite early.

3. I shall return for supper. 4. He plays cricket.
5. They are fond of football.

Before names of relations

No article is used before names of relations such as father, mother, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, etc. Cook and nurse are also
included in this list.

1. Father is coming today. 2. Mother is not well today.

3. Cook is in the kitchen. 4. Nurse is very kind.

Before names of institutions used for their specific function

School, college, church, chapel, court, work, hospital, market, bed, table, sea, prison also take no article before them when they are
used for their specific purpose or function. For example, schools or colleges for education, church for prayer and market for
purchase or sale.

1. I am going to college. (for study) 2. I am going to church. (for prayer or worship)

But when they mean only building or place for visit or sightseeing or any other purpose, they take appropriate articles.

1. The college is at the next crossing. 2. The church is magnificent.

3. The market is closed.

Complement used after “elect”, “appoint”, “make” or “crown”

Such nouns refer to men of unique position.

1. He was appointed principal. 2. They made him chairman.

3. They are going to crown him king. 4. He was elected speaker of the assembly.

Before noun used after “kind of” or “sort of”

1. What kind of chair do you want to buy? 2. I cannot deal with this sort of man.

But if kind of or sort of refers to some special quality or talent, it would take an appropriate article.

1. What kind of a musician is he?

2. What sort of a problem would you like to discuss?

Nouns in pairs

They are wife and husband.

Other such pairs are: Father and mother; brother and sister; father and son; from door to door; from house to house; face to face;
hand to hand; from man to man; from village to village, etc.

Some popular phrases, idiomatic expressions, places and things

1. To go to: school, college, court, church, market, bed, home, hospital, prison etc.
2. By: road, train, air, sea, ship/steamer, bus, car etc.
3. At home, at church, at school, at college, at office, at dawn, at night, at noon, all day, all night, at fault, at present, at
all, at will.
4. For sale, for fear, for favour, for leave, for mercy.
5. In bed, in debt, in fact, in trouble, in hand, at hand, in favour of, in front of, in opposition to, in earnest.
6. Under consideration, under trial, under ground, under pressure.
7. On demand, on trial, on sale, on foot, on earth, on behalf of.
8. To catch fire, to send word, to give ear, to set sail, to lose heart, to set foot, to take offence.

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 Articles revisited
In c o rr ec t C or re c t
T h e P r e s id e n t u n d e r s c o r e d t h e n e e d f o r a T h e P r e s i d e n t u n d er s c o r e d t h e n e e d f o r a
c o n s t r u c t i v e a n d a r e a l i s t i c di a l o g u e o f constructive and realistic dialogue of issues
issues of glo bal inter est . of global interest.
The En gl ish an d t he Hin di langu age hav e
their own merits.
T h e E n g l is h a n d H i n d i l a n g u a g e h a v e t h e i r
OR
o w n m e r it s .
T h e E n g l i s h a n d H in d i l a n g u a g e s h a v e t h e i r
own merits.
My father is the chairm an and the M y f a t h e r i s t h e c h a i r m a n a n d m a n a gi n g
managing director of h is company. director of his company.
The m anager and the assistant of
M r . B h a n d a r i w e r e pr e s e n t a t t h e p a r t y .
T h e m a n ag e r a n d a s s i s t a n t o f M r . B h a n d a r i (Two persons)
were present at the part y. OR
T h e m a n a g e r a n d as s i s t a n t o f M r . B h an d a r i
was present at the party. (One person)
Ten dulkar is a better batsman than a
T e n d u l k a r i s a b e t t e r b a t s m a n t h a n bo w l e r .
bowler .
Ther e are hundred c entim etres in the
Ther e are hundred c entim etres in a met er.
meter.
He has been causing trouble since a day he H e h a s b e e n c a u s i n g t r o u b l e s i n c e t he d a y
came. he came.
The story is th ere in Bible. The story is th ere in the Bible.
Kumble is best bowler in the country. Kumble is the best bowler in th e country.
The y won th e m atch in fortieth o ver. They won the m atch in the fortieth over.
The sc ience has developed much in the past S c i e n c e h a s d e v e l o p e d m u c h i n t h e p as t
hundred years. hundred years.
W h a t k i n d o f a h o b b y i s t h is ? W h a t k i n d o f h o b by i s t h i s ?
I r o n i s a u s e f u l m et a l .
An iron is a us eful met al. OR
An iron is a useful gadget .
The str ength of charact er is wh at m akes a S t r e n g t h o f c h a r a ct e r i s w h a t m a k e s a m a n
man successful. successful.
S D Sharma was elected the pr esident of S D Sharma was elected president of the
the country. country.

Articles in place and omitted

Study the following paragraphs for the right use (and omission) of articles, and for the use of certain expressions.
You will see almost all the rules of articles in action here.

Thatched roofs catch fire (start to burn) in summer. Send word (send the message) to me if this happens. I shall definitely give
ear (listen) to the message. The messenger who brings word (brings the message) will also be rewarded.

Tired of life on land, we shall set sail (begin a journey on ship) for distant places. We shall not cast anchor (lower the anchor)
before at least a month will have passed.

But why do I think of these plans now? Nothing has gone wrong so far. So, there is no need to lose heart (get disappointed). No
enemy has laid siege to (started the siege of) our homes. I shall take offence (feel hurt) if you even plan to leave home.

One should feel at home (comfortable) wherever one’s home is. A bird in hand (able to be used) is worth two in the bush. Besides,
a change of place may lead you into debt. So, don’t let your mind run astray. Work hard by day (during the day) and sleep calmly
by night (during the night). See how the birds get to work at daybreak. You should be ready at sunrise at least. If it is too hot
at noon, take some rest. But see to it that you are a satisfied man at sunset. Take it from me – you can’t work at night.

Enough of preaching – is that what you say? All right, I stop there. But, on demand, I narrate one of my experiences. I borrowed
a huge sum at interest and decided to visit the most exciting place on earth. I travelled by land, by water, by river, by train,
by steamer, and even on horseback and on foot. I tried to know each place en route by name. I stayed at hotels. One day at
dinner a man told me: “Have you gone mad? The land is full of tension. None is at ease here.” I replied in jest (jokingly): “If the
land is full of tension, I’ll add some of mine to it.”

Do you know what excitement I had there? When I reached there, I came to know that the army had orders to shoot at sight (as
soon as seen). My adventure then consisted of hide-and-seek games. I often went in shelters underground to avoid being
destroyed in bombing.
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