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Question
Read the following sentence carefully, underline the verb and find out the tense in the sentence.
He just felt dizzy.
Solution
He just felt dizzy.
- Verbs - felt
- Tense - Simple Past Tense
APPEARS IN
RELATED QUESTIONS
Let us begin by studying the relationship between the different verb forms and the time they denote.
Work individually
Indicate the tense and time of each of the highlighted verbs in the table below.
The first has been done as an example.
Sentence | Tense | Time | |
1. | We are planning to go out for a picnic tomorrow. | Present | Future |
2. | India has made tremendous progress in the past few decades. |
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3. | It has been raining since morning. | ||
4. | Could you please send your e-mail address as soon as possible? |
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5. | The train must have reached Delhi by now. |
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6. | It always rains in July here. | ||
7. | Cold wave intensifies further. (A news headline) |
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8. | He was playing here a minute ago. | ||
9. | She won the Student of the Year award last year. |
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10. | All incomplete forms will be rejected. |
Now compare your answers with those of your partner and discuss the
following questions and write your observations in the given space.
a. Is the time referred to in the sentences always the same as the tense of
the verb? What conclusion can you draw from your observation? Write
your observation below.
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b. How have you found the tense of the verbs in the sentences above? Are
there any indicators or markers that reveal the tense of the verb? Write
your observation below.
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c. Did you find any verb form that could be called 'future form'? (You will
learn more about the different ways of talking about future later in this
unit.)
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d. Why do you think verb forms are often labelled as 'simple' or 'indefinite', 'progressive' or 'continuous', 'perfect' and 'perfect continuous'?
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Study the following picture carefully and then write a paragraph to describe what is happening.
Here is a letter Nikita wrote to her friend Susie who lives in Milan, Italy. What verb forms has she used in this letter? Bas she used a mix of verb forms? Is there any particular form that has been used more frequently?
Dear Susie
It's a beautiful Sunday morning. Rakesh is busy with some office work and the kids are playing in the park outside and I've time enough to write a quick letter to you.
So, how are you doing? How's your new novel coming along? I hear you're learning Bharatnatyam these days. Couldn't believe it when Sharon told me about it. Bhartnatyam in Milani Never knew there is an Indian Dance school in Italy. Interesting! By the way, who are you taking dance lessons from? I mean, who is your Guru? And why are you learning Bharatnatyam? Must you do everything that I do?
What happened to your plan to visit us this winter? Well, winter is round the corner. When are you coming? How long do you plan to stay? What places would you like to visit? Do let me know, will you? I'll make your itinerruy accordingly. Remember, this time when you come, you are not staying at any hotel as you did last time. You will stay with us. I have a room spare for you to stay as long as you wish. OK? As for the weather, I've already told you, winter is setting in. It's beginning to get cold, especially in the mornings and the evenings. The temperature is falling with each passing day and it's just the right kind of weather for some travel and adventure. Delhi is at its best in the early winter and it is waiting to welcome you with open arms. And how's your mom's health now? Is she keeping well? Is she getting physiotherapy done regularly? I continue to pray for her speedy recovery. I think I got to go now. The kids seem to have had a fight. I can hear the youngerone crying. These boys are giving me a difficult time! Catchyoulater. Bye
Yours
Nikita
As Susie, write a reply to Nikita's letter. Do take care to answer all the
questions Nikita has asked you. What verb forms would you like to use?
Milan
25th October, 2011
Dear Nikita
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Yours
Susie
Simple Past Tense-Past Perfect Tense
Underline the main verbs in the sentences below. Then, rewrite the sentences in the correct order of events.
1) The people began to starve.
2) In 1925, a disease destroyed the crops in one village.
3) Later, the village people came to retrieve their children
4) The chief decided to send the children of the village to live in a settlement in the next valley.
5) However, they had married outside the village.
6) This caused a war between the two villages.
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__________________
Now work with your partner and tick (✓) the sentence in which a different tense has been used. In pairs, discuss why this has been done.
Sentence No: 5 uses a different tense because ..................................................................................................................................................
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The present perfect is often used with the following time expressions:
until now for many years
so far over the last few years
lately in the past few months
not yet since20xx
recently
in recent years
Choose five of these time expressions and make sentences about interesting
items of news concerning yourself.
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Now make groups of four, and tell (not read) each other your news.
Find the incorrect sentences and then rewrite them correctly. Put a tick mark (✓)against the sentences that you think are correct.
1) By 2005, the singer recorded ten albums.
2) When I got to the bank, it had closed.
3) Timothy, the tiger, had killed five calves yesterday.
4) When Rehman met Mini ten years later, she grew up into a young girl.
5) By the time we reached the airport, the flight had left.
6) We hardly went a kilometre or so when the car broke down.
Tenses -Summary
Read the biodata of Sangeeta Rani Puri, India's swimming sensation. Then, complete the interview in the spaces provided. Do NOT add any extra information. Use appropriate tenses.
Natne : Sangeeta Rani Puri Status : Non-resident Indian Place of Birth : Trinidad Place of Residence : USA Parents : Raj Krishna Puri (Father) -fatnous immigration lawyer Moyna Margaret Puri (mother) - (from Trinidad) Achievements records : i) six new national records in five day (Junior National Swimming Meet, Vijaywada) |
Interviewer: Sangeeta, since you were in India for only a short while before
you flew to Atlanta, would you tell us a little about yourself?
Sangeeta : Well, I'm an Indian and I'm proud to be one.
I: Please tell us about your parents.
S: My father ____________________
_______________________ from Trinidad.
I: Have you taken part in any of the National Championships?
S: (Very excited) Yes,_________at Vijaywada.
I: How ______________________________________________ Senior Nationals?
S: I won seven events and __________
I: How do you rate your performance in the Altanta Olympics in 1996?
S: I ___________________________ in the 50 metres freestyle. It's true that I _____________in Atlanta. But _____________________
I: Haveyou ___________________ forthefuture?
S: I in the USA. And of course I ____________for as long as possible. Also I _______________________ in the olympics.
I: Thank you, Sangeeta. I wish you all the best.
S: Thankyouverymuch.
Working with the same partner, use the information given below and
discuss the reasons for choosing a particular verb form in F .1. Then match
the information in the bubbles below with the sentences, and put the
sentence number in the space provided, as shown in the example.
1. e.g. Something is expected to happen before a particular time in the future. (Sentence No 2) |
2.Statement of a universal truth or fact. ( ) |
3.Something is expected to ( ) |
4.Simple statement of future ( ) |
5.Sure to happen at a particular time in the future, as arrangements for it ( ) |
6.Statement of a planned event expected. ( } |
Read this sentence.
M. Hamel had said that he would question us on participles.
In the sentence above, the verb form “had said” in the first part is used to indicate an “earlier past.” The whole story is narrated in the past. M. Hamel’s “saying” happened earlier than the events in this story. This form of the verb is called the past perfect.
Pick out five sentences from the story with this form of verb and say why this form has been used.
Use the correct tense form of the verb given in the bracket and rewrite the sentence.
She ________ that old fashion book of her mother a few months back.
Use the correct tense form of the verb given in the bracket and rewrite the sentence.
All this ________ destroyed in a few years.
Name the Tense of the Verb underlined to include Time (Past/Present/Future) and Aspect (Simple/Continuous/Perfect/Perfect Continuous).
We were designing the first Macintosh computer.
Name the Tense of the Verb underlined to include Time (Past/Present/Future) and Aspect (Simple/Continuous/Perfect/Perfect Continuous).
I am fine, now.
Name the Tense of the Verb underlined to include Time (Past/Present/Future) and Aspect (Simple/Continuous/Perfect/Perfect Continuous).
I shall be telling you three stories.
Change the Tense as instructed.
I started the company. (Present Continuous)
Change the Tense as instructed.
My doctor advised me. (Past Perfect Continuous)
Rewrite the sentence as per the instruction given along with it.
She simply sat there quietly.
(Rewrite the sentence in the Present Continuous Tense)
Underline the verb and choose the correct option from the options.
Preeti even wrote about it.
Underline the verb and choose the correct option from the options.
Today Sanjay found a new book.
Underline the verb and choose the correct option from the options.
Preeti was scornful.
Underline the verb and choose the correct option from the options.
They are sportsmen.
Read the following sentence carefully, underline the verb and find out the tense in the sentence.
Still they took no notice of him.
Observe the following underlined phrases. Here ‘have /has’ are followed by the past participle form of the verb. This construction indicates the perfect present tense. Find more such sentences from the speech.
- We have made progress in the last couple of decades.
- We have prevented millions of child deaths.
- It has happened.
- ________________________
- ________________________
- ________________________
Rewrite in the past perfect continuous tense:
The marlin fights for its life desperately.
Form two present participle in which the last letter is doubled.
Rewrite the sentences in present perfect tense:
I had been working for Anil for almost a month.
Rewrite the sentence in future tense:
I am doing it.
Rewrite the sentence in simple future tense.
He has been playing since afternoon.
Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy the passage but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space.
It was hot in the railway compartment and the fan ______ (1) (not work). The elderly lady ______ (2) (use) up all her water because she had cheerfully shared it with her fellow passengers. She knew that the train ______ (3) (halt) at the station for only three minutes. Calling a shoeshine boy she said, ‘Will you help me? I ______ (4) (need) a bottle of cold water and here is the money,' and she put a twenty rupee note in his hand. The boy snatched the money and ______ (5) (disappear) into the crowd on the platform. A fellow passenger ______ (6) (cannot believe) what he had witnessed. ‘What ______ (7) (you do)?’ He said, ‘You ______ (8) (never see) your money again.' Just then the whistle was heard and the train began to move. At that moment the child appeared at the window with the water. 'Your water,' he gasped, out of breath. ‘And the change.'