Tense is an essential aspect of grammar that is used to express the time at which an action is performed. It is an important tool for effective communication, as it helps to provide clarity and coherence to the message being conveyed.
However, mastering the correct tense can be a challenging task, especially for students in classes 8 to 12. This is because the English language has several tenses, each with its own set of rules and usage.
In this blog post, we will discuss the correct use of tense with answers for students in classes 8 to 12.
Correct Tense Exercise: [100+ Correct Tense]
Here are some Correct Tense Examples:
1. Who was that girl you (talk) to when I (pass) you?
Ans. Who was that girl you were talking to when I passed you?
2. Our English teacher (teach) in our school for 30 years before he (retire) last year.
Ans. Our English teacher had been teaching in our school for 30 years before he retired last year.
3. This book (contain) a lot of useful information.
Ans. This book contains a lot of useful information.
4. Stop that noise! I (listen) to the news on radio.
Ans. Stop that noice! I am listening to the radio.
5. We (know) each other for five years.
Ans. We have known each other for five years.
6. She just (reach) home.
Ans. She has just reached home.
7. It (rain) cats and dogs since morning.
Ans. It has been raining cats and dogs since morning.
8. When we (arrive) at the station, the train had already left.
Ans. When we arrived at the station the train had already left.
9. It is time we (go) to bed.
Ans. It is time we went to bed.
10. If you (go) there early, you would have met him.
Ans. If you had gone there early, you would have met him.
11. There was a rumour that (die) of cholera.
Ans. There was a rumour that he died of cholera.
12. We are bury in idle talks but he (prepare) his lessons for the school.
Ans. We are bury in idle talks but he is preparing his lessons for the school.
13. We (listen) to the radio this time tomorrow.
Ans. We shall be listening to the radio this time tomorrow.
14. I (write) this letter since morning.
Ans. I have been writing this letter since morning.
15. It (rain) since eight O’clock this morning.
Ans. It has been raining since eight O’clock this morning.
16. I (have) my dinner an hour ago.
Ans. I had my dinner an hour ago.
17. When we went to his house, he (read) a book.
Ans. When we went to his house, he was reading a book.
18. She behaves as if she (know) everything.
Ans. She behaves as if she knew everything.
19. Socrates was (take) away to prison.
Ans. Socrates was taken away to prison.
20. The work was (begin) a month ago.
Ans. The work was begun a month ago.
Correct tense with answer class 10
21. When I reached home mother (work) in the kitchen.
Ans. When I reached home mother was working in the kitchen.
22. I (go) to apply for the post.
Ans. I am going to apply for the post.
23. The Second World War (begin) in 1938.
Ans. The Second World War began in 1938.
24. She usually (go) out for a walk in the evening.
Ans. She usually goes out for a walk in the evening.
25. He (sleep) and cannot meet you now.
Ans. He is sleeping and cannot meet you now.
Or, He sleeps and cannot meet you now.
27. He (do) the work since Monday last. [HSLC 2000]
Ans. He has been doing the work since Monday last.
27. When he entered the room, I (write) a letter.
Ans. When he entered the room I was writing a letter.
28. If you (neglect) your studies, you will fail.
Ans. If you neglect your studies, you will fail.
29. It (be) cold this morning, but the sun (shine) now.
Ans. It was cold this morning, but the sun is shining now.
30. The show always (begin) at 6 P.M.
Ans. The show always begins at 6 P.M.
31. You (fail) unless you work hard.
Ans. Unless you work hard you will fail.
32. He is not here. He (go) home.
Ans. He is not here. He has gone home.
33. If I (be) you, I would not have called him again. [HSLC 2018]
Ans. If I were you, I would not have called him again.
34. I (not hear) from him for a year now.
Ans. I have not heard from him for a year now.
35. My sister (go) to school on foot.
Ans. My sister goes to school on foot.
36. Look at the sky, it (go) to rain very soon.
Ans. Look at the sky, It is going to rain very soon.
37. If I (be) there, I (help) you.
Ans. If I had been here, I would have helped you.
38. Gandhi (be) the greatest man of India.
Ans. Gandhi is the greatest man of India.
39. The bus usually (arrive) here at 6 O’clock.
Ans. The bus usually arrives here at 6 O’clock.
40. If it (rain), I shall not go out.
Ans. If it rains, I shall not go out.
Correct tense with answer class 9
41. You (learn) English for six years now.
Ans. You have been learning English for six years now.
42. He treated me as though I (be) a god.
Ans. He treated me as though I were a god.
43. He said that he (like) only coffee.
Ans. He said that he liked only coffee.
44. We shall wait here until he_____back. (come)
Ans. We shall wait here until he comes back.
45. I______my breakfast yet (not take)
Ans. I have not taken my breakfast yet.
46. When he came in, I______a letter (write)
Ans. When he came in, I was writing a letter.
47. He (walk) across the road, when a scooter hit him. [HSLC 2002]
Ans. He was walking across the road, when a scooter hit him.
48. I wish I (accept) the job. [HSLC 2000]
Ans. I wish I accepted the job.
49. Hurry up, the taxi (wait)
Ans. Hurry up, the taxi is waiting.
50. If he comes today, he (meet) my sister.
Ans. If he comes today he will meet my sister.
51. If he (go) now, he will meet his sister.
Ans. If he goes now, he will meet his sister.
52. If I had time, I (visit) him.
Ans. If I had time, I would visit him.
53. If he (work) all day, he would finish in time.
Ans. If he worked all day, he would finish in time.
54. They (live) in Delhi for ten years. [HSLC 2001]
Ans. They lived in Delhi for ten years.
or, They have been living in Delhi for ten years.
55. They (come) here tomorrow.
Ans. They will come here tomorrow,
56. I (see) him yesterday.
Ans. I saw him yesterday.
57. They (watch) T.V. since 5 p.m.
Ans. They have been watching T. V. since 5 p.m.
58. She died after she (suffer) for five years. [HSLC 2001]
Ans. She died after she had suffered for five years.
59. Ten years (pass) since I met you last. [HSLC 2001]
Ans. Ten years have passed since I met you last.
60. When he came it (be) all over. [HSLC 2001]
Ans. When he came it was all over.
Correct tense with answer class 8
61. He (stay) here until you return. [HSLC 2001]
Ans. He will stay here until you return.
62. When he started for office, it still (rain). [HSLC 2001]
Ans. When he started for office it was still raining.
63. I_____not my friend for ages (not met). [HSLC 2001]
Ans. I have not met my friend for ages.
64. If you-him, he would have helped you (request). [HSLC 2002]
Ans. If you had requested him, he would have helped you.
65. She-in this school since 1996. (work) [HSLC 2002]
Ans. She has been working in this school since 1996.
66. The boys (play) in the field, I (hear) their noise.
Ans. The boys are playing in the field, I hear their noise.
67. I never (see) a lion before.
Ans. I have never seen a lion before.
68. Who not (know) him?
Ans. Who does not know him?
69. He cannot go now as he (feel) tired.
Ans. He cannot go now as he is feeling tired.
70. He (write) the letter to his sister.
Ans. He is writing the letter to his sister.
71. The field (look) green next month.
Ans. The field will look green next month.
72. The accident (occur) at 10 p.m.
Ans. The accident occurred at 10 p.m.
73. I (do) it with pleasure.
Ans. I shall do it with pleasure.
74. We (expect) him yesterday.
Ans. We expected him yesterday.
75. Anil (earn) his living by writing for magazines.
Ans. Anil earns his living by writing for magazines.
76. A friend in need (be) a friend indeed.
Ans. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
77. Reading always (make) a man wiser.
Ans. Reading always makes a man wiser.
78. I wish he (know) me.
Ans. I wish he knew me.
79. I (wait) for you till evening.
Ans. I shall wait for you till evening.
80. I not (meet) him for ages.
Ans. I have not met him for ages.
Correct tense with answer class 12
81. The book (buy) tomorrow.
Ans. The book will be bought tomorrow.
82. Socrates (condemn) to death.
Ans. Socrates was condemned to death.
83. The patient (take) to the hospital.
Ans. The patient was taken to the hospital.
84. They (be) in Delhi before they came to Tezpur.
Ans. They had been in Delhi before they came to Tezpur.
85. We (know) each other for the last ten years. [HSLC 2003]
Ans. We have known each other for the last ten years.
86. If I (know) his address, I would have contacted him. [HSLC 2003]
Ans. If I had known his address I would have contacted him.
87. Look, there (go) the bus.
Ans. Look, there goes the bus.
88. The earth (move) round the sun. [HSLC 2003]
Ans. The earth moves round the sun.
89. My friend (meet) the Prime Minister yesterday.[HSLC 2003]
Ans. My friend met the Prime Minister yesterday.
90. Amlan was not at home, he (be) playing cricket in the field. [HSLC 2003]
Ans. Amlan was not at home, he was playing cricket in the field.
91. It (rain) since early morning. [HSLC 2003]
Ans. It has been raining since early morning.
92. I am sure he (pass) the examination. [HSLC 2003]
Ans. I am sure he will pass the examination.
93. Rahim (leave) the job three years back.
Ans. Rahim left the job three years back.
94. He can not play in the match as he_______his foot. (injure) [HSLC 2004]
Ans. He can not play in the match as he has injured his foot.
95. I wish I_____help you (can).
Ans. I wish I could help you.
96. If I_____you, I should not accept that post (be).
Ans. If I were you, I should not accept that offer.
97. When I reached the station, the train. (leave)
Ans: When I reached the station, the train was leaving.
98. He (reach) home before his father left for Delhi.
Ans: He had reached home before his father left for Delhi.
99. She (leave) for Delhi tomorrow.
Ans: She will leave for Delhi tomorrow.
100. Hari (get up) at five every morning.
Ans: Hari gets up at five every morning.
101. We (reach) school before the bell rang.
Ans: We had reached the scool before the bell rang.
102. He (work) in this office for the last five years.
Ans: He has been working in this office for last five years.
103. I (write) this letter since morning.
Ans: I have been writing this letter since morning.
104. It (rain) since eight O’clock this morning.
Ans: It has been raining since eight O’clock this morning.
105. I (have) my dinner an hour ago.
Ans: I had my dinner an hour ago.
106. When we went to his house, he (read) a book.
Ans: When we went to his house, he was reading a book.
107. She behaves as if she (know) everything.
Ans: She behaves as if she knew everything.
108. Socrates was (take) away to prison.
Ans: Socrates was taken away to prison.
109. They (live) here since 1994.
Ans: They have been living here since 1994.
110. I (not meet) him for a week.
Ans: I have not met him for a week.
111. We (need) advice.
Ans: We need your advice.
112. The work was (begin) a month ago.
Ans: The work was begun a month ago.
Previous Years Correct Tense Question Answer
HSLC 2022
1. He (ring) the bell when I was reading.
Ans. He rang the bell when I was reading.
2. Nobody (know) where he lives.
Ans. Nobody knows where he lives.
3. The guests (arrive) before the dinner was set.
Ans. The guests had arrived before the dinner was set.
HSLC 2020
1. I (go) there before she went.
Ans. I had gone there before she went.
2. Ten years (pass) since I met you last.
Ans. Ten years have passed since I met you last.
3. When she came I (write) a letter.
Ans. When she came I was writing a letter.
HSLC 2019
1. They (live) in Delhi for ten years.
Ans. They have been living in Delhi for ten years.
2. When he came it (be) all over.
Ans. When he came it was all over.
3. He (stay) here until you return.
Ans. He will stay here until you return.
HSLC-2018
1. If I (be) you, I would not have called him again.
Ans. If I were you, I would not have called him again.
2. The principal is not in his room. He (go) out.
Ans. The principal is not in his room. He has gone out.
HSLC-2017
1. If it (rain) we shall not go out.
Ans. If it rains we shall not go out.
2. We (know) each other for the last ten years.
Ans. We have known each other for the last ten years.
HSLC-2016
1. It is time we (go) to bed.
Ans. It is time we went to bed.
2. She behaves as if she (know) everything.
Ans. She behaves as if she knew everything.
HSLC-2014
1. She-a book when I saw her. (read)
Ans. She was reading a book when I saw her.
2. She a teacher since 2002 (be)
Ans. She has been a teacher since 2002.
HSLC ‘2013
1. I wish I (be) a king.
Ans. I wish I were a king.
2. The boy (sleep), don’t disturb him.
Ans. They boys is sleeping, don’t disturb him.
HSLC-2015
1. The bell rang after we (finish) our work.
Ans. The bell rang after we had finished our work.
2. Please ring me up as soon as he (come)
Ans. Please ring me up as soon as he comes.
HSLC 2012
1. She said that she (will) help her friend.
Ans. She said that she would help her friend.
2. The boys (play) in the garden when the tree fell down.
Ans. They boys were playing in the garden when the tree fell down.
HSLC 2011
1. We (know) each other for the last five years.
Ans. We have known each other for the last five years.
2. The other day I (meet) a magician in the bazaar.
Ans. The other day I met a magician in the bazaar.
HSLC 2009
1. The lady slipped while she (climb) the steps.
Ans. The lady slipped while she was climbing the steps.
HSLC 2008:
1. Our teacher__ to London last year (go)
Ans. Our teacher went to London last year.
2. John____a number of short stories. (write)
Ans. John has written a number of short stories.
3. We should never a lie. (tell)
Ans. We should never tell a lie.
HSLC 2007:
1. The new teacher us now for six months. (teach)
Ans. The new teacher has been teaching us now for six months.
2. Mohan___home before it started raining. (reach)
Ans. Mohan had reached home before it started raining.
3. He told us that he never a lie. (tell)
Ans. He told us that he would never tell a lie.
Conclusion:
Now that we have covered the various tenses and their usage, it is important to note that using the correct tense is crucial for effective communication. Using the wrong tense can lead to confusion and misinterpretation of the intended message. Therefore, it is essential to practice using tenses correctly in writing and speaking.