TENSES

Pre-assessment – Underline the verb and identify the type of tenses used in the
sentences given below:

1. Damon drinks coffee every morning.

2. The boy got up late and missed the bus.
3. The team is playing very well.
4. The school will be closed for winter break.
5. The baby has eaten all the chips.
6. The sick child has been sleeping for three hours.
7. Beverly will have left before you arrive to see her.
8. When I went there, Bucky was playing video games.
9. Penny had done her homework when her parents came back.
10. Mr. Arnold had been writing his last book for four months.
11. Mr. Samuel will be staying in New York next week.
12. Mr. Peter will have been teaching for twelve years next month.

Answers
1. Simple Present Tense
2. Simple Past Tense
3. Present Continuous Tense
4. Simple Future Tense
5. Present Perfect Tense
6. Present Perfect Continuous Tense
7. Future Perfect Tense
8. Past Continuous Tense
9. Past Perfect Tense
10. Past Perfect Continuous Tense
11. Future Continuous Tense
12. Future Perfect Continuous Tense
Exercise 1

Fill in the blanks with appropriate form of the verbs given in the brackets.

1. When the burglars broke into the house, everybody……… sound sleep. (have)
2. The milk…… over as she went to see the crowd passing by with loud slogans. (spill)
3. If Shubham….. any mistake, he will be rewarded. (not + make)
4. They were watching TV when they…….. a loud bang at the door. (hear)
5. The bus…… the stop before we could catch it. (leave)
6. Rounak……. the same song for last three days. It has become boring now. (play)
7. Shamal…… after we reach home. (call)
8. The show…… its one thousand episodes by next month. (complete)
9. Don’t worry, we will be……. the airport in time. (reach).
10. Arman has…. sick after eating some snacks at the street side shop. (fall)

Answers

1. were having
2. spilt
3. does not make
4. heard
5. had left
6. has been playing
7. will call
8. will have completed
9. reaching
10. fallen

Exercise 2 – Change the tense

Read the sentences and change their tenses as directed.

1. The boy speaks the truth. (Present Continuous Tense)

2. Mr Cooper has spoken about dinosaurs. (Present Perfect Continuous Tense)
3. The boat sailed yesterday. (Simple Present Tense)
4. Amy went to school yesterday. (Future Continuous Tense)
5. The baby cried for hours. (Present Perfect Continuous Tense)
6. Robert ate all the cookies. (Present Perfect Tense)
7. I have finished my assignment. (Past Perfect Tense)
8. Mr Bert had taught for five years. (Past Perfect Continuous Tense).
9. Dev saw the Prime Minister yesterday. (Future Continuous Tense)
10. Priya shall finish her stitching by then. (Future Perfect Tense)
Answers
1. The boy is speaking the truth.
2. Mr Cooper has been speaking about Dinosaurs.
3. The boat sails today.
4. Amy will be going to school tomorrow.
5. The baby has been crying for hours.
6. Robert has eaten all the cookies.
7. I had finished my assignment.
8. Mr Bert had been teaching for five years.
9. Dev will be seeing the Prime Minister tomorrow.
10. Priya shall have finished her stitching by then.
Exercise 3

Identify the errors in the sentences given below and rewrite them.

1. These grapes are tasting sour.

2. I am thinking you are wrong.
3. She is seeming sad.
4. He is having a cellular phone.

Answer:

1. These grapes taste sour.

2. I think you are wrong.”
3. She seems sad.
4. He has a cellular phone.

Post- Assessment
Choose the correct option to complete the sentences.

1. The climate of the city………. mild and pleasant most of the time.
(a) is remaining
(b) remains
(c) was remaining
(d) is remained
2. One day he ……… into a hotel in Shillong, a beautiful city in Meghalaya.
(a) booking
 (b) was booking
(c) booked
(d) had booked
3. You will certainly…….. rewards for what you are doing.
(a) getting
(b) had got
(c) was getting
(d) be getting
4. Do you …….. the day we moved the piano upstairs?
(a) remember
(b) remembered
(c) are remembering
(d) had remembered
5. The rain completely………. our day.
(a) spoilt
(b) is spoiling
(c) is spoilt
(d) was spoilt
6. Akbar…… the king at the age of fifteen after the sudden death of his father.
(a) was becoming
(b) had become
(c) became
(d) become
7. The criminal …… the place before the police could reach.
(a) was escaping
(b) had escaped
(c) is escaping
(d) will escape
8. They ……… all the arrangements before the guest’s arrival.
(a) will have made
(b) will be made
(c) had been making
(d) were making
9. She……… her job by tomorrow evening.
(a) will be completing
(b) will complete
(c) will have completed
(d) will have been completing

1. Aryan…… his mother in making rangoli in the yard for last one hour.
(a) is helping
(b) has helped
(c) has been helping
(d) helps

Answer:
1. (b) remains
2. (c) booked
3. (d) be getting
4. (a) remember
5. (b) is spoiling
6. (c) became
7. (b) had escaped
8. (a) will have made
9. (c) will have completed
10. (c) has been helping
Tips on Direct and Indirect Speech:

Tip 1: Conversion Rules as per the Reporting Verb

When the reporting or principal verb is in the Past Tense, all Present tenses of the direct are
changed into the corresponding Past Tenses.
a) Direct: He said, “I am unwell.”
b) Indirect: He said (that) he was unwell.
If the reporting verb is in the Present or Future Tense, the tenses of the Direct Speech do not
change.
a) Direct: He says/will say, “I am unwell.”
b) Indirect: He says/will say he is unwell.
The Tense in Indirect Speech is NOT CHANGED if the words within the quotation marks talk of a
universal truth or habitual action.
a) Direct: They said, “We cannot live without water.”
b) Indirect: They said that we cannot live without water.

Tip 2: Conversion Rules of Present Tense in Direct

Speech
Simple Present Changes to Simple Past
a) Direct: "I am happy", she said.
b) Indirect: She said that she was happy.
Present Continuous Changes to Past Continuous
a) Direct: "I am reading a book", he explained.
b) Indirect: He explained that he was reading a book.
Present Perfect Changes to Past Perfect
a) Direct: She said, "He has finished his food“.
b) Indirect: She said that he had finished his food.
Present Perfect Continuous Changes to Past Perfect Continuous
a) Direct: "I have been to Gujarat", he told me.
b) Indirect: He told me that he had been to Gujarat.
Tip 3: Conversion Rules of Past & Future Tense
Simple Past Changes to Past Perfect
a) Direct: He said, “Ira arrived on Monday."
b) Indirect: He said that Ira had arrived on Monday.
Past Continuous Changes to Past Perfect Continuous
a) Direct: "We were living in Goa", they told me.
b) Indirect: They told me that they had been living in Goa.
Future Changes to Present Conditional
a) Direct: He said, "I will be in Kolkata tomorrow."
b) Indirect: He said that he would be in Kolkata the next day.
Future Continuous Changes to Conditional Continuous
a) Direct: She said, "I'll be using the car next Friday.”
b) Indirect: She said that she would be using the car next Friday.

Tip 4: Changes in Modals

CAN changes into COULD
a) Direct: He said, "I can swim."
b) Indirect: He said that he could swim.
MAY changes into MIGHT
a) Direct: He said, "I may buy a house.”
b) Indirect: He said that he might buy a house.
MUST changes into HAD TO/WOULD HAVE TO
a) Direct: He said, "I must work hard.”
b) Indirect: He said that he had to work hard.
Modals that DO NOT Change: Would, Could, Might, Should, Ought to.
a) Direct: He said, "I should face the challenge.”
b) Indirect: He said that he should face the challenge.

Tip 5: Conversion of Interrogative

Reporting Verb like ‘said/ said to’ changes to asked, enquired or demanded
a) Direct: He said to me, “What are you doing?”
b) Indirect: He asked me what I was doing.
If sentence begins with auxiliary verb, the joining clause should be if or whether.
a) Direct: He said, “Will you come for the meeting?”
b) Indirect: He asked them whether they would come for the meeting.
If sentence begins with ‘wh’ questions then no conjunction is used as the "question-word" itself act
as joining clause.
a) Direct: “Where do you live?” asked the girl.
b) Indirect: The girl enquired where I lived.

Tip 6: Command, Request, Exclamation, Wish

Commands and Requests
Indirect Speech is introduced by some verbs like ordered, requested, advised and suggested.
Forbid(s)/ forbade is used for the negative sentences. The imperative mood is changed into the
Infinitive.
a) Direct: Rafique said to Ahmed, “Go away.”
b) Indirect: Rafique ordered Ahmed to go away.
c) Direct: He said to her, “Please wait.”
d) Indirect: He requested her to wait.
Exclamations and Wishes
Indirect Speech is introduced by some words like grief, sorrow, happiness, applaud. Exclamatory
sentence changes into assertive sentence and Interjections are removed.
a) Direct: He said, “Alas! I am undone.”
b) Indirect: He exclaimed sadly that he was broke.

Tip 7: Change of Pronouns

The first person of the reported speech changes according to the subject of reporting speech.
a) Direct: She said, “I am in ninth class.”
b) Indirect: She says that she was in ninth class.
The second person of reported speech changes according to the object of reporting speech.
a) Direct: He says to them, "You have completed your job.”
b) Indirect: He tells them that they have completed their job.
The third person of the reported speech doesn't change.
a) Direct: He says, "She is in tenth class.”
b) Indirect: He says that she is in tenth class.

Tip 8: Change of Place and Time

Words expressing nearness in time or place in Direct Speech are generally changed into words
expressing distance in Indirect Speech.
Now -- then
Here -- there
Ago -- before
Thus -- so
Today -- that day
Tomorrow -- the next day
This -- that
Yesterday -- the day before
These -- those
Hither-- thither
Come -- go
Hence -- thence
Next week/month -- following week/month
a) Direct: She said, “My father came yesterday.”
b) Indirect: She said that her father had come the day before.
c) Direct: She says/will say, “My father came yesterday.”
Indirect: She says/will say that her father had come yesterday. (Here the reporting verb ‘says’ is in
the present tense OR ‘will say’ is in future tense; hence the time expression ‘yesterday’ won’t
change.)

Tip 9: Punctuation
The words that are actually spoken should be enclosed in quotes and begin with a capital letter
Example: He said, “You are right.”
Comma, full stop, question mark, or exclamation mark must be present at the end of reported
sentences and are placed inside the closing inverted comma or commas.
Example: He asked, “Can I come with you?”
If direct speech comes after the information about who is speaking, comma is used to introduce the
piece of speech, placed before the first inverted comma.
Example: She shouted, “Stop talking!”
Example: “Thinking back,” she said, “he didn't expect to win.” (Comma is used to separate the
two reported speech and no capital letter to begin the second sentence).

Tip 10: Conversion of Indirect to Direct Speech

1. Use the reporting verb, "say" or "said to" in its correct tense.
2. Remove the conjunctions "that, to, if or whether etc" wherever necessary.
3. Insert quotation marks, question mark, exclamation and full stop, as per the mood of the
sentence.
4. Put a comma before the statement.
5. Write the first word of the statement with capital letter.
6. Change the past tense into present tense wherever the reporting verb is in the past tense.
7. Convert the past perfect either into past tense or present perfect as found necessary.
Example
a) Indirect: He asked whether he is coming.
b) Direct: He said to him, “Are you coming?”
REPORTED SPEECH PRACTICE EXERCISE 1

Rewrite the following sentences changing the direct speech to indirect speech and indirect
speech to direct speech.

1. The maid said, ‘All the windows have been washed thoroughly.’

2. The mother told the children to stay away from the wet floor.

3. The traveller asked the boy, ‘Does this road lead to the inn?’

4. The doctor said to the patient, ‘Take your medicines without fail.’

5. The clever fox said to the foolish crow, ‘Will you sing a song for me?’

6. The manager said to the customers, ‘The staff is on an indefinite strike’.

7. He said to us, "Bravo! You have done well. “

8. He said, "Alas! How foolish I have been! “

9. The teacher asked, “Who was making noise?”

10. Vidya said to Harshil, “Good luck for the exam!”

PRACTICE EXERCISE 2

Change the following direct speech into indirect speech

1. She said to me, “I can’t drive”.

She told me that she couldn’t

2. Tarun said to his mother, “I will help my friend”.

Tarun told his mother that he would help his friend.

3. He asked the doctor, “Can I eat solid food?”

He asked the doctor if he could eat solid food.

4. Maria asked her friend, “Who is the top scorer of the school?”

Maria asked her friend who the top scorer of the school was.

5. He asked, “Do you like coffee?”

He asked whether I liked coffee.

6. “I have never been to New York,” Riya said.

Riya said that she had never been to New York.

7. Jerry asked the man, “Where can I post the letter?”

Jerry asked the man where he could post the letter.

8. She asked me, "Why are you crying?”

She asked me why I was crying.

9. Santhosh said," I won a prize."

Santhosh said that he had won a prize.

10. Leela said, " I am very busy, and do not disturb me."

Leela said that she was very busy and not to disturb her.

11. My father said," A friend in need is a friend indeed."

My father said that a friend in need is a friend indeed.

12. The teacher remarked, “The stars are far from us."
The teacher said that the stars were far from them.
 GRAMMAR:

Conditional Sentences / If - Clauses Type II and III

B. Conditional Sentence Type 2 :

→ It is possible but very unlikely, that the condition will be fulfilled.

Form: if + Simple Past >>> Conditional (= would + bare infinitive)

Example: If I found her address, I would send her an invitation.

Exercise :

Complete the Conditional Sentences (Type II ) by putting the verbs into the correct form.

1.If I ( be ) ……………………… rich, my life ( change ) ………………………

completely.
2.I ( invite ) …………………………..all my friends if I ( have )
……………………….. a house by the beach.
3.If we (have) …………………… a yacht, we (sail) ………………………… the
seven seas.
4.If they (tell) ………………………… their father, he (be)
………………………very angry.
5.We (help ) ………………………… you if we (know )
…………………………..how.
6.My brother (buy ) ………………………….a sports car if he (have )
……………………the money.
 C. Conditional Sentence Type 3 :

→ It is impossible that the condition will be fulfilled because it refers to the past.

Form: if + Past Perfect, Conditional II (= would + have + Past Participle)

Example: If I had found her address, I would have sent her an invitation.

Exercise:

Complete the Conditional Sentences (Type III ) by putting the verbs

into the correct form.

1. If you (study ) ………………………… for the test, you (pass )

……………………………it.
2. If you (ask ) …………………………me, I (help )
……………………………………you.
3. If you (speak ) …………………………… English, she (understand)
……………………… ………………… .
4. I (write ) …………………………………………....you a postcard if I (have )
…………………………….. your address.
5. If it (not/ start ) …………………………… to rain, we (walk )
………………………………..to the museum.
6. If she (take ) …………………………. the bus, she (not / arrive )
……………………………… ……………… on time.
Answer Key :

Exercise 1:
1. were / would change
2. would invite / had
3. had / would sail
4. told / would be
5. would help / knew
6. would buy / had

Exercise 2:
1. had studied / would have passed
2. had asked / would have helped
3. had spoken / would have understood
4. would have written / had had
5. hadn't started / would have walked
6. had taken / wouldn't have arrived
 Worksheet 1
PRACTICE EXERCISE
Conditionals- Type 2
I. Complete the Conditional Sentences Type II.

▪ If he (try) harder, he (reach) his goals.

▪ I (buy) these shoes if they (fit) .

▪ It (surprise / not) me if he (know / not) the answer.

Conditional Sentences Type 3

II. Complete the Conditional Sentences Type III.

▪ If we (listen) to the radio, we (hear) the news.

▪ If you (switch) on the lights, you (fall / not) over the chair.

▪ She (come) to our party if she (be / not) on holiday.

Answers

Type 2
▪ If he tried harder, he would reach his goals.
▪ I would buy these shoes if they fitted .
▪ It wouldn't surprise me if he didn't know the answer.

Type 3
▪ If we had listened to the radio, we would have heard the news.
▪ If you had switched on the lights, you would not have fallen over the chair.
▪ She would have come to our party if she had not been on holiday.
 Worksheet 2

Conditional Sentences Type II or III

Complete the Conditional Sentences with the correct form (Type II or III).

1. If I ---(am)--------stronger, I would help you carry the piano.

2. If we had seen you, we ------------ (have) stopped.

3. He would have repaired the car himself if he –---(has)-------the tools.

4. If I hadn't studied, I --------------pass the exam.

5. I wouldn't go to school by bus if I –----(have)----------- a driving license.

6. If she ------------see him every day, she would be lovesick.

7. We would be stupid if we ---(tell)----him about our secret.

Answers

1. If I were stronger, I would help you carry the piano.

2. If we had seen you, we would have stopped. .
3. He would have repaired the car himself if he had had the tools.
4. If I hadn't studied, I would not have passed the exam.
5. I wouldn't go to school by bus if I had a driving license.
6. If she didn't see him every day, she would be lovesick.
7. We would be stupid if we told him about our secret.
 Worksheet 3

Fill the blanks with suitable conditional terms : (Type 2 & 3)

1. If Mahesh had taken the test, he ------passed it.

2. If I were a millionaire, I--- ---give half of my wealth to the poor.

3. If I had I met him, I ----- told him about the accident.

4. Mohan------ passed the exam if he had tried a bit harder.
5. If I ---- a doctor I would not charge any fees from poor patients.
6. She-------- secure a first class if she worked hard.
7. If I had strength, I-----carry my luggage.
8. If I had had enough money, I ………….brought a new car.
9. If I went to the town, I-----------buy a set of sketch pens for you.
10. If I got time to spare, I --------come and meet you.

Answers
1. would have 2. would 3. would have 4. would have 5. were

6. would 7. would 8. would have 9. Would 10. would

 QUESTION TAGS
Add question tags to these statements to make questions:

ANSWER KEY

1 You come from China, don't you?

2 He had to leave at 7 o'clock, didn't he?

3 She hasn't got a dog, has she?

4 It isn't snowing, is it?

5 Jenny was hoping to come, wasn't she?

6 It's stopped raining, hasn't it?

7 He'd better come on time, hadn't he? 8

We've done this before, haven't we?

9 You don't like football, do you?

10 She won't be late, will she?

11 Annie's French, isn't she?

12 It was last week that we met, wasn't it?

13 That's wrong, isn't it?

14 You'd never have thought it, would you?

15 The sun will be shining tomorrow, won't it?

 QUESTION TAGS
ANSWER KEY

1. He is late this morning, isn't he?

2. The hotel was quite good, wasn't it?

3. She cooks well, doesn't she?

4. You can't tell the difference, can you?

5. They always sleep after lunch, don't they?

6. You're coming with us, aren't you?

7. Mary plays football, doesn't she?

8. You didn't have any lessons this morning, did you?

9. Ann is on holiday, isn't she?

10. The students see it every day, don't they?

11. He'd rather go home, wouldn't he?

12. He can't sing, can he?

13. You should leave earlier, shouldn't you?

14. I must stop, mustn't I?

15. Let's start, shall we?

 QUESTION TAGS
Add question tags to these statements to make questions:

1 You come from China,

2 He had to leave at 7 o'clock,

3 She hasn't got a dog,

4 It isn't snowing,

5 Jenny was hoping to come,

6 It's stopped raining,

7 He'd better come on time,

8 We've done this before,

9 You don't like football,

10 She won't be late,

11 Annie's French,

12 It was last week that we met,

13 That's wrong,

14 You'd never have thought it,

15 The sun will be shining tomorrow,

 QUESTION TAGS
Add question tags to these statements to make questions:

1. He is late this morning,

2. The hotel was quite good,

3. She cooks well,

4. You can’t tell the difference,

5. They always sleep after lunch,

6. You’re coming with us,

7. Mary plays football,

8. You didn’t have any lessons this morning,

9. Ann is on holiday,

10. The students see it every day,

11. He'd rather go home,

12. He can't sing,

13. You should leave earlier,

14. I must stop,

15. Let's start,

 FORMAL LETTER (LETTERS ON SOCIAL ISSUES)by Gauravbinouy

Learning Outcomes

o to identify different kinds of letters.

o to draft a formal letter using appropriate format, language and expression.

TYPES OF LETTER

 Informal letter
 Letter to family and friends
 Formal letter
 Professional letter
 Business letterLetter of enquiry
 Letter of placing orders
 Letter hof complaint

FORMAL LETTER- FORMAT

Sender’s Address (No name required)
---------------------
Date (In words – e.g. 7 October 2021)
---------------------Receiver’s Designation (e.g. The Editor)
Receiver’s Address
---------------------
Salutation (Dear Sir/Madam)
----------------------
Subject: (should be brief and specific, 3-4 words, to the topic – e.g. Heavy traffic congestion)
---------------------Introduction – Introduce the purpose of writing the letter (Why?) – e.g. Through
the columns of the school magazine, I would like to publish my article on …...)
-----------------------
Body – Describe why the topic is relevant with evidence to support your view point. It should be
detailed.
---------------------Conclusion – Summarize your points- Write what is expected of/from the editor
in return.
Subscription (Yours Sincerely)
Name of the sender
Designation
SAMPLE
Write a letter to the editor on the topic” Role of youngsters in shaping the future”
Mohd Bilal
Noor Al Buteenah
Sharjah, UAE

15th April, 2020

The Editor
Khaleej Tim
Dubai, UAE
Dear Sir,
Subject: Role of youngsters in shaping India’s future
Through the column of your esteemed newspapers, I take the privilege to draw the attention of
all the readers towards the burning topic of modern times, which is “Role of youngsters in
shaping the future”. This topic is the spirit behind several movements meant for the
development of youngsters. The destiny of a nation is vested with the youngsters. These are
the people if guided correctly; they can modify the course of the world. They have the might of
extensive thinking, hard struggle, innovation and advancement. The youth are ready to adapt
changes because they are young, they are in search of truth, and they are open to different
ideas contrary to the people who are mature and old. These youths are the pioneers of socio-
cultural, political and economic reform. They are the crucial segments of our nation’s
development. But the problem lies with the lack of proper guidance provided to these
enthusiastic youngsters. They are brimming with a rich source of talent and capabilities but
there are very less opportunities for them to execute their ideas and vision.
“If you want a crop for one year, grow millet; if you want a crop for ten years, grow a tree; and
if you want a crop for one hundred years, grow men.” This adage implies the fact that
educational institutions can play a key role in motivating the youngsters to perform their best. I
am sure that my views will appeal to you and the readers and steps would be taken to educate
and train young minds. I humbly request you to give my views a space in your esteemed
newspaper.
Yours faithfully,
(Sign)
Mohd Bilal