Tenses Rules for the Assam Police Constable (AB & UB) Exam
Tense is the form of the verb that tells us the time of an action and also whether the action is complete, continuing or habitual, and it is the single largest part of the General English paper. The examiner usually gives a sentence with a blank and four forms of a verb, and the candidate must choose the form that fits the time and the sense. There is no long passage to read; the answer depends on a few clear rules and on the time words placed in the sentence. The difficulty is that several forms look alike, that a few verbs are irregular, and that two tenses can sometimes both seem possible until the time marker settles the choice. This page arranges the twelve tenses by time, gives the time words that point to each, sets out the rules of sequence, and lists the high-yield patterns that repeat in the paper. The material follows the standard grammar reference books used for Assam recruitment examinations and is reviewed before it is published.
How This Portion Is Set
The examiner usually gives one sentence with a blank and four verb forms, and asks for the correct one. Sometimes the whole sentence is given and the error in the verb has to be found. In both cases the time words, such as now, yesterday, since, already and tomorrow, decide the tense before the verb form is even considered. A candidate who reads the sentence for its time signal first answers faster and with fewer mistakes.
The Twelve Tenses at a Glance
- Simple present: I write; simple past: I wrote; simple future: I shall write.
- Present continuous: I am writing; past continuous: I was writing; future continuous: I shall be writing.
- Present perfect: I have written; past perfect: I had written; future perfect: I shall have written.
- Present perfect continuous: I have been writing; past perfect continuous: I had been writing; future perfect continuous: I shall have been writing.
Present Tenses and Their Uses
The simple present is used for habitual actions, universal truths and fixed timetables, as in she goes to school every day, water boils at 100 degrees and the train leaves at seven. The present continuous is used for an action happening now or around now, as in he is doing his homework now. The present perfect joins the past to the present, as in I have lost my keys, and the present perfect continuous shows an action that began in the past and is still going on, as in she has been living here for ten years.
Past Tenses and Their Uses
The simple past names a finished action at a known past time, as in I met him last Sunday. The past continuous shows an action that was in progress when another action happened, as in he was watching television when I called. The past perfect shows the earlier of two past actions, as in the train had left before we reached the station, and the past perfect continuous shows an action that had been going on for some time in the past, as in he had been walking for two hours when we met him.
Future Tenses and Their Uses
The simple future names an action yet to happen, as in we shall go to Delhi next week. The future continuous shows an action that will be in progress, as in I shall be waiting for you. The future perfect shows an action that will be complete before a point in the future, as in he will have finished his work by five tomorrow, and the future perfect continuous shows how long an action will have been going on.
Time Markers That Point to the Tense
Certain words almost always fix the tense, and they should be learnt as signals.
- every day, usually, always and generally point to the simple present.
- now, at present and look point to the present continuous.
- yesterday, last week and ago point to the simple past.
- while and when with a past action point to the past continuous.
- already, just, never, ever, so far and yet point to the present perfect.
- since and for with an action still continuing point to the present perfect continuous.
- before, after and by the time with two past actions point to the past perfect.
- tomorrow, next week and soon point to the future.
Rules We Must Remember
- With a universal truth or a habitual fact the simple present is used even if the main clause is in the past.
- After since and for, when the action continues, the present perfect or the present perfect continuous is used.
- In a sentence with two past actions, the earlier one takes the past perfect and the later one the simple past.
- After if, when, until, as soon as and before, the present tense is used even when the sense is of the future.
- The third person singular takes s or es in the simple present.
- The perfect tenses always use the past participle, as in have seen and had done.
Traps That Cost Marks
- Using the simple past where the present perfect is needed, as in I saw him already instead of I have seen him already.
- Forgetting the past perfect for the earlier of two past actions.
- Writing has went instead of has gone, since the past participle is needed.
- Using since with a period and for with a point of time, as in since two hours.
- Using will with if or when, as in if it will rain, instead of if it rains.
- Mixing the continuous form with a non-continuous verb such as know or believe.
High-Yield Rules to Memorise
- She goes to school every day; water boils at 100 degrees.
- He is doing his homework now; look, the baby is sleeping.
- I have seen this movie already; she has lived here since 2015.
- The train had left before we reached the station.
- He will have finished his work by five tomorrow.
- We shall go to Delhi next week.
A Revision Plan for This Block
- Learn the twelve tenses in a table, with one example sentence for each.
- Learn the time markers as a separate list, because they decide the tense.
- Write the form of each tense with the same verb, as in write, wrote, written.
- Learn the irregular past forms of the common verbs by heart.
- Practise ten fill-in-the-blank sentences a day and read the time marker before choosing.
Tenses Used in Sentences
The paper tests tense inside a sentence, and the candidate must supply the form that agrees with the subject and the time. A sentence may speak of a boy who goes to school every day, a girl who is cooking dinner when the guests arrive, or a team that has won the match. Reading the sentence first, and asking when the action happens, answers the question more safely than recalling a table of forms without looking at the context.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which tense is used with since and for?
When the action continues up to the present, the present perfect or the present perfect continuous is used with since and for, as in she has lived here since 2015 and he has been working for two hours.
When do we use the past perfect tense?
The past perfect is used for the earlier of two past actions, as in the train had left before we reached the station.
Which tense is used for universal truths?
The simple present is used for universal truths and habitual facts, as in water boils at 100 degrees and the sun rises in the east.
Can we use will after if or when?
No. After if, when, until, as soon as and before, the present tense is used even when the sense is of the future, as in if it rains, we shall stay at home.
What is the difference between the simple past and the present perfect?
The simple past names a finished action at a known past time, as in I met him yesterday, while the present perfect links the past to the present, as in I have lost my keys and cannot find them.