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Question
Study the following sentences.
1) I didn't know Jim had migrated to the United States.
2) When we arrived at the theatre, the show had already begun.
3) The patient had died before the ambulance reached the hospital.
4) He had got married by the time he started working.
5) I couldn't open the locker because I had mislaid the keys.
6) Byom Bakshi felt that he had seen the man somewhere before.
As you can see, each of the above sentences describes two different actions, events or situations. Work with a partner and list them as shown in the example.
| A. Occurred First | B. Occurred Later |
| 1. Example: Jim had migrated to the United States. | 1. I did not know it. The speaker came to know the fact later.) |
| 2. | 2. |
| 3. | 3. |
| 4. | 4. |
| 5. | 5. |
| 6. | 6. |
What verb forms have been used in (A) and (B) respectively?
A. ....................................................................
B ....................................................................
What conclusion can you draw from your analysis?
...................................................................
...................................................................
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Solution
| A. Occurred First | B. Occurred Later |
| 1. Example: Jim had migrated to the United States. | 1. I did not know it. The speaker came to know the fact later.) |
| 2. The show had already begun | 2. when we arrived at the theatre |
| 3. The patient had died | 3. the ambulance reached the hospital |
| 4. He had got married | 4. he started working |
| 5. Iliad ,nislaid the keys | 5. I couldn’t open the locker |
| 6. that he had seen the man somewhere before | 6. Byom Bakshi felt |
- A. In it the verb forms of past perfect have been used.
B. In it verb forms of simple past have been used. - The conclusion is simple. If there are two/actions in a sentence, the action Is taking place before the second shall be in past perfect and those= occurring later shall be in simple past.
APPEARS IN
RELATED QUESTIONS
Present Progressive
(Progressive = continuous)
Form

S +is/ am/ are +verb+ ing
S +is/ am/ are+ not+ verb+ ing.
Is/am/me+ S + verb+ing?
S + is/ am/ are +being+ Verb (past participle)
- Complete the following sentences by filling in the blanks with the present progressive form of the given verbs.
i. "You've put on weight, Cheryl."
"Yes. I.. .... (eat) a lot these days."
ii. "Hurry up! We ... (get) late for school."
"Justa second, please! I ... (come}."
iii. Temperatures ... (rise} all over the world.
iv. "You .... not ... (wear) this dirty shirt to office. Wait, I'll give you another."
v. "l...not ... (do) your homework-forget it. I still haven't forgotten how you
fought with me in the morning."
vi. The Prime Minister ... (leave) for Russia tomorrow on a 5 day state visit.
Vii "You ... (be) ver:yrude, Abhi."
viii. She ... always (make) excuses for coming late.
ix. Aabha ... (write) a novel these days.
- The table below shows different uses or meanings of the present progressive. Match the verbs in the above sentences with the uses or meanings they convey.
| a. Something pre-arranged or a fixed plan ............ b. Insistence............. c. Annoyance............ d. Repeated action............. e. Some development or change........... f. Emphatic refusal............. g. Something happening 'around now'.............. h. An action just starting.......... i. Temporary action not necessarily taking place at the moment of speaking............ |
*It is a little difficult to match the sentences with uses of present progressive
tense. Here are the answers:
a-vi, b-iv, c-vii, d-i, e-iii, f-v, g-ix, h-ii, i-viii.
Compare your answers with these and have a class discussion.
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
Work with apartner
In the following sentences, choose and circle the verb form you think best fits the meaning of each sentence. You have been provided an example.
| 1. Tomorrow | is will be is going to be | Wednesday. |
| 2. The train | has left will have left is going to leave | by the time you reach the station. |
| 3. Hurry! The film | does will is about to | start. |
| 4. The Minister | opens is opening is about to open | the new Art Centrenext week. |
| 5. This time next year, he | will live is living will be living | in Mumbai. |
| 6. I | am going to be will be will have been | a nurse when I grow up |
Use the correct tense form of the verb given in the bracket and rewrite the sentence.
She ________ at her left shoulder for quite some time.
Use the correct tense form of the verb given in the bracket and rewrite the sentence.
One human should _______ this for another always.
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).
It had made all the difference.
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 got fired. (Future Perfect)
Change the Tense as instructed.
My doctor advised me. (Past Perfect Continuous)
Find out the ‘ing’ forms from the story of 'An Encounter of a Special Kind' and classify them into the following table.
| Present Participle used as an Adjective | Present Participle used as a Verb in the Continuous Tense |
| twinkling eyes | was oozing |
| 1. | 1. |
| 2. | 2. |
| 3. | 3. |
| 4. | 4. |
| 5. | 5. |
Read the following sentence carefully, underline the verb and find out the tense in the sentence.
Still they took no notice of him.
Read the following sentence carefully, underline the verb and find out the tense in the sentence.
She is standing on a little high hump on the plateau.
Read the following sentence carefully, underline the verb and find out the tense in the sentence.
He just felt dizzy.
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 the sentence in simple future tense.
He has been playing since afternoon.
