Tenses in English Grammar: All 12 Tenses with Formulas, Rules, Examples and Practice for SSC CGL, CHSL and MTS
Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
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PDF Notes: Tenses in English Grammar: All 12 Tenses with Formulas, Rules, Examples and Practice for SSC CGL, CHSL and MTS
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Tenses show the time of an action: present, past or future. Every year SSC CGL, CHSL and MTS include questions on tenses in error spotting, fill in the blanks and sentence improvement. This guide on tenses in English grammar for SSC gives the structure of all 12 tenses, their uses, signal words, important rules and solved examples, with practice questions and FAQs.
The 12 Tenses at a Glance
| Tense | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | V1 (s/es with he, she, it) | She plays tennis. |
| Present Continuous | is/am/are + V-ing | She is playing tennis. |
| Present Perfect | has/have + V3 | She has played tennis. |
| Present Perfect Continuous | has/have been + V-ing | She has been playing tennis for an hour. |
| Simple Past | V2 | She played tennis. |
| Past Continuous | was/were + V-ing | She was playing tennis. |
| Past Perfect | had + V3 | She had played tennis before he came. |
| Past Perfect Continuous | had been + V-ing | She had been playing for an hour. |
| Simple Future | will/shall + V1 | She will play tennis. |
| Future Continuous | will be + V-ing | She will be playing tennis. |
| Future Perfect | will have + V3 | She will have played tennis by 5. |
| Future Perfect Continuous | will have been + V-ing | She will have been playing for an hour. |
Uses of Each Tense
| Tense | Main Uses |
|---|---|
| Simple Present | Habits, general truths, facts, schedules |
| Present Continuous | Action happening now, temporary actions, near future plans |
| Present Perfect | Action completed with a result in the present, experience, recent actions |
| Present Perfect Continuous | Action started in the past and still continuing |
| Simple Past | Completed action at a definite past time |
| Past Continuous | Action in progress at a point in the past |
| Past Perfect | The earlier of two past actions |
| Past Perfect Continuous | Action continuing up to a point in the past |
| Simple Future | Promises, predictions, decisions at the time of speaking |
| Future Continuous | Action in progress at a future time |
| Future Perfect | Action completed before a future time |
| Future Perfect Continuous | Action continuing up to a future time |
Signal Words
| Signal Words | Tense |
|---|---|
| always, usually, often, every day, never | Simple Present |
| now, at present, at this moment, look!, listen! | Present Continuous |
| already, just, yet, ever, never, so far, recently | Present Perfect |
| since, for, how long, all day | Present Perfect Continuous |
| yesterday, ago, last year, in 2010 | Simple Past |
| while, when (in progress), at 5 pm yesterday | Past Continuous |
| before, after, by the time, already (with two past events) | Past Perfect |
| tomorrow, next week, soon, in future | Simple Future |
| by tomorrow, by the time, before next year | Future Perfect |
Important Rules for Exams
- Since and for: use since with a point of time (since 2010, since morning) and for with a period (for 3 years); both go with perfect tenses.
- Verbs not used in continuous tense: know, like, love, hate, want, believe, understand, see (perceive), hear, belong. Say “I know him”, not “I am knowing him”.
- If clause: if + simple present, will + V1 (If it rains, we will stay at home).
- Time clauses: after when, before, after, until, as soon as, do not use will; use the present tense (I will call you when I reach).
- Past perfect: use for the earlier action when two past actions are given (The train had left before I reached).
- Yet: used in negatives and questions with the present perfect (She has not come yet).
- Ago: use with simple past, not present perfect (He left two years ago).
- Last, yesterday, in 1998: definite past time needs the simple past, not the present perfect.
- Universal truths always take the simple present (He said that the earth moves round the sun).
Solved Examples
Example 1. He has been living here since 2015. (Correct: since with a point of time and present perfect continuous.)
Example 2. Find the error: “I am knowing him for ten years.”
Correct: I have known him for ten years. (“know” is not used in continuous tense.)
Example 3. Find the error: “I will tell him when he will come.”
Correct: I will tell him when he comes.
Example 4. Fill in the blank: By the time we reached the station, the train ____. (leave)
Answer: had left.
Example 5. Find the error: “He has gone to Delhi yesterday.”
Correct: He went to Delhi yesterday.
Example 6. Fill in the blank: She ____ (read) a novel when I called her.
Answer: was reading.
Example 7. Fill in the blank: The sun ____ in the east.
Answer: rises (universal truth, simple present).
Spelling Rules for Verb Forms
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Add s/es for he, she, it; es after s, sh, ch, x, o | goes, watches, fixes |
| Consonant + y changes to ies | study → studies |
| Double the final consonant before -ing in short verbs | run → running, sit → sitting |
| Drop silent e before -ing | make → making |
| Past forms: regular add -ed | played, worked |
| Irregular verbs | go – went – gone, see – saw – seen |
Quick Tips
- Learn the formulas of all 12 tenses together.
- Do not use continuous tense with state verbs like know and want.
- Use present tense after when, if and before for the future.
- Match since with a point and for with a period.
Quick Revision Points
- Present perfect = has/have + V3; past perfect = had + V3.
- Simple past is used with a definite past time like yesterday and ago.
- Time clauses take the present tense for the future.
- Perfect continuous tenses use since and for.
- State verbs do not take -ing.
Practice Questions With Answers
- Correct: “I am living here since 2010.”
Answer: I have been living here since 2010. - Fill in: He ____ (finish) his work before I came.
Answer: had finished - Correct: “She has left yesterday.”
Answer: She left yesterday. - Fill in: Look! The baby ____ (sleep).
Answer: is sleeping - Correct: “If it will rain, we will stay.”
Answer: If it rains, we will stay. - Fill in: By next June, he ____ (complete) his course.
Answer: will have completed - Correct: “I am knowing the answer.”
Answer: I know the answer. - Fill in: We ____ (wait) for you for two hours.
Answer: have been waiting - Fill in: The teacher said that water ____ (boil) at 100°C.
Answer: boils - Correct: “He is working here for five years.”
Answer: He has been working here for five years.
How to Practise This Chapter
Practise 10 questions every day and write the steps on paper. Then attempt timed sets from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. See all topics on the English notes page and the next topic Subject-Verb Agreement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tenses are there in English?
There are 12 tenses: four each for present, past and future.
What is the formula of the present perfect tense?
Subject + has/have + V3.
What is the difference between the simple past and present perfect?
The simple past is for a definite past time; the present perfect is for an action with a result in the present.
When do we use since and for?
Since is used with a point of time and for with a period of time.
Which verbs are not used in the continuous tense?
State verbs like know, like, love, want, believe, understand and belong.
What tense is used after when in a future sentence?
The simple present.
What is the past perfect tense used for?
For the earlier of two past actions.
Can we use ago with the present perfect?
No. Ago is used with the simple past.
Which tense is used for universal truths?
The simple present.
Are tenses asked in SSC exams?
Yes. They are asked in error spotting, fill in the blanks and sentence improvement.
What is the future perfect tense?
Will have + V3, for an action completed before a future time.
What are common mistakes in tenses?
Using the present perfect with a definite past time, and using will after when or if.
Previous chapter
Active and Passive Voice Notes for SSC Exams
Next chapter
Subject-Verb Agreement Rules: 20 Important Rules with Examples and Error Spotting Practice for SSC Exams
Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
Rahul is a senior SSC exam strategist with 8+ years of experience helping aspirants crack CGL, CHSL and MTS exams. He writes in-depth notification breakdowns, exam pattern guides and preparation strategies.