📝 Introduction to Tenses in

English
🔹 What Are Tenses?
Tenses are forms of verbs that help us understand when an action happened — in the past, is
happening now, or will happen in the future.
In simple words, Tense = Time + Action.

For example:

I eat rice. (Present)

I ate rice. (Past)
I will eat rice. (Future)

Each sentence shows the same action (eating), but at different times.

🔹 Why Do We Use Tenses?

We use tenses to:

Tell the time of an action (past, present, future)

Show duration of the action (ongoing, completed, repeated)
Indicate the sequence of events
Write clear and correct sentences in English

Without tenses, our sentences will not make sense.

For example:

❌
He play cricket yesterday. (Incorrect tense use)
✅
He played cricket yesterday. (Correct)

🔹 When Do We Use Tenses in SBI PO & IBPS PO Exams?

Tenses are checked in:

Error detection questions (e.g., verb form mismatch)

Sentence improvement (e.g., wrong tense corrected)
Cloze tests (e.g., fill in the blank with correct tense)
Reading comprehension (e.g., find verb-based inferences)

Understanding tenses helps you answer these questions quickly and correctly.

🔹 Types of Tenses (with Subtypes)

There are 3 main tenses in English.
Each tense has 4 sub-types based on how the action happens.

1. Present Tense – Action happening now

Subtypes:

Simple Present: Talks about habits, facts, and general truths.

E.g., She drinks tea every morning.
Present Continuous: Action happening right now.
E.g., She is drinking tea.
Present Perfect: Action just finished or has impact now.
E.g., She has drunk tea.
Present Perfect Continuous: Action started in past, still continuing.
E.g., She has been drinking tea for 10 minutes.

2. Past Tense – Action that already happened

Subtypes:

Simple Past: Completed action in the past.

E.g., She drank tea yesterday.
Past Continuous: Action was happening in the past.
E.g., She was drinking tea.
Past Perfect: Action completed before another past action.
E.g., She had drunk tea before leaving.
Past Perfect Continuous: Long action that was happening before another past event.
E.g., She had been drinking tea for 10 minutes before he came.

3. Future Tense – Action that will happen

Subtypes:

Simple Future: Action that will happen in future.

E.g., She will drink tea.
Future Continuous: Action that will be happening in future.
E.g., She will be drinking tea at 5 PM.
Future Perfect: Action that will be completed before a certain time in the future.
E.g., She will have drunk tea by 6 PM.
Future Perfect Continuous: Ongoing action that will continue until a future point.
E.g., She will have been drinking tea for 10 minutes by the time he comes.

🔹 Summary Chart
🔚 Conclusion
Tenses form the foundation of English grammar.
In SBI PO and IBPS PO exams, tense usage and errors are tested regularly in the grammar
section. Understanding the types of tenses and their correct usage will help you solve many
grammar-based questions with ease.
📘 Detailed Explanation of Present
Tense
🔹 What is Present Tense?
The Present Tense refers to actions that are happening right now, occur regularly, or are
generally true. It is the most commonly used tense in English and is often tested in error
detection, sentence improvement, fill in the blanks, and reading comprehension in SBI PO
and IBPS exams.

🔹 Types of Present Tense

There are four subtypes of Present Tense. Each type has a different structure and purpose.
Let's go deep into each one.

1. Simple Present Tense

➤ Definition:

Simple Present is used to express habitual actions, universal truths, facts, or actions that
happen regularly.

➤ Structure:

Positive: Subject + V1 (base verb) (+ s/es for he/she/it)

Negative: Subject + do/does + not + V1
Question: Do/Does + subject + V1?

➤ When to Use:

To talk about habits or routines

To state facts or general truths
To describe scheduled events (e.g., train timings)
In conditional statements (Type 0 and Type 1)

➤ Examples:

✅
I wake up at 6 a.m. every day. (Habit)
✅
Water boils at 100°C. (Scientific fact)
✅
The train leaves at 10 a.m. (Scheduled event)
✅
If it rains, the ground becomes wet. (Zero conditional)

➤ Common SBI PO Error Example:

 ❌ He go to school every day.
✅ He goes to school every day.
(“He” is third person singular, so verb takes s)

2. Present Continuous Tense

➤ Definition:

This tense describes actions that are happening right now or are ongoing.

➤ Structure:

Positive: Subject + is/am/are + V1 + ing

Negative: Subject + is/am/are + not + V1 + ing
Question: Is/Am/Are + subject + V1 + ing?

➤ When to Use:

To describe current actions happening at the moment of speaking

To describe temporary situations
To show planned future actions (with time references)

➤ Examples:

✅
She is talking on the phone. (Current action)
✅
I am staying with my friend this week. (Temporary situation)
✅
We are meeting the manager tomorrow. (Planned future)

➤ Common SBI PO Error Example:

❌ He is play cricket now.

✅ He is playing cricket now.
(“is + playing” is the correct structure)

3. Present Perfect Tense

➤ Definition:

Present Perfect is used to talk about actions that happened at an unspecified time in the
past but have a connection with the present.

➤ Structure:

Positive: Subject + has/have + V3 (past participle)

Negative: Subject + has/have + not + V3
Question: Has/Have + subject + V3?

➤ When to Use:
 To describe an action completed just now
To show experiences in life (time not mentioned)
To describe past actions that affect the present moment

➤ Examples:

✅
I have finished my homework. (Just now)
✅
She has visited Delhi twice. (Life experience)
✅
They have lost their keys. (Affects the present)

➤ Common SBI PO Error Example:

❌ I have saw the movie.

✅ I have seen the movie.
(Use past participle form “seen” with “have”)

4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense

➤ Definition:

This tense is used for actions that started in the past and are still continuing, or just finished,
with emphasis on duration.

➤ Structure:

Positive: Subject + has/have been + V1 + ing

Negative: Subject + has/have not been + V1 + ing
Question: Has/Have + subject + been + V1 + ing?

➤ When to Use:

To describe long actions that began in the past and continue to the present
To emphasize the duration of an action

➤ Examples:

✅
She has been working since morning. (Still working)
✅
We have been studying for three hours. (Duration focus)
✅
He has been living in Mumbai for 10 years. (Ongoing)

➤ Common SBI PO Error Example:

❌ They have been wait since morning.

✅ They have been waiting since morning.
(Use “V1 + ing” after “has/have been”)

🔹 Common Clue Words for Present Tense

🔹 Typical Exam Mistakes in Present Tense

🔚 Conclusion
The Present Tense is the foundation of English grammar. In SBI PO and IBPS PO exams, it is
tested directly in grammar-based questions and indirectly through contextual usage in RCs
and cloze tests. By understanding the rules, structures, and practicing with real-life examples,
you can master this topic fully and handle any exam question confidently.
📘 Present Tense and Its Four Sub-
Tenses
The Present Tense is used to talk about things that are happening now, happen regularly, or
are generally true. It is one of the most important grammar topics for competitive exams like
SBI PO and IBPS PO. To fully understand the Present Tense, we must study its four sub-
tenses:

1. Simple Present
2. Present Continuous
3. Present Perfect
4. Present Perfect Continuous

Let us understand each one in detail.

🔹 1. Simple Present Tense

✅ What It Is Used For:
The Simple Present Tense is used to talk about:

Daily routines or habits

General truths or facts
Timetables or scheduled events
Instructions or commands

✅ Structure:
Positive: Subject + base verb (V1) (+s/es with he, she, it)
Negative: Subject + do/does + not + base verb
Question: Do/Does + subject + base verb?

✅ Examples and Explanation:

I wake up at 6 a.m. → A regular activity
She goes to school every day. → Habitual action
Water boils at 100°C. → Scientific fact
The bus leaves at 8 a.m. → Scheduled event

🔸 If the subject is he, she, it, add s or es to the verb.

🔸 Use do/does for negatives and questions.
🔹 2. Present Continuous Tense
✅ What It Is Used For:
The Present Continuous Tense is used to talk about:

Actions happening right now

Temporary actions
Future plans (if already decided)

✅ Structure:
Positive: Subject + is/am/are + verb + ing
Negative: Subject + is/am/are + not + verb + ing
Question: Is/Am/Are + subject + verb + ing?

✅ Examples and Explanation:

She is reading a book. → Action happening right now
I am staying with my uncle this week. → Temporary action
We are meeting the manager tomorrow. → Planned future action

🔸 Use am with "I", is with he/she/it, are with you/we/they.

🔸 Action should be happening at the time of speaking or be temporary.
🔹 3. Present Perfect Tense
✅ What It Is Used For:
The Present Perfect Tense is used to talk about:

Actions completed recently

Life experiences (time not mentioned)
Actions that started in the past and affect the present

✅ Structure:
Positive: Subject + has/have + past participle (V3)
Negative: Subject + has/have + not + past participle
Question: Has/Have + subject + past participle?

✅ Examples and Explanation:

I have finished my work. → Action just completed
She has visited Paris. → Life experience
They have lost their keys. → Past action affecting present (they can’t find the keys now)

🔸 Use has for he, she, it. Use have for I, you, we, they.
🔸 Do not mention exact time like “yesterday” with this tense.
🔹 4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense
✅ What It Is Used For:
The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used to:

Show an action that started in the past and is still continuing

Emphasize the duration of the action

✅ Structure:
Positive: Subject + has/have + been + verb + ing
Negative: Subject + has/have + not + been + verb + ing
Question: Has/Have + subject + been + verb + ing?

✅ Examples and Explanation:

She has been reading for two hours. → Still reading now
We have been living here since 2010. → Ongoing situation
It has been raining all day. → Continuous action with emphasis on time

🔸 Use since for point of time (e.g., 8 a.m., 2010), and for for duration (e.g., 2 hours).
🔸 Use has been for he, she, it. Use have been for I, you, we, they.
🧠 Summary Table of Present Tense Types

📝 Final Thoughts
Mastering the four Present Tenses will give you a strong foundation in English grammar. They
are used in almost every question type in SBI PO and IBPS PO exams—from error spotting to
sentence improvement.
Make sure you understand:

The structure of each tense

When to use it
The meaning each tense gives to the sentence
How to avoid common mistakes
🎯 50 Golden Rules to Master
Present Tense & Spot Errors
✅ SECTION 1: RULES FOR SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
🔹 Usage Rules
👤 Rule 1: Use base verb (V1) with I, You, We, They
→ They play football every evening.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Rule 2: Add -s/-es to verb for He, She, It
→ She drinks coffee at 8 a.m.
🚫 Rule 3: Use does not + V1 for negative with He/She/It
→ He does not eat meat.
🗣️ Rule 4: Use do not + V1 with I, You, We, They
→ They do not study on weekends.
❓ Rule 5: For questions, start with Do/Does + subject + V1
→ Does he speak English?
⏰ Rule 6: Use for habits, routines, universal truths
→ The sun rises in the east.
📅 Rule 7: Use for scheduled future events (e.g., train times)
→ The train leaves at 6 a.m.
📌 Rule 8: With "always", "usually", "never", use Simple Present
→ She always arrives on time.

🐞 Error Spotting Rules

🧠 Rule 9: Check if s/es is missing with He/She/It
→ ❌ He go to school. → ✅ He goes to school.
🔁 Rule 10: Avoid using V2 (past tense) in Simple Present
→ ❌ I went to school every day. → ✅ I go to school every day.

✅ SECTION 2: RULES FOR PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

🔹 Usage Rules
🔄 Rule 11: Use is/am/are + V1+ing to show action happening now
→ She is reading a book.
🕰️ Rule 12: Use for temporary situations or short-term plans
→ I am living in Delhi for a few weeks.
📅 Rule 13: Use for future plans with time reference
→ We are visiting grandma tomorrow.
🙋‍♂️ Rule 14: Use "am" with I, "is" with He/She/It, "are" with You/We/They
→ They are working on the project.
🐞 Error Spotting Rules
🛑 Rule 15: Don’t use stative verbs (e.g., know, like, understand)
→ ❌ I am knowing the answer. → ✅ I know the answer.
🔎 Rule 16: Always use V1+ing, not base verb or V3
→ ❌ She is go to school. → ✅ She is going to school.
🔧 Rule 17: Don’t forget helping verb is/am/are
→ ❌ He going to the gym. → ✅ He is going to the gym.

✅ SECTION 3: RULES FOR PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

🔹 Usage Rules
📍 Rule 18: Use has/have + V3 to show action just finished or affecting present
→ I have completed my homework.
🔄 Rule 19: Use for life experiences (without exact time)
→ She has traveled to Japan.
⏳ Rule 20: Use with "just", "already", "yet", "ever", "never"
→ They have already left.
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Rule 21: Use "has" with He/She/It and "have" with I/You/We/They
→ He has won the prize.

🐞 Error Spotting Rules

⛔ Rule 22: Don’t use exact time (like "yesterday") with Present Perfect
→ ❌ He has gone yesterday. → ✅ He went yesterday.
🔧 Rule 23: Ensure V3 is used, not V2
→ ❌ She has ate lunch. → ✅ She has eaten lunch.
📝 Rule 24: "Have" is not enough — use has/have + V3
→ ❌ They have the job done. → ✅ They have done the job.

✅ SECTION 4: RULES FOR PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

TENSE
🔹 Usage Rules
🕓 Rule 25: Use has/have been + V1+ing to show ongoing action from past to present
→ He has been working since 9 a.m.
📍 Rule 26: Use with for (duration) and since (starting point)
→ I have been living here for 5 years.
🔁 Rule 27: Use to emphasize time spent in activity
→ She has been studying all night.
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Rule 28: Use "has been" with He/She/It, "have been" with I/You/We/They
→ They have been playing cricket.

🐞 Error Spotting Rules

 ⛔ Rule 29: Don’t forget "been" in the structure
→ ❌ She has studying since morning. → ✅ She has been studying since morning.
🧠 Rule 30: Always use V1+ing, not V3
→ ❌ He has been wrote a book. → ✅ He has been writing a book.
⚠️ Rule 31: Don’t mix Present Perfect with Perfect Continuous
→ ❌ I have studied for 2 hours. (for ongoing) → ✅ I have been studying for 2 hours.

✅ SECTION 5: COMMON TIME WORDS FOR EACH PRESENT

TENSE
⏰ Rule 32: Use Simple Present with every day, always, usually, never
→ He usually walks to office.
📍 Rule 33: Use Present Continuous with now, right now, at the moment
→ She is cooking right now.
📌 Rule 34: Use Present Perfect with just, already, yet, never, ever
→ I have just finished the task.
⏳ Rule 35: Use Present Perfect Continuous with for, since, all day, the whole week
→ We have been studying since morning.

✅ SECTION 6: SPECIAL EXAM TRICKS

📝 Rule 36: If the sentence talks about a repeated action, it's Simple Present
→ He always forgets his keys.
🧪 Rule 37: If the action is temporary or happening now, it's Present Continuous
→ They are staying in a hotel.
⚡ Rule 38: Use Present Perfect when there's impact on the present
→ I have broken my leg (so I can’t walk now).
🔍 Rule 39: Use Present Perfect Continuous to talk about how long
→ I have been waiting for 30 minutes.
👀 Rule 40: Use context clues: “since/for” often leads to Perfect Continuous
→ She has been working since 10 a.m.

✅ SECTION 7: MIXED ERROR DETECTION RULES

👁️ Rule 41: Check if subject-verb agreement is broken (singular/plural mismatch)
→ ❌ She go to college. → ✅ She goes to college.
🧱 Rule 42: Don’t use two tenses together wrongly
→ ❌ I have seen the movie yesterday. → ✅ I saw the movie yesterday.
🔄 Rule 43: In one sentence, keep the same tense unless there's a reason to shift
→ ❌ She is going home and ate lunch. → ✅ She is going home and eating lunch.
🧠 Rule 44: Avoid stative verbs in Continuous form
→ ❌ I am knowing the answer. → ✅ I know the answer.
🔍 Rule 45: If time expression = now → Present Continuous is needed
→ ❌ I play cricket now. → ✅ I am playing cricket now.

✅ SECTION 8: FINAL MASTER TRICKS

💡 Rule 46: Use Simple Present for newspaper headlines and instructions
→ Govt launches new scheme. / Open the door.
📘 Rule 47: Use Present Continuous to describe a photo or scene
→ In this picture, the children are playing.
📚 Rule 48: Present Perfect is preferred for "Have you ever…?" type questions
→ Have you ever been to Mumbai?
🧭 Rule 49: Present Perfect Continuous shows incomplete or ongoing actions
→ I have been trying to reach you.
🏁 Rule 50: Always check for verb form, helping verb, and time word in the sentence.
Together, they tell you the correct tense.
📘 Detailed Explanation of Past
Tense – Usage, Examples, and
Common Errors
🔹 What Is Past Tense?
Past Tense is used to describe actions or events that already happened. It may refer to a
specific time in the past, an action that continued for some time, or two past actions related
to each other.

In competitive exams like SBI PO and IBPS PO, Past Tense is mostly tested through:

Error Detection
Fill in the blanks
Sentence Improvement
Reading Comprehension (Indirect)

To master Past Tense, we need to understand its four sub-types:

1. Simple Past
2. Past Continuous
3. Past Perfect
4. Past Perfect Continuous

Each of these shows when and how long something happened in the past.

🔹 1. Simple Past Tense

What is it?

Simple Past is used to talk about completed actions in the past. It answers the question:
"What happened?"

Structure:

Positive: Subject + V2 (past form of verb)

Negative: Subject + did not + V1
Question: Did + subject + V1?

Usage:

To describe completed actions

To tell a story or past event
 To mention past habits (without “used to” or “would”)
To give the time of the action (yesterday, last year, in 2020)

Examples:

I visited Agra last year.

She studied for the exam yesterday.
They watched the movie together.
He didn’t like the food.
Did you call your friend?

Common Errors:

Using base verb instead of V2:

❌ He go to the market.
✅ He went to the market.
Using “did” and V2 together (double past):
❌ He did went to the temple.
✅ He did go to the temple.

🔹 2. Past Continuous Tense

What is it?

Past Continuous shows an action that was happening at a particular time in the past. It is also
used to talk about two past actions, where one was continuing and the other interrupted it.

Structure:

Positive: Subject + was/were + V1 + ing

Negative: Subject + was/were + not + V1 + ing
Question: Was/Were + subject + V1 + ing?

Usage:

To show ongoing actions in the past

To describe background actions
To indicate that a long action was interrupted by a short one

Examples:

I was reading when he called.

She was cooking dinner at 7 p.m.
They were playing football yesterday evening.
Was it raining when you left?

Common Errors:
 Wrong use of helping verb (was/were):
❌ They was watching TV.
✅ They were watching TV.
Using simple past instead of past continuous for ongoing action:
❌ I read when he entered.
✅ I was reading when he entered.

🔹 3. Past Perfect Tense

What is it?

Past Perfect describes an action that was completed before another action in the past. It
helps you set the order of events.

Structure:

Positive: Subject + had + V3

Negative: Subject + had not + V3
Question: Had + subject + V3?

Usage:

To show that one past action happened before another

To make the sequence of events clear
Used often with before, after, by the time, when

Examples:

She had left the office before I arrived.

I had already eaten when he came.
They had never seen snow before that day.
Had you finished your work before dinner?

Common Errors:

Mixing up simple past and past perfect:

❌ I completed the task before he had come.
✅ I had completed the task before he came.
Using V2 instead of V3:
❌ He had went to the store.
✅ He had gone to the store.

🔹 4. Past Perfect Continuous Tense

What is it?

Past Perfect Continuous describes an action that was happening for a period of time in the
past, before another past action.
Structure:

Positive: Subject + had been + V1 + ing

Negative: Subject + had not been + V1 + ing
Question: Had + subject + been + V1 + ing?

Usage:

To show duration of an action up to a certain point in the past

Used with for and since

Examples:

I had been studying for two hours before the lights went out.
She had been working in that company since 2015.
They had been waiting for an hour when the train arrived.
Had you been living in Delhi long before you moved?

Common Errors:

Forgetting "been":
❌ He had working on the project.
✅ He had been working on the project.
Using wrong tense when duration is important:
❌ I studied for two hours before lunch.
✅ I had been studying for two hours before lunch.

🔹 Key Time Expressions Used with Each Tense

🔹 Summary of Structures
🔹 Tips to Spot Errors in Past Tense (SBI/IBPS Focus)
Always use V2 in Simple Past; no helping verb needed.
→ He visited the doctor. not He has visited the doctor.
If two past actions are mentioned, the earlier one must use Past Perfect.
→ She had cooked dinner before he arrived.
Avoid using "had + V2"; it should be "had + V3".
❌
→ He had went → He had gone ✅
Use Past Continuous when describing a background action.
→ I was watching TV when she called.
Use Past Perfect Continuous to describe duration before another event.
→ He had been sleeping for two hours before the alarm rang.

🔚 Final Thoughts
Understanding Past Tense is not just about memorizing verb forms—it’s about knowing how
actions relate in time. In SBI PO and IBPS PO exams, time order, action duration, and event
connections are tested through grammar and comprehension-based questions.

To master this:

Learn all four past tenses

Practice sentence transformation
Solve error spotting and improvement questions daily
Pay close attention to time expressions
📘 Understanding Past Tense and
Its Four Sub-Tenses
🔹 What Is Past Tense?
Past Tense is used to describe actions or events that happened before now — in the past.
These actions may have happened once, repeatedly, or for a period of time.

In English, Past Tense has four sub-types. Each one is used in different situations. You must
understand how and when to use them correctly.

The four sub-tenses are:

1. Simple Past Tense

2. Past Continuous Tense
3. Past Perfect Tense
4. Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Let us now study each one clearly, with structure, usage, and lots of examples.

🔸 1. Simple Past Tense

🔹 What It Is Used For:
To talk about a completed action in the past
The time of the action is often mentioned or understood
Used for habits in the past
Often used in stories, reports, and events

🔹 Structure:
Positive: Subject + V2 (past form of verb)
Negative: Subject + did not + V1
Question: Did + subject + V1?

🔹 Examples:
I visited my grandmother yesterday. (completed action)
He played football last evening.
She did not go to school yesterday.
Did they see the movie?

🔹 More Explanation:
We use the second form of the verb (V2) in Simple Past.
The word “yesterday,” “last year,” “in 2020,” “two days ago” — all indicate Simple Past.

If we want to say something did not happen, we use “did not” and the base form (V1) of the
verb.

🔸 2. Past Continuous Tense

🔹 What It Is Used For:
To talk about an action that was going on at a particular time in the past
To describe two actions where one was happening and the other interrupted it
To give background of an event

🔹 Structure:
Positive: Subject + was/were + V1 + ing
Negative: Subject + was/were + not + V1 + ing
Question: Was/Were + subject + V1 + ing?

🔹 Examples:
I was reading a book at 9 p.m.
They were watching TV when I came in.
She was not listening to the teacher.
Were you waiting for me?

🔹 More Explanation:
Use was with singular subjects (I, he, she, it) and were with plural subjects (you, we, they).
The verb must be in -ing form.
This tense shows that the action was in progress at some time in the past.

We often use “while” and “when” in such sentences:

While I was eating, the phone rang.

She was studying when the lights went off.

🔸 3. Past Perfect Tense

🔹 What It Is Used For:
To talk about an action that happened before another action in the past
To make the order of two past events clear
Often used with “before”, “after”, “by the time”

🔹 Structure:
 Positive: Subject + had + V3 (past participle)
Negative: Subject + had not + V3
Question: Had + subject + V3?

🔹 Examples:
I had finished my homework before dinner.
She had already left when we reached.
He had not eaten anything since morning.
Had you met him before?

🔹 More Explanation:
We use had + V3 to show that one action happened before another past action.
Even if the second action uses Simple Past, the first action uses Past Perfect.

Tip: If there are two actions in the past, the earlier one uses Past Perfect.

He had gone home before the rain started.

🔸 4. Past Perfect Continuous Tense

🔹 What It Is Used For:
To show an action that started in the past and continued for some time before another
past action
It focuses on the duration of the action

🔹 Structure:
Positive: Subject + had been + V1 + ing
Negative: Subject + had not been + V1 + ing
Question: Had + subject + been + V1 + ing?

🔹 Examples:
She had been reading for two hours before he arrived.
We had been working all morning.
He had not been sleeping well for many days.
Had they been waiting long?

🔹 More Explanation:
This tense is often used with “for” (to show duration) and “since” (to show starting time).
It connects a long action in the past with another short past event.

Example:

I had been living in Delhi for 5 years before I moved to Mumbai.

🔹 Summary Table of Past Tenses

🔹 Final Tips to Master Past Tenses

Always look for time words like “yesterday,” “while,” “before,” “since” to decide the
correct tense.
Use V2 for Simple Past, was/were + ing for Past Continuous.
Use had + V3 when two past actions are related.
Use had been + ing when you want to show duration in the past.
🎯 50 Golden Rules to Master Past
Tense & Spot Errors
🔹 Section 1: Simple Past Tense Rules
✅ Usage Rules
📌 Rule 1: Use V2 (past verb form) to show completed past actions.
→ We watched a movie last night.
📌 Rule 2: Use with time markers like yesterday, last year, ago, in 2020.
→ He met me two days ago.
📌 Rule 3: For repeated past habits, use Simple Past.
→ She always walked to school as a child.
📌 Rule 4: Do not use “did” with V2.
❌ He did went to school. ✅ He did go to school.
📌 Rule 5: In negative form, use “did not + base verb (V1)”.
→ They didn’t eat the food.

🐞 Error Spotting
❌ Rule 6: Avoid using base form in affirmatives.
❌ I go to the market yesterday. ✅ I went to the market yesterday.
❌ Rule 7: Use "did not + V1", not "did not + V2".
❌ He did not went. ✅ He did not go.
❌ Rule 8: Match verbs with singular/plural subject but focus on verb form first.
→ She was late. They were late.

🔹 Section 2: Past Continuous Tense Rules

✅ Usage Rules
🔄 Rule 9: Use “was/were + V1+ing” to show ongoing past actions.
→ I was reading at 7 p.m.
🔄 Rule 10: Use with time markers like while, when, at that moment.
→ They were dancing when the lights went out.
🔄 Rule 11: Use for setting a background scene.
→ The birds were singing, and the sun was shining.
🔄 Rule 12: Use “was” for I/he/she/it and “were” for we/you/they.
→ She was working. We were sleeping.
🔄 Rule 13: Use for long actions interrupted by short ones (Simple Past).
→ I was cooking when the bell rang.

🐞 Error Spotting
 ❌ Rule 14: Don’t miss “was/were” in the sentence.
❌ She going to the market. ✅ She was going to the market.
❌ Rule 15: Use V1+ing after was/were.
❌ He was go. ✅ He was going.
❌ Rule 16: Don’t use continuous form with stative verbs (like know, love).
❌ I was knowing the answer. ✅ I knew the answer.
🔹 Section 3: Past Perfect Tense Rules
✅ Usage Rules
🕓 Rule 17: Use “had + V3” to show an action before another past action.
→ She had eaten before they arrived.
🕓 Rule 18: Commonly used with before, after, by the time, already.
→ He had finished the test before the bell rang.
🕓 Rule 19: When two actions happen in the past, the earlier one uses Past Perfect.
→ I had locked the door before leaving.
🕓 Rule 20: Use in reported speech to show time shift.
→ He said he had seen the movie.

🐞 Error Spotting
❌ Rule 21: Don’t use V2 after “had”; use V3 (past participle).
❌ He had went home. ✅ He had gone home.
❌ Rule 22: If only one event is mentioned, use Simple Past, not Past Perfect.
❌ I had met him yesterday. ✅ I met him yesterday.
❌ Rule 23: Do not mix up Past Perfect with Present Perfect.
❌ She has gone before I came. ✅ She had gone before I came.
🔹 Section 4: Past Perfect Continuous Tense Rules
✅ Usage Rules
⏳ Rule 24: Use “had been + V1+ing” to show a past action continuing before another past
event.
→ I had been studying for 2 hours before dinner.
⏳ Rule 25: Use with “for” (duration) and “since” (starting point).
→ They had been living there since 2015.
⏳ Rule 26: Focus is on how long something was happening before the other action.
→ She had been working hard before the promotion.
⏳ Rule 27: Use with time-based clues to emphasize the duration.
→ He had been waiting all day when the news came.

🐞 Error Spotting
❌ Rule 28: Don’t skip “been” in the structure.
❌ He had working. ✅ He had been working.
 ❌ Rule 29: Use V1+ing, not V2 or V3 after “had been”.
❌ She had been went. ✅ She had been going.
❌ Rule 30: Use only when time/duration is important; otherwise, use Past Perfect.
❌ I had been slept early. ✅ I had slept early.
🔹 Section 5: Time Word Clues for Each Tense
⏰ Rule 31: Use Simple Past with yesterday, last week, ago, in 2010.
→ I met him yesterday.
⏰ Rule 32: Use Past Continuous with when, while, at 5 p.m., that time.
→ He was cooking when she called.
⏰ Rule 33: Use Past Perfect with before, after, already, by the time.
→ She had left before the movie started.
⏰ Rule 34: Use Past Perfect Continuous with for, since, the whole day.
→ They had been working since morning.

🔹 Section 6: Sentence Pattern Recognition (Exam Strategy)

🧠 Rule 35: If two events → use Past Perfect for first, Simple Past for second.
→ He had finished the task before I arrived.
🧠 Rule 36: If one past action is long, and the other is short → use Past Continuous and
Simple Past.
→ She was studying when I called.
🧠 Rule 37: Use Past Perfect Continuous when “how long” or “since/for” is important.
→ I had been waiting for 30 minutes.
🧠 Rule 38: Don’t mix past tense with present time expressions.
❌ ✅
He went to school tomorrow. He went to school yesterday.

🔹 Section 7: Mixed Error Spotting Rules

🧩 Rule 39: Wrong verb form after “did” is a common error.
❌ Did he went? ✅ Did he go?
🧩 Rule 40: Don't use “was” or “were” without verb + ing.
❌ She was cry. ✅ She was crying.
🧩 Rule 41: Stative verbs (know, believe, understand) don’t take -ing form.
❌ I was knowing the answer. ✅ I knew the answer.
🧩 Rule 42: In time-linked sentences, match verb forms correctly.
❌ She had completed the work when he comes. ✅ She had completed the work when he
came.

🔹 Section 8: Additional Grammar Insights

📚 Rule 43: Use Past Perfect in conditional sentences.
→ If he had studied, he would have passed.
📚 Rule 44: Use Past Tense in indirect speech.
→ Direct: He said, “I eat rice.” → Indirect: He said he ate rice.
📚 Rule 45: For regular verbs, add –ed; for irregular verbs, learn V2 separately.
→ Play → played, Go → went
📚 Rule 46: Don't change the tense unnecessarily in the middle of the sentence.
❌ She was singing and danced. ✅ She was singing and dancing.
📚 Rule 47: Use “used to + V1” to show past habits (alternative to Simple Past).
→ I used to play cricket.
📚 Rule 48: Avoid Present Perfect structure for past events with exact time.
❌ I have gone yesterday. ✅ I went yesterday.
📚 Rule 49: “Would” is also used for repeated past actions.
→ When I was young, I would read every night.
📚 Rule 50: Always revise irregular verb forms (come–came–come, eat–ate–eaten) for
error spotting.
→ They had eaten, not ate.
📘 Detailed Explanation of Future
Tense – Usage, Examples, and
Common Errors
🔹 What is Future Tense?
Future Tense is used to talk about actions or events that will happen after the present time.
It shows planned actions, predictions, promises, and expected outcomes in the future.

In English grammar, the Future Tense has four sub-tenses, and each shows a different
meaning or time condition for future actions:

1. Simple Future
2. Future Continuous
3. Future Perfect
4. Future Perfect Continuous

These sub-tenses are used in different situations. To answer questions accurately in SBI PO or
IBPS PO exams, you must understand:

When to use each sub-tense

How to use correct structures
How to spot and correct errors

🔸 1. Simple Future Tense

🔹 What it is used for:
To describe actions that will happen in the future
To make predictions, promises, decisions, offers, or plans
Often used with words like tomorrow, soon, next week, in 2025, etc.

🔹 Structure:
Positive: Subject + will + V1 (base verb)
Negative: Subject + will not (won’t) + V1
Question: Will + subject + V1?

🔹 Examples:
I will call you tomorrow.
She will not attend the meeting.
 Will they come to the party?
The sun will rise at 6 a.m.
We will help you with your studies.

🔹 Explanation:
Simple Future is the most basic way to talk about future events. It doesn’t focus on when
something starts or ends — only that it will happen.

You can use this tense for:

Instant decisions: I’ll open the door.

Promises: I’ll never leave you.
Predictions: It will rain tomorrow.
Plans: We’ll visit Mumbai next month.

🔹 Common Errors:
❌ He will going to school.
✅ He will go to school.
❌ I will to help you.
✅ I will help you.
❌ Does he will come?
✅ Will he come?
🔸 2. Future Continuous Tense
🔹 What it is used for:
To show an action that will be in progress at a specific time in the future
To describe future plans or background actions
To show parallel actions happening at a future time

🔹 Structure:
Positive: Subject + will be + V1 + ing
Negative: Subject + will not be + V1 + ing
Question: Will + subject + be + V1 + ing?

🔹 Examples:
I will be working at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
She won’t be attending the function.
Will you be using the car this evening?
They will be travelling to Chennai next week.

🔹 Explanation:
Use Future Continuous when you want to describe what will be happening at a particular
moment in the future. It emphasizes that the action will be ongoing.

Also used in:

Background situations: At 8 p.m., the guests will be arriving.

Parallel actions: He will be cooking while she will be decorating the house.

🔹 Common Errors:
❌ She will be go to school.
✅ She will be going to school.
❌ Will she working?
✅ Will she be working?
❌ I will working tomorrow.
✅ I will be working tomorrow.
🔸 3. Future Perfect Tense
🔹 What it is used for:
To show that an action will be completed before a specific future time
To indicate the completion of a future action
Commonly used with by, before, by the time, until

🔹 Structure:
Positive: Subject + will have + V3 (past participle)
Negative: Subject + will not have + V3
Question: Will + subject + have + V3?

🔹 Examples:
I will have completed the project by tomorrow.
She won’t have finished her work by noon.
Will they have left by the time we arrive?

🔹 Explanation:
Use Future Perfect to talk about an action that will end before a point in the future. It often
answers “How much will be done by then?”

Example comparisons:

Simple Future: I will finish my homework.

Future Perfect: I will have finished my homework by 9 p.m.

🔹 Common Errors:
 ❌ He will has finished the work.
✅ He will have finished the work.
❌ She will have eats dinner.
✅ She will have eaten dinner.
❌ Will he had gone?
✅ Will he have gone?
🔸 4. Future Perfect Continuous Tense
🔹 What it is used for:
To describe an action that will be going on for some time in the future before another
action or time
Focuses on the duration of an action until a certain time
Commonly used with for and since

🔹 Structure:
Positive: Subject + will have been + V1 + ing
Negative: Subject + will not have been + V1 + ing
Question: Will + subject + have been + V1 + ing?

🔹 Examples:
By next month, I will have been working here for five years.
She will not have been studying for more than two hours.
Will they have been travelling since morning?

🔹 Explanation:
Use this tense to show that something will continue up to a point in the future, focusing on
how long it will have been happening.

Time expressions:

By 2025, for 2 hours, since morning

Example:

They will have been waiting for 30 minutes by the time we arrive.

🔹 Common Errors:
❌ He will have being working.
✅ He will have been working.
❌ Will they been studying?
✅ Will they have been studying?
❌ She will have been goes.
✅ She will have been going.
🔹 Summary Table of All Future Tenses

🔹 Time Expressions to Watch For (Exam Use)

Simple Future: tomorrow, next year, soon, in 2026
Future Continuous: at 5 p.m., this time tomorrow, when she comes
Future Perfect: before, by the time, by next month
Future Perfect Continuous: for two hours, since morning, by then

🔹 Final Tips to Master Future Tense

Understand verb forms and helping verbs – this is where most errors happen.
Look for time markers that hint which tense to use.
Learn irregular verb forms (for V3 in Future Perfect).
Practice converting direct to indirect speech (future becomes conditional).
Don’t mix up be + V1 and have + V3 — know which structure fits the sentence.
📘 Understanding Future Tense
and Its Sub-Tenses
🔹 What is Future Tense?
Future Tense is used to talk about actions that are going to happen after the present
moment. It shows:

Plans and decisions

Promises and offers
Predictions and expectations
Ongoing or completed actions in the future

English has four types of future tense, each one shows a different idea about time and
action.

🔸 1. Simple Future Tense

🔹 When Do We Use It?
To show something that will happen in the future
To make decisions at the time of speaking
To talk about promises, offers, or predictions

🔹 Structure:
Positive: Subject + will + V1 (base verb)
Negative: Subject + will not (won’t) + V1
Question: Will + subject + V1?

🔹 Examples:
I will call you tomorrow. (future action)
She will not go to school today. (negative sentence)
Will you help me? (question)

🔹 Explanation:
We use “will” for general future actions. It shows something that has not yet started but is
sure or expected to happen.

Use Simple Future for:

Decisions at the moment: I’m tired. I’ll sleep now.

 Predictions: It will rain in the evening.
Promises: I will always support you.

🔸 2. Future Continuous Tense

🔹 When Do We Use It?
To talk about an action that will be happening at a certain time in the future
To set a background scene in the future
To talk about parallel future actions

🔹 Structure:
Positive: Subject + will be + V1 + ing
Negative: Subject + will not be + V1 + ing
Question: Will + subject + be + V1 + ing?

🔹 Examples:
At 10 a.m. tomorrow, I will be attending the meeting.
She won’t be studying at night.
Will they be playing cricket in the evening?

🔹 Explanation:
Future Continuous is used when you want to say what will be happening at a certain time in
the future. It focuses on the process rather than the result.

Common phrases used:

At this time tomorrow

When you arrive
During the evening

🔸 3. Future Perfect Tense

🔹 When Do We Use It?
To show that an action will be completed before a specific time in the future
To talk about achievements or results by a future date

🔹 Structure:
Positive: Subject + will have + V3 (past participle)
Negative: Subject + will not have + V3
Question: Will + subject + have + V3?

🔹 Examples:
 I will have completed the report by evening.
She won’t have left by 6 p.m.
Will they have reached the station by then?

🔹 Explanation:
This tense shows that something will be finished before another future event. We often use
"by" + future time (e.g., by 9 a.m., by next week).

Compare:

Simple Future: I will finish my homework.

Future Perfect: I will have finished my homework by 9 p.m.

🔸 4. Future Perfect Continuous Tense

🔹 When Do We Use It?
To talk about how long an action will have been happening before a specific time in the
future
It focuses on the duration of an activity that continues up to a point in the future

🔹 Structure:
Positive: Subject + will have been + V1 + ing
Negative: Subject + will not have been + V1 + ing
Question: Will + subject + have been + V1 + ing?

🔹 Examples:
By June, she will have been working here for 5 years.
They won’t have been studying long when the test begins.
Will you have been waiting for me long?

🔹 Explanation:
This tense shows that the action started in the past or present, and continues till a point in
the future.
It is less common but still appears in formal English and exams like SBI/IBPS.

Use time expressions like:

for two hours

since morning
by the time

🔹 Comparison of All Future Tenses

 Tense Structure Use Example

Simple Future will + V1 I will call you later.

Future Continuous will be + V1+ing I will be sleeping at 11 p.m.

Future Perfect will have + V3 I will have finished my work

by 6 p.m.

Future Perfect Continuous will have been + V1+ing She will have been reading
for 2 hours by 8.

🔹 Key Words and Time Clues

Understanding these words can help you quickly identify the correct tense in exam
questions:

Simple Future: tomorrow, next week, soon, in 2025

Future Continuous: at this time tomorrow, when you arrive
Future Perfect: by then, by next month, before she comes
Future Perfect Continuous: for three years, since 2010, by 8 a.m.

🔹 Final Tips to Master Future Tense

Focus on time expressions — they often give clues to the correct tense.
Practice identifying structures — they are very clear once you memorize them.
Don’t mix verb forms — for example, avoid “will have going” instead of “will have gone.”
Review irregular past participle forms (V3) — for Future Perfect.
Understand differences — between “will” (simple future) and “will be + ing” (continuous).
✅ 50 Golden Rules to Master
Future Tense and Spot Errors
🔹 Section 1: Simple Future Tense (will + V1)
✅ Usage Rules
🎯 Rule 1: Use “will + base verb” to express future actions.
→ I will call you tomorrow.
🎯 Rule 2: Use for sudden decisions made while speaking.
→ It’s cold. I will close the window.
🎯 Rule 3: Use for promises, predictions, or offers.
→ I will help you with your homework.
🎯 Rule 4: Use time expressions like tomorrow, next year, soon.
→ We will leave next week.
🎯 Rule 5: In questions, “will” comes before subject.
→ Will he come to the office?

❌ Error Spotting
🎯 Rule 6: Do not use “to” after “will.”
❌ I will to go. ✅ I will go.
🎯 Rule 7: Use V1, not V-ing or V2.
❌ She will going. ✅ She will go.
🎯 Rule 8: Don't use “do” or “does” with “will.”
❌ Does he will come? ✅ Will he come?
🎯 Rule 9: Don’t mix future with past.
❌ He will went. ✅ He will go.
🎯 Rule 10: Avoid using “will” for habitual facts.
❌ Water will boil at 100°C. ✅ Water boils at 100°C.
🔹 Section 2: Future Continuous (will be + V1+ing)
✅ Usage Rules
🎯 Rule 11: Use “will be + V1+ing” to show an ongoing action at a specific future time.
→ I will be working at 10 a.m.
🎯 Rule 12: Used when you know exact time in the future.
→ At 8 p.m., we will be watching a movie.
🎯 Rule 13: Use for parallel future actions.
→ She will be cooking, and I will be cleaning.
🎯 Rule 14: Use “when” and “while” with Future Continuous.
→ While he will be studying, don’t disturb him.
 🎯 Rule 15: Describes future background actions.
→ Guests will be arriving when the show starts.

❌ Error Spotting
🎯 Rule 16: Always use “be” after “will.”
❌ He will working. ✅ He will be working.
🎯 Rule 17: Use V1+ing only, not V1 or V2.
❌ They will be go. ✅ They will be going.
🎯 Rule 18: Don’t use “has/have been” in place of “will be.”
❌ He has been waiting tomorrow. ✅ He will be waiting tomorrow.
🎯 Rule 19: Never use future time after “when + present verb.”
❌ When she will arrive, we will go. ✅ When she arrives, we will go.
🎯 Rule 20: Avoid combining “going to” and “will be.”
❌ She going to will be teaching. ✅ She will be teaching.
🔹 Section 3: Future Perfect (will have + V3)
✅ Usage Rules
🎯 Rule 21: Use “will have + V3” to show an action completed before a specific time in
future.
→ He will have left by noon.
🎯 Rule 22: Common with “by,” “before,” and “by the time.”
→ I will have finished the work by 6 p.m.
🎯 Rule 23: Use for future deadlines or milestones.
→ They will have reached the target by December.
🎯 Rule 24: Future Perfect comes before another future event.
→ The train will have arrived before we get there.
🎯 Rule 25: Use in exam reporting for expected completions.
→ He will have completed his course by next year.

❌ Error Spotting
🎯 Rule 26: Don't use “has/had” with “will.”
❌ She will has gone. ✅ She will have gone.
🎯 Rule 27: Use V3, not V1 or V2, after “will have.”
❌ He will have eat. ✅ He will have eaten.
🎯 Rule 28: Use “will have,” not “would have” for future certainty.
❌ They would have left by 9. ✅ They will have left by 9.
🎯 Rule 29: Avoid repeating future time markers.
❌ By tomorrow, she will have finished tomorrow. ✅ By tomorrow, she will have finished.
🎯 Rule 30: Don’t use Future Perfect without deadline/time.
❌ He will have finished. ✅ He will have finished by evening.
🔹 Section 4: Future Perfect Continuous (will have been +
V1+ing)
✅ Usage Rules
🎯 Rule 31: Shows how long an action will have been happening before a point in future.
→ I will have been working here for 5 years by next month.
🎯 Rule 32: Often used with “for” and “since.”
→ She will have been studying since 5 a.m.
🎯 Rule 33: Focus is on duration of the action.
→ He will have been playing cricket for 2 hours.
🎯 Rule 34: Use in situations where the action continues until a future point.
→ They will have been driving all night when they reach.
🎯 Rule 35: Best suited for formal writing and official reports.
❌ Error Spotting
🎯 Rule 36: Don’t miss “been” in structure.
❌ I will have working. ✅ I will have been working.
🎯 Rule 37: Use V1+ing, not V2 or V3.
❌ She will have been wrote. ✅ She will have been writing.
🎯 Rule 38: Don't confuse with Future Perfect.
❌ He will have worked for 2 hours. ✅ He will have been working for 2 hours.
🎯 Rule 39: Don’t use without a clear time expression.
❌ She will have been cooking. ✅ She will have been cooking since 4 p.m.
🎯 Rule 40: Avoid Present Perfect Continuous for future events.
❌ He has been working next year. ✅ He will have been working next year.
🔹 Section 5: Mixed Tense Mastery & Exam Focus
🎯 Combined Rules
🎯 Rule 41: Use “will” for future actions; never mix with present verbs.
❌ I go to school tomorrow. ✅ I will go to school tomorrow.
🎯 Rule 42: Use present simple in time clauses with “when, before, after.”
❌ When he will come, we’ll start. ✅ When he comes, we’ll start.
🎯 Rule 43: Use “going to” only for planned future actions, not sudden decisions.
→ I’m going to visit Delhi next week. (plan)
🎯 Rule 44: Don’t use two future tenses in the same sentence unless needed.
❌ I will go and will take your bag. ✅ I will go and take your bag.
🎯 Rule 45: Learn irregular V3 forms for Future Perfect usage.
→ Go → gone, Eat → eaten

🔹 Section 6: Common Traps in SBI/IBPS Exams

🎯 Rule 46: Spot wrong future forms in error spotting questions.
→ ❌ He will has gone. ✅ He will have gone.
🎯 Rule 47: SBI/IBPS often test Future vs Present confusion.
→ ❌ He is going tomorrow. ✅ He will go tomorrow.
🎯 Rule 48: Focus on time expressions like “by next year,” “at 10 p.m.,” “since morning.”
These help in identifying the tense.
🎯 Rule 49: In double actions, use Future Perfect for first and Simple Future for second.
→ I will have finished my work before he arrives.
🎯 Rule 50: Practice tense substitution in cloze tests:
If one blank uses will be, the second may need will have been (duration) or will have
(completion).
🔥 150 Golden Rules to Master
Tense-Based Grammar (Set 1:
Rules 1–25)
🔹 Rule 1: Match the Verb Tense with the Timeline
Always choose the verb form that fits the timeline of the sentence:

Past for past actions

Present for habits/facts
Future for upcoming events
Example:
❌ He go to school yesterday.
✅ He went to school yesterday.

🔹 Rule 2: Use Simple Present for Universal Truths

Facts and general truths always use simple present, even in science or formal writing.
Example:
✅ The sun rises in the east.
🔹 Rule 3: Present Continuous Needs a Current Action
Use am/is/are + V1+ing when something is happening right now.
Example:
✅ She is writing an email at the moment.

🔹 Rule 4: Simple Past for Finished Past Events

Use V2 (past form) for completed actions in the past. Avoid mixing it with present markers.
Example:
✅ They watched a movie last night.
🔹 Rule 5: Future Events Use “will + V1”
Use will + base verb to talk about something that hasn't happened yet.
Example:
✅ I will visit grandma next week.
🔹 Rule 6: Avoid Double Future in Time Clauses
When a sentence starts with “when,” “before,” or “after,” use present tense after the
conjunction and future tense in the main clause.
Example:
❌ When she will come, we will start.
✅ When she comes, we will start.
🔹 Rule 7: Use Present Perfect for Unfinished Time Periods
Use has/have + V3 for actions that started in the past but still connect to the present.
Example:
✅ I have lived here for 5 years.
🔹 Rule 8: Simple Present for Habits
Habits or repeated actions are always in simple present.
Example:
✅ He plays football every evening.
🔹 Rule 9: Past Perfect for Two Past Events
When two events happened in the past, use had + V3 for the earlier one.
Example:
✅ She had left before I reached.
🔹 Rule 10: Don’t Mix Present and Past in the Same Clause
Avoid using present and past tenses in one idea unless time demands it.
Example:
❌ He eats lunch and went out.
✅ He ate lunch and went out.
🔹 Rule 11: Future Perfect Shows Completion Before Future Time
Use will have + V3 to show that something will finish before a time in the future.
Example:
✅ By 2026, she will have completed her degree.
🔹 Rule 12: Past Continuous = Ongoing Action in Past
Use was/were + V1+ing to show that something was happening at a point in the past.
Example:
✅ I was sleeping when the phone rang.

🔹 Rule 13: Use “for” and “since” with Perfect Tenses

For: duration → 2 years, 10 minutes
 Since: starting point → 2019, morning
Example:
✅ He has lived here since 2010.

🔹 Rule 14: Future Continuous Describes an Action at a Specific Time in Future

Use will be + V1+ing for something that will be happening at a future time.
Example:
✅ At 9 p.m., I will be watching the match.
🔹 Rule 15: Don’t Use “Did” with V2 in Negative Past
Use did not + V1, not V2.
Example:
❌ He did not went.
✅ He did not go.
🔹 Rule 16: Use “would” for Imaginary/Conditional Past
When imagining past or giving hypothetical examples, use “would have + V3.”
Example:
✅ I would have helped if I had known.
🔹 Rule 17: Questions in Past Use “Did + V1”
For question forms, always use did + base verb, not past tense.
Example:
✅ Did you see the file?

🔹 Rule 18: Avoid Tense Shift in Cloze Test

In Cloze Tests, keep tenses consistent unless time changes.
Example:
✅ He entered, looked around, and sat down.
🔹 Rule 19: Check Time Words in Error Spotting
Words like yesterday, now, soon, last year help identify the right tense.
Example:
✅ She met me yesterday. (past verb matches time word)
🔹 Rule 20: “Has” and “Have” Go with Present Perfect Only
Use has/have + V3 for actions with a link to the present.
Example:
✅ They have completed the assignment.
🔹 Rule 21: Always Use “been” in Perfect Continuous
Present Perfect Continuous: has/have been + V1+ing
Past Perfect Continuous: had been + V1+ing
Example:
✅ She has been working for two hours.
🔹 Rule 22: Past Habit ≠ Present Habit
Use used to + V1 or would + V1 for past habits, not present tense.
Example:
✅ He used to play cricket in school.

🔹 Rule 23: Present Perfect ≠ Simple Past

Use simple past when time is over.
Use present perfect when time continues.
Example:
✅ I watched the movie yesterday.
✅ I have watched five movies this week.

🔹 Rule 24: In Speech Questions, Convert Tenses Correctly

In indirect speech, future becomes conditional:
Example:
✅ He said, “I will come.” → He said that he would come.
🔹 Rule 25: Avoid Extra Helping Verbs
Don’t add both “will” and “going to” for future.
Example:
❌ She will going to visit.
✅ She is going to visit / She will visit.
✅ Set 2: Rules 26–50 (Tense
Mastery for SBI PO & IBPS PO)
🔹 Rule 26: Use Present Perfect for Life Experiences (No Specific Time)
Avoid using specific time words like yesterday with Present Perfect.
Example:
✅ I have visited London.
❌ I have visited London yesterday. (Use simple past)
🔹 Rule 27: Use Present Continuous for Future Arrangements
If the time is fixed, present continuous can be used to describe a planned future event.
Example:
✅ I am meeting the manager tomorrow at 5 p.m.
🔹 Rule 28: Use “would” for Past Future
When referring to a future seen from the past, use “would” instead of “will.”
Example:
✅ He said he would come.
(Not: He said he will come.)

🔹 Rule 29: Use Past Perfect with “before” or “after” (Sequence Clarity)
To show one past action happened before another, use past perfect for the first action.
Example:
✅ She had cooked dinner before they arrived.
🔹 Rule 30: Use “shall” only with I/We (Formal Future)
“Shall” is more formal and mostly used with first-person subjects.
Example:
✅ We shall overcome the difficulties.
🔹 Rule 31: Avoid Present Tense in Past Narrative
In paragraphs with past narration, don’t suddenly switch to present.
Example:
❌ He walked in and sits on the chair.
✅ He walked in and sat on the chair.
🔹 Rule 32: Continuous Tense Must Involve Time-Progressing Action
Don’t use continuous tense for state verbs like know, believe, understand.
Example:
❌ I am knowing the answer.
✅ I know the answer.
🔹 Rule 33: Use Past Perfect Continuous to Show Ongoing Past Before Past
Structure: had been + V1+ing
Example:
✅ They had been studying for two hours before the lights went out.
🔹 Rule 34: Avoid Future Tense in Conditional “If” Clause
Use present tense in the “if” clause even when talking about the future.
Example:
✅ If it rains, we will cancel the picnic.
❌ If it will rain, we will cancel.
🔹 Rule 35: Use Past Tense After “I Wish” (Unreal Present)
When expressing a wish about the present, use simple past.
Example:
✅ I wish I knew the answer.
(Not: I wish I know)

🔹 Rule 36: Use “would have + V3” for Unreal Past

Expressing something that did not happen in the past.
Example:
✅ If I had studied, I would have passed the test.
🔹 Rule 37: Questions in Cloze Test: Check Auxiliary Verb & Tense Consistency
Example:
✅ Does he play the piano?
❌ Does he played the piano?
🔹 Rule 38: Match Tense with Conjunctions (when, while, as)
For two actions happening at the same time in the past, use past continuous with past simple.
Example:
✅ She was cooking while he watched TV.
🔹 Rule 39: For Scheduled Events, Use Present Simple
Even future events that are scheduled or timetabled use present simple.
Example:
✅ The train leaves at 6 p.m.
❌ The train will leave at 6 p.m.
🔹 Rule 40: Don’t Mix Tenses in Parallel Structures
Keep the tense uniform when using “and,” “or,” “but” etc.
Example:
❌ He went home and is sleeping.
✅ He went home and slept.
🔹 Rule 41: Use “had + V3” only when there is a second past action
Avoid unnecessary use of past perfect when there is only one past action.
Example:
❌ He had arrived late.
✅ He arrived late.
(Use past perfect only when there’s a second action.)

🔹 Rule 42: Use “since” with point of time, “for” with period of time
Example:
✅ I have worked here since 2010.
✅ I have worked here for 10 years.
🔹 Rule 43: Use “by the time” with Perfect Tenses
To show an action will be finished before a certain time.
Example:
✅ By the time you come, I will have finished cooking.
🔹 Rule 44: Use Present Perfect for Recently Completed Actions
Use this for news, just-happened events, or when the result is visible now.
Example:
✅ He has just eaten lunch.
🔹 Rule 45: Future Perfect Continuous = Action + Duration + Future Point
Structure: will have been + V1+ing
Example:
✅ By next year, I will have been teaching for 10 years.
🔹 Rule 46: Error Detection Tip – Watch for Wrong Verb Forms After Modals
After “will, would, can, should” etc., always use base verb.
Example:
❌ She will goes.
✅ She will go.
🔹 Rule 47: Use of “until” – Future Clause Must Use Present Tense
Example:
✅ Wait here until he comes.
❌ Wait here until he will come.
🔹 Rule 48: Look for Passive Tense Markers
Example:
✅ The food was eaten by the guests. (past passive)
✅ The food will be prepared. (future passive)
🔹 Rule 49: Tense + Subject-Verb Agreement Both Must Match
Example for Cloze:
✅ Neither of the boys was absent.
(Not: were)

🔹 Rule 50: For Story Completion Cloze Test – Tense Sequence is Key
Ensure consistent use of tenses across the paragraph; switch only when required by context.
Example:
✅ He entered the room, looked around, and sat quietly.