5.

PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE: S+ was / were + V4 + O

>T+)
( >+
USES: 
1) It is used to express an action which

was going on at sometime in the past.

Eg:

1. I was watching TV at 9 PM last night.

2. They were playing cricket yesterday morning. were

3. We were writing a test at this time last Sunday.

4. She was staying in Bangalore at this time last month.

5. He was studying degree final year at this time last year.

EVEREST COACHING POINT FOR SSC – CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO, STENO, GD- 90 300 301 85/86
 2. It is often used in combination with simple past. Past continuous is used for the action

which was going on at sometime in the past (long action) where as simple past is used to

express an action which happened in the mean time (short action).

Eg:

1. He met with an accident while he was crossing the road.

2. I met my friend while I was going to college yesterday.

3. He got promotion while he was working in Tirupathi.

4. When you called me last night I was sleeping.

5. When I saw him, he was waiting for the bus.

6. When I entered the class, the teacher was teaching the lesson.

EVEREST COACHING POINT FOR SSC – CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO, STENO, GD- 90 300 301 85/86
 CLUE WORDS:

1.Simple past + when / while

2. At this time + yesterday/ last week / month / year etc.,

EVEREST COACHING POINT FOR SSC – CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO, STENO, GD- 90 300 301 85/86
 PINNI

EVEREST COACHING POINT FOR SSC – CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO, STENO, GD- 90 300 301 85/86
 EXERCISE - FILL IN THE BLANKS
1). It___ when we reached the station.
1) is raining 2) was raining
3) were raining 4) raining

2). The maid broke the cup while she ___ it.
1) Washed 2) washing
3) was washing 4) has washed

3). He ___ asleep while he was driving.

1) Falls 2) fell 3) has fallen 4) had fallen

EVEREST COACHING POINT FOR SSC – CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO, STENO, GD- 90 300 301 85/86
 EXERCISE - FILL IN THE BLANKS
4). She jumped off the bus while it ___.
1) moved 2) had moved
3) was moving 4) is moving

5). Yesterday at this time all of us ____ the cricket match.

1) watched 2) were watching
3) had watched 4) had been watched

EVEREST COACHING POINT FOR SSC – CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO, STENO, GD- 90 300 301 85/86
 EXERCISE - FILL IN THE BLANKS

6. It started to rain while we ______ tennis.

a) played

b) were playing

c) are playing

d) have been playing

EVEREST COACHING POINT FOR SSC – CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO, STENO, GD- 90 300 301 85/86
 EXERCISE – SPOTTING ERRORS
1). When I saw her yesterday (1)/ she is waiting (2)/ for the bus.(3)/
No error (4).

2). He met with an accident (1)/ while (2)/ he is crossing the road. (3)/
No error (4)

3). We are enjoying (1)/ our vacation in Kerala (2)/ at this time last
year. (3)/ No error (4)

EVEREST COACHING POINT FOR SSC – CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO, STENO, GD- 90 300 301 85/86
 EXERCISE – SENTENCE IMPROVEMENT

1). At this time yesterday I am watching a cricket match between India and Pakistan.

A) watched B) was watching

C) will be watching D) No improvement

2). When he got transfer in 2015 he is working in Mumbai.

A) was working B) worked

C) works D) No improvement

EVEREST COACHING POINT FOR SSC – CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO, STENO, GD- 90 300 301 85/86
 EXERCISE – SENTENCE IMPROVEMENT

3). When you called me last night I slept.

A) am sleeping B) was sleeping

C) will sleep D) No improvement

4. I fell asleep after I am reading a novel. [SSC CGL TIERII 2020]

1. while I was reading 2. while I am reading

3. after I was reading 4. No improvement required

EVEREST COACHING POINT FOR SSC – CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO, STENO, GD- 90 300 301 85/86
 6. FUTURE CONTINUOUS : S + will / shall + be + V4 + O

USES:

It is used to express an action which will be going on at sometime in the future.

Eg:

1. I will be watching a movie at 10 PM tonight.

2. We shall be writing a test at 11am tomorrow.

3. They will be playing cricket at this time next Sunday.

4. He will be staying in Chennai at this time next month.

5. I will be working as an income tax inspector at this time next year.

EVEREST COACHING POINT FOR SSC – CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO, STENO, GD- 90 300 301 85/86
 CLUE WORDS: At this time + tomorrow/next week/month/
year etc.

PINNI:

EVEREST COACHING POINT FOR SSC – CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO, STENO, GD- 90 300 301 85/86
 EXERCISE - FILL IN THE BLANKS
1). At this time tomorrow, I ___ towards Paris.
A) shall fly B) shall be flown C) shall be flying D) none

2). We _____ a cricket match at this time next Sunday.

A). watch B) will watch C) will be watching D) watched

3). She _____ in Bengaluru at this time next month.

A). stays B) stayed C) will stay D) will be staying

EVEREST COACHING POINT FOR SSC – CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO, STENO, GD- 90 300 301 85/86
 EXERCISE – SPOTTING ERRORS

1). When I go home (1)/ at 9 PM tonight (2)/ my friend is waiting for me.(3)/
No error (4).

2). Don’t call me at 9 PM. (1)/ At that time (2)/ I will take my dinner. (3)/ No
error (4)

3). I will talk (1)/ to my friend (2)/ at this time tomorrow. (3)/ No error (4)

EVEREST COACHING POINT FOR SSC – CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO, STENO, GD- 90 300 301 85/86
 EXERCISE – SENTENCE IMPROVEMENT
1). She will study B.Tech final year at this time next year.
A) is studying B) was studying C) will be studying D) No improvement

2). He will prepare for UPSC Mains at this time next month.
A) is preparing B) will be preparing
C) would be preparing D) No improvement

3). I am confident that I will work an Income Tax Inspector at this time next year.
A) am working B) would work C) will be working D) No improvement

EVEREST COACHING POINT FOR SSC – CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO, STENO, GD- 90 300 301 85/86
 7. PRESENT PERFECT: S+have/has+V3+AW

I
USES:

1. It is used to express an action We

which is just completed. Have

You
Eg :
1. I have just seen him. They

2. We have just arrived. He

3. He has just gone out.
She Has
4. She has just finished her work.
5. He has just spoken to me.
It
6. They have just left this place.
EVEREST COACHING POINT FOR SSC – CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO, STENO, GD- 90 300 301 85/86
 2. It is also used to express a timeless past action (exact time of the
action is not known or is not considered important).

Eg :

1. I have already finished my work.

2. I have never seen a lion.

3. He has already met me.

4. She has already completed her graduation.

5. The train has not arrived yet.

6. I have built three houses so far.

EVEREST COACHING POINT FOR SSC – CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO, STENO, GD- 90 300 301 85/86
 CLUE WORDS:

Just, just now, already, So far, till now, recently, lately, yet ,
ever etc.

PINNI

EVEREST COACHING POINT FOR SSC – CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO, STENO, GD- 90 300 301 85/86
Important Note: Present perfect tense is not normally used with the past
time adverbials like yesterday, last week, last month, last year, ago, in
2000, in 2015 etc.They are normally used with simple past tense.

Eg:

1. He has gone to Chennai yesterday. 5. She has taken coaching for civils last year.

2. I have eaten a banana last night. 6. I have bought this car five years ago.

3. We have seen this movie last week. 7. I have completed B.Tech in 2015.

4. He has come to Hyderabad last month. 8. He has called me an hour ago.

EVEREST COACHING POINT FOR SSC – CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO, STENO, GD- 90 300 301 85/86
TENSES HANDOUT-1
(TIER-I)
Directions: Fill in the following blanks choosing the most appropriate verb
from the given choices.
1. The sun _____ in the east.

a) Rise

b) Rises

c) Is rise

d) Is rises
2. I ______ him last night.

a) Met

b) Have met

c) Has met

d) Was met
3. India ___ independence in 1947.

a) Win

b) Won

c) Have won

d) Had won
4. He _____ English.

a) Isn’t know

b) Isn’t knowing

c) Don’t know

d) Doesn’t know
5. He jumped off the train while it _____.

a) Moved

b) Moving

c) Is moving

d) Was moving
6. How often _______ to church?

a) You go

b) Do you go

c) Are you go

d) Are you going

7. She _____ well last night.

a) Don’t sleep

b) Didn’t sleep

c) Hasn’t slept

d) Doesn’t slept
8. _____ to the park yesterday?

a) Have you gone

b) Have you went

c) Did you go

d) Did you went

9. I _____ mutton but now I am a vegetarian.

a) was eaten

b) was eating

c) used to eat

d) was used to eat

10. What ____ in the corner over there?

a) are you see

b) are you seeing

c) do you see

d) are you seen

11. Please don’t disturb me. I______to solve a sum.

[SSC CPO – 09.12.2019] EVENING

a) am trying

b) try

c) have tried

d) Tried
12. Radium is a white powder that ____table salt.
[SSC CGL TIER-I 2023]

a) looks like

b) look like

c) will look like

d) looking like
13. I’m sure I _____ them at the party last night.

[SSC-CPO 23.11.2020(Morning)]

a) am seeing

b) was seeing

c) have seen

d) saw
14. I _____ blood in the hospital tomorrow.

[SSC MTS 05.8.2019 (Evening)]

a) have donated

b) was donating

c) will donate

d) had donated
15. Maryam _____ to anyone as she was angry.

[SSC MTS 19.8.2019 (Evening)]

a) not spoke

b) did not spoken

c) did not spoke

d) did not speak

Directions: In each of the following questions find out which part of
sentence has an error. If there is no mistake the answer is No error.
16. Every Saturday,(a) / the workers gets(b) / their weekly wages. (c)/No
error (d)

[CGL TIER-I 2021]

17. Every(a)/ curious child (b) / want to (c)/ rip open a toy. (d)/No error(e)
[CGL TIER-I 2021]
18. They have (a)/ played a game (b)/ last week. (c)/ No error (d)

[SSC CGL TIER-I 2013]

19. You are a very lovable person (a)/ but I (b)/ am not loving you. (c)/ No
error (d)

[SSC CONSTABLE-2013]
20. I have got your letter yesterday(a)/ and felt happy to learn (b)/ of your
recovery. (c)/ No error (d)

[SSC CGL TIER-I 2013]

21. His parents does not (a)/approve of (b)/ hisbusiness. (c)/ No error (d)
[SSC CPO-2014]
22. How long it takes (a)/to travel from Chennai to Trichy (b)/ by train? (c)/
No error (d)

[SSC CGL TIER-II 2014]

23. Africa is the second largest continent (a)/ and it contain about one fifth
(b)/ of all the land in the world.(c)/ No error (d)

[SSC CPO-2014]
24. The mob(a)/ is believing (b)/ every word(c)/ the leader says. (d)

[SSC CHSL-2021]

25. Soni take her daughter (a) /to the park (b) /in the evening (c) / in a
stroller (d)

[SSC CHSL-2019]
26. My brother, (a)/ who live in Delhi, (b) /has written (c) /me a letter (d)
[SSC CHSL-2019]

27. Mohit did not (a)/ went to school (b) / yesterday as he (c)/ was unwell(d)
[SSC CHSL-2019]
28. A large section of a hotel (a) /under construction (b) / collapse in New
Orleans (c)/ last Saturday (d)

[SSC CPO-2019 TIER-I ]

29. I use to going (a)/ for a morning walk (b)/ when I was (c) / living in
Dehradun(d)

[SSC CGL-2018 TIER-II ]

30. Rohit did not came (a) / to the office (b) / because he got held up (c) /
due to the heavy rains(d)

[SSC CGL TIER-II -2018 ]

31. I can't talk right now / I am being really busy./ I'll call you later.

[SSC CGL TIER-I 2023 ]

a) I can't talk right now

b) I am being really busy

c) No error

d) I'll call you later

32. She always / invite me/to/dinner. [SSC CGL-2023]

a) She always

b) to

c) dinner

d) invite me
33. I fell asleep while / I read / the book [SSC CGL-2023]

a) the book

b) I read

c) asleep while

d) I fell
34. I play / cricket in / my childhood / with my sister.

[SSC CGL-2023]

a) my childhood

b) with my sister

c) I play

d) cricket in
35. Here/come/the bus/ for Lucknow. [SSC CGL-2023]

a) for Lucknow

b) the bus

c) come

d) Here
Improve the underlined part of each of the following sentences.

36. Five years ago today, I am sitting in a small Japanese car, driving across
Poland towards Berlin. [SSC-2013]

a) was sitting

b) sat

c) have been sitting

d) No improvement
37. Grandfather always finds faults with the poor gardener.

[SSC CHSL-2016]

a) find fault

b) find faults

c) is finding faults

d) No improvement
38. Ajay, who was studying architecture at present, hopes to go to Australia
after graduation. [SSC CHSL-2016]

a) studies

b) has been studying

c) is studying

d) No improvement
39. It is reported that everyday India witnessing the death of over 2000
babies aged less than one year. [SSC CHSL-2019]

a) India will be witness the death

b) No improvement

c) India witnesses the death

d) India witness the death

40. Gitanjali did not had school yesterday because it was a second Saturday.
[SSC CHSL-2019]

a) does not have

b) did not have

c) No improvement

d) was not having

41. The new product will be arrive on supermarket shelves only next year.
[SSC CHSL-2019]

a) No improvement

b) will arrived on

c) will arrive on

d) will arriving on
42. Sidharth want to become a football player but needs to practise more
rigorously. [CHSL-2019]

a) wants to become

b) is wanting to become

c) No improvement

d) wanted becoming
43. I was sitting at home doing nothing when I had heard that song again.
[SSC CGL TIER-I-2019]

a) heard

b) No improvement

c) hears

d) has heard
44.The children opens the door silently, yesterday.

[SSC CHSL 2021]

a) will have opened the door

b) open the door

c) will open the door

d) opened the door

45. They had eaten an apple every day for breakfast.

[SSC CHSL 2021]

a) eaten

b) has eaten

c) eating

d) eat
46. Is he remembering our help? [SSC CHSL 2021]

a) Did he remembered

b) No substitution

c) Does he remember

d) Has he remember
47. I don't wear the sunglasses at the moment. [SSC CHSL 2023]

a) I didn't wear

b) I wore

c) I was wearing

d) I'm not wearing

48. My friend is owing expensive cell phone. [SSC CHSL 2023]

a) own an expensive cell phone

b) owns an expensive cell phone

c) No substitution

d) is own an expensive cell phone

49. He had given me the book in 1999. [SSC CHSL 2023]

a) did given me

b) was given me

c) gives me

d) gave me
50. An ultralight airplane is very different from a conventional airplane. It is
looking like a lawn chair with wings. [SSC CHSL 2023]

a) No substitution required

b) look like

c) looked like

d) looks like