TENSES

A verb is a word that describes an action, a state or an expression. It may refer to

1. to present time,
2. to past time, or
3. to future time.
Present Tense
1. A verb that refers to present time is said to be in the Present Tense; Present tense expresses an
unchanging, repeated, or reoccurring action or situation that exists only now. It can also
represent a widespread truth.
Examples:
I write, I eat.
1. Unchanging action : The mountains are tall and white.
2. Recurring action : Every year, the school closes for the summer.
3. Widespread truth : Mg is the chemical symbol for magnesium.
Past Tense
2. A verb that refers to past time is said to be in the Past Tense; Past tense expresses an action or
situation that was started and finished in the past. Most past tense verbs end in -ed. The irregular
verbs have special past tense forms.
Examples:
I wrote, I ate.
1. The football match ended in a draw - Regular -ed past
2. India got its Independence in 1947 - Irregular form
Future Tense
3. A verb that refers to future time is said to be in the Future Tense; Future tense expresses an
action or situation that will occur in the future. This tense is formed by using will/shall with the
simple form of the verb.
Examples:
I shall write, I shall eat.
1. The train will arrive at ten past two.
2. The Chief Guest shall give away the prizes.
All the three tenses have the following four forms:

Present Tense:
1. I write (Simple Present)
2. I am writing (Present Continuous)
3. I have written (Present Perfect)
4. I have been writing (Present Perfect Continuous)
Past Tense:
1. I wrote (Simple Past)
2. I was writing (Past Continuous)
3. I had written (Past Perfect)
4. I had been writing (Past Perfect Continuous)
Future Tense:
1. I shall write (Simple Future)
2. I shall be writing (Future Continuous)
3. I shall have written (Future Perfect)
4. I shall have been writing (Future Perfect Continuous)

Simple Present Tense

The present simple is the tense used to describe actions that are timeless. If the time of the
action can be defined, then the present simple tense is used.

(i) to express a habitual action; as

1. He gets up every day at five o’clock.
2. I go for jogging every morning.
(ii) to express general truths; as
1. Honey is sweet.
2. The sun rises in the east.
(iii) for statements that are always true;
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

Present Continuous Tense

Present Continuous Tense is used to describe an ongoing action that is happening at the same
time the statement is written. This tense is formed by using am/is/are with the verb form ending
in -ing.
(i) For an action going on at the time of speaking; as
1. She is singing. (now)
2. The boys are playing hockey.

(ii) For an action that is planned or arranged to take place in the near future; as
1. I am going to the cinema tonight.
2. My uncle is arriving tomorrow.

Present Perfect Tense:

Present Perfect Tense is used to indicate completed activities in the immediate past. The
present perfect consists of a past participle with "has" or "have." It denotes an action which
began in the past but which continues into the present or the effect of which still continues.
For example:
1. He has gone out.
2. The clock has struck ten.
(i) to express past actions whose time is not given and not definite; as
1. I have known him for many years.
2. Mr. Hari has been to Japan.
(ii) to describe past events when we think more of their effect in the present; as
1. I have cut my finger (and it is bleeding now).
2. I have finished my work (and now I am free).
(iii) to denote an action beginning at some time in the past and continuing up to the
present moment; as
1. I have known him a long time.
2. He has been ill since last week.
3. We have lived here for ten years.
Simple Past Tense:
(i) it is used to indicate an action completed in the past.
1. I received this letter a week ago.
2. She left school last year.
(ii) it is used for past habits; as
1. He studied many hours every day,
2. She always carried an umbrella.
Past Continuous Tense:
Past progressive tense describes a past action which was happening when another action
occurred. This tense is formed by using was/were with the verb form ending in -ing.
(i) it is used to denote an action going on at some time in the past.
1. We were listening to the radio all evening.
2. When I saw him, he was playing chess.
(ii) it is also used with always, continually, etc. for persistent habits in the past.
1. He was always grumbling.
2. The baby was always crying.
Past Perfect Tense:
The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It
can also show that something happened before a specific time in the past.
(i) it describes an action completed before certain moment in the past; as
I met him in New Delhi in 1990. I had seen him last five years before.
 (ii) if two actions happened in the past, it may be necessary to show which action
happened earlier that the other. The Past Perfect is mainly used in such situations.
The Simple Past is used in one clause and the Past Perfect in the other; as
1. When I reached the station the train had started. (so I couldn’t get into the train)
2. I had written the letter before he arrived.
Past Perfect Continuous Tense:
We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up
until another time in the past.
(i) it is used for an action that began before a certain point in the past and continued up
to that time; as
1. At that time he had been writing a novel for two months.
2. When I came to the school in 1997, Mr. Anand had already been teaching there
for five years.
Simple Future Tense:
The future tense is used to described an event which has not happened yet, but expected to
happen in the future.
(i) it is used for an action that has still to take place; as
1. I shall see him tomorrow.
2. Tomorrow will be a holiday.
(ii) the Simple Future Tense generally expresses pure or colourless future. When the
future is coloured with intention, the going to+ infinitive construction is preferred, as
He is going to build a new house.
Future Continuous Tense:
Future continuous tense describes an ongoing or continuous action that will take place in the
future. This tense is formed by using will be or shall be with the verb form ending in -ing.
(i) it represents an action as going on at some time in future time; as
1. I shall be reading the paper then.
2. When I get home, my children will be playing.

(ii) it is also used for future events that are planned; as

1. I’ll be staying here till Sunday.
2. He will be meeting us next week.
Future Perfect Tense:
Future Perfect Tense is used to indicate the completion of an action by a certain future time; the
future perfect tense designates action that will have been completed at a specified time in the
future.
(i) it is used to show that something will happen before a specific time in the future; as
1. I shall have written my exercise by that time.
 2. Before you go to see him, he will have left the place.
Future Perfect Continuous Tense:
The Future Perfect Continuous is used to show that something will continue up until a particular
event or time in the future.
(i) it indicates an action represented as being in progress over a period of time that will
end in the future; as
1. By next July we shall have been living here for four years.
2. When he gets his degree, he will have been studying at Oxford four years.

REGULAR VERBS

PRESENT PAST PARTICIPLE

accept accepted accepted
add added added
admire admired admired
admit admitted admitted
advise advised advised
afford afforded afforded
agree agreed agreed
alert alerted alerted
admit admitted admitted
advise advised advised
afford afforded afforded
agree agreed agreed
amuse amused amused
analyse analysed analysed
back backed backed
bake baked baked
beg begged begged
behave behaved behaved
balance balanced balanced
bless blessed blessed
calculate calculated calculated
call called called
depend depended depended
describe described described
educate educated educated
embarrass embarrassed embarrassed
flow flowed flowed
flower flowered flowered
fold folded folded
follow followed followed
hug hugged hugged
hum hummed hummed
hunt hunted hunted
miss missed missed
mix mixed mixed
permit permitted permitted
phone phoned phoned
rest rested rested
rush rushed rushed
sigh sighed sighed
signal signaled signaled
transport transported transported
concentrate concentrated Concentrated
consider considered considered
correct corrected corrected
communicate communicated communicated
cross crossed crossed
dress dressed dressed
disagree disagreed disagreed
delay delayed delayed
decide decided decided
disappear disappeared disappeared
divide divided divided
face faced faced
flood flooded flooded
gather gathered gathered
guide guided guided
glow glowed glowed
guess guessed guessed
harm harmed harmed
hurry hurried hurried
identify identified identified
increase increased increased

PRESENT PAST PARTICIPLE

invite invited invited
instruct instructed instructed
joke joked joked
join joined joined
jump jumped jumped
kick kicked kicked
kneel kneeled kneeled
knock knocked knocked
license licensed licensed
look looked looked
listen listened listened
laugh laughed laughed
man Manned manned
multiply multiplied multiplied
need needed needed
notice noticed noticed
number numbered numbered
obey obeyed obeyed
obtain obtained obtained
order ordered ordered
prevent prevented prevented
pass passed passed
press pressed pressed
push pushed pushed
pack packed packed
show showed showed
walk walked walked
talk talked talked
arrive arrived arrived
charge charged charged
derive derived derived
rain rained rained
drop dropped dropped
kill killed killed
cut cut cut
hurt hurt hurt
beat beat beaten
till tilled till
spill spilled spilt
stitch stitched stitched
read read read
 PRESENT PAST PARTICIPLE
listen listened listened
burst burst burst
choose chose chosen
catch caught caught
come came come
dive dived dived
accept accepted accepted
add added added
admire admired admired
agree agreed agreed
allow allowed allowed
ask asked asked
avoid avoided avoided
beg begged begged
bow bowed bowed
boil boiled boiled
calculate calculated calculated
call called called
compare compared compared

IRREGULAR VERBS

PRESENT PAST PARTICIPLE

see Saw Seen
get got Got, gotten
send sent Sent
take took Taken
lie laid Lain
speak spoke spoken
write wrote written
fight fought fought
grow grew Grown
swim swam swum
Go went gone
eat ate Eaten
drink drank Drunk
drive drove driven
ride rode ridden
 PRESENT PAST PARTICIPLE
shake shook Shaken
do did Done
rise rose risen
freeze froze Frozen
strike struck Stricken
sink sank Sunk
sing sang sung
sleep slept slept
blow blew blown
spring sprang sprung
bear bore Borne
bind bound Bound
tear tore torn
think thought Thought
fly flew Flown
arise arose Arisen
awake Awakened, Awakened,
awoke awoken
begin began begun
bend bent Bent
bite bit Bitten
bleed bled bled
break broke Broken
breed bred bred
burn burned Burnt
draw drew Drawn
fall fell fallen
forgive forgave Forgiven
kneel kneeled Knelt
know knew Known
light lighted Lit
mistake mistook mistaken
Pay paid Paid
plead pleaded Pled
prove proved Proved, proven
ring rang Rung
say said Said
seek sought Sought
smell smelled Smelt
spoil spoiled Spoilt
spring sprang Sprung

PRESENT PAST PARTICIPLE

shake shook shaken
shear shore shorn
Shine shone shone
shrink shrank shrunk
sing sang sang
sit sat Sat
sleep slept slept
slay slew Slain
slide slid Slid
sling slung Slung
speak spoke Spoken
speed sped sped
spend spent Spent
spin spun spun
stand stood stood
steal stole stolen
strike struck Stricken
swell swelled Swollen
teach taught Taught
throw threw Thrown
wake woke Woken
wear wore worn
be Was, were been
fall fell fallen
forget forgot Forgotten
shake shook Shaken
hide hid hidden
overthrow overthrew Overthrown
sew sewed Sewn
shine shone shone
Stick stuck stick
understand understood Understood
weep wept Wept
mean meant meant
have had had
sell sold Sold
sit sat sat
beat beat Beaten
bind bound bound
burn Burnt, burned Burned, burnt
lead led led
take took taken
bite bit Bitten
hang Hanged hung
lose lost lost
Prove proved proven
spring sprang sprung
1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate present tense words:
1. She always _______ tennis. (play)
2. Windows ________ made of glass. (is)
3. The train ________ at 6 PM. (leave)
4. When does class __________ tomorrow? (begin)
5. The Earth _________ the moon. (circle)
6. She ___________ English and German fluently. (speak)
7. I ___________ with my grandparents. (live)
8. The child ___________ in the afternoon. (sleep)
9. My neighbour’s dog always ________. (bark)
10. Ramu’s father _________ him chocolate regularly. (buy)
11. These books _________ printed in Chennai. (is)
12. Anjana _________ to the University everyday. (travel)
13. My grandmother ___________ slowly. (walk)
14. Lisa _________ in the back seat of the bus. (sit)
15. The students usually ask the teacher to ___________ his point. (repeat)

2. Fill in the blanks with present continuous tense :

1. Varun ___________ a car. (drive)
2. My sister ____________ as a secretary. (work)
3. The children ____________ football in the ground. (play)
4. My father __________about his adventures in Tibet. (write)
5. We ________English now. (learn)
6. I ____________ studying to become a doctor. (study)
7. Sheila ___________ some friends after work. (meet)
8. My uncle ___________ from Bangalore today. (come)
9. We _______________ our university exams tomorrow. (write)
10. My brother ___________ my bicycle now. (repairing)
11. The farmer ____________ his animals. (feed)
12. He ______________ me an album. (show)
13. I __________ in the insurance company. (work)
14. We ____________ to create a wildlife sanctuary. (try)
15. She _____________ for the bus. (wait)
3. Fill in the blanks with Present Perfect tense:

1. You __________ that movie many times. (see)

2. They ___________ back from Europe. (come)
3. She ____________ a book on English Grammar. (write)
4. People ______________ to the Moon. (travel)
5. Nobody __________ that mountain. (climb)
6. She ___________ that news item. (read)
7. The trees _________ well. (grow)
8. My English ____________ since I went to London. (improve)
9. Scientists ___________ the atom. (split)
10. Dinakar _____________ his homework. (finish)
11. The army ___________ the enemy camp. (attack)
12. We ______________ several experts on the matter. (consult)
13. My car ____________ down three times this week. (break)
14. She ______________ for three different companies so far. (work)
15. Deepak ____________ chocolates since he was a little boy. (love)

4. Fill in the blanks with Present Perfect Continuous tense:

1. I _____________ since morning. (work)
2. We ___________ here since 1967. (live)
3. He ___________ for his friend all day. (wait)
4. My sister _______________ since 5 o’ clock. (jog)
5. It’s ______________ since afternoon. (rain)
6. The dog ___________ in my bed. (sleep)
7. She ___________ for the tournament. (practice)
8. I ____________ my English through hard work. (improve)
9. She ____________ sick since the party. (feel)
10. I _____________ my homework. (complete)
11. He _______________ about the incident at school. (tell)
12. We ____________ for somebody who is fluent in Spanish. (look)
13. They _____________ TV for 3 hours. (watch)
14. She ______________ her room from morning. (tidy)
15. I ______________ to contact my parents for the past three days. (try)
5. Fill in the blanks with Simple Past tense:
1. She ___________ to the radio news this morning. (listen)
2. He ____________ in his friends house last night. (sleep)
3. I ____________ a letter to my father yesterday. (write)
4. My mother ____________ me happy birthday. (wish)
5. Rita __________ a prize for singing. (win)
6. I __________ football with my friends last evening. (play)
7. Anita ____________ a meeting at 9 am this morning. (attend)
8. The players ___________ well after their match. (rest)
9. My father _____________ me a beautiful dress. (buy)
10. My grandfather ___________ last year. (die)
11. Ranjani __________ her report on time. (finish)
12. Last week, my neighbour ___________ to America. (go)
13. Yesterday I ________ two hours cleaning my room. (spend)
14. He __________ his car. (wash)
15. The actor _____________ well on stage. (perform)

6. Fill in the blanks with Past Continuous tense:

1. I ____________ when she called. (study)
2. John ____________ when someone stole his car. (sleep)
3. I ___________ the TV when my mother switched it off. (watch)
4. The fire _________ brightly. (burn)
5. It ____________ during Christmas. (snow)
6. I _________ when I received the call. (drive)
7. The dogs ___________ when the thief ran. (bark)
8. People ________ about the bad service. (complain)
9. She _________ a bunch of flowers. (clutch)
10. I ______________ for a taxi in the rain. (wait)
11. They ___________ their motorbikes. (repair)
12. He __________ constantly. (talk)
13. The teacher ___________ the weak student. (help)
14. She _________________ dinner. (prepare)
15. My boss ____________ with me. (anger)
7. Fill in the blanks with Past Perfect tense:
1. She __________ her French course before she went to Paris. (finish)
2. He ___________ the book before watching the movies. (read)
3. They felt bad about selling the house because they ____________ it for forty years.
(own)
4. By the time I got to the office the meeting __________. (begin)
5. Ravi ________ to help Rakesh. (agree)
6. My friend _________ a new dress for the party. (buy)
7. The carpenter _________ the chair. (fix)
8. The children _____________ to play. (began)
9. He __________ for over an hour for his friend. (wait)
10. I ___________ to meet my brother in front of the coffee shop. (arrange)
11. The school bus ________ up the children. (pick)
12. She ____________ up her hope of becoming a doctor. (give)
13. She ___________ several movies of her favourite actress. (miss)
14. The tourist __________ pictures of the pyramids before he went to Egypt. (see)
15. Sarah ______________ on a safari in Kenya. (go)

8. Fill in the blanks with Past Perfect Continuous tense:

1. She ____________ hard for her examination. (learn)
2. They ______________ for over an hour. (jog)
3. They _____________ for over an hour on the telephone. (talk)
4. She ____________ as a translator before she became a lecturer. (work)
5. Sam ___________ for the past five years. (overeat)
6. He ____________ meditation classes regularly. (attend)
7. She _______________ since 9.30 PM. (wait)
8. The monkey ____________ the tree with its lame leg. (climb)
9. The Hispaniola _______________ on the Pacific for nearly forty years. (sail)
10. She ______________ pain in her leg for the past three months. (experience)
11. The child _______________ for a long time. (cry)
12. They _________________ on the issue for many years. (insist)
13. The old man ____________ for nearly thirty years. (smoke)
14. The dog ____________ when it fell into a hole. (run)
15. I ______________ to get a job for many months. (try)
9. Fill in the blanks with simple future tense:
1. I __________ him tomorrow. (meet)
2. The train ___________ at 3 o’ clock. (arrive)
3. Janini __________ her friend to learn. (help)
4. I ___________ you when I get back . (telephone)
5. The government ____________ the dyeing industries. (abolish)
6. She ____________ in the concert tomorrow. (sing)
7. Prakash ____________ his university degree next year. (complete)
8. My brother __________ a new car next week. (purchase)
9. She ____________ in hospital for the next two weeks. (be)
10. The President _________ the sports meet open. (declare)
11. The satellite ____________ round the earth in its fixed orbit. (go)
12. We ______________ school regularly. (attend)
13. I ___________ at Hilton Park when I visit Chennai. (stay)
14. The committee ___________ its report tomorrow. (submit)
15. They __________ back to India after three years. (come)

10. Fill in the blanks with future continuous tense:

1. I _____________ the paper then. (read)
2. The children __________ when I get home. (play)
3. We ____________ tomorrow. (swim)
4. She __________ in an hour’s time. (eat)
5. Tejesh _________ his cousins next week. (visiting)
6. I _________ to the temple. (go)]
7. They ___________ for me when the train arrives. (wait)
8. He _________________ notes in the library. (prepare)
9. I ____________ through the desert. (drive)
10. The children __________ television. (watch)
11. The Nation ____________ its 62nd Independence Day in 2009. (celebrate)
12. A few people ___________ pizza. (eat)
13. I ________________ dinner when the others are watching a movie. (prepare)
14. Durga ______________ her clothes. (wash)
15. Mary ______________ her niece next weekend. (visit)
11. Fill in the blanks with Future Perfect tense:
1. I __________ my exercise by that time. (write)
2. They ___________ the book by then. (complete)
3. She _________________ the place before you go there. (leave)
4. I ______________ him tomorrow by this time tomorrow. (meet)
5. Two years from now Jagdish ___________________ his course (finish)
6. The bank ____________ by the time we arrive. (close)
7. By the end of the month we _____________ all our money. (spend)
8. The plane _____________ by 4 o’ clock. (land)
9. They _____________ her tomorrow at this time. (meet)
10. We ________________ our lessons by tomorrow. (learn)
11. She __________________ her work by April. (complete)
12. I _______________ by the end of the year. (retire)
13. He _____________ the book by Tuesday. (read)
14. Neena _____________ a new processor by the end of this week. (buy)
15. It ________________ raining by evening. (stop)

12. Fill in the blanks with Future Perfect Continuous tense:

1. We ____________ 6 hours by the time we reach Coimbatore. (drive)
2. My father _________________ cattle for 20 years tomorrow. (breed)
3. The children _________________ for 3 hours. (study)
4. They ________________ to get a license. (try)
5. She _________________ writing for 2 months by the end of this week. (write)
6. We _______________ a year on April 20th. (marry)
7. I ____________ without a projector for 3 days by tomorrow. (be)
8. By 2009, we ____________ in Salem for 14 years. (live)
9. Johnson ______________ at sea 7 days by the time he enters Indian waters. (be)
10. By the time I enter the seminar hall, all the important decisions ______. (take)
11. All the seats ______________ by the time we get to the theatre. (occupy)
12. We _________________ for 5 hours. (exercise)
13. They _________________ for 23 hours. (travel)
14. He ____________. (cook)
15. The dog ____________. (sleep)
 AGREEMENT OF VERB WITH THE SUBJECT
I. POSITIVE STATEMENTS
A sentence usually has a subject (what the sentence is about) and a predicate (the part of the
sentence which gives information about the subject).
The subject usually comes before the predicate. The subject can be a noun or a pronoun.
Example : You are very clever.
The predicate must contain at least one verb.
Example : The trees are green.
A noun which names a person, a place or thing (living or non-living) performs the function of a
subject. Noun has got a classification called number.
There are two numbers :
Number

Singular Plural

We use singular verbs for singular subjects and plural verbs for plural subjects.
Examples:
Singular Subject Plural Subject
the verb ‘to be’ The boy is hungry. The boys are hungry.
He is tired. We are tired.
the verb ‘like’ The monkey likes bananas. The monkeys like bananas.
She likes chocolates. They like chocolates.
Note :
Singular pronouns I and you are the only exceptions as they do not make use of singular verb
forms.
Examples :
Singular Subject
the verb ‘to be’ I am busy. You are busy.
the verb ‘like’ I likeice cream. You like ice cream.

Rules for using a singular verb :

a. Uncountable nouns take singular verb forms.
Eg. The vinegar is in that bottle.
b. Two or more subjects joined by and always take a plural verb.
Eg. 1. My father and my mother work in the city.
2. Alice and Janet are my neighbours.
 c. Two singular nouns, expressing one idea or referring to the same person, are considered
to be a singular subject. So, such subjects take a singular verb.
Eg.1. The cup and saucer is on the table.
2. My friend and adviser has come.
d. Nouns or pronouns qualified by ‘each’, ‘every’ (one person) ‘everyone’, ‘either’ or
‘neither’ take a singular verb.
Eg. 1. Every boy and girl is equally good.
2. Neither of them is good.
e. Collective nouns take a singular verb.
Eg. 1. The crowd is uncontrollable.
2. My friend’s family lives in Salem.
f. Nouns, plural in the form, but singular in meaning take a singular verb.
Eg. 1. This news gives a rude shock.
2. Measles is a dangerous disease for pregnant women.
g. Two or more singular subjects, connected by ‘or’, ‘either….or,’ ‘neither…nor’, ‘along
with’, or ‘as well as’, take a singular verb.
Eg. 1. Coffee or tea is enough.
2. The cow along with its calf was killed.
h. The title of a book (though a plural name) is always followed by a singular verb.
Eg. 1. ‘The Arabian Nights’ is an interesting book.
2. ‘The Silver Tongue’ is compiled by K.G. Seshadri.
i. The names of companies and other organizations are usually regarded as singular,
regardless of their ending:
Eg. General Motors has announced its fall lineup of new vehicles.
j. Some indefinite pronouns like everybody and somebody are always singular. Similarly,
the word each is also singular.
Eg. 1. Everyone has finished his homework.
2. Each of the students is responsible for his work.
Rules for using a plural verb :
a. Nouns might seem to be singular in nature but take a plural form and always use a plural
verb:
Eg. 1. Her scissors were stolen.
2. The glasses have slipped down his nose again.
b. The word following the phrase one of the (as an object of the preposition of) will always
be plural.
E.g. 1. One of the reasons we do this is that it rains a lot in spring.
2. One of the students in this room is responsible.
 c. Sometimes collective nouns take plural verb, when the individuals (members) of the
group or collections are thought of :
E.g. 1. The government have issued a special order.
2. The committee have prepared a project.
d. If two or more adjectives precede a singular noun, the group is considered plural. And so
it takes a plural verb.
Eg. 1. The social and educational development are planned by the Government.
2. The professional and financial stratus are very high.

e. The phrase ‘a number of’ is treated as a plural subject and so it takes a plural verb.
Eg. 1. A numbr of graduates are jobless.
2. There are a number of auto rickshaws in our town.
f. On the other hand, some words ending in -s refer to a single thing but are nonetheless
plural and require a plural verb.
Eg. 1. My assets were wiped out in the depression.
2. The average worker's earnings have gone up dramatically.
Exercises
1. Select one answer from the choices provided after each sentence:

1. Those plants ______ unusual. (is, are)

2. Akshaya ________ a good manager. (are, is)
3. Some camels ______ two humps. (has, have)
4. The weather ________ fine yesterday. (is, was)
5. My neighbour ________ porridge for breakfast. (make, makes)
6. She _________ the floor every morning. (sweep, sweeps)
7. Varun _____ the piano beautifully. (play, plays)
8. We always _________ watermelons at the supermarket. (buy, buys)
9. Dad _________ the car once a week. (wash, washes)
10. Many tourist ________ the food in France. (enjoy, enjoys)
11. They_______ good service to the customers. (give, gives)
12. The fisherman ________ out to sea every day. (go, goes)
13. Either the physicians in this hospital or the chief administrator ____ going to have to
make a decision. (is, are)
14. Some of the votes __________ to have been miscounted. (seem, seems)
15. He seems to forget that there __________ things to be done before he can graduate. (is,
are)
 16. There _______ to be some people left in that town after yesterday's flood. (has, have)
17. Some of the grain __________ to be contaminated. (appear, appears)
18. The use of vitamin supplements and herbs __________ becoming increasingly popular
among Americans. (is, are)
19. Eating 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily ___________ said to provide all the
essential vitamins we require. (is, are)
20. A daily diet that _________ all kinds of vitamins should supply all the nutrients a person
needs. (contains, contain)

2. Pick out the correct words to complete the sentences:

1. We want to Take takes part in the concert.

2. The women’s club a hold holds meeting every fortnight.

3. Salt and pepper are is important ingredients in cooking.

4. The president and the ministers just has have entered the hall.

5. You very write writes interesting short stories.

6. The people was were silent when the judge spoke.

7. Hundreds of sheep on the Are grazing Is grazing hillsides.

8. The water level in the river often to a rise rises dangerous point.

9. Farmers in the Philippines rice cultivate cultivates on terraced mountainsides.

10. The teenagers are is busy pitching tents at the campsite.

3. Some verbs are missing from the passage below. Rewrite the passage and complete the
sentences with some of the verbs in the box.

carry carries like picks has have is pick are put work works

Green Tea Grove a small town. It a large tea plantation. The cool climate here suitable
for tea-growing. Many people in the town as tea pickers. They pick the young tea leaves and
them in baskets. They these baskets of tea leaves to the factory for processing. From there, it
sent to different places across the country. People the tea grown in this plantation.
4. Choose the correct sentences:

1. a. Each of these machines are 1. b. Each of these machines is

expensive.
2. a. The Secretary and Principal have
convened a meeting.
3. a. He is taller than me.
4. a. Every boy and girl brings credit
to the University.
5. a. Both women have not come.
6. a. He are elder than me.
7. a. Neither Raman nor Gopalan is
honest.
8. a. Indira Gandhi and Reagan are
great political leaders.
9. a. The Principal and the lecturers
has done it.
10. a. Bread and milk is his only food.
expensive.
2. b. The Secretary and Principal has
convened a meeting.
3. b. He be taller than me.
4. b. Every boy and girl brings credit
to the University.
5. b. Both women has not come.
6. b. He is elder than me.
7. b. Neither Raman nor Gopalan are
honest.
8. b. Indira Gandhi and Reagan is
great political leaders.
9. b. The Principal and the lecturers
have done it.
10. b. Bread and milk are his only food.

AGREEMENT OF VERB WITH THE SUBJECT

II. NEGATIVE STATEMENTS
A negative statement is a sentence which contains a word such as ‘not’, ‘no’, ‘never’, or
‘nothing’.
The base form of a verb in the simplest form, without any letters added to the end. It is similar to
the plural form of the verb in the present tense.
Examples : base form singular past tense
walk walks walked
brush brushes brushed
have has had
eat eats ate
1. We form the negative of most verbs by adding doesn’t or don’t before them.
a) For a singular subject, we add doesn’t and change the verb to its base form.
Examples :
My brother likes sweets. My brother doesn’t like sweets.
She washes our clothes. He doesn’t wash our clothes.
b) For a plural subject, and the singular pronouns, I and you, we add don’t :
Examples :
I have many toys. I don’t have many toys.
You sing very well. You don’t sing very well.
 2. We form the negative of the verb ‘to be’ by changing it to ‘isn’t’ or ‘aren’t’. Isn’t is the
contracted form of is not and aren’t is the contracted form of are not.
a) For a singular subject, we change the verb to isn’t :
Examples :
Somu is here Somu isn’t here.
It is raining. It isn’t raining.
b) For a plural subject and the singular pronoun you, we change the verb to aren’t :

Examples :

The children are here. The children aren’t here.

You are my best friend. You aren’t my best friend.

3. For the singular pronoun I, we form the negative of the verb ‘to be’ as am not. Ain’t
should not be used as a contracted form of am not.

Examples :

I am afraid of the dark. I am not afraid of the dark.

I am a member of the club. I am not a member of the club.
Exercises
1. Complete the following sentences with the negative forms of the underlined words:
1. He owns a piano.
2. We exercise in the morning.
3. We live in the nearby town.
4. The village has a cinema.
5. We see many tourists in our area.
6. Mrs. Gupta is at home.
7. Lily has an aquarium at home.
8. I am going today to the fair held in our city.
9. Our neighbour like to discuss their problems with us.
10. She is the best actress in the movie.

2. Underline he sentences that are wrong and rewrite them correctly :

Every day Lalitha makes sure she isn’t oversleep. She aren’t want to be late for work. In
the office she not waste time. She often works overtime. Lalitha’s colleagues isn’t as
hardworking as she is. Most of them doesn’t think she is doing the right thing. They feel she not
know how to enjoy life. Lalitha’s parents also want her to slow down. They think it aren’t wise
of her to work such long hours. However, Lalitha aren’t willing to change her ways.

PREPOSITION
A preposition indicates a relation between things mentioned in a sentence. It is a word placed
before a noun or pronoun in a sentence. A preposition links nouns, pronouns and phrases to
other words in a sentence. The word or phrase that the preposition introduces is called the object
of the preposition.
Preposition can also be defined as a word or group of words that show the relationship between
things in time and space. Prepositions are used with nouns, pronouns, or infinitive verb forms.
The book is on the table.
The book is beneath the table.
The book is leaning against the table.
The book is beside the table.
She held the book over the table.
She read the book during class.
In each of the preceding sentences, a preposition locates the noun "book" in space or in time.
There are a number of prepositions in English. The most common prepositions are "about,"
"above," "across," "after," "against," "along," "among," "around," "at," "before," "behind,"
"below," "beneath," "beside," "between," "beyond," "but," "by," "despite," "down," "during,"
"except," "for," "from," "in," "inside," "into," "like," "near," "of," "off," "on," "onto," "out,"
"outside," "over," "past," "since," "through," "throughout," "till," "to," "toward," "under,"
"underneath," "until," "up," "upon," "with," "within," and "without."
Functions of Prepositions :
(a) A preposition relates a noun to another noun or a pronoun.
E.g. 1. The man on the horse is my uncle.
(preposition ‘on’ shows the relation of ‘man’ to ‘horse’ (noun).
2. There is no information about him.
(preposition ‘about’ relates ‘information’ to ‘him’ (pronoun)
(b) A preposition relates a noun to a verb.
E.g. He studied in London.
(preposition ‘in’ relates ‘London’ to ‘studied’ (verb)
List of Time Prepositions
after around
before between
by during
for past
since until
within since
 until within

List of Place Prepositions

aboard above
across against
around at
at the back of at the bottom of
at the top of between
behind below
by in
inside on the corner of
in the middle of near
next to to the left of
to the right of on
on the side of on top of
on the other side of opposite
outside under
underneath

List of Direction Prepositions

left over
right under

Single words
aboard about
above across
after against
along alongside
amid amidst
among amongst
around as
aside astride
at athwart
atop barring
before behind
below beneath
beside besides
between beyond
by circa
concerning despite
 down during
except failing
following for
from given
in inside
into like
mid (from "amid". Usually minus
used poetically.)
near next
notwithstanding (also used of
post positionally)
off on
onto opposite
out outside
over pace
plus regarding
past per
round save
since than
through throughout
till times
towards under
underneath unlike
until up
upon versus
via with
within without
worth

Two words
according to ahead of
as regards aside from
because of close to
due to except for
far from in to (contracted as into)
inside of (note that inside out instead of
is an adjective, not a preposition)
near to next to
on to (contracted as onto) out from
out of outside of
owing to prior to
pursuant to regardless of
regardless of subsequent to
that of
Three words
as far as as well as
by means of in accordance with
in addition to in case of
in front of in lieu of
in place of in spite of
on account of on behalf of
on top of with regard to
with respect to

1. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions. Choose them from the given list :
(under, of, without, across, along, beside, throughout, till, for, about)

1. The children climbed the mountain _________ fear.

2. There was rejoicing __________ the land when the government was defeated.
3. The spider crawled slowly ________ the banister.
4. The cat is hiding _________ the porch because it knows it
5. The dog will be punished ___________ chewing up the clothes.
6. My brother is proud of his new pair ___________ shoes.
7. There is a bridge __________ the river.
8. She is always talking ___________ cinema.
9. Wait here __________ his arrival.
10. He travelled in a car sitting ___________ the driver.

2. Fill in the blanks by inserting the correct prepositions :

1. He made his escape by jumping ______ a window and jumping ______ a waiting car. (
into / out of )
2. To get to the Marketing department, you have to go ______ those stairs and then ______
the corridor to the end. ( along / up )
3. I saw something _____________ it ______ television. ( On / about )
4. I couldn't get in ______ the door so I had to climb ______ a window. ( through / in )
5. She took the key ______ her pocket and put it ________ the lock. ( in out / of )
6. He drove ______ me without stopping and drove off ______ the centre of town. (
towards / past )
7. He took the old card ______ the computer and put ______ the new one. ( out of / in )
8. I went ______ him and asked him the best way to get ______ town. ( out of / up to )
9. It's unlucky to walk ______ a ladder in my culture. I always walk ______ them. (around /
under )
10. The restaurant is ______ the High Street, ______ the cinema. ( in / next to )
11. Sally left school ______ the age of 16 and went to work ______ a bank.(in / at)
12. He jumped ______ the wall and ______ the garden. ( into / over )
13. He was driving ______ 180 miles per hour when he crashed ______ the central barrier. (
at / into )
14. She ran ______ the corridor and ______ the stairs to the second floor.( up / along)
15. Aashish is the person standing ______ the window, ______ the woman with the long
blonde hair. ( beside / next to )
16. When the bull ran ______ me, I jumped ______ the fence. ( over / towards )
17. Look, that car's ______ fire and people are running ______ it. ( towards / on )
18. He saw a parking space ______ two cars and drove ______ it.( between / into)
19. Hari comes to work ______ car but I prefer to come ______ foot. ( on / by )
20. He took the book ______ the shelf and put it ______ his bag. ( from / into )