SF Prep
02 General English — Common Notes 🕒 Updated 2026-10-16
Common Notes SSC CGL · CHSL · Police · Bank · Railway Chapter 02

⏳ Tenses

3 times × 4 forms = 12 tenses. Structure, time markers, conditionals and sequence of tenses — the biggest source of error-spotting questions.

📌 1. Structure of the 12 Tenses

TensePresentPastFuture
SimpleV1 / V1+sV2will + V1
Continuousis/am/are + V-ingwas/were + V-ingwill be + V-ing
Perfecthas/have + V3had + V3will have + V3
Perfect Continuoushas/have been + V-ing + since/forhad been + V-ingwill have been + V-ing
💡 Memory Tip: Look for the time marker: yesterday/ago/last → past simple; already/just/yet/ever/never → present perfect; since/for up to now → present perfect continuous; tomorrow/next → future.

📌 2. Rules of the Present Tenses

  • Simple present: habits, universal truths, timetables — The sun rises in the east. The train leaves at 6.
  • Stative verbs are not used in continuous forms: know, believe, love, hate, want, see, hear, own, belong, contain, seem — I know him (not am knowing).
  • Present perfect never takes a definite past time (yesterday, last year, in 2010): I saw him yesterday (not have seen).
  • Since = point of time (since Monday, since 2015); for = period (for two hours).

📌 3. Rules of the Past and Future

  • Of two past actions, the earlier one takes the past perfect: The train had left before I reached.
  • No sooner had … than, Hardly/Scarcely had … when: No sooner had he arrived than it began to rain.
  • In time/condition clauses (when, if, before, after, until, as soon as, unless) use the simple present for future: I will call you when he comes (not will come).
  • It is time / It is high time + past simple: It is high time we left.

📌 4. Conditionals and Sequence of Tenses

TypeStructureExample
ZeroIf + present, presentIf you heat ice, it melts.
FirstIf + present, will + V1If it rains, I will stay home.
SecondIf + past (were), would + V1If I were rich, I would travel.
ThirdIf + had + V3, would have + V3If he had worked hard, he would have passed.
  • If the main clause is past, the subordinate clause is also past: He said that he was ill.
  • Exception: universal truths stay present: The teacher said that the earth revolves round the sun.
⚠️ Exam Traps:
  • "If I was you" ❌ → "If I were you" ✅ (imaginary condition).
  • "If he would have come" ❌ → "If he had come" ✅.
  • "I am living here since 2010" ❌ → "I have been living here since 2010" ✅.

📌 5. Practice MCQs

📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. Choose the correct option: The sun ______ in the east. Practice
(A) rises
(B) rose
(C) is rising
(D) has risen
Correct answer: (A) rises
Explanation: Universal truths take the simple present.
Q2. Choose the correct option: I ______ him yesterday at the station. Practice
(A) have seen
(B) had seen
(C) saw
(D) have been seeing
Correct answer: (C) saw
Explanation: 'Yesterday' is a definite past time, which cannot go with present perfect — past simple 'saw'.
Q3. Choose the correct option: She ______ in Delhi since 2015. Practice
(A) is living
(B) has been living
(C) lives
(D) was living
Correct answer: (B) has been living
Explanation: Since + point of time with the action continuing now — present perfect continuous.
Q4. Choose the correct option: When I reached the station, the train ______. Practice
(A) left
(B) has left
(C) had left
(D) was leaving
Correct answer: (C) had left
Explanation: Of two past actions, the earlier one (train leaving) takes past perfect.
Q5. Choose the correct option: I ______ the answer now. Practice
(A) am knowing
(B) have been knowing
(C) was knowing
(D) know
Correct answer: (D) know
Explanation: 'Know' is a stative verb — not used in the continuous.
Q6. Choose the correct option: I will wait here until you ______. Practice
(A) return
(B) will return
(C) returned
(D) would return
Correct answer: (A) return
Explanation: A time clause (until) uses the simple present for future reference.
Q7. Choose the correct option: If I ______ you, I would accept the offer. Practice
(A) was
(B) am
(C) were
(D) had been
Correct answer: (C) were
Explanation: An imaginary present condition (second conditional) uses 'were' with all subjects.
Q8. Choose the correct option: If he had studied, he ______. Practice
(A) would have passed
(B) would pass
(C) will pass
(D) had passed
Correct answer: (A) would have passed
Explanation: Third conditional: If + had + V3, would have + V3.
Q9. Choose the correct option: No sooner had the bell rung ______ the students rushed out. Practice
(A) when
(B) then
(C) that
(D) than
Correct answer: (D) than
Explanation: 'No sooner' is paired with 'than'.
Q10. Choose the correct option: Hardly had I entered the room ______ the lights went off. Practice
(A) than
(B) when
(C) then
(D) as
Correct answer: (B) when
Explanation: 'Hardly/Scarcely' is paired with 'when'.
Q11. Choose the correct option: It is high time we ______ our homework. Practice
(A) finish
(B) have finished
(C) will finish
(D) finished
Correct answer: (D) finished
Explanation: 'It is high time' is followed by the past simple.
Q12. Choose the correct option: The teacher said that the earth ______ round the sun. Practice
(A) revolved
(B) revolves
(C) had revolved
(D) was revolving
Correct answer: (B) revolves
Explanation: A universal truth stays in the present even in reported speech.
Q13. Identify the error: I am working in this company for five years. Practice
(A) I
(B) in this company
(C) am working
(D) for five years
Correct answer: (C) am working
Explanation: For + period continuing to now → 'have been working'.
Q14. Choose the correct option: By next March, she ______ her degree. Practice
(A) will have completed
(B) will complete
(C) completes
(D) has completed
Correct answer: (A) will have completed
Explanation: 'By + future time' — completed before then → future perfect.
Q15. Choose the correct option: Look! The baby ______. Practice
(A) sleeps
(B) is sleeping
(C) slept
(D) has slept
Correct answer: (B) is sleeping
Explanation: 'Look!' points to an action happening now — present continuous.
Q16. Choose the correct option: The train ______ at 6:30 tomorrow morning as per the timetable. Practice
(A) left
(B) has left
(C) had left
(D) leaves
Correct answer: (D) leaves
Explanation: A fixed timetable uses the simple present even for the future.
Q17. Choose the correct option: They ______ football when it started raining. Practice
(A) were playing
(B) played
(C) have played
(D) had been played
Correct answer: (A) were playing
Explanation: A longer past action interrupted by another — past continuous.
Q18. Identify the error: If he would have come, I would have met him. Practice
(A) I
(B) would have
(C) If he would have come
(D) met him
Correct answer: (C) If he would have come
Explanation: The if-clause of a third conditional takes 'had come', not 'would have come'.
Q19. Choose the correct option: He ______ already ______ his lunch. Practice
(A) is, eating
(B) has, eaten
(C) was, eat
(D) have, ate
Correct answer: (B) has, eaten
Explanation: 'Already' marks the present perfect; 'He' takes has + V3.
Q20. Choose the correct option: By the time the police arrived, the thieves ______. Practice
(A) escaped
(B) have escaped
(C) had escaped
(D) were escaping
Correct answer: (C) had escaped
Explanation: The thieves escaped before the police arrived — earlier past action in past perfect.

📝 Practice questions

General English — Practice MCQs Ch 2: Tenses
📝 Test this chapter Practice questions

Practice MCQs prepared by SF Prep (not PYQs). Rules checked against standard grammar references.