English Grammar: Tenses: Class 9 CBSE Notes

What is Tense?

Tenses are verb forms that show the time (past, present, future) and the state of action (simple, continuous, perfect, or perfect continuous). Mastery of tenses is crucial for effective communication and writing.

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I. Present Tense Family

Tense	Structure	Key Usage Points	Example
Simple Present	V1 (base) or V1 + s/es	1. Habits/Routines. 2. Universal Facts. 3. Fixed Schedules (future).	The sun rises in the east. She practices daily.
Present Continuous	is / am / are + V1 + ing	1. Action happening right now. 2. Temporary actions (happening around now). 3. Planned future actions (personal arrangements).	I am studying for my test. They are building a new bridge.
Present Perfect	has / have + V3 (Past Participle)	1. Action completed recently with a present result. 2. Action started in the past and continues to now (with for or since).	He has lived here since 2010. I have seen that movie.
Present Perfect Continuous	has / have + been + V1 + ing	Action started in the past and is still ongoing, emphasizing the duration (with for or since).	It has been raining for three hours.

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II. Past Tense Family

Tense	Structure	Key Usage Points	Example
Simple Past	V2 (Past form)	1. Actions completed at a specific, stated past time (yesterday, last year). 2. A sequence of past actions.	We visited the museum last month.
Past Continuous	was / were + V1 + ing	1. Action that was ongoing at a specific time in the past. 2. A longer action interrupted by a shorter one (Simple Past).	I was cooking when the doorbell rang.
Past Perfect	had + V3	Used for the earlier of two completed actions in the past. (The "past of the past").	The train had left before I reached the station.
Past Perfect Continuous	had + been + V1 + ing	An action that continued for a period up to a specific past moment.	He had been walking for two hours before he sat down.

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III. Future Tense Family

Tense	Structure	Key Usage Points	Example
Simple Future	will / shall + V1	1. Predictions or sudden decisions. 2. Simple future actions.	It will rain tomorrow. I will meet him soon.
Future Continuous	will / shall + be + V1 + ing	Actions that will be ongoing at a specific time in the future.	This time next week, I will be traveling.
Future Perfect	will / shall + have + V3	An action that will be completed before a certain future time (often with by).	We will have finished the project by Sunday.
Future Perfect Continuous	will / shall + have + been + V1 + ing	Action that will have been ongoing for a duration up to a future point. (Less common).	By May, she will have been teaching here for ten years.

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IV. Common Errors & Key Distinctions

1. Simple Past vs. Present Perfect

• Simple Past needs a definite, finished time (e.g., yesterday, in 2020).
  Example: I ate dinner an hour ago.
• Present Perfect is used when the time is indefinite or when the action is related to the present.
  Example: I have eaten that dish many times.

2. Using 'Going to' for Future

The structure is / am / are + going to + V₁ is used for:

• Intentions/Plans: Actions already decided. (e.g., I am going to start my project tomorrow.)
• Evidence-based Prediction: (e.g., Look at those clouds! It is going to snow.)

3. Sequence of Tenses (Past Tense Rule)

If the Main Clause is in the Past Tense, the verb in the subordinate clause is usually in a Past Tense as well.

• Correct: He said (Past) that he was (Past) sick.
• Exception (Universal Truths): He said (Past) that the sun rises (Simple Present) in the east.

4. State Verbs

Verbs describing states, feelings, or perceptions (e.g., know, love, hate, believe, own) are generally not used in the Continuous Tense.

• Incorrect: I am knowing the answer.
• Correct: I know the answer.

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Tenses Practice Sheet (Class 9)

Choose the most appropriate tense form of the verb given in brackets to complete each sentence. (Total 20 Questions)

1. Water _______ (boil) at 100° Celsius.

• A. is boiling
• B. boils
• C. will boil

Correct Answer: B. boils (Simple Present)

2. Look! The baby _______ (sleep) soundly right now.

• A. sleeps
• B. slept
• C. is sleeping

Correct Answer: C. is sleeping (Present Continuous)

3. I _______ (read) that book already.

• A. read
• B. have read
• C. am reading

Correct Answer: B. have read (Present Perfect)

4. They _______ (live) here since 2015.

• A. lived
• B. have been living
• C. are living

Correct Answer: B. have been living (Present Perfect Continuous)

5. We _______ (go) to the cinema last night.

• A. went
• B. had gone
• C. have gone

Correct Answer: A. went (Simple Past)

6. I _______ (write) when the phone rang.

• A. wrote
• B. was writing
• C. had written

Correct Answer: B. was writing (Past Continuous)

7. He _______ (finish) his work before I arrived.

• A. finished
• B. had finished
• C. has finished

Correct Answer: B. had finished (Past Perfect)

8. I think it _______ (snow) tomorrow.

• A. is snowing
• B. will snow
• C. snowed

Correct Answer: B. will snow (Simple Future)

9. This time tomorrow, I _______ (fly) to London.

• A. will fly
• B. am flying
• C. will be flying

Correct Answer: C. will be flying (Future Continuous)

10. By 6 PM, she _______ (clean) the whole house.

• A. will clean
• B. will have cleaned
• C. cleans

Correct Answer: B. will have cleaned (Future Perfect)

11. The train _______ (leave) at 5 PM according to the schedule.

• A. is leaving
• B. left
• C. leaves

Correct Answer: C. leaves (Simple Present - Fixed Schedule)

12. We _______ (meet) the principal next Monday (It's a definite plan).

• A. will meet
• B. are meeting
• C. met

Correct Answer: B. are meeting (Present Continuous - Planned Future)

13. They _______ (talk) for hours before the argument started.

• A. had talked
• B. had been talking
• C. were talking

Correct Answer: B. had been talking (Past Perfect Continuous)

14. Where _______ you _______ (spend) your holidays last year?

• A. did you spend
• B. have you spent
• C. were you spending

Correct Answer: A. did you spend (Simple Past Question)

15. _______ you ever _______ (see) a ghost?

• A. Did you ever see
• B. Have you ever seen
• C. Will you ever see

Correct Answer: B. Have you ever seen (Present Perfect - Experience)

16. I _______ (know) his name for a long time.

• A. am knowing
• B. know
• C. have known

Correct Answer: B. know (Simple Present - State Verb)

17. Don't call me at 8. I _______ (have) dinner.

• A. will have
• B. will be having
• C. have

Correct Answer: B. will be having (Future Continuous)

18. While I _______ (study), my brother was watching TV.

• A. studied
• B. was studying
• C. had studied

Correct Answer: B. was studying (Past Continuous)

19. My father always _______ (read) the newspaper in the morning.

• A. reads
• B. is reading
• C. read

Correct Answer: A. reads (Simple Present - Routine)

20. When she came, the children already _______ (eat) dinner.

• A. ate
• B. have eaten
• C. had eaten

Correct Answer: C. had eaten (Past Perfect - earlier action)