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Free SSC English lesson

SSC English Tenses

Locate the time. Choose the right verb group.

A verb group shows more than a date. It can present an event as a routine, an activity in progress or something connected with another time. Use the context and the stated instruction instead of matching a tense to one signal word automatically.

Foundation to intermediate12 original questions20–25 minutes suggested study time

Learn the methodGo to practice

Build the skill

What you will learn

  • Distinguish common simple, continuous and perfect uses.
  • Use finished past time and present connections accurately.
  • Build verb groups and questions with the correct auxiliary and main-verb form.

Locate the reference time

Is the sentence about now, a finished past time or another stated point?

Identify the viewpoint

Is the event a routine, an activity in progress or a prior event linked to that time?

Read the instruction

Some exercises explicitly request a particular tense or aspect to remove other possible readings.

Check the full verb group

Confirm agreement, auxiliary order and the base form, -ing form or participle.

Understand before you answer

The rules and clues to remember

Simple and continuous describe different viewpoints

Present simple commonly describes a current routine. Present continuous commonly presents an activity in progress around now. Context can support other uses, so neither form belongs to only one signal word.

RoutineThe attendant checks the doors each evening.
In progressThe attendant is checking the doors now.

Remember: An expression such as every day does not by itself prove the event is a current routine.

Past simple and present perfect are not interchangeable in every context

Past simple commonly locates a completed event in a finished past period. Present perfect uses have or has plus a past participle to connect a past action or state with the present.

Finished timeWe replaced the lock yesterday.
Present connectionWe have replaced the lock, so the room is secure now.

Remember: A past-simple sentence can also describe an event with a present consequence; follow the wording and any explicit tense instruction.

Past perfect looks back from a past point

Past perfect uses had plus a past participle. It can make an event’s completion before another past event explicit. It is not needed merely because an event happened long ago.

Earlier completionWhen we reached the workshop, the mechanic had finished the repair.

Remember: Check which event happened first and what the question asks you to make explicit.

Continuous and perfect can work together

Present perfect continuous uses have or has been plus an -ing form. It can emphasise activity continuing up to now. Present perfect simple may also be possible in some contexts, with a different focus.

ActivityShe has been practising for an hour and is still at the piano.

Remember: These questions name the required aspect when more than one viewpoint could be reasonable.

Check auxiliary patterns

A present-simple future time clause often follows when after a future main clause. A past-simple question with did uses a base main verb.

Future time clauseWe will send a message when we arrive.
Past questionDid you save the file?

Remember: Do not put a second past-tense form after did.

See the reasoning

Two worked examples

Example 1

Choose the past-simple form for a completed event yesterday: The assistant ___ the receipt yesterday. Options: printed / has printed / is printing / will print.

Answerprinted

Printed is past simple and fits the finished past time. Has printed is present perfect; is printing is present continuous; will print presents a future event rather than the stated completed one.

Example 2

Use past perfect to make earlier completion explicit: When the guests arrived, we ___ the tables. Options: had arranged / have arranged / are arranging / will arrange.

Answerhad arranged

Had arranged places the completed arrangement before the guests’ past arrival. Have arranged is present perfect, are arranging is present continuous, and will arrange is future. None gives the requested past-perfect form.

Try it yourself

12 questions, with every choice explained

Read each context and any requested tense or aspect carefully. Several verb forms may be grammatical in different situations; choose the one that meets this particular instruction. This lesson covers common patterns, not every tense or use.

Write down A, B, C or D before opening each answer. Work at your own pace. These exercises use no exam timer or negative marking.

Question 1 · Present simple

Choose present simple for a current routine: Arun ___ the shutters at sunrise.

  1. A.has opened
  2. B.is opening
  3. C.opens
  4. D.was opening
Show answer and explanations for question 1

Answer C: opens

Completed textArun opens the shutters at sunrise.
  1. Not correct. Has opened is present perfect, not present simple.
  2. Not correct. Is opening is present continuous rather than the requested simple form.
  3. Correct. Opens is present simple with singular Arun and fits the requested routine.
  4. Not correct. Was opening is past continuous and does not describe the requested current routine.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 2 · Present continuous

Choose present continuous for an action in progress now: Look! A dog ___ across the field.

  1. A.runs
  2. B.is running
  3. C.has run
  4. D.had run
Show answer and explanations for question 2

Answer B: is running

Completed textLook! A dog is running across the field.
  1. Not correct. Runs is present simple; it does not meet the explicit continuous instruction.
  2. Correct. Is running is present continuous and presents the activity as in progress.
  3. Not correct. Has run is present perfect, not present continuous.
  4. Not correct. Had run is past perfect and does not meet the requested viewpoint.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 3 · Finished past event

Describe a completed event yesterday: The courier ___ the last bus yesterday.

  1. A.will miss
  2. B.has missed
  3. C.is missing
  4. D.missed
Show answer and explanations for question 3

Answer D: missed

Completed textThe courier missed the last bus yesterday.
  1. Not correct. Will miss presents a future event, not the completed event yesterday.
  2. Not correct. Has missed is present perfect and does not fit the finished-time construction with yesterday here.
  3. Not correct. Is missing is present continuous and does not describe the stated completed past event.
  4. Correct. Missed is simple past and fits the finished time yesterday.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 4 · Past continuous

Use past continuous for an action in progress at that time: At eight last night, I ___ dinner.

  1. A.was preparing
  2. B.prepared
  3. C.had prepared
  4. D.have prepared
Show answer and explanations for question 4

Answer A: was preparing

Completed textAt eight last night, I was preparing dinner.
  1. Correct. Was preparing is past continuous and supplies the requested in-progress viewpoint.
  2. Not correct. Prepared is simple past, not the requested continuous form.
  3. Not correct. Had prepared is past perfect and presents earlier completion rather than the requested ongoing activity.
  4. Not correct. Have prepared is present perfect, not past continuous.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 5 · Present perfect

Use present perfect to connect a completed event with now: Priya ___ her key, so she cannot open the door.

  1. A.lost
  2. B.has lost
  3. C.was losing
  4. D.will lose
Show answer and explanations for question 5

Answer B: has lost

Completed textPriya has lost her key, so she cannot open the door.
  1. Not correct. Lost can work in another natural report of this event, but it is simple past and does not meet the explicit instruction.
  2. Correct. Has lost is present perfect and connects the loss with the current inability to enter.
  3. Not correct. Was losing is past continuous, not the requested present perfect.
  4. Not correct. Will lose predicts a future loss instead of giving the completed event explaining the present difficulty.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 6 · Continuing state

We ___ this technician since June and still know her well.

  1. A.are knowing
  2. B.know
  3. C.knew
  4. D.have known
Show answer and explanations for question 6

Answer D: have known

Completed textWe have known this technician since June and still know her well.
  1. Not correct. Are knowing is not the ordinary form for this continuing state of acquaintance.
  2. Not correct. Know alone does not fit the since-June continuing-state construction in standard written English here.
  3. Not correct. Knew describes a past state rather than the state explicitly continuing to now.
  4. Correct. Have known uses present perfect for the state extending from June to now.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 7 · Past perfect

Use past perfect to make earlier completion explicit: By the time the message arrived, the train ___ the station.

  1. A.had left
  2. B.has left
  3. C.leaves
  4. D.was leaving
Show answer and explanations for question 7

Answer A: had left

Completed textBy the time the message arrived, the train had left the station.
  1. Correct. Had left is past perfect and makes departure before the past arrival of the message explicit.
  2. Not correct. Has left is present perfect rather than the requested past perfect.
  3. Not correct. Leaves is present simple and does not meet the tense instruction.
  4. Not correct. Was leaving is past continuous and does not state the requested earlier completion.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 8 · Negative past perfect

Use negative past perfect: When we visited the shop, it ___ yet; the shutter was still closed.

  1. A.is not opening
  2. B.has not opened
  3. C.had not opened
  4. D.will not open
Show answer and explanations for question 8

Answer C: had not opened

Completed textWhen we visited the shop, it had not opened yet; the shutter was still closed.
  1. Not correct. Is not opening is present continuous and does not meet the instruction.
  2. Not correct. Has not opened is present perfect, not the requested past perfect.
  3. Correct. Had not opened is negative past perfect and places the non-completion before that past visit.
  4. Not correct. Will not open concerns a future event or refusal, not the requested earlier past situation.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 9 · Present perfect continuous

Choose present perfect continuous: The team ___ the mural for two hours and is still at work.

  1. A.was painting
  2. B.has painted
  3. C.is painting
  4. D.has been painting
Show answer and explanations for question 9

Answer D: has been painting

Completed textThe team has been painting the mural for two hours and is still at work.
  1. Not correct. Was painting is past continuous and does not meet the requested form.
  2. Not correct. Has painted is present perfect simple; it does not meet the explicit continuous instruction.
  3. Not correct. Is painting is present continuous, not present perfect continuous.
  4. Correct. Has been painting is present perfect continuous and emphasises the continuing activity.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 10 · Promise with will

Use will + base verb to express a promise: I ___ the file this evening.

  1. A.will send
  2. B.sent
  3. C.have sent
  4. D.was sending
Show answer and explanations for question 10

Answer A: will send

Completed textI will send the file this evening.
  1. Correct. Will send uses the requested will-plus-base pattern to express the promise.
  2. Not correct. Sent is simple past and does not express the requested promise.
  3. Not correct. Have sent is present perfect, not the requested will construction.
  4. Not correct. Was sending is past continuous, not the promised future action.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 11 · Future time clause

Complete the future time clause using present simple: We will phone you when we ___ the hotel.

  1. A.have reach
  2. B.will reach
  3. C.reach
  4. D.are reach
Show answer and explanations for question 11

Answer C: reach

Completed textWe will phone you when we reach the hotel.
  1. Not correct. Have reach is not a correct perfect construction; it would require a participle.
  2. Not correct. Will reach does not meet the instruction to use present simple in the time clause.
  3. Correct. Reach is present simple in this future time clause after when.
  4. Not correct. Are reach is not a correct verb group.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 12 · Past-simple question

Choose the correct auxiliary and main-verb forms: ___ you ___ the back door before leaving yesterday?

  1. A.Did … locked
  2. B.Did … lock
  3. C.Do … locked
  4. D.Have … lock
Show answer and explanations for question 12

Answer B: Did … lock

Completed textDid you lock the back door before leaving yesterday?
  1. Not correct. Locked wrongly marks the main verb as past after did.
  2. Correct. Did takes base form lock to build the past-simple question.
  3. Not correct. Do is not the required past auxiliary and cannot be followed by locked in this question.
  4. Not correct. Have would need the participle locked for a perfect question, not lock.
Review the method ↑Review your learning ↓

Make the learning stick

Review what changed your answer

  1. Label both the reference time and the requested aspect.
  2. For a rejected form, explain whether it fails the grammar or merely answers a different tense instruction.
  3. Write two versions of one event and explain how the viewpoint changes.

Keep a simple note: question number → your reason → the correct rule or evidence → one new example. A mistake is useful when you can explain the correction.

SSC English hub →SSC English Subject–Verb Agreement →SSC English Prepositions →Active and passive voice →

Original ESS learning material. Not official SSC questions or a previous-year paper. ESS is independent of SSC. These are untimed skill lessons, not full exam simulations.

References and exam scope

Scope: CGL 2026 Tier-II, Paper-I, Section-II; CHSL 2026 Tier-I and Tier-II English. These are topic lessons, not complete mocks. These topics are included in the linked SSC examination notices. The lesson wording, examples, passages and questions are original ESS teaching material. Check your exam’s current notice and subsequent corrections for its full syllabus, scoring and timing.

Sources reviewed: 3 November 2026. Study-time estimates are suggestions, not official exam limits.