time and tense Flashcards
(155 cards)
1
Q
1.Our Vedas and Upnishads (a)/ asked us to tread (b)/ the path of honesty. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CGL (main) 2010]
A
1.(b) General or universal truth is expressed in the present simple tense. Therefore, ‘asked us to tread’ should be ‘ask us to tread’.
2
Q
2.They are having (a)/ a birthday party at home (b)/ next week. (c)/ No error (d)
A
2.(a) Fixed plans are expressed in the present continuous tense. Time adverbials like, next week, months, etc., refer to a future time. Therefore, ‘They are having’ is correct and there is no error in the sentence.
3
Q
3.I sleep (a)/ rather late (b)/ last night. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CPO (Main) 2014]
A
3.(a) The past simple tense is used for an action which took place in the past. Time phrases like, last night, last week, etc., are used in the past simple. Hence, ‘I sleep’ should be ‘I slept’.
4
Q
4.Two years passed (a)/ since (b)/ my cousin died. (c)/ No error (d)
A
4.(d) The sentence is grammatically correct. Remember that the present perfect is often used with adverbs of duration such as: ‘since + clause and for + time’.
5
Q
5.I am hearing that (a)/ the meeting is (b)/ likely to be postponed. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC LDC 2005]
A
5.(a) Part (a) contains the error. The verb ‘hear’ is a state verb. Since ‘hear’ is a state verb, it cannot be used in the continuous tenses. ‘I am hearing that’ should be ‘I hear that’.
6
Q
6.He did not miss (a)/ a single lecture (b)/ till today. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Statistical Investigator 2008]
A
6.(a) The error lies in part (a) of the sentence. Remember that the present perfect tense refers to an activity which extends over a period of time. Adverbs of duration such as since and for are common with the present perfect. Therefore, ‘He did not miss’ should be ‘he has not missed’.
7
Q
7.This TV serial (a)/ is going on (b)/ for three years. (c)/ No error (d) [CDS 2010]
A
7.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘Is going on’ should be ‘has been going on’.
8
Q
8.By the time you arrive tomorrow (a)/ I have finished (b)/ my work. (c)/ No error (d)
A
8.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘I have finished’ should be ‘I shall have finished. The future perfect tense is used for a finished action in the future.
9
Q
9.When he was arriving (a)/ the party was (b)/ in full swing. (c)/ No error (d) [NDA 2009]
A
9.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘When he was arriving’ should be ‘when he arrived’. Part (a) of the sentence refers to a shorter action.
10
Q
10.The student flatly denied (a)/ that he had copied (b)/ in the examination hall. (c)/ No error (d) [NDA 2011]
A
10.(d) When we describe the sequence of actions in the past, the past perfect is used for the earlier action and the past simple is used for the subsequent action.
11
Q
11.Though we drove fast, the train left (a)/ before we could reach (b)/ the station. (c)/ No error (d) [NDA 2012]
A
11.(a) Part (a) of the sentence contains error. ‘The train left’ should be replaced with ‘the train had left’.
12
Q
12.I went to the house but (a)/ could not see him (b)/ because he went out before I arrived. (c)/ No error (d) [CDS 2009]
A
12.(c) Part (c) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. When we stress anearlier action, the past perfect is used. Therefore, ‘because he went out before I arrived’ should be ‘because he had gone out before I arrived’.
13
Q
13.He admits that (a)/ he is not following (b)/ the instructions. (c)/ No error (d) [CDS 2009]
A
13.(b) When ‘follow’ means understand, it should not be used in the continuous tenses.
14
Q
14.Life on boardship (a)/ was not as I expected (b)/ it to be. (c)/ No error (d) [CDS 2009]
A
14.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. ‘I expected’ should be ‘I had expected’. For a further explanation see explanatory note 9.
15
Q
15.The watch is a valuable present from my uncle (a)/ and it costed him (b)/ more than two thousand rupees. (c)/ No error (d) [CDS 2008]
A
15.(b) The error lies in part (b) of the sentence. Because the past form of ‘cost’ is ‘cost’, ‘and it costed him’ should be ‘and it cost him’.
16
Q
16.I saw him (a)/ a couple of times (b)/ since May. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Section Officer 2003]
A
16.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. Remember that the present perfect tense refers to an activity which extends over a period of time up to the present. Adverbs of times duration, such as ‘since’ and ‘for’, are common with the present perfect.
17
Q
17.I have passed (a) the examination (b)/ two years ago. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Section Officer 2006]
A
17.(b) The past simple tense is used with the time expression ‘ago’.
18
Q
18.The train had left (a)/ when he had reached (b)/ the station. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Section Officer 2008]
A
18.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. When we stress a subsequent action, the past simple tense is used. Therefore, ‘when he had reached’ should be ‘when he reached’.
19
Q
19.Gowri told me (a)/ his name after (b)/ he left. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CGL 2012]
A
19.(c) Part (c) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. When we stress an earlier action, the past perfect tense is used. Therefore, ‘he left’ should be ‘he had left’.
20
Q
20.He was suffering (a)/ from illness (b)/ when we visited him last year. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC FCI 2012]
A
20.(d) The sentence contains no error. Part (a) of the sentence refers to a longer background action and part (c) of the sentence refers to a short action in the past. The action in part (a) was in progress when the action in part (c) took place. Therefore, the sentence is grammatically correct.
21
Q
21.He ate (a)/ nothing (b)/ since yesterday. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Data Entry Operatior 2010]
A
21.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. Remember that the present perfect is often used with adverbs of duration, such as since and for. Therefore, ‘He ate’ should be ‘He has eaten’.
22
Q
22.Fifty years have passed (a)/ since (b)/ Subhash Chandra Bose has died. (c)/ No error (d) [Railways Mumbai 1996]
A
22.(c) Part (c) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. When we refer to an action which extends over a period of time up to now, the present perfect tense is often used with time adverbials such as since + past simple tense. Therefore, ‘Subhash Chandra Bose has died’ should be ‘Subhash Chandra Bose died’.
23
Q
23.Alka is suggesting (a)/ I should (b)/ write to him. (c)/ No error (d)
A
23.(a) Part (a) is grammatically incorrect. ‘Suggest’ is a performative verb. A performative verb is not used in the continuous tense. It is used in the present simple tense. Therefore, ‘Alka is suggesting’ should be ‘Alka suggests’.
24
Q
24.The Prime Minister is saying (a)/ that India will be (b)/ a developed country in a decade. (c)/ No error (d)
A
24.(b) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. When we quote statement, the present simple tense is used with the verb ‘say’. ‘The’ Prime Minister is saying’ should be ‘The Prime Minister says’.
25
25.You can't see Rohit. (a)/ He has a bath (b)/ now. (c)/ No error (d)
25.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. The present continuous is used for actions happening at the time of speaking. Typical time expressions now, at the moment or at present, etc., are used with the present continuous. Therefore, 'He has a bath' should be 'He is having a bath'.
26
26.I think (a)/ Ravi would pass (b)/ the examination. (c)/ No error (d)
26.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. Remember that the present simple tense is often used with I think, I hope, I expect, I know. Therefore, 'Ravi would pass' should be 'Ravi will pass'.
27
27.We are knowing (a)/ each other (b)/ for a long time. (c)/ No error (d)
27.(a) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. 'Know' is a stative verb. It cannot be used in the continuous tense. It is used in the simple tenses. Therefore, 'We are knowing' should be 'We know'.
28
28.I came into (a)/ the room when (b)/ Raman listened to the news. (c)/ No error (d)
28.(c) Part (c) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. The past continuous is a longer background action and the past simple tense is used for a shorter action that interrupted or happened in the middle of the past continuous action. Therefore, 'Raman listened to the news' should be 'Raman was listening to the news'.
29
29.She hurt her back (a)/ while she played (b)/ tennis yesterday. (c)/ No error (d)
29.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. The past continuous tense is used for a longer background action. Therefore, 'while she played' should be 'while she was playing'.
30
30.This time yesterday (a)/ I am watering (b)/ the flowers. (c)/ No error (d)
30.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. The past continuous tense is used to talk about an action that was going on at a particular time in the past. 'This time yesterday' refers to a particular time in the past. Therefore, 'I am watering' should be 'I was watering'.
31
31.When we visited her (a)/ she was ill (b)/ for two weeks. (c)/ No error (d)
31.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. The past perfect tense is used for a past state. Therefore, 'she was ill' should be 'she had been ill'.
32
32.I was walking to the market for minutes (a)/ when I realized that (b)/ I had left my wallet. (c)/ No error (d)
32.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. The past perfect continuous tense is used for an action in progress over a period of time in the past. Therefore, 'I was walking to the market for ten minutes' should be 'I had been walking to the market for ten minutes'.
33
33.I promise (a)/ I help you (b)/ whenever you call me. (c)/ No error (d)
33.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. 'I promise' is followed by the future simple tense. Therefore, 'I help you' should be 'I shall help you'.
34
34.When are you (a)/ starting to buy (b)/ a new car. (c)/ No error (d)
34.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. 'Be going to'expresses intentions or likelihood. Therefore, 'staring to buy' should be 'going to buy'.
35
35.By July next year (a)/ I shall be writing this book (b)/ for ten years. (c)/ No error (d)
35.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. 'For ten years' suggests that the sentence should be in the future perfect continuous tense. Therefore, 'I shall be writing this book' should be 'I shall have been writing this book'.
36
36.By the time she gets back home (a)/ I have done (b)/ the housework. (c)/ No error (d)
36.(b) The error lies in part (b) of the sentence. 'By the time she gets back home' provides a clue. 'I have done' should be 'I shall have done'.
37
37.My father is (a)/ sixty-year old (b)/ last Tuesday. (c)/ No error (d)
37.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. 'Last Tuesday' suggest a past situation. Therefore, 'My father is' should be 'My father was'.
38
38.The match began (a)/ before (b)/ they reached the stadium. (c)/ No error (d)
38.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. 'The match began' should be 'The match had begun'.
39
39.The Minister would speak (a)/ next Tuesday (b)/ on this issue. (c)/ No error (d)
39.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. 'The Minister would speak' should be 'The Minister will speak'.
40
40.The wind blew (a)/ and my hands (b)/ almost froze. (c)/ No error (d)
40.(d) The sentence contains no error.
41
41.Kalidas (a)/ has written (b)/ Meghaduttam. (c)/ No error (d)
41.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. 'Has written' should be 'wrote'.
42
42.Suboth is ill (a)/ for (b)/ three months. (c)/ No error (d)
42.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. 'Subodh is ill' should be 'Subodh has been ill'.
43
43.I am seeing (a)/ the man (b)/ outside the door. (c)/ No error (d)
43.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. 'I am seeing' should be 'I see'.
44
44.Vishal has watched (a)/ this movie (b)/ yesterday. (c)/ No error (d)
44.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. 'Vishal has watched' should be 'Vishal watched'.
45
45.I am liking (a)/ being (b)/ in Delhi. (c)/ No error (d)
45.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. 'I am liking' should be 'I like'.
46
46.I finish the book (a)/ before (b)/ my next birthday. (c)/ No error (d)
46.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. 'I finish the book' should be 'I will finish'
47
47.You (a)/ are not understanding (b)/ my difficulties. (c)/ No error (d)
47.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. 'Are not understanding' should be 'do not understand'.
48
48.Whatever he was today is only because (a)/ of his mother who (b)/ was a renowned scientist. (c)/ No error (d)
48.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. 'Whatever he was today is only because' should be' whatever he is today is only because'.
49
49.Three years ago (a)/ an earthquake had destroyed (b)/ their city. (c)/ No error (d)
49.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. 'An earthquake had destroyed 'should be 'an earthquake destroyed'.
50
50. Our customers are always visit (a)/ our branches to discuss their problems (b)/ with our staff. (c)/ No error (d)
50. (a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. 'Our customers are always visit' should be 'Our customers always visit'.
51
1.At this turn of the conversation Vikram blurted out (a)/ that he was not knowing me (b)/ when I used to live in the same town as he. (c)/ No error (d) [CDS 2009]
1.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. 'Know' is a stative verb. Therefore, it cannot be used in the continuous tenses. Therefore, 'that he was not knowing me' should be 'that he did not know me'.
52
2.Although they are living in the country (a)/ since they were married (b)/ they are now moving to the town. (c)/ No error (d) [NDA 2011]
2.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. The present perfect continuous tense is used for an action which started in the past and is still going on. Therefore, 'Although they are living in the country' should be 'Although they have been living in the country'.
53
3.She neither has visit (a)/ nor will visit (b)/ her family any time soon. (c)/ No error (d)
3.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect because the auxiliary verb 'has' is followed by the past participle form of a verb. Hence, 'she neither has visit' should be 'she neither has visited'.
54
4.The ruins of the spillway vital clue (a)/ to the epic struggle that unfold as generations of Khmer engineers (b)/ coped with a water system that grew complex and unruly. (c)/ No error (d) [SC CGL (PT) 2015]
4.(b) The error lies in part (b) of the sentence. Because part (b) forms part of past narration, 'Unfold' should be 'Unfolded'.
55
5.The lady was broken with grief (a)/ when she heard the sad news of the train disaster (b)/ in which her brother was killed. (c)/ No error (d) [NDA 2008]
5.(c) Part (c) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. 'In which her brother was killed'. The past perfect tense should have been used to emphasize the earlier action.
56
6.It is time (a)/ we should accept all our people as equals (b)/ and as partners in the task of building a strong and united nation. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CGL (PT) 2013]
6.(b) The error lies in part (b) of the sentence. 'It is time' is followed by a subject and by a past simple tense. It is time + subject + past time simple, expresses a present or future meaning. Therefore, 'We should accept' should be 'we accepted'.
57
7.When the plane landed (a)/ he found that (b)/ one of the wings is damaged (c)/ No error (d)
7.(c) The error lies in part (c) of the sentence. Past narration requires a verb in the past tense. Therefore, 'One of the wings is damaged' should be 'One of the wings was damaged'.
58
8.People who are not belonging to (a)/ any nationalist party (b)/ want to divide the country. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Stenographer 2005]
8.(a) The error lies in part (a) of the sentence. Because 'belong to' is a stative verb, it cannot be used in the continuous tenses. Therefore, 'people who are not belonging to' should be 'people who do not belong to'.
59
9.The boy laid in the shelter (a)/ for a long time before (b)/ somebody came to rescue him. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Section Officer 2008]
9.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. The past of 'lie' is 'lay', not 'laid'. Therefore, 'The boy laid in the shelter' should be 'The boy lay in the shelter'.
60
10.His assistants have (a)/ and are still doing excellent (b)/ work for the organisation. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CGL 2010]
10.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. Leaving out a main verb often renders a sentence incorrect. The auxiliary verb 'have' requires the past participle form of a verb. Part (b) provides a clue that 'do' is the main verb. Hence, 'His assistants have' should be 'His assistants have done'.
61
11.He had no right (a)/ to attend this meeting since he (b)/ has not been invited for the same. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CGL TIER-II 2010]
11.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. Because the sentence refers to a present state, part (a) should be in the present simple tense. Therefore, 'He had no right' should be 'He has no right'.
62
12.Ramesh smiled when he was remembering (a)/ his hard early years (b)/ and his long road to success. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CGL 2010]
12.(a) The error lies in part (a) of the sentence. Remember is a stative verb and cannot be used in the continuous tenses. It is used in the simple tenses.Therefore, 'he was remembering' should be 'he remembered'.
63
13.Pooja went to her friend's house at the appointed hour; but (a)/ she was told (b)/ that her friend left half an hour earlier. (c)/ No error (d) [NDA 2010]
13.(c) The error lies in part (c) of the sentence. When we stress an earlier action, the past perfect is used. Therefore, 'her friend left' should be 'her friend had left'.
64
14.The story was (a)/ about how an intelligent man had saving (b)/ himself from being robbed. (c)/ No error (d)
14.(b) The error lies in part (b) of the sentence. The auxiliary verb 'had' should be followed by the past participle form of a verb. Therefore, 'had saving' should be 'had saved'.
65
15.A public safety advertising campaign in Russia (a)/ hope to draw attention (b)/ of pedestrians crossing the road. (c)/ No error (d)
15.(b) The error lies in part (b) of the sentence. A third person singular subject requires a singular verb. Therefore, 'hope' should be 'hopes'.
66
16.It was not easy for Late Raja Ram Mohan Roy to root out the custom of sati (a)/ because a majority of (b)/ the educated class does not support him. (c)/ No error (d)
16.(c) Part (c) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. The past simple is used for past narration. 'Does not support him' should be 'Did not support him'.
67
17.A major computer security firm urged (a)/ the social networking site to set up (b)/ an early warning system after hundreds of users were hit by a new wave of virus attacks. (c)/ No error (d)
17.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. 'A major computer security firm has urged' will make the sentence meaningful because the present perfect is used for the present effect of something which happened in the past.
68
18.Plagued by huge losses (a)/ full service airlines are struggling to cope with the competition (b)/ from low cost airlines. (c)/ No error (d)
18.(d) The sentence contains no error. The present continuous is used for an action going on at or around the time of speaking.
69
19.Even though the exchange attract (a)/ attention of all those present at the police station (b)/ the inspector continued his tirade against the girl. (c)/ No error (d)
19.(a) The error lies in part (a) of the sentence. 'Attract' should be' attracted' because the past simple tense is used for past narration.
70
20.The market continues to be positive (a)/ and in the next quarter we expected it to continue (b)/ with the onset of the festive season. (c)/ No error (d)
20.(b) The error lies in part (b) of the sentence. 'Expected' should be 'expect' because the reference is to present.
71
21.The celebrations continued through the evening as more (a)/ and more friends joins (b)/ in the fun and frolic. (c)/ No error (d)
21.(b) The error lies in part (b) of the sentence. 'Joins' should be 'joined' because the reference is to a past time.
72
22.The government is made it mandatory for pharmacies to send (a)/ copies of medical bills along with (b)/ prescriptions of drugs and details of patients. (c)/ No error (d)
22.(a) The error lies in part (a) of the sentence. Present perfect tense is used for the present result of past action. 'Is made' should be 'has made'.
73
23.It has taking almost a year for Indian (a)/ to let its pessimism (b)/ translate into fewer jobs. (c)/ No error (d)
23.(a) The error lies in part (a) of the sentence. The present perfect tense is used for the present result of a past action. 'It is taking' should be 'It has taken'.
74
24.Just as in a family, (a)/ it is the willing cooperation of its members (b)/ that brought happiness and contentment, so it is in the larger family of the nation. (c)/ No error (d)
24.(c) The error lies in part (c) of the sentence. 'brought' should be 'brings'.
75
25.We are good friends, (a)/ we have been knowing each other (b)/ for a long time. (c)/ No error (d)
25.(b) The error lies in part (b) of the sentence. A stative verb is not used in the continuous tenses with an adverb of duration. The present perfect tense should be used. 'Have been knowing' should be 'Have known'.
76
26.He thanked me (a)/ for what I did (b)/ for them. (c)/ No error (d)
26.(b) The error lies in part (b) of the sentence. The past perfect is used for an earlier action. 'I did' should be 'I had done'.
77
27.When the thief (a)/ entered the house (b)/ the inmates had been sleeping in the hall. (c)/ No error (d)
27.(c) The error lies in part (c) of the sentence. The past continuous is used for a longer background action, and the past simple for a shorter action which took place in the middle. 'Had been sleeping' should be 'were sleeping'.
78
28.Students who return (a)/ books late (b)/ would be fined. (c)/ No error (d)
28.(c) Part (c) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. Part (c) refers to a future time. Therefore 'would be fined' should be 'will be fined'.
79
29.The old man could not remember (a)/ where he deposits (b)/ his money. (c)/ No error (d)
29.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. The past perfect is used to stress an earlier action. Therefore, 'deposits' should be 'had deposited'.
80
30.Of late the number of literates (a)/ is (b)/ gone up. (c)/ No error (d)
30.(b) The error lies in part (b) of the sentence. The present perfect tense is used for a present result of a past action. Therefore, 'is' should be 'has'.
81
31.He is the most generous, (a)/ I knew him (b)/ for a long time. (c)/ No error (d)
31.(b) The error lies in part (b) of the sentence. A stative verb with adverbs of duration is used in the present perfect. 'For a long time' provides the clue. Therefore, 'I know him' should be 'I have known him'.
82
32.There is not any message (a)/ from my teacher (b)/ since she moved to London. (c)/ No error (d)
32.(a) The error lies in part (a) of the sentence. The present perfect is often used with adverbs of duration such as for and since. 'There is not any message' should be 'There has been no message'.
83
33.It has been fifteen years (a)/ since (b)/ I saw him. (c)/ No error (d)
33.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. When we emphasize the length of time 'It is + time' is used. Therefore, 'It has been fifteen years' should be 'It is fifteen years.
84
34.She discovered (a)/ to her horror that (b)/ she swallowed a fly. (c)/ No error (d)
34.(c) Part (c) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. Remember that the past perfect is used to stress an earlier action. Therefore, 'she swallowed a fly' should be' 'she had swallowed a fly'.
85
35.Though we hid (a)/ the cash box (b)/ it was stolen. (c)/ No error (d)
35.(a) The error lies in part (a) of the sentence. The past perfect tense is used to stress an earlier action. Therefore, 'Though we hid' should be 'Though we had hidden'.
86
36.We played cricket (a)/ in the nearby ground (b)/ when the accident happened. (c)/ No error (d)
36.(a) The error lies in part (a) of the sentence. The past continuous tense is used for a longer background action and the past simple is used for a shorter action which interrupts a longer one. Therefore, 'we played cricket' should be 'we were playing cricket'.
87
37.He was (a)/ sentenced to death (b)/ and hang. (c)/ No error (d)
37.(c) The error lies in part (c) of the sentence. If someone is sent to gallows, the past participle form of the verb 'hang' is 'hanged'. Therefore, 'hang' should be 'hanged'.
88
38.I have always (a)/ and shall be (b)/ your friend. (c)/ No error (d)
38.(a) The error lies in part (a) of the sentence. If two forms of a verb are different, both should be written after the auxiliaries. 'I have always' should be 'I have always been'.
89
39.Nothing has (a)/ or could be more tragic (b)/ than his death. (c)/ No error (d)
39.(a) If the forms of an ordinary verb vary, two auxiliaries can't be used with one main verb. 'Nothing has' should be nothing has 'been'.
90
40.The children waited patiently (a)/ while the teacher was spoken (b)/ to the parents. (c)/ No error (d)
40.(b) The error lies in part (b) of the sentence. The past continuous should be used for a longer background action. 'While the teacher was spoken' should be 'while the teacher was speaking'.
91
41.Ruchika (a)/ is having (b)/ a large family. (c)/ No error (d)
41.(b) Part (b) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. When 'have' means 'to possess', it is not used in the continuous tenses. It is used in the simple tenses. Therefore, 'is having' should be 'has'.
92
42.She behaves (a)/ as if (b)/ she is a queen. (c)/ No error (d)
42.(c) Part (c) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. 'She is a queen' should be 'she were a queen'. 'As if' and 'as though' are always followed by the past form of a verb.
93
43.I am hearing (a)/ a loud noise (b)/ from the other room. (c)/ No error (d)
43.(a) Part (a) of the sentence is not grammatically correct. 'I am hearing' should be 'I hear'. 'Hear' is a stative verb. It is used in the simple tenses.
94
44.In the background they could hear John laughing and joking loudly (a)/ John was the life and soul of any party (b)/ and he was cracking a joke every few minutes. (c)/ No error (d)
44.(c) Part (c) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. 'And he was cracking a joke every few minutes' should be 'and he cracked a joke every few minutes'. Every few minutes and other similar time expressions are used in the simple tenses.
95
45. He was upset (a)/ because he had (b)/ never in such a peculiar situation before. (c)/ No error (d)
45.(c) Part (c) of the sentence is grammatically incorrect. 'Never in such a' 'should be 'never been in such a'. Leaving out the main verb can render a sentence incorrect.
96
1.According to newspaper reports (a)/ there is more internet users (b)/ in small towns. (c)/ than in metros (d)/ No error (e) [IBPS Clerk 2011]
1.(b) 'Is' should be 'are'.
97
2.The cost of constructing (a)/ houses are increased (b)/ because of the high (c)/ price of cement. (d)/ No error (e) [IBPS Clerk 2011]
2.(b) 'Are increased' should be 'have increased'. When we are concerned with the effect, the present perfect tense is used.
98
3.We have spent (a)/ most of the profits (b)/ that we earn (c)/ last year on purchasing new computers. (d)/ No error (e) [IBPS Clerk 2011]
3.(c) 'Last year' is used with the past simple tense. Therefore, 'earn' should be 'earned'.
99
4.If a software company (a)/ sends its employees abroad (b)/ to work for a foreign client, they (c)/ pays them a daily allowance. (d)/ No error (e) [IBPS Clerk 2011]
4.(d) 'They' is followed by a plural verb. 'Pays', should be 'pay'.
100
5.People had not (a)/ travel by ship because (b)/ it is very expensive (c)/ and the facilities are poor. (d)/ No error (e) [IBPS Clerk 2011]
5.(a) 'Truth' is expressed in the present simple, 'had not' should be 'do not'.
101
6.Many people decide (a)/ not to buy a car (b)/ last Diwali because of (c)/ the high price of petrol last year. (d)/ No error (e) [IBPS Clerk 2012]
6.(a) 'Decide' should be 'decided' because the time expression 'last' is used with the past simple tense.
102
7.For hours, the secretary ignoring them (a)/ hoping that the couple would (b)/ finally be discouraged. (c)/ and go away (d)/ No error (e) [PNB Clerk 2011]
7.(a) 'Ignoring' should be 'ignored', when we want to say how long something continued in the past, the past simple is used.
103
8.Often when we face obstacles (a)/ in our day-to-day life, our hurdles (b)/ seem very small in comparison (c)/ to what many others have faced. (d)/ No error (e)
8.(c) The present simple tense is used to express 'truth'.
104
9.The bus waiting (a)/ for all the passengers (b)/ to enter (c)/ before it took of. (d)/ No error (e) [Corporation Bank Clerk 2011]
9.(a) 'Waiting' should be 'was waiting'.
105
10.The more enlightened (a)/ factory owners (b)/ build houses for their (c)/ workers in Britain in the 19th century. (d)/ No error (e) [IOB Clerk 2011]
10.(c) 'Build'should be 'built'. To talk about an action in the past, the past simple tense is used.
106
11.Most criminals (a)/ realises that they may be caught (b)/ but nevertheless (c)/ they are prepared to take the risk. (d)/ No error (e) [IOB Clerk 2011]
11.(b) 'Realises' should be 'realise'. A plural subject takes a plural verb.
107
12.If you breaks the law (a)/ you must be prepared (b)/ to suffer (c)/ the consequences. (d)/ No error (e) [Allahabad Bank Clerk 2011]
12.(a) 'Breaks'should be 'break'; you take a plural verb.
108
13.The principal (a)/ introducing me (b)/ to some of her (c)/ teaching staff (d)/ No error (e)
13.(b) 'Introducing' should be 'introduced'.
109
14.As soon as (a)/ I getting my (b)/ first salary, (c)/ I spent all my money. (d)/ No error (e)
14.(b) 'Getting' should be 'got'. To refer to a past action the past simple tense is used.
110
15.When we (a)/ reached the steps (b)/ we find that (c)/ they were all closed. (d)/ No error (e) [Central Bank of India Clerk 2011]
15.(c) 'Find' should be 'found'. 'When we reached' refers to a past time.
111
16.The administration has conclusion (a)/ that it is retailers who are (b)/ responsible for upsetting (c)/ the city's household budget. (d)/ No error (e) [Punjab & Sind Bank Clerk 2011]
16.(a) 'Conclusion' should be 'concluded'.
112
17.The former superstar recently (a)/ visit an orphanage (b)/ fuelling speculation that (c)/ she is planning to adopt a child. (d)/ No error (e) [Punjab & Sind Bank Clerk 2011]
17.(b) 'Visit' should be 'visited'.
113
18.India is a land of (a)/ great political leaders (b)/ who ruled the country effectively (c)/ and also by protecting its national interest. (d)/ No error (e) [OBC Clerk 2011]
18.(d) 'Protecting' should be 'protected'.
114
19.Most birds sings (a)/ only in daylight (b)/ one notable exception (c)/ being the Nightingale. (d)/ No error (e) [OBC Clerk 2011]
19.(a) 'Sings' should be 'sing'. A plural subject require a plural verb.
115
20.Do you wanted (a)/ to discuss this (b)/ project today or can (c)/ we do it tomorrow? (d)/ No error (e) [UBI Clerk 2010]
20.(a) 'Do you wanted' should be 'do you want'.
116
21.People find it (a)/ difficult to understand (b)/ him as he (c)/ do not speak clearly. (d)/ No error (e) [UBI Clerk 2010]
21.(d) 'Do not speak' should be 'does not speak'.
117
22.Dr. Shah was explained (a)/ the merits of (b)/ exercising at least (c)/ five times a week. (d)/ No error (e)
22.(a) 'Was explained' should be 'explained'.
118
23.As they watched (a)/ the football match (b)/ the huge crowd (c)/ chant in unison. (d)/ No error (e) [UCO Bank Clerk 2010]
23.(d) 'Chant' should be 'chanted'.
119
24.When I heard (a)/ footsteps behind me (b)/ I was being scared (c)/ that I would be attacked. (d)/ No error (e) [UCO Bank Clerk 2010]
24.(c) 'I was being scared' should be 'I was scared'.
120
25.Rupali wanted to set (a)/ a clear picture about (b)/ the incident so she (c)/ speak to the victim. (d)/ No error (e) [BOI Clerk 2010]
25.(d) 'Speak' should be 'spoke'. The past simple tense is required.
121
26.I am thinking (a)/ you were aware (b)/ of the rules and regulations (c)/ before joining. (d)/ No error (e) [Corporation Bank 2010]
26.(a) 'I am thinking' should be 'I think'. 'I think' means 'I believe'.
122
27.I knows a very good doctor (a)/ in my village (b)/ who will be able to (c)/ cure your disease. (d)/ No error (e) [Corporation Bank 2010]
27.(a) 'I knows' should be 'I know'.
123
28.The employee was (a)/ asked to leave her job (b)/ as she was not (c)/ performing well. (d)/ No error (e) [Indian Bank Clerk 2010]
28.(c) 'Was not' should be 'had not been'.
124
29.She is pretending (a)/ to be sick (b)/ because she don't (c)/ want to study. (d)/ No error (e)
29.(c) 'Don't' should be 'Doesn't'.
125
30.Several Banks (a)/ are shown interest (b)/ in the proposed development (c)/ of the public sector. (d)/ No error (e) [Indian Bank Clerk 2010]
30.(b) 'Are shown' should be 'have shown'.
126
31.As a child (a)/ I always want to (b)/ have a bicycle (c)/ of my own. (d)/ No error (e) [Indian Bank Clerk 2010]
31.(b) 'Want' should be 'wanted'.
127
32.I was very lucky (a)/ that day (b)/ and catched (c)/ a lot of fish. (d)/ No error (e) [Indian Bank Clerk 2010]
32.(c) 'Catched' should be 'caught'. The past participate of 'catch' is caught.
128
33.When we visited his office (a)/ we found that (b)/ he was sipping coffee (c)/ with some of his colleagues. (d)/ No error (e) [Canara Bank Clerk 2010]
33.(e) The sentence has no error.
129
34.The superstar reveals that (a)/ he had been turning (b)/ the controversial securing measures into (c)/ a public relation opportunity. (d)/ No error (e) [Syndicate Bank Clerk 2010
34.(a) 'Reveals' should be 'revealed'
130
35.The boy was almost (a)/ asleep when a ball (b)/ flies across the garden (c)/ and hit him on the foot. (d)/ No error (e) [Syndicate Bank Clerk 2010]
35.(c) 'The past' of 'fly' is flew'. 'Flies' should be 'flew'.
131
36.Handicraft exports have an increase (a)/ in the past year (b)/ because of the innovative steps (c)/ taken by the government. (d)/ No error (e) [BOB Clerk 2010]
36.(a) 'An increase' should be 'increased'. 'Have' is followed by a past participate.
132
37.The constable said that (a)/ the prisoner seize a (b)/ fully loaded gun from a policeman (c)/ and shot the prosecutor. (d)/ No error (e) [PNB Clerk 2010]
37.(b) 'Seize' should be 'seized'.
133
38.Their company is going to incur (a)/ heavy losses this year because (b)/ of the big discounts they (c)/ offers to customers. (d)/ No error (e) [Allahabad Bank Clerk 2010]
38.(d) 'Offers' should be 'offered'.
134
39.The majority of the population believes (a)/ that the stock market is recovered (b)/ and that it is the (c)/ right time to buy shares. (d)/ No error (e) [Vijay Bank Clerk 2010]
39.(b) 'Is recovered' should be 'have recovered'. The present perfect is used when we refer to the effect of something which happened in the past.
135
40.Chetan puts in a lot (a)/ of effort to ensure (b)/ that the scheme was (c)/ launched in March. (d)/ No error (e) [Vijaya Bank Clerk 2010]
40.(d) 'Is launched' should be 'will be launched'.
136
41.As our economy is (a)/ experiencing a recession, banks (b)/ have became very cautious (c)/ about giving loans. (d)/ No error (e) [Vijaya Bank Clerk 2010]
41.(c) 'Became' should be 'become'.
137
42.During the interview (a)/ with the General Manager, (b)/ I asked her what challenges (c)/ she faced. (d)/ No error (e) [UBI Clerk 2010]
42.(d) 'She faced' should be 'she was facing'.
138
43.We have an account (a)/ with this bank and (b)/ find the staff much (c)/ helpful and knowledgeable. (d)/ No error (e) [UBI Clerk 2010]
43.(c) 'Find' should be 'have found'.
139
44.We have been (a)/ telling them to (b)/ drive carefully, but (c)/ they are never listening. (d)/ No error (e) [UBI Clerk 2010]
44.(d) 'They are never listening' should be 'they never listen'.
140
45.It is difficult to (a)/ understand the problems (b)/ that the physically challenged people (c)/ encounters in their daily life. (d)/ No error (e) [Corporation Bank Clerk 2009]
45.(d) 'Encounters' should be 'encounter'.
141
46.Results founding that (a)/ the boys not only play more than girls but (b)/ they start earlier, an outcome that (c)/ could be clearly related to a cultural influence. (d)/ No error (e) [BOB PO 2010]
46.(a) 'Founding that' should be 'find that'.
142
47.If the manufacturing sector continues (a)/ to grow at the same rate for (b)/ the next few months, I think it (c)/ has a high growth rate after this year. (d)/ No error (e) [Indian Bank PO 2010]
47.(a) 'Has a high growth rate' should be 'will have a high growth rate'.
143
48.Sheila had to travel all the way back (a)/ when she remembered that (b)/ she had forgot to take (c)/ important documents with her. (d)/ No error (e) [IDBI PO 2009]
48.(c) 'Forgot' should be 'forgotten'.
144
49.We have recently began (a)/ the process of recruiting (b)/ insurance agents for (c)/ our North-Eastern branches. (d)/ No error (e) [OBC PO 2009]
49.(a) 'Began' should be 'begun'.
145
50.As soon as the CEO (a)/ entered the office (b)/ the union leaders approached him (c)/ and report the matter to him. (d)/ No error (e)
50.(d) 'Report' should be reported. Actions in a series are expressed in the past simple.
146
51.It has taking almost (a)/ a year for India (b)/ to develop (c)/ such a long range missile. (d)/ No error (e) [IBDS Spl. officer 2013]
51.(a) 'It has taking' should be 'It has taken'.
147
52.This comes (a)/ at a time (b)/ when fund allocation (c)/ is been doubled. (d)/ No error (e) [IBDS PO 2012]
52.(d) 'Is been doubled' should be 'has been doubled'.
148
53.School children in the city (a)/ were in for a surprise as they were (b)/ treated to a feast of some children's films (c)/ being screen in local theatres. (d)/ No error (e) [IDBI PO 2012]
53.(d) 'Being screen' should be 'being screened'.
149
54.Weather officials said that (a)/ there is likely to be (b)/ widespread rainfall all over the region (c)/ over the next few months. (d)/ No error (e) [PO 2012]
54.(a) 'Said that' should be 'say that'. When we quote someone, we use the present simple tense.
150
55.In spite of the best government efforts (a)/ emission of green-house gases (b)/ and noxious chemicals (c)/ remain a cause of worry. (d)/ No error (e) [Andhra Bank PO 2009]
55.(d) 'Remain' should be 'remains'. Emission requires a singular verb.
151
56.This is turned out to be (a)/ one of our most successful projects (b)/ and we have made quite (c)/ a large profit from it. (d)/ No error (e)
56.(a) 'This is turned' should be 'This has turned' to talk about an effect of something which happened in the past, the present simple is used.
152
57.Martin would attempt (a)/ to open the umbrella (b)/ when her spectacles slipped off (c)/ and fell down. (d)/ No error (e) [NABARD PO 2009]
57.(a) Something took place while another was going on, thus 'would attempt' should be 'was attempting'.
153
58.You can imagine how (a)/ annoyed I was (b)/ when I learnt that (c)/ the match has been postponed (d)/ No error (e)
58.(d) 'Has been postponed' should be 'Had been postponed. 'The past perfect is used for the first of the two actions which happened in the past.
154
59.He gave me all the details when he (a)/ had visited all the temples (b)/ while he will be going (c)/ on an official tour. (d)/ No error (e) [PO 2009]
59.(c) 'Will' should be 'would'.
155
60. When he hears the news (a)/ he was almost (b)/ in tears and (c)/ could not utter a word. (d)/ No error (e) [EPFO Spl. Officer 2009]
60. (a) 'Hears' should be 'heard'. When one action took immediately after another, both the actions are expressed in the past simple tense.
