Tenses worksheet for class 10
Complete the following sentences using appropriate verb forms.
Question 1
The newspaper boy usually ———-1———— (bring) the papers in the morning before 7 am. He ————-2—————- (distribute) newspapers since 2010. Yesterday, he —————-3——– (come) late. When asked, he said that the bundles ———–4———— (arrive) late.
Solution
The newspaper boy usually brings the papers in the morning before 7 am. He has been distributing newspapers since 2010. Yesterday he came late. When asked he said that the bundles arrived / had arrived late.
Explanation
1. We use the simple present tense here because we are talking about a habitual action. This is something that happens every day.
2. We use the present perfect continuous tense here because we are talking about an action that started in the past and has continued up to the present. The boy started distributing the newspapers in year 2010. He has been doing it since then. He still distributes newspapers.
3. We use the simple past tense here because we are talking about an action that took place in the past. The time expression ‘yesterday’ clearly suggests that the action took place in the past.
4. Strictly speaking, you need a past perfect tense here because we are talking about the earlier of two past actions. The bundles arrived first. The boy spoke about it later. When we talk about two past actions, we use the past perfect tense for the earlier action. However, a simple past tense will do just fine.
Question 2
Mathews has no house of his own and he ———1———– (want) to build one. Last month he ———-2———— (buy) a piece of land. The construction of his new house ———3————– (not start) yet. He ———————– (begin) work next month.
Solution
Mathews has no house of his own and he wants to build one. Last month he bought a piece of land. The construction of his new house has not started yet. He will begin work next month.
Explanation
1. We use the simple present tense here because we are talking about a fact.
2. We use the simple past tense here because we are talking about an action completed in the past. Note the use of the past time expression ‘last month’.
3. We are giving news here and therefore we use the present perfect tense.
4. We use the simple future tense here because we are making a simple prediction about the future.
