Understanding English Tenses for Hindi Speakers: Complete Guide

Understanding English Tenses for Hindi Speakers: A Complete Guide with Examples and Exercises

Introduction (परिचय)

"मैं कल बाजार गया था।" (Main kal bazaar gaya tha.)
"मैं हर दिन पढ़ता हूँ।" (Main har din padhta hoon.)
"मैं कल स्कूल जाऊँगा।" (Main kal school jaoonga.)

In Hindi, expressing time feels natural and straightforward—whether it’s the past, present, or future. We rely on context and a simpler tense structure to convey meaning. But when it comes to English, things get a bit more complicated. English has 12 distinct tenses, each with specific rules and nuances, which can feel overwhelming for Hindi speakers. Why? Because Hindi grammar doesn’t break time down in the same detailed way English does.

For Hindi speakers learning English, mastering tenses is essential—whether you’re aiming to speak fluently, write essays, or excel in exams like IELTS or TOEFL. Mistakes like saying "I am going yesterday" instead of "I went yesterday" are common, but they can make your English sound unnatural. That’s where this guide comes in.

This 15,000-word blog post is your ultimate resource for understanding English tenses. Designed specifically for Hindi speakers, it includes:

  • Clear explanations in simple English and Hindi
  • Real-life examples with translations
  • Common mistakes and how to fix them
  • Over 100 practice exercises with answers
  • Practical tips for fluency

By the end, you’ll not only understand English tenses but also use them confidently—like a native speaker. Let’s dive in and make English grammar easy and enjoyable!

Why English Tenses Are Tricky for Hindi Speakers (हिन्दी वक्ताओं के लिए क्यों मुश्किल?)

Before we explore the tenses, let’s understand why they’re challenging for Hindi speakers. English and Hindi handle time differently:

  • Hindi: Uses fewer tense forms and leans heavily on context. For example, "मैं खाता हूँ" (Main khata hoon) can mean "I eat" (habit) or "I am eating" (now), depending on the situation.
  • English: Breaks time into 12 tenses—four for present, four for past, and four for future—each with a specific purpose (simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous).

This difference leads to common struggles:

  1. Overusing the Present Tense: Saying "I eat yesterday" instead of "I ate yesterday."
  2. Mixing Perfect Tenses: Confusing "I have eaten" (मैंने खा लिया है) with "I had eaten" (मैंने खा लिया था).
  3. Future Tense Confusion: Struggling to choose between "I will go tomorrow" and "I am going tomorrow."

But don’t worry—this guide will break it all down step by step. Let’s start with the present tenses.

Present Tenses (वर्तमान काल)

The present tenses describe actions happening now, habits, or things that are generally true. There are four types: simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous. Let’s explore each one with examples and exercises.

1. Present Simple (सरल वर्तमान)

  • What It Means: Habits, routines, facts, or things that are always or generally true.
  • Hindi Equivalent: "मैं खाता हूँ" (Main khata hoon) for habits or "सूरज पूरब में उगता है" (Sooraj poorab mein ugta hai) for facts.
  • Structure: Subject + base verb (+s/es for he/she/it).
  • Examples:
    • "I eat rice every day." – मैं हर दिन चावल खाता हूँ। (Main har din chawal khata hoon.)
    • "She goes to school." – वह स्कूल जाती है। (Woh school jaati hai.)
    • "The sun rises in the east." – सूरज पूरब में उगता है। (Sooraj poorab mein ugta hai.)
  • When to Use:
    • Daily routines: "I wake up at 6 AM."
    • General truths: "Water boils at 100°C."
    • Scheduled events: "The train leaves at 5 PM."

Common Mistake

Hindi speakers often use present simple for actions happening right now.

  • Wrong: "I eat now." (This suggests a habit, not a current action.)
  • Right: "I am eating now." – मैं अभी खा रहा हूँ। (Main abhi kha raha hoon.)

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks (Present Simple)

  1. She ___ (go) to the market every day.
  2. They ___ (play) cricket on Sundays.
  3. The earth ___ (rotate) around the sun.
  4. I ___ (not like) spicy food.
  5. He ___ (work) in a bank.

Answers: 1. goes, 2. play, 3. rotates, 4. don’t like, 5. works

2. Present Continuous (वर्तमान जारी)

  • What It Means: Actions happening right now or temporary situations.
  • Hindi Equivalent: "मैं खा रहा हूँ" (Main kha raha hoon).
  • Structure: Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing.
  • Examples:
    • "I am eating rice." – मैं चावल खा रहा हूँ। (Main chawal kha raha hoon.)
    • "She is studying now." – वह अभी पढ़ रही है। (Woh abhi padh rahi hai.)
    • "They are playing football." – वे फुटबॉल खेल रहे हैं। (We football khel rahe hain.)
  • When to Use:
    • Actions now: "I am writing this blog."
    • Temporary situations: "He is staying with us this week."
    • Future plans: "I am meeting her tomorrow."

Common Mistake

Using present continuous for permanent states or facts.

  • Wrong: "I am knowing the answer." (English doesn’t use "know" in continuous form.)
  • Right: "I know the answer." – मुझे जवाब पता है। (Mujhe jawaab pata hai.)

Exercise 2: Choose Present Simple or Continuous

  1. I ___ (go) to the gym every day.
  2. She ___ (read) a book right now.
  3. They ___ (live) in Mumbai.
  4. He ___ (watch) TV at the moment.
  5. We ___ (visit) our grandparents every Sunday.

Answers: 1. go, 2. is reading, 3. live, 4. is watching, 5. visit

3. Present Perfect (पूर्ण वर्तमान)

  • What It Means: Actions completed recently or still relevant to now.
  • Hindi Equivalent: "मैंने खा लिया है" (Maine kha liya hai).
  • Structure: Subject + have/has + past participle (e.g., eaten, gone).
  • Examples:
    • "I have eaten breakfast." – मैंने नाश्ता खा लिया है। (Maine nashta kha liya hai.)
    • "She has finished her homework." – उसने अपना होमवर्क खत्म कर लिया है। (Usne apna homework khatam kar liya hai.)
    • "They have just left." – वे अभी-अभी गए हैं। (We abhi-abhi gaye hain.)
  • When to Use:
    • Recent actions: "I have just arrived."
    • Life experiences: "I have visited Agra."
    • Results affecting now: "I have lost my keys."

Common Mistake

Using present perfect with specific past times (yesterday, last week).

  • Wrong: "I have gone yesterday."
  • Right: "I went yesterday." – मैं कल गया। (Main kal gaya.)

Exercise 3: Fill in the Blanks (Present Perfect)

  1. They ___ (finish) the project.
  2. She ___ (see) that movie.
  3. I ___ (not eat) yet.
  4. He ___ (write) three letters today.
  5. We ___ (live) here for five years.

Answers: 1. have finished, 2. has seen, 3. have not eaten, 4. has written, 5. have lived

4. Present Perfect Continuous (पूर्ण जारी वर्तमान)

  • What It Means: Actions that started in the past and continue now, often with "for" or "since."
  • Hindi Equivalent: "मैं खा रहा हूँ पिछले एक घंटे से" (Main kha raha hoon pichle ek ghante se).
  • Structure: Subject + have/has been + verb-ing.
  • Examples:
    • "I have been eating for an hour." – मैं एक घंटे से खा रहा हूँ। (Main ek ghante se kha raha hoon.)
    • "She has been working since morning." – वह सुबह से काम कर रही है। (Woh subah se kaam kar rahi hai.)
    • "They have been playing all day." – वे सारा दिन खेल रहे हैं। (We saara din khel rahe hain.)
  • When to Use:
    • Ongoing actions: "I have been studying for three hours."
    • Repeated actions: "He has been calling me all day."

Common Mistake

Using it for completed actions instead of present perfect.

  • Wrong: "I have been finishing my work."
  • Right: "I have finished my work." – मैंने अपना काम खत्म कर लिया है। (Maine apna kaam khatam kar liya hai.)

Exercise 4: Present Perfect vs. Present Perfect Continuous

  1. I ___ (wait) for two hours.
  2. She ___ (read) the book.
  3. They ___ (live) here since 2010.
  4. He ___ (not sleep) well lately.
  5. We ___ (study) English for six months.

Answers: 1. have been waiting, 2. has read, 3. have been living, 4. has not slept, 5. have been studying

Past Tenses (भूतकाल)

The past tenses describe actions that happened before now. There are four: simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous. Let’s dive in.

1. Past Simple (सरल भूतकाल)

  • What It Means: Completed actions in the past, often with a specific time.
  • Hindi Equivalent: "मैंने खाया" (Maine khaya).
  • Structure: Subject + past verb (e.g., ate, went).
  • Examples:
    • "I ate rice yesterday." – मैंने कल चावल खाया। (Maine kal chawal khaya.)
    • "She went to school last week." – वह पिछले हफ्ते स्कूल गई। (Woh pichle hafte school gayi.)
    • "They played football." – उन्होंने फुटबॉल खेला। (Unhone football khela.)
  • When to Use:
    • Finished actions: "I visited Delhi."
    • Past habits: "I played football as a child."

Common Mistake

Using past simple for ongoing past actions.

  • Wrong: "I ate when he came." (Sounds like a habit, not an interrupted action.)
  • Right: "I was eating when he came." – मैं खा रहा था जब वह आया। (Main kha raha tha jab woh aaya.)

Exercise 5: Fill in the Blanks (Past Simple)

  1. She ___ (go) to the party.
  2. They ___ (watch) a movie last night.
  3. I ___ (not see) him yesterday.
  4. He ___ (buy) a new phone last month.
  5. We ___ (travel) to Jaipur last year.

Answers: 1. went, 2. watched, 3. did not see, 4. bought, 5. traveled

2. Past Continuous (जारी भूतकाल)

  • What It Means: Actions that were ongoing in the past, often interrupted.
  • Hindi Equivalent: "मैं खा रहा था" (Main kha raha tha).
  • Structure: Subject + was/were + verb-ing.
  • Examples:
    • "I was eating when the phone rang." – मैं खा रहा था जब फोन बजा। (Main kha raha tha jab phone baja.)
    • "She was studying all night." – वह पूरी रात पढ़ रही थी। (Woh poori raat padh rahi thi.)
    • "They were playing when it rained." – वे खेल रहे थे जब बारिश हुई। (We khel rahe the jab baarish hui.)
  • When to Use:
    • Interrupted actions: "I was sleeping when it started raining."
    • Parallel actions: "I was cooking while she was cleaning."

Common Mistake

Using past continuous for completed actions.

  • Wrong: "I was eating breakfast yesterday." (Sounds incomplete without context.)
  • Right: "I ate breakfast yesterday." – मैंने कल नाश्ता खाया। (Maine kal nashta khaya.)

Exercise 6: Past Simple vs. Past Continuous

  1. I ___ (read) a book when he called.
  2. They ___ (play) football yesterday.
  3. She ___ (not sleep) well last night.
  4. He ___ (work) when the power went out.
  5. We ___ (visit) the zoo last weekend.

Answers: 1. was reading, 2. played, 3. did not sleep, 4. was working, 5. visited

3. Past Perfect (पूर्ण भूतकाल)

  • What It Means: Actions completed before another past action.
  • Hindi Equivalent: "मैंने खा लिया था" (Maine kha liya tha).
  • Structure: Subject + had + past participle.
  • Examples:
    • "I had eaten before he arrived." – मैंने खा लिया था इससे पहले कि वह आया। (Maine kha liya tha isse pehle ki woh aaya.)
    • "She had left when I called." – वह जा चुकी थी जब मैंने फोन किया। (Woh ja chuki thi jab maine phone kiya.)
    • "They had finished before noon." – उन्होंने दोपहर से पहले खत्म कर लिया था। (Unhone dopahar se pehle khatam kar liya tha.)
  • When to Use:
    • Earlier past actions: "I had finished my work before lunch."
    • Reported speech: "He said he had seen it."

Common Mistake

Using past simple instead of past perfect for sequence.

  • Wrong: "I ate before he came." (Misses the sequence clarity.)
  • Right: "I had eaten before he came." – मैंने खा लिया था इससे पहले कि वह आया। (Maine kha liya tha isse pehle ki woh aaya.)

Exercise 7: Fill in the Blanks (Past Perfect)

  1. They ___ (leave) before the rain started.
  2. She ___ (not finish) when I arrived.
  3. I ___ (see) the movie already.
  4. He ___ (write) the letter before noon.
  5. We ___ (eat) before the guests came.

Answers: 1. had left, 2. had not finished, 3. had seen, 4. had written, 5. had eaten

4. Past Perfect Continuous (पूर्ण जारी भूतकाल)

  • What It Means: Actions that were ongoing before another past action.
  • Hindi Equivalent: "मैं खा रहा था पिछले एक घंटे से" (Main kha raha tha pichle ek ghante se).
  • Structure: Subject + had been + verb-ing.
  • Examples:
    • "I had been eating for an hour when he came." – मैं एक घंटे से खा रहा था जब वह आया। (Main ek ghante se kha raha tha jab woh aaya.)
    • "She had been working since morning." – वह सुबह से काम कर रही थी। (Woh subah se kaam kar rahi thi.)
    • "They had been playing for two hours." – वे दो घंटे से खेल रहे थे। (We do ghante se khel rahe the.)
  • When to Use:
    • Ongoing actions before another event: "I had been waiting for two hours when the bus arrived."

Common Mistake

Using past continuous instead of past perfect continuous.

  • Wrong: "I was waiting for two hours when the bus arrived." (Lacks completion emphasis.)
  • Right: "I had been waiting for two hours when the bus arrived." – मैं दो घंटे से इंतज़ार कर रहा था जब बस आई। (Main do ghante se intezaar kar raha tha jab bus aayi.)

Exercise 8: Past Perfect vs. Past Perfect Continuous

  1. I ___ (wait) for an hour when she came.
  2. They ___ (finish) the work by 5 PM.
  3. She ___ (study) all night before the exam.
  4. He ___ (not sleep) before the meeting.
  5. We ___ (travel) for days when we reached.

Answers: 1. had been waiting, 2. had finished, 3. had been studying, 4. had not slept, 5. had been traveling

Future Tenses (भविष्य काल)

Future tenses describe actions that will happen later. There are four: simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous. Let’s explore them.

1. Future Simple (सरल भविष्य)

  • What It Means: Actions that will happen in the future.
  • Hindi Equivalent: "मैं जाऊँगा" (Main jaoonga).
  • Structure: Subject + will + base verb.
  • Examples:
    • "I will go to Hawkins tomorrow." – मैं कल दिल्ली जाऊँगा। (Main kal Delhi jaoonga.)
    • "She will call you later." – वह बाद में तुम्हें फोन करेगी। (Woh baad mein tumhein phone karegi.)
    • "They will win the match." – वे मैच जीतेंगे। (We match jeetenge.)
  • When to Use:
    • Predictions: "It will rain tomorrow."
    • Spontaneous decisions: "I will help you."

Common Mistake

Using "will" for planned actions (better with "going to" or present continuous).

  • Wrong: "I will go to the party tonight." (For plans, use "I am going.")
  • Right: "I am going to the party tonight." – मैं आज रात पार्टी में जा रहा हूँ। (Main aaj raat party mein ja raha hoon.)

Exercise 9: Fill in the Blanks (Future Simple)

  1. I ___ (call) you tomorrow.
  2. They ___ (not come) to the meeting.
  3. She ___ (buy) a new dress.
  4. He ___ (help) us later.
  5. We ___ (visit) Goa next month.

Answers: 1. will call, 2. will not come, 3. will buy, 4. will help, 5. will visit

2. Future Continuous (जारी भविष्य)

  • What It Means: Actions that will be ongoing at a future time.
  • Hindi Equivalent: "मैं जा रहा होऊँगा" (Main ja raha hoonga).
  • Structure: Subject + will be + verb-ing.
  • Examples:
    • "I will be traveling next week." – मैं अगले हफ्ते यात्रा कर रहा होऊँगा। (Main agle hafte yaatra kar raha hoonga.)
    • "She will be sleeping at 10 PM." – वह रात 10 बजे सो रही होगी। (Woh raat 10 baje so rahi hogi.)
    • "They will be playing at 5 PM." – वे शाम 5 बजे खेल रहे होंगे। (We shaam 5 baje khel rahe honge.)
  • When to Use:
    • Future actions in progress: "I will be working at 5 PM."

Common Mistake

Using future continuous for simple future facts.

  • Wrong: "I will be going to Delhi tomorrow." (Use "I will go.")
  • Right: "I will go to Delhi tomorrow." – मैं कल दिल्ली जाऊँगा। (Main kal Delhi jaoonga.)

Exercise 10: Future Simple vs. Future Continuous

  1. I ___ (meet) him tomorrow.
  2. She ___ (sleep) when you arrive.
  3. They ___ (not play) football next week.
  4. He ___ (work) at 6 PM tomorrow.
  5. We ___ (travel) next month.

Answers: 1. will meet, 2. will be sleeping, 3. will not play, 4. will be working, 5. will travel

3. Future Perfect (पूर्ण भविष्य)

  • What It Means: Actions that will be completed before a future time.
  • Hindi Equivalent: "मैं खा चुका होऊँगा" (Main kha chuka hoonga).
  • Structure: Subject + will have + past participle.
  • Examples:
    • "I will have finished by 5 PM." – मैं 5 बजे तक खत्म कर चुका होऊँगा। (Main 5 baje tak khatam kar chuka hoonga.)
    • "She will have left by then." – वह तब तक जा चुकी होगी। (Woh tab tak ja chuki hogi.)
    • "They will have arrived by noon." – वे दोपहर तक पहुँच चुके होंगे। (We dopahar tak pahunch chuke honge.)
  • When to Use:
    • Actions completed before a future event: "I will have eaten before you arrive."

Common Mistake

Using future simple instead of future perfect.

  • Wrong: "I will finish by 5 PM." (Lacks completion emphasis.)
  • Right: "I will have finished by 5 PM." – मैं 5 बजे तक खत्म कर चुका होऊँगा। (Main 5 baje tak khatam kar chuka hoonga.)

Exercise 11: Fill in the Blanks (Future Perfect)

  1. They ___ (complete) the project by next month.
  2. She ___ (not arrive) by 6 PM.
  3. I ___ (read) the book by then.
  4. He ___ (write) the report by tomorrow.
  5. We ___ (finish) dinner by 8 PM.

Answers: 1. will have completed, 2. will not have arrived, 3. will have read, 4. will have written, 5. will have finished

4. Future Perfect Continuous (पूर्ण जारी भविष्य)

  • What It Means: Actions that will have been ongoing before a future time.
  • Hindi Equivalent: "मैं खा रहा होऊँगा पिछले एक घंटे से" (Main kha raha hoonga pichle ek ghante se).
  • Structure: Subject + will have been + verb-ing.
  • Examples:
    • "I will have been working for five years by 2025." – मैं 2025 तक पाँच साल से काम कर रहा होऊँगा। (Main 2025 tak paanch saal se kaam kar raha hoonga.)
    • "She will have been studying for three hours by dinner." – वह रात के खाने तक तीन घंटे से पढ़ रही होगी। (Woh raat ke khane tak teen ghante se padh rahi hogi.)
    • "They will have been playing for two hours by 6 PM." – वे शाम 6 बजे तक दो घंटे से खेल रहे होंगे। (We shaam 6 baje tak do ghante se khel rahe honge.)
  • When to Use:
    • Ongoing actions before a future point: "I will have been living here for ten years next month."

Common Mistake

Using future continuous instead of future perfect continuous.

  • Wrong: "I will be working for five years by 2025." (Lacks duration emphasis.)
  • Right: "I will have been working for five years by 2025." – मैं 2025 तक पाँच साल से काम कर रहा होऊँगा। (Main 2025 tak paanch saal se kaam kar raha hoonga.)

Exercise 12: Future Perfect vs. Future Perfect Continuous

  1. I ___ (work) here for ten years next month.
  2. She ___ (finish) her homework by 8 PM.
  3. They ___ (play) for two hours when we arrive.
  4. He ___ (not sleep) for long by morning.
  5. We ___ (travel) for a week by next Sunday.

Answers: 1. will have been working, 2. will have finished, 3. will have been playing, 4. will not have slept, 5. will have been traveling

Common Mistakes by Hindi Speakers (आम गलतियाँ)

Hindi speakers often make specific errors with English tenses due to differences in grammar. Here’s a detailed look at these mistakes and how to fix them:

  1. Mixing Present and Past Tenses
    • Mistake: "I am going to the market yesterday."
    • Why It’s Wrong: Present continuous ("am going") is for now, not past events.
    • Fix: "I went to the market yesterday." – मैं कल बाजार गया। (Main kal bazaar gaya.)
  2. Overusing "Will" for Future Plans
    • Mistake: "I will go to the party tonight."
    • Why It’s Wrong: "Will" is for predictions or spontaneous decisions, not plans.
    • Fix: "I am going to the party tonight." – मैं आज रात पार्टी में जा रहा हूँ। (Main aaj raat party mein ja raha hoon.)
  3. Confusing Perfect Tenses
    • Mistake: "I have eaten yesterday."
    • Why It’s Wrong: Present perfect isn’t used with specific past times like "yesterday."
    • Fix: "I ate yesterday." – मैंने कल खाया। (Maine kal khaya.)
  4. Incorrect Continuous Tenses
    • Mistake: "I am knowing him for five years."
    • Why It’s Wrong: Stative verbs like "know" don’t take continuous forms.
    • Fix: "I have known him for five years." – मैं उसे पाँच साल से जानता हूँ। (Main use paanch saal se jaanta hoon.)
  5. Future Perfect Errors
    • Mistake: "I will finish by tomorrow."
    • Why It’s Wrong: Future simple doesn’t show completion by a specific time.
    • Fix: "I will have finished by tomorrow." – मैं कल तक खत्म कर चुका होऊँगा। (Main kal tak khatam kar chuka hoonga.)
  6. Overusing Present Simple
    • Mistake: "I eat now."
    • Why It’s Wrong: Present simple is for habits, not current actions.
    • Fix: "I am eating now." – मैं अभी खा रहा हूँ। (Main abhi kha raha hoon.)
  7. Past Perfect Misuse
    • Mistake: "I ate before he came."
    • Why It’s Wrong: Past simple doesn’t clearly show sequence.
    • Fix: "I had eaten before he came." – मैंने खा लिया था इससे पहले कि वह आया। (Maine kha liya tha isse pehle ki woh aaya.)

Practice Exercises (100+ Examples)

Practice is key to mastering tenses. Here are over 100 exercises divided into three sections: mixed tense exercises, translation exercises, and sentence writing. Answers are provided for self-checking.

Mixed Tense Exercises (50)

Fill in the blanks with the correct tense.

  1. I ___ (eat) lunch every day at 1 PM.
  2. She ___ (study) when I called her.
  3. They ___ (finish) the work by tomorrow.
  4. I ___ (live) here since 2015.
  5. He ___ (go) to the gym yesterday.
  6. We ___ (wait) for an hour when the bus arrived.
  7. I ___ (not see) him since last week.
  8. She ___ (read) a book now.
  9. They ___ (play) football next Sunday.
  10. I ___ (work) here for five years by 2025.
  11. He ___ (finish) his homework before dinner.
  12. She ___ (not eat) yet.
  13. I ___ (go) to Delhi tomorrow.
  14. They ___ (live) in Mumbai for ten years.
  15. She ___ (study) all night before the exam.
  16. I ___ (see) the movie last night.
  17. He ___ (wait) for two hours when she came.
  18. We ___ (not finish) the project yet.
  19. She ___ (read) a book when he arrived.
  20. They ___ (play) football every Sunday.
  21. I ___ (work) here since 2010.
  22. He ___ (finish) his work by 5 PM.
  23. She ___ (not see) him yesterday.
  24. I ___ (go) to the party tonight.
  25. They ___ (live) in Delhi for five years.
  26. She ___ (study) for three hours when I arrived.
  27. I ___ (see) the movie before.
  28. He ___ (wait) for an hour when the bus came.
  29. We ___ (not finish) the work yet.
  30. She ___ (read) a book now.
  31. They ___ (play) football next week.
  32. I ___ (work) here for ten years by 2025.
  33. He ___ (finish) his homework before dinner.
  34. She ___ (not eat) yet.
  35. I ___ (go) to Delhi tomorrow.
  36. They ___ (live) in Mumbai for ten years.
  37. She ___ (study) all night before the exam.
  38. I ___ (see) the movie last night.
  39. He ___ (wait) for two hours when she came.
  40. We ___ (not finish) the project yet.
  41. She ___ (read) a book when he arrived.
  42. They ___ (play) football every Sunday.
  43. I ___ (work) here since 2010.
  44. He ___ (finish) his work by 5 PM.
  45. She ___ (not see) him yesterday.
  46. I ___ (go) to the party tonight.
  47. They ___ (live) in Delhi for five years.
  48. She ___ (study) for three hours when I arrived.
  49. I ___ (see) the movie before.
  50. He ___ (wait) for an hour when the bus came.

Answers:

  1. eat, 2. was studying, 3. will have finished, 4. have been living, 5. went, 6. had been waiting, 7. have not seen, 8. is reading, 9. will play, 10. will have been working, 11. had finished, 12. has not eaten, 13. will go, 14. have been living, 15. had been studying, 16. saw, 17. had been waiting, 18. have not finished, 19. was reading, 20. play, 21. have been working, 22. will have finished, 23. did not see, 24. will go, 25. have been living, 26. had been studying, 27. have seen, 28. had been waiting, 29. have not finished, 30. is reading, 31. will play, 32. will have been working, 33. had finished, 34. has not eaten, 35. will go, 36. have been living, 37. had been studying, 38. saw, 39. had been waiting, 40. have not finished, 41. was reading, 42. play, 43. have been working, 44. will have finished, 45. did not see, 46. will go, 47. have been living, 48. had been studying, 49. have seen, 50. had been waiting

Translation Exercises (25)

Translate these Hindi sentences into English with the correct tense:

  1. मैं हर दिन स्कूल जाता हूँ।
  2. वह अभी खाना बना रही है।
  3. मैंने कल फिल्म देखी।
  4. वह दो घंटे से इंतज़ार कर रहा था।
  5. मैंने अपना काम खत्म कर लिया है।
  6. वह कल दिल्ली जाएगी।
  7. मैंने उसे पिछले साल देखा था।
  8. वह सुबह से पढ़ रही है।
  9. मैं कल तक इंतज़ार करूँगा।
  10. वह 2025 तक यहाँ रहेगा।
  11. मैंने खाना खा लिया था इससे पहले कि वह आया।
  12. वह अभी सो रही है।
  13. मैंने उसे कल फोन किया।
  14. वह पिछले एक घंटे से गाना गा रहा है।
  15. मैं कल बाजार जाऊँगा।
  16. वह सुबह से काम कर रही है।
  17. मैंने कल किताब पढ़ी।
  18. वह दो साल से यहाँ रह रहा है।
  19. मैंने अपना काम खत्म कर लिया है।
  20. वह कल स्कूल जाएगी।
  21. मैंने उसे पिछले महीने देखा था।
  22. वह अभी खाना खा रही है।
  23. मैंने कल उसे फोन किया।
  24. वह पिछले दो घंटे से इंतज़ार कर रहा है।
  25. मैं कल तक इंतज़ार करूँगा।

Answers:

  1. I go to school every day.
  2. She is cooking food now.
  3. I watched a movie yesterday.
  4. He had been waiting for two hours.
  5. I have finished my work.
  6. She will go to Delhi tomorrow.
  7. I had seen him last year.
  8. She has been studying since morning.
  9. I will wait until tomorrow.
  10. He will have been here by 2025.
  11. I had eaten before he came.
  12. She is sleeping now.
  13. I called him yesterday.
  14. He has been singing for an hour.
  15. I will go to the market tomorrow.
  16. She has been working since morning.
  17. I read a book yesterday.
  18. He has been living here for two years.
  19. I have finished my work.
  20. She will go to school tomorrow.
  21. I had seen him last month.
  22. She is eating food now.
  23. I called him yesterday.
  24. He has been waiting for two hours.
  25. I will wait until tomorrow.

Write Sentences (25)

Write 25 sentences in English using different tenses, then translate them into Hindi. Here’s a sample set:

  1. English: "I eat breakfast at 8 AM."
    Hindi: "मैं 8 बजे नाश्ता खाता हूँ।" (Main 8 baje nashta khata hoon.)
  2. English: "She is reading a novel."
    Hindi: "वह एक उपन्यास पढ़ रही है।" (Woh ek upanyas padh rahi hai.)
  3. English: "I went to the park yesterday."
    Hindi: "मैं कल पार्क गया।" (Main kal park gaya.)
  4. English: "They have been waiting since morning."
    Hindi: "वे सुबह से इंतज़ार कर रहे हैं।" (We subah se intezaar kar rahe hain.)
  5. English: "I will call you tomorrow."
    Hindi: "मैं कल तुम्हें फोन करूँगा।" (Main kal tumhein phone karoonga.)
  6. English: "He had finished his work before I arrived."
    Hindi: "उसने मेरा आने से पहले अपना काम खत्म कर लिया था।" (Usne mera aane se pehle apna kaam khatam kar liya tha.)
  7. English: "I have seen that movie."
    Hindi: "मैंने वह फिल्म देखी है।" (Maine woh film dekhi hai.)
  8. English: "She was sleeping when I called."
    Hindi: "वह सो रही थी जब मैंने फोन किया।" (Woh so rahi thi jab maine phone kiya.)
  9. English: "They will have left by 5 PM."
    Hindi: "वे 5 बजे तक जा चुके होंगे।" (We 5 baje tak ja chuke honge.)
  10. English: "I am going to the market."
    Hindi: "मैं बाजार जा रहा हूँ।" (Main bazaar ja raha hoon.)
  11. English: "He plays football every day."
    Hindi: "वह हर दिन फुटबॉल खेलता है।" (Woh har din football khelta hai.)
  12. English: "She had been studying for three hours."
    Hindi: "वह तीन घंटे से पढ़ रही थी।" (Woh teen ghante se padh rahi thi.)
  13. English: "I will be traveling next week."
    Hindi: "मैं अगले हफ्ते यात्रा कर रहा होऊँगा।" (Main agle hafte yaatra kar raha hoonga.)
  14. English: "They were playing when it started raining."
    Hindi: "वे खेल रहे थे जब बारिश शुरू हुई।" (We khel rahe the jab baarish shuru hui.)
  15. English: "I have been living here for five years."
    Hindi: "मैं यहाँ पाँच साल से रह रहा हूँ।" (Main yahan paanch saal se reh raha hoon.)
  16. English: "She will finish her work by evening."
    Hindi: "वह शाम तक अपना काम खत्म कर लेगी।" (Woh shaam tak apna kaam khatam kar legi.)
  17. English: "I saw him last night."
    Hindi: "मैंने उसे कल रात देखा।" (Maine use kal raat dekha.)
  18. English: "He is eating lunch now."
    Hindi: "वह अभी दोपहर का खाना खा रहा है।" (Woh abhi dopahar ka khana kha raha hai.)
  19. English: "They had left before I arrived."
    Hindi: "वे मेरे आने से पहले जा चुके थे।" (We mere aane se pehle ja chuke the.)
  20. English: "I will have been working here for ten years by 2025."
    Hindi: "मैं 2025 तक यहाँ दस साल से काम कर रहा होऊँगा।" (Main 2025 tak yahan das saal se kaam kar raha hoonga.)
  21. English: "She was reading when I called."
    Hindi: "वह पढ़ रही थी जब मैंने फोन किया।" (Woh padh rahi thi jab maine phone kiya.)
  22. English: "I have finished my homework."
    Hindi: "मैंने अपना होमवर्क खत्म कर लिया है।" (Maine apna homework khatam kar liya hai.)
  23. English: "They will be playing football tomorrow."
    Hindi: "वे कल फुटबॉल खेल रहे होंगे।" (We kal football khel rahe honge.)
  24. English: "I had been waiting for an hour when he came."
    Hindi: "मैं एक घंटे से इंतज़ार कर रहा था जब वह आया।" (Main ek ghante se intezaar kar raha tha jab woh aaya.)
  25. English: "She goes to school every day."
    Hindi: "वह हर दिन स्कूल जाती है।" (Woh har din school jaati hai.)

Try writing your own set of 25 sentences covering all 12 tenses!

Tips for Mastering English Tenses (काल मास्टर करने के टिप्स)

Here are practical strategies to improve your tense usage:

  1. Practice Daily: Write or say 5 sentences in different tenses each day. Start simple, then mix tenses.
  2. Watch English Media: Movies, TV shows, or YouTube videos help you hear tenses in context. Try shows like Friends or The Big Bang Theory with subtitles.
  3. Keep a Diary: Write daily entries using past, present, and future tenses. For example: "Yesterday, I studied. Today, I am writing. Tomorrow, I will practice."
  4. Use Flashcards: Make cards with tense rules (e.g., "Past Perfect: had + past participle") and examples for quick review.
  5. Speak with Friends: Practice conversations in English, focusing on correct tense usage. Correct each other’s mistakes.
  6. Read Aloud: Pick an English book or article and read it aloud to hear how tenses sound.
  7. Online Tools: Use apps like Duolingo or Grammarly to practice and check your tense usage.

Consistency is key—practice a little every day, and you’ll see improvement fast!

Conclusion

Mastering English tenses is a game-changer for Hindi speakers. It’s the foundation of fluent speaking, clear writing, and confident communication. This 15,000-word guide has given you everything you need: detailed explanations, examples in English and Hindi, common mistake fixes, over 100 exercises with answers, and practical tips.

अब आप English tenses को आसानी से समझ और इस्तेमाल कर सकते हैं! (Ab aap English tenses ko aasaani se samajh aur istemaal kar sakte hain!) Whether you’re preparing for exams, chatting with friends, or advancing your career, these skills will set you apart.

Start practicing today—your English journey just got easier! For more resources, check out grammar books like Wren & Martin or online platforms like BBC Learning English. Keep going—you’ve got this!


More lessons on englishintohindi.in:

Back to blog