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SSC CGL English · Spotting Errors

Tenses and Verb Forms

Choosing the tense the time words call for, and the form a verb must take after will, had, to, a preposition or a verb such as avoid.

All Spotting Errors notes

Why this matters

Ninety-six questions in the bank, 43 from the 2023 shifts, 24 from the 2024 shifts and 29 from the 2025 shifts. Most turn on a time word that fixes the tense (since, for, yesterday, by next year) or on the form a verb must take after another word.

Concept 1 of 2: The tense the time words call for

Time words fix the tense. An action still going on since a point of time takes the present perfect; a finished time such as yesterday takes the simple past; the earlier of two past actions takes the past perfect. In if and when clauses about the future, the verb is present, never will.

Definition

  • Since and for: since with a point of time (since 2018), for with a period (for two hours); an action still going on takes the present perfect (continuous).
  • Finished past time: yesterday, last year, in 1999 and ago take the simple past, not the present perfect.
  • Two past actions: the earlier takes the past perfect: "The train had left before we arrived".
  • After a past reporting verb (said, asked), the reported verb moves back: will becomes would, is becomes was.
  • Conditionals: if + present, will; if + past, would; if + had + participle, would have + participle. "Had I known" means "If I had known".
  • Time clauses about the future (when, until, before, as soon as) take the present: "When I see him, I will ask".
  • Unreal wishes: if only, if I were and it is high time take the past: "If I were rich", "It is high time you left".
  • Stative verbs (know, like, own, have meaning possess) are not used in the continuous.

Worked example

Find the part with the error: (a) When we reached the station, (b) the train already left, (c) so we took a taxi. (d) No error
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps

The same idea in a real exam question:

SSC CGL · 2025 · Tier I, 20 Sep 2025, Shift 1 · Q95Easy

Example 1 · Spotting Errors · Tenses and Verb Forms

Choose the most suitable option to replace the highlighted part of the sentence: My friend *lives in a village since* 2015.

The present perfect with a finished time

"I have seen the film last week" is wrong: last week is finished, so the simple past is needed, "I saw the film last week".

Will in the if or when clause

"If it will rain" and "when he will come" are wrong; the clause takes the present, and will goes in the main clause.
Drill 49 more on the tense the time words call for

Concept 2 of 2: The form a verb must take

Some words fix the form of the verb after them. A modal (will, can, should, might) takes the base form; have, has and had take the past participle; to as part of an infinitive takes the base form, but to as a preposition (object to, with a view to) takes the -ing form.

Definition

  • Modal + base form: will go, should leave, might succeed; never "will went" or "should to leave".
  • Have, has, had + past participle: has won, had gone, will have saved.
  • To as a preposition + -ing: look forward to hearing, object to waiting, with a view to becoming, used to living.
  • -ing after avoid, enjoy, mind, finish, and prevent someone from.
  • To + base form after fail, refuse, decide, and advise someone not to.
  • Passive when the subject receives the action: "He was invited by the club".
  • Demand, insist, suggest that + base form or should + base form: "that he be present".
  • Every sentence needs a finite verb: "The river flowing under the bridge" has none.

Worked example

Find the part with the error: (a) The workers had (b) finish the job (c) before the rain started. (d) No error
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps

The same idea in a real exam question:

SSC CGL · 2025 · Tier I, 13 Sep 2025, Shift 2 · Q95Easy

Example 2 · Spotting Errors · Tenses and Verb Forms

Choose the most suitable option to replace the highlighted part of the sentence: He is looking forward *to meet you soon*.

Reading every 'to' as an infinitive

In "object to", "with a view to" and "be used to", to is a preposition, so the -ing form follows, not the base verb.

The past tense in place of the participle

"Had went" and "has wrote" are wrong; after have, has and had comes the participle: gone, written.
Drill 45 more on the form a verb must take

Summary — formulas & gotchas at a glance

A revision cheat-sheet for the formulas and gotchas above. Click any concept name to jump back to its full explanation.

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Test yourself on Spotting Errors

20 past SSC CGL questions from this chapter, timed at 12 minutes and marked the way the exam marks it. You see your score and every answer the moment you finish. Free to start.

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