How To Solve Tenses And Articles Problems Quickly

July 9, 2025

How to Solve Tense and Articles

The Rules for How to Solve Tenses and Articles are fairly easy once you know how to use them in the questions. Below we have mentioned some rules in brief that can be used to solve question which needs you to answer in terms of Tenses or Articles.

If you want to learn about how to solve Tenses and Articles in details read the page thoroughly

How to Solve Tenses and Articles

How to Solve Articles

Rule 1:

When specific identity is not known use the indefinite article ‘a’ or ‘an’ only with a singular count noun. We can use ‘a’ and ‘an’

  • To highlight any non-specified member of a group or category.
    • Example, I think an animal is in the room.
  • To indicate one in number.
    • Example, I own a cat.
  • To indicate an unspecified, limited amount.
    • Example, An apple a day, keeps the doctor away.
  • We use ‘a’ before words that start with consonants and ‘an’ before words that begin with vowels.
    • Example, The first letter of the word honest is a consonant, but it’s unpronounced. In spite of its spelling, the word honest begins with a vowel sound. Therefore, we use an as an article before the word honest.

Rule 2:

When specific identity is known use the definite article ‘the’ with singular or plural, count or non-count noun. We can use ‘the’

  • When a particular noun has already been mentioned previously.
    • Example, I ate an apple yesterday. The apple was red in color.
  • An adjective, phrase, or clause describing the noun clarifies or restricts its identity.
    • Example, Thank you for the present that you gave me yesterday.
  • When the noun refers to something or someone that is unique.
    • Example, The Taj mahal was built by Shah Jahan.

Rule 3:

Use no article with plural count nouns or any non-count nouns used to mean all or in general.

There are also some common noun which do not take any article such as name of languages, sports, academic subjects.

Example,

  • I don’t like tea.
  • Cricket is my favorite sport.
  • Mr. Smith teaches us biology.
  • Paint is hard to remove.
  • I wanted to learn French.
  • She was asking for advice.
  • Women generally live longer than men.
how to solve tenses and articles

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Practice Questions - How to Solve Articles

Type 1: Indefinite Article

Question 1:

There is ——— white chemistry book on the writing desk.

A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article

Answer: option A
Explanation:

Article “a” is used with words starting with consonant sounds.

Question 2:

My friend likes to be ________________engineer.

A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article

Answer: option B
Explanation:

Article an is used with words starting with vowel sounds

Question 3:

Manjari can do the work if she has __ patience.

A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article

Answer: option D
Explanation:

Here the sentence is general in nature which does not require either a or an hence no article is used.

Type 2: Definite Article

Question 1:

_____________ Dal Bati you cooked tasted good.

A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article

Answer: The
Explanation:

Here the speaker is talking about the dish that was cooked yesterday that means a particular dish, hence we use ‘THE’.

 Question 2:

Shilpa works for a group to help ___________ disabled.

A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article

Answer: The
Explanation:

“The” is used before a noun. It is also used with the non-profitable organizations.

Question 3:

When we stayed at my Grannie’s house, we went to _____ lake every Sunday.

A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article

Answer: option C
Explanation:

“The” is used before a noun. Because there is only one lake near to grannie’s house, “the” will be used.

Learn Verbal English

How to Solve Tenses

Tenses denote the time of action. They show when the work was done, being done or will be done.

There are three types of tenses majorly as,

  • Past Tense
  • Present Tense
  • Future Tense

We have discussed them one by one  below and explained how to use them to solve Tenses questions.

 

Past Tense

The past tense in English grammar talks about the past. It is further divided into four types.

Simple Past

Used to indicate an action completed in the past.

Rule – Subject + Second form of verb (V2)

  1. Assertive Sentence: Subject + V2 + Object
    For Example- She wrote an article.
  2. Negative Sentences: Subject + didn’t + V1 + Object
    For Example: She didn’t write an article.
  3. Interrogative Sentences : Did + Subject + V1 + Object
    For Example: Did she write an article?
  4. Interrogative Negative Sentences: Did + Subject + not + V1 + Object
    For Example: Did she not write an article?

Past Continuous Tense

Used to denote an action going on at some time in the past.

Rule – Subject + was/were + verb + ing

  1. Assertive Sentence: Subject + was/were + V1+ ing + Object
    For Example: I was watching a movie.
  2. Negative Sentences: Subject + was/were + not + ing + Object
    For Example: I was not watching a movie
  3. Interrogative Sentences: Was/were + Subject + ing+ Object
    For Example: Was she watching a movie?
  4. Interrogative Sentences: Was/were + Subject + not + ing+ Object
    For Example: Was she not watching a movie?

Past Perfect Tense

Used to describe an action completed before a certain moment in the past, usually a long time ago. If two actions happened in the past, past perfect is used to show the action that took place earlier.

Rule – Subject + had + V3

  1. Assertive Sentences: Subject + had + V3 + Object
    For Example: He had gone to Paris when I called him.
  2. Negative Sentences: Subject + had + not + Object
    For Example: He had not gone to Paris when I called him.
  3. Interrogative Sentences: Had + Subject + V3 + Object
    For Example:Had he gone to Paris when you called him?
  4. Interrogative Negative Sentences: Had + Subject + not + V3 + Object
    For Example: Had he not gone to Paris when you called him?

 

Present Tense

The present tense in English grammar is used to describe actions happening now, habitual actions, general truths, and near future events. It has four types:

Simple Present Tense

Used to express general truths, habits, and regular activities.

Rule – Subject + base form of verb (V1)

  1. Assertive Sentence: Subject + V1 (or V1+s/es) + Object
    Example: She reads books every day.
  2. Negative Sentences: Subject + do/does + not + V1 + Object
    Example: She does not read books every day.
  3. Interrogative Sentences: Do/Does + Subject + V1 + Object
    Example: Does she read books every day?
  4. Interrogative Negative Sentences: Do/Does + Subject + not + V1 + Object
    Example: Does she not read books every day?

Present Continuous Tense

Used to describe actions happening right now or ongoing actions.

Rule – Subject + is/am/are + verb + ing

  1. Assertive Sentence: Subject + is/am/are + V1 + ing + Object
    Example: He is playing football.
  2. Negative Sentences: Subject + is/am/are + not + V1 + ing + Object
    Example: He is not playing football.
  3. Interrogative Sentences: Is/Am/Are + Subject + V1 + ing + Object
    Example: Is he playing football?
  4. Interrogative Negative Sentences: Is/Am/Are + Subject + not + V1 + ing + Object
    Example: Is he not playing football?

Present Perfect Tense

Used to describe actions completed recently or actions with results connected to the present.

Rule – Subject + has/have + V3

  1. Assertive Sentence: Subject + has/have + V3 + Object
    Example: She has finished her homework.
  2. Negative Sentences: Subject + has/have + not + V3 + Object
    Example: She has not finished her homework.
  3. Interrogative Sentences: Has/Have + Subject + V3 + Object
    Example: Has she finished her homework?
  4. Interrogative Negative Sentences: Has/Have + Subject + not + V3 + Object
    Example: Has she not finished her homework?

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Used to describe an action that started in the past and is still continuing.

Rule – Subject + has/have + been + verb + ing

  1. Assertive Sentence: Subject + has/have + been + V1 + ing + Object
    Example: They have been studying since morning.
  2. Negative Sentences: Subject + has/have + not + been + V1 + ing + Object
    Example: They have not been studying since morning.
  3. Interrogative Sentences: Has/Have + Subject + been + V1 + ing + Object
    Example: Have they been studying since morning?
  4. Interrogative Negative Sentences: Has/Have + Subject + not + been + V1 + ing + Object
    Example: Have they not been studying since morning?

 

Future Tense

Future tense is used to talk about actions that will happen in the future. It has four types:

Simple Future Tense

Used to describe actions that will happen in the future.

Rule – Subject + will/shall + base form of verb (V1)

  1. Assertive Sentence: Subject + will/shall + V1 + Object
    Example: She will start her new job tomorrow.
  2. Negative Sentences: Subject + will/shall + not + V1 + Object
    Example: She will not start her new job tomorrow.
  3. Interrogative Sentences: Will/Shall + Subject + V1 + Object
    Example: Will she start her new job tomorrow?
  4. Interrogative Negative Sentences: Will/Shall + Subject + not + V1 + Object
    Example: Will she not start her new job tomorrow?

Future Continuous Tense

Used to describe actions that will be ongoing at a certain time in the future.

Rule – Subject + will/shall + be + verb + ing

  1. Assertive Sentence: Subject + will/shall + be + V1 + ing + Object
    Example: He will be working on the project tomorrow.
  2. Negative Sentences: Subject + will/shall + not + be + V1 + ing + Object
    Example: He will not be working on the project tomorrow.
  3. Interrogative Sentences: Will/Shall + Subject + be + V1 + ing + Object
    Example: Will he be working on the project tomorrow?
  4. Interrogative Negative Sentences: Will/Shall + Subject + not + be + V1 + ing + Object
    Example: Will he not be working on the project tomorrow?

Future Perfect Tense

Used to describe actions that will be completed before a certain time in the future.

Rule – Subject + will/shall + have + V3

  1. Assertive Sentence: Subject + will/shall + have + V3 + Object
    Example: She will have completed the task by evening.
  2. Negative Sentences: Subject + will/shall + not + have + V3 + Object
    Example: She will not have completed the task by evening.
  3. Interrogative Sentences: Will/Shall + Subject + have + V3 + Object
    Example: Will she have completed the task by evening?
  4. Interrogative Negative Sentences: Will/Shall + Subject + not + have + V3 + Object
    Example: Will she not have completed the task by evening?

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

Used to describe actions that will continue up to a point in the future.

Rule – Subject + will/shall + have been + verb + ing

  1. Assertive Sentence: Subject + will/shall + have been + V1 + ing + Object
    Example: He will have been working here for five years by next month.
  2. Negative Sentences: Subject + will/shall + not + have been + V1 + ing + Object
    Example: He will not have been working here for five years by next month.
  3. Interrogative Sentences: Will/Shall + Subject + have been + V1 + ing + Object
    Example: Will he have been working here for five years by next month?
  4. Interrogative Negative Sentences: Will/Shall + Subject + not + have been + V1 + ing + Object
    Example: Will he not have been working here for five years by next month?

Also Check Out

Articles and Tenses Question and Answers
Shortcuts, Tips and Tricks For Article and Tenses
Rules To Solve Articles and Tenses Quickly

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