With time zone questions appearing in different forms in various sub-sections of Verbal Ability section in CAT, your VA prep strategy must include a detailed preparation of With time zone questions appearing in different forms in various sub-sections of Verbal Ability section in CAT, your VA prep strategy must include a detailed preparation of basics of different Tenses.
The time zone questions do not only find their ways in VA section on errors correction, but they also form a part of questions related to vocabulary usage. Questions related to Indefinite Tenses, however, are considered the easiest in all time zones as they represent real time – especially in present and past indefinite Tenses.
Though CAT carries most of the questions from this easiest part, the CAT Aspirants still tend to commit mistakes because of their petty errors.
This article brings you a few tips on avoiding common mistakes in usage of Indefinite Tenses.
Present Indefinite
It is used to express habitual action, general or eternal truths, the actions that take place in present, to introduce quotations, to express a future event that is part of a fixed timetable or programme. It is used to denote customary and permanent actions or states.
To emphasize the statement the Auxiliary Verbs 'do' or 'does' are used even in the Affirmative Sentences. For example: -
1. I do teach students honestly and efficiently.
2. She does love her children.
Past Indefinite
It is used to express such an action, completed in the past. It is also used to indicate past habits. It is used to denote a customary or a separate action referring to the past. (The time of the action may be indicated by adverbs of past time – yesterday, a week ago, last month, two days ago, etc.)
Key examples:
It often rained last summer. He was at home yesterday.
Parallelism - He entered the room, took off his coat and set to work
Repeat action in the past- It is often expressed by used to +Infinitive or would + Infinitive.
E.g.- I used to bathe before going out of my house. He would join me on the beach every morning.
Important - Some times past tense may refer to present time and present tense to future time e.g.
I wish I attended the conference. (I am sorry, I cannot attend the same)
Let us wait under the canopy till the rain stops. (Present tense for future action)
Future Indefinite
It is used to express the actions which are supposed to be undertaken in future and we have no control over them. What we believe or think, likely to happen in future, is expressed in this tense. We sometimes use simple present tense to express the future as well.
Examples - I shall call on you when (if) I am free. (I may or may not be free in a shortwhile, so I can call if I am free – my call to you depends on external circumstances.
What is so important – Remember such sentences have two clauses – 1) Main clause which is in fact dependant on fulfillment of an external condition e.g. I shall call on you, and 2) conditional if clause – When or If I am free.
Important rule with such sentence is – If/when/unless/until etc. Conditional clauses are supposed to be written in Present Tense while main or Principal clause should be in Future Indefinite Tense.
Future indefinite tense is also used to express what we think or believe will happen in the future.
For example- I am sure India will win the match. I think I shall get through the examination.
Indefinite Tenses in CAT - Questions based on the usage of Indefinite Tenses have frequently been asked in various CAT examinations. A few sentences/parts of such questions are placed below –
Direction- Below is given the sentences in which a part or the complete sentence has been underlined. Four options follow each question. The first of these repeats the original; the other three are different. If you think the original is the best, choose option A, else pick out the most appropriate option which, in your view expresses the best way of writing Standard English.
1. He has the same capacity as an adult of consents to surgical treatment.
A. He has the same capacity as an adult of consents to surgical treatment.
B. He has the same capacity as an adult to consent to surgical treatment.
C. He has the same capacity as an adult of consent to surgical treatment.
D. He has the same capacity as the adult for consents to surgical treatment.
1.A 2. B 3.C 4.D
2. She had managed to bite back the caustic retort on the tip of her tongue, while talking to her mother-in-law a few days ago.
A. She had managed to bite back the caustic retort on the tip of her tongue, while talking to her mother-in-law a few days ago.
B. She had been managing to bite back the caustic retort on the tip of her tongue, while talking to her mother-in-law a few days ago.
C. She would have managed to bite back the caustic retort on the tip of her tongue, while talked to her mother-in-law a few days ago.
D. She managed to bite back the caustic retort on the tip of her tongue, while talking to her mother-in-law a few days ago.
1.A 2.B 3.C 4.D
3. The prisoner’s internment has come to an end with his early release, proposed after a few days.
A. The prisoner’s internment has come to an end with his early release, proposed after a few days.
B. The prisoner’s internment came to an end with his early release, proposed after a few days.
C. The prisoner’s internment had come to an end with his early release, proposed after a few days.
D. The prisoner’s internment will come to an end with his early release, proposed after a few days
1.A 2.B 3.C 4.D
Answers to questions with explanation
Ans. Q.1 - 2B- He has the same capacity as an adult to consent to surgical treatment.( Pr. Ind.-infinitive used)
Ans. Q.2 - 4.D- She managed to bite back the caustic retort on the tip of her tongue, while talking to her mother-in-law a few days ago.( Past Ind. to be used with ‘Ago’)
Ans. Q.3 - 4.D The prisoner’s internment will come to an end with his early release, proposed after a few days. ( Not yet released, will be released after a few days.
A piece of Advice to aspirants – Time zone in CAT needs your comprehensive understanding of the question. Do not leave them to chance since a common error might skip the attention during the course of reading the question. The aspirants should not only understand the rules but also attempt as many exercises as they can.
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