KEY TO PASSAGE-BASED EXERCISES [Set 2] TO STRENGTHEN STUDENTS’ UNDERSTANDING OF TENSE

 

[Set 2] Passage 1 – Present → Past

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Past Tense. Make all necessary changes in the verbs, auxiliary verbs, time expressions, and other grammatical structures.

Every morning, Dr. Sen examines the patients who are waiting outside his clinic. He listens carefully to their complaints and checks their medical records before he prescribes any treatment. If a patient has been suffering from a serious illness, he refers the person to a specialist. Although he has a busy schedule, he never refuses to see an emergency case. He believes that a doctor must remain patient and attentive because a small mistake can sometimes have serious consequences. After he finishes his work, he usually reviews the cases he has dealt with during the day.

Answers Every morning, Dr. Sen examined the patients who were waiting outside his clinic. He listened carefully to their complaints and checked their medical records before he prescribed any treatment. If a patient had been suffering from a serious illness, he referred the person to a specialist. Although he had a busy schedule, he never refused to see an emergency case. He believed that a doctor had to remain patient and attentive because a small mistake could sometimes have serious consequences. After he finished his work, he usually reviewed the cases he had dealt with during the day.

Passage 2 – Present → Past + 3rd Person → 1st Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Past Tense and change Arjun/he/his/him into I/my/me. Make all necessary changes in verbs, pronouns, possessive words, and time expressions.

Arjun says that he is preparing for an important examination and that he has been following a strict study schedule for several weeks. He gets up before sunrise, revises the lessons he has studied the previous day, and then attends his classes. Whenever he finds a difficult topic, he discusses it with his teacher instead of ignoring it. He knows that he will not perform well if he does not manage his time properly. Although he sometimes feels exhausted, he continues working because he has promised himself that he will complete the entire syllabus before the examination begins.

Answers I said that I was preparing for an important examination and that I had been following a strict study schedule for several weeks. I got up before sunrise, revised the lessons I had studied the previous day, and then attended my classes. Whenever I found a difficult topic, I discussed it with my teacher instead of ignoring it. I knew that I would not perform well if I did not manage my time properly. Although I sometimes felt exhausted, I continued working because I had promised myself that I would complete the entire syllabus before the examination began.

Passage 3 – Past → Present + 1st Person → 3rd Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Present Tense and change I/my/me into Maya/she/her. Make all necessary changes in verbs, pronouns, possessive words, and time expressions.

I had planned to visit the old library last Saturday because I wanted to find some books that I had been searching for. When I reached the library, I discovered that the librarian had already arranged the books according to their subjects. I looked through several shelves before I found the section I needed. While I was examining an old history book, I noticed that someone had written several useful notes in the margin. I copied the important references into my notebook and decided that I would return the following week to study the book more carefully.

Answers Maya plans to visit the old library because she wants to find some books that she has been searching for. When she reaches the library, she discovers that the librarian has already arranged the books according to their subjects. She looks through several shelves before she finds the section she needs. While she is examining an old history book, she notices that someone has written several useful notes in the margin. She copies the important references into her notebook and decides that she will return the following week to study the book more carefully.

Passage 4 – Present → Past + 3rd Person → 2nd Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Past Tense and address Riya directly, changing Riya/she/her into you/your. Make all necessary changes in verbs, pronouns, possessive words, and time expressions.

Riya usually begins her day by reviewing the tasks she has planned for herself. She knows that she cannot accomplish everything at once, so she gives priority to the most important tasks. If she has been working continuously for several hours, she takes a short break before she resumes her work. She does not allow temporary difficulties to discourage her because she believes that persistence is more important than immediate success. By the end of the day, she checks whether she has completed everything she had planned and makes a note of anything that needs to be done the next morning.

Answers You usually began your day by reviewing the tasks you had planned for yourself. You knew that you could not accomplish everything at once, so you gave priority to the most important tasks. If you had been working continuously for several hours, you took a short break before you resumed your work. You did not allow temporary difficulties to discourage you because you believed that persistence was more important than immediate success. By the end of the day, you checked whether you had completed everything you had planned and made a note of anything that needed to be done the next morning.

Passage 5 – Past → Present + 3rd Person → 1st Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Present Tense and change Rahul/he/his/him into I/my/me. Make all necessary changes in verbs, pronouns, possessive words, and time expressions.

Rahul had been working on a science project for nearly a month when he finally discovered the reason why his experiment was not producing the expected result. He had already changed several parts of the procedure, but none of them had worked. After he consulted his teacher, he realised that he had been using the wrong measurement from the beginning. He corrected the mistake and repeated the experiment. Although he had wasted several days, he did not feel disappointed because he had learned something valuable from the failure. He decided that he would record every stage of his future experiments more carefully.

Answers I have been working on a science project for nearly a month when I finally discover the reason why my experiment is not producing the expected result. I have already changed several parts of the procedure, but none of them has worked. After I consult my teacher, I realise that I have been using the wrong measurement from the beginning. I correct the mistake and repeat the experiment. Although I have wasted several days, I do not feel disappointed because I have learned something valuable from the failure. I decide that I will record every stage of my future experiments more carefully.

Passage 6 – Present → Past + Complex Time Relationships

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Past Tense. Pay particular attention to the use of the Past Perfect, Past Continuous, and Past Perfect Continuous where necessary.

When the rescue team reaches the village, several families are waiting near the temporary shelter. The villagers have been staying there since the river overflowed its banks two days earlier. While the volunteers are distributing food and blankets, the medical team examines those who need immediate attention. The officer in charge informs the villagers that the authorities have already arranged transport for people whose houses have been damaged. By evening, the water level begins to fall, and the villagers become hopeful that they will be able to return home soon.

Answers When the rescue team reached the village, several families were waiting near the temporary shelter. The villagers had been staying there since the river had overflowed its banks two days earlier. While the volunteers were distributing food and blankets, the medical team examined those who needed immediate attention. The officer in charge informed the villagers that the authorities had already arranged transport for people whose houses had been damaged. By evening, the water level began to fall, and the villagers became hopeful that they would be able to return home soon.

Passage 7 – 1st Person → 3rd Person + Present → Past

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Past Tense and change I/my/me into Neha/she/her. Make all necessary changes in pronouns, possessive words, verbs, and other grammatical structures.

I know that I have not always made the right decisions, but I try to learn from my mistakes. Whenever I realise that I have behaved unfairly towards someone, I apologise without making excuses. I believe that people become stronger when they accept responsibility for their actions. Last year, I was facing a difficult situation at college, and I was unsure about what I should do. Instead of making a quick decision, I spoke to my teachers and considered the consequences carefully. Their advice helped me understand what I had been overlooking, and I eventually made a decision that I have never regretted.

Answers Neha knew that she had not always made the right decisions, but she tried to learn from her mistakes. Whenever she realised that she had behaved unfairly towards someone, she apologised without making excuses. She believed that people became stronger when they accepted responsibility for their actions. The previous year, she was facing a difficult situation at college, and she was unsure about what she should do. Instead of making a quick decision, she spoke to her teachers and considered the consequences carefully. Their advice helped her understand what she had been overlooking, and she eventually made a decision that she never regretted.

Passage 8 – Mixed Tenses → Past

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Past Tense. Preserve the meaning and make all necessary changes in the sequence of tenses.

Anita is writing an article about a village that has changed considerably over the last decade. She has interviewed several elderly residents who remember how the village looked when they were young. One of them tells her that the road used to become almost impossible to cross during the rainy season. Another resident explains that the villagers have recently built a small bridge across the stream. Anita is surprised to learn that the villagers themselves have collected most of the money required for the project. She believes that their efforts show how a community can solve its problems when people work together.

Answers Anita was writing an article about a village that had changed considerably over the previous decade. She had interviewed several elderly residents who remembered how the village had looked when they were young. One of them told her that the road used to become almost impossible to cross during the rainy season. Another resident explained that the villagers had recently built a small bridge across the stream. Anita was surprised to learn that the villagers themselves had collected most of the money required for the project. She believed that their efforts showed how a community could solve its problems when people worked together.

Passage 9 – 3rd Person → 1st Person + Past → Present

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Present Tense and change Vikram/he/his/him into I/my/me. Make all necessary changes in pronouns, possessive words, verbs, and time expressions.

Vikram had never imagined that he would one day become interested in astronomy. When he was at school, he rarely paid attention to lessons about space because he thought they were too difficult. His attitude changed after he watched a documentary about the possibility of life on other planets. Since then, he has been reading books and articles about astronomy whenever he has free time. He has also joined an online group where people discuss recent discoveries in space science. Although he still has much to learn, he feels that his understanding of the universe has gradually improved.

Answers I have never imagined that I would one day become interested in astronomy. When I am at school, I rarely pay attention to lessons about space because I think they are too difficult. My attitude changes after I watch a documentary about the possibility of life on other planets. Since then, I have been reading books and articles about astronomy whenever I have free time. I have also joined an online group where people discuss recent discoveries in space science. Although I still have much to learn, I feel that my understanding of the universe has gradually improved.

Passage 10 – Advanced Mixed Transformation

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Past Tense and change Sanjay/he/his/him into I/my/me. Make all necessary changes in verbs, pronouns, possessive words, reported speech, conditionals, and time expressions.

Sanjay believes that he has finally understood why his first attempt at starting a small business failed. He admits that he had not studied the market carefully enough and that he had assumed that customers would automatically prefer his product. When he begins his second venture, he plans to conduct proper research before investing his savings. He also says that if he encounters a difficulty, he will seek advice instead of trying to solve everything on his own. His experience has taught him that success does not depend only on having a good idea; it also requires patience, careful planning, and the willingness to learn from mistakes. He hopes that if he applies what he has learned, he will be able to build a more successful business in the future.

Answers I believed that I had finally understood why my first attempt at starting a small business had failed. I admitted that I had not studied the market carefully enough and that I had assumed that customers would automatically prefer my product. When I began my second venture, I planned to conduct proper research before investing my savings. I also said that if I encountered a difficulty, I would seek advice instead of trying to solve everything on my own. My experience had taught me that success did not depend only on having a good idea; it also required patience, careful planning, and the willingness to learn from mistakes. I hoped that if I applied what I had learned, I would be able to build a more successful business in the future.

PASSAGE-BASED EXERCISES [Set 2] TO STRENGTHEN STUDENTS’ UNDERSTANDING OF TENSE

 

[Set 2] Passage 1 – Present → Past

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Past Tense. Make all necessary changes in the verbs, auxiliary verbs, time expressions, and other grammatical structures.

Every morning, Dr. Sen examines the patients who are waiting outside his clinic. He listens carefully to their complaints and checks their medical records before he prescribes any treatment. If a patient has been suffering from a serious illness, he refers the person to a specialist. Although he has a busy schedule, he never refuses to see an emergency case. He believes that a doctor must remain patient and attentive because a small mistake can sometimes have serious consequences. After he finishes his work, he usually reviews the cases he has dealt with during the day.

Passage 2 – Present → Past + 3rd Person → 1st Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Past Tense and change Arjun/he/his/him into I/my/me. Make all necessary changes in verbs, pronouns, possessive words, and time expressions.

Arjun says that he is preparing for an important examination and that he has been following a strict study schedule for several weeks. He gets up before sunrise, revises the lessons he has studied the previous day, and then attends his classes. Whenever he finds a difficult topic, he discusses it with his teacher instead of ignoring it. He knows that he will not perform well if he does not manage his time properly. Although he sometimes feels exhausted, he continues working because he has promised himself that he will complete the entire syllabus before the examination begins.

Passage 3 – Past → Present + 1st Person → 3rd Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Present Tense and change I/my/me into Maya/she/her. Make all necessary changes in verbs, pronouns, possessive words, and time expressions.

I had planned to visit the old library last Saturday because I wanted to find some books that I had been searching for. When I reached the library, I discovered that the librarian had already arranged the books according to their subjects. I looked through several shelves before I found the section I needed. While I was examining an old history book, I noticed that someone had written several useful notes in the margin. I copied the important references into my notebook and decided that I would return the following week to study the book more carefully.

Passage 4 – Present → Past + 3rd Person → 2nd Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Past Tense and address Riya directly, changing Riya/she/her into you/your. Make all necessary changes in verbs, pronouns, possessive words, and time expressions.

Riya usually begins her day by reviewing the tasks she has planned for herself. She knows that she cannot accomplish everything at once, so she gives priority to the most important tasks. If she has been working continuously for several hours, she takes a short break before she resumes her work. She does not allow temporary difficulties to discourage her because she believes that persistence is more important than immediate success. By the end of the day, she checks whether she has completed everything she had planned and makes a note of anything that needs to be done the next morning.

Passage 5 – Past → Present + 3rd Person → 1st Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Present Tense and change Rahul/he/his/him into I/my/me. Make all necessary changes in verbs, pronouns, possessive words, and time expressions.

Rahul had been working on a science project for nearly a month when he finally discovered the reason why his experiment was not producing the expected result. He had already changed several parts of the procedure, but none of them had worked. After he consulted his teacher, he realised that he had been using the wrong measurement from the beginning. He corrected the mistake and repeated the experiment. Although he had wasted several days, he did not feel disappointed because he had learned something valuable from the failure. He decided that he would record every stage of his future experiments more carefully.

Passage 6 – Present → Past + Complex Time Relationships

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Past Tense. Pay particular attention to the use of the Past Perfect, Past Continuous, and Past Perfect Continuous where necessary.

When the rescue team reaches the village, several families are waiting near the temporary shelter. The villagers have been staying there since the river overflowed its banks two days earlier. While the volunteers are distributing food and blankets, the medical team examines those who need immediate attention. The officer in charge informs the villagers that the authorities have already arranged transport for people whose houses have been damaged. By evening, the water level begins to fall, and the villagers become hopeful that they will be able to return home soon.

Passage 7 – 1st Person → 3rd Person + Present → Past

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Past Tense and change I/my/me into Neha/she/her. Make all necessary changes in pronouns, possessive words, verbs, and other grammatical structures.

I know that I have not always made the right decisions, but I try to learn from my mistakes. Whenever I realise that I have behaved unfairly towards someone, I apologise without making excuses. I believe that people become stronger when they accept responsibility for their actions. Last year, I was facing a difficult situation at college, and I was unsure about what I should do. Instead of making a quick decision, I spoke to my teachers and considered the consequences carefully. Their advice helped me understand what I had been overlooking, and I eventually made a decision that I have never regretted.

Passage 8 – Mixed Tenses → Past

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Past Tense. Preserve the meaning and make all necessary changes in the sequence of tenses.

Anita is writing an article about a village that has changed considerably over the last decade. She has interviewed several elderly residents who remember how the village looked when they were young. One of them tells her that the road used to become almost impossible to cross during the rainy season. Another resident explains that the villagers have recently built a small bridge across the stream. Anita is surprised to learn that the villagers themselves have collected most of the money required for the project. She believes that their efforts show how a community can solve its problems when people work together.

Passage 9 – 3rd Person → 1st Person + Past → Present

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Present Tense and change Vikram/he/his/him into I/my/me. Make all necessary changes in pronouns, possessive words, verbs, and time expressions.

Vikram had never imagined that he would one day become interested in astronomy. When he was at school, he rarely paid attention to lessons about space because he thought they were too difficult. His attitude changed after he watched a documentary about the possibility of life on other planets. Since then, he has been reading books and articles about astronomy whenever he has free time. He has also joined an online group where people discuss recent discoveries in space science. Although he still has much to learn, he feels that his understanding of the universe has gradually improved.

Passage 10 – Advanced Mixed Transformation

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Past Tense and change Sanjay/he/his/him into I/my/me. Make all necessary changes in verbs, pronouns, possessive words, reported speech, conditionals, and time expressions.

Sanjay believes that he has finally understood why his first attempt at starting a small business failed. He admits that he had not studied the market carefully enough and that he had assumed that customers would automatically prefer his product. When he begins his second venture, he plans to conduct proper research before investing his savings. He also says that if he encounters a difficulty, he will seek advice instead of trying to solve everything on his own. His experience has taught him that success does not depend only on having a good idea; it also requires patience, careful planning, and the willingness to learn from mistakes. He hopes that if he applies what he has learned, he will be able to build a more successful business in the future.

KEY TO PASSAGE-BASED EXERCISES [Set 1] TO STRENGTHEN STUDENTS’ UNDERSTANDING OF TENSE

 

Answers to the 10 Passage Exercises

Here are 10 passage-based exercises designed to strengthen students’ understanding of tense changes, person changes (3rd → 1st/2nd person), pronoun changes, and related grammatical adjustments.

Passage 1 – Change Present into Past

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Past Tense. Make all necessary changes in the verbs and other words.
Ravi gets up early every morning. He brushes his teeth and takes a bath. Then he has his breakfast and goes to school. He meets his friends there and attends his classes attentively. After school, he returns home and completes his homework. In the evening, he plays cricket with his friends.

KEY TO Passage 1 – Present → Past

Ravi got up early every morning. He brushed his teeth and took a bath. Then he had his breakfast and went to school. He met his friends there and attended his classes attentively. After school, he returned home and completed his homework. In the evening, he played cricket with his friends.

Passage 2 – Change 3rd Person into 1st Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage by changing the 3rd person (he) into the 1st person (I). Make all necessary changes in pronouns, possessive words and verbs.
Arun says that he is very happy because he has completed his project. He tells his teacher that he has worked hard on it. His teacher praises him and says that he has done an excellent job. Arun thanks her and promises that he will work even harder in the future.

KEY TO Passage 2 – 3rd Person → 1st Person

I say that I am very happy because I have completed my project. I tell my teacher that I have worked hard on it. My teacher praises me and says that I have done an excellent job. I thank her and promise that I will work even harder in the future.

Passage 3 – Change 3rd Person into 2nd Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage by changing the 3rd person (she) into the 2nd person (you). Make all necessary changes in pronouns, possessive words and verbs.
Meena says that she studies regularly and completes her homework on time. She tells her mother that she always follows her advice. Her mother is pleased with her and tells her that she is a sincere student. Meena promises that she will continue to work hard.

KEY TO Passage 3 – 3rd Person → 2nd Person

You say that you study regularly and complete your homework on time. You tell your mother that you always follow her advice. Your mother is pleased with you and tells you that you are a sincere student. You promise that you will continue to work hard.

Passage 4 – Change Present into Past and 3rd Person into 1st Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Past Tense and change the 3rd person (he) into the 1st person (I). Make all necessary changes.
Sohan says that he is going to the market because he needs some vegetables. He takes a bag with him and walks to the market. He meets his neighbour there, who asks him where he is going. Sohan tells him that he wants to buy some fresh vegetables for his family. He returns home after he buys everything he needs.

KEY TO Passage 4 – Present → Past + 3rd Person → 1st Person

I said that I was going to the market because I needed some vegetables. I took a bag with me and walked to the market. I met my neighbour there, who asked me where I was going. I told him that I wanted to buy some fresh vegetables for my family. I returned home after I had bought everything I needed.

Passage 5 – Change Past into Present and 1st Person into 3rd Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Present Tense and change the 1st person (I) into the 3rd person (Rina/she). Make all necessary changes.
I went to the library yesterday because I wanted to borrow a book. I met my friend there and we discussed our studies. I searched the shelves and found an interesting book on history. I borrowed it and promised myself that I would read it carefully. When I returned home, I showed the book to my brother.

KEY TO Passage 5 – Past → Present + 1st Person → 3rd Person

Rina goes to the library because she wants to borrow a book. She meets her friend there and they discuss their studies. She searches the shelves and finds an interesting book on history. She borrows it and promises herself that she will read it carefully. When she returns home, she shows the book to her brother.

Passage 6 – Change Present into Past

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Past Tense. Make all necessary changes in the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions.
Every morning, Rohan wakes up before sunrise and goes for a walk in the park near his house. He enjoys watching the birds and listening to their songs. After his walk, he returns home, takes a bath, and has his breakfast. His mother prepares a healthy meal for him and reminds him to carry his lunch to school. Rohan leaves home at eight o’clock and reaches school before the bell rings. He attends all his classes carefully and takes notes whenever his teachers explain something important. During the lunch break, he sits with his friends and discusses the lessons they have studied. After school, he comes home, rests for a while, and completes his homework. In the evening, he plays football with his friends before returning home for dinner.

KEY TO Passage 6 – Present → Past

Every morning, Rohan woke up before sunrise and went for a walk in the park near his house. He enjoyed watching the birds and listening to their songs. After his walk, he returned home, took a bath, and had his breakfast. His mother prepared a healthy meal for him and reminded him to carry his lunch to school. Rohan left home at eight o’clock and reached school before the bell rang. He attended all his classes carefully and took notes whenever his teachers explained something important. During the lunch break, he sat with his friends and discussed the lessons they had studied. After school, he came home, rested for a while, and completed his homework. In the evening, he played football with his friends before returning home for dinner.

Passage 7 – Change 3rd Person into 1st Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage by changing the 3rd person (Anita/she) into the 1st person (I). Make all necessary changes in pronouns, possessive words, and verbs.
Anita says that she loves reading books because they give her new ideas and help her understand the world better. She usually spends an hour in the library after her classes. She chooses books carefully and often borrows stories written by famous authors. Her English teacher encourages her to read different kinds of books and tells her that regular reading improves her vocabulary. Anita follows her teacher’s advice and keeps a small notebook in which she writes down new words. She also tries to use these words while speaking and writing. Whenever she finds a difficult word, she looks for its meaning and writes an example sentence. She believes that this habit makes her more confident in English. She hopes that she will be able to read longer and more difficult books in the future.

KEY TO Passage 7 – 3rd Person → 1st Person

I say that I love reading books because they give me new ideas and help me understand the world better. I usually spend an hour in the library after my classes. I choose books carefully and often borrow stories written by famous authors. My English teacher encourages me to read different kinds of books and tells me that regular reading improves my vocabulary. I follow her advice and keep a small notebook in which I write down new words. I also try to use these words while speaking and writing. Whenever I find a difficult word, I look for its meaning and write an example sentence. I believe that this habit makes me more confident in English. I hope that I will be able to read longer and more difficult books in the future.

Passage 8 – Change 3rd Person into 2nd Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage by changing the third person (Rahul/he/his/him) into the second person (you/your). Make all necessary changes in pronouns, possessive words, and verbs.

Rahul knows that he should develop good habits if he wants to become successful. He gets up early, keeps his room clean, and completes his work on time. He also listens carefully to his teachers and respects his parents. Rahul understands that success does not come in a single day and that he must work patiently towards his goals. He believes that when he makes a mistake, he should learn from it instead of losing hope. Rahul spends less time on unnecessary activities and more time on useful things such as reading, exercising, and learning new skills. He knows that if he follows these good habits sincerely, he will gradually become more disciplined and confident.

KEY TO Passage 8 – 3rd Person → 2nd Person

You know that you should develop good habits if you want to become successful. You get up early, keep your room clean, and complete your work on time. You also listen carefully to your teachers and respect your parents. You understand that success does not come in a single day and that you must work patiently towards your goals. You believe that when you make a mistake, you should learn from it instead of losing hope. You spend less time on unnecessary activities and more time on useful things such as reading, exercising, and learning new skills. You know that if you follow these good habits sincerely, you will gradually become more disciplined and confident.

Passage 9 – Change Present into Past and 3rd Person into 1st Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Past Tense and change the 3rd person (Suman/she) into the 1st person (I). Make all necessary changes in verbs, pronouns, possessive words, and time expressions.
Suman gets up early because she has an important examination at school. She knows that she has to revise several chapters before leaving home. She sits at her study table and goes through her notes carefully. Her mother brings her a glass of milk and tells her not to worry. Suman thanks her mother and continues studying. After she revises all the important topics, she packs her books and leaves for school. On the way, she meets two of her classmates, who ask her whether she is prepared for the examination. She tells them that she has revised everything but is still a little nervous. When they reach the school, the examination hall is already open. Suman takes her seat, reads the instructions carefully, and begins writing her answers when the teacher tells the students to start. She feels more confident as she remembers what she has studied.

KEY TO Passage 9 – Present → Past + 3rd Person → 1st Person

I got up early because I had an important examination at school. I knew that I had to revise several chapters before leaving home. I sat at my study table and went through my notes carefully. My mother brought me a glass of milk and told me not to worry. I thanked her and continued studying. After I had revised all the important topics, I packed my books and left for school. On the way, I met two of my classmates, who asked me whether I was prepared for the examination. I told them that I had revised everything but was still a little nervous. When we reached the school, the examination hall was already open. I took my seat, read the instructions carefully, and began writing my answers when the teacher told the students to start. I felt more confident as I remembered what I had studied.

Passage 10 – Change Past into Present and 1st Person into 3rd Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Present Tense and change the 1st person (I) into the 3rd person (Amit/he). Make all necessary changes in verbs, pronouns, possessive words, and time expressions.
I visited my grandfather last Sunday because I wanted to spend some time with him. I reached his village in the morning and found him sitting in the garden. He welcomed me warmly and asked me about my studies. I told him that I was preparing for my final examination and that I had been studying regularly. He advised me to remain calm and make a proper timetable. After lunch, I accompanied him to the fields and watched the farmers working there. He explained to me how the crops were grown and why the farmers had to depend on the weather. In the afternoon, I helped him arrange some books in his study. Before I left, he gave me an old book and told me that it would teach me many valuable lessons. I thanked him and promised that I would visit him again soon.

KEY TO Passage 10 – Past → Present + 1st Person → 3rd Person

Amit visits his grandfather because he wants to spend some time with him. He reaches his village in the morning and finds him sitting in the garden. His grandfather welcomes him warmly and asks him about his studies. Amit tells him that he is preparing for his final examination and that he has been studying regularly. His grandfather advises him to remain calm and make a proper timetable. After lunch, Amit accompanies him to the fields and watches the farmers working there. His grandfather explains to him how the crops are grown and why the farmers have to depend on the weather. In the afternoon, Amit helps him arrange some books in his study. Before he leaves, his grandfather gives him an old book and tells him that it will teach him many valuable lessons. Amit thanks him and promises that he will visit him again soon.

 

PASSAGE-BASED EXERCISES [Set 1] TO STRENGTHEN STUDENTS’ UNDERSTANDING OF TENSE

 

Here are 10 passage-based exercises designed to strengthen students’ understanding of tense changes, person changes (3rd → 1st/2nd person), pronoun changes, and related grammatical adjustments.

Passage 1 – Change Present into Past

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Past Tense. Make all necessary changes in the verbs and other words.
Ravi gets up early every morning. He brushes his teeth and takes a bath. Then he has his breakfast and goes to school. He meets his friends there and attends his classes attentively. After school, he returns home and completes his homework. In the evening, he plays cricket with his friends.

Passage 2 – Change 3rd Person into 1st Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage by changing the 3rd person (he) into the 1st person (I). Make all necessary changes in pronouns, possessive words and verbs.
Arun says that he is very happy because he has completed his project. He tells his teacher that he has worked hard on it. His teacher praises him and says that he has done an excellent job. Arun thanks her and promises that he will work even harder in the future.

Passage 3 – Change 3rd Person into 2nd Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage by changing the 3rd person (she) into the 2nd person (you). Make all necessary changes in pronouns, possessive words and verbs.
Meena says that she studies regularly and completes her homework on time. She tells her mother that she always follows her advice. Her mother is pleased with her and tells her that she is a sincere student. Meena promises that she will continue to work hard.

Passage 4 – Change Present into Past and 3rd Person into 1st Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Past Tense and change the 3rd person (he) into the 1st person (I). Make all necessary changes.
Sohan says that he is going to the market because he needs some vegetables. He takes a bag with him and walks to the market. He meets his neighbour there, who asks him where he is going. Sohan tells him that he wants to buy some fresh vegetables for his family. He returns home after he buys everything he needs.

Passage 5 – Change Past into Present and 1st Person into 3rd Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Present Tense and change the 1st person (I) into the 3rd person (Rina/she). Make all necessary changes.
I went to the library yesterday because I wanted to borrow a book. I met my friend there and we discussed our studies. I searched the shelves and found an interesting book on history. I borrowed it and promised myself that I would read it carefully. When I returned home, I showed the book to my brother.

Passage 6 – Change Present into Past

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Past Tense. Make all necessary changes in the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions.
Every morning, Rohan wakes up before sunrise and goes for a walk in the park near his house. He enjoys watching the birds and listening to their songs. After his walk, he returns home, takes a bath, and has his breakfast. His mother prepares a healthy meal for him and reminds him to carry his lunch to school. Rohan leaves home at eight o’clock and reaches school before the bell rings. He attends all his classes carefully and takes notes whenever his teachers explain something important. During the lunch break, he sits with his friends and discusses the lessons they have studied. After school, he comes home, rests for a while, and completes his homework. In the evening, he plays football with his friends before returning home for dinner.

Passage 7 – Change 3rd Person into 1st Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage by changing the 3rd person (Anita/she) into the 1st person (I). Make all necessary changes in pronouns, possessive words, and verbs.
Anita says that she loves reading books because they give her new ideas and help her understand the world better. She usually spends an hour in the library after her classes. She chooses books carefully and often borrows stories written by famous authors. Her English teacher encourages her to read different kinds of books and tells her that regular reading improves her vocabulary. Anita follows her teacher’s advice and keeps a small notebook in which she writes down new words. She also tries to use these words while speaking and writing. Whenever she finds a difficult word, she looks for its meaning and writes an example sentence. She believes that this habit makes her more confident in English. She hopes that she will be able to read longer and more difficult books in the future.

Passage 8 – Change 3rd Person into 2nd Person

Passage 8 – Change 3rd Person into 2nd Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage by changing the third person (Rahul/he/his/him) into the second person (you/your). Make all necessary changes in pronouns, possessive words, and verbs.

Rahul knows that he should develop good habits if he wants to become successful. He gets up early, keeps his room clean, and completes his work on time. He also listens carefully to his teachers and respects his parents. Rahul understands that success does not come in a single day and that he must work patiently towards his goals. He believes that when he makes a mistake, he should learn from it instead of losing hope. Rahul spends less time on unnecessary activities and more time on useful things such as reading, exercising, and learning new skills. He knows that if he follows these good habits sincerely, he will gradually become more disciplined and confident.

Passage 9 – Change Present into Past and 3rd Person into 1st Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Past Tense and change the 3rd person (Suman/she) into the 1st person (I). Make all necessary changes in verbs, pronouns, possessive words, and time expressions.
Suman gets up early because she has an important examination at school. She knows that she has to revise several chapters before leaving home. She sits at her study table and goes through her notes carefully. Her mother brings her a glass of milk and tells her not to worry. Suman thanks her mother and continues studying. After she revises all the important topics, she packs her books and leaves for school. On the way, she meets two of her classmates, who ask her whether she is prepared for the examination. She tells them that she has revised everything but is still a little nervous. When they reach the school, the examination hall is already open. Suman takes her seat, reads the instructions carefully, and begins writing her answers when the teacher tells the students to start. She feels more confident as she remembers what she has studied.

Passage 10 – Change Past into Present and 1st Person into 3rd Person

Instruction: Rewrite the following passage in the Present Tense and change the 1st person (I) into the 3rd person (Amit/he). Make all necessary changes in verbs, pronouns, possessive words, and time expressions.
I visited my grandfather last Sunday because I wanted to spend some time with him. I reached his village in the morning and found him sitting in the garden. He welcomed me warmly and asked me about my studies. I told him that I was preparing for my final examination and that I had been studying regularly. He advised me to remain calm and make a proper timetable. After lunch, I accompanied him to the fields and watched the farmers working there. He explained to me how the crops were grown and why the farmers had to depend on the weather. In the afternoon, I helped him arrange some books in his study. Before I left, he gave me an old book and told me that it would teach me many valuable lessons. I thanked him and promised that I would visit him again soon.