Correct Usage of Tenses: Civil Service Exam Guide

Understanding and correctly using verb tenses is one of the most important grammar skills tested in the Civil Service Exam. Many examinees lose easy points not because they lack vocabulary, but because they confuse verb forms, mix timelines, or fail to maintain tense consistency within a sentence or paragraph. This guide provides a comprehensive explanation of English tenses, their correct usage, and common mistakes—specifically tailored for Civil Service Exam preparation.

Why Tense Mastery Is Crucial in the Civil Service Exam

Verb tense questions appear frequently in:

• Sentence completion

• Error identification

• Reading comprehension

• Paragraph organization

The exam tests not only your knowledge of tense forms, but also your ability to understand time relationships, context clues, and logical consistency. Even a grammatically correct tense can be wrong if it does not fit the situation described.

Overview of English Verb Tenses

English has three main time frames:

• Past

• Present

• Future

Each time frame includes several aspects that show how an action happens in time.

The main tense categories tested in the Civil Service Exam are:

• Simple

• Progressive (Continuous)

• Perfect

• Perfect Progressive

You do not need to memorize all technical names, but you must understand when and why each tense is used.

Simple Present Tense

Form

• Base verb (or base + s/es for third-person singular)

Usage

The simple present tense is used to express:

• General truths

• Habits and routines

• Facts

• Fixed schedules

Examples

• The sun rises in the east.

• She works at the city hall.

• The office opens at 8:00 a.m.

Common Exam Traps

• Forgetting the -s / -es for third-person singular
  Incorrect: She work in finance.
  Correct: She works in finance.

Present Progressive Tense

Form

• am / is / are + verb-ing

Usage

Used for:

• Actions happening right now

• Temporary situations

• Ongoing actions around the present time

Examples

• The clerk is processing the application.

• They are reviewing the documents this week.

Common Exam Traps

• Using progressive tense for permanent facts
  Incorrect: He is knowing the rules.
  Correct: He knows the rules.

(“Know,” “believe,” “own,” and similar verbs are non-progressive.)

Simple Past Tense

Form

• Regular verbs: verb + -ed

• Irregular verbs: unique past forms

Usage

Used for:

• Actions completed at a specific time in the past

• Events that are clearly finished

Examples

• She submitted the report yesterday.

• He took the exam last year.

Common Exam Traps

• Using present tense when a past time marker is present
  Incorrect: He submits the form yesterday.
  Correct: He submitted the form yesterday.

Past Progressive Tense

Form

• was / were + verb-ing

Usage

Used to show:

• An ongoing action in the past

• A background action interrupted by another event

Examples

• She was answering calls when the system crashed.

• They were waiting for the announcement.

Common Exam Traps

• Confusing simple past and past progressive
  Incorrect: He worked when the phone rang.
  Correct: He was working when the phone rang.

Present Perfect Tense

Form

• has / have + past participle

Usage

Used to express:

• Actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past

• Actions that started in the past and continue to the present

• Past actions with present relevance

Examples

• She has completed the training.

• They have lived here for ten years.

Common Exam Traps

• Using simple past with “for” or “since”
  Incorrect: He lived here since 2015.
  Correct: He has lived here since 2015.

Present Perfect Progressive Tense

Form

• has / have been + verb-ing

Usage

Used to emphasize:

• Duration of an action that started in the past and continues now

Examples

• She has been studying for the exam all week.

• They have been working overtime.

Common Exam Traps

• Overusing this tense when duration is not emphasized
  Incorrect: I have been knowing her for years.
  Correct: I have known her for years.

Past Perfect Tense

Form

• had + past participle

Usage

Used to show:

• An action completed before another past action

Examples

• She had finished the report before the meeting started.

• He had left when the announcement was made.

Common Exam Traps

• Using simple past instead of past perfect when sequence matters
  Incorrect: She finished the report before the meeting started.
  Correct: She had finished the report before the meeting started.

Past Perfect Progressive Tense

Form

• had been + verb-ing

Usage

Used to show:

• Duration of an action that was ongoing before another past event

Examples

• He had been waiting for hours before his name was called.

• They had been discussing the issue when the decision arrived.

Common Exam Traps

• Using it unnecessarily when simple past is sufficient

Simple Future Tense

Form

• will + base verb

Usage

Used for:

• Decisions made at the moment of speaking

• Predictions

• Promises

Examples

• I will submit the form tomorrow.

• She will assist you with your request.

Common Exam Traps

• Confusing “will” with “going to”
  In the exam, will is more commonly tested.

Future Progressive Tense

Form

• will be + verb-ing

Usage

Used to express:

• Actions that will be ongoing at a specific future time

Examples

• They will be conducting interviews next week.

• She will be attending the seminar tomorrow.

Future Perfect Tense

Form

• will have + past participle

Usage

Used to show:

• An action that will be completed before a future point

Examples

• He will have completed the exam by noon.

• They will have finished the project by Friday.

Tense Consistency in Sentences and Paragraphs

One of the most common Civil Service Exam errors is shifting tenses without reason.

Incorrect

• She entered the office and checks the documents.

Correct

• She entered the office and checked the documents.

Key Rule

Once a tense is established, maintain it unless there is a clear time shift.

Time Signal Words to Watch For

Time markers often determine the correct tense:

• Yesterday, last night, last year → Simple Past

• Now, currently, at the moment → Present Progressive

• For, since, already, yet → Present Perfect

• Before, after, by the time → Past Perfect or Future Perfect

Recognizing these words is essential for fast and accurate answers.

Common Tense Errors in the Civil Service Exam

• Mixing present and past without reason

• Ignoring time expressions

• Misusing perfect tenses

• Using progressive tense with stative verbs

• Forgetting subject-verb agreement within tense forms

Exam Strategy for Tense Questions

1. Identify time markers first

2. Determine the main timeline (past, present, future)

3. Check verb form consistency

4. Eliminate choices that break logical sequence

5. Choose clarity over complexity

Often, the simplest tense is the correct one.

Final Thoughts

Correct usage of tenses is not about memorizing long grammar rules—it is about understanding time, sequence, and logic. In the Civil Service Exam, tense questions are designed to test precision, not creativity. By mastering tense forms, recognizing time clues, and maintaining consistency, you significantly improve your accuracy and overall exam score.

Consistent practice with real exam-style questions will reinforce these rules and help you apply them confidently on test day.

Problem Sets

Problem Set 1: Choose the Correct Verb Tense

Choose the correct verb form to complete each sentence.

1. She usually ______ the office before 8:00 a.m.
   a) arrive
   b) arrives
   c) arrived
   d) has arrived

2. The committee ______ the proposal yesterday.
   a) approves
   b) has approved
   c) approved
   d) will approve

3. When the phone rang, he ______ a report.
   a) writes
   b) was writing
   c) has written
   d) wrote

4. They ______ in Cebu for ten years.
   a) live
   b) lived
   c) are living
   d) have lived

5. By the time the meeting starts, the secretary ______ the minutes.
   a) prepares
   b) will prepare
   c) will have prepared
   d) prepared

Problem Set 2: Identify the Sentence with Correct Tense Usage

Choose the sentence that uses verb tenses correctly.

6. a) She was knowing the rules before the exam.
   b) She knows the rules before the exam.
   c) She has been knowing the rules before the exam.
   d) She is knowing the rules before the exam.

7. a) He submitted the form since last week.
   b) He has submitted the form last week.
   c) He submitted the form last week.
   d) He has submit the form last week.

8. a) They were discussing the issue when the decision arrived.
   b) They discussed the issue when the decision arrived.
   c) They are discussing the issue when the decision arrived.
   d) They have discussed the issue when the decision arrived.

9. a) She enters the office and checked the files.
   b) She entered the office and checks the files.
   c) She entered the office and checked the files.
   d) She enters the office and checking the files.

10. a) The applicant will finish the exam by noon.
    b) The applicant will have finished the exam by noon.
    c) The applicant finishes the exam by noon.
    d) The applicant has finished the exam by noon.

Problem Set 3: Error Identification

Each sentence contains an error in verb tense. Identify the incorrect verb.

11. He has completed the training yesterday.

12. She was answering calls and submits reports at the same time.

13. They have lived here since five years.

14. When the announcement was made, the staff leave the hall.

15. The officer is handling this case for ten years.

Problem Set 4: Choose the Best Revision

Choose the option that best corrects the tense error.

16. She finish the report before the deadline.
    a) She finishes the report before the deadline.
    b) She finished the report before the deadline.
    c) She has finish the report before the deadline.
    d) She finishing the report before the deadline.

17. He is working in this department since 2020.
    a) He worked in this department since 2020.
    b) He works in this department since 2020.
    c) He has been working in this department since 2020.
    d) He was working in this department since 2020.

18. The applicants wait when their names were called.
    a) The applicants waited when their names were called.
    b) The applicants were waiting when their names were called.
    c) The applicants are waiting when their names were called.
    d) The applicants have waited when their names were called.

Problem Set 5: Mixed Tense Application

Choose the best answer.

19. Before she ______ the office, she ______ the lights.
    a) left / turned off
    b) leaves / turned off
    c) left / turns off
    d) leaves / turns off

20. By next month, they ______ the new system.
    a) implement
    b) implemented
    c) will implement
    d) will have implemented

Answer Keys

Answer Key: Problem Set 1

1. b) arrives

2. c) approved

3. b) was writing

4. d) have lived

5. c) will have prepared

Answer Key: Problem Set 2

6. b) She knows the rules before the exam.

7. c) He submitted the form last week.

8. a) They were discussing the issue when the decision arrived.

9. c) She entered the office and checked the files.

10. b) The applicant will have finished the exam by noon.

Answer Key: Problem Set 3

11. has completed → should be completed

12. submits → should be submitted

13. have lived → should be have been living or have lived for five years

14. leave → should be left

15. is handling → should be has been handling

Answer Key: Problem Set 4

16. b) She finished the report before the deadline.

17. c) He has been working in this department since 2020.

18. b) The applicants were waiting when their names were called.

Answer Key: Problem Set 5

19. a) left / turned off

20. d) will have implemented

Civil Service Exam Philippines: Complete Preparation and Passing Guide