A phrase 

is a group of words that makes some sense but not complete sense. A
phrase does not have a subject or verb.
A clause is a group of words that makes complete sense. A clause must have a
subject and a verb.
In the following sentences, state whether the underlined part is a phrase or a
clause.

1. In spite of the heavy rains, we reached on time.

2. She passed her test because of her teacher.

3. She failed her exams because she had a bad teacher.

4. Though she performed well in the interview, she didn’t get the job.

5. In spite of his good grades, he couldn’t secure admission in a good college.

6. Driven by the storm, we took shelter under a bridge.

7. Having delivered the message, he departed.

8. Not knowing what to do, she stood there motionless.

9. Now that he is married, he has become more responsible.

10. Despite her protests, they took the child away.

Answers
1. In spite of the heavy rains, we reached on time. (in spite of the heavy rains –
phrase)
2. She passed her test because of her teacher. (because of her teacher –
phrase)
3. She failed her exams because she had a bad teacher. (because she had a bad
teacher – clause)
4. Though she performed well in the interview, she didn’t get the job. (Though
she performed well in the interview – clause)
5. In spite of his good grades, he couldn’t secure admission in a good college. (in
spite of his good grades – phrase)
6. Driven by the storm, we took shelter under a bridge. (driven by the storm –
phrase)
7. Having delivered the message, he departed. (having delivered the message –
phrase)
8. Not knowing what to do, she stood there motionless. (not knowing what to do –
phrase)
9. Now that he is married, he has become more responsible. (now that he is
married – clause)
10. Despite her protests, they took the child away. (Despite her protests –
phrase)
 Separate the clauses and name them.

1. It is the only thing that can save him.

2. He is going to be nice to them because somebody was nice to him.

3. I know that the system isn’t foolproof.

4. She said that she would be working late.

5. He asked whether I had bought the ticket.

6. That shows how cynical you have become.

7. I heaved a sigh of relief when I heard that they were safe.

8. That they are doing a good job is evident.

9. The phone fell out of my pocket while I was boarding the train.

10. When I was young I was optimistic.

11. Plant it in that shady corner, where it won’t get too much sunlight.

12. See how much he has done for the country.

Answers
1. It is the only thing (main clause) / that can save him (adjective clause).

2. He is going to be nice to them (main clause) / because somebody was nice to

him (adverb clause of reason).

3. I know (main clause) / that the system isn’t foolproof (subordinate noun
clause).

4. She said (main clause) / that she would be working late (subordinate noun
clause).

5. He asked (main clause) / whether I had bought the ticket (subordinate noun
clause).

6. That shows (main clause) / how cynical you have become (subordinate noun
clause).

7. I heaved a sigh of relief (main clause) / when I heard that they were safe
(adverb clause of time).

8. That they are doing a good job (subordinate noun clause) / is evident (main
clause).
9. The phone fell out of my pocket (main clause) / while I was boarding the train
(adverb clause of time).

10. When I was young (adverb clause of place) / I was optimistic (main clause).

11. Plant it in that shady corner (main clause),/ where it won’t get too much
sunlight (adverb clause of place).

12. See (main clause) / how much he has done for the country (subordinate noun
clause).

A. Complete the given sentences by putting the words, phrases and clauses
given in brackets, in the right order. The first one has been done for you.

1. The place where the Buddha got enlightenment is called Bodh Gaya, (place,
where the Buddha got enlightenment, the)
2. ____________ will have to pay a fine, (who do not return the library books by the
due date, boys, those)
3. ____________ is a Member of Parliament, (who has just spoken, man, the)
4. ____________ move around the sun. (planets, which belong to the solar system,
all, the)
5. ____________ is for a school, (new, which the villagers have built, the, building)
6. ____________ never returned empty-handed. (learned men, who went to the king
for help)
7. ____________ woke up everybody in the neighborhood, (loud, the, of the sudden
explosion, noise)

B. Identify the highlighted parts of the sentences. Write P for a phrase, IC for
independent clause, or DC for dependent or subordinate clause. The first one
has been done for you.

1. Before Rocky starts his workout, he always does some stretching exercises. DC
2. We bought our new sofa during the sale at the local furniture store.
____________
3. Our choir went on a field trip to the senior citizens’ center. ____________
4. We will be on time unless there is a traffic jam ____________
5. Because Vicky loves classical, she attends every concert ____________
6. The mountain climber checked her equipment before she started up the slope
____________
7. The mice darted into their underground burrows as the owl dived at them.
____________
8. Since I first saw you, I have wondered if we ever met ____________
9. If Lane wants to play hockey, he will need to learn ice-skating ____________
10 “Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house we’ll go!”
____________
Fill in the following blanks with the Present Perfect Tense of the verbs given in brackets:
1. Where ………… you ………… your purse? (lose)
2. ………… she not yet ………… her work? (finish)
3. How many sums ………… she ? (solve)
4. My sister ………… from Meerut presently. (return)
5. Raju ………… Saroj since 1980. (know)
6. Asha ………… never ………… the Red Fort. (see)
7. Devanshi ……………………… (get) a new car now.
8. Nidhi ……………………… not (come) back yet.
9. I ……………………… already (see) this film.
10. The postman ……………………… not (come) so far.
11. She ……………………… (be) a teacher since 2000.
12. They ……………………… (know) us for several years.
13. She ……………………… (join) a college recently.
14. The old man ……………………… (live) here all his life.
15. He ……………………… not (wear) the new shirt yet.
16. Tbm left the school some time ago. He ……………………… not (return) yet.

Choose the correct.

(i) Look! We ________ to crash. (Go/are going/were going/have gone)
(ii) I wish I ________ a better memory. (Have / had / had had)
(iii) After he ________ his homework, he went out to play. (Completed/had completed /
Either could be used here)
(iv) I ________ him for very long when we got married. (knew/have known/had known/had
been working)
(v) I ________ a lot of movies recently. (am watching/have been watching/was watching)
(vi) I ________ her for two weeks. (only knew/have only known/have only been knowing)
(vii) When I woke up, mummy ________ breakfast. (already prepared/had already
prepared/have already prepared/was already preparing)
(viii) I ________ in the same job for ten years. (have worked/have been working / Either
could be used here)
(ix) I told him that I ________ (finished / have finished / had finished).
(x) I thought I ________ the money a week before. (have sent / had sent / sent)
Answer:
(i) are going
(ii) had
(iii) finished/had finished
(iv) had known
(v) have been watching
(vi) have only known
(vii) had already prepared
(viii) have worked/have been working
(ix) had finished
(x) had sent

Question 2.
Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive).
(i) The receptionist (welcome) ________the guests and (ask). ________ them to fill in the
form.
(ii) The car (break), ________ down and we (have). ________ to walk home.
(iii) The boys (swim). ________ while the girls (sunbath) ________.
(iv) My father (come) ________ in, (look) ________ and (tell). ________ me to tidy up my
room.
(v) While one group (prepare) ________ dinner the others (collect). ________ wood for the
campfire.
(vi) While the parents (have) ________ breakfast the children (run) ________ about.
(vii) Martha (turn). ________ off the light and (go) ________ to bed.
Answer:
(i) welcomed, asked
(ii) broke, had
(iii) swimming, sunbathing
(iv) came, looked, told
(v) was preparing, were collecting
(vii) turned, went
(vi) were having, were running
Tenses Exercises Practice Examples for Class 7 CBSE
1. Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect).
(i) I (just/ finish). ________ my homework.
(ii) Mary (already / write). ________ five letters.
(iii) Tom (move). ________ to his home town in 1994.
(iv) My friend (be) ________ in Canada two years ago.
(v) I (not/be). ________ to Canada so far.
(vi) But I (already / travel) ________ to London a couple of times.
(vii) Last week, Mary and Paul (go) ________ to the cinema.
(viii) I can’t take any pictures because I (not/buy) ________ a new film yet.
(ix) (they / spend) ________ their holidays in Paris last summer?
(x) (you / ever / see) ________ a whale?
2. Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple future or future perfect)
(i) Tomorrow I think I (start). ________ my new project.
(ii) I (finish) ________ it by the end of this month.
(iii) The teacher (probably / assign) ________ a test to his students next Monday.
(iv) He (correct) ________ it by the end of next week.
(v) My friend (certainly / get) ________ a good mark.
(vi) by 9 o’clock, we (finish), ________ Lour homework.

3. Use the verbs given in the box in the simple present or present continuous tense to
complete the sentences.
argue like prefer select smile stop tell want

Rita and Diya are at the bookshop with their mother. The girls ________ to buy a story
book. Diya ________ reading fantasy but Rita ________ mystery stories. The girls
________ over what to buy. Mother ________ them. She ________ the girls that they can
buy one book each. The girls are happy. They ________ as each of them ________ the
book they wish to buy.

1. The …………………… criminal was taken to prison. (convict)

2. …………………… by his partner, he lost all hope. (deceive)
3. The …………………… boy has been found. (miss)
4. The …………………….. bicycle was returned to the owner. (steal)
5. I could not sit through that …………………….. movie. (boring)
6. Buddha was an …………………….. soul. (enlighten)
7. A ………………….. child dreads fire. (burn)
8. They rescued the child from the …………………… cottage. (burn)
9. She is a ……………………. writer. (bore)
10. The mother hugged the ……………………. child. (weep)
11. The driveway was covered by …………………… leaves. (fall)
12. It is an ……………………. movie. (interest)
Answers
1. The convicted criminal was taken to prison.
2. Deceived by his partner, he lost all hope.
3. The missing boy has been found.
4. The stolen bicycle was returned to the owner.
5. I could not sit through that boring movie.
6. Buddha was an enlightened soul.
7. A burnt / burned child dreads fire.
8. They rescued the child from the burning cottage.
9. She is a boring writer.
10. The mother hugged the weeping child.
11. The driveway was covered by fallen leaves.
12. It is an interesting movie.
D. Choose the correct participle form in each of the sentences below.
1. I don’t understand chess. The rules are very (confused/confusing.)
2. There is a new movie playing in the theatre. Are you (interested or interesting)?
3. My younger brother makes too much noise. He is (annoyed/annoying).
4. I like my new chair. It’s quite (relaxing/relaxed).
5. I think insects are (fascinating/fascinated). I love to study them.

J. Choose the correct option.

1. I am very ____________ in history, (interesting/interested)

2. The party was ____________ (boring/bored)
3. I was ____________ to death, (boring/bored)
4. The ____________ dog kept us awake at night, (barking/barked)
5. Anmol was ____________ at the party? (danced/dancing)
6. ____________ away from the castle, Cinderella lost a shoe. (Running/Run)
7. History is very ____________ (interesting/interested)
8. The car race was ____________ (exciting/excited)
9. ____________ about their birthday party, the girls could not sleep. (Exciting/Excited)
10. He was sitting on the floor ____________ the guitar, (playing/played)