Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Grammatical accuracy is fundamental to effective communication, particularly in formal writing like the UPSC Mains examination. This question tests the candidate’s ability to correctly employ the past perfect continuous tense, which is used to describe an action that started in the past and continued until another time in the past. Understanding the nuances of tense usage is crucial for conveying precise meaning and avoiding ambiguity. The question requires transforming the given phrase into a complete and grammatically sound sentence.
The correct sentence is: My friends had been waiting for me for over an hour.
Explanation of Grammatical Structure
The past perfect continuous tense is formed using ‘had been’ + the present participle (verb + -ing). This tense indicates an action that was in progress for a period of time before another action occurred in the past. In this case, the friends’ waiting was ongoing for over an hour before the candidate arrived (or the point of reference in the past).
Breakdown of the Sentence
- My friends: Subject of the sentence.
- had been waiting: Past perfect continuous tense – indicates the ongoing action in the past.
- for me: Prepositional phrase indicating who they were waiting for.
- for over an hour: Prepositional phrase indicating the duration of the waiting period.
Why other tenses are incorrect
Using other tenses would alter the meaning and grammatical correctness of the sentence:
- Past Simple (waited): “My friends waited for me for over an hour” – This implies the waiting finished at a specific point, not that it continued for a duration.
- Past Continuous (were waiting): “My friends were waiting for me for over an hour” – This suggests the waiting was happening at a specific time in the past, but doesn’t emphasize the duration *before* another past event.
- Past Perfect (had waited): “My friends had waited for me for over an hour” – This implies the waiting was completed before another past action, but doesn’t convey the continuous nature of the waiting.
Importance of Tense Consistency
Maintaining tense consistency is vital for clear and coherent writing. Mixing tenses unnecessarily can confuse the reader and weaken the overall impact of the communication. In the context of the UPSC Mains, precise language and grammatical accuracy are highly valued, as they demonstrate the candidate’s ability to articulate complex ideas effectively.
| Tense | Formation | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Past Perfect Continuous | had been + verb-ing | Action in progress before another action in the past. Emphasizes duration. |
| Past Simple | verb-ed (regular) / irregular form | Completed action in the past. |
| Past Continuous | was/were + verb-ing | Action in progress at a specific time in the past. |
Conclusion
In conclusion, the correct answer demonstrates a firm grasp of the past perfect continuous tense and its appropriate application. Accurate tense usage is a cornerstone of effective written communication, and mastering these grammatical concepts is essential for success in the UPSC Mains examination. Paying attention to such details reflects a candidate’s precision and clarity of thought, qualities highly valued by the examiners.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.