He (play) cards, when I saw him.

How to Approach

This question tests the understanding of past continuous tense in English grammar. The approach should be to identify the correct form of the verb 'play' that fits the context of the sentence. The sentence describes an action in progress when another action occurred. Therefore, the past continuous tense is appropriate. The answer should simply provide the corrected sentence. No elaborate explanation is required as it's a straightforward grammar question.

Model Answer

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Introduction

The question assesses a fundamental aspect of English grammar – the correct application of verb tenses. Specifically, it tests the understanding of the past continuous tense, which is used to describe actions that were ongoing at a specific point in the past. Correct tense usage is crucial for clear and effective communication, and a strong grasp of grammar is essential for success in the UPSC Civil Services Examination, particularly in the English language paper.

He was playing cards, when I saw him.

Explanation

The past continuous tense is formed using "was/were + verb-ing". In this case, the subject is "He", so we use "was". The verb "play" becomes "playing" when combined with "was". The sentence indicates that the action of playing cards was in progress when the speaker saw him. This is precisely the function of the past continuous tense.

Why other options are incorrect:

"He played cards..." - This is the simple past tense, indicating a completed action. It doesn't convey the ongoing nature of the action when the speaker saw him.
"He is playing cards..." - This is the present continuous tense, which is inappropriate for a past event.
"He plays cards..." - This is the simple present tense, indicating a habitual action.

The correct answer, "He was playing cards, when I saw him," accurately reflects the intended meaning of the sentence.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the correct answer to the question is "He was playing cards, when I saw him." This demonstrates a clear understanding of the past continuous tense and its appropriate usage in describing actions in progress at a specific point in the past. Accurate grammar is a cornerstone of effective communication and a vital skill for UPSC aspirants.

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.

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Additional Resources

Key Definitions

Past Continuous Tense

The past continuous tense describes actions that were ongoing at a specific moment in the past. It is formed using "was/were + verb-ing". It often describes background actions or interrupted events.

Verb Tense

Verb tense indicates the time of an action or state of being. English has twelve main tenses, formed by combining different forms of verbs with auxiliary verbs (like 'be', 'have', 'do').

Key Statistics

According to a 2023 study by Cambridge Assessment English, approximately 60% of non-native English speakers struggle with accurate tense usage in written communication.

Source: Cambridge Assessment English Report, 2023

A 2021 report by the British Council indicated that India has the second-largest number of English speakers in the world, with approximately 129 million English speakers.

Source: British Council Report, 2021

Examples

Interrupted Action

“I was watching TV when the phone rang.” This example illustrates how the past continuous tense (was watching) describes an action in progress that was interrupted by another action (the phone rang).

Frequently Asked Questions

▶What is the difference between the past simple and past continuous tenses?

The past simple tense describes completed actions in the past (e.g., "I ate dinner"). The past continuous tense describes actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past (e.g., "I was eating dinner when you called").

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