1. Tenses
Choose verb forms that match time, sequence and context.
CBSE Class 10 · English Language and Literature · Code 184 · 2026–27
English Grammar: Syllabus, Rules & Practice
A clear guide to the grammar topics prescribed for Class 10 CBSE English, with worked examples, common errors and a board-style practice set.
Use the right course: This page follows CBSE English Language and Literature (subject code 184). The official 2026–27 sample paper says the assessment pattern is unchanged and asks students to attempt any 10 of 12 grammar tasks. Grammar is tested in context; the sample uses a mix of choice, gap-fill, reporting and error-correction tasks. Open the official CBSE sample paper.
📚 Grammar Syllabus at a Glance
Five assessed topic areas for English Language and Literature.
2. Modals
Express ability, possibility, advice, permission and obligation.
3. Determiners
Use articles, demonstratives, possessives and quantifiers accurately.
4. Subject–verb concord
Match the verb to the subject, including tricky phrases.
5. Reported speech
Report statements, questions, commands and requests.
Exam practice
Try 12 mixed tasks, then check the answer key.
Marks and format: Grammar is worth 10 marks within Section B, Writing Skills and Grammar (20 marks total). In the 2026–27 sample paper, the grammar question has 12 one-mark tasks; students answer any 10. Contextual gap-filling, editing and transformation are assessment approaches. The paper may use different formats across questions.
1. Tenses
Use the sentence context to identify when an action happens and whether it is complete, ongoing or repeated.
| Form | Basic pattern | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple present | base verb / verb + s | Habits, facts, timetables | Riya practises every evening. |
| Present continuous | am/is/are + verb-ing | Action happening now or temporarily | They are revising today. |
| Present perfect | has/have + past participle | Past action with a present result; unfinished time | We have completed the first unit. |
| Present perfect continuous | has/have been + verb-ing | Action continuing over a period up to now | He has been reading for an hour. |
| Simple past | past form | Completed action at a stated past time | Meera visited Jaipur last year. |
| Past continuous | was/were + verb-ing | Action in progress at a past moment | I was studying when you called. |
| Past perfect | had + past participle | Earlier of two past actions | The bell had rung before we arrived. |
| Past perfect continuous | had been + verb-ing | Continuing action before a past moment | We had been waiting for an hour before the bus came. |
| Simple future | will + base verb | Prediction, promise or decision | I will help you after class. |
| Future continuous | will be + verb-ing | Action in progress at a future time | At noon, I will be writing the test. |
| Future perfect | will have + past participle | Action completed before a future time | By Friday, we will have finished the project. |
| Future perfect continuous | will have been + verb-ing | Duration continuing up to a future time | By June, she will have been studying here for a year. |
How to choose the tense
- Look for time clues such as every day, now, yesterday, since, for, already and by the time.
- Use the simple past with a finished past time: They moved in 2022.
- Use present perfect for a past action connected to now: They have lived here for four years.
- Use past perfect to show which of two past events happened first.
- Keep the tense consistent unless the time frame changes.
Example: “Since the library opened, the number of readers ______ (grow).”
Answer: has grown — the change began in the past and continues to matter now.
Answer: has grown — the change began in the past and continues to matter now.
2. Modals
A modal is followed by the base form of the main verb.
| Modal | Common meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| can / could | Ability; informal permission; polite request | Could you explain this rule? |
| may / might | Permission or possibility; might often sounds less certain | The match may be postponed. |
| must | Strong obligation or logical conclusion | Visitors must show their passes. |
| have to / had to | Requirement or necessity | We have to submit the form today. |
| should / ought to | Advice, expectation or duty | You should check your work. |
| need / need not | Necessity or lack of necessity | You need not bring another copy. |
| would | Polite request, preference or reported future | Would you like some water? |
Rules to remember
- Use a base verb after a modal: She can solve (not “can solves”).
- Do not put to after most modals. Ought to and have to are common exceptions.
- Choose meaning from context: must is stronger than might; should usually gives advice.
- For past necessity, use had to: “We had to wait.”
- Distinguish must not (prohibited) from need not (not necessary).
Example: All students ______ wear their identity cards on campus. Answer: must (a rule or strong obligation).
3. Determiners
Determiners come before nouns and help specify which one, whose, how many or how much.
| Type | Examples | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Articles | a, an, the | a before a consonant sound; an before a vowel sound; the for a specific or already-known noun. |
| Demonstratives | this, that, these, those | This/that with singular nouns; these/those with plural nouns. |
| Possessives | my, your, his, her, its, our, their | Show ownership: their project. |
| Quantity: countable | many, few, a few, several, number of | Many books; a few means some; few stresses almost none. |
| Quantity: uncountable | much, little, a little, amount of | Much water; a little means some; little stresses almost none. |
| Other determiners | each, every, either, neither, some, any, enough | Check whether the noun is singular/plural and whether the sentence is affirmative, negative or a question. |
Common distinction: “A few students arrived early” means some arrived. “Few students arrived early” means hardly any did. “A little time remains” means some time remains; “little time remains” stresses that time is nearly over.
Articles: quick guide
- Use a or an when mentioning one non-specific singular countable noun: a uniform, an hour.
- Use the when the reader can identify the noun: Please close the door.
- Use no article for general plural or uncountable nouns: Books can inspire us. Water is essential.
4. Subject–Verb Concord
The verb agrees with the subject in number and person.
| Rule | Correct example | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb. | The list is ready. The lists are ready. | Find the subject, not the nearest noun. |
| Each, every, either, neither + singular noun usually takes a singular verb. | Each of the answers has a reason. | The plural noun after “of” does not control the verb. |
| Two subjects joined by and usually take a plural verb. | Ravi and Sana are presenting. | A single combined idea can be singular: “Bread and butter is my breakfast.” |
| With either…or / neither…nor, the verb usually agrees with the nearer subject. | Neither the coach nor the players are ready. | Keep the paired subjects parallel. |
| Indefinite pronouns such as everyone, somebody, each are singular. | Everyone has a seat. | Use a singular verb even if the meaning refers to many people. |
| Collective nouns can be singular when the group acts as one unit. | The committee has reached a decision. | Follow the meaning and keep the sentence consistent. |
| Amounts, distances and periods treated as one unit take a singular verb. | Ten kilometres is a long walk. | The measurement is one total amount. |
Common error: “One of the players have has arrived.” The subject is one; “players” is part of the phrase after it.
5. Reported Speech
Report what someone said without repeating the exact quotation.
A. Statements
Use said (that) or told + person + (that). Change pronouns and time/place words to fit the reporting situation. When the reporting verb is in the past, a present tense often moves one step back.
Direct: Neha said, “I am preparing for the test.”
Reported: Neha said (that) she was preparing for the test.
Reported: Neha said (that) she was preparing for the test.
B. Questions
- For yes/no questions, use asked + if/whether.
- For wh-questions, keep the question word.
- Use statement word order; remove do/does/did where needed and do not add a question mark to the reported clause.
Direct: He asked, “Where do you live?”
Reported: He asked me where I lived.
Reported: He asked me where I lived.
Direct: Mira asked, “Are you ready?”
Reported: Mira asked whether I was ready.
Reported: Mira asked whether I was ready.
C. Commands and requests
Use a reporting verb such as told, ordered, requested, advised or reminded + object + to + base verb. For a negative command, use not to.
Direct: The teacher said to us, “Please keep the room tidy.”
Reported: The teacher asked us to keep the room tidy.
Reported: The teacher asked us to keep the room tidy.
Direct: Dad said, “Do not leave the gate open.”
Reported: Dad told me not to leave the gate open.
Reported: Dad told me not to leave the gate open.
Common changes
| Direct speech | Often changes to | Example |
|---|---|---|
| am/is/are | was/were | “I am busy.” → She said she was busy. |
| has/have + participle | had + participle | “I have finished.” → He said he had finished. |
| will / can / may | would / could / might | “I will call.” → She said she would call. |
| today / tomorrow / yesterday | that day / the next day / the previous day | Change only when the reporting time makes it necessary. |
Backshift is not automatic: A fact that is still true may stay in the present tense. Keep the meaning and reporting time clear.
🧾 How CBSE Grammar Is Tested
- Grammar is part of Section B, Writing Skills and Grammar.
- The grammar component carries 10 marks; writing skills carries another 10 marks.
- The sample paper gives 12 short grammar tasks and asks students to attempt any 10.
- Expect grammar in context: a sentence, message, notice, email, conversation or short passage may frame the item.
- Tasks can ask you to fill a gap, choose a form, report speech, identify an error or correct a sentence.
- Read the whole sentence before choosing: nearby words may supply the time, meaning or subject clue.
CBSE 2026–27 curriculum page · Class 10 sample papers and marking schemes.
✍️ Mixed Practice: 12 Tasks
Try all 12, then score yourself using the answer key. The board pattern asks you to attempt any 10.
- Since 2022, our school ______ (organise) a science exhibition every year.
- At the moment, the students ______ (prepare) their displays.
- Applicants ______ submit the form by Friday; it is compulsory. (may / must)
- You ______ speak to the librarian if you need help. (should / might)
- There is ______ useful information in the notice. (many / much)
- Only ______ seats were left, so we booked quickly. (a few / a little)
- Each of the participants ______ a confirmation email. (has / have)
- Neither the teacher nor the students ______ absent today. (is / are)
- Report: Arjun said, “I have completed my assignment.”
- Report: The guide said to us, “Please follow me.”
- Report: Leena asked, “Did you see the notice?”
- Find and correct the error: “One of my friends live near the station.”
Answer key with brief explanations
- has organised — a repeated action continuing from 2022 to now.
- are preparing — happening at the moment.
- must — expresses a requirement.
- should — gives advice.
- much — information is uncountable.
- a few — seats are countable plural; some remained.
- has — the subject is “each,” singular.
- are — with neither…nor, the verb agrees with the nearer plural subject.
- Arjun said that he had completed his assignment.
- The guide requested us to follow him.
- Leena asked whether/if I had seen the notice.
- live → lives — the subject “one” is singular.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Incorrect | Correct | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| She can speaks clearly. | She can speak clearly. | Use the base verb after a modal. |
| Each student have a notebook. | Each student has a notebook. | Each takes a singular verb. |
| He asked where was I going. | He asked where I was going. | Reported questions use statement word order. |
| She told that she was tired. | She said that she was tired. / She told me that she was tired. | Tell generally needs the person addressed. |
| There are much books. | There are many books. | Use many with countable plural nouns. |
❔ Frequently Asked Questions
Which grammar topics are in CBSE Class 10 English Language and Literature?
The syllabus lists tenses, modals, determiners, subject–verb concord and reported speech (commands and requests, statements and questions).
How many grammar tasks should I answer?
The 2026–27 sample paper asks students to attempt any 10 out of 12 grammar tasks.
Are grammar rules tested as isolated definitions?
The syllabus assesses accurate grammar in context, so practise using the rules in sentences and short passages.
Is this for English Communicative too?
This guide follows English Language and Literature, subject code 184. Check the course code and your school’s current syllabus if you study another English course.
Related chapter: Madam Rides the Bus (Chapter 8)