CBSE English Core · Grammar Rules · Gap-Filling · Sentence Reordering · Transformation · Solved Exercises
Prepare for Class XI English Core grammar with clear explanations and practice. This guide focuses on tenses, clauses, gap-filling, sentence reordering and sentence transformation—the grammar task types specified in the CBSE English Core syllabus for 2026–27.
This is a study resource, not an official CBSE publication. The exercises are original practice questions, not claimed previous-year questions.
Contents
1. What does the CBSE Class XI syllabus specify?
For 2026–27, the official CBSE English Core syllabus allocates 7 marks to Grammar within the 23-mark Grammar and Creative Writing Skills section. It specifies gap-filling based on tenses and clauses, along with sentence reordering and transformation. The paper design says that seven grammar questions are to be attempted out of eight.
These details refer to the CBSE English Core Class XI 2026–27 syllabus available when this guide was prepared. Follow any later official updates or school instructions.
2. Tenses: rules, uses and examples
Tense helps show when an action or state takes place. Choose a verb form that fits the meaning of the whole sentence, including time expressions and the relationship between events.
| Tense/form | Common use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple present | Habits, facts, regular actions | Riya reads every evening. |
| Present continuous | Action in progress now or around now | Riya is reading at the moment. |
| Present perfect | Past action connected with the present | Riya has completed her assignment. |
| Present perfect continuous | Activity continuing over a period up to now | Riya has been reading for an hour. |
| Simple past | Completed past event | We visited the museum yesterday. |
| Past continuous | Action in progress at a past time | We were walking when it began to rain. |
| Past perfect | Earlier event before another past event | The train had left before we arrived. |
| Simple future | Prediction, decision or future event | I will call you tomorrow. |
| Future continuous | Action expected to be in progress at a future time | At noon, I will be travelling. |
Rules students often need
Subject–verb agreement: A singular third-person subject normally takes an -s/-es form in the simple present. She works hard.
Finished past time: Use the simple past with a finished past-time expression. They arrived yesterday.
Earlier past event: The past perfect can show that one event happened before another past event. The show had begun before we entered the hall.
Since and for: Since identifies a starting point; for gives a duration: since Monday, for three days.
Future-time clauses: After when, after, before or until, the simple present is often used for a future meaning. When the bell rings, we will leave.
3. Clauses: types and examples
A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb. A sentence may contain one clause or several clauses joined by subordination or coordination.
| Type | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Main/independent clause | Can stand as a complete sentence | The students cheered when the team won. |
| Adverb clause | Gives information such as time, reason, condition or concession | We stayed indoors because it was raining. |
| Adjective/relative clause | Describes a noun or pronoun | The student who won the prize thanked her teacher. |
| Noun clause | Functions like a noun | I believe that she is honest. |
| Conditional clause | States a condition | If you practise regularly, you will improve. |
How to identify a clause
- Find the verb or verb group.
- Identify the subject connected to that verb.
- Check whether the clause can stand independently or depends on another clause.
- For a subordinate clause, ask what work it does: noun function, description of a noun, or information such as time, reason or condition.
4. Gap-filling practice: tenses and clauses
Try each item before opening the answer and explanation.
1. My brother usually ______ (walk) to college, but today he ______ (take) the bus.
Show answer and explanation
2. By the time we reached the cinema, the film ______ (begin).
Show answer and explanation
3. She ______ (study) at this school since 2023.
Show answer and explanation
4. If you ______ (revise) regularly, you will remember the rules more easily.
Show answer and explanation
5. I will wait here until the teacher ______ (arrive).
Show answer and explanation
6. The woman ______ lives next door is a doctor.
Show answer and explanation
7. I know ______ he has submitted the form.
Show answer and explanation
8. We cancelled the picnic ______ it was raining heavily.
Show answer and explanation
9. While the children ______ (play), their mother prepared lunch.
Show answer and explanation
10. The book ______ you recommended was very helpful.
Show answer and explanation
5. Sentence reordering
Arrange the groups of words into grammatical sentences. Look for the subject, verb, modifiers and clause structure.
1. every morning / before school / exercises / Meera
Show answer
2. because / the match / was postponed / it was raining
Show answer
3. the student / who won the debate / is / my cousin
Show answer
4. had finished / before / the guests arrived / we / dinner
Show answer
5. if / you practise / you will improve / regularly
Show answer
6. Sentence transformation
Transformation changes sentence structure while preserving the essential meaning.
1. Combine using “although”: It was raining. The players continued the match.
Show answer
2. Combine using a relative clause: I met a girl. She speaks five languages.
Show answer
3. Rewrite using “because”: The road was flooded, so the bus was delayed.
Show answer
4. Join using “after”: The bell rang. The students left the classroom.
Show answer
5. Rewrite as a conditional sentence: Work hard, or you may not succeed.
Show answer
6. Combine using “who”: The doctor treated my father. The doctor was very kind.
Show answer
7. Mixed practice test
Attempt all questions, then reveal the answer key.
- Neither of the players ______ ready when the coach arrived. (was/were)
- By next June, she ______ (complete) her course. Choose a form for completion before that future time.
- Identify the relative clause: “The house that stands on the hill belongs to my aunt.”
- Complete: “I will inform you as soon as I ______ (receive) the results.”
- Combine using “because”: “He missed the bus. He woke up late.”
- Identify the noun clause: “What she decided surprised everyone.”
- Reorder: “when the lights went out / we were studying / suddenly”.
- Complete: “If I ______ (know) about the meeting, I would have attended it.”
Reveal answer key with explanations
2. will have completed. The future perfect presents completion before a specified future time.
3. “that stands on the hill”. It describes “house”.
4. receive. A future-time clause after “as soon as” normally uses the simple present.
5. He missed the bus because he woke up late. The subordinate clause gives the reason.
6. “What she decided”. This noun clause functions as the subject of “surprised”.
7. We were studying when the lights suddenly went out. Past continuous shows the activity in progress; simple past shows the interrupting event.
8. had known. Third conditional: If + past perfect, would have + past participle.
8. Interactive quiz: tenses and clauses
Select one option per question and submit to see the score and question-by-question feedback. Green indicates a correct response; red indicates an incorrect response with the correct answer.
9. Quick revision checklist
Before the examination, make sure you can:
- select verb forms using time markers and sentence meaning;
- distinguish a completed past action from an earlier past action;
- use present forms with future meaning in common time and conditional clauses;
- identify noun, relative/adjective and adverb clauses;
- complete sentences with suitable tenses or conjunctions;
- reorder sentence parts logically;
- transform sentences without changing their essential meaning.
10. Frequently asked questions
How many marks are allocated to grammar in CBSE Class XI English Core 2026–27?
The CBSE syllabus allocates 7 marks to Grammar within the 23-mark Grammar and Creative Writing Skills section.
Which grammar topics are explicitly listed for Class XI English Core 2026–27?
The syllabus specifies gap-filling based on tenses and clauses, as well as sentence reordering and transformation.
Are these questions official CBSE previous-year questions?
No. The questions in this guide are original practice questions written for revision and are not represented as official CBSE previous-year questions.
What is a good way to practise tenses and clauses?
Read the complete sentence, identify the time relationship or clause function, select the form that fits the meaning, and explain why alternatives do not fit. Then practise mixed questions under timed conditions.
Syllabus reference: Central Board of Secondary Education, English Core, Class XI (2026–27), on the official CBSE Academic website.
