TENSES

TENSES: Tenses show time.  There are 3 main tenses:

1. Present tense
2. Past tense
3. Future tense

These are again divided into four types.

1 Simple

2. Continuous
3. Perfect
4. Perfect continuous

So, there are total 12 tense:

We need to understand three things about any tense:

1. Definition 2. Structure 3. Usage

 

1) SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE:

Definition: When a verb shows that an action is just mentioned in present, is called as simple present  tense.

 Structure:  subject (s)+ basic verb (v)

I, WE, YOU, THEY (any plural subject) – basic verb.

He, she, it (any third person singular subject)- basic verb +- s/-es

Eg.  1. I go.

2.   You write.
3. They sing.
4. He goes.
5. She writes.
6. Madhura sings.

Uses:

1. To show universal truth:
2. The oceans are deep and cold.
3. The moon revolves around the earth.
4. Antarctica is covered with ice.
5. Plants gives oxygen to us.

5 water boils at 100 degree Celsius.

2. To show Present habits:
3. My uncle smokes.
4. He chews tobacco.
5. He drives very carelessly.

3 To show repeated action in present tense:

1. The classrooms are cleaned every evening after school.
2. I come to tuition by scooty.
3. She does her homework on time.

4 I play football on Sunday.

5. My dad goes to office.

(Auxiliaries of to do are used to change the assertive sentences to interrogative & negative sentence do &does are used only in simple present tense)

SIMPLE PAST TENSE

When the verb shows that an action was completed in past (simply mentioned in past ) it is said to be simple past tense

1. I sang a song.

He sold his bike.

I wrote a poem.

She tied him a Rakhi.

Structure : subject +2^nd form of verb (v2)

(Auxiliary of to do are used to change the assertive sentences to interrogative & negative sentence. Did is used only in simple past tense.)

SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE:

When the verb shows that an action is simply mentioned in future it is said to be simple future tense.

Structure : subject +shall /will +basic verb

Uses : To indicate any such action which will take place in future.

Eg:   1. I shall remember you.

2. Our teachers will complete the syllabus.

CONTINUOUS TENSES:

• PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE:

When a verb shows that an action started in past (we don’t know the time) partly finished at the time of speaking and will continue in future is said to be in present continuous tense.

Structure: subject +am /is /are +ing (4^th form)

Uses 1: As in the definition.

Eg:  1. I am teaching now.

2. He is driving a car.
   3 You are playing.

Use 2. To indicates any such action which is planned in the nearest future.

Eg: 1. We are going for movie tomorrow.

2. I am leaving for London next week.

Use 3. It is used to indicate any such action which is not actually going on at the time of speaking but continues in the background.

Eg.1. I am studying in 12^th class.

2. I am reading a drama these days.

PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

When a verb show that an action started in past (we don’t know the time) partly finished at a particular moment in past and was going on, It is said to be in past continuous tense.

Structure : subject + was/were + -ing (4^th form)

Use 1:  As in the definition.

Eg:  1) Yesterday at 9o’clock I was watching T.V.

2) I was taking bath at that time when you rang.

FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE:

When the verb shows that an action will be going on at a particular moment in future it is said to be in future continuous tense

Structure: subject+ shall/will +be +ing (4^th form)

Use 1 : As in the definition.

Eg. 1. He will be going.

2. I shall be watching T.V
3. They will be practicing.

PERFECT TENSES

PRESENT PERFECT TENSE:

When the verb shows that an action is just completed before some moment in present, it is said to be in present perfect tense.

Structure: subject +have / has+ pp (vs)

Use1: As in the definition.

Eg:  1) He has just sold his bike.

2) I have just arrived.

Use2:  To indicate any such action which took place in indefinite past but has its effect in present.

Eg 1. I have read this book.

2. She has paid her fees.

Change the following sentences into the present perfect tense.

1. He forgot his name.

He has forgotten his name.

2. The man took leave.

The man has taken leave.

3. You are enjoying.

You have enjoyed.

PAST PERFECT TENSE

When the verb shows that an action completed before a particular moment in past it is said to be past perfect tense.

Structure: subject + had +pp

Use 1: As in the definition.

Eg. 1. I had reached home by 10 pm.

2. He had left the school before 2 pm.

FUTURE PERFECT TENSE:

When the verb shows that an action will be completed before a particular moment in future it is said to be in future perfect tense.

Structure : s+ shall /will +have +pp

Use 1: As in the definition.

Eg.1. I shall have returned your books by 8 p.m.

2. He will have completed his work by evening.

Change the tense of the following sentences as per instructions.

1. They are digging road. (past perfect tense)

They had dug road.

2. She is singing a song. (future perfect tense)

She will have sung a song.

3. I choose a publisher. (present perfect tense)

I have chosen a publisher.

4. I understood. (future perfect tense)

I will have understood.

5. I went around the city. (past perfect tense)

I had gone around the city.

6. I was in Pune. (past perfect tense)

I had been in Pune.

7  A week of fine farm drove me crazy.

A week of fine farm has driven me crazy.

 

 

PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINOUS TENSE:

When the verb shows that an action started  at a particular moment in past, partly finished at  the time of speaking & will be going on in future, it is  said to be in present  perfect continuous tense.

Structure : subject +have / has +been +ing

Use1.: As in the definition:

Eg. 1 I have been living in Jalna since 1997.

2 She has been working in this company for 5 years.

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE:

When the verb shows that an action  started at a particular moment in past partly finished in past itself & was going on, it is said to be in past perfect continuous tense.

Structure : subject +had + been +ing

Use 1: as in the definition

Eg.   1. Yesterday at 7’o clock, I had been watching T.V. for 2 hours.

2. In 2010, I had been teaching in the school for 5 years.
3. The lady drives a car. (Change into all tenses)

• The lady drives a car.
• The lady drove a car.
• The lady will drive a car.
• The lady is driving a car.
• The lady was driving car.
• The lady will be driving a car.
• The lady has driven a car.
• The lady had driven a car.
• The lady will have driven a car.
• The lady has been driving a car.
• The lady had been driving a car.