tense

 

1.5 TENSEs

 

Communication is a set of meaningful sentences. To communicate effectively we should be able to construct correct sentences expressing the intended thoughts. Grammar, being a set of rules, states that there are three main tenses. Tenses help us to communicate in the correct manner in which we want to communicate.

 

Tenses
Present Tense	Past Tense	Future Tense

 

We speak in terms of time i.e. present, past and future. We use tenses according to our needs. There are different sub types of the main three tenses. Every sub type of a tense is used with a different purpose and on different occasions.

 

For exampl:

1.  I visit the temple every day.

2.  Raj killed an insect last night.

PRESENT TENSE

Simple Present Tense

 

 

Structure	Usage	Examples
Subject + Verb 1 (s/es/ies) + Object	•   To express habitual/routine action, universal truths.	Ram eats mango
		We go to college
		You always come late

 

Present Continuous Tense

 

 

Structure

Usage

Examples

 

Subject + am/is/are + Verb + ing + Object	•     To denote ongoing action at the time of speaking •     To denote planned future action •     To denote continuous action but not necessarily now.	We are watching a movie
		Rakesh is playing football
		I am preparing for my exam.

 

 

Present Perfect Tense

 

 

Structure	Usage	Examples
Subject + have/has + Verb 3 + Object	•     To denote the action taken place just now.	Sita has passed the exam.
		We have reached at station.
		I have called him.

 

 

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

 

 

Structure                                 Usage                                              Examples
Subject + have/has + been + Verb 1 + ing + Object	•     To denote the action taken place just now.	We have been trying to call you.
		They have been visiting us in every summer
		Sanket has been preparing for Exam since 2017

 

PAST TENSE

Simple Past Tense

 

 

Structure                                 Usage                                              Examples
Subject + Verb 2 + Object	•   To denote the actions completed in past.	I saw a tiger yesterday.
		She did not call him
		We completed our homework

 

Past Continuous Tense

 

 

Structure                                 Usage                                              Examples
Subject + was/were + Verb + ing + Object	•   To denote ongoing past action.	She was watching TV yesterday.
		People were waiting for bus.
		I was talking to my friend.

 

 

Past Perfect Tense

 

 

Structure	Usage	Examples
Subject + had + Verb 3 + Object	•   To denote action which has taken place in the remote past.	I had gone to Mumbai.
		She had informed me.
		People had got angry.

 

 

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

 

 

Structure                                 Usage                                              Examples
Subject + had + been + Verb1 + ing + Object	•   To denote an action that occurred sometime in the past and continued in the past.	Rakesh had been doing study.
		Sunita had been sleeping.
		Government had been warning to people.

 

 

FUTURE TENSE

Simple Future Tense

 

 

Structure                                 Usage                                              Examples
Subject + Shall/Will + Verb 1 + Object	•   To denote future action.	Neeta will come tomorrow
		We shall go to picnic.
		They will complete the task.

 

 

Future Continuous Tense

 

 

Structure                                 Usage                                              Examples
Subject + Shall be / Will be + Verb + ing + Object	•   To denote ongoing future action i.e. action that will be going on in future time.	I shall be travelling to Paris.
		Father will be looking for us.
		Akash will be attending lecture.

 

 

 

 

Future Perfect Tense

 

 

Structure	Usage	Examples
Subject + Shall/Will have + Verb 3 + Object	•   To denote an action that will be completed in the future time.	Officer will have gone there.
		He will have closed the shop.
		I shall have given you.

 

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

 

 

Structure                                 Usage                                              Examples
Subject + Shall/Will have + Verb1 + ing + Object	•   To denote action that will be started in the future and continued in the future.	Rinku will have been eating food..
		Teacher will have been conducting lecture.
		They will have been working on a project

 

 

 

 

1.6 Sample Exercises

Rewrite the following sentences using correct form of verbs given in bracket.

1.  When you arrive tonight, we Will go (go) out for dinner.

2.  Whenever we meet, we plan (plan) a trip.

3.  The sun is shining (shine) brightly.

 

4.  Vijay was waiting (wait) for me when I arrived.

5.  I promise I did not / will not (not/tell) him about the surprise party.

6.  Shikhar Dhawan scored (score) a century in the last match.

7.  I am getting (get) hungry. Let's go and have something to eat.

8.  Have (have) you ever visited (visit) the U.S. before your trip in 2006?

9.  Who invented (invent) the bicycle?

10.  Yesterday evening the phone rang (ring) three times while were having (have) dinner.11.  When I met you last time, you were thinking (think) of moving to a new flat.

12.  She only understood the movie because she had read (read) the book.

13.  Can you help (help) me move this heavy table?

14.  Hello Nitya, I have not seen (not/see) you for ages. How are you?

15.  We can go out now. It is not raining (not/rain) any more.

16.  He goes (go) to that place every year.

17.  There I noticed (notice) how important it is (be) to speak English nowadays.

18.  And I have already (already begin /) to read the novel.

19.  If I pass (pass) my exams successfully, I will (start) an apprenticeship in September.

20.  while I was doing (do) the language course, I met (meet) lots of young people from all over the world.