Tenses

Tenses

              Tense denotes time described by a verb. Tenses are usually manifested by the use of specific forms of verbs, particularly in their conjugation patterns. There are three main verb tenses in English. They are Present tense, Past tense and Future tense. Each tenses are divided into four aspects.

 Present Tense

 1. Simple Present Tense: (S+V+O)

          It is used to talk about regular repeated activities or general truth. (Habitual activities, Provisional proverbs, Happening which is unprogress, Universal truth).

                                 

                              (eg) I swim.
                                      We watch tv in the morning.
                                      The earth is round.

 2. Present Continuous Tense:

                       (S+am/is/are+ing form of verb+O)

                It is used to denote something happening now at this moment.

                                   

                                (eg) Arun is sleeping.

                                        He is reading the book.

 3. Present Perfect Tense:

                       (S+has/have+past participle of verb+O)

                It is used to show an action that was over in the recent past.

                                 

                               (eg) The bus has already arrived.
                                       They have closed the window.
                                       He has just finished the work.

        

 4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense:

                       (S=has/have+been+ing form of verb+O)

                It is used to denote actions happening over a period of time.

                                

                              (eg) He has been playing tennis since this morning.

                                      It has been raining all night.

 Past Tense

 1. Simple Past Tense: (S+v=ed)

                They talk about daily and routine work in the past.

                               

                               (eg) He enjoyed music.

                                       Tom worked well.

                                        He stayed in Chennai for a work.

 2. Past Continuous Tense:

                       (S+was+v+ing)

                It is used to denote all actions in the past but not completed at the time of speaking.

                               

                              (eg) Last evening I was reading a book.

                                      I was listening to a music.

                                      When I got up she was making coffee.

 3. Past Perfect Tense:

                       (S+had+past participle form of verb)

                It shows actions completed in the past.

                               

                               (eg) She had bought the book.

                                       I had cleaned my room.

                                       They had visited the circus many times.

 4. Past Perfect Continuous Tense:

                       (S+had been+v+ing)

                It indicates long standing actions in the past.

                               

                              (eg) It had been raining all night.

                                      He had been playing since this morning.

                                      She had been reading the novel for six months.

 Future Tense

 1. Simple Future Tense: (S+will/shall+verb)

                It indicates action likely to take place at some time after the present.

                               

                              (eg) I will go home.

                                      We shall go there at 6 in the morning

                                      The plane will arrive at 10pm.

 2. Future Continuous Tense:

                       (S+will/shall+be+v+ing)

                It indicates an action continuing at a point of time in the future.

                               

                              (eg) I will be writing exam by this time next week.

                                      They will be travelling in the train this day next month.

                                       I shall be meeting him tomorrow.

                

 3. Future Perfect Tense:

                       (S+will/shall+have+past participle form of verb)

                It indicates completion of action in the future time.

                               

                              (eg) He will have finished his work by this time tomorrow.

                                      My brother will have completed his practical session by May 2020.  

                                      They will have completed the building by the end of June.

4.Future Perfect Continuous Tense:

                       (S+will/shall+have been+v+ing)

                It is used to describe an action that is going to happen and continue in the future.

                             

                            (eg) They will have been celebrating the Golden Jubilee of their firm by 2020.

                                    I will have been working here for six years next month.

                                    By 2.30 I will have been driving for six hours.

Exercise :

1. John is travelling to chennai tomorrow.

2. I have read 'Gulliver's Travels'.

3. We have known each other for five years.

4. My younger brother has just written a letter.

5. By next april I shall have been working in this office for ten years.