TENSES

TENSES

There are three main tenses: Present, Past & Future. The Tense reflects the time of any action. It is obtained from a Latin word named”Tempus” meaning “Time”.

Present Tense:

Ø  Simple Present tense

It is used in following g cases

1.) To express habitual action

eg: He exercises daily

      I sleep at 10 ‘o clock everyday

2.) To express general truths

eg: The sun rises in the East

      Self-confidence boosts Morale

3.) Sentences beginning with here and there to express what is actually taking place at present

eg: Here he comes

      There goes the rocket

4.) To express a future event which is a part of a fixed time table

eg: The train leaves at 5 pm

      When does the shop open?

5.) To introduce quotations

eg: Watzlawick says “You cannot not communicate. You communicate just by being”

Ø  Present Continuous tense

It is used in the following cases

1.) To describe ongoing action while speaking

eg: He is reading

2.) To describe a temporary action that may not be happening at the time of speaking

eg: I am reading Five point someone    ( But I may not be actually reading)

3.) To mention can action that has been planned to take place in near future

eg: I am going to Kolkata tonight

Ø  Present Perfect Tense

     It is used in the following cases

1.) To indicate completed activities in the immediate past ( with just)

eg: I have just finished my lunch

2.) To express past actions whose time is not given and not definite

eg: I have never seen him in a good mood

      Mr Singh has been to Delhi

3.) To describe past events when you think more of their effect in the present

eg: Anuj has eaten all bananas

     I have completed my work

4.) To denote some action begun sometime in the past and continuing upto the present moment

eg: I have known him for many years

5.) To express habitual or continued actions

eg: We have lived here for twenty years

Ø  Present Perfect Continuous tense

It is used to denote an action that began at some time in the past and is still going on. It is used with since and for to denote point of time and period of time, respectively

eg: They have been dancing 4 o’clock

Past Tense

Ø  Simple Past Tense

 It is used to indicate action completed in the past

eg: He left for USA last month

It may also be used for some past habits

eg: He always carried her Glasses

Ø  Past Continuous Tense

It is used to denote an action going on at some time in past.The time may or may not be included

eg: She was watching TV all night

      When I saw him, he was playing badminton

Ø  Past Perfect Tense

It describes an action completed before a certain moment in the past and before the happening of another event in the past

eg: When I arrived home, she had already gone home 

      I had finished work before he arrived

Ø  Past Perfect continuous tense

It is used for an action that began before a certain point in the past and continued up to that time having linked to the period or point of time in the past

eg: At that time, he had been writing a book for two months

Future Tense

Ø  Simple Future tense

It is used to refer to the things you cannot control. It expresses future as a fact

eg: You will know your exam results next month

It can also be used to talk about what we believe will happen in future

eg: I am sure India will win the match

Ø  Future Continuous Tense

It is used to discuss the actions that will be in progress at a time in future

eg:  I suppose she will be singing when we enter the auditorium

It is also used to mention the actions in the future that are already planned

eg: She will be staying in the room till evening

Ø  Future Perfect tense

It is used to talk about the actions that will be completed by or before a certain future time

eg: I shall have finished my writing by then

      By the end of the day, I will have worked in this place for six hours

Ø  Future Perfect Continuous tense

It is used for actions that will be in progress over a period of time and will end in future

eg: I will have been training in this institute for fifteen months by next September

      By next year, we shall have been living here for one year