A tense may be defined as that form of a verb which indicates the time and the state of an action or event .
Kinds of Tense :
1. Present Tense .
2. Past Tense.
3. Future Tense.
Again , kinds of present tense :
1) Present Indefinite Tense
or
Simple Present Tense
2) Present Continuous Tense
3) Present Perfect Tense
4) Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Again Kinds of Past Tense :
1) Past Indefinite Tense
Or
Simple Past Tense
2) Past Continuous Tense
3) Past Perfect Tense
4) Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Again,kinds of Future Tense :
1) Future Indefinite Tense
Or
Simple Future Tense
2) Future Continuous Tense
3) Future Perfect Tense
4) Future Perfect Continuous Tense
The Present Tense
The Present Tense
Formation : 1) Subject + Main Verb +Object
2) Subject + Main Verb + S/es +Object
3) Subject + Be Verb (Am/Is/Are) + Object
(i) This tense is generally used to denote habit , custom , practice , repeated action , permanent activity , general truth etc.
(i) This tense is generally used to denote habit , custom , practice , repeated action , permanent activity , general truth etc.
This ideas are expressed by the adverbs of frequency such as often, seldom , usually , never , occassionally , sometimes , normally , generally , always , frequently , rarely , daily .
For Main Verb :
Person/Number
|
Subject
|
Main Verb (go)
|
1st singular
|
I
|
Go
|
1st plural
|
We
|
Go
|
2nd singular /plural
|
You
|
Go
|
3rd singular
|
He/she/it/Ram
|
Goes
|
3rd plural
|
They
|
Go
|
For Be Verb :
Person/Number
|
Subject
|
Main Verb
|
1st singular
|
I
|
Am
|
1st plural
|
We
|
Are
|
2ng singular / plural
|
You
|
Are
|
3rd singular
|
He /she/it/Ram
|
Is
|
3rd plural
|
They
|
Are
|
Examples :
He goes to school every day.
Man is mortal.
Milk is white.
Honey is sweet.
His father is a teacher.
The Sun rises in the east.
(ii) To describe a past event vividly as if it were present before our very eyes :
Napoleon crosses the Alps
Nadir Shah marches to Delhi with a fury .
(iii) To introduce a quotation :
Pope says : A little learning a dangerous thing .
Keats says : A thing of beauty is a joy forever .
(iv) To express an action in the near future :
Our school closes for the summer on the 7th .
He starts for Calcutta tomorrow.
I leave for Dibrugarh this afternoon .
The ceremony comes off tomorrow.
(v) It is used in an exclamatory sentence beginning with ' here ' or ' there ' :
Here comes our here !
There goes the bell .
(vi) To express an activity or state continues , verbs of perception are used in the President Indefinite Tense because they do not take the continuous form in the ordinary meaning of the verb .
I see a single star in the sky .
Do you hear the sound of a car ?
Remember :
The Present Indefinite Tense is formed by the Present Tense form of the verb . If the subject of the verb is a third person in the singular number , ' s ' or ' es ' , is added to the Present Tense form of the verb .
(ii) To describe a past event vividly as if it were present before our very eyes :
Napoleon crosses the Alps
Nadir Shah marches to Delhi with a fury .
(iii) To introduce a quotation :
Pope says : A little learning a dangerous thing .
Keats says : A thing of beauty is a joy forever .
(iv) To express an action in the near future :
Our school closes for the summer on the 7th .
He starts for Calcutta tomorrow.
I leave for Dibrugarh this afternoon .
The ceremony comes off tomorrow.
(v) It is used in an exclamatory sentence beginning with ' here ' or ' there ' :
Here comes our here !
There goes the bell .
(vi) To express an activity or state continues , verbs of perception are used in the President Indefinite Tense because they do not take the continuous form in the ordinary meaning of the verb .
I see a single star in the sky .
Do you hear the sound of a car ?
Remember :
The Present Indefinite Tense is formed by the Present Tense form of the verb . If the subject of the verb is a third person in the singular number , ' s ' or ' es ' , is added to the Present Tense form of the verb .
2) Present Continuous tense :
Formation : Subject +Be Verb (am/is/are) +Main Verb + ing +Object
(i) To express an action that is taking place at the moment of speaking and which is not yet complete .
Examples :
You are reading now.
(i) To express an action that is taking place at the moment of speaking and which is not yet complete .
Examples :
You are reading now.
He is writing a letter.
It is raining now.
Rina is singing a song.
(ii) To express an action in near future :
(ii) To express an action in near future :
I am going to write a letter to him.
It is going to rain now .
He is going to Jorhat Tomorrow.
Person /number
|
Subject
|
Be verb
|
Main verb
|
1st person singular
|
I
|
Am
|
Going
|
2nd person plural
|
We
|
Are
|
Going
|
2nd person singular / plural
|
You
|
Are
|
Going
|
3rd singular
|
He/she/it/Ram
|
Is
|
Going
|
3rd plural
|
They
|
Are
|
Going
|
3) Present perfect tense :
Formation : Subject + Be verb ( Have/Has ) + past participle of main verb +object
(i) To express an action that has just been completed .
Examples :
(i) To express an action that has just been completed .
Examples :
You have done the sum .
He has finished the work just now.
I have watched the drama .
(ii) To indicate a past action whose that has been continuing from the past upto the present moment . This is called the continuative use of the Present moment . It is always used with a time expression only .
Examples :
He has lived in Guwahati for ten years .
I have been in this office since 1977 .
He has read for two hours .
(iii) To indicate a past action whose time is not given and not definite :
Examples :
I have seen the Tajmahal ..
Have you seen the Tajmahal ?
I have watched the drama .
(ii) To indicate a past action whose that has been continuing from the past upto the present moment . This is called the continuative use of the Present moment . It is always used with a time expression only .
Examples :
He has lived in Guwahati for ten years .
I have been in this office since 1977 .
He has read for two hours .
(iii) To indicate a past action whose time is not given and not definite :
Examples :
I have seen the Tajmahal ..
Have you seen the Tajmahal ?
Person/number
|
subject
|
Be verb
|
Main verb (go)
|
1st person /singular
|
I
|
Have
|
Gone
|
1st plural
|
We
|
Have
|
Gone
|
2nd singular/ plural
|
You
|
Have
|
Gone
|
3rd singular
|
He/she/it/Ram
|
Has
|
Gone
|
3rd plural
|
They
|
Have
|
Gone
|
4) Present perfect continuous tense :
Formation : Subject + Be verb(have been / has been ) + main Verb +ing+ Object
The Present Perfect Continues Tense is used to indicate that an action has been going on for sometime and is not finished yet . It , therefore , denotes that an action :
(a) began sometime in the past .
(b) is continuing in the present .
(c) may extend to the future .
" Since ' or ' for ' is generally used with the Present Perfect Continues Tense .
Examples :
It has been raining since today morning.
The Present Perfect Continues Tense is used to indicate that an action has been going on for sometime and is not finished yet . It , therefore , denotes that an action :
(a) began sometime in the past .
(b) is continuing in the present .
(c) may extend to the future .
" Since ' or ' for ' is generally used with the Present Perfect Continues Tense .
Examples :
It has been raining since today morning.
He has been working in this factor for the ten years .
I have reading English for six hours .
He has been taking for three hours .
The boys have been playing since 4 o'clock .
I have reading English for six hours .
He has been taking for three hours .
The boys have been playing since 4 o'clock .
Person/Number
|
Subject
|
Be verb
|
Main Verb(go)
|
1st /Singular
|
I
|
Have been
|
Going
|
1st /Plural
|
We
|
Have been
|
Going
|
2nd/Singular/plural
|
You
|
Have been
|
Going
|
3rd /Singular
|
He/She/It/Ram
|
Has been
|
Going
|
3rd /Plural
|
They
|
Have been
|
Going
|
The Past Tense
1) Past Indefinite Tense or Simple past tense :
Formation : 1) Subject + Past tense of main verb + Object
2)Subject +Be Verb (was/were) + Object
The Past Indefinite Tense or The Simple Past Tense is the tense used for the relation of past events . It is used to indicate an action completed in the past at a definite time . It is used whenever any given past time is stated or implied . There is often an adverb of time denoting past tense in the sentence .
The Past Indefinite Tense or The Simple Past Tense is the tense used for the relation of past events . It is used to indicate an action completed in the past at a definite time . It is used whenever any given past time is stated or implied . There is often an adverb of time denoting past tense in the sentence .
I met him in Jorhat yesterday.
Examples :
Examples :
I went to house yesterday.
I lost my pen.
I met him in Jorhat yesterday.
I met him in Jorhat yesterday.
For Main verb :
Person /number
|
Subject
|
Main verb (go)
|
1st Singular
|
I
|
Went
|
1st Plural
|
We
|
Went
|
2nd Singular/ plural
|
You
|
Went
|
3rd Singular
|
He/she/it/Ram
|
Went
|
3rd Plural
|
They
|
Went
|
For Be Verb :
Person /number
|
Subject
|
Be verb
|
1st singular
|
I
|
Was
|
1st plural
|
We
|
Were
|
2nd singular / plural
|
You
|
Were
|
3rd singular
|
He /she/it/Ram
|
Was
|
3rd plural
|
They
|
Were
|
2) Past continuous tense :
Formation : Subject + Be verb ( was/were) + main verb +ing + object
(i) The Past Continuous Tense is used for an action going on for sometime in the past .
Examples :
(i) The Past Continuous Tense is used for an action going on for sometime in the past .
Examples :
The man was working in the morning .
It was raining in the yesterday morning .
She was doing the sum in the morning.
(ii) It is used for an action going on for sometime during which something took place .
Examples :
(ii) It is used for an action going on for sometime during which something took place .
Examples :
When/While I went to his house he was reading.
When I met him he was sitting on a chair.
Number/Person
|
Subject
|
Be Verb
|
Main Verb (Go)
|
1st /singular
|
I
|
Was
|
Going
|
1st /plural
|
We
|
Were
|
Going
|
2nd/singular/plural
|
You
|
Were
|
Going
|
3rd /singular
|
He/She/It/Ram
|
Was
|
Going
|
3rd /plural
|
They
|
Were
|
Going
|
3) Past Perfect Tense :
Formation : Sub + Be Verb (Had) + Past Participles of main verb + Object
(i) The Past Perfect Tense is used to express an action already completed at some time in the past before another past action . It denotes that :
(a) Two actions took place in the past .
(b) One of them took place before the other .
(c) The earlier action is expressed by the Past Perfect Tense and the later action , by the Past Indefinite .
Examples :
(i) The Past Perfect Tense is used to express an action already completed at some time in the past before another past action . It denotes that :
(a) Two actions took place in the past .
(b) One of them took place before the other .
(c) The earlier action is expressed by the Past Perfect Tense and the later action , by the Past Indefinite .
Examples :
The patient had died before the doctor came.
The doctor came after the patient had died.
We had left before they came.
After we had washed up we went for a walk .
The train had left before they reached the station.
(ii) It is used after ' if ' or ' I wish ' , if it relates to a past activity that is unreal or a mere supposition .
Examples :
If I had a car , I should have given you a life .
If you had eaten it , you should have died .
I wish I had invited my friend .
(ii) It is used after ' if ' or ' I wish ' , if it relates to a past activity that is unreal or a mere supposition .
Examples :
If I had a car , I should have given you a life .
If you had eaten it , you should have died .
I wish I had invited my friend .
Person/number
|
Subject
|
Be verb
|
Main verb (GO)
|
1st singular
|
I
|
Had
|
Gone
|
1st plural
|
We
|
Had
|
Gone
|
2nd singular/plural
|
You
|
Had
|
Gone
|
3rd singular
|
He/she/it/Ram
|
Had
|
Gone
|
3rd plural
|
They
|
Had
|
Gone
|
4) Past Perfect Continuous Tense :
Formation : Subject +Be Verb (had) + Been + Main Verb+ Ing + Object
(i) The Past Perfect Continuous Tense is used to express an action that began in the past and was still going at a given moment in the past .
Examples :
Examples :
He had been living in Assam for three years.
I had been serving in this school for last fifteen years.
Person /number
|
Subject
|
Be verb
|
Main verb (go)
|
1st person/singular
|
I
|
Had been
|
Going
|
1st plural
|
We
|
Had been
|
Going
|
2nd singular/plural
|
You
|
Had been
|
Going
|
3rd singular
|
He/she/it/Ram
|
Had been
|
Going
|
3rd plural
|
They
|
Had been
|
Going
|
The Future Tense
1) Future Indefinite Tense :
Formation : Subject + Be Verb (shall/will) + present tense of main verb + object
(i) The future Indefinite Tense is used to denote an event or action that will be performed in some future time .
Examples :
Examples :
I shall go to your house tomorrow.
He will come to our house tomorrow.
He will come to our house tomorrow.
I shall meet you at 4 o’ clock tomorrow.
Person/number
|
Subject
|
Be verb
|
Main verb (go)
|
1st singular
|
I
|
Shall
|
Go
|
1st plural
|
We
|
Shall
|
Go
|
2nd singular/plural
|
You
|
Will
|
Go
|
3rd singular
|
He/she/it/Ram
|
Will
|
Go
|
3rd plural
|
They
|
Will
|
Go
|
2) Future Continuous Tense :
Formation : Subject + Be Verb +(shall be/will be) + main verb + ing +object
(i) The Future Continuous Tense is used to express an action still going on in the future .
Examples :
Examples :
I shall be watching T.V at your home at 4 o’ clock tomorrow.
Where will you be going ?
I shall be waiting for you.
I shall be sleeping at night.
Person/Number
|
Subject
|
Shall be
|
Main Verb
| ||
1st /Singular
|
I
|
Shall be
|
Going
| ||
2nd /Plural
|
We
|
Shall be
|
Going
| ||
2nd/Singular/Plural
|
You
|
Shall be
|
Going
| ||
3rd /Singular
|
He/She/It/Ram
|
Shall be
|
Going
| ||
3rd /Plural
|
They
|
Shall be
|
Going
| ||
3) Future Perfect Tense :
Formation : Subject + Be Verb (Shall Have/Will Have) Past Participle form of Main Verb +Object
(i) The Future Perfect Tense is used to express an action that will have been completed at or before a given time in the future .
Examples :
Examples :
I shall have done this work by 3 pm .
The students will have been promoted to class xii by next march.
The students will have been promoted to class xii by next march.
Person /number
|
Subject
|
Be verb
|
Main verb (go)
|
1st person
|
I
|
Shall have
|
Gone
|
1st plural
|
We
|
Shall have
|
Gone
|
2nd singular/plural
|
You
|
Will have
|
Gone
|
3rd singular
|
He/she/it/Ram
|
Will have
|
Gone
|
3rd plural
|
They
|
Will have
|
Gone
|
4) Future Perfect Continuous Tense :
Formation : Subject + Be Verb(Shall have /Will have + Been) + Main Verb +Ing +Object.
(i) The Future Perfect Continuous Tense is used to express an action that will be continuing or going on for sometime in the future until another action begins in the future .
Examples :
(i) The Future Perfect Continuous Tense is used to express an action that will be continuing or going on for sometime in the future until another action begins in the future .
Examples :
I shall have been reading the book before he comes.
He will have been working till the sun sets .
Person/number
|
Subject
|
Be verb
|
Main verb (go)
|
1st person /singular
|
I
|
Shall have been
|
Going
|
1st plural
|
We
|
Shall have been
|
Going
|
2nd singular/plural
|
You
|
Will have been
|
Going
|
3rd singular
|
He/she/it/Ram
|
Will have been
|
Going
|
3rd plural
|
They
|
Will have been
|
Going
|
Important Conditions :
(i) A sentence is written in The Simple Present Tense if there are some words like as if , as though , all though .
(ii) A sentence is written in The Present Continuous Tense if there is a word like ' Hurry Up " .
QUIZ :
·:
(i) A sentence is written in The Simple Present Tense if there are some words like as if , as though , all though .
(ii) A sentence is written in The Present Continuous Tense if there is a word like ' Hurry Up " .
QUIZ :
·:
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