English Grammar I Tense I Education I Knowledge

  TENSE

Tense is the form of a verb which shows the time of an action or state in the present, past and future.

OR

To express the time of an action and its degree of completeness, tense is used.

Kinds of Tense

(a) Present Tense

(b) Past Tense

(c) Future Tense

There are four tense forms that verbs take such as -

(1) Simple / Indefinite

(2) Continuous / Progressive / Imperfect

(3) Perfect

(4) Perfect Continuous

1. Simple Present Tense

(i) Affirmative Sentences:

Structure:- Subject + Verb (1st) + Object.

Example:-

1. I go to school daily.
2. We do our work regularly.
3. You take exercise.
4. Ram reads a book.
5. She speak the truth.

(ii) Negative Sentences:

Structure:- Subject + Do / Does + not + Verb (1st) + Object.

Example:-

1. I do not smoke.
2. They do not tell a lie.
3. Do not make a noise.
4. He does not take alcohol.

(iii) Interrogative Sentences:

Structure:- Do / Does + Subject + Verb (1st) + Object ?

                    Wh - words + Do / Does + Subject + Verb (1st) + Object ?

Example:-

1. Do you read newspaper daily ?
2. Does she attend the classes regularly ?
3. When does he take exercise ?

(iv) Emphatic Sentences:

Structure:- Subject + Do / Does + not + Verb (1st) + Object.

Example:-

1. I do know English.
2. She does love him very much.
3. He does smoke but does not confess.
   

   

Use of Simple Present Tense :

1. To express Permanent Actions:

1. I live in Patna.
2. Sanjay comes from Ranchi.
3. She runs a beauty parlour.
4. Independence Day falls on 15th of August.

2. To express Routined Actions:

1. I get up at 5 a.m.
2. He completes his home-work in the morning.
3. My father goes to office at 9 a.m.
4. I continue my study for three hours.

3. To express Habitual Actions:

1. She always comes late.
2. He never comes on time.
3. They rarely tell a lie.
4. He seldom invites his friends.

4. To express Universal / General truth / Principle:

1. The sun rises in the east.
2. A molecule of water consists of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen.
3. Milk is white.
4. Failures are the pillars of success.

5. To express Planned Future Actions / Firm Decision / Programmes:

1. She gets married next year.
2. We sail for England next month.
3. The plane takes off at 10 a.m.
4. I leave for Delhi tomorrow.

6. To express Possession  Ownership:

1. I have a car.
2. He owns a palatial building.
3. He holds a powerful post.
4. She belongs to a well-to-do family.

7. To express Historical Events / Facts:

1. Mahatma Gandhi dies in 1948.
2. India becomes free in 1947.
3. Now the Battle of Panipat begins.

8. To express Quotations:

1. Shelley says " If winter comes, can spring be far behind ?"
2. Keats says, " Beauty is to see, not to touch."
3. Lincoln says, " Democracy is the government of the people, for the people and by the people. "

9. To express Commentary / Series of Events:

1. Tendulkar bags four runs more.
2. Dravid bags five wickets in this match.
3. Chiku passes to Tinku, Tinku to Tuntun, Tuntun backs to Shivu, Shivu shoots...................... and it is goal.

10. To express a Subordinate Clause of Time and Condition introduced by if, till or when in a Conditional Sentence:

1. If you give me blood, I will give you freedom.
2. I shall stay here till you come back.
3. When you reach there, send me a letter.
4. If you violate the rules of road, you will be fined.

11. To express Newspapers Headlines:

1. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam takes oath.
2. ULFA kills Ten.
3. NTPC cuts supply.
4. Mr. Patel resigns.

12. To express Situation / Existence / Position in the Present:

Structure:- Subject + is/are/am + noun/pronoun + adj/adv.

1. Lord Ram is an ideal personality.
2. Passengers are safe.
3. I am not in a fix.
4. The T.V. is on but the light is off.

13. To express Dramatic Narratives:

1. Rana Pratap now draws his sword and attacks the enemy.
2. Sohrab now rushes forward and gives a heavy blow to Rustum.
3. When the curtain rises, Macbeth is seen sitting on his throne.
4. Immediately, the police hurries to the place of occurrence.

14. To begin Imperative Sentences:

1. Obey the rules of the road.
2. Never tell a lie.
3. Always speak the truth.
4. Help the poor.

2. Present Continuous Tense

(i) Affirmative Sentences:

Structure:- Subject + is/am/are + Verb + ing + Object.

Example:-

1. I am writing a letter.
2. He is reading a novel.
3. They are flying kites.
4. Sheela is running in short of money.

(ii) Negative Sentences:

Structure:- Subject + is/ am/ are + not + Verb + ing + Object.

Example:-

1. I am not vexing you.
2. Students are not making a noise.
3. She is not doing her duty well.
4. They are not feeding the cows.

(iii) Interrogative Sentences:

Structure:- Is/ am/are + Subject + Verb + ing + Object ?

                    Wh-word + is/am/are + Subject + Verb + ing + Object ? 

Example:-

1. Are you going to Delhi ?
2. Am I telling a lie ?
3. Is he selling his shop ?
4. Are they taking tea ?
   

   

Use of Present Continuous Tense

1. To express Temporary Actions in the Present:

1. Patna is facing electricity problem these days.
2. All of the students are sitting and talking.
3. Most of the students are doing well here.
4. At this time I am speaking from Varanasi.

2. To express Actions Happening at the Time of Speaking:

1. Ritu is studying in her room.
2. Her brother is sleeping at present.
3. It is raining cats and dogs.
4. I am looking for my handkerchief.

3. To express Actions in Progress, but not necessarily at the time of speaking:

1. I am writing a book these days.
2. India is exporting sugar to the gulf countries.
3. Pakistan is facing earthquake.
4. Shivam is completing his holiday home-work now.

4. To express Actions definitely Planned for the Near Future:

1. I am going to Delhi next week.
2. We are holding a seminar next month.
3. The President is arriving in Delhi tomorrow.
4. I am going to buy a computer today.

5. To express Persistent Action:

1. She is always asking questions.
2. He is always talking nonsense.
3. You are always insulting the poor.
4. Mohan is always borrowing money.

3. Present Perfect Tense

(i) Affirmative Sentences:

Structure:- Subject + have/has + Verb (3rd) + Object.

Example:-

1. She has helped me.
2. They have completed their work.
3. I have taught her.

(ii) Negative Sentences:

Structure:- Subject + have/has + not + Verb (3rd) + Object.

Example:-

1. I have not taken my lunch yet.
2. I have not completed the work.
3. He has not consulted any doctor.

(iii) Interrogative Sentences:

Structure:- Have/Has + Subject + Verb (3rd) + Object ?

Example:-

1. Have you done your home-work ?
2. Has he gone to Delhi ?
3. Have you ever seen the Red Fort ?
   

   

Use of Present Perfect Tense

1. To express actions that have been completed but whose effect continues:

1. I have taken my lunch.
2. He has not visited London.
3. I have done my graduation.
4. She has lost her pen.

2. To express actions completed recently:

1. I have just received the letter.
2. We have already decided to do this work.
3. She has not visited America so far.

3. To express actions started in the past and continued up  to the present moment:

1. I have worked in this college for ten years.
2. I have not seen him since Monday last.
3. We have known each other for five years.
4. She has lived in Patna for twenty years.

4. To express actions completed in the past but whose time of completetion is not given:

1. I have bought a new car.
2. I have been to Agra once.
3. The train has steamed in.
4.  She has seen a snake in the bush.

5. To express news of recent events:

1. And here are the main points of the news again.
2. The rupee has fallen against the dollar.
3. The P.M. has said that government is going to take the stock of the situation.
4. Earthquake has killed more than 80 thousand people in Pakistan.

4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense

(i) Affirmative Sentences:

Structure:- Subject + Have/Has + been + Verb + ing + Object.

Example:-

1. He has been playing for two hours.
2. I have been writing since 8 o'clock.
3. I have been living in this house for 20 years.

(ii) Negative Sentences:

Structure:- Subject + Have/ Has + not been + Verb + ing + Object.

Example:-

1. I have not been studying in this school for five years.
2. She has not been writing letters since 8 a.m.
3. I have not been living in this house for 20 years.

(iii) Interrogative Sentences:

Structure:- Have/Has + Subject + Verb + ing + Object ?

                    Wh-word + have/has + Subject + Verb + ing + Object ?

Example:-

1. Have I been studying in this school for five years ?
2. Has it been studying since morning ?
3. Have I been living in this house for 20 years ?
   

   

Use of Present Perfect Continuous Tense

1. To express actions started in the past and still going on and may extend into the  future:

1. We have been living in Patna since 1986.
2. She has been waiting for you for three hours.
3. For how long have you been sitting here ?
4. Since when has she been living in this house ?

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