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TENSES

What is tense ?

Tense indicates time in which the action has taken place .

There are 3 tenses in English

Present tense .

Simple present tense

Form

I,we,you,they

Subject+root form of the verb+object

I go the beach on every Sunday.

He,she,it

Subject+verb (s,es)+object

She goes to the mall after every session.

Present continuous tense

Form

We,you,they +are,+verb(ing) + object

We are playing cricket

He,she,it+ is+verb(ing)+object

He is eating banana.

I am drinking water

Present perfect tense

Form

Verb+has/have+3rd form of the verb+ object

She has taken my copy

Present perfect continuous tense

Form

Verb+has/have+been+verb(ing)+object

He has been dancing since 2hours.

They have been listening to music for 4 hours.

 

Past tense .

Simple past tense

FORM

VERB+ED

DID+ROOT FORM OF THE VERB

The flight landed few minutes ago.

She did not work here.

Past continuous tense

FORM

WAS/WERE + VERB+ING

He was cleaning his room yesterday.

They were sitting in the room day before yesterday.

Past perfect tense

FORM

HAD+VERB+3RD FORM OF THE VERB

He had been to Mumbai before 2005.

*it is not used to express single action in the past:

We had gone to the zoo on Sunday.

We went to the zoo on Sunday.

Past perfect continuous tense

FORM

HAD BEEN+VERB+ING

I HAD BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT SINCE 2 MONTHS.

 

Future tense.

Will/shall

FORM

Will/shall+ root form of the verb

He will give me chocolates tomorrow.

Going to

FORM

Be going to+ root form of the verb

Uses

If we have decided to do something or if we intend to do something in the near future.

We are going to spend this weekend at Solang valley resort.

Future continuous tense

FORM

Shall/will be+ ing form of the verb

Uses

Action that will be in progress at a given time in future.

At 8o’clock,she will be doing her work.

Future perfect tense

FORM

Shall/will have + 3rd form of the verb

Uses

An action which will have been completed before a given time in the future.

We shall have cleared the old stock before the fresh goods arrive.

Future perfect continuous tense

FORM

Shall/will have been+ ing form of the verb

USES

Action which will begin before moment in the future and will terminate at the moment or may continue even beyond that.

When Mr. Narayan leaves the office at 5, he will have been dictating letters continuously for three hours

 

 

 

Categories: Education