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