Tenses Notes
Tenses Notes
Tenses Notes
Meaning: A tense is a form of the verb that allows you to express time. The tense of the verb
tells us when an event or something existed or when a person did something.
Kinds of Tenses :
Past, present and future are the three main types of tense. Each tense is further subdivided
into four subcategories:
Simple/ Indefinite
Continuous
Perfect
Perfect Continuous
Past tense
The past tense is used to describe an activity or an event that has happened in the past or a
past state of being and needs to include a time marker for when the event or action took place.
Examples:
We met yesterday.
He bought a new laptop last week.
Structure
Subject + verb + Object
Examples:
Structure
Subject + was/were + Verb in its -ing form + Object
Examples:
Structure
Subject + had + past participle form of verb + Object
Example:
Structure:
Subject + had + been + Verb (ing) + object
Example:
Present tense
The simple present tense or present tense is one of the most basic tenses in English. We use
present tense to talk about something that is currently going on, something that is habitually
performed, or a state that generally or currently exists.
Examples:
Simple present
The simple present is the most basic of the English tenses. It’s used for individual actions or
habitual actions in the present. Often the simple present is just the root verb with no changes or
additions.
Note: The main exception to this is when the subject is third person and singular. In this case
you add the suffix –s. If the verb ends in o, ch, sh, th, ss, gh, or z, you add –es. If the verb ends
in a consonant and y (and the subject is third-person singular), drop the y and add –ies.
Examples:
Something is taking place now, while speaking and has a definite end as
well.
When something is already decided and arranged as well to perform it.
To indicate an undesirable habit.
Structure:
Some Examples:
Examples
Structure:
Future tense
The future tense is a verb tense used to describe an event or action that has not yet happened
and is expected to happen in the future. Structural formula, Subject + shall/will+ verb (s/es) +
object.
Examples:
He will be here soon.
It will work
Will you do it for me?
Examples:
Structure:
'will' + 'be' + present participle of the verb (ing).
Construction
Examples:
We assume that our representative will be winning the elections that are
to be held at the end of April.
Today, she will be walking all the way to her house from her office.
I will be watching the new movie next week.
By this time tomorrow, I will be at home watching T.V.
Examples:
By the end of the year, he will have saved enough for his sister’s wedding.
You will have left for London by the time this bridge gets renewed.
Calvin will have gone by the time you reach there by bus.
I will have walked 15 kms by this time.
How long will it have been since we were here together?
Examples:
Next Saturday, I will have been working on this assignment for three
years.
Tomorrow, at this time, I shall have been playing cricket since morning.
I will have been studying English for two hours by the time you arrive
here.