Tenses
A tense is a form of the verb that allows us to express time. The tense of the verb tells us when an
action, event or something happened.
Three main types of tenses: Present Tense, Past Tense and Future Tense.
Present tense
The Present Tense is used to present, express or to talk about something that is currently going on,
something that is habitually performed, or a state that generally or currently exists.
1) Soham goes to school. (Sub + V1 / V1 + s/es + Obj)
2) They play cricket enthusiastically.
3) Uma is studying for examination. (Sub + am / is / are + V + ing + Obj)
4) Bhagyashree has completed her homework. (Sub + have / has + V3 + Obj)
5) Students have sung a song. (Sub + have / has + V3 + Obj)
6) Amit has been ignoring his studies. (Sub + have / has been + V3 + Obj)
7) Boys have been wasting their time in gossiping.
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.
1) Rahul went to school. (Sub + V2 + Obj)
2) Jagruti was studying for examination. (Sub + was / were + V + ing + Obj)
3) Palak had completed her homework. (Sub + had + V3 + Obj)
4) Ajit had been ignoring the studies. (Sub + had been + V3 + Obj)
Future tense
The Future Tense is used to describe an event or action that has not yet happened and is expected to
happen in the future.
1) Arshad will go to school. (Sub + shall / will + V1 + Obj)
2) We shall play cricket enthusiastically.
3) Mariya will be studying for examination. (Sub + shall be / will be + V + ing + Obj)
4) Gauri will have completed her homework. (Sub + shall / will have + V3 + Obj)
5) Prasad will have been ignoring his studies. (Sub + shall / will have been + V3 + Obj)
,Note: V1 = Main Verb OR Root Verb OR Base Verb
V1 + s/es = goes, runs, talks, opens, tries, etc.
V2 = Past Tense of the Verb.
V3 = Past Participle.
V4 = Present Participle. = verb with ing form.
In Regular Verbs, both the Past Tense and Past Participle are same and end with ‘ed’.
e.g. play –played – played
work – worked – worked, etc.
But in Irregular Verbs, Past Tense and Past Participle are different. So to master the Tenses
you must learn all Three Forms of verbs thoroughly.
As we know that each Tense has four sub-types as follow:
1) Simple or Indefinite Tense
2) Continuous Tense
3) Perfect Tense
4) Perfect Continuous Tense
, So let’s begin with Present Tense.
The Present Tense is used to present or express or to talk about something that is currently going on,
something that is habitually performed, or a state that generally or currently exists, or about universal
truths, facts, etc.
Simple or Indefinite Present Tense:
It is used to speak about;
a) For habits
He wakes early in the morning.
I like read novels.
b) For repeated actions or events.
She attends school regularly.
They play cricket every evening.
c) For universal truths.
Earth revolves around the sun.
Man is mortal.
d) For instructions or directions.
Follow the rules and regulations laid by our school.
Obey your parents, teachers and all elders.
e) For fixed arrangements.
My bus arrives to the stop at 7:45 am.
Our school begins at 8:20 am.
f) With future constructions.
Your parents will be happy if you score good marks.
Teacher will forgive her when he sees her homework.
Subject: is the speaker or the doer of the action. (Noun or pronoun)
Object: is the listener or receiver of the action. (Noun or pronoun)
Affirmative (Positive) Sentences:
Structure: Subject + V1 or V1 + s/es + Object.
1) I play cricket.
2) We run the race.
3) You are a good boy. (You - singular) – state of being
4) You are the good girls. (You - Plural) – state of being
5) You write an essay.
6) He fights with all.
7) Gauri discusses the point nicely.
8) Cow gives us milk.
9) Boys always try to overpower the girls.
A tense is a form of the verb that allows us to express time. The tense of the verb tells us when an
action, event or something happened.
Three main types of tenses: Present Tense, Past Tense and Future Tense.
Present tense
The Present Tense is used to present, express or to talk about something that is currently going on,
something that is habitually performed, or a state that generally or currently exists.
1) Soham goes to school. (Sub + V1 / V1 + s/es + Obj)
2) They play cricket enthusiastically.
3) Uma is studying for examination. (Sub + am / is / are + V + ing + Obj)
4) Bhagyashree has completed her homework. (Sub + have / has + V3 + Obj)
5) Students have sung a song. (Sub + have / has + V3 + Obj)
6) Amit has been ignoring his studies. (Sub + have / has been + V3 + Obj)
7) Boys have been wasting their time in gossiping.
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.
1) Rahul went to school. (Sub + V2 + Obj)
2) Jagruti was studying for examination. (Sub + was / were + V + ing + Obj)
3) Palak had completed her homework. (Sub + had + V3 + Obj)
4) Ajit had been ignoring the studies. (Sub + had been + V3 + Obj)
Future tense
The Future Tense is used to describe an event or action that has not yet happened and is expected to
happen in the future.
1) Arshad will go to school. (Sub + shall / will + V1 + Obj)
2) We shall play cricket enthusiastically.
3) Mariya will be studying for examination. (Sub + shall be / will be + V + ing + Obj)
4) Gauri will have completed her homework. (Sub + shall / will have + V3 + Obj)
5) Prasad will have been ignoring his studies. (Sub + shall / will have been + V3 + Obj)
,Note: V1 = Main Verb OR Root Verb OR Base Verb
V1 + s/es = goes, runs, talks, opens, tries, etc.
V2 = Past Tense of the Verb.
V3 = Past Participle.
V4 = Present Participle. = verb with ing form.
In Regular Verbs, both the Past Tense and Past Participle are same and end with ‘ed’.
e.g. play –played – played
work – worked – worked, etc.
But in Irregular Verbs, Past Tense and Past Participle are different. So to master the Tenses
you must learn all Three Forms of verbs thoroughly.
As we know that each Tense has four sub-types as follow:
1) Simple or Indefinite Tense
2) Continuous Tense
3) Perfect Tense
4) Perfect Continuous Tense
, So let’s begin with Present Tense.
The Present Tense is used to present or express or to talk about something that is currently going on,
something that is habitually performed, or a state that generally or currently exists, or about universal
truths, facts, etc.
Simple or Indefinite Present Tense:
It is used to speak about;
a) For habits
He wakes early in the morning.
I like read novels.
b) For repeated actions or events.
She attends school regularly.
They play cricket every evening.
c) For universal truths.
Earth revolves around the sun.
Man is mortal.
d) For instructions or directions.
Follow the rules and regulations laid by our school.
Obey your parents, teachers and all elders.
e) For fixed arrangements.
My bus arrives to the stop at 7:45 am.
Our school begins at 8:20 am.
f) With future constructions.
Your parents will be happy if you score good marks.
Teacher will forgive her when he sees her homework.
Subject: is the speaker or the doer of the action. (Noun or pronoun)
Object: is the listener or receiver of the action. (Noun or pronoun)
Affirmative (Positive) Sentences:
Structure: Subject + V1 or V1 + s/es + Object.
1) I play cricket.
2) We run the race.
3) You are a good boy. (You - singular) – state of being
4) You are the good girls. (You - Plural) – state of being
5) You write an essay.
6) He fights with all.
7) Gauri discusses the point nicely.
8) Cow gives us milk.
9) Boys always try to overpower the girls.
