Grammar: Tense
Tense is any form of a verb that indicates the time of an action. Mainly, there are three tenses- present, past and future.
Each tense has its four forms.1. Present Tense:
A. Simple Present
Simple Present Tense has the form of either the root / infinitive (v1 ) or the inflected form of the infinitive suffixed with s/es that is v5 .
l/We/You/They/ Plural nouns + (v1)
They go home.
He/She/It / Singular nouns+ (v5)
He cuts grass.
Simple Present is used:
✔ To express permanent truth
The earth moves round the sun.
Smoking is injurious to health.
✔ To show habitual actions
Renu walks every day.
My uncle never smokes.
✔ To express general truth
Cows give milk.
Children like sweets.
✔ To express a quotation
Everybody says “Man is mortal.”
✔ To express a timetable or plan for near future
Father arrives home tomorrow.
We go to Palpa next week.
✔ In time clause
I’ll wait until she comes.
If you give me money, I shall buy a pen.
✔ With adverbials such as always, never, often, seldom, generally, rarely, usually, frequently, occasionally, nowadays, every day/week/month/year, etc.
Vinod is always late for school.
She comes here every Sunday.
✔ Some verbs such as hear, notice, see, recognize, smell, look, seem, feel, like, love, prefer, refuse, want, wish, think, believe, belong to, possess, etc. are used in the Simple Present though they denote the action going on in the time of speaking:
I notice Mary wearing a new hat today.
Her action really seems attractive.
Do you like it?
B. Present Continuous
Present Continuous has the form am/is/are + present participle (v4).
I am + (v4)
We/You/ They are + (v4)
He/She/ It is (v4)
Present Continuous is used:
✔ To indicate the action going on at the time of speaking. It has sometimes the adverbials now, still, at present, at this time, etc.
Rupak is reading now.
Children are still playing.
✔ To denote a temporary action that is not indeed going on at the time of speaking
I am building a house.
She is writing a novel.
✔ To express a future action or plan:
My mother is arriving tomorrow.
We are going to Japan next week.
But actions denoting intention or future actions beyond our control can be expressed by going to future.
Renuka is going to be a nurse.
It is going to rain soon.
C. Present Perfect
Present Perfect is formed with have/has + past participle (v3).
l/We/You/They/ Plural nouns have+ (v3)
He/She/ It/ Singular Nouns has+ (v3)
Present Perfect is used:
✔ To denote a completed action in the recent past
Prakash has just arrived.
It has just struck there.
✔ To denote recent past actions which have results in the present
Deepak has eaten all the apples. (There aren't any left.)
She has cut her finger. (and it is now bleeding.)
✔ To express an action which began at some time in the past and continues up to the present moment. It is formed with for period of time and since + point in time:
We have known the poet for a long time.
Sarita has been ill since last week.
✔ With now, just (for a recently completed action), still, already (for a completed action), yet (for uncompleted action till now, and in the negative and question), recently, lately, today, this morning/week, etc.
The peon has just rung the bell.
We have already had breakfast.
Have you ever been to America?
I have not yet seen her.
Has your son arrived yet?
✔ To express interesting incidents/experiences:
I’ve seen the Himalayas.
I’ve been to London.
D. Present Perfect Continuous
Present Perfect Continuous tense is formed with have/has been + present participle (v4)
l/We/You/They/ Plural nouns have been+ (v4)
He/She/It has/ Singular nouns has been+ (v4)
Present Perfect Continuous is used:
✔ To express an action which began in the past and is still continuing or has only just finished. It can be used with period of time (+ now) and since + point in time; still, with all day, all this morning, etc. for a continuous action
He has been walking for two hours.
We have been reading since 10 0'clock.
I have been telephoning you all this morning.
✔ With verbs stay, live, wait, work, read, sleep, etc. which indicate prolonged actions
We have been staying in this hotel for five weeks.
She has been waiting here since seven o'clock.
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