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What is tense?
What is time?
Time is a measure in which events can be ordered from past through present into future and
also the measure of durations of events and the intervals between them. Time is often
referred to as the fourth dimension, along with the three spatial dimensions.
Time:-
Tense
Types of tense:-
1. Present tense
2. Past tense
3. Future tense
Present Tense:-
Indefinite:- The Indefinite tenses are used to describe the actions but do not state whether
the action is complete or on-going.
Continuous:- The continuous tenses are used to describe the actions that are going on at the
time of speaking. E.g. I am going to school
Perfect:- The perfect tenses are used to describe the actions that are already finished but
their effect is still on. E.g. I have cut my finger ( Means it still pains)
Perfect continuous:- This tense is used to describe the actions that started in the past and
are still continuing. E.g. I have been reading a novel since morning. ( Means I am still reading
it.)
Note:- Some sentences are written in present but they give the sense of past and future at
the same time.
Like: - I wish I knew the answer. (Past-Present)
(I am sorry I do not know the answer)
Like: - Lets wait till he comes. (Present-Future)
Present indefinite:- Present indefinite will describe the actions in present but do not state whether
the action is complete or on-going.
RULE:-
Subject + verb 1st form (s, es) +
object
Uses:-
1. I go to school daily
3. I teach in school.
e.g.
5. When there is a description of the two events of future then the sentence which starts
with the conjunction of time (When, before, as soon as) will be written in present tense.
e.g.
I will discuss the matter with him when he will come. (Incorrect)
I will discuss the matter with him when he comes.
8. Emphatic sentences:-
1. I do admit my mistake.
2. She does play tennis every day.
Present continuous:-
Uses:-
2. For the program, plan, event that is going to happen in near future.
1. We are going to see a movie tonight.
2. I am going to purchase a car.
Stative verbs:- There are few verbs in the English language which cannot be used in the present
continuous tense because these verbs instead of describing the progress of an event they describe
the state of an event. Such verbs are called stative verbs (Non-progressive verbs). So instead of using
them in continuous tense they are used in Indefinite tense.
Uses:-
1. To express the actions that have completed in the past but whose effect is felt at
present time also. In this tense we use the following adverbs:-
1. Just 2. Till today 3. Till now 4. So far 5. Yet 6. Already 7. This morning 8. This week
e.g.
3. With present perfect tense never use the adverb of past time ( Like:- Yesterday, last
week, last year).
e.g.
Uses:-
1. To express the actions started in the past and still going on.
e.g.
1. Ram has been playing football since 3:00PM.
2. I have been living in Jaipur for 7 years.
Use of for:-
1. For thirty minutes/ for many minutes/ for several minutes/ same up to decades.....
2. For two hours/ for many hours/ for several minutes/ same up to decades.......
7. When there is period of time + ago is used in the sentence then we use since not
for.
e.g.
1. His brother has been ill for five days. (Correct)
2. His brother has been ill since five days. (Incorrect)
3. His brother has been ill for five days ago. (Incorrect)
4. His brother has been ill since five days ago.(Correct)
Five days ago is not a period of time it a point of time.
Use of since:-
3. O clock/ am/ pm
1. Since 5 o clock
2. Since 8:00PM
3. Since 7:00AM
When the work is finished in the past then it is called past tense. We use the time
expressing adverbs of past like. Yesterday, last week, last month, last year or any time
which has already passed or gone.
2. If a work was done in the past continuously again and again but currently stopped we use
past tense.
In such sentences we always use the adverbs of frequency (Always, Never, Daily, Every
day, Every Month).
To express the habit of the past. ( We always use Used to to explain the habit of the
past).
e.g. 1. I used to play football.
2. He used to smoke.
Would is also used to say that something happened often or regularly in the
past.
e.g. We would often have lunch together when we worked in the same office.
In the conditional sentences to show the unreal past/ unfulfilled desire we use
past indefinite tense after if, as if, as though, if only, I wish.
e.g. 1. He behaves as if he were the president.
2. I wish I were the president of America.
Past continuous tense:- If a work is continuous in the past or may be continuous yet but we do not
know about when did it start and finish. It is called the past continuous tense.
Uses:-
To express actions taking place at some past time. The time of the action may or
may not be mentioned.
Uses:-
To express the actions which were completed before the past time.
e.g. 1. I had come in Jaipur before 1992.
2. He had left India before Independence.
When the two actions are completed in past, then the action which was completed
at first we write it in past perfect and the action which was completed later is
written in past indefinite. ( Always use before/ after in such sentences)
e.g. 1. Ram had gone before you came.
2. The doctor arrived after the patient had died.
When both the actions completed nearly at the same time in the past then we
write both in past indefinite.
e.g. He came and sat on the floor.
Uses:-
To express the actions which started in the past and continued for some time in
the past.
E.g. 1. She had been singing a song for 2 hours.
2. They had been playing football since morning.
To express an action which had been going on for some time before another action
took place in the past.
e.g. 1. I had been teaching in a school for ten years before I joined the bank.
Uses:-
Exceptions:-
1. He is going to purchase a new house.
2. We are going to see a picture.
Subject + Be + Infinitive
1. I am to go to Bombay today.
2. I am to start a new business.
Uses:-
Uses:-
1. When an action will start in future and will continue for some time in future and will end
then we will use this tense. We use By then, By the time, By + time.
Uses:-
1. When an action will start in future & will be continuous for some time then it is used.