INTRODUCTION TO TENSES

1.1 Definitions of Tenses

Tense can be defined as a word form used to indicate the time of

occurrence of an incident concerning the moment of speaking. It indicates
the completion or continuance of an activity. 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. Past, present,
and future are the three main types of tenses. Tenses are vital in the
structure of sentences in English. They help to convey when an action is
taking place, providing a time frame to the topic under discussion. Learning
tenses is crucial to mastering English grammar. We have three primtenses:
the past tense, present tense, and future tense; each of these has four types:
simple, continuous (or progressive), perfect, and perfect continuous.

1.2. Brief types of tenses

Simple Tenses
Past Simple Tense

The Past Simple tense expresses an action completed at a specific time in

the past. Most often, it is used with a time reference.

Structure: Subject + Verb's Past Tense + Object

Example: I played football yesterday.

Present Simple Tense

The Present Simple tense depicts a habit, a universal truth, or something

that happens often or always.

Structure: Subject + Verb's Present Form + Object

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Example: She always drinks coffee in the morning.

Future Simple Tense

The Future Simple expresses an action that will occur later in the future.

Structure: Subject + will/shall + Verb's Base Form + Object

Example: They will visit Niagara Falls in summer.

Continuous Tenses
Past Continuous Tense

This tense represents an ongoing action that happened at a specific moment

in the past.

Structure: Subject + was/were + Verb's -ing form + Object

Example: He was reading a book when I called him.

Present Continuous Tense

The Present Continuous tense indicates an ongoing action that is happening

at the present moment.

Structure: Subject + is/am/are + Verb's -ing form + Object

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 THE DETAIL EXPLANATION OF THE TYPES OF TENSES

Tenses denote the time of action. They show when the work is done.
They are:

(1) Present Tense

(2) Past Tense

(3) Future Tense

2.1 PRESENT TENSE

They are further divided into:

(1) Simple Present- It is used to denote scientific facts, universal

truths and work done on daily basis.

ASSERTIVE RULE --- sub + V1 +

s/es + object Example – She writes a letter.

NEGATIVE RULE --- sub + does not + v1 +

s/es + object Example – She does not write a letter.

INTERROGATIVE RULE --- Does + sub + v1

+ s/es + object Example – Does she write a letter?

INTERROGATIVE NEGATIVE ASSERTIVE --- Does + sub + not +

v1 + s/es + object

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 Example – Does she not write a letter?

(2) Present Continuous– It is used to express an action taking

place at the time of speaking.

ASSERTIVE RULE --- sub + is/am/are + v1 +

ing + object Example – she is writing a letter.

NEGATIVE RULE --- sub + is/am/are + not + v1

+ ing + object Example – She is not writing a letter.

INTERROGATIVE RULE --- is/am/are + sub + v1 + ing +

object

Example – Is she writing a letter?

INTERROGATIVE NEGATIVE RULE --- is/am/are + sub + not +

v1 + ing + obje
Example – Is she not writing a letter?

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2.2 PAST TENSEs
Tense symbolizes the ever moving, non-stop wheel of time which is
forever busy gathering moments of future and throwing them into the
dustbin of past

Simple Past

Used to indicate an action completed in the past. It often occurs with

adverb of time. Sometimes it is used without an adverb of time.

Used for past habits.

Eg. I played football when I was a child.

Rule: Subject + V2

Eg She wrote a letter

1. Assertive Sentences –

Subject + V2 + Object
+ (.) She wrote a letter.

2. Negative Sentences-

Subject + didn’t + V1 + Object

+ (.) She didn’t.write a letter.

3. Interrogative Sentences-

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 Did + Subject + V1 + Object
+ (?) Did she write a letter?

4. Interrogative Negative Sentences-

Did + Subject + not + V1 + Object

+ (?) Did she not write a letter?

Past Continuous Tense

Used to denote an action going on at some time in the past.

e.g. I was driving a car.

Rule: was/were + ing

1. Assertive Sentences –

2. Negative Sentences-

Subject + was/were + not + ing +

Object + (.) She was not writing a letter.

3. Interrogative Sentences-

Was/were + Subject + ing+ Object

+ (?) Was she writing a letter?

4. Interrogative Negative Sentences-

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 Was/were + Subject + not + ing+
Object + (?) Was she not writing a letter?

2..3 FUTURE TENSE

Time and tide wait for no man. So, a period of time following the
moment of speaking or writing is called as future tense.

For e.g- She will write a letter.

Simple Future

This tense tells us about an action which has not occurred yet and will
occur after saying or in future

Rule – Will/Shall + Verb (Ist form)

In Future Tense helping verb ‘Shall’ is used with ‘I’ and ‘We’. Helping
verb ‘Will’ is used with all others. When you are to make a commitment
or warn someone or emphasize something, use of 'will/shall' is reversed.
‘Will’ is used with ‘I’ & ‘We’ and 'shall' is used with others.

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In general speaking there is hardly any difference between 'shall &
will' and normally ‘Will’ is used with all.

Now, let us use this rule in various forms of sentences;

1. Positive / Affirmative Sentences –

Subject + Will/Shall + Verb (Ist form) + Object + (.)

She will write a letter.

2. Negative Sentences-

Subject + Will/Shall + Not + Verb (Ist form) + Object + (.)

She will not write a letter.

3. Interrogative Sentences-

Will/Shall + Subject + Verb (Ist form) + Object + (?)

Will she write a letter?

4. Interrogative Negative Sentences-

Will/Shall + Subject + Not + Verb (Ist form) + Object + (?)

Will she not write a letter?