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Tense

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4 views4 pages

Tense

Uploaded by

rgrimes2595
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Tense: Definition and Types

Tense refers to the form of a verb that indicates the time of the action,
event, or condition described by the verb. Tenses are categorized into
three main types: Past, Present, and Future, and each has four
subcategories.

1. Present Tense

Refers to actions happening now, habits, universal truths, or states.

a) Simple Present

 Usage: General facts, habits, routines, or universal truths.

 Examples:

o She writes every day.

o The sun rises in the east.

b) Present Continuous

 Usage: Actions happening right now or ongoing activities.

 Examples:

o I am reading a book.

o They are playing football.

c) Present Perfect

 Usage: Actions completed at an unspecified time in the past or


actions starting in the past and continuing now.

 Examples:

o She has visited Paris several times.

o We have lived here for five years.

d) Present Perfect Continuous

 Usage: Ongoing actions that started in the past and continue in the
present.

 Examples:

o He has been studying since morning.

o They have been playing for two hours.


2. Past Tense

Refers to actions, events, or conditions that occurred in the past.

a) Simple Past

 Usage: Completed actions in the past.

 Examples:

o She went to the park.

o They watched a movie yesterday.

b) Past Continuous

 Usage: Actions that were ongoing at a specific time in the past.

 Examples:

o I was reading when she called.

o They were playing soccer at 5 PM.

c) Past Perfect

 Usage: Actions completed before another action in the past.

 Examples:

o She had finished her homework before dinner.

o They had left before we arrived.

d) Past Perfect Continuous

 Usage: Actions that were ongoing before another action in the past.

 Examples:

o He had been studying for hours before the test.

o They had been waiting for an hour when the bus arrived.

3. Future Tense

Refers to actions that will happen in the future.

a) Simple Future

 Usage: Actions that will happen in the future.

 Examples:
o She will visit the museum tomorrow.

o They will study together.

b) Future Continuous

 Usage: Ongoing actions at a specific time in the future.

 Examples:

o I will be traveling this time next week.

o They will be playing in the evening.

c) Future Perfect

 Usage: Actions that will be completed before a certain point in the


future.

 Examples:

o She will have finished her work by 6 PM.

o They will have left by the time you arrive.

d) Future Perfect Continuous

 Usage: Actions that will be ongoing up to a specific time in the


future.

 Examples:

o By next month, she will have been working here for five
years.

o They will have been playing for two hours by the time we
join them.

Tense Overview Chart

Tense Structure Example

Simple Present Subject + base verb She runs every day.

Present Subject + is/am/are +


They are eating now.
Continuous verb-ing

Subject + has/have +
Present Perfect He has finished the task.
past participle
Tense Structure Example

Present Perfect Subject + has/have been I have been working all


Continuous + verb-ing day.

Simple Past Subject + past verb They played yesterday.

Subject + was/were +
Past Continuous I was reading at 8 PM.
verb-ing

Subject + had + past She had left before he


Past Perfect
participle arrived.

Past Perfect Subject + had been + They had been studying


Continuous verb-ing for hours.

Subject + will + base


Simple Future We will go to the market.
verb

Subject + will be + verb- She will be traveling


Future Continuous
ing tomorrow.

Subject + will have + He will have finished by


Future Perfect
past participle then.

Future Perfect Subject + will have been They will have been
Continuous + verb-ing working for years.

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