TENSES { Present Tense, Past Tense, Future Tense} with Examples
In this article we are going to explain Tense with easy examples.
- FAQ:-
What are the six tenses of the verb?
How many tenses do we have?
What are the tenses of verbs and examples?
What are the different tenses of the verb?
Present Tense
A. Habits
B. Universal Truth
C. Action going on at the time of Speaking
D. We speak about future Planned and Fixed
actions
Habits
I run three miles every morning.
I brush my teeth every day.
I go to temple once in a day.
Universal Truth, Truths of life
My mother speaks the truth.
The sun rises in the east.
Honey is sweet.
Present Tense: is also used to State Scientific facts, Definition or a piece of accepted Wisdom
I wake up at 6:00 every morning.
I have two children.
My Mother lives in Indore.
I am hungry.
The book costs a lot of money.
Action going on at the time of Speaking
See! how she looks at me.
Here! Comes my father talk to him.
There! She goes call her.
We speak about future Planned and Fixed actions
Sonia visits Indore Next week.
My father leaves for Delhi tonight.
Present Continuous: We use is, am, are + ing with Verb
A. Action going on at the time of Speaking
B. We speak about future Planned and Fixed
actions
C. At the time of speaking the action is not going on but it is in Progress.
Action going on at the time of Speaking
See! how it is raining.
My brother is reading a book.
We speak about future Planned and Fixed actions
We are going for a movie tonight.
My father is leaving for Delhi tonight.
Flight 203 departs at 9:00 PM, this evening.
At the time of speaking the action is not going on but it is in Progress.
I am working on a project.
My brother is learning English from Mr. White.
Present Continuous: Use of Be going to
Be + going + to + base form of verb
I am going to see a movie tonight.
You are…………………………
He/she/it is……………………..
We are…………………………
They are……………………….
Negatives (difference)
I am not going to go home after class.
I am not going home after class.
Present Continuous
Future time with be going to
1.It is used as predictions about the future.
Life is going to be different in a hundred years.
2.It is used to describe things we expect to happen.
Be careful! You’re going to fall.
3.It is used to express plans made before the moment of speaking
I am going to stay at home and work.
Present Perfect: We use Have, Has + Verb-3
A. Action just completed.
B. Action started in the past and the result of
which continued at the time of speaking
C. When words like When, As soon as, After
and Till are used the sentence expresses
future action.
Action just completed.
I have just completed my work.
We have just eaten our lunch.
Action started in the past and the result of which continued at the time of speaking
My mother has lived in Indore since 1989.
I have studied in IIT since 2007.
When words like When, As soon as, After and Till are used the
sentence expresses future action.
As soon as my mother has completed her work she will talk to you.
When I have completed my home work I will come to play.
After I have read the book I will give it to you.
Till I have not read the book I will not give it to you.
Present Perfect Continuous: We use Have been, Has been + ing with Verb-1
A. Action started in the past and continued to
the time of speaking.
My mother has been living in Delhi since 1989.
I have been studying in IIT since 2007.
The difference between Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous
When time (24hours) is used in a sentence. Either the sentence is written or spoken in Present Perfect Continuous or Past Tense and cannot be used in Present Perfect.
My mother has been working in the kitchen since 6 AM.
Past Tense
Past Simple: (Discontinued action)
A. Action not going on at the time of Speaking
B. At the time of speaking the action was in
Progress. We use While to refer time.
I woke up at 6AM today
We met her the other day on the road.
While my mother cooked I read a book
While my sister studied I watched a movie.
Past Continuous: We use was, were + ing with Verb
A. Action was going on at some time in the
past. (to refer time we use When, Before and
While)
When I reached her class, she was teaching.
Before I reached home, my mother was cooking.
While she was reading the book, I was writing every word of it.
‘When’ can take past continuous, when it refers to an event or an incident.
When I was going to market, I met an old teacher of my school on the road.
When we were working in the garden, we saw a big frog.
Past Perfect: We use Had + Verb-3
A. Action completed at a point of time in the
past. (to refer time we use When & Before)
The bus had departed before we reached the bus stand.
My brother had completed his home work before I reached home.
When I reached college the principal had left college.
Past Perfect Continuous: We use Had been + ing with Verb-1
A. Action continued for some in the past. (to refer time we use When)
My mother had been reading the book for days.
Future Tense
Simple Future:
We use will, shall Talks about actions that will take place in the future time.
“Will” When used with ‘I’(1st person)
It is used to make Promise, Determination, Threat, Willingness, Certainly Definitely.
“Will” When used with ‘I’
- It is used to make Promises
I will always love you - It is used to make Determination
I will succeed in life no one can stop me. - It is used to make Threat
I will punish you if you do not complete your homework - To make offers and express Willingness to do something
I’ll help you carry the camera.
The cost of medical care will certainly rise in the next five years.
“Will” When used with ‘He She They You’(2nd & 3rd person)
It expresses Simple Future
She will come to office tomorrow.
“Shall” When used with ‘‘He She They You’’(2nd & 3rd person)
It expresses Promise, Command, Order
“Shall” When used with ‘‘He She They You’’(2nd & 3rd person)
- It is used to make Promises
You shall be awarded the first prize. - It is used to make Command
The soldier shall obey the commandant.
- It is used to make Order
You shall do what I say, is that clear.
“Shall” When used with ‘I’ (1st person)
It expresses Simple Future
Future Continuous : will, shall + be + ing
Talks about actions that will be in progress in the
future.
At this time tomorrow, I’ll be driving to Bhopal.
Talks about actions that began before and continue
through that moment.
I’ll be teaching while you are at the meeting.
Future Perfect: will + have + V-3
To talk about actions that Will/Shall occur before a
future action, state or time.
By next June, I will have paid all my debts.`
To talk about actions that Will/Shall be completed
at an unspecified time before a future action, state or
time.
By the time you arrive, I will have done my
homework.
Future Perfect Continuous: shall/will + have + been + ing
To indicate that an action has been in progress for a
period of time before another event or time in the
future.
To talk about actions that continued to a future time,
state or action.
I will have been working for a new company by then.
Difference in Meaning:
I will study when you come.
I am going to study when you come
I will be studying when you come.
I will have studied by the time you come.
I will have been studying for two hours by the time you come.
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