UNDERSTANDING TENSES

UNDERSTANDING TENSES

By Phenomenal Josh

​Learning tenses is one of the most essential skills that is required while studying the English language.

It is important while communicating both verbally and in written form because it helps us clearly indicate the time at which something has happened.

So, if you wish to convey your message accurately in the English language, then learning about tenses becomes important.

​INTRODUCTION

​Tenses in English

​What is tense?
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.

The three main types of tenses in English are: past, present and future.

​Past tense

​The past tense is used to describe an activity or an event that has happened in the past or a past state of being and needs to include a time marker for when the event or action took place.

Structural formula:

Subject + verb (2nd form) + object.

Examples:

We met yesterday.

He bought a new laptop last week.

The simple present tense or present tense is one of the most basic tenses in English.

We use present tense to talk about something that is currently going on, something that is habitually performed, or a state that generally or currently exists.

Structural formula:

Subject + verb (s/es) + object.

Examples:

She lives in Spain.

Bob drives a taxi.

Present tense

​The future tense is a verb tense used to describe an event or action that has not yet happened and is expected to happen in the future.

Structural formula
Subject + shall/will+ verb (s/es) + object.

Example:

He will be here soon.

​Future tense

The past continuous tense is used to describe events or actions that have already occurred in the past. It's employed to describe any action which has happened in the past.

Structural formula:

Subject + helping verb (was/were) + verb (ing) + object.

Examples:

I was watching TV.

We were sleeping.

She wasn’t eating her lunch.

​​Past continuous tense

​The past perfect tense is used to describe an event that occurred before a completed action in the past.

Structural formula:

Subject + had + verb (ed) + object.

Examples:

He had gone when she became ill.

She had not lived in New York.

They had not been married long when I was born.

​Past perfect tense

The past perfect continuous tense represents any action or event that started in the past and sometimes continued into another action or another time.

Structural formula:

Subject + had been + Verb (ing) + object (optional) + time of action.

Examples:

We had been playing games for 6 hours when Dad came home.

She had been reading magazines for 1 month before she decided to apply for the job.

Had she been washing dishes all day?

​​Past perfect continuous tense

​The present continuous tense is used to talk about the ongoing actions, events, or conditions that are still not finished.

Structural formula:

Subject + helping verb (is / am/ are) + main verb (ing) + object.

Examples:

She is playing basketball.

Birds are flying in the sky.

I’m learning English.

​Present Continuous Tense

​​Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense is used to describe a situation or event that has already occurred but has immediate ramifications. The present perfect tense can be used to describe experiences, and situations that occurred in the past but still have an influence on the present. We don't use it with time markers.

Structural formula:

Subject + helping verb (have/has) + verb (ed) + object.

Examples:

She has not finished her work yet.

I have seen that movie twice.

We have visited LA several times.

The present perfect continuous tense shows a situation that has started in the past and continues in the present.

Structural formula:

Subject + helping verb (have/has) + been + verb (ing) + object (optional) + since / for + time duration + object.

Examples:

I have been learning English for many years.

He has been working here since 2010.

We have been saving money.

​​Present Perfect Continuous Tense

The future continuous tense is used to describe an ongoing action that will occur or occur in the future.

Structural formula:

Subject + shall/will be + verb (ing) + object.

Example:

He will be coming to visit us next week.

She will be watching TV.

He will be writing a letter to Mary.

​​Future Continuous Tense

​The future perfect is used to describe an action that will be completed between now and a certain point in the future.

Structural formula:

Subject + shall/will + have + verb (3rd form) + object.

Examples:

They will have finished the film before we get home.

She will have cleaned the house by 9pm.

​Future perfect tense

​We use the future perfect continuous to focus on the duration of an action before a specific time in the future.

Structural formula:

Subject + shall/will + have been + verb (ing) + object (optional) + time instant.

Examples:

He will have been studying hard for 2 weeks before the exam.

By the time the alarm goes off, we will have been sleeping for 8 hours.

​Future Perfect Continuous Tense

• A tense is a verb form that expresses time (past, present, or future).The three main types are past, present, and future tenses.

• Past Tense – Used for actions/events that occurred in the past

• Present Tense – Describes current actions, habitual activities, or general truths

• Future Tense – Indicates actions/events expected to happen in the future.

​SUMMARY

• Past Perfect Tense – Refers to an action completed before another past event

• Past Continuous Tense – Describes past actions that were ongoing

• Past Perfect Continuous Tense – Shows an action that started in the past and continued up to another past action

• Present Continuous Tense – Used for ongoing actions happening now

• Present Perfect Tense – Describes past actions that still have relevance

• Present Perfect Continuous Tense – Indicates an action that started in the past and continues in the present

• Future Continuous Tense – Expresses an ongoing future action

• Future Perfect Tense – Describes an action that will be completed before a future event

• Future Perfect Continuous Tense – Focuses on the duration of an action before a specific future time