Tenses

It is a term used in grammar to indicate the time of the action or event. In any language, tense is divided into three classes namely; Past tense, Present tense, and Future tense.

Each of the above tenses is divided into four classes:

Past Tense

1. Simple Past Tense
2. Past Continuous Tense
3. Past Perfect Tense
4. Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Present Tense

1. Simple Present Tense
2. Present Continuous Tense
3. Present Perfect tense
4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Future Tense

1. Simple Future Tense
2. Future Continuous Tense
3. Future Perfect Tense
4. Future Perfect Continuous Tense

PAST TENSE

i. Simple Past Tense - indicates an action took place before the present moment and that has no real connection with the present time.

For example,

He danced in the function. (The action took place in the past, is finished and is completely unrelated to the present)

He flew to London yesterday.

Note

The verb 'flew' is an irregular verb which does not take ‘ed’ in the past tense like regular verbs. The form of Simple Past Tense is ‘verb + ed’

ii.  Past Perfect Tense - indicates an action in the past that had been completed before another time or event in the past.

For example,

He had exercised before it started to rain.

He had slept before I came back from the market.

Note

The form of Past Perfect Tense is ‘had + verb’ (past participle form or the 3rd form of the verb)

iii. Past Continuous Tense - indicates an action going on at some time in the past or an action in the past that is longer in duration than another action in the past.

For example,

It was getting darker.

The light went out while they were reading.

Note

The form of Past Continuous Tense is ‘was/were + verb + ing’

iv.  Past Perfect Continuous Tense - indicates an action in the past that took place before another time or event in the past and continued during the second event/ time point in the past.

For example,
At that time, he had been writing a novel for two months.
He had been exercising when I called.

Note

The form of Past Perfect Continuous Tense is ‘had + been + verb + ing’

PRESENT TENSE

i. Simple Present Tense - indicates an action that is generally true or habitual. That is, it took place in the past, continue to take place in the present, and will take place in the future.

This tense is used to denote;

-a habitual action - for instance,

He walks to school.

-general truths - for instance,

The sun rises in the east

Honesty is the best policy

-a future event that is part of a fixed timetable - for instance,

The match starts at 9 o'clock.

Note

The form of Simple Present Tense is ‘verb’ (infinitive without 'to' and agreeable with the subject)

ii.  Present Perfect Tense - indicates an action that has been completed sometime before the present moment, with a result that affects the present situation.

For example,
He has finished the work.
He has slept

Note

The form of Present Perfect Tense is ‘has/have + verb’ (past participle form or 3rd form of the verb)

iii. Present Continuous Tense - indicates an action that is taking place at the moment of speaking.

For example,

She is walking.

I am studying

Note
The form of Present Continuous Tense is ‘is/am/are + verb + ing’

iv. Present Perfect Continuous Tense - indicates an action that started in the past and is continuing at the present time.

For example,
He has been sleeping for an hour

Note

The form of Present Perfect Continuous Tense is ‘has/have + been + verb + ing’

FUTURE TENSE

i. Simple Future Tense - indicates an action that will take place after the present time and that has no real connection with the present time.

For example,

She will visit her ailing grandmother soon.

He will walk home.

Note

The form of Simple Future Tense is ‘will/shall + verb’

ii.  Future Perfect Tense - indicates an action in the future that will have been completed before another time or event in the future.

For example,

By the time we arrive, he will have studied.

Note

The form of Future Perfect Tense is ‘will/shall have + verb’ (past participle form or 3rd form of the verb)

iii.  Future Continuous Tense - indicates an action in the future that is longer in duration than another action in the future.

For example,

He will be walking when it starts to rain.

Note

The form of Future Continuous Tense is ‘will/shall be + verb + ing’

iv.  Future Perfect Continuous Tense - indicates an action in the future that will have been continuing until another time or event in the future.

For example,
He will have been exercising an hour at 2:00

Note

The form of Future Perfect Continuous Tense is ‘will/shall have been + verb + ing’

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Notes prepared/compiled by Madam Sonam Yuden, who is an English teacher in Changangkha Middle Secondary School, Thimphu Thromde. Authorized usage for educational purposes only.