learn all about the tense and their usage

        learn all about the tense and their usage

Learn all about the tense and their usage

Simple Present Tense:  

Simple present is also called present simple. The simple present express an action in the present, taking place once, never or several times. It is also used for actions that take place one after another and for actions that are set by a timetable of schedule. The simple present also expresses facts in the present.  

1/ Repeated Actions:  

Repeated Actions use the Simple present tense to expresses the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do.  

Example: 

• The train leaves every morning at 8 am. 

• The train doesn’t leave at 9 am. 

• When does the train usually leave? 

2/ Facts or Generalizations:  

In Simple Present a speaker can make statement about something that was true before, is true now, will be true in the future.  

Example:  

• Windows are made of glass.  

• Windows are not made of glass 

3/ Scheduled Events in the Near Future:  

Speakers occasionally use simple present to talk about scheduled events in the near future. This is most commonly done when talking about the timetable of transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events too.  

Example: 

• The train leaves tonight at 6 am. 

• The bus doesn’t arrive at 11 am, it arrives at 1 pm. 

• When do we board the plane? 

• The party starts at 8 o’clock. 

 

Present Continuous (progressive) Tense: 

The present progressive is a form of the verb that shows the action is going on in the present.  the present progressive is used for actions going on at the moment of speaking and for actions taking place only for a short period of time.  

We use present continuous or present progressive to talk about: 

• Actions that are happening now. (e.g., she playing tennis.) 

• Actions which are currently in progress may not be exactly at this moment/second (e.g., she is studying astrology these days.) 

• Planned future actions. (e.g., we are starting a new course next month)  

Forming sentence in Present Continuous Tense.  

Now read the following part to check your understanding of how sentences are formed in present continuous tense.  

Who?	Form of verb(positive)	Form of verb (negative)
I	Am+verb+ing	Am+not+verb+ing
He/she/it	Is+verb+ing	Is+not+verb+ing
You	Are+verb+ing	Are+not+verb+ing
We	Are+verb+ing	Are+not+verb+ing

  

Now, look at this table to form questions in present continuous tense. Read the example in the last column.  

Auxiliary verbs	Who?	Form of verb	Example
Am	I	Verb+ing	Am I reading now?
Is	he/she	Verb+ing	Is she reading now?  Is he reading now?
Are	You	Verb+ing	Are you reading now?
Are	We	Verb+ing	Are we reading now?
Are	they	Verb+ing	Are they reading now?

 

Present Perfect Tense:  

Rajib and his friends gathered in the school canteen to discuss their preparations for a cultural show. Read the conversation between them and notice the underlined parts.  

Rajib: well, let’s talk about the invitation card. When can we print them? 

Mira: I have just talked to a press and the manager said he’d print them in two days.  

Rajib: That’s great! Now how about donations? Have we got enough money? 

Momen: I have collected five hundred taka from bookshop.  

Jalil: Our club chairman has already given two thousand.  

Bonna: My sister has requested her boss to donate some money. He has agreed to help us.  

Rajib: Okay, let’s hope he will give us a good amount of money. Has anyone talked with the decorators.?  

Momen: I have already told them. They will do the stage, lighting and the sound.  

Rajib: Fantastic! Seems that all of you have done excellent jobs. Thank you.  

 

Notice that, all the underlined parts refer to actions that were completed before the present time. Also notice that the friends are talking about actions that have finished recently. These underlined parts are examples of expressions in the present perfect tense.  

Present perfect tense is used for:  

• Actions that happened at an unspecific time before the present (E.g., they have invited all us.)  

• Actions that have ended recently (E.g., she has broken her leg) 

• States that started in the past and are still continuing (e.g., I have always liked him.) 

 

Now read the following to check your understanding of how sentences are formed in the present perfect tense. They are formed by using past participle of the main verb.  

Who?	Form of verb(positive)	Form of verb(negative)
I	Have+verb(pp)	Have+not+verb(pp)
He/she	Is+verb(pp)	Is+not+verb(pp)
You	Have+verb(pp)	Have+not+verb(pp)
We	Have+verb(pp)	Have+not+verb(pp)
They	Have+verb(pp)	Have+not+verb(pp)

 

Now, look at this table to form questions in the present perfect tense.  

 

Auxiliary Verbs	Who?	Form of verb	Example
Have	I	Verb(pp)	Have I received the money?
Has	She/he	Verb(pp)	Has she received the money?  Has he received the money?  Has it been declared in time?
Have	You	Verb(pp)	Have you received the money?
Have	We	Verb(pp)	Have we received the money?
Have	They	Verb(pp)	Have they received the money?

 

Simple Past Tense: 

At first read the story 

A memorable Trip 

I had a memorable to trip to Cox’bazar and st. Martin’s Island when I was student of class seven. I remember all the things happened to me during the trip. My uncle and aunt lived in Chittagong at that time and they invited us to visit them. My cousin Saleha was of the same age as I was. So, I felt delighted when my mother told me about the visit. We live in Rajshahi and Chittagong is far away. First, we plan to go to Dhaka by bus and then to Chittagong by train. One fine morning we got on a bus at Rajshahi at 7 o’clock in the morning. Normally it takes about six hours to reach Dhaka from Rajshahi. Unfortunately, there was huge jam from on the way and the journey took almost eight hours to reach Dhaka. So, we had to stay in a hotel in Dhaka for the night and the next morning we took the train to Chittagong at 8 in the morning from Kamlapur Railway station. We were unlucky again because the train also arrived late at Chittagong. But we felt happy because my uncle and aunt received us at the station.  

Next morning, we started for Cox’s Bazar. We arrived there at about two and spent the rest of the day by the sea side. I had not seen the sea earlier so it was an exciting experience for me. We stayed at a hotel there. Early next morning, we went to the beach again and saw the beautiful sunrise. We walked along the beach, bathed in the sea water, ate sea food and enjoyed ourselves.  

 

The sentence that describes a past situation or action in the above text are in simple past tense.  

Simple tense is used to express: 

• Action in the past taking place once, never or several times. 

Example: he visited his parents every weekend. 

• Actions in the past taking place one after another 

Example: he came in, took off his coat and sat down. 

• Actions in the past taking place in the middle of another action 

Example: when I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.  

 

Forming sentences in the simple past tense:  

I	was	Late   tired  nervous  In a hotel  A new computer  hungry
We	were
he	was
She
Raju
They	Were
The students

 

We use was/were as ‘be’ verbs to talk about the past. Now, look at the following table: 

I	went	To Dhubai
We	carried	Some food with us
He	talked	To the counter clerk.

 

Past continuous tense:  

Read the passage and try to notice what past continuous tense is. 

 

Yesterday, it was raining all day. Onu was playing inside the house. She wanted to be outside. She wasn’t playing outside because it was raining. She was feeling tired of staying inside the house. Onu was trying to keep busy inside the house. She was reading her books until the electricity went out. Then, she decided to practice her sewing. She was practicing until lunchtime. After lunch, she sat by the window and watched the rain.  

While Onu was watching the rain, the phone rang. Her mother was calling to say she was coming home. She played the games with her mother when she came home.  

 

When we talk about two actions in the past taking place one after another, we use simple past tense for both the actions.  

Example: She came home and switched on the computer and checked her mails. 

But when we talk about two events in the past which were taking place at the same time, we use Past Continuous for describing both the actions. 

Example: Sumon was playing on the computer while his brother was watching.  

 

Non-progressive verbs: 

The following verbs are usually only used in Simple past (not in the progressive from) 

• State: be, cost, fit, mean, suit,  

Example: we were on holiday. 

• Possession: belong, have 

Example: Salam had a pet. 

• Sense: feel, hear, see, smell, touch 

Example: Joyal loved cakes.  

• Perception: believe, know, think, understand 

Example: I didn’t understand him. 

• Introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say,  

Example: “I am watching TV,” he said.  

 

Simple Future Tense:  

The fight will leave Dhaka Shahjalal International Airport at 11:00 pm and I must report for checking-in at least two hours before the departure time. I shall start for the airport by 7:00 pm so that I can reach the airport in time. There will be heavy traffic on the airport road. If I start by 7, I’ll have enough time in hand to reach the airport. I am going to take only a small suitcase and laptop with me. So, there won’t be any hassle with my baggage. I have not got any foreign currency but I am going to buy some dollars from the airport. This will be a short flight and I hope to arrive at the Cheni Airport in 3 hours.  

In the passage above Mr. Kabir talks about the events/actions that will happen in future. So, he uses Future tense to talk about the things that will take places in future.   

To make sentences in the simple future tense, we put ‘will’ or ‘....ll’ before the base form of the verb.  

For the negative we put ‘will not’ or ‘won’t’ in front of the verb. With subjects like ‘i’ or ‘we’, we can also say ‘shall’/shan’t’.  

To make questions in the future, we put ‘will’ or ‘shall’ in front of the subjects.  

With ‘I’ and ‘we’ you can use ‘shall’. This usually means a suggestion or that something is not certain.  

Example: shall we go to the cinema? 

what shall I wear for the party? 

 

Read the sentence below and notice how we talk about the future plans. 

• I am going to buy some dollars from the airport. 

• I am going to take only a small suitcase and a laptop me. 

• She Is going to sit for the exam next year.  

 

Now look at the structures for talking about future actions with going to+ verb.  

I	Am	Going to	Attend	A party tonight
You	Are		See	The teacher this evening
We	Are		Plan	A surprise party for Ali today
She/he	Is		Meet	Her parents soon
they	Are		Play	A friendly match.

 

You can read our  Parts of speech, articles, degree of adjective and gerund & participles to enhance your English knowledge more.