Verbs tell us "What we do". Verbs also tell us "When we do it". That is, verbs tell us the time of an action. To show different time, we use different forms of verbs. It is called tense. Look at these sentences:

1. Two cats sleep on my table.
2. But yesterday, they slept on my bed.

In the above sentences, the verb "sleep" shows present time, and the verb "slept" shows past time. 

We say that the verb-

1. "sleeps" is in the present tense, and
2. "slept" is in the past tense.

So, what is tense?

Tense is the form of a verb that shows the time of action. Remember that only verbs have tense.

[Note: Actually, tense refers to both time and the form of a verb. It involves the expression of time through the verb's form or structure. When we talk about tense in grammar, we are considering how the verb indicates the time of an action or state. For example, when we say, “They walk to school”, we mean that the action of “walking” happens in the present time. But if we say, “They walked to school”, we mean that the action happened sometime in the past.]

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1. Present Tense

To show present time, we use the verb as it is and call it "present tense". The verb “go” in the following sentence is in the present tense.

• I go to school. 

If the subject is third person singular, we add "-s" or "-es" to it:

• She goes to school.

2. Past Tense

To show past time, we add "-ed" to the base form of verb and call it past tense. For example, the verb “played” in the following sentence is in the present tense.

• We played cricket.

Irregular Past Tense

We cannot add "-ed" to many verbs. We call them irregular verbs. Irregular verbs have different past tense. Look at these examples:

3. Future Tense

English verbs do not have any specific future tense. To show future time, we use "shall" / "will" and the "base form of a verb" and call it future tense.

• I shall go to school. 
• She will go to school.

Some grammarians say that there are only two tenses in English. For example, the following words are quoted from a very reputed English grammar "Cambridge Grammar of English, Cambridge University Press". 

Time Reference

Level: Advanced

As the names indicate, present tense should indicate present time, past tense should indicate past time, and future tense should future time. But it is not always true. Look at the following examples:

1. Colombus discovers America. [In this sentence, the verb "discovers" is in the present tense, but it indicates past time.] 
2. I wish I were a child again. [In this sentence, the verb "were" is in the past tense, but it indicates present time.]
3. They are coming home next week. [In this sentence, the verb "are" is in the present tense, but it indicates future time.]

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• I love ice-cream.
• They play cricket.

2. If the subject is third person singular (he/she/it), we add "-s" or "-es" to the verb.

• He loves ice-cream.
• She plays cricket.

"-S" or "-ES" ?

(i) If a verb ends with "s", "sh", "ch", "z", we add "-es" to the verb.

(ii) If a verb ends with "consonant + y", we change "y" to "i", then add "-es" to the verb.

(iii) If a verb ends with "consonant + o", we add "-es" to the verb.

(iv) For other verbs, we simply add "-S".

Use of Present Simple

Remember that the present simple tense is used for actions that are generally true, habitual, or scheduled, rather than for actions that are happening right now or are ongoing. Here are some examples:

1. Facts & Truths

We use the present simple tense to talk about things that are always true.

Example: 

• The sun rises in the east.
• Ice floats on water.
• Man is mortal.
• Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
• Cats are known for their agility.

2. Habits & Routines

We use the present simple tense to talk about actions that are repeated regularly, habits, or routines.

Example:

• I go for a walk every morning. 
• I wake up at 7 AM every day.
• She brushes her teeth before going to bed.
• They usually go for a walk in the evening.

3. Permanent States or Characteristics

We use the present simple tense to talk about situations that are considered permanent or long-lasting.

Example:

• She lives in New York City.
• She works as a doctor.
• Cats like milk.

4. Scheduled Events

We can use the present simple tense to indicate scheduled events in near future.

Example:

• The train leaves at 9:00 AM tomorrow.
• The conference starts on Monday.

Negative

To make a negative sentence in the present simple tense, the auxiliary verb "do/ does" is used with "not" (don't/doesn't).

Example:

Affirmative: They like coffee.
Negative: They do not like coffee.
Negative: They don't like coffee.

Questions

To form questions in the present simple tense, the auxiliary verb "do/ does" is used before the subject.

Example:

Assertive: You like ice-cream.
Question: Do you like ice-cream?

Assertive: She likes ice-cream.
Question: Does she like ice-cream?

Be & Have

Remember: HAVE & BE verbs have different forms for different persons. That means that you'll just have to commit them to memory!:

BE 

• I am a student. 
• He/She/It is perfect.
• They are perfect. 

HAVE 

• I have a toy. 
• He/She/It has a toy.

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Form: Subject + Past Form of Verb

1. Simple past tense is the "-ed" form of regular verb. We call it 'past form'.

Examples:

• Charlie acted well. 
• Micky called in a doctor. 
• The old man died in his house. 
• He helped the poor.

2. Some verbs do not have any "-ed" form. They are irregular verbs. They have special past tense forms. Here are some examples:

• We went to the market yesterday. ["went" is the past form of "go"]
• He did the job . ["did" is the past form of "do"]
• I saw him in the market. ["saw" is the past form of "see"]
• He came here last night. ["came" is the past form of "come"]

Use of Simple Past Tense

We us the past simple tense talk about actions or events that occurred in the past. Here are some examples:

1. With Time Markers

We use the simple past tense with definite time markers like "yesterday", "last night", "three week ago", "in 1994", etc.  

• Yesterday, he went to the store.
• Last week, they traveled to Paris.
• In 2005, I graduated from college.
• She visited London last year.

But we can use simple past without definite time markers if we can understand that the action happened sometime in the past. 

• Shakespeare wrote Hamlet. 
• Columbus discovered America.
• The Titanic sank in the deep sea.

2. Interrupted Actions

When one shorter action comes in the middle of another longer action, we use the shorter action in past simple and the longer action in past continuous. 

• The accident happened when we were going to school. 
• While I was swimming in the river, a shark attacked me. 
• As it was raining outside, we stayed in the room. 
• I was reading when the phone rang.
• They were having a picnic when it started raining.

But if the actions happen one after another, we use two past simple verbs. 

• When I opened the door, I saw Martin. 

3. Conditional Sentences (Type 2)

• If I had more money, I would buy a new car.
• If she studied harder, she would have passed the test.

4. Past Habits or Routine

• They always watched that TV show on Sundays.
• Edison was never absent from school.

5. Series of Completed Actions

• The movie started at 7 PM and ended at 9 PM.
• He entered the room, looked around, and then left.
• First, I woke up; then, I took a shower and had breakfast.
• She arrived, met with the team, and started the presentation.

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We use the simple future tense to express something that has not yet occurred but is expected to take place at a later time. Here are some examples:

• I will go to the party tomorrow.
• They will finish their project next week.
• She will study for her exam tonight.

Here are some key points to keep in mind about the simple future tense:

Form

We form the future simple tense using the auxiliary verb "will" followed by the base form of the main verb.

• Simple Future = Subject + will + base form of the verb

Negatives

To make negative sentences in the simple future tense, use "will not" or the contraction "won't" before the base form of the verb.

Examples:

• I will not attend the meeting.
• She won't come to the party.

Questions

To form questions in the simple future tense, invert the subject and "will."

Examples:

• Will you join us for dinner?
• Will they complete the task on time?

Use of Simple Future

We use the simple future tense to express actions or events that will occur in the future. Here are some common situations in which we use the simple future tense:

Future Actions

The simple future tense is used to talk about actions that will happen at a later time.

• She will arrive at the airport tomorrow.
• We will have dinner together this evening.
• They will start their vacation next month.

Predictions

We use the simple future tense to make predictions or to state what we believe will happen in the future.

• I think it will rain tomorrow.
• He will win the game.
• The company's profits will increase next year.

Plans 

The simple future tense is used to express plans or arrangements for the future.

• We will pass this weekend in Kashmir.
• They will visit the zoo next week.

Promises and Offers

We use the simple future tense to make promises or offers for future actions.

• I will help you with your homework.
• They will lend you their car for the trip.
• She will buy you a gift for your birthday.

Assumptions and Beliefs

The simple future tense can be used to express assumptions, beliefs, or expectations about future events.

• The weather will probably be rough next week.
• The package will likely arrive by Friday.

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Form 

Present continuous = Be (am/is/are) + Present Participle (-ing verb).

Affirmative

• I am learning English. 
• Mother is helping me.
• They are playing cricket.  

Negative

• I am not learning English. 
• Mother is not helping me.
• They are not playing cricket.  

Short Form

• I’m not learning English. (Not: I amn't learning English.)
• She isn’t helping me. or, She's helping me. 
• They aren’t playing cricket.  or, They're playing cricket. 

Interrogative

• Am I learning English?  
• Is she helping me? 
• Are they playing cricket? 

Use of Present Continuous

1. Something Happening Now

We use the present continuous when the action is happening now, at the time of speaking. 

• They are swimming. 
• They are not running.
• He is making tea.
• He is not reading. 

2. Unfinished Action

We also use present continuous when we are in the middle of an action. We have started doing something, but it is unfinished or incomplete. For example, Bob has met Jack at a bus stand. Look at their conversation. 

• Bob: Hi Jack. What are you doing now?
• Jack: I am reading an interesting novel.

Jack is not reading the book just at the time of speaking. He has started the action but is incomplete.

3. Scheduled Event in Near Future

We use present continuous to indicate scheduled events in near future. The time of action must be mentioned. 

• They are coming home tomorrow. 
• We are going to cinema after school.

4. With Always & Constantly

We use present continuous with the expressions ‘Always’ or ‘constantly’ when something boring happens again and again.

• He is always coming late. 
• You are constantly talking. 
• You are always disturbing me. 

Present Continuous or Present Simple?

We do not use present continuous with verbs of mental activity & stative verbs. We call them Non-Continuous Verbs. They are used in Simple Present.

Examples:

Wrong: I am loving ice-cream.
Right: I love ice-cream.

Wrong: Honey is tasting sweet.
Right: Honey tastes sweet.

Wrong: He is wanting to learn English.
Right: He wants to learn English.

Wrong: They are fearing tiger.
Right: They fear tiger.

Common Verbs of Mental Activity or State

Feel, see, hear, smell, notice, recognize, want, desire, refuse, forgive, wish, care, love, hate, like, dislike, adore, agree, assume, believe, think, feel, realize, understand, know, mean, suppose, expect, remember, recollect, forget, trust, mind, signify, appear, seem, contain, consist, concern, matter. 

RULES OF ADDING "-ING"

Rule—1: If a verb ends in "E", we drop the "E" and add "-ing". 

• come + ing = coming
• lose + ing = losing
• live + ing = living

Rule—2: If a verb of one syllable has one vowel and ends in one consonant, we double the final consonant and add "-ing".

• cut + ing = cutting 
• hit + ing = hitting
• get + ing = getting
• put + ing = putting
• swim + ing = swimming

Rule—3: If a verb ends in "-IE", we replace "-IE" with "-Y" and add "-ing".

• die + ing = dying
• lie + ing = lying

Rule—4: We can add "-ing" to other verbs without affective the spelling.

• say + ing = saying
• go + ing = going
• walk + ing = walking

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What is past progressive tense?

Past progressive tense is a combination of past tense of "be verb" (was/ were) and continuous aspect of the "main verb". 

• It was raining last afternoon. 
• We were waiting for the bus. 
• Some passers-by were walking on the street. 

FORM: [was/were + present participle]

Use of Past Continuous

1. Events in progress 

We use past continuous for events in progress around a particular time in the past. 

• I was studying at 5 pm yesterday. 
• They were playing cricket. 

2. Past interrupted action

When one shorter action comes in the middle of another longer action, we use the shorter action in past simple and the longer action in past continuous. The longer action functions as the background of the short action. 

• The accident happened when we were going to school. 
• While I was swimming in the river, a shark attacked me. 
• As it was raining outside, we stayed in the room. 

3. While with the past continuous

We sometimes use while with the past continuous.

• Yesterday at 7 o'clock, I was walking to school while my friends were riding in a rickshaw.
• Yesterday at 8 o'clock, my friends and I were sitting in our classroom while Ms. Kona was teaching.

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It is important to note that the future continuous tense emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action in the future, indicating that it will be in progress or happening continuously.

Form: Subject + shall be/ will be + -ing form of the main verb

Examples:

• They will be traveling to Japan during the summer.
• He will be playing soccer with his friends this weekend.
• We will be having dinner at a fancy restaurant tonight.

Use of Future Progressive Tense

Here are some common situations in which the future continuous tense is used:

1. Actions in Progress in Future 

The future continuous tense is used to describe actions that will be ongoing or in progress for a period of time in the future. For example:

• They will be having a meeting at 10 a.m. next Monday.
• We will be traveling around Europe during the summer.
• He will be playing soccer with his friends this weekend.
• They will be attending a conference next month.

2. Polite Inquiries or Offers

In polite inquiries or offers, the future continuous tense can be used to express politeness or to make a suggestion. For example:

• Will you be needing any assistance?
• Will you be joining us for dinner tonight?

It is important to note that the future continuous tense emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action in the future, indicating that it will be in progress or happening continuously.

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Present perfect tense is "have/ has" + past participle form of the main verb.

Examples:

• We have done our homework. 
• He has arrived home. 

Form

Affirmative: Subject + have/has + past participle 

Examples:

• I have read that book.
• She has eaten lunch.
• They have visited Paris.

Negative: Subject + haven't/hasn't + past participle

Examples:

• I haven't read that book.
• She hasn't eaten lunch.
• They haven't visited Paris.

Question: Have/Has + subject + past participle?

Examples:

• Have I read that book?
• Has she eaten lunch?
• Have they visited Paris?

Use of Present Perfect

We use present perfect describe a past finished action that has present consequences. Here are some examples that illustrate the use of the present perfect tense in different contexts:

1. Finished Action with Present Result

We use present perfect for a finished action that has present consequences. Note that the emphasis is more on the result than the action itself.

• She has finished her homework. (The focus is on the completion of homework.)
• They have cleaned the house. (The house is now clean.)
• I have bought a home in London.
• He has passed MBBS. 

2. Unfinished Time Period

Present perfect is used to describe actions that have occurred within an unfinished time period that includes the present.

• I have been to the gym this week. (This week is not over yet.)

3. Experiences in Life

Present perfect is used to talk about life experiences that have happened in someone's life up to the present moment.

• I have traveled to Japan. (At some point in my life, I visited Japan.)
• I have gone to New York.
• She has lived in London.
• They have visited Florida three times.

4. Multiple Occurrences

Present perfect can also be used to talk about actions that have happened multiple times up to the present.

• We have watched that movie three times. (We watched it on three different occasions.)

5. Signal Words

Some common signal words that often accompany the present perfect tense include: "just," "already," "yet," "since," "for," "recently," "lately."

Example sentences with signal words:

• She has just left for work.
• Have you already eaten dinner?
• I haven't seen him since yesterday.
• We have known each other for years.

6. Present Perfect or Past Simple?

If we mention the past time, we must use past simple, not the present perfect. 

• I went to New York last year.
• She lived in London then.
• They visited Florida two months ago.

7. 'Been' and 'Gone'

We use been and gone as the past participle of go. But there is a great difference between them. 

Been

We use been when someone has gone to a place and returned.

• I have been to Dhaka.
• She has been to school today. 

Gone

We use gone when someone has gone to a place and has not returned.

• I have gone to Dhaka.
• They have gone to Japan.  (now they're in Japan)

8. Unfinished Actions

You know unfinished actions are used in the continuous tense. But state verbs [mental state verbs] are not used in continuous. So, in place of present perfect continuous, we use present perfect with for and since to describe an unfinished action.

'Since' or 'For'? 

We use since + a point of time/fixed time (2014, May 1st, last year, 2pm) 

• I have liked him since 2019. 
• We have known each other since 1992.
• She has been there since last night.

We use for + a period of time (2 hours, three years, six months)

• I have liked him for all my life. 
• We have known each other for ten years.
• She has been there for five months.

Remember that the choice between using present perfect, simple past, or other tenses depends on the context and the specific meaning you want to convey.

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What is past perfect tense?

Past perfect tense is a verb tense used to indicate an action that was completed before another past action.

Form: Subject + had + past participle of the main verb

Use of Past Perfect

The past perfect tense is used to express an action that occurred before another action or a specific time in the past. The past perfect refers the time up to then. 

1. Past before Past

We use the past perfect when we want to describe an action that happened before another past action.

• She had already eaten dinner when I arrived. [In this sentence, "had eaten" (past participle of "eat") indicates that the action of eating dinner was completed before the action of arriving.]
• She had already finished her homework before dinner. [The action of finishing homework happened before the action of having dinner.]
• By the time I arrived, they had already left. [The action of leaving happened before the action of my arrival.]

In these examples, the Past Perfect tense (had + past participle) is used to indicate that an action was completed before another action in the past.

Note the use of the linking words after and before.

Past Perfect + before + Past Simple

Past Simple + after + Past Perfect

2. Reported Speech

When reporting something someone said in the past, if the reported speech refers to an earlier past event, you can use the past perfect.

• He said that he had seen the movie before.
• She told me that she had already visited that place.

3. Unreal or Hypothetical Past Events

We use the past perfect in third conditional sentences which express unreal or hypothetical situations in the past:

• They would have won the match if they had scored the penalty.
• If she had studied sincerely, she would have passed the test. 

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We use the future perfect tense to emphasize that an action will have been done or completed before a specific time in the future. 

Form: Subject + shall/ will + have + past participle of the main verb.

Examples:

• They will have completed the construction project by the end of the month.
• He will have written the report by the deadline.
• We will have saved enough money for our trip by next summer.

In these examples, the auxiliary verb "will have" indicates that the action or event described by the main verb (e.g., finished, graduated, completed, written, saved) will be completed or finished before a specific point in the future. 

Use of Future Perfect Tense

The future perfect tense emphasizes the completion of an action or event in relation to a future time. Here are some common situations in which the future perfect tense is used:

Completion of an Action before a Specified Time

We use the future perfect tense to describe an action that will be completed before a specified time in the future. 

For example:

• The patient will have died by the time the doctor comes.
• They will have completed the construction project by the end of the month.
• He will have written the report by the deadline.
• We will have saved enough money for our trip by next summer.
• They will have prepared the presentation before the meeting.

Anticipation of a Future Event

We can also use the future perfect tense to indicate that an action will be completed, or an event will have occurred in anticipation of a future event. 

• You will have heard the name of Shakespeare. 

Past in the Future: 

We use the future perfect tense to talk about the past from a future perspective. It allows us to discuss events or actions that will be seen as completed in the future. 

For example:

• In 2030, I will have lived in this city for 20 years.

It's important to note that the future perfect tense emphasizes the completion or finishing of the action.

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What is present perfect continuous tense?

The present perfect continuous is a verb phrase used to express actions that started in the past, has continued for some time, and is still ongoing. It is also known as the present perfect progressive tense.

Form of Present Perfect Progressive

[Subject] + [have/has] + [been] + [base verb + -ing]

Example of Present Perfect Continuous:

• She has been studying for hours.
• I have been watching tv for an hour.
• We have been studying here for three years.

Use of Present Perfect Progressive

We use the present prefect continuous to describe an action which has started sometime in the past, has continued for some time and is still running. 

• They have been living in Canada since 2009.
• He has been working hard there.

For & Since

We use the present perfect continuous with the expressions 'for + a period of time' and 'since + a point of time'. 

• It has been raining for an hour. 
• They have been digging the canal for a week. 
• It has been raining since morning. 
• They have been digging the canal since last Friday. 

IMPORTANT

Remember, Non-Continuous Verb is not used in the Present Perfect Continuous. 

• Incorrect: They have been loving each other since childhood.
• Correct: They have loved each other since childhood. 

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Form of Past Perfect Progressive Tense

Subject + had been + "-ing" verb [present participle form]

Examples:

• She had been studying all night before the exam. [The action of studying started in the past and continued for some time before the exam.]
• We had been playing the match for an hour before the rain came. [The action of playing started in the past and continued for some time before the rain came.]
• They had been living in Japan for five years before they married. [The action of living started in the past and continued for five years before the decision to marry.]

Note that the past perfect progressive tense often appears in sentences that also include the simple past tense to show the sequence of events in the past.

Use of Past Perfect Progressive Tense

We use the past perfect progressive tense in some specific situations to indicate the duration of an action that occurred before another action or event in the past. Here are some common situations where we use the past perfect continuous tense:

1. Duration before a specific point in the past: 

We use the past perfect continuous tense to describe an action that started in the past and continued for a specific duration before another past action. 

For example:

• They had been studying in this college for six months before they moved to a new college.
• He caught cold because he had been swimming for an hour.

2. Cause and effect relationship: 

We use the past perfect continuous tense to show that one action in the past was the cause of another action or situation. 

For example:

• We were tired because we had been working under the hot sun for a long time.

3. Reporting past actions or events: 

We use the past perfect continuous tense in reported speech to describe what someone was doing at a specific point in the past. 

For example:

• She told me that she had been waiting for me all day.

In general, we use the past perfect continuous tense to describe longer ongoing actions or events in the past before another action to establish a clear sequence of events in the past.

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The future perfect progressive tense is a verb phrase that combines future tense, progressive aspect and perfect aspect. It indicates that an action will have been ongoing or in progress for a specified duration before a specific time or event in the future. 

Form: Subject + will + have + been + present participle (-ing form) of the main verb.

Use of Future Perfect Progressive Tense

We use the future perfect continuous tense is to discuss actions or events that will have been happening for a period of time in the future. Here are some examples:

For & Since 

We use the future perfect continuous tense with 'for + a period of time' or 'since + a point of time'. Remember that the future perfect progressive tense is used to emphasize the length of time that an action or event will have been ongoing before a specific future event. 

• By next week, I will have been working on this project for six months.
• She will have been studying French for two hours by the time you arrive.
• They will have been traveling for a whole day when they reach their destination.
• He will have been practicing the piano for years by the time he performs at the concert.
• We will have been waiting for an hour by the time the train arrives.

It's important to note that the future perfect continuous tense emphasizes the continuity or duration in relation to a future time or event.

Tense & Aspect Combination

In English, tense and aspect work together to convey the timing and duration of an action or event. Let's break down how they are combined:

Tense tells us the time when an action occurs, whether it's in the past, present, or future. 

Verbal aspect, on the other hand, tells us whether the action is completed or ongoing. There are two primary aspects in English: perfect & progressive.

Perfect Aspect

This aspect indicates that an action or event is completed or has a specific endpoint in time. It is formed using the auxiliary verb "have" and the "past participle" of the main verb. The first verb of the verb phrase shows tense. There are three perfect aspects in English:

Examples:

1. Present Perfect: I have eaten breakfast. (The action is completed, and the focus is on the result.)
2. Past Perfect: I had eaten breakfast before they came. (The action was completed before another past event.)
3. Future Perfect: I will have eaten breakfast before they come. (The action will be completed before another past event.)

Progressive Aspect

This aspect indicates that an action or event is ongoing, in progress, or happening for a duration of time. It is formed using a form of "be" (am, is, are, was, were) and the "-ing" form of the main verb.

Examples:

1. Present Progressive: I am eating breakfast. (The action is in progress right now.)
2. Past Progressive: I was eating breakfast when the guests came. (The action was ongoing in the past.)
3. Future Progressive: I will be eating breakfast. (The action will be ongoing in the future.)

Combining Two Aspects

Perfect and progressive aspects are often combined in a verb phrase to convey both when an action occurred and whether it was ongoing or completed. Here are some examples:

1. Present Perfect Progressive: I have been eating breakfast. (The action started in the past, continues into the present, and is ongoing.)
2. Past Perfect Progressive: She had been walking to the store before it started raining. (The action was ongoing before another past event.)
3. Future Perfect Progressive: They will have been arriving tomorrow. (The action will be in progress in the future.)

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