Tenses in English are important part of speech. English tenses are essential because they allow us to express actions, states, and occurrences in relation to time. We may communicate ideas clearly and successfully by comprehending and employing tenses properly. The many English tenses, their forms, and their usage will all be covered in this extensive manual.
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Table of Contents
What are Tenses in English?
1. Present Tense
The present tense is used to talk about things that are happening right now, universal facts, and routine behaviors. The present tense comes in four different forms:
Used for universal facts, routines, and ongoing circumstances.
Example:
- “The airplane flies in the sky”.
- “The Sun rises in the East”.
- “Mangoes grow on trees.”
1.1) Present Continuous
Describes current events as they are occurring. Moreover, it describes what happens universally or what is absolute truth.
Example:
- “I am writing a letter.”
- “I am driving a car.”
- “I am going to school.”
- “I am eating an apple”.
- “Stars are visible at night”.
1.2) Present Perfect
Used to describe previous activities that have continued into the present or had an influence on the present. This means, somethings that you started in past and you are still continuing it or it has an impact on the current situation.
Example:
- “I have studied English for five years.”
- “I am doing this for ten years,”
- “I have asked this question several times.”
- “Have you ever been to Australia?”
- “She has just finished the online course.”
1.3) Present Perfect Continuous
Describes a course of activity that began in the past, continues in the present, and is currently in progress.
Actions that began in the past and are currently in progress are described in the present perfect tense.
Example:
- “She has been working on the project all day.” (She started working on the project in past, and in present she is working on the project).
- She has been learning to ride the bicycle for the last six months. (She started learning in the past, she is still learning it, and she is presently into the process of learning.)
- The team has been training hard for the upcoming event.
The present perfect continuous tense is used to represent acts that began in the past, have been ongoing, and may still be happening today in these instances. “Have/has been” + present participle (the verb’s -ing form) make up the structure of the present perfect continuous tense. The length or consistency of the motion is the main focus.
2. Past Tense
Actions that have already occurred are described in the past tense. It aids in the narration of historical events. The past tense comes in four different forms:
2.1) Past Simple
Past Simple is used to describe actions that occurred and have ended in the past. This means, the action was started and it has ended before we are talking about it.
Example:
- “She walked to the store.”
- “He died last year.”
- “He fought bravely.”
- “He finished the project.”
2.2) Past Continuous
Describes actions that were ongoing in the past. In Past Continuous we see that there was an activity ongoing in the past it may refer another activity at the same time. In other words, the speaker is describing the action in the past, which was not complete.
Example:
- “They were playing soccer when it started raining.” (In past they were playing soccer. While they were playing soccer, it started raining.”)
- She was working on her homework all night. (In this case, the speaker or narrator known that she was working on her homework, but, he is not sure if the action was completed.)
In these instances, an ongoing action or circumstance in the past is described using the past continuous tense. The past continuous tense is made up of the words “was/were” and the present participle (the verb’s -ing form). The activity or duration that was ongoing at a certain time in the past is highlighted by the past continuous tense.
2.3) Past Perfect
Used for actions that happened before another past event. Which means, there are 2 actions that happened in the past and one happened before the other.
Example:
“I had already eaten dinner when she arrived.” (Here there are two actions that happened in the past. 1. the speaker ate dinner and 2. she arrived. We can see that the action of eating dinner completed before she arrived.)
“She had already packed her bags before she was ready for school.” (Action 1: She packed her bags. Action 2: She was ready for school. But Action 1 completed before Action 2 and both the actions took place in past.
2.4) Past Perfect Continuous
Past Perfect Continuous Tense describes actions that began in the past, continued for some time, and then ended.
Example:
- “He had been working all night before the event.”
- “The group had been working on the plan for a year before they abandoned it.”
In these instances, an ongoing activity that began in the past, lasted until another point in the past, and maybe ceased at that time is described using the past perfect continuous tense. The past perfect continuous tense is made up of the words “had been” and the present participle (the verb’s -ing form). It highlights the length and consistency of the activities leading up to a certain period of time or historical event.
3. Future Tense
When describing events that will take place after the present or past, the future tense is utilized. It enables us to communicate our objectives, forecasts, and plans. The future tense comes in four different forms:
3.1) Future Simple
Future Simple is used for future activities that will take place. This is the simplest form of the Future Tense. We use will/shall to describe the action in Future.
Example:
- “They will come tomorrow.”
- “We will read today.”
- “He will study for the exams,”
3.2) Future Continuous
Future Continuous Tense describes actions that will be ongoing or will continue to happen at a specific future time.
Example:
- “I will be doing the work next week.”
- Will you be studying English next semester?
- My friends will be travelling during the summer.
- The event will be happening in the coming months.
- She will be learning to play the guitar starting next month.
The future continuous tense is employed in these instances to depict a continuing event or circumstance that will take place at a certain point in the future. The future continuous tense is made up of the words “will be” and the present participle (the verb’s -ing form). It suggests that a specific future moment will see an activity taking place.
3.3) Future Perfect
Future Perfect Tense is used when an action needs to be finished before a certain period in the future.
Example:
- “By this time on Monday, I will have finished my assignment.”
- “By the time you eat, I will have finished reading the chapter.”
- “They will have completed their studies by the end of this year.”
- “We will have seen five movies by the end of our day.”
The future perfect tense is used in these instances to express an activity or occurrence that will be finished before a particular future time. The future perfect tense has the following structure: “will have” plus the verb’s past participle. It implies that something will have taken place or be finished by a specific future point.
4. Conditional Tenses
To indicate hypothetical circumstances or acts that depend on a condition, conditional tenses are utilized. The conditional tenses come in four primary varieties:
4.1) Zero Conditional
Zero Conditional Tense is used for general truths and facts. These are known facts and general.
Example:
- If you heat water, it evaporates.
- If the Sun shines, it gets hot.
- If you mix red and white, you get pink.
- If you study, you get wise.
- If you don’t eat, you get hungry.
The zero conditional is used in these instances to describe cause and effect linkages that hold regardless of the circumstances or time of day. The zero conditional has the syntax “if + present simple, present simple.”
4.2 )First Conditional
The First Conditional Tense discusses potential future actions or events.
Example:
- “If you freeze water, it will become ice.”
- “If you work hard, you will succeed.”
- “If you read this article, you will know about tenses.”
- “If you add sugar, it will be sweet.”
- “If you study, you will pass the exams.
The first conditional is used in these examples to indicate probable future outcomes based on specified conditions. The first conditional is structured as “if + present simple, will + base form of the verb.” It implies that the condition has a reasonable possibility of being met and that the outcome is likely.
4.3) Second Conditional
The second conditional is used to describe hypothetical or fictitious scenarios in the present or future.
Example:
- “If I had more money, I would buy the car.”
- “If she knew how to cook, she would cook the food.”
- “If you were my friend, I would take you to my house.”
The second conditional is used in these instances to represent hypothetical or unreal events and their related consequences. The second conditional is structured as “if + past simple, would + base form of the verb.” It suggests that the condition is unlikely to be met or that it contradicts reality.
4.4) Third Conditional
Third Conditional Tense depicts hypothetical or unreal past circumstances.
Example:
- “If she had learnt English, she would have written the article.”
- “If they had played the game well, they would have won the competition.”
The third conditional is used in these instances to describe hypothetical consequences of unreal circumstances in the past. The third conditional is structured as “if + past perfect, would have + past participle.” It indicates a state that is not true, because the event or condition did not occur.
It’s worth noting that English tenses can be mixed to describe more complicated thoughts and time connections. There are also tenses that combine characteristics of the continuous and perfect tenses, such as the perfect continuous tenses.
Mastering English tenses requires practice and a thorough grasp of their usage. By understanding the principles described in this guide and putting them into practice on a regular basis, you will improve your ability to express yourself clearly and eloquently in English. Remember to keep your message’s context and time frame in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to being a skilled user of English tenses.
Tenses Practice Questions Online
Here’s a quiz to test your knowledge of past, present, and future tenses in English. Correct answers are given.
Questions on Tenses.
- She ________________ to the market yesterday. (went / goes / will go)
- The train ________________ at 8:00 AM next Thursday. (arrived / arrives / will arrive)
- I ________________ to the mountains every summer. (went / go / will go)
- They ________________ to India next month. (fly / flies / will fly)
- Yesterday, he ________________ his project. (finish / finishes / finished)
- The party ________________ at 9:00 PM next Sunday. (starts / started / will start)
- We ________________ dinner at that restaurant last week. (had / have / will have)
- By this time next year, they ________________ their new farm. (will build / built / build)
- She ________________ English for two years now. (studied / studies / has studied)
- If it rains tomorrow, we ________________ the picnic. (cancel / cancelled / will cancel)
Answers
- went
- will arrive
- go
- will fly
- finished
- will start
- had
- will have built
- has studied
- will cancel
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