Tenses

Tenses

Form of a verb is denoted by the tenses.
It also tells about the time of the occurrence of the action.

tense

Three types of tenses

The past tense

I walked to garden.

(Walked is the verb in the past tense)

The present tense

I walk to garden.

(Walk is the verb in the present tense)

The future tense

I will walk to garden.

(Will walk is the verb in the future tense)

Example showing a state of being

I was sad.

(Was is the verb in the past tense)

I am sad.

(Am is the verb in the present tense)

I will be sad.

(Will is the verb in the future tense)

Different versions or forms of the verb to dance are-

Past tense

Danced, were/was dancing, had been dancing, had danced.

Present tense

Dance, is/am/are dancing, have/has Danced, have/has been Dancing.

Future tense

Will dance, will be dancing, will have danced, will have been dancing.

The list of tenses

Past Tenses	Example
Simple past tense	I did
Past continuous tense	I was doing
Past perfect tense	I had done
Past perfect continuous tense	I had been doing

Present Tenses	Example
Simple present tense	I do
Present continuous tense	I am doing
Present perfect tense	I have done
Present perfect continuous tense	I have been doing

Future Tenses	Example
Simple Future tense	I will do
Future continuous tense	I will be doing
Future perfect tense	I will have done
Future perfect continuous tense	I will have been doing

Explanation of the tenses

The past Tenses

Simple past tense

A completed or finished activity is described
I ran to the temple

Past continuous tense

Describes the action that is on-going
I was running to the temple when I saw Miller

Past perfect tense

Before the start of other action, one is completed
I had run to temple, but they were not open.

Past perfect continuous tense

Show that in the past an on-going has been finished
I had been running to the temple but I have now stopped.

The present tenses

Simple past tense

Habits and facts are described
I dance daily

Past continuous tense

Tells about the on-going action
I am dancing at the moment

Past perfect tense

Tells about the actions that started in the past
I have danced for 15 minutes so far

Past perfect continuous tense

Activity is still in progress which started in the past
I have been dancing for hours

The future tense

Simple future tense

Tells about the activity that will happen in the future
I will dance tomorrow

Future continuous tense

Tells about the on-going activity of future
I will be dancing from today onwards

Future perfect tense

When the activity has to be completed in the near future
I will have danced to the academy by 2 o’clock

Future perfect continuous tense

The completion of an on-going activity is shown in the future
I will have been dancing for 2 hours by 2 o’clock.

Recap

Form of a verb is denoted by the tenses.
It also tells about the time of the occurrence of the action.

Quiz for Tenses

Q.1	Fill the gaps with the correct form of tenses: Early reports ______ that the draft norms for various sectors consuming water _______ by the BWE soon.
a)	suggest, will be created
b)	suggest, had created
c)	are suggesting, had created
d)	are suggesting, will be created

Q.2	Fill the gaps with the correct form of tenses: The manufacturer _______ enormous risk in attempting to predict what consumers ______.
a)	assumes, had wanted
b)	is assuming, had wanted
c)	is assuming, will want
d)	assumes, will want

Q.3	Fill the gaps with the correct form of tenses: The man who ______ an injury _____ himself to be superior to the man who ______ him and ___ the wrong-doer to shame.
a)	forgives, proves, had wronged, puts
b)	is forgiving, proves, wronged, puts
c)	forgives, is proving, wronged, puts
d)	forgives, proves, wronged, puts

Q.4	Fill the gaps with the correct form of tenses: Art _____ that it alone ______ the work in order to bring it into being.
a)	is insisting, had touched
b)	insists, shall touch
c)	insists, had touched
d)	is insisting, shall touch

Q.5	Fill the gaps with the correct form of tenses: The increase in the service sector _____ the managers to work more with people rather than with objects.
a)	had required
b)	will be requiring
c)	were requiring
d)	will require

Q.6	Fill the gaps with the correct form of tenses: The government _______ that new permits for ration shops ________ out.
a)	announces, will be given
b)	announces, had given
c)	is announcing, will be given
d)	is announcing, had given

Q.7	Fill the gaps with the correct form of tenses: Mali and Senegal ______ to prosper, whereas societies in Asia _____ to have extensive corruption.
a)	were failing, perceived
b)	failed, had perceived
c)	failed, perceived
d)	were failing, perceived

Q.8	Fill the gaps with the correct form of tenses: It _____ obvious that the people ______ to be able to agree on the agenda.
a)	was, will not
b)	was, would not
c)	was, had not
d)	is, has

Q.9	Fill the gaps with the correct form of tenses: Sections of the Palestinians _______ that Arafat ____ too far.
a)	will hold, has gone
b)	hold, has gone
c)	will hold, went
d)	hold, had gone

Q.10	Fill the gaps with the correct form of tenses: The country legitimately ______ that it _____ with its food shortage.
a)	believed, has dealt
b)	is believing, dealt
c)	believed, had dealt
d)	is believing, had dealt