The word "grammar" most certainly isn't the most favourite of students, not to mention the teachers. In fact, the most natural reaction upon encountering the word is to cringe!
Most teachers know the rules of grammar, I know. But it's one thing to know it and quite another to teach it effectively so that the students not only understand it , but are able to apply it in apt situations.
" My sister studies French"
and
" My sister is studying French" are not quite the same meaning. There is a subtle difference of time.
Here is when the knowledge of tenses come of help. Let's get started on this!
Tenses tell you exactly when something happens. To convey sentences correctly you need to get your tenses right.
There are three basic tenses : the past, the present and the future.
There also is a perfect tense, but I seriously think it will lead to verbal indigestion. Let's look at it later on in the lesson after we are comfortable using the three basic tenses. Don't let me discourage you, I am going to make this as easy and uncomplicated as possible. Here we go !!
* The past tense is used to talk about anything that happened before this moment.
* The present tense is used for anything that happens right now or for general statements.
* The future tense is used for anything that will happen at some point later than right now.
These tenses have a few variations that make them more specific. These variations talk about the exact time during which actions happen.
All three tenses have two main type of variations : simple and continuous / progressive.
* The continuous tenses are used for actions that happen repeatedly over a period of time.
* The simple tenses are used for .... everything else!
We ought to look at the past and the present tenses together as they are closely related.
It is mainly used for three things :
1. To talk about things that are permanent and unchanging.
2. To describe how often something happens.
3. To talk about scheduled events.
To use the tense, add an -s to the end of the verb when "he" or "she" or "it" is doing the action.
Eg; He speaks, she watches, he sings, she swims, it smells, it barks.
Add the unchanged verb when anyone else is doing it.
Eg; We speak. they watch, I sing and you swim.
This tense is used to tell someone about yourself or your hobbies, share something you believe to be true, or ask about when the next flight to New York is.
THE PAST SIMPLE
It is used in a similar manner to the simple tense.
Simple past verbs use -ed ( I walked, he cried).
But there are irregular verbs that don't use the -ed format, which you will need to learn.
Eg; I spoke, we saw, they ate)
Here's a table of irregular verbs which will help you understand the tenses better.
1. This tense talks about things that has already happened or is no longer true now.
Eg; It rained last night, I had a late dinner, I went to school yesterday.
2. You can also use this tense to describe a hobby you had in the past, or something you "used to do".
Eg; I used to swim in the pond when I was a child, I used to take part in all activities when I was in school, he used to call me regularly when he was in India.
THE CONTINUOUS TENSES
The word continuous means something that's still going on, happening right now.
These tenses use the -ing suffix to the verb in both the present as well as the past tenses.
Eg; running. talking, laughing, reading
THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
You can use this tense when you want to speak about something happening now.
Let's say, you are right now reading this lesson on tenses. Your brother is sitting beside you and you are both discussing the tenses.
Eg; I am writing down the various tenses from this article. It's raining outside. It's 10 O'clock at night. I am feeling tired. I am also trying to stay awake to complete my notes on the tenses.My mother is telling me to go to bed early as I am always waking up late in the mornings.
That wasn't so bad , was it ?
THE PAST CONTINUOUS
This tense is used to describe a continuous action that got interrupted.
Eg; I was reading the article last night when the power went off. My dad was bathing at the time. My neighbours were watching TV.
Notice the BE verbs ( is, am, are, was, were) coming before the action verbs.
The format below illustrates the use of the BE verb along with the action verbs in the continuous tense.
Past tense
Follow this format to make sentences in the past continuous
Subject + ( Past tense of ) BE Verb + Main Verb + ing
1. I was sleeping (when you called me last night).
2. I was not sleeping (when you called me last night).
3. My sister was playing (the piano at the concert yesterday).
4. He was not listening (when I spoke to him).
5. They were busy chatting (with one another throughout the journey).
6. The people were (wandering around the museum).
7. You were doing (very well until the end).
8. We were counting (the aeroplanes in the sky at the airshow).
I gather you noticed the change in the BE Verbs when plural subjects were introduced ie, they, the people, we and you.
Similarly, use not to the BE Verbs to give a negative meaning.
Eg,
1. The boys were not wearing (helmets while riding).
2. He was not concentrating (on the lecture).
3. I was not feeling (well that day).
4. She was not eating well (at that time).
Present tense
Follow this format to frame sentences using present continuous tense
Subject + ( Present tense of ) BE Verb + Main Verb +ing
1. I am feeling sad.
2. I am not going to cry though.
3. Dad is working the night shift today.
4. He is not joining us for the movie tonight.
5. We are travelling to Goa this evening.
6. They are not accompanying us.
7. My friends are performing at the band.
8. My neighbours are not shifting to another town right now.
Please note the use of is and am for singular subjects, are for plurals ( we, they, my friends, my neighbours).
Future tense
Follow this format to make sentences in future tense.
Subject + Will be + Main verb + ing
1. I will be meeting the Principal tomorrow after school.
2. You will be driving to Goa tomorrow at this time.
3. We will not be driving to Goa tonight.
4. They will not be seeing my parents.
5. He will not be writing his exams tomorrow.
6. It will not be raining from next week according to weather forecasts.
Well, I am done with the three tenses. Did this lesson help you ?
Will continue with the other tenses in my next post ! I am sure you have had enough for now.
Have a nice day !!
Eg; We speak. they watch, I sing and you swim.
This tense is used to tell someone about yourself or your hobbies, share something you believe to be true, or ask about when the next flight to New York is.
THE PAST SIMPLE
It is used in a similar manner to the simple tense.
Simple past verbs use -ed ( I walked, he cried).
But there are irregular verbs that don't use the -ed format, which you will need to learn.
Eg; I spoke, we saw, they ate)
Here's a table of irregular verbs which will help you understand the tenses better.
1. This tense talks about things that has already happened or is no longer true now.
Eg; It rained last night, I had a late dinner, I went to school yesterday.
2. You can also use this tense to describe a hobby you had in the past, or something you "used to do".
Eg; I used to swim in the pond when I was a child, I used to take part in all activities when I was in school, he used to call me regularly when he was in India.
THE CONTINUOUS TENSES
The word continuous means something that's still going on, happening right now.
These tenses use the -ing suffix to the verb in both the present as well as the past tenses.
Eg; running. talking, laughing, reading
THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
You can use this tense when you want to speak about something happening now.
Let's say, you are right now reading this lesson on tenses. Your brother is sitting beside you and you are both discussing the tenses.
Eg; I am writing down the various tenses from this article. It's raining outside. It's 10 O'clock at night. I am feeling tired. I am also trying to stay awake to complete my notes on the tenses.My mother is telling me to go to bed early as I am always waking up late in the mornings.
That wasn't so bad , was it ?
THE PAST CONTINUOUS
This tense is used to describe a continuous action that got interrupted.
Eg; I was reading the article last night when the power went off. My dad was bathing at the time. My neighbours were watching TV.
Notice the BE verbs ( is, am, are, was, were) coming before the action verbs.
The format below illustrates the use of the BE verb along with the action verbs in the continuous tense.
Past tense
Follow this format to make sentences in the past continuous
Subject + ( Past tense of ) BE Verb + Main Verb + ing
1. I was sleeping (when you called me last night).
2. I was not sleeping (when you called me last night).
3. My sister was playing (the piano at the concert yesterday).
4. He was not listening (when I spoke to him).
5. They were busy chatting (with one another throughout the journey).
6. The people were (wandering around the museum).
7. You were doing (very well until the end).
8. We were counting (the aeroplanes in the sky at the airshow).
I gather you noticed the change in the BE Verbs when plural subjects were introduced ie, they, the people, we and you.
Similarly, use not to the BE Verbs to give a negative meaning.
Eg,
1. The boys were not wearing (helmets while riding).
2. He was not concentrating (on the lecture).
3. I was not feeling (well that day).
4. She was not eating well (at that time).
Present tense
Follow this format to frame sentences using present continuous tense
Subject + ( Present tense of ) BE Verb + Main Verb +ing
1. I am feeling sad.
2. I am not going to cry though.
3. Dad is working the night shift today.
4. He is not joining us for the movie tonight.
5. We are travelling to Goa this evening.
6. They are not accompanying us.
7. My friends are performing at the band.
8. My neighbours are not shifting to another town right now.
Please note the use of is and am for singular subjects, are for plurals ( we, they, my friends, my neighbours).
Future tense
Follow this format to make sentences in future tense.
Subject + Will be + Main verb + ing
1. I will be meeting the Principal tomorrow after school.
2. You will be driving to Goa tomorrow at this time.
3. We will not be driving to Goa tonight.
4. They will not be seeing my parents.
5. He will not be writing his exams tomorrow.
6. It will not be raining from next week according to weather forecasts.
Well, I am done with the three tenses. Did this lesson help you ?
Will continue with the other tenses in my next post ! I am sure you have had enough for now.
Have a nice day !!
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