Tenses

When you think of a verb, you should think of its tense also. It is a must for us to learn tenses. There are three tenses namely present tense, past tense and future tense. We will see them in this lesson.

Angel	Good evening mom!
Mother	Good evening my princes, but why are you so late?
Angel	We will have a special class, mom.
Mother	Ah...ah... What a wonderful English you are talking!
Angel	Why mom, Is there any mistake?
Mother	yah! Very glaring mistake. You see, your special class was over. So you must say, "we had a special class", ---- that is past tense.
Angel	Then, what is the tense I have used?
Mother	It is future tense - an action in the future.
Angel	Is it mom!
Mother	yes my baby. Now listen - what am I doing? Here 'am doing' is present continuous tense. your answer is - you are cooking. - an action going on at the time of speaking.
Angel	My goodness ! How many tenses?
Mother	We have three tense. Each tense has four forms.
Angel	Wove --- interesting
Mother	Now you go and refresh yourself. I shall teach you later.
Angel	O.K. mom.

Tense

Present tense	Past tense	Future tense
A verb that refers to the present time [ a present action ]	A verb that refers to the past time is past tense. [ a past action ]	A verb that refers to the future time is future tense. [ a future action ]
We  practice the game.	We practiced the game.	We shall/will practice the game.
They write a test.	They wrote a test.	They will write a test.
He goes home.	He went home.	He will go home.
You meet your friend.	You met your friend.	You will meet your friend.
I write a poem.	I wrote a poem.	I shall/will write a poem.
Wilson teaches English.	Wilson taught English.	Wilson will teach English.
She sings a song.	She sang a song.	She will sing a song.
Smith starts the project.	Smith started the project.	Smith will start the project.
Nisha draws a pictures.	Nisha drew a picture.	Nisha will draw a picture.
They win the match.	They won the match.	They will win the match.

Forms of Tenses

The four forms of each tense are:

1. Simple
2. Continuous
3. Perfect and
4. Perfect continuous.

(1) Simple : The action is simply mentioned.

Example:

1. I write essays.
2. They played football.
3. The boys enact a play.

(2) Continuous: The action is going on for sometime. [in the process]

Example:

1. I am writing essays.
2. They were playing football.
3. The boys are enacting a play.

(3) Perfect : The action is finished / completed / perfect.

Example:

1. I have written essays.
2. They had played football.
3. The boys have enacted a play.

(4) Perfect continuous : The action is going on continuously.

Example:

1. I have been writing essay.
2. They had been playing football.
3. The boys have been enacting a play.