Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Tenses

FUNCTION OF TENSES

1. The Simple Present

(A) This tense is generally used to denote 'habit, custom, practice, repeated, action' normally expressed by adverbs 'often, seldom, usually, sometimes, normally, generally, never, always, frequently, rarely, daily' e.g.

(B) This tense is also used to make statement in the present.

(i) He lives in the heart of the city (Statement)

(ii) The old lady goes for a walk in the morning

(iii) He usually believes everybody.

(iv) It rains in winter in Tamil Nadu

(v) He often gets late for lunch

(vi) I know him well (statement)

 

2. The Present Continuous

(A) This tense is normally used for an action happening at the time of speaking. It expresses an action when it is in progress. e.g.

She isn't working. She is swimming in the river.

(B) It is also represents future action or a definite arrangement in the near future e.g.

(a) I am going to cinema tomorrow

(b) She is coming tonight

(c) "Look, appear, seem, stand, face, hear, become, admire, smell, belong, taste, see, consider, have, own, think, experience, posses, believe, understand, want, know, cost remember, forget, regret, imagine, suppose prefer' are some of the verbs which sometime don't admit of progressive action e.g.

(a)        (i) He is having lunch now.

            (ii) I have no house to live in

(b)       (i) She is looking at him angrily

            (ii) She looks beautiful in a new dress.

(c)        (i) Everybody is thinking of his success that is almost certain.

            (ii) Every body thinks that he is a cheat.

(d)       (i) She is standing in the shade of a tree.

            (ii) The temple stand in the heart of the city.

Note :- 'While, still, at the moment, at present, now' may help students to express progressive action in the present.

 

3. The Simple Past

(a)        This tense is used for a single act completed in the past at a definite time or a statement in the past at a definite time or a statement in the past. Definite point of time is denoted by 'since, ago, back, before, last, yesterday, particular time'. e.g.

(i) I met your brother yesterday.

(ii) She bought a car two years ago.

(b)       It can also be used for a past habit, indicated generally by the words 'often, seldom, usually, normally, generally, never, always, frequently, rarely, daily, used to, would'. e.g.

            (i) They never drank wine.

            (ii) He always carried an umbrella

            (iii) I used to go to Delhi by train

            (iv) She would go there daily

 

4. The Past Continuous

(a)        This tense is chiefly used for past action in progress.

(b)       It is also used for a definite arrangement for future in the past. e.g.

            (i) He was busy in packing (past action in progress)

            (ii) He was leaving that night (definite arrangement for future in the past)

(c)        'While, still, at that moment, then' may help the students to express progressive action in the past.

 

5. The Present Perfect

(a)        This tense is a mixture of present and past. It always implies a strong connection with the present. Normally 'ever, just, recently, already, yet, so far, of late, lately before, after, till (time), by the time' are used to point the perfect action e.g.

            (i) I have just seen that film.

            (ii) I have already had my breakfast

(b)       However when the point of time (since, ever since, last yesterday, ago, formerly, before, back etc) is expressed with present perfect action ,the simple past tense is used.

            (i) She has returned two days ago / before.

            (ii) She had returned two days ago.

(c)        This tense can also be used with time expression (since, for, how long, whole, all, throughout, all along)

(d)       He has known me for two years

 

6. The Past Perfect

(a)        This tense is used when there are two actions and it is necessary to emphasize that the preceding action was completely finished before the succeeding action started, e.g.

            (i) I had waited till it got dark.

            (ii) I had finished the book before he came

(b)       Sometimes preceding action is implied and is indicated by the use of (ever, just, recently, already, yet, so far, before, after, till (time), by the time) e.g.

(i) I had gone to Delhi twice last week (wrong)

(It is wrong because only one action is implied here)

(ii) I had gone to Delhi twice last week before my brother arrived from America.

(c)        This tense is also used with time expression (since, for, how long, whole, all, throughout, all along)

 

7. The Simple Future

(a)        The simple future action expresses the action that is to take place in future e.g. They will come here tomorrow (they may or may not come)

(b)       Future action is also expressed by the Present Continuous Tense. But it is more definite action than the action expressed in the future simple e.g.

They are coming here tomorrow (certain to come)

(c)        Future action is also expressed by Future Perfect Continuous e.g.

I shall be going tomorrow (I shall go)

 

8. The Future Continuous

(a)        This tense is used to express an action that will be in progress with a point of time in future and continue after it.

(b)       This tense is also use to express simple future action or future arrangement

            (i) She will be waiting for me when I reach her home.

            (ii) He will be going to office by car today.

            (iii) Get home at one. Your mother will be wondering where you are.

            (iv) Don't disturb her, she will be sleeping now.

 

9. The Future Perfect

(a)        This tense is used when there are two actions and it is necessary to emphasize that the preceding action will be completely finished before the succeeding action starts.

(b)       Sometimes preceding action is implied and is indicated by the use of (ever, just, already, recently, yet, so far, before, after, till (time), by the time)

(c)        This tense is also used with time expression (since, for, how long, whole, all, throughout, all along)

            (i) She will have prepared food when I reach home.

            (ii) He will have already rung up his wife before her arrival

            (iii) I think the news will not have been published so far

            (iv) She will have been married for five years by next month

            (v) My assistant will have typed five letters by lunch today.

 

10. Time expression – Present, Past & Future Perfect Continuous

(a)        Time expression implies that action is / was / will be continuing from the past into the present. Action is / was not yet complete. The time expression is normally indicated by 'since, for, how long, whole, all, throughout, all along'       

(b)       Time expression can be used with both continuous and indefinite as follows :

Continuous + Time Expression =

            Perfect Continuous (Present, Past, Future)

Indefinite + Time Expression =

            Perfect (Present, Past, Future)

 

 

 

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