Time and Tense

TIME AND TENSE
TENSE – Tense is form of verb in a sentence which states about time and state of an action.
Two terms have been used here to define ‘Tense’ TIME and STATE (aspect).
Time here refers to the moment of the mentioned action. And generally, we have three variations in time namely-
PRESENT
PAST
FUTURE
So, Tense has three basic kinds. If we further want to classify Tense then we need to see the second term we have used to define the Tense which is ‘State’ or ‘Aspect’ of the action. Here aspect or state refers to all those information which is observed in the form of verb in a sentence apart from time (present/past/future).
So, in English or in most of the Indo-Aryan Languages four aspects are found. They are as-
Simple / Indefinite
Continuous
Perfect
Perfect Continuous
Thus, we have 3×4= 12 Tenses. Let’s discuss these in details. I will be also using tense chart with rules and examples to make things easier to understand.
SIMPLE PRESENT/ PRESENT INDEFINITE TENSE
This Tense is used to show sentences which shows Universal truth, Permanent Activities. Principle, etc.
Two and Two is Four.
Man is mortal
Water boils at 100 °C.
Oil floats on water.
A mother loves her children.
This Tense is also used to show possession or to express Human feelings, emotion and mental activity.
Examples:
He has a car.
We love our country.
I think he is always right.
You trust in her.
AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES-
This tense is sometimes used to show some future events also.
Examples:
The chief minister comes here tomorrow,
The Plane takes off at 10 a.m.
As we know that English follows the SVO (Subject+Verb+Object) pattern for forming Sentences.
In Simple Present Sentences first form of Verb/ base form (V1) is used with subject of first Person, second person and third person Plural.
With Subject of third Person Singular {He, She, It, Name} (V+s/es) form is used.
Examples we can observe from previous sentences.

NEGATIVE SENTENVCES- For forming Negative Sentences helping verb “do/does” is used as helping verb.
‘Do’ is used with sentences having first person, second person and third Person plural subjects ( I, We, You, They, Plural subjects)
‘Does’ is used with third person singular Subjects.
Examples:
I do not like coffee.
John does not tell a lie.
INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES –
There are two kinds of Interrogative Sentences. YES/NO type Questions and Wh-type Questions.
For Yes/No type Questions Sentences begin with helping verb (Do/Does)
Examples:
Do you know How to swim?
Does Ram play football.
For Wh-type Questions sentences begin with a question word followed by helping verb.
Examples:
Why do you help him?
Where does he go for study?
PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE
This Tense is used to state all those actions which happens at the time of speaking in present.
Examples:
She is playing in the room.
I am reading a newspaper now.
My brother is sleeping.
It also someone’s activity which does not happen at the time of speaking.
He is studying Mathematics now a days.
I am reading ‘Hamlet’.
This tense is also used to express likelihood or Intention of an action.
Examples:
I am going to die.
I am going to buying a new car.
As we have seen that helping verb (is/am/are) is used with (V+ing) to form Affirmative Sentences.
In case of Negative Sentences ‘not’ is used after helping verb.
In case of Yes/No type questions, Sentence begin with helping verb.
And for Wh-type questions sentence begin with a question word followed by helping verb and then subject.

PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
At some times this Tense seems to be mix of both present and past tense. Action which has happened in near past but their effect is still in the present, such types of sentences are usually seen in this Tense.
Examples:
He has washed his room.
Ram has lost his pen.
They have won the match.
This tense is also used for such actions which began at some point in past is continue in present.
Examples:
We have known each other for ten years.
I have been ill since Monday.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
This Tense is mainly used for an action which began in past and the action still continues in the present.
Examples:
He has been sleeping for two hours.
It has been reading since morning.
I have been reading since 9 o’ clock.
We have been living in this town for ten years.
This tense is also used in some cases where an action began in past and has ended soon.
Examples:
I am tired. I have been running the town all day.
Someone has been wearing my shirt.
He has been teasing her.

Below is a tense chart explaining rules and examples in Present Tense.
TENSE
HV
MV
EXAMPLES
Hint

Simple
do/does
V1
I play football.
They help poor.
Do- 1st,2nd and 3rd person plural
Does- 3rd person singular

Continuous
Is/am/are
Ving
She is dancing

Is- singular
Am- l
Are- plural

Perfect
Has/have
V3
He has passed the exam.
Have- 1st,2nd and 3rd person plural
Have- 3rd person singular

Perfect Continuous
Has/have +been
Ving
Radha has been cooking since morning.
Have- 1st,2nd and 3rd person plural
Has- 3rd person singular

*For/Since- for and since both are used in perfect continuous tenses to represent time. For fixed time ‘since in used and for duration ‘for’is used.

Person/Case
Nomination
Possessive Adjective
Possessive
Pronoun
Objective

First
I
We
My
Mine
Me
Us

Second
You
Your
Yours
You

Third
He, She, It

They

His, her, It’s
Their

His, Hers

Theirs
Him,Her,It

Them

SIMPLE PAST/PAST INDEFINITE TENSE
Simple past is used to describe an action which happened generally in past.
Examples:
Yesterday, I gave him a pen.
He died in 1980 AD.
He taught us.
I met him yesterday.
This tense is also used for an action to show someone’s habitual action in past.
I used to smoke.
He always helped me.
For forming negative sentences helping verb ‘did’ is used.
Examples:
They did not help me.
I did not beat him.
PAST CONTINOUS TENSE
This tense is generally used to show an action’s continuity at a certain point in past.
Examples:
He was sleeping.
They were talking.
It was raining.
He was running.
Person
Subject in Singular
Subject in Plural

1st
2nd
3rd
I was eating.
You were eating.
He/She/It/Ram was eating.
We were eating.
You were eating.
They were eating.

PAST PERFECT TENSE
Past Perfect Tense is used to describe an action which has ended at a point in past.
Example:
I had reached the school before the bell rang.
The thief had fled away before the police came.
The patient had died before the doctor came.