TENSES
TENSES
UNIVERSITY OF THE PUNJAB DEPARTMENT: Microbiology &
Molecular Genetics
USES1.A future action that will be completed
prior to a specific future time.Example: I will have finished this work by
midnight.2.A state or action that will be completed
in the future prior to some other future time or event.
Example: I will have finished my essay by the time you return from college.
TENSESGrammar: Grammar is the set of rules governing how the words in a
language may be joined to make sense. Verb Tenses: Verb tenses are tools that English speakers use to express time
in their language. Events can happen in thePresentPastFuture.
IMPORTANCEImportance of Verb Tenses: The English becomes easy and clear to
understand.Consistency in speaking.To express the event with proper verb tenses.One can better communicate with society
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSEPRESENT INDEFINITE TENSE
Otherwise known as the timeless present
Present IndefiniteSubject + 1st form of verb + object
Negative subject+ do not/ does not + first form +
object
Interrogative wh-words + do/does + subject + 1st form +
object
Simple present tense is used Habitual action
Example: He goes for a walk daily. Universal truths
Example: the sunsets in the west.General statements/ Facts
Example: God helps those who help themselves
Indicators Always whenever everydayUsually often frequentlySometimes rarely occasionallynever
PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE
Some times called the present progressive tense.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE Actions that are occurring right nowExample :o She is typing a paper for her class.o He cant talk .He is fixing the sink right now.
For temporary, present actions.Example: Ahmed is living in Islamabad , but he might
move soon
Present continuous formulasSimple Subject + is/am/are+1st form + ing + object
NegativeSubject +is /am/are+not+1st form + ing +
object
InterrogativeWh words + is /am/are+1st form + ing+ object
Indicators Right now , at this momentStillThis yearWeek MonthAs we speak
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
A tense very commonly used in English to refer to the past
Present perfect formulasSimple Subject + has/have + 3rd form + object
NegativeSubject +has not/have not+3rd form + object
InterrogativeWh words + has/have + 3rd form + object
USESThe present perfect is used to talk about
an event that began in the past and continues up to the present.
Example: He has lived in Modesto for two years. (He began living in Modesto two years ago and he still lives there.)
The present perfect is also used to talk about an event that was completed in the past, but the specific time of the event is not important.
Examples: I have seen that movie before. He has already visited Vietnam.(Specific dates and times are not mentioned.)
When an activity was very recently completed before now.
Examples: I have just eaten. Nabila has just finished
her homework
INDICATORSBeforeEverSo farNeverYetForRecentlyJustSincealready
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
OR
PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSE
formulasSubject + has been / have been +1st form + since/for + time
For specific time since 2 o’clock, morning, childhood, Monday ,10th December 2010
For not specific time for1 hour, 10 days, 5 years, 2months
FORMULAS Negative: Subj + has/have + not+ been +1st form + ing + obj
+ since/for + timeExample: He has not been doing sums for two
hours. Interrogative: Has/Have+subj+been+1st
form+ing+obj+since/for+timeExample: Has he been doing sums for two hours?
USES This tense is also used to describe events that have been in progress recently and are rather temporary.
Example: She has been living in Taiwan for the last two months, but she plans to move soon
USESThis tense is used to describe the
duration of an action that began in the past and continues into the present.
Examples: He has been studying grammar for an hour.She has been cooking all day.
(He is still studying and she is still cooking.)
USESThe incompleteness of an action in progress.
Example: I have been reading a book. {Compare – I have read a book.}
INDICATORS
Before Ever Never
So far Already YetJust Recently
ForSince
PAST TENSE
PAST INDEFINITE TENSE(SIMPLE PAST TENSE)
FORMULASSimple formula:Subj + 2nd form + objExample: He visited his sister yesterdayNegative: Subj + did not + 1st form + objExample: He did not visit his sister yesterday Interrogative:Did + subj + 1st form + objExample: Did he visit his sister yesterday?
USES 1.Habitual action in the past.Example: Ali jogged to work every day last year.2.Actions /events that are now completed and no
longer true in the present.Example: I saw a movie every weekend when I was
a teenager.3.To indicate when an action took place in the
past.Example: I visited my sister yesterday
INDICATORSLast night, week, year, month, Saturday,
semester, etc.YesterdayAgo
The Past Progressive Tense:
It is also called Past Continuous Tense
FORMULASSimple formula: Subj + was/were + 1st form + ing + objExample: Aslam was playing cricket.Negative: Sub + was/were+ not + 1st form + ing + objExample: Aslam was not playing cricket. Interrogative: Was/were + subj + 1st form + ing + objExample: Was Aslam playing cricket?
USES1.When one action was in progress while
another action occurred.Example: I was watching TV when the door
bell rang.2.When two actions in the past continued
at the same time.Example: Fatima was watching T.V while
Amna was sleeping
PAST PERFECT TENSE
FORMULASimple formula: Sub + had + 3rd from + objExample: He had visited her many times before she died. Negative: Subj + had + not +3rd form + objExample: He had not visited her many times before she died. Interrogative: Had + sub + 3rd form + objExample: Had he visited his sister many times before she
died?
USESPast conditional.Example: If she had studied harder, she would
have passed the exam.For events that took place in the past
before another past event.Example: He had already walked to Newcastle
before I could offer him a ride.
PAST PERFECT
PROGRESSIVE
FORMULASimple formula: Subj + had been+1st form + ing + obj + since/for + timeExample: He had been doing sums for two hours. Negative: Subj + had not been +1st form + ing + obj + since/for +
timeExample: He had not been doing sums for two hours. Interrogative: Had+subj+been+1st form+ing+obj+since/for + timeExample: Had he been doing sums for two hours?
USESA past action that is in progress gets
interrupted by another past action.Example: We had been planning to holiday in
France but changed our minds when we heard about the bad weather.
This tense is used to emphasize the duration of an action that was completed before another action or event in the past.
Example: She had been driving around the city for three hours before she finally found the right office.
FUTURE TENSE
FUTURE INDEFINITE TENSESimple formula: Subj +will/shall+1st form+objExample: The gardener will water the plants. Negative: Subj+will not/shall not+1st form+objExample: The gardener will not water the plants. Interrogative: Will/shall+subj+1st form+objExample: Will the gardener water the plants?
USES1.A future habitual action or future state.Example: Ali will take the bus to Islamabad
next year.
2.A situation that may occur in the present and will occur in the future but with a definite end date.
Example: You will live in England until you finish your degree.
INDICATORSTomorrowNext Saturday week month year
The Future Progressive
Tense: (FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE)
FORMULASimple formula: Subj + will be/shall be + 1st form +ing + subjExample: The girl will be running spinning wheels. Negative: Subj + will not be/shall not be + 1st form + ing + subjExample: The girl will not be running spinning wheels. Interrogative: Will/shall + subj + be + 1st form + ing + objExample: Will the girl be running spinning wheels?
USES1.An action that will be in progress at a
specific time in the near future.Example: He will be walking to school at
9.00am tomorrow.2.Duration of some specific future actionExample: Sara will be working on her thesis
for the next ten years.
The Future Perfect Tense
FUTURE PERFECT TENSESimple formula: Subj + will have/shall have + 3rd form + objExample: The engineers will have approved this map. Negative: Subj + will not have/shall not have + 3rd form + objExample: The engineers will not have approved this map. Interrogative: Will + subject + have + 3rd form + obj Example: Will the engineers have approved this map?
usesA state or action that will be completed
in the future prior to some other future time or event.
Example: I will have finished my essay by the time you return from college.
A future action that will be completed prior to a specific future time.
Example: I will have finished this work by midnight
The Future Perfect Progressive Tense:
FORMULASimple formula: Subj + will/shall have been + 1st form + ing + obj + since/for + timeExample: We will have been living in this house since December 26, 2008. Negative: Subj + will/shall + not + have been + 1st form + ing + since/for + timeExample: We will have not been living in this house since December 26,
2008. Interrogative: Will/shall + subj + have been + 1st form + ing + obj + since/for + time. Example: Shall we have been living in this house since December 26,
2008?
USES1.Habitual actions Example: He will have been studying for 3
hours by the time I get home.2.Action that has been in progress for
duration of time before another event or time in the future.
Example: By the time he finishes law school, we will have been living in the U.S. for eight years.
Activity1. She reads the newspaper after getting
up.2.We are not wasting our time.3. Why has she fallen ill?4. I had been working very hard before the
examination.5. I shall have been called to Rawalpindi by
Febuary.
Remember !Whenever you are writing you should try to stay in the same tense all the way through.
THANK YOU & GOD BLESS YOU