What is Tense? Division of Tense

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Q.What is Tense?

Ans: Tense is the form of the verb in relation to time as it is expressed in a sentence. In English, tense must be expressed in all finite verb phrases.

###Tense indicates the time of the action or state expressed by a verb. In English, verb tenses include past, present, and future, each conveying a different temporal relationship.

Division of Tense 


Traditionally the verb phrases relating to tense are divided into three groups in keeping with time divisions-PRESENT, PAST and FUTURE. Then the two aspects, namely, progressive and continuous are added to them to make four combinations for each of them-SIMPLE OR INDEFINITE, CONTINUOUS OR PROGRESSIVE, PERFECT and PERFECT CONTINUOUS.

Present Indefinite :

The Present Indefinite, a subset of the present tense, is used to express routine, habitual actions, or general truths. It often involves the base form of the verb for most subjects, and adds "-s" or "-es" for third-person singular subjects.

Example: "I eat breakfast at 7 AM every day."

Present Continuous :

The Present Continuous tense is used to describe actions that are happening at the moment of speaking or are in progress. It is formed by using a present tense form of the verb "to be" (am, is, are) and adding the present participle (-ing) of the main verb.

Example: "They are playing soccer in the park."


Present Perfect : 

The Present Perfect tense is used to express actions that started in the past and have relevance to the present. It is formed with the present tense of "have" (have/has) and the past participle of the main verb.
Example: "I have visited that museum before."

Present Perfect Continuous :

The Present Perfect Continuous tense expresses the duration of an action that started in the past and is still ongoing, emphasizing the continuity of the activity. It is formed with the present perfect of "have" (have/has), been, and the present participle (-ing) of the main verb.
Example: "She has been studying for three hours."

Past Indefinite:

The Past Indefinite, also known as the Simple Past, is used to describe completed actions or states that occurred at a specific point in the past. Regular verbs typically add "-ed" to the base form, while irregular verbs have unique past forms.

Example: "She visited London last summer."


Past Continuous :

The Past Continuous tense is used to describe actions that were ongoing or in progress at a specific point in the past. It is formed with the past tense of "to be" (was/were) and the present participle (-ing) of the main verb.

Example: "They were watching a movie when the power went out."

Past Perfect :

The Past Perfect tense is used to express an action completed before another past event. It is formed with "had" and the past participle of the main verb.
Example: "She had already finished her work when I arrived."

Past Perfect Continuous: 

The Past Perfect Continuous tense indicates the duration of an ongoing action that was completed before another event in the past. It is formed with "had been" and the present participle (-ing) of the main verb.

Example:"He had been working on the project for two hours before he took a break."


Future Indefinite:

The Future Indefinite, also known as the Simple Future, is used to express actions that will happen at a later time. In English, it is often formed using "will" or "shall" followed by the base form of the verb.

Example: "They will visit their grandparents next weekend."

Future Continuous :

The Future Continuous tense is used to describe actions that will be ongoing or in progress at a specific point in the future. It is formed with "will be" or "shall be" and the present participle (-ing) of the main verb.

Example: "This time tomorrow, I will be studying for my exam."


Future Perfect tense :

The Future Perfect tense is used to express an action that will be completed before a specific point in the future. It is formed with "will/shall have" followed by the past participle of the main verb.
Example: "By the time you arrive, I shallows have finished my work."

Future Perfect Continuous :

The Future Perfect Continuous tense indicates the duration of an ongoing action that will be completed before a specific point in the future. It is formed with "will have been" and the present participle (-ing) of the main verb. Example: "By the end of the month, I will have been working here for five years."







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