VERB TENSES

Verbs can change their form according to Time of the action The nature of the action (whether it is completed or is still continuing This change of form is called tense.

There are 3 groups of tenses The Simple Tense The Continuous Tense The Perfect Tense

THE USES OF TENSES

THE SIMPLE TENSES TENSE EXAMPLES USES Simple present The sun rises in the east. I sleep at ten o’clock every night. To express a fact or general truth To express a habit Simple past It rained yesterday. He visited me last night. To express an action that took place and ended in the past. Simple future We shall be ready soon. The parcel will reach him tomorrow. To express an action that will take place in the future.

THE CONTINUOUS TENSES TENSE EXAMPLES USES Present continuous They are watching television. To show an action that begins, is going on at present, and will probably continue. Past continuous She was having dinner when I called. To show an action that was going on in the past when something else took place. Future continuous They will be playing football tomorrow evening. To show an action that will be going on at some time in the future.

THE PERFECT TENSES TENSE EXAMPLES USES Present perfect He has just closed the door. He has gone out for two hours. We have lived in this house since 1995. To express an action just completed. To express an action that began in the past and is still continuing or is connected to the present moment Past perfect After he had finished his work, he went out. To express an action that took place before another past action. Future perfect He will have completed his assignment before the deadline. To express an action that will be completed at some later time in the future.