Past-Perfect-Tense

Past Perfect Tense

It is used to emphasize that an action in the past, finished before another action in the past started.

Uses of past perfect tense:
1. The first use of this tense is to emphasize that one action in the past happened before another action in the past
Examples.
I had finished my homework before I went playing football.
Jack had never been to Islamabad before we went there last year.

2. It is used to show that something started in the past and continued up until another action in the past.
Examples.
By the time Yuri finished his studies, he had been in Lahore for over eight years.
They felt bad about selling the house because they had owned it for more than forty years.

3. ‘Just’ is used with the past perfect to refer to an event that was only a short time earlier than before now.
Examples.
The train had just left when I arrived at the station.
I had just put the washing out when it started to rain.

4. It is used to explain or give a reason for something in the past.
Examples.
I had eaten dinner so I was not hungry.
It had snowed in the night, so the bust did not arrive.

5. It is often used to show dissatisfaction with the past. Such sentences typically start with “I wish…” or “If only…”.
Examples.
I wish I had taken more food. I am hungry now.

Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Tense

Structure of positive sentence:

Subject + had + 3rd form of verb (past perfect participle) + Object.

Simple Sentences:
                  Subject   + Had  +  3rd-Verb    +    Object
                  (She           had          gone      to the market.)
She had gone to the market.      They had gone to the market
He had visited his aunt’s home. I had visited my aunt’s home.
It had rained in winter.               We had played a cricket match.
Sarah had written a letter.           You had eaten a burger.

Structure of negative sentence: 

Subject + had + not +3rd for of verb (past perfect participle) + Object.

Negative sentences:
                Subject         + Had  + Not +  3rd-Verb    +    Object
                (They/We/You Had     not      Watched            T.V.)
They/We/You Had not Watched T.V.
He/She Had not Spoken French properly.
I Had not Visited my aunt’s home.
It Had not Rained in Nepal daily.

Structure of interrogative sentence: 

Had + Subject + 3rd form of verb (past perfect participle) + Object?

Interrogative Sentences:
              (Had      +  Subject   +   3rd-Verb        +      Object?)
            (Had      They/We/You        Made         a cake on Sunday?)
Had They/We/You Made a cake on Sunday?
Had He/She Taken too much tea?
Had I Visited my aunt’s home?
Had It Rained in Bhutan daily?

Past-Continuous-Tense

Past Continuous/Progressive Tense

The past continuous tense is most often used for actions happening at some time in the past.

Uses of past continuous tense:
1. It is used to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the simple past.
Examples.
I was watching TV when she called.
When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.

2. In USE 1, described above, the past continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the simple past. However, we can also use a specific time as an interruption.
Examples.
Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.
Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.

Note: In the simple past, a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished. In the past continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action.
Examples.
Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.             (I started eating at 6 PM)
Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner. (I started earlier, and at 
6 PM, I was in the process of eating dinner.)

3. When the past continuous tense is used with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.
Examples.
I was studying while he was making dinner.
They were eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.

Sentence Structure of Past Continuous Tense

Structure of positive sentence:

Subject + was/were + (ing form of verb) + Object.

Note: ‘was’ is used with ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’ and singular nouns. ‘were’ is used with ‘you’, ‘we’, ‘they’ and plural nouns.

Simple Sentences:
                 (Subject + Helping verb +    Verb-ing   + Object)
             (She                  was                    going      to the market.)
She was going to the market.      They were going to the market
He was visiting his aunt’s home. I was visiting my aunt’s home.
It was raining in winter.               We were playing a cricket match.
Jack was writing a letter.               You were eating a burger.

Structure of negative sentence:

Subject + was/were + not + (ing for of verb) + Object.

Note: ‘was’ is used with ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’ and singular nouns. ‘were’ is used with
‘you’, ‘we’, ‘they’ and plural nouns.

Negative sentences:
            (Subject + Was not/were not +    Verb-ing  + Object)
             (She                  was not              watching     T.V.)
They/We/You Were not Watching T.V.
He/She Was not Speaking French properly.
I Was not Visiting my aunt’s home.
It Was not Raining in Ghana daily.

Structure of interrogative sentence:

 Was/were + Subject + (ing form of verb + Object?

Note: ‘was’ is used with ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’ and singular nouns. ‘were’ is used with ‘you’, ‘we’, ‘they’ and plural nouns.

Interrogative Sentences:
            (Was/Were    +Subject +    Verb-ing            + Object)
             (Was                 they            making       a cake on Sunday?)
Were They/We/You Making a cake on Sunday?
Was He/She Taking too much tea?
Was I Visiting my aunt’s home?
Was It Raining in Brazil daily?

Note: ‘was’ is used with ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’ and singular nouns. ‘were’ is used with ‘you’, ‘we’, ‘they’ and plural nouns.

Past-Indefinite-Tense

Simple Past Tense (Past Indefinite Tense)

The simple past tense, often just called the past tense, is easy to use in English. In general, the past tense is used to talk about something that started and finished at a definite time in the past.

Uses of past simple tense:
1. It is used for an action started and finished at a specific time in the past.
Examples.
I saw a movie yesterday.
He washed his car.

2. It is used to list a series of completed actions in the past.
Examples.
I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim.
Did you add flour, pour in the milk, and then add the eggs?

3. It is used with a duration which starts and stops in the past.
Examples.
I lived in Lahore for two years.
We talked on the phone for thirty minutes.

4. It is used to describe a habit which stopped in the past.
Examples.
I studied Arabic when I was child.
He played the violin.

5. It is used to describe past facts or generalizations which are no longer true.
Examples.
He did not like tea before.
People paid much more to make cell phone calls in the past.

Sentence Structure of Simple Past Tense

Structure of positive sentence:

Subject + 2nd form of verb + Object.

Simple Sentences:
                            (Subject +     2nd Verb   +   Object)
                           (She                  went          to the market.)

She went to the market.         They went to the market
He visited his aunt’s home.    I visited my aunt’s home.
I rained in winter.                   We played a cricket match.
Peter wrote a letter.                 You ate a burger.

Structure of negative sentence: 

Subject + did + not + 2nd form of verb + Object.

Negative sentences:
                (Subject       +       Did Not + 1st Verb   +   Object)
                (They/I/We/You    Did not     Watch             T.V.)

They/I/We/You Did not Watch T.V.
He/She Did not Speak French properly.
It Did not Rain in Nepal daily.

Structure of interrogative sentence:

Did + Subject + 2nd form of verb + Object?

Interrogative Sentences:
         (Did +       Subject       +     1st Verb        +   Object)
       (Did     They/I/We/You           Make     a cake on Sunday?)

Did They/I/We/You Make a cake on Sunday?
Did He/She Take too much tea?
Did It Rain in Bhutan daily?

Note: The past tense of regular is made by adding ‘d’ or ‘ed’. The past tense of irregular verb is made by changing the spellings.

Present-Perfect-Continuous-Tense

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

It is used to express a continued or going action that started in past and is continued until now. There will be a time reference, such as “since 1980, for three hours etc.” from which the action has been started.

Uses of present perfect continuous tense:
1.  Actions that started in past and continue in present.
2.  Action that have recently stopped.

Note: We used ‘since’ with a fixed time in the past (2004, April 23rd, last year, two hours ago). The fixed time can be another action, indicated with the past simple (e.g. since I was at school etc.)
Examples.
I have known Yuri since 1992.
I have liked chocolate since I was a child.

We use ‘for’ with a period of time (2 hours, three hours, six months).
Examples.
I have known Hamid for ten years.
I have been hungry for hours.

Sentence Structure of Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Structure of Simple/Positive Sentence:
He/She/Singular noun + has been + (ing form of verb) + Object + time reference.
I/We/You/They/Plural noun + have been (ing form of verb) 
+ Object + time
reference.

Note: with ‘he, she, it, singular noun’ helping verb ‘has been’ is used and with ‘I, we, you, they, plural noun’ helping verb ‘have been’ is used.

Simple Sentences:
          Subject + Helping Verb + Verb-ing + Object    +   Time.
       (He                has been       playing     in the hall    for 1 hour.)
He has been playing in the hall for 1 hour.
She has been taking care of her health since 1990.
It has been Sleeping on the sofa for three hours.
I have been watching T.V. for two hours.
We have been speaking good English for two years.
You have been telling a story for 4 hours.

Structure of Negative Sentence:
He/She/Singular noun + has not been + (ing form of verb) + Object + time reference.
I/We/You/They/Plural noun + have not been + (ing form of verb) + Object + time reference.

Note: with ‘he, she, it, singular noun’ helping verb ‘has been’ is used and with ‘I, we, you, they, plural noun’ helping verb ‘have been’ is used.

Negative Sentences:
       Subject + Not+ Helping Verb + Verb-ing + Object    +   Time.
       (He           not        has been     playing   in the hall   for 1 hour.)
He has not been playing in the hall for 1 hour.
She has not been taking care of her health since 1990.
It has been not Sleeping on the sofa for three hours.
I have not been watching T.V. for two hours
We have not been speaking good English for two years.
You have not been telling a story for 4 hours.

Structure of Interrogative Sentence:
Has + He/She/Singular noun + been + (ing form of verb) + Object + time reference?
Have + I/We/You/They/Plural noun + been + (ing form of verb) 
+ Object + time reference?

Note: with ‘he, she, it, singular noun’ helping verb ‘has been’ is used and with ‘I, we, you, they, plural noun’ helping verb ‘have been’ is used.

Interrogative Sentences:
     Has/have + Subject + Been +Verb-ing + Object    +   Time?
      (Has             he          been   playing    in the hall    for 1 hour?)
Has he been playing in the hall for 1 hour?
Has she been taking care of her health since 1990?
Has it been Sleeping on the sofa for three hours?
Have I been watching T.V. for two hours?
Have we been speaking good English for two years?
Have you been telling a story for 4 hours?

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Present-Perfect-Tense

Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense is used to express actions that began in the past and continue in the present.

Uses of Present Perfect Tense:
1.  Actions and situations started in the past and continuing in the present.
Example.
She has worked in the bank for five years.

2.  An action performed during a period that has not yet finished.
Example.
It has rained a lot this year.

3.  Actions repeated in an unspecified period between the past and now.
Example.
They have seen that film six times.

4.  An action that was completed in the very recent past 
(expressed by ‘just’).
Example.
We have just seen her.

5.  When the precise time of the action is not important or not known.
Example.
Someone has eaten my soup.

Note: We used ‘since’ with a fixed time in the past (2004, April 23rd, last year, two hours ago). The fixed time can be another action, indicated with the past simple (e.g. since I was at school etc.)
Examples.
I have known Jack since 1992.
I have liked chocolate since I was a child.
We use ‘for’ with a period of time (2 hours, three hours, six months).
Examples.
I have known Sarah for ten years.
I have been hungry for hours.

Sentence Structure of Present Perfect Tense

Structure of Simple/Positive Sentence:
He/She/Singular noun + has + 3rd form of verb + Object.
I/We/You/They/Plural noun + have + 3rd form of verb + Object.
Note: with ‘he, she, it, singular noun’ helping verb ‘has’ is used and with ‘I, we, you, they, plural noun’ helping verb ‘have’ is used.

Simple Sentences:
                   Subject + Helping Verb +  III-Verb  +  Object
                   (He              has                  played      in the hall.)
He has played in the hall.             She has taken care of her health.
It has Slept on the sofa.                They have gotten late for school.
We have spoken good English.    You have told a story.
I have watched T.V.                     John has gone to school.

Structure of Negative Sentence:
He/She/Singular noun + has not + 3rd form of verb + Object.
I/We/You/They/Plural noun + have not + 3rd form of verb + Object.
Note: with ‘he, she, it, singular noun’ helping verb ‘has’ is used and with ‘I, we, you, they, plural noun’ helping verb ‘have’ is used.

Negative Sentences:
                   Subject + Not +Helping Verb + III-Verb   +   Object
                   (He         not          has                played      in the hall.)
He Has not Played in the hall.
She Has not Taken care of her health.
It Has not Slept on the sofa.
They Have not Gotten late for school.
We Have not Spoken good English.
You Have not Told a story.
I Have not Watched T.V.
Yuri Has not Gone to school.

Structure of Interrogative Sentence:
Has + He/She/Singular noun + 3rd form of verb + Object?
Have + I/We/You/They/Plural noun + 3rd form of verb + Object?
Note: with ‘he, she, it, singular noun’ helping verb ‘has’ is used and with ‘I, we, you, they, plural noun’ helping verb ‘have’ is used.

Interrogative Sentences:
                   Helping Verb + Subject +  III-Verb  +  Object?
                   (Has                      he          played      in the hall?)
Has He Played in the hall?
Has She Taken care of her health?
Has It Slept on the sofa?
Have They Gotten late for school?
Have We Spoken good English?
Have You Told a story?
Have I Watched T.V?
Has Jack Gone to school?

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Present-Continuous-Tense

Present Continuous/Progressive Tense

The present continuous is mainly used to express the idea that something is happening at the moment of speaking. It also describes activities generally in progress (not at the moment). Another use of the tense is to talk about temporary actions or future plans.

Uses of Present Continuous tense:
• It is used to talk about actions happening at the moment of speaking.
Example.
Yuri is talking with her friends.

• I is also used for activities continuing only for a limited period of time.
Example.
I am riding a bike to get to work because my car is broken.

• It is used to talk about something that takes time to complete.
Examples.
Markova is studying hard to become a doctor.

• It is used to show that something is planned and will be done in the near future.
Example.
He is flying to London in September.

• It is used for expressing tendencies or trends.
Examples.
Our country is getting richer.
The internet is becoming less of novelty.

• It expresses irritation or anger over somebody or something in the present with adverbs such as: always, continually or constantly.
Example.
Sarah is always asking stupid questions.
I don’t like them because they are always complaining.

Sentence Structure of Present Continuous Tense

Structure of Simple Sentence: 
Subject + am/is/are + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + Object
Note: ‘am’ is used with subject ‘I’. ‘is’ is used with ‘he, she, it and 3rd person subjects’. ‘are’ is used with ‘they, you and plural subjects’.

Positive/Simple Sentences:

                   Subject + Helping Verb  +  Verb+ing    +   Object

                  (He               is                    playing        in the hall.)

He is playing in the hall.                She is taking care of her health.
It is Sleeping on the sofa.              They are getting late for school.
We are speaking good English.     You are telling a story.
I am watching T.V.                         Julia is going to school.

Structure of Negative Sentence: 
Subject + am/is/are + not + (1st form of verb + ing) + Object.

Note: ‘am’ is used with subject ‘I’. ‘is’ is used with ‘he, she, it and 3rd person subjects’. ‘are’ is used with ‘they, you and plural subjects’.

Negative Sentences:
                  Subject + Not + Helping Verb  + Verb+ing + Object
                (He          not               is                 playing      in the hall.)
He Is not Playing in the hall.
She Is not Taking care of her health.
It Is not Sleeping on the sofa.
They Are not Getting late for school.
We Are not Speaking good English.
You Are not Telling a story.
I Am not Watching T.V.
Jack Is not Going to school.

Structure of Interrogative Sentence: 
Am/is/are + Subject (1st form of verb + ing) + Object?

Note: ‘am’ is used with subject ‘I’. ‘is’ is used with ‘he, she, it and 3rd person subjects’. ‘are’ is used with ‘they, you and plural subjects’.

Interrogative Sentences:

                 Helping Verb  + Subject +  Verb+ing  +  Object?

                 (Is                         he            playing      in the hall?)
Is He Playing in the hall?
Is She Taking care of her health?
Is It Sleeping on the sofa?
Are They Getting late for school?
Are We Speaking good English?
Are You Telling a story?
Am I Watching T.V?
Is John Going to school?

Note: For ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’, helping verb is used, for ‘I’, “am” is used and for ‘they’, “are” is used in the sentences of present continuous tense and “ing” is added with the verb.

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Present-Indefinite-Tense

Simple Present Tense (present indefinite tense)

It is used to express an action in present time, habitual or usual actions or daily event or universal fact.

Uses of Present Simple (or Indefinite) Tense: 
1.  We use the present simple to talk about universal truths (for example, laws of nature) or things we believe are or are not true.
Examples.
The earth revolves around the sun. (Universal truth)
Dogs are better than cat.                 (Generalization)
The elephant doesn’t fly.                 (Fact)

2.  We also use this tense to describe actions that happen frequently. For example: habits, routines, tendencies, repeated actions or unchanged situations, emotions and wishes.
Examples.
We leave for work at 7:30 AM every morning. (Routine)
My husband watches the TV in the evening.     (Habit, routine)
John rarely visits his sick grandmother.              (Tendency)

3.  We use the present simple to talk about situations in life that last a relatively long time.
Examples.
I live in New York.
He works as a fireman.

4.  It is used when an event is certain to happen in the future.
Examples.
My grandmother turns 100 this July.
Winter starts on December 21.

5.  It is used to talk about events that we can’t change.
Examples.
The meeting starts at 4 PM.
The train leaves at the noon.

6. We use it to give instructions or directions.
Examples.
Open the packet and pour the contents into hot water.

7.  It is also used in narrations, instructions or commentaries.

Sentence Structure of Simple Present Tense

Structure of positive sentence: 

Subject + 1st form of verb (or base verb) +Object.

Note: If the subject in a sentence is “he, she, it, singular or proper noun” the “s” or “es” is added to the first form of verb or base form in the sentence.

Simple Sentences:
                                 Subject + Verb  +  Object

                                 (Julia      writes  a   letter.)

She goes to the market.              They go to the market.
He visits his aunt’s home.           I visit my aunt’s home.
It rains in winter.                        We play a cricket match.
Julia writes a letter.                    You eat a burger.

Structure of negative sentence: 
Subject + do/does + not + 1st form of verb (or base form) + Object.

Note: If the subject in a sentence is “he, she, it, singular noun”. Then “does not” is used after subject in sentence. If subject is “I, we, they, you or plural noun” the “do not” is used after subject in sentence.


Negative sentences:
Subject             +       Do Not/Does Not    +       Object

They/I/We/You                Do not                   Watch T.V.

He/She                             Does not                Speak French properly.

It                                      Does not                Rain in Quetta daily.

Structure of interrogative sentence:

 Do/does + Subject + 1st form of verb (or base verb) + Object?

Note: If the subject in a sentence is “he, she, it, singular noun or proper noun”, the sentence is started with Auxiliary verb (helping verb) “does”. If the subject in a sentence is “I, we, they, you or plural noun”, the sentence is started with Auxiliary verb (helping verb) “do”.

Interrogative Sentences:

Helping Verb     +      Subject            +                Object?

Do                      They/I/We/You            Make a cake on Sunday?

Does                   He/She                        Take too much tea?

Does                   It                                  Rain in Brazil daily?

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Tenses-of-English-Language (An Introduction)

Tenses

The word “tense” is derived from Latin work “tempus”, which means time. There are three (3) kinds of tenses in English language and each kind has further four sub kinds.

  1. Present                               2. Past                         3. Future

Present Simple                     Past Simple               Future Simple

Present Continuous              Past Continuous       Future Continuous

Present Perfect                     Past Perfect             Future Perfect

P. P. Continuous                    P. P. Continuous      F. P. Continuous

In each tense, you will come across helping verbs. These verbs are also called auxiliary verbs. So, before starting the tenses, it is necessary that we must know about the helping verbs, subject, object and verb.

Question: What is helping verb (Auxiliary Verb)?

Answer: Helping verbs (Auxiliaries): They help main verb to form a sentence according to the tense/time of an action.

Question: What is sentence?

Answer: A group of words which make complete sense called ‘sentence’.

Examples.

1. I am studying law.

There are four (4) words in the above sentence.

2. She is beautiful.

There are three (3) sentences in the above sentence.

Question: What is a subject?

Answer: In sentence doer of action or the person, thing or place which we are

talking about called ‘subject’.

Examples.

1. He is writing a letter.

‘He’ is the subject in the above sentence.

2. She is a good girl.

‘She’ is the subject in the above sentence.

Question: What is an object?

Answer: Affected thing or person of a sentence is called ‘object’.

Examples.

1. He is beating him.

‘Him’ is the affected person in the above sentences, so it’s the object of the above

sentence.

2. She must help you.

‘You’ is the affected person, so it’s the object of the above sentence.

Question: What is a verb?

Answer: Verb is a word which shows an action or tells us the status or condition of a person or thing.

Examples.

1. She reads a novel.

“read” is a verb in the above sentence, because it is an action.

2. He is going to Market.

‘He’ is a verb in the above sentence, because it is also an action.

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