Different Forms of Tenses



Different Forms of Tenses :



Tense defined

Tense shows…

(a) The time of an action
(b) Its degree of completeness

The Verb may tell us…

(1) That an action is done at the Present time. (I see a star.)

(2) That an action was done in the Past time. (He saw a star.)

(3) That an action will be done in the Future time. (He will see a star.)

(4) That an action was, at some past time, viewed as future. (Future in the Past) (He said he would be fifteen in three weeks' time.)

A Verb, then, has three main times or Tenses.

1. The Present Tense
2. The Past Tense
3. The Future Tense

To each Tense, there are four different forms.

I. Simple Tenses which denote Present, Past or Future time in its simplest form.

1. I see.
2. I saw.
3. I shall see.
4. He sees.
5. He saw.
6. He will see.

II. Continuous Tenses which denote that the event (in Present, Past or Future time) is still continuing or not yet completed.

1. I am seeing.
2. I was seeing.
3. I shall be seeing.
4. He is seeing.
5. He was seeing.
6. He will be seeing.

III. Perfect Tenses denote that the event (in Present, Past or Future time) is in a completed or perfect state.

1. I have seen.
2. I had seen.
3. I will have seen.
4. He has seen.
5. He had seen.
6. He will be seen.

IV. Perfect Continuous Tenses which combine the meanings of both the Continuous Tenses and Perfect Tenses.

1. I have been seeing.
2. I had been seeing.
3. I will have been seeing.
4. He has been seeing.
5. He had been seeing.
6. He will have been seeing.

The future also has the future in the past forms.

So, there are twelve tenses in English. They are….

  1. Simple Present Tense
  2. Simple Past Tense
  3. Simple Future Tense
  4. Present Continuous Tense (Present Progressive Tense)
  5. Past Continuous Tense (Past Progressive Tense)
  6. Future Continuous Tense (Future Progressive Tense)
  7. Present Perfect Tense
  8. Past Perfect Tense
  9. Future Perfect Tense
  10. Present Perfect Continuous Tense (Present Perfect Progressive)
  11. Past Perfect Continuous Tense (Past Perfect Progressive)
  12. Future Perfect Continuous Tense (Future Perfect Progressive)


Example Sentences in difference tenses of verbs :

1. They have been waiting for you since 5 am today.
2. I wrote this letter two days ago.
3. He will be coming to New Delhi next month.
4. The dog is waiting for its master.
5. The workers are standing for some time.

RELATED PAGES :



  1. Tenses in English Grammar
  2. Main Tenses
  3. Twelve Tenses in English
  4. Simple Present Tense
  5. Simple Past Tense
  6. Simple Future Tense
  7. Present Continuous Tense (Present Progressive Tense)
  8. Past Continuous Tense (Past Progressive Tense)
  9. Future Continuous Tense (Future Progressive Tense)
  10. Present Perfect Tense
  11. Past Perfect Tense
  12. Future Perfect Tense
  13. Present Perfect Continuous Tense (Present Perfect Progressive)
  14. Past Perfect Continuous Tense (Past Perfect Progressive)
  15. Future Perfect Continuous Tense (Future Perfect Progressive)
  16. Forms of The Tenses and Indicative Mood
  17. Tenses and Active Voice
  18. Tenses and Passive Voice
  19. Sequence of Tenses
  20. Tenses
  21. Tenses in English
  22. Continuous Forms of English Tenses
  23. The Three Perfect Tenses
  24. The Progressive Perfect Tenses


Different Forms of Tenses :



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