PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

 

A. Affirmative:      Subject + had + been + ing with 1st form of Verb + object + since/for + time. B. Negative:      Subject + had + not + been + ing with 1st form of Verb + object + since/for + time. C. Interrogative:      Had + subject + been + ing with 1st form of Verb + object + since/for + time?

Condition involving this tense:-

1.  It indicates an action that goes on at a point of time in the past:

a.  I had been studying in this school for six years.

b.  He had been working hard for ten years.

 

 

PAST PERFECT TENSE

 

A. Affirmative: Subject + had+ 3rd form of Verb + object. B. Negative: Subject + had +not + 3rd form of Verb + object. C. Interrogative: Had+ subject + 3rd form of Verb + object?

Conditions involving this tense:-

1.  It denotes completion of an action before starting another event at a point in the past:

a.  The bitterness had passed away, and he seemed to see clearly.

b.  I had never before talked with one who had wounded his fellow being.

2.  It is always used in relation to a work with another:

a.  The patient had already died.

b.  I had finished my work before you came.

3.  It is used to denote an unfulfilled desire of past:

a.  I wish I had worked hard!

b.  I wish I had not wasted all my money!

 

PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

 

A. Affirmative: Subject + was/were + ing with 1st form of Verb + object. B. Negative: Subject + was/were +not + ing with 1st form of Verb + object. C. Interrogative: Was/Were + subject + ing with 1st form of Verb + object?

Conditions involving this tense:-

1.  It is used for an action going on at a point of time in the past:

a.  He was sleeping when I called on him.

b.  It was raining when we reached the station.

2.  To denote that continuous action which fully relates to past:

a.  The children were playing all the afternoon.

b.  We were shopping all this morning.

3.  To indicate two or more actions or conditions which were going on at the same time:

a.  He was not listening while I was talking.

b.  While I was listening to the radio, Harry was painting a picture and Sheila was ironing the clothes.

4.  To denote intention with ‘Going to’, ‘planning to’, or ‘intending to’:

a.  I was going to inform you, but I forgot.

b.  They were intending to buy a house when the prices rose.

 

PAST INDEFINITE TENSE

 

A. Affirmative: Subject + 2nd form of Verb + object. Or  Subject + did + 1st form of Verb + object. B. Negative:              Subject + did + not + 1st form of Verb + object. C. Interrogative:              Did + subject + 1st form of Verb + object?

Conditions involving this tense:-

1.  It denotes an event or action of past:

a.  He passed his M.B.A. in 2008.

b.  I finished the work ten minutes ago.

2.  It indicates an event or action going on in the past:

a.  While the children played, the old people relaxed.

b.  He talked and I listened.

3.  It signifies a habitual action of past:

a.  As student we studied 10 hours a day.

b.  Unlike the Indians, the Germans came to the workshop in time.

 

PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

 

A.   Affirmative:      Subject + has/have + 3rd form of Verb + object. B. Negative:      Subject + has/have + not + 3rd form of Verb + object. C. Interrogative:      Has/Have + subject + 3rd form of Verb + object?

‘Has’ is used when subject is third person singular or ‘Have’ is used.

Conditions involving this tense:-

1.  It is used to denote completed action:

a.  I have delivered your massage.

b.  She has received my letter.

2.  It indicates an event of past which is still continuous:

a.  I have worked in this office for ten years.

b.  He has opened a school in his village.

3.  It is used in interrogative form with ‘ever’:

a.  Have you ever been up in a balloon?

b.  Have you ever been to London?

4.  It is used with ‘before’ when it implies present beginning from past:

a.  I have seen that film before.

b.  I have seen her somewhere before.

5.  Sometimes it denotes experience of the subject:

a.  I have seen many a young man ruined by drink.

b.  I have seen people die of starvation.

6.  It is used in subordinate clause to indicate future:

a.  I shall write a letter when I have finished my dinner.

b.  I shall play tennis after I have finished my homework.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

 

A. Affirmative: Subject + has/have + been + ing with 1st form of Verb + object + since/for + time. B. Negative: Subject+ has/have + not + been + ing with 1st form of Verb +object +since/for +time. C. Interrogative: Has/Have + subject + been + ing with 1st form of Verb + object + since/for + time?

‘Since’ is used for definite time and ‘for’ for indefinite time.

Conditions involving this tense:-

1.  It is used to indicate an event or action which began in the past and is going on continuously up to the present and with time is given:

a.  I have been living in this street for the last four years.

b.  He has been holding this office since January, 2000.

2.  It is also used to explain such an event or action that begins with ‘Since when’ or ‘For how long’:

a.  Since when have you been living in this house?

b.  For how long have you been waiting for me?

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

 

A. Affirmative: Subject + is/am/are + ing with 1st form of Verb + object. B. Negative: Subject + is/am/are + not + ing with 1st form of Verb + object. C. Interrogative: Is/Am/Are + subject + ing with 1st form of Verb + object?

Conditions involving this tense:-

1. It is used to indicate the action which is in progress at the time of talk:

a. He is learning his lesson.

b. She is playing on the guitar.

2. To denote an immediate future when time is given:

a. I am leaving for Delhi by the night bus.

b. She is arriving here tomorrow morning.

3. Its use with ‘going to’ denotes near future:

a. When are you going to buy a new car?

b. We are going to visit them next month.

 

PRESENT INDEFINITE TENSE

 

Tense is a form of a verb indicating the time (also the continuance or completeness) of the action etc. Time and tense must not be baffled. Time stands for the concept, with which you are all familiar, divided into tenses. On the other hand, tense stands for a verb form and which is used to express a time relation.

Tenses are mainly of three types: 1. Present tense, 2. Past tense and 3. Future tense.

Each tense has four forms:

(1)   Indefinite Tense : Verb does not indicate whether work is complete or not.

(2)   Continuous Tense : Verb indicates incomplete work or work in progress.

(3)   Perfect Tense : Verb indicates completion of work.

(4)   Perfect continuous : Verb indicates work in progress and not yet completed.

USE OF PRESENT INDEFINITE

A.   Affirmative: Subject + 1st form of Verb (s, es) + object. B.   Negative Subject + do/does + not + 1st form of Verb + object. C.   Interrogative: Do/Does + subject + 1st form of Verb + object?

‘S’ or ‘es’ is affixed to verb or helping verb when Subject is third person singular.

Conditions involving this tense:-

1. To denote present action:

a.  She sings a song.

b.  He writes a letter.

2. To denote habitual or customary action:

a.  He takes tea in the morning.

b.  Mohan goes to the club every day.

3. To signify general and universal truth:

a.  The earth revolves round the sun.

b.  Might is right.

4. To refer to historic present:

a.  Julius Caesar rises; Cassius stabs him in the neck.

b. Buddha enters his wife’s room, looks at the mother and child, and then goes out.

5. To indicate definite future when time is given:

a.  I leave for Shimla tomorrow.

b.  The examinations begin next Monday.

6. To stand for condition of future:

a.  If you work hard, you will pass.

b.  It will be pleasant when it rains.

 

 

USE OF SENTENCE LINKERS/CONNECTORS

 

So:

I have finished my tea, so has he.

Yet:

Murder has no tongue, yet it will speak.

However:

At first he refused to go. Later, however, he decided to go.

Too:

He is an idler. He is a gambler, too.

Equally:

I admitted my error. Equally, the other driver made a mistake.

Further:

The superintendent was suspended for insolence. Further, there was a charge of corruption against him.

Moreover:

I wonder why you want to marry Maria. She is vain; she is obstinate. Moreover, she is not so rich as you think her to be.

In addition to it:

Maria is not beautiful. In addition to it, she is vain and obstinate.

Apart from it:

He is an idler. Apart from it, he is a gambler, too.

Therefore:

A is equal to B. B is equal to C. Therefore, A is equal to C.

As well:

There are three houses. I have purchased two already. I’ll buy the third one as well.

In any case:

He may apologize or not. In any case, I am not going to re-employ him.

On the contrary to:

You say he is my friend. On the contrary, he gave evidence against me in the court.

On the other hand:

On the one hand he claims to be my friend; on the other hand, he is always running me down.

Otherwise:

Listen to what I say, otherwise you will repent.