TENSES
The Tenses of a verb are the various forms that indicate primarily relationship of events in time.
Read the following sentences:
1.He is singing a song.
2.He sang a song in the party.
3.He will sing a song in the party.
All the three sentences refer to the act of ‘singing’ at three different points of time.
Sentence (1) refers to an action which takes place now at Present.
Sentence (2) refers to an action which took place sonic time ago in the Past.
Sentence (3) refers to an action which will take place in Future.
Hence, we conclude the Tense Form of a verb shows when an action takes place. or a state. or a thing exists. There are three Tenses:
(1) Present Tense,
(2) Past Tense,
(3) Future Tense.
It is not enough to say that an action takes place in Present. We want to know that at what stage the action is at the time of speaking. For this purpose each Tense is sub-divided into Four heads:
The Past Continuous Tense
Form :
| Statement : | was/were 1st form + ing |
| Negative : | was/were not 1st form + ing……? |
| Interrogative : | was/were Subject 1st form + ing…….. ? |
Past Continuous Tense is used :
(a) To describe an action that was in progress when another action took place.
1. She ……….(read) a book when I entered the room.
She was reading a book when I entered the room.
2.He………. (take) tea when I went to his house.
He was taking tea when I went to his house.
(b) To describe two actions going on side by side In the past.
1. We ……….. (bathe) in the river while they were basking in the sun.
We were bathing in the river while they were basking in the sun.
2. While I ……….. (write) letters, she was listening to the radio.
While I was writing letters, she was listening to the radio.
Want to Read More:-
PRESENT TENSE
1.PRESENT INDEFINITE/ SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
3.PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
4.PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
PAST TENSE
1.SIMPLE PAST TENSE
2.PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE
3.PAST PERFECT TENSE
4.PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
FUTURE TENSE
1.SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE
2.FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE
3.FUTURE PERFECT TENSE
4.FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE