Relation between ‘Time’ and ‘Tense’

Time is fixed and is universal.

Tense represents action and is movable.

Time – Present, Past and Future

Tense – Indefinite (or simple), Continuous, Perfect and Perfect Continuous.

Combination of Time and Tense helps in representing the exact timing of any action. We will see these relationships in the coming sections.

Indefinite (simple)

• It represents permanent action. In this an action remains the same in past, present and future.

Continuous

• In this the action is temporary and it is ongoing.

Perfect

• The action is just finished but its effects can still be felt.

Perfect Continuous

• Action is continuous and it contains time.

Note: We have to change Tense, not Time as time is universal.

Identification:

Do/does + V1

V + s/es (for 3^rd person singular)

Note: the errors are formed by representing the universal truth in some other time frame rather than in Present indefinite.

Example: Shopkeeper said that honey was sweet. (x)

Explanation: ‘Honey is sweet’ is a universal truth. Therefore, it should be in Present Indefinite.

Correct: Shopkeeper said that honey is sweet.

Note: If the sentence uses ‘the’ before honey then the sentence would also be correct. As ‘the’ would then make it specific for the honey of its shop only.

Example: Shopkeeper said that the honey was sweet. (correct)

Note: Difference between Continuously and Continually

Continuously: It represents temporary action and must be used with continuous action.

Continually (with breaks): It represents permanent action and must be used with indefinite.

If a sentence starts with ‘here’ and ‘there’ we always use present indefinite with inversion.

Example

• Here comes my bus.
• There goes the train.

Identification

Is/am/are + V + ‘ing’

Note: We never use ‘ing’ form with the following verbs, if they are used in their general meaning.

They are also known as static verbs –

• Five senses – Touch, taste, smell, see, hear.
• Verbs of perception – look, appear, understand, forget, believe, have, own, know, love, agree, think, mind, want, etc.

Static verbs are those which do not consume time. They do not have 'ing' form.

Dynamic verbs consume time. i.e. Sit, sleep. That is why they have 'ing' form.

Identification:

Has/have + V3

Has = for 3^rd person singular.

In this the action is just finished.

Root words to identify the Present perfect:

Just, yet, now, recently, hardly, scarcely, since, for, already, lately, so far, ever, etc.

Example:

• A number of students have taken part in annual sports meet.
• Sneha has bought new jewellery for her cousin’s wedding.

Past Indefinite and Present Perfect

Rule: we always use Past indefinite (simple past) after ‘Since’ and the 2^nd clause will be in Present Perfect.

Example: Since I finished my graduation, I have not joined any coaching institute.

Identification:

• Did + V1
• V2 (Second form of verb)

Note: we always use 2^nd form of the verb in affirmative sentences of past indefinite.

Root words (time words) for Past Indefinite:

• Yesterday, previous day, that day, ago, later, etc.
  
• Any point of time in the past. (i.e., 1942, 1947, etc)
• Last + time (i.e., Last week, last month, last year, etc)

Note: Do, does, did – also used for emphasis.

India did become free in 1947. (wrong)

India become free in 1947. (Correct)

Explanation: the sentence is a fact. There should be no emphasis before a fact.

Examples:

I met Sneha today.

Ram went to the market.

I did not receive any scholarship in spite of securing high percentage.

Rahul did not meet the physical criteria for Army.

Identification:

Was/were + Verb + ing

• Was – singular
• Were – plural

Example:

• Police were chasing a thief who was at large.
• I was running at the directions of our team coach the whole day today.

Identification: Had + V3

Usage: To show two activities of the past.

Note: If two actions occur in the past, then the 1^st action will be in the Past Perfect and 2^nd in Past Indefinite.

Conjunctions to join two clauses:

Before, when, as soon as, by the time, after.

Sentence Structure:

• Past Perfect + (before, when, as soon as, by the time) + Past Indefinite
• Past Indefinite + After + Past Perfect

Example:

• The train had left before the passengers arrived.
• The patient had died before the doctor came.
• Peon had cleaned the office properly by the time director reached there.
• She cooked delicious dinner after her husband had reached home.

Note: Subsequent actions – both in Past indefinite.

Example: He left three children and a wife in the state of poverty when he died.

Identification:

Will be/ shall be + V + ing

Example:

We shall soon be realising how to live peacefully in this materialistic world.

Identification:

Will have/shall have + V3

Example:

They will have accomplished the task before sunset.

Note: we never use ‘will’ or ‘shall’ after the following conjunctions:

If, unless, until, till, provided, provided that, as if, I wish, suppose, in case, before, when, as soon as, by the time, etc.

Identification:

Has been/have been + V + ing + Time

Identification:

Had been + V + ing + Time

Identification:

Will have been/shall have been + V + ing + Time

Examples:

Protagonist has been working on this project since January.

Protagonist had been working on this project since January.

Protagonist will have been working on this project from January.

Construction:

Since + Past/last/Next + Indefinite Time

For + The + past/Next/last + Indefinite Time

Example:

A number of countries have been using this technology for centuries.

My friend has been working in this organization since the day a son was born to my brother’s home.