Types of Tenses

Tenses use verb forms to give an idea of incidental occurrence at the moment of speaking. It explains the continuity or completion of the work. Whether you are a student or preparing for competitive exams, understanding tenses are essential.

This article comprises types of tenses, different types of tenses with examples or exercises, and formulas. Every tense is unique in itself. Knowledge of tenses helps in speaking and being helpful for competitive exams. Various competitive exams pose questions based on tenses rules, types of tenses with examples, or types of tenses exercises are given to solve. Understanding tenses can help to achieve success in competitive exams.

Types of tenses-

Mainly tenses are classified into three types. Past, present, and future tenses are the basic three types of tenses.

The main types of tenses are as follows:-

1.Past tense:- It mainly describes the things or activities being done in the past.( formula as subject + verbs 2nd form(past form) + object)

For example, Rina arrived yesterday.

2.The present tense :- It mainly talks about present actions or some scheduled future actions.( formula as subject+ verb first form + object)

For example, Rina usually uses her laptop.

3.Future tense:- It mainly describes the future activity. It means which activities are supposed to happen or to happen. Formula as ( subject+ shall/will+verb first form+object)

    For example, I will read Nicholas’s next book.

Overall, 12 types of tenses are present. Various verb forms are present in the different tenses. Verb forms explain activity details.

All 12 types of tenses in the English language as below:-

1.Simple present tense:- It helps to express daily tasks, facts, and universal  

         truths. Also describes the daily happening or facts themselves. Adding “s”     

          or “es” to verbs makes simple present tense.

subject+verb(s/es)+verb+object

          For example, Shamita likes to play outside.

2.Perfect present tense:- It expresses the action which is completed.

subject+have/has+verb 3rd form+object

For example, She has been to New york.

3. Continuous present tense:- It mainly focuses on the thing that is not completed or finished. It describes an action that is happening currently.

subject+am/is/are+verb+ing+object

 For example, He is walking. 

4. Present perfect continuous tense:- Describes the action that started in the past and continued in the present.

          subject+have/has+been +verb+ing+object

For example, He has been playing for an hour.

5. Simple past tense:- It describes the action that was completed in the past and has no direct connection to the present.

Subject+verb 2nd form+object

For example, He danced in the program.

6. Past perfect tense:- Describes the action that has finished before another time or event in the past.

Subject+had+verb 3rd form+object

For example, She had slept before I came back from the office.

7. Past continuous tenses:- describes the action going on for a longer duration than other actions in the past.

subject+was/were+verb+ing+object

For example, She was playing tennis.

8.Past perfect continuous tense:- describes the action that happened in the past at some time or event and continued to another time in the past.

Subject+had+been+verb+ing+object

For example, She had been playing when I called.

9. Simple future tense:- Actions that have happened in the future but are not connected with the present.

Subject+ shall/will+verb+object

For example, I will walk home.

10. Future perfect tense:- Action which has been finished in another time or event in the future.

subject+shall/will/have+verb 3rd form+object

For example, By the time he arrives, she will have studied.

11. Future continuous tense:- Actions that have a longer duration in the future than another action.

Subject+ shall/will+be+verb+ing+object

For example, She will be running when it starts to rain.

12. Future perfect continuous tense:- Actions that will continue until another time or event in the future.

Subject+ shall/will + have+ been+ verb +ing+object

For example, she will have been running an hour at 04:00 pm.

Conclusion:-

The study of tenses is important to understand language basics. Tenses are also included in the competitive exam study like RRB exams, Banking exams, SSC, UPSC. Knowledge of this helps to score high in the competitive examination and helps to improve understanding of the language. 

This article consists of detailed information about the types of tense with examples and the formulas in different formats of sentences. It is beneficial for the study and overview of tense. It would help to speak the English language to those who have speaking issues in the English language. These types of tenses help in sentence framing for an individual.