Tenses

The word tense has originated from the Latin word “Tempus” meaning time. The concept of tense can be used to refer to time. The “Tense” of a verb refers to the specific form of a verb that shows the time and state of action and event in present, past and future state. Tense can imply using the correct form of a verb using proper auxiliary.

 Tenses 

 What is tense?

Tense refers to the category of verb used in grammar that helps to denote a specific activity in a specific time. The event and its time are the points denoted by tense. The type of tense determines the occurrence of a specific action at a specific time. This can also refer to any time or event, be it current, previous or an upcoming situation. Tenses are categorised into three types: past, present and future. Each tense is a verb that contains regular and irregular verbs to indicate an occurrence of any event at a particular time.  Relative tense refers to a time in respect to a temporal reference point that is contextually determined, regardless of the latter’s temporal relationship to the moment of speech. Tense is used to communicate in both verbal and written communication to indicate all described actions. Past tense can describe any action that had already happened at some point in time. “Present tense” deals with an action that is happening now and future tense deals with action that will take place later. Tense is usually manifested by using specific forms of verbs that can develop in conjugate patterns. This can result in the relative time expression of events of concern. 

 Uses

Tense applies to fictional narratives in plays, books, and films. This can result in describing facts and describing the context of a particular text. This can also refer to facts that are located at a specific time. The future tense is used for making predictions and states an intention. A hypothetical statement is about the future that shows probability. Continuous tenses contain historical writing that can narrate past events for synchronising in relation to another action. The present tense is used to determine facts and truth that will not change by passage of time. This can be used for determination of truth and facts in the passage of time. A verb can deal with the formation of a state in simple, perfect, progressive, and perfect progressive. These can simply deal with necessary actions for completion. Certain changes can be established for developing different forms in dealing with all forms of tense. Stating hypotheses can develop over the passage of time in dealing with established change. 

Types

Three types of tense are used in English. These three tenses are further divided into four different types. The three types of tense are present, past and future. The simple present tense is used to express an indefinite action, state of being and universal truth. Simple past tense is used for certain actions and activities in the past. Similarly, the simple future is used to denote activity in the future. Continuous tenses are used to describe activity and action currently ongoing. Past tense is used to denote past actions that occurred in the past. The future tense is used to describe future events expected to continue over a period of time. Present Perfect continuous tense is used to describe an activity that started in the past and is still continuing in the present. The past perfect continuous tense is used to define an action that started in past, continued for some time and ended in past. Future perfect continuous tense describes an action that will start at a future time and will continue till a certain point of time in future.

 Properties

Simple Present tense use subject + V1 form + object. Similarly simple past tense used subject + V2 form + object. Simple future tense uses subject + shall/will + V3 form + object. Present continuous is given as subject + is/am/are + V1-ing form + object. Past continuous is given as subject + was/were + V1-ing form + object. Future continuous is written as subject + will/shall + be + V1-ing form + object. Perfect continuous is defined as subject + has/have/had + been+ V1-ing form + object. English has two actual tense present and past. Future tense is not considered as an actual tense in English. Three different people are used to describe tense in different perspectives. 

 Conclusion 

Tense has huge importance in learning English. Tense is composed by collecting four different forms of the verb. These four types of verbs help complete forms of tense and structure tense. The four different forms of the verb are root verb, present, past and past participle form. One should remember the forms to avoid any mistakes related to tense.