What is Simple past tense?

The past indefinite tense or past simple, sometimes called the preterit, is the basic form of the past tense in present English. It is used principally to describe events in the past, even though it also has some other uses.

The term ‘simple‘ is used to distinguish the syntactical construction whose basic form uses the plain past tense alone, from other past tense constructions which use auxiliaries in combination with participles, such as the past perfect and past progressive.

*The simple past tense is used to denote an action completed in the past. It often occurs with adverbs or adverb phrases of past time.

The steamer sailed yesterday.

I received his letter a week ago.

She left school last year.

*Sometimes this tense is used without an adverb of time. In such cases the time may be either implied or indicated by the context.

I learnt Hindi in Nagpur.

I didn’t sleep well.

Babar defeated Rana Sanga at Kanwaha.

*The Simple Past is also used for past habits; as,

He studied many hours every day.

She always carried an Umbrella.

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What is Present perfect continuous tense?

The PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE indicates a continuous action that has been finished at some point in the past or that was initiated in the past and continues to happen.

This tense is formed with the modal 'HAVE' or 'HAS' (for third-person singular subjects) plus 'BEEN,' plus the present participle of the verb (with an -ing ending).

*The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used for an action which began at some time in the past and still continuing; as,

He has been sleeping for five hours (And is still sleeping).

They have been building the bridge for several months.

They have been playing since four o’clock.

*This tense is also sometimes used for an action already finished. In such cases the continuity of the activity is emphasized as an explanation of something.

‘Why are your clothes so wet?’- ‘I have been watering the garden’.

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What is Present perfect tense?

The Present Perfect Tense is formed with a present tense form of ‘to have’ plus the past participle of the verb (which can be either irregular or regular in form). This tense indicates either that an action was completed (finished or ‘perfected’) at some point in the past or that the action extends to the present.

 

*The Present Perfect is used:-

(1)To indicate completed activities in the immediate past (with just); as,

He has just gone out

He has just struck ten.

(2)To express past actions whose time is not given and not definite; as,

Have you read Gulliver’s travels?

I have never known him to be angry.

Mr.Hari has been to Japan.

(3)To describe past events when we think more of their effect in the present than of the action itself; as,

Gopi has eaten all the biscuits (i.e., there aren’t any left for you).

I have cut my finger (and it is bleeding now).

I have finished my work (now I am free).

(4)To denote an action beginning at some time in the past and continuing up to the present moment (often with since-and for-phrases); as,

I have known him for a long time

He has been ill since last week.

We have lived here for ten years.

We haven’t seen Padma for several months.

*The following adverbs or adverb phrases can also be used with the present perfect(apart from those mentioned above):never, ever(In questions only),so far, till now, yet(in negatives and questions),already,today,this week, this moment,etc.

Note: The Present Perfect is never used with adverbs of past time. We should not say, for example, ‘He has gone to Kolkata yesterday’. In such cases the simple past should be used (‘He went to Kolkata yesterday’).

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What is Present continuous tense?

The present continuous tense is formed from the present tense of the verb be and the present participle (-ing form) of a verb.

It is used to express a continued or ongoing action at present time. It expresses an action which is in progress at the time of speaking. For example, a person says, “I am writing a letter”. It means that he is in the process of writing a letter right now. Such actions which are happening at time of speaking are expressed by present continuous tense. Present Continuous tense is also called Present progressive tense.

Use of present continuous tense

We use the present continuous tense for the following reason

(1) For something that is happening at the moment of speaking:

I am just leaving work. I shall be home in an hour.

Please be quiet. The headmaster is coming.

(2) For something which is happening before and after a given time:

At nine o’clock we are usually having breakfast. 

When I get home the students are doing their homework.

(3) For something which we think is temporary:

Karim is at university. He is studying history.

I am working in Canada for the next two weeks.

(4) For something which is new and contrasts with a previous state:

These days most people are using email instead of writing letters.

What sort of dresses are teenagers wearing nowadays? 

What sort of music are they listening to?

(5) To show that something is changing, growing or developing:

The children are growing quickly.

The world is changing rapidly.

Your English is improving.

(6) For something which happens again and again:

It is always raining in Canada.
Rahim is great. He is always laughing.

Note: We normally use always with this use.

 (7) For something which has been arranged or planned:

Harry is going to a new school next term. 

What are you doing next week?  

The following verbs, on account of their meaning, are not normally used in the continuous form:-

(1) Verbs of perception, e.g., see, hear, smell, notice, recognize.

(2) Verbs of appearing, e.g., appear, look, seem.

(3) Verbs of emotion, e.g., want, wish, desire, feel, like, love, hate, hope, refuse, prefer.

(4) Verbs of thinking, e.g., suppose, believe, agree, consider, trust, remember, and forget.

(5) Have (Possess), own, belong to, contain, consist of etc.

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What is Present indefinite tense?

*The Simple Present is used:-

(1) To express a habitual action; as,

                                                                                            

He drinks tea every morning.

I get up every day at 5 o’clock.

My watch keeps good time.

(2) To express general truths; as,

The sun rises in the east.

Honey is sweet,

Fortune favours the brave.

(3) In exclamatory sentences beginning with here and there to express what is actually taking place in the present; as,

Here comes the bus!

There she goes!

(4) In vivid narrative, as substitute for the Simple Past; as,

 Showrav now rushes forward and deals a heavy blow to Rustam.

Immediately the Sultan hurries to his capital.

(5) To express a future event that is part of affixed timetable or fixed programme;as,

The next flight is at 7.00 tomorrow morning.

The match starts at 9 o’clock.

When does the coffee house reopen?

*Note also the other uses of the Simple Present Tense.

(1) It is used to introduce quotations; as,

Keats says, ‘A thing of beauty is joy forever.’

(2) It is used, instead of the Simple Future Tense, in clauses of time and of condition; as,

I shall wait till you finish your lunch.

If it rains we shall get wet.

(3) As  in broadcast commentaries on sporting events, the Simple Present Tense is used, instead of the Present continuous, to describe activities in progress where there is stress on the succession of happenings rather than on the duration.

 (4) The Simple Present Tense is used, instead of the Present Continuous; as,

(1) Verbs of perception, e.g., see, hear, smell, notice, recognize.

(2) Verbs of appearing, e.g., appear, look, seem.

(3) Verbs of emotion,e.g.,want, wish, desire, feel, like, love, hate, hope, refuse, prefer.

(4) Verbs of thinking, e.g., suppose, believe, agree, consider, trust, remember, and forget.

(5) Have (Possess), own, belong to, contain, consist of, and be (except when used in the passive). e.g.

Wrong	Right
These grapes are tasting sour.	These grapes taste sour.
I am thinking you are wrong.	I think you are wrong.
She is seeming sad.	She seems sad.
He is having a cellular phone.	She has a cellular phone.

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