CBSE Class 9 English Advanced Tense Notes Set 01

Tense

Definition and Kinds of Tense

The tense of a verb is the form that tells us when an action happens and what stage it has reached: just beginning, going on or finished. Every sentence needs a verb, so every sentence has a tense.

There are three main tenses, the present, the past and the future.

Each of the three is further divided into four kinds: Indefinite (Simple), Continuous, Perfect and Perfect Continuous, so there are twelve tense forms in all.

Tenses at a Glance

Look at the four sentences: I write a letter. I am writing a letter. I have written a letter. I have been writing a letter. All four refer to the present time, so all are in the present tense, but each shows a different stage of the action.

1. 'write' only states the action, with no idea of whether it is finished or going on, so it is the Simple Present (Present Indefinite).
2. 'am writing' shows that the action is in progress: the Present Continuous.
3. 'have written' shows that the action is finished: the Present Perfect.
4. 'have been writing' shows that the action began earlier and is continuing up to now: the Present Perfect Continuous.

The past and future tenses also have four forms each. For the past: I wrote a letter; I was writing a letter; I had written a letter; I had been writing a letter. For the future: I shall write a letter; I shall be writing a letter; I shall have written a letter; I shall have been writing a letter.

Present Tense

Present Simple (Indefinite) Tense

We use the simple present for:
1. things that are always true, such as universal facts (The Sun rises in the East);
2. situations that exist now and will continue (Teachers teach the students);
3. habits and regular happenings (We go to school every day).

The first form (base form) of the verb is used. When the subject is third person singular (he, she, it or a singular noun), 's' or 'es' is added to the verb. Examples: I respect my elders; My brother goes to school; An eagle flies high in the sky.

Spelling rules for adding -s or -es

Remember: after 'do' or 'does' only the first form of the verb is used.

Present Continuous Tense

It is used 1) for an action that is happening at the time of speaking (We are learning English grammar), and 2) for an action that is going on over a period of time around the present, even if it is not happening at the moment of speaking (Nowadays my friend is working in an American institute).

Note: the book prints the interrogative as 'is/am/are + subject + 1st form of the verb'. The verb after the subject is actually the present participle (teaching), as the examples show.

Present Perfect Tense

This tense speaks about an action that has been completed with a connection to the present.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

It describes an action that began in the past, is still going on and may continue into the future. It is used with since and for. 'Since' goes with a point of time (since evening, since Sunday, since 2007), and 'for' goes with a length of time (for several weeks, for seven days, for many years).

Past Tense

The past tense refers to actions and events that happened in the past, or earlier than some other time.

Simple Past (Indefinite) Tense

Past Continuous Tense

Past Perfect Tense

It is used for the earlier of two past actions.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Future Tense

Simple Future (Indefinite) Tense

Traditionally, 'shall' is used with the first person (I, we) and 'will' with the second and third persons to show simple future.

Future Continuous Tense

Future Perfect Tense

It shows an action that will already be finished by a certain time in the future.

Note: the book prints the interrogative structure as 'Subject + shall / will + have ...'; the helping verb actually comes first, as in the examples.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

Note: the book's negative structure shows 'ing' after the present participle by mistake; the present participle already ends in -ing.

Quick Tips

1. Look for time markers: yesterday, ago and last night (simple past); now and at the moment (present continuous); for and since (perfect continuous); by tomorrow (future perfect).
2. After do, does, did, shall and will, use the first form of the verb.
3. After have, has and had, use the past participle (third form).
4. After am, is, are, was, were and 'be', use the verb with -ing.
5. For two past actions in order, use the past perfect for the earlier one and the simple past for the later one.