ORIGIN OF TENSES

A Verb expresses the action or states of the subject. Every action has time, and in each time it has types. The time nad type of the action is called a tenes.

DEFINITION :

An action expressed in the verb can take place in three different times – past, present, future – and in each time it ( the action ) can be of three different types- simple, continuous, perfect. The time and the type of the action is called a tenes.

TABLE OF TENSES

	Past	Present	Future
Simple	I played.	I play.	****I shall play. I shall play when Amit returns.
Continuous	I was playing	I am playing.	I shall be playing.
Perfect	I had played for two hours by that time. I had been playing for two hours when ravi came.	*I have played . ** He has already plyead for two hours. *** I have been playing for two hours. **** I have been playing since morning	****I shall have played if you reach late.

 

*The effect of the completion of the action is still there till the time of speaking or writing.

**We use  this form for the present of the present perfect tenes for laying stress on the continuity of the action.

***We use this form for the present perfect tense for laying stress on the duration or the continuity of the action respestively. This tense is called the present perfect continuous tenes also.

****When Amit returns and if you reach late. (dependent clause of time or condition is written in the present simple tenes when the main clause is in future simple tense or future perfect tenes.)

He has been ill since Monday. ( we sometimes use the present perfect tense for the condition of the subject also.)

Is,am,are,was and were are verbs of existence and they do not denote acton when they come alone. However,they are used as helping verbs also for making continuous tenses with the help of the present participles.

Appear,seem,look,become,prove,feel,remain etc. Too can be used for denoting the contition of the subject.

( THE ‘TIMS’ AND THE ‘TYPE’ OF THE ACTION = A TENSE )