~ RT.

H T E N S E E j
TENSE DEFINED Tense shows (a) the time of an action (b) its degree of completeness. The verb may tell us : I . That an action is done at the present time, e.g. `I see the blue sky'. 2. That an action was done in the past time, e.g. `He saw the blue sky'. 3. That an action will be done in the future time, e.g. `He will see the blue sky'. 4. That an action was done at some past time, viewed as future (future in the past), e.g. He said that he would be sixteen in three weeks' time. A Verb, then, has three main times or Tenses, viz. the Present, the Past and the Future. To each tense there are four different forms : 1. Simple which denotes Present, Past or Future time in its simplest fonn : `I play', 'I played', `I shall play'. The simple form of the present tense is also used for directions in plays : Anne crosses the room . is , ks the door.
ences of this tense are formed by observing t f o e s : 1) In an affirmative sentence if the subject is plural or singular

but in the first or second person the verb is used. in its original or present form, e.g. They eat. eat. Girls eat. you eat. (23 The negative sentence of simple present is formed \ (a) by adding "do not" to the verb if the subject is plural or in the first person and second person, e.g. I do not eat. They do not eat. You do not eat. (b) by adding "does not" to the verb if the subject is in the singular number and not in the fast person, e.g. She does not eat. Ram does not eat. }, The interrogative sentence in simple present is formed (a)' by putting the subject between 'does'-and `verb' if ittis in the singular n b e r , e.g. Does the eat? Does Rain eat? When does t`i"e eat? (b) by putting the suOect between 'do" and the verb if it is in the plural number or in the singular number of first and second person, e.g. Do you eat? What do you eat? Do I eat? The Present Continuous is used to express an action going on at the time of speaking. The boys are flying kites. It also sometimes expresses habit or custom; e.g. He is attending college very regularly these days. The Present Continuous observes the following rules: O the affirmative sentence is formed : (a) by adding `is' before the verb and `ing' to the verb if the subject is singular and in the third person, e.g. She is eating. Ram is eating. b)by adding `are' before the verb and `ing' to the verb if the subject is in the plural number or singular number of second person, e . g ~ o e eating. They are eating.
Note : In the second person the verb remains the same

2.

Continuous which denotes that the event (in Present, Past or Future time ) is still continuing or

not yet completed; `I am reading', `I was reading', `I shall be reading' .

3.

Perfect which denotes that the event (in Present,

Past or Future time) is in a completed or perfect state: `I have played', `I had played', `I shall have played'.

4.

Continuous which combines the meanings of the two preceding forms; `I have been reading', `I had been reading', `I shall have been reading'. Perfect

S OF TENSE
he ample form of the Pres t (The Simple Present or

Present Indefinite) can be used to denote the following : a)What is always and necessarily true: The sun shines by day and the moon by night. Things equal to the same thing are equal to one another.

b)What is permanent or habitual in life or

character: He keepsLhis promises. He has good health. c)What is present, provided that present time is implied by the context : I understand what you say. The door is open : it is not shut. d)at is future, provided that future time is implied by the context : He comes (= will come) in a few days' time. When do you (=will you) start for Madras? e)What is past, provided that the event expressed by the verb is known to be past (This is called the Historic or Graphic present).

in the singular as well as plural number. c)by adding `am' before the verb and `ing' to the verb when the subject is in the fast person of the singular number, e.g. I am eating. (2) The negative sentence in this tense is farmed by simply putting `not' after `is/apilare', e.g. She is not eating, l am not eating. They are not eating: You are not eating. The interrogative sentence is formed by placing is/am/ are before the subject.and verb after the subject, e.g. Is she eating? Are you eating? Am I eating? Are girls eating?