In English grammar, classification of tense is very important to know the specific moment properly. So, we must know the classification of tense.
In English grammar, there are three primary tenses: present, past, and future, each further divided into simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous forms.
Let’s discuss into each type:
Present Tense:
1. Present Indefinite or Simple Present:
The Present Tense defines the present or current time of an action. This is basically described by the present form of the verb.
Present Tense is used for actions which are happening right now or habitually happened or already happened.
1. Present Indefinite Tense: used to make statements of fact, to show repeated actions, or to describe scheduled events in the future.
Structure: Subject + V1 (First Form of Verb) + Object + other part of the sentence.
– Example: “I go to school.”
2. Present Continuous Tense: used to show actions with duration in the present, events happening in the current time, or plans for the future.
– Structure: Subject + (is/am/are) + Verb + ing + Object + other part of the sentence.
– Example: “I am going to school.”
3. Present Perfect Tense: used to describe an event that happened at an unspecified time in the past
– Structure: Subject + has/have + V3 (third form of verb) + Object + other part of the sentence.
– Example: “He has played football.”
4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense:
Describes an action that began in the past, continues into the present, and may continue into the future.
– Structure: Subject + has/have + been + Verb(ing) + Object + other part of the sentence.
– Example: “He has been playing football.”
Past Tense:
1. Simple Past Tense: used to make statements of fact in the past, to show completed actions in the past, or to show repeated actions in the past.
– Structure: Subject + V2 (second form of verb) + Object + other part of the sentence.
– Example: “I went to school.”
2. Past Continuous Tense: used to show actions with duration in the past, or actions happening in the past that were interrupted.
– Structure: Subject + was/were + Verb + ing + Object + other part of the sentence.
– Example: “I was going to school.”
3. Past Perfect Tense: used to show an action (with duration) completed before another action completed in the past [sometimes referred to as “the past of the past”]
– Structure: Subject + had + V3 (past participle) + Object + other part of the sentence.
– Example: “He had played football.”
4. Past Perfect Continuous Tense: an action with duration completed at an unspecified time in the past.
– Structure: Subject + had + been + Verb + ing + Object + other part of the sentence.
– Example: “He had been playing football.”
Future Tense:
1. Simple Future Tense: used to show actions that have not happened yet or promises for the future.
Structure: Subject + will + V1 (first form of verb) + Object + other part of the sentence.
– Example: “He will play football.”
2. Future Continuous Tense: used to show actions with duration in the future.
– Structure: Subject + will + be + Verb + ing + Object + other part of the sentence.
– Example: “He will be playing football.”
3. Future Perfect Tense: used to show that an action will be completed in the future.
– Structure: Subject + will + have + V3 (past participle) + Object + other part of the sentence.
– Example: “He will have played football.”
4. Future Perfect Continuous Tense: used to show an action with duration in the future [sometimes called “the past of the future”]
Structure: Subject + will + have been + Verb with ing + Object + other part of the sentence.
– Example: “Silky will have been living in this house for three years next April.”
At last, the classification of tense is an essential part for clarifying the moments while communicating with other persons. Hope this article will be helpful.
