What Are Tenses: A Complete Tense Lesson with Rules and Examples

Lesson Overview

• Learning Objectives
• Introduction to Tenses
• What Are Tenses and Their Types? 
• How to Use Tenses Correctly
• Common Errors & Tips While Using English Tenses
• Exercise 1: Identify The Tense (Simple Past, Simple Present, Simple Future) Of Each Sentence
• Exercise 2: Correct The Tense Mistake In Each Sentence
• Exercise 3:  Complete Each Sentence With The Correct Form Of The Verb Given In Parentheses
• Test Your Knowledge
• Conclusion

Learning Objectives

1. Learn to correctly identify and use simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous tenses in past, present, and future forms.
2. Distinguish between different tenses to accurately describe actions at various times.
3. Identify and correct common mistakes in tense usage, enhancing written and spoken English.
4. Practice applying tenses in various contexts, including storytelling and planning.
5. Understand the usage of time markers and auxiliary verbs with tenses to indicate time and action sequence.
   
   

Introduction to Tenses

Imagine you have a time machine, allowing you to visit the past, explore the future, or enjoy the present moment. Tenses are the linguistic time machine of English, helping us express when actions happen.

In this Tense lesson, we'll dive into the three main time zones of English: the past, the present, and the future. With examples and interactive exercises, you will master the art of tenses, making your writing and speaking clearer and more dynamic. 

What Are Tenses and Their Types? 

Tenses in English are used to express the timing of an action or state of being. They tell us when something happens. However, it's not just about pinpointing a moment on a timeline; it's also about the action's continuity, completion, and frequency.

There are three primary times we talk about:

1. Past: For actions or states that happened before now.
2. Present: For actions or states happening right now or that are ongoing.
3. Future: For actions or states that will happen after now.
   

Within these three main categories, there are several subtypes, making a total of 12 tenses in English. Each one adds its own flavor to the timeline, helping to paint a more detailed picture of when and how something happens.

1. Past Tenses

The Past Tense is used to describe actions or events that occurred at a specific point in time before the present.

• Simple Past: Used for completed actions in the past. 

Example: I walked to the park yesterday.

• Past Continuous: Used for actions that were ongoing in the past. 

Example: I was walking when it started to rain.

• Past Perfect: Used for actions completed before another past action. 

Example: I had walked to the park before it started to rain.

• Past Perfect Continuous: Used for ongoing actions in the past that were completed by a certain point. 

Example: I had been walking for an hour when it started to rain.

2. Present Tenses

The Present Tense is used to describe actions or conditions that are happening right now or habitual actions that occur regularly.

• Simple Present: Used for habitual actions or universal truths. 

Example: I walk to the park every day.

• Present Continuous: Used for actions happening right now or for future plans. 

Example: I am walking to the park.

• Present Perfect: Used for actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past or that started in the past and continue to the present. 

Example: I have walked to the park many times.

• Present Perfect Continuous: Used for actions that started in the past and continue to the present. 

Example: I have been walking for an hour.

3. Future Tenses

The Future Tense is used to describe actions or events that are expected to happen after the current time.

• Simple Future: Used for actions that will happen in the future. 

Example: I will walk to the park tomorrow.

• Future Continuous: Used for actions that will be ongoing at a specific time in the future. 

Example: I will be walking to the park at 3 PM tomorrow.

• Future Perfect: Used for actions that will be completed by a certain future time. 

Example: I will have walked to the park by 3 PM tomorrow.

• Future Perfect Continuous: Used for actions that will be ongoing up until a certain point in the future. 

Example: By 3 PM tomorrow, I will have been walking for an hour.

Now that we have an overview of the different types of tenses, let's dive deeper into the rules that govern their use, along with some examples to clarify each point.

How to Use Tenses Correctly

Here are simple rules for using the tenses correctly.

Rule 1: Simple Tenses for Routine Actions or General Truths

Simple Tenses talk about general things that are true, things we do all the time, or something that happened just once in the past.

• Simple Present: We use it for things that happen regularly or truths. When the subject of a sentence is singular (he, she, it, or any single person or thing), we often add "s" or "es" to the base form of the verb. The choice between "s" and "es" depends on the spelling and sound of the verb's base form. 

• Add "s" to most verbs: "He runs."
• Add "es" to verbs that end in -sh, -ch, -ss, -x, -o: "She watches."

For plural subjects or the pronouns "I," "you," "we," and "they," we use the base form of the verb without any ending: "They walk to school."

• Simple Past: This is for things that happened and finished in the past. The formula is usually the subject + past form of the verb.

• Simple Future: We use it for things that will happen in the future. The formula is usually will + base verb.

Rule 2: Continuous Tenses for Ongoing Actions or Future Plans

Continuous Tenses are about actions that are happening right now or will be happening at a specific time in the future.

• Present Continuous: It's used for things happening at this very moment or for future plans. The formula is am/is/are + verb + ing.

• Past Continuous: This tense talks about things that were happening at a specific time in the past. The formula is was/were + verb + ing.

• Future Continuous: It's for things that will be happening at a specific time in the future. The formula is will be + verb + ing.

Rule 3: Perfect Tenses to Show Completion

Perfect Tenses show us that an action is complete, either just now, in the past, or by a certain time in the future.

• Present Perfect: It shows something happened at an unspecified time before now. The formula is have/has + past participle of the verb.

• Past Perfect: This shows something was completed before another action in the past. The formula is had + past participle of the verb.

• Future Perfect: It tells us something will be completed by a certain future time. The formula is will have + past participle of the verb.

Rule 4: Perfect Continuous Tenses for Action Duration

Perfect Continuous Tenses are all about how long something has been happening or how long something had been happening before something else.

• Present Perfect Continuous: It talks about actions that started in the past and are still happening now. The formula is have/has been + verb + ing.

• Past Perfect Continuous: This tense is for actions that were happening over a period in the past, up until another action. The formula is had been + verb + ing.

• Future Perfect Continuous: It's for actions that will have been happening for a certain period by a certain future time. The formula is will have been + verb + ing.

Take This Quiz

Master English Grammar: Tenses Class 10 Quiz

Common Errors & Tips While Using English Tenses

1. Error in Verb Forms

• Error: Incorrect verb form usage, e.g., "She write every morning."
• Tip: For Simple Present and singular subjects, add "s" or "es" to verbs.
• Correct: She writes every morning.
  

2. Simple Past vs. Past Participle Confusion

• Error: Mixing simple past and past participle, e.g., "He has fly to Paris."
• Tip: Know your verbs. Use "flew" for simple past and "flown" for past participle. 
• Correct: He has flown to Paris.
  

3. When to Use Present Perfect

• Error: Using simple past instead of present perfect, e.g., "I finished my homework."
• Tip: Use present perfect for actions affecting the now. 
• Correct: I have finished my homework.
  

4. Overusing Continuous Tense

• Error: Misusing continuous tense, e.g., "I am running every day."
• Tip: Reserve continuous for current or future actions. For habits, use simple present. 
• Correct: I run every day.
  

5. Future Sentences with "If"

• Error: "Will" in "if" clauses, e.g., "If it will rain, I will stay home."
• Tip: In conditional sentences about the future, use simple present in the "if" clause. 
• Correct: If it rains, I will stay home.
  

6. 'Since' vs. 'For'

• Error: Confusing 'since' with 'for', e.g., "I've been here since three hours."
• Tip: Use 'since' for a point in time, 'for' for a duration. 
• Correct: I've been here for three hours. 
  

7. Placement of Time Adverbs

• Error: Wrong placement of time adverbs, e.g., "I have yesterday finished my homework."
• Tip: Time adverbs are usually placed at the end of a sentence. 
• Correct: I finished my homework yesterday.
  

Exercise 1: Identify The Tense (Simple Past, Simple Present, Simple Future) Of Each Sentence

1. I walk to school every day.

• Simple Present
  
  

2. She will visit her grandma next weekend.

• Simple Future
  
  

3. They played at the park yesterday.

• Simple Past
  
  

4. We will finish our project tomorrow.

• Simple Future
  
  

5. He studies in the library.

• Simple Present

Exercise 2: Correct The Tense Mistake In Each Sentence

1. She go to the gym every morning.

• She goes to the gym every morning.
  
  

2. He didn't eats breakfast today.

• He didn't eat breakfast today.
  
  

3. They will goes to the zoo next Sunday.

• They will go to the zoo next Sunday.
  
  

4. I am understand the math problem now.

• I understand the math problem now.
  
  

5. We has finished our homework.

• We have finished our homework.

Exercise 3:  Complete Each Sentence With The Correct Form Of The Verb Given In Parentheses

1. She __________ (plays/will play/played) the piano when her friend arrived.

• played
  
  

2. I __________ (go/goes/will go) to the dentist tomorrow.

• will go
  
  

3. They __________ (has been/have been/had been) waiting for the movie for two hours.

• have been
  
  

4. I __________ (am eating/eat/ate) dinner at 7 PM every night.

• eat
  
  

5. We __________ (visited/visit/will visit) our cousins last summer.

• visited

Test Your Knowledge

Simple Past Tense Quiz

12 Tenses Quiz Questions and Answers

Basics of Tenses MCQ Test

Conclusion

We learned to use different tenses for past, present, and future actions in English. These tenses are flexible, allowing us to express ideas about time in a nuanced way. Interestingly, we sometimes use the present tense to talk about future events, especially when they are scheduled or planned.

Visualize time as a line to help understand this concept: past tense is for actions behind us, present tense is for what's happening now, and future tense is for events ahead. Keep practicing these tenses to improve your storytelling and planning discussions.