Tense Basics: Part 1

 

Understanding Tenses

Simple Present, Past & Future

You will probably know tenses as the hardest and most confusing topic taught in English classes. But do you know? Without tenses, English language is “Nothing.” You can do nothing right – not even forming a basic sentence. Tenses determine when an event has happened. Each tense indicates the connection between two or more time periods or the exact time an activity occurred. This makes clear, the vital role tenses play in language.

In English there are three basic forms of tenses: Present, Past and Future. Depending up on the time, they each divide into different sub tenses. However, in this lesson, I would like to focus on the basics – When to apply, how to structure sentences and many more.

Simple Present Tense

Simple present tense is mainly used to talk about routine activities – things that happen regularly, in a selected span of time. In some cases, it is also used to express something happening even now. One such example is I feel happy. It is a feeling the narrator is experiencing at the current moment.

I feel sad that I am not invited to the party.

I feel great that I got the new job.

However, most commonly, simple present tense is used to describe regularly – happening events and activities.

Sentence Structure

To form a sentence in present tense, the formula is:

Subject + verb + s/es/ies + object

(For: He She It & other singular nouns)

o   She plays tennis in the morning.

o   He goes fishing every day.

o   Mom studies English in college

 

Subject + verb (First form + object

(For: I You We They & other plurals)

o   I play tennis in the morning.

o   They go fishing every day.

o   Ali and Aisha study English in college.

(Note that always, with these subjects, the verb is at its first form. You must add nothing to it)

s/es/ies: Rules

In a simple present sentence where he, she, it or a name is the subject, verbs can end in -s or -es depending on the way the verb ends.

Check out these rules on addition of s/es/ies.

S: This applies for most of the commonly used verbs. However, here are some clues, which can help you decide the suitable verbs to end with an S.

Verb Ending	+ s	Examples
One or more consonants	+ s	calls, sends, wants
One or more consonants + e	+ s	likes, races, writes
-ie	+ s	lies, dies, ties

Here are the rules for es and ies as well.

Verb Ending	+ s	Examples
-o	+ es	goes, does, soloes
-sh, -ch, -tch, -x, -z, -ss	+ es	kisses, watches, buzzes, fixes, splashes
consonant + y	Change the -y to -ie and add s	dries, flies, worries

Verb Ending	Pronunciation	Examples
Most consonant and vowel sounds	z	Play goes Play runs
p, t, k, or f sounds	s	Play cooks Play likes Play laughs
s, z, ch, sh or x sounds	iz	Play notices Play touches

However, it will be difficult to remember all these rules, isnt it? You would keep forgetting sooner or later. So, its always better to practise and memorise commonly used verbs and how they change. 

Thus, here is a verb list. Practice it well!😊