ENGLISH GRAMMAR

TENSES

SIMPLE TENSES
PERFECT

SIMPLE PROGRESSIVE

Prepared by: Lian Chariz V. Evangelista TENSES

WHAT IS TENSES?
• Tenses refers to time. A verb which refers to the present
is in the present tense. A verb which refers to the past is
in the past tense. A verb which refers to the future is in
the future tense.

• There are 3 different forms of the verb that indicates

different tenses are:
 Simple Tenses
 Progressive Tense
 Perfect Tense
THE PRESENT TENSE

The PRESENT TENSE refers to

action that is taking place at the
present time
THE PRESENT TENSE
•Example :

The student listens carefully to the

professor’s instructions.

Expresses an action being done at

present.
THE PRESENT TENSE
• Present tense is also used to express habitual action.

Example:

Kyla sings at SOP every Sunday. Expresses a habit

• Habitual actions are usually indicated by any of the following.

Every day every hour never usually
Often all the time most of the time
Always sometimes every month
THE PRESENT TENSE
• Present tense also expresses a general truth.

Example:
Planet Jupiter contains 90 % hydrogen and 10%
helium.

Expresses a generally accepted truth.

THE PRESENT TENSE
• Heres a table showing inflections (endings) to present tense.
SINGULAR PLURAL
I am We are
You are You are
He/ She/ it is They are

SINGULAR PLURAL
I endorse We endorse
You endorse You endorse
He/ She/ it is They endorse
THE PAST TENSE

•Refers to actions that

happened at a definite time
in the past.
THE PAST TENSE
Example:

Tobey Maguire played the role of Peter Parker in

the movie Spider-man 3

• The PAST TENSE is also used for a statement that is true in the
past but is no longer true today.
THE PAST TENSE
For Example:

Chelsea used to admire Jennifer Love Hewitt’s

acting If Only.

expresses an action that is true in the past and no longer

true today. (The sentence implies that Chelsea no longer admirs
Jennifer Love Hewitt’s acting in If Only).
THE PAST TENSE
Examples:
SINGULAR PLURAL
I was We were
You were You were
He/ She / it was They were

SINGULAR PLURAL
I endorsed We endorsed
You endorsed You endorsed
He/ She/ it was They endorsed
THE PAST TENSE
IMPORTANT!
A regular verb uses its base form (e.g. endorse )
plus the –ed ending (e.g. endorsed);.
An irregular verb changes its form in some other
ways.
THE FUTURE TENSE
• Refers to action that will take place in
the future.

• Remember that the definite time element

also signals future action.
THE FUTURE TENSE
Example:

The ship is leaving tomorrow.

The FUTURE TENSE has no inflected form

but the words WILL and SHALL help the main
verb.
THE FUTURE TENSE
WILL vs SHALL
Remember when Douglas Mac Arthur said, ‘’ I
shall return’’?
Do you think he was then determined to return?

Try to analyze the famous statement with the

rules of WILL and SHALL and find out what Douglas
Mac Arthur might have meant.
THE FUTURE TENSE
Examine the following Example:

PERSON FUNCTION
WILL 1st ( I, WE ) To show willingness and
determination.
WILL 2nd & 3rd (YOU, SHE, HE, To show futurity
THEY)
SHALL 1st ( I, WE ) To show futurity

SHALL 2nd & 3rd (YOU, SHE, HE, To show willingness and
THEY ) determination.
THE FUTURE TENSE
1. I shall return. - this sentence shows simple futurity.
(Combination of first person and shall indicates
function).
2. We will pay the bills tomorrow has a combination of
first person (We) and will so it indicates determination
in the action.
3. Thou shall not kill is almost like an order that must be
willingly followed. Observe combination of second
person and shall.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Hope y’all learn something.