Definition and classification of Tense.

Tense is the life blood or soul of English Grammar. A good and perfect sentence is basically dependent on tense. Without knowing tense and its structures, it is very much impossible to write a perfect sentence. Let’s know about tense and its structures.

What is tense?

Tense means the time of doing a verb. The completion time of verb is normally referred to as tense. In another words, tense is a form of verb that shows the time in which an action happened.

Types of Tense:

Tense is basically divided into three types. They are present, past and future. Each type has four forms.
1.Present Tense: Present tense refers to an action that completes in the present.
2.Past Tense: Past tense refers to an action that completed in the past.
3.Future Tense: Future tense refers to an action that will be done in future.

1.Classification of Present Tense.

Present tense refers to an action that completes in the present. Present tense is of four types.
(i). Present Indefinite Tense:     Present indefinite tense refers to an action that occurs in the present times. Sometimes, it refers habitual truth or perpetual truth.
Structure: Subject+verb(s/es)
or Subject+verb(s/es)+object/complement
Example: I read a book
I am a boy.
The sun rises in the east.
(ii)Present Continuous Tense: Present continuous tense refers to an action that is running or going to be continued in the near future.
Structure: Subject+am/is/are+verb(ing)
or, Subject+am/is/are+verb(ing)+object/complement.
We are swimming in the pond.
I am writing a poem.
My brother is going to Dhaka tomorrow. (near future)
(iii)Present Perfect Tense: Present perfect tense refers to an action that has already been done but its effect yet lasts.
Structure: Subject+have/has+PPV(Past Participle of Verb)+object/complement.
Example: I have made my homework.
They have just done their duties.
(iv)Present Perfect Continuous Tense: Present perfect continuous tense refers to an action which began in the past and is still running.
Structure: Subject+have been/has been+verb(ing)
Example: I have been reading since morning.
She has been suffering from fever for last 7 days.
Note: Since is used for definite time.

2.Classification of Past Tense.

Past tense refers to an action that completed in the past. Past tense is of four types.
(i)Past Indefinite Tense:Past indefinite tense refers to an action completed in the past or past habit.
Structure: Subject +past form of Verb+object/complement
They did their work.
(ii)Past Continuous Tense:Past continuous tense refers to an action that was running in the past for some times.
Structure:Subject+was/were+verb(ing)+object/complement
We were playing cricket.
(iii)Past Perfect Tense: From the two completed actions  in the past which was completed before another,the first completed action is past perfect tense and later completed task is past indefinite tense.
Structure: Subject+had + PPV(past participle of verb)+object/complement.
The patient had died before the doctor came.
Here, “the patient had died” is past perfect and “the doctor came” is past indefinite tense.
Another example, We had played cricket before the head master came.
(iv) Past Perfect Continuous Tense:Past perfect continuous tense refers to an action that began before a specific point in the past and continued up to that time.
Structure: Subject+had been+verb(ing)+object/complement.
I had been reading a book before the rain started.
Here, ” I had been reading a book” is past perfect continuous tense and ” the rain started” is past indefinite tense.

3.Classification of Future Tense.

Future tense refers to an action that will be done in future. Future tense is of four types.
(i)Future Indefinite Tense: Future indefinite tense refers to an action that will be done in the future.
Structure: Subject+shall/will+verb(present form)+object/complement
Example: They will play a friendly football match.
(ii) Future Continuous Tense:Future continuous tense refers to an action that will be going on in the future.
Structure: Subject+shall be/will be+ verb(ing) +object/complement
Example: You will be reading a book.
(iii)Future Perfect Tense: Future perfect tense refers to an action that will be completed a specific time in the future.
Structure: Subject+shall have/will have+PPV(past participle of verb) +object/complement
Example: I shall have done my home work before my mother comes.
Here, “I shall have done my home work” is future perfect tense and “my mother comes” is present indefinite tense.
(iv) Future Perfect Continuous Tense:Future perfect continuous tense refers to an action that will have been running by a specific time in the future.
Structure: Subject+shall have been/will have been+verb(ing)+object/complement
I shall have been doing my home work before my teacher comes.
Here, ” I shall have been doing my home work” is future perfect continuous tense and ” my teacher comes” is present indefinite tense.