Tense occurs only in verbs. It refers to the change that takes place in the form of the verb to indicate time.
THE PRESENT TENSE
Present tense expresses an action taking place now. Except in the case of the verb ‘be’, the only change that takes place in the form of the verb to indicate the present tense occurs when the verb agrees with a third person singular subject.
Examples: Sule always reads after meals.
The bus arrives at 8a.m
The sun sets in the West.
Sugar is sweet.
| Speakers | Singular | Plural |
| 1st person | I sleep, eat, wake,do, have | We sleep, eat, wake, do, have |
| 2nd person | You sleep, eat, wake, do,have | You sleep, eat, wake, do, have |
| 3rd person | She/He/It sleeps, eats, wakes, does, has | They sleep, eat, wake, do, have |
In the case of the verb ‘be’, one more change takes place in the form of the verb to indicate the present tense.
| Singular | Plural | |
| 1st | I am a student. | We are students. |
| 2nd | You are a student. | You are students. |
| 3rd | He/She is a student. | They are students. |
The examples given above are in the simple forms. Other present tense forms include the present continuous, present perfect and present perfect continuous.
Examples:
Present Continuous: E.gI am working.
Present Perfect: E.gI have worked.
Present Perfect Continuous:E.g I have been working.
THE PAST TENSE
The past tense is used to talk about a past action.
Regular verbs form their past tense by adding ‘-ed’ to the simple form of the verb, while irregular verbs form their past tense in different ways.
Examples: Regular
| Present Tense | Past Tense |
| Book | Booked |
| Share | Shared |
| Celebrate | Celebrated |
| Mix | Mixed |
| Order | Ordered |
| Switch | Switched |
Irregular
| Present Tense | Past Tense |
| Bleed | Bled |
| Break | Broke |
| Build | Built |
| Swim | Swam |
| Cast | Cast |
| Hit | Hit |
There are four past tense forms in English. The past simple, past continuous:
Past Simple:E.g I worked.
Past Continuous:E.g I was working.
Past Perfect: E.gI had worked.
Past Perfect Continuous:E.g I had been working.
THE FUTURE TENSE
Future Tense is used to express a future action by using the modal auxiliary verbs ‘shall’ and ‘will’ e.g
I shall travel soon.
You will see the manager when he arrives.
Or by using the form ‘be going’ and ‘to’ infinitive or by using the present progressive and an expression indicating the future:
Examples: Emekais going to succeed.
It is going to rain today.
Adamuis leaving tomorrow.
The future tense is also used to refer to a future action in a conditioned sentence; used to give command or provide explanations, used in the passive form. Examples:
If you fail your exams, father will scold you.
The meeting will start at eight sharp.
You will dowhat I say.
The fried rice will be cooked in a few minutes.
The swimming pool will be closed next week for renovations.
Evaluation: Write out the past tense and past participle forms of these verbs: split, swing, fight, drive choose, grind, make, mean, sew, shut, talk, put, see weep, taste.
Reading Assignment: The Student’s Companion by Chris Talbot, pages 84 – 94
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