Simple Present
To express a habitual action.
It is clear that the action (taking a walk) happens only every morning and not continuously. While describing such actions as happen at regular intervals or routinely we use the simple present.
To express general truths.
The above incorrect sentence gives the impression that such a thing is happening in a particular case. The truth is it happens always. It is a general truth.
In exclamatory sentences beginning with here and there to express what is actually taking place in the present.
To indicate a future event that is part of a plan or an arrangement.
For example, The Indian team goes to the Caribbean island next month.
Note: It is not, however, incorrect if one uses will go in place of goes in the above sentence.
To introduce quotations.
For example, Pope says “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing”.
Note: It is also correct if said is used in place of says.
When two actions of the future are being talked about, one dependant on the other.
The former action is denoted by simple present and the latter by simple future. For example, We shall go when the child comes back home.
Present Continuous
To express an action going on at the time of speaking.
For example, if you are sitting indoors, and you lament not being able to go out because rain continues to fall heavily, you say, It is raining heavily.
If you say It rains heavily. you are not referring to the falling of the rain at the moment of speaking, but to a phenomenon which occurs regularly; as in, It rains heavily in equatorial regions and hilly areas.
To express a temporary action which may not be actually happening at the time of speaking.
For example; If you are a teacher but work on a project temporarily, you say I am working on a project. …
To express an action that is planned or arranged to take place in the near future.
For example, He is going to the city tomorrow.
For a particularly obstinate habit
Verbs normally used in the simple present
- Verbs of appearing – appear, look, seem.
- Verbs of emotion – want, wish, desire, feel, like, love, hate, hope, prefer, refuse.
- Verbs of perception – see, hear, smell, notice, recognise.
- Verbs of possession – belong to, consist of, contain, have, own, possess.
- Verbs of thinking – agree, believe, consider, forget, imagine, know, mean, mind, remember, suppose, think, trust, understand.
- The verb be.
But it is correct to say that He is appearing on the stage for the first time. …
Present Perfect
To indicate completed activities in the immediate past.
To express past actions whose time is not given and not definite.
The present perfect is never used with adverbs of past time…
Present Perfect Continuous
To express an action which began at some time in the past and is still continuing.
Note: Some verbs take present perfect in form but convey a present perfect continuous sense…
Simple Past
- To indicate an action completed in the past. I met her last year.
- For past habits. I visited Jaipur every year.
- After “it is time”. It is time we started working.
Past Continuous
To denote an action going on at some time in the past.
For persistent habits in the past.
Past Perfect
To describe an action completed before a certain moment in the past.
If two actions happen in the past, the earlier one is denoted by past perfect…
Past Perfect Continuous
To express an action that began before a certain point in the past and continued upto that time.
Simple Future
To express an action that has still to take place. He will play cricket tomorrow.
Future Continuous
To express an action as going on at some time in future…
Future Perfect
To indicate the completion of an action by a certain future time…
Future Perfect Continuous
To indicate an action represented as being in progress over a period of time that will end in the future…
Sequence of Tenses
We often have to deal with sentences where the tense of the subordinate clause has to be seen in relation with the tense of the principal clause.
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A past tense in the principal clause should be followed by a past tense in the subordinate clause.
He hinted that he wants money.He hinted that he wanted money.He replied that he will come.He replied that he would come.I never thought that I shall see him again.I never thought that I should see him again.
However,
- Universal truths → present tense:
Newton discovered that the apple fell due to gravity.Newton discovered that the apple falls due to gravity.He said that honesty was the best policy.He said that honesty is the best policy.
- After than, tense may vary by meaning.
He liked you better than he liked me.He liked you better than he likes me.
- Universal truths → present tense:
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Present/Future in principal clause → any tense in subordinate, as required.
- He thinks that she is there.
- He thinks that she was there.
- He thinks that she will be there.
- He will think that she is there.
- He will think that she was there.
- He will think that she will be there.
