What does TENSE Mean?

What does TENSE Mean ?




A tense is a form of a verb which shows
the time at
which an action happens.
It comes from the Latin word "tempus", which means
"time".


Examples


"Sang" is a form of the verb "sing". This form shows the action
happened in the past. This is Past Tense.


"Sleeps" is a form of the verb "sleep". This form shows the action
happens in the present. This is Present Tense.



In fact, English verb tenses are not much more complicated than that.
We
will go over them step by step so that you get full understanding of
them.
We will start with the Simple English Tenses.

Simple Tenses




Simple tense is a form of a verb that simply shows
when the action takes place.

• Simple Past is a form of the
  verb that shows the action took place in the past.For example: Lisa danced yesterday.
  
• Simple Present is a form of
  the verb that shows the action takes place in the present.For example: Lisa dances every day.
  
• Simple Future is a form of
  the verb that shows the action will take place in the future.
  For example: Lisa will dance tomorrow.
  

Click here for the
full data, examples and exercises on the Simple Tenses, and how to use
them


Progressive (Continuous) Tenses




PROGRESSIVE means "continuing".
Progressive tense is a form of a verb that shows
the action is in progress.
Or in other words, that it continues.

• Past Progressive is a form
  of the verb that shows the action was in progress at some time in the
  past.For example: Lisa was dancing yesterday at 8
  o'clock.
  
• Present Progressive is a
  form of the verb that shows the action is in progress in the present.For example: Lisa is dancing right now.
  
• Future Progressive is a form
  of the verb that shows the action will be in progress at some time in
  the future.
  For example: Lisa will be dancing tomorrow at
  8 o'clock.
  

Click here for
the full data, examples and exercises on the Progressive (Continues)
Tenses, and how to use them


Perfect Tenses




PERFECT means "complete, finished".
Perfect tense is a form of a verb
that shows the action is complete. It does not mean the action is
"perfect" (100%). It means the action is finished.

• Past Perfect is a form of
  the verb that shows the action was complete before some time in the
  past.For example: Lisa had danced before she came.
  
• Present Perfect is a form of
  the verb that shows the action was complete before the present.For example: Lisa has already danced.
  
• Future Perfect is a form of
  the verb that shows the action will be complete before some time in the
  future.
  For example: Lisa will have danced tomorrow by
  9 o'clock.
  

Click here for the
full data, examples and exercises on the Perfect Tenses, and how to use
them


Perfect + Progressive?!




Yes! There are 3 more tenses. These are the Perfect
Progressive (Continuous) tenses.
Perfect Progressive tense is a form of the verb
that shows the action started, continued, and was complete until some
point.

• Past Perfect Progressive is
  a form of the verb that shows the action started in the past and
  continued until some point in the past.For example: Lisa had been dancing for 2 hours
  before she was tired.
  
• Present Perfect Progressive
  is a form of the verb that shows the action started in the past and
  continued until the present.For example: Lisa has been dancing for 3 hours
  without stopping!
  
• Future Perfect Progressive
  is a form of the verb that shows the action will continue until some
  point in the future.
  For example: By tomorrow morning, Lisa will
  have been dancing for 12 hours!
  

Click
here for the full data, examples and exercises on the Perfect
Progressive (Continuous) Tenses, and how to use them