Tense - JSS2 English language Lesson Note
Tense tells us when something happens. It helps us understand if an action is happening now, happened in the past, or will happen in the future. It's like a time marker for verbs in sentences."
Present Simple Tense:
The present simple tense is used to describe actions that are habitual, regular occurrences, or general truths. when it comes to the verb "to be," the present tense can convey not only actions taking place now but also states of being or conditions that exist in the present.
For example:
"I am happy." (Expresses a current state of being)
"She is a doctor." (Describes someone's profession, a fact that remains true in the present)
"They are friends." (Indicates a relationship that exists currently)
In these sentences, the verb "to be" is used in the present tense to indicate a state or condition rather than an action taking place at the moment of speaking. So, while most verbs in the present tense denote actions occurring now, the verb "to be" in the present tense can also express states or conditions.
N.B : It often uses the base form of the verb, adding "-s" or "-es" for third-person singular subjects.
Examples
"I walk to school every morning."
In this sentence:
"walk" is the base form of the verb.
"to school every morning" indicates a habitual action.
The verb "walk" does not change form, regardless of the subject (in this case, "I")
sentences in the present tense for the first person, second person, and third person (both singular and plural), including examples with the verb "to be":
First Person Singular (I):
- I eat breakfast every morning.
- I am a student.
- I have a dog.
First Person Plural (We):
- We play soccer on Saturdays.
- We are classmates.
- We like to watch movies together.
Second Person Singular (You):
- You enjoy reading books.
- You are my friend.
- You have a beautiful smile.
Second Person Plural (You all/You guys/You):
- You all speak English fluently.
- You guys are invited to the party.
- You need to finish your homework.
Third Person Singular (He/She/It):
- He goes to the gym every evening.
- She is a doctor.
- It has a red cover.
Third Person Plural (They):
- They live in a big house.
- They are siblings.
- They enjoy traveling together.
Using examples with the verb "to be" for each person:
1. First Person Singular (I):
- I am happy.
- I am a student.
- I am at home.
2. First Person Plural (We):
- We are excited about the trip.
- We are classmates.
- We are in the same club.
3. Second Person Singular (You):
- You are my best friend.
- You are intelligent.
- You are here.
4. Second Person Plural (You all/You guys/You):
- You all are invited to the party.
- You guys are amazing.
- You are responsible for your actions.
5. Third Person Singular (He/She/It):
- He is tall.
- She is a teacher.
- It is raining outside.
6. Third Person Plural (They):
- They are happy.
- They are siblings.
- They are on vacation.
Present Continuous Tense:
The present continuous tense describes actions that are happening at the moment of speaking or temporary actions occurring around the present time. It is formed with the present tense of the verb "to be" (am, is, are) plus the present participle (verb + -ing).
Present Perfect Tense:
The present perfect tense expresses actions that started in the past and have relevance to the present. It is formed with the present tense of the verb "to have" (have/has) plus the past participle of the main verb.
Present Continuous:
- She is reading a book.
- They are playing football in the park.
- We are watching a movie at home.
Present Perfect:
- He has finished his homework.
- She has visited Paris twice.
- They have eaten dinner already.
Present Perfect Continuous:
- I have been studying for two hours.
- She has been working at the company for five years.
- They have been waiting for the bus since morning.
Past Simple Tense: The past simple tense is used to describe completed actions or events that occurred at a specific time in the past. Regular verbs typically add "-ed" to form past simple, while irregular verbs have unique past tense forms.
Regular Verbs: For regular verbs, the past tense is typically formed by adding "-ed" to the base form of the verb. For example:
Walk (base form) → Walked (past tense)
Play → Played
Jump → Jumped
Irregular Verbs: Many verbs in English are irregular, meaning they don't follow the regular "-ed" pattern in the past tense. Instead, they have unique past tense forms. For example:
Go (base form) → Went (past tense)
Eat → Ate
See → Saw
N:B ; The past tense is commonly used to describe actions or events that happened at a specific point in the past and are now completed. For example:
I visited my grandparents last weekend.
She cooked dinner yesterday.
Present Tense: Regular Verb:
She walks to school every morning.
He plays the piano beautifully.
They talk on the phone every evening.
Irregular Verb:
I go to the gym three times a week.
She sings in the choir on Sundays.
They drive to work together.
Past Tense: Regular Verb:
She walked to school yesterday.
He played soccer with his friends last weekend.
They talked about their vacation plans.
Irregular Verb:
I went to the beach last summer.
She sang a song at the talent show last night.
They drove to the mountains for a weekend getaway.
In these examples, regular verbs form their past tense by adding "-ed," while irregular verbs have unique past tense forms. Both present and past tenses are used to describe actions, events, or states, with the present tense referring to actions happening now or habitual actions, and the past tense referring to actions or events that occurred at a specific point in the past.