what is tense

what is tense in english grammar with examples

what is tense

Read the sentences in the passage A: 

Nayeem is a boy. He lives in Dhaka. He reads in a Govt. High School. He is fond of pet-animals. He has a cat. He loves it very much.

This passage describes the action of present time. The sentences belong to present tense.

Note: Present tense describes an action in the present time.

Read the sentences in the passage B: 

Mohammad Ali was a farmer. He had a lot of land. He grew different crops plentifully. He used to rise early. He was in good health. He worked very hard. But he lived a happy life.

This passage describes the action of past time. These are the sentences of past tense.

Note: Past tense describes an action in the past time.

Read the sentences in the passage C: 

Nahid will rise early in the morning. He will go to school. There will be a sports programme in the school tomorrow. He will take part in three events.

This passage describes the action of future time. These are the sentences of future time.

The sentences describe the action of future. They belong to future tense. 

What is tense?

Tense is the change of form in a verb to express the time of action. That is, tense indicates the time when the action of a verb occurs.

Now read the passage:

Ataur is in class nine. Last year he was in class eight. Next year he will be in class ten. He wants to prosper in life. He attends school regularly. He went to school yesterday. There will be a holiday tomorrow. So he will not go to school tomorrow.

Ask and Answer:

a. Which sentences in the passage belong to present tense? 

b. Does the passage contain the sentences of past tense? Find out them. 

c. Which of the sentences are the examples of future tense?

Fill in the gaps with the verbs below. Use the right form of verbs.

grow, to be, work, get, hope, use, know, believe, think

Mohammad Ali …… a farmer. He …… very hard. He …… fertile land on which he …… different crops. He is a good farmer. He …… how to …… fertilizer and insecticides to grow a lot of crops. Last year he …… the award of the best farmer in the village. The villagers …… that he will get the same award this year too. But Mohammad Ali …… to become the best farmer in the district. He …… that diligence is the mother of good luck.

Name the tenses of the following sentences: 

Abdur Rahim grew vegetables. But his father told him to grow vegetables and paddy. Now he grows both. He earns much money by selling them. He will buy more land with that money. He is a happy farmer. He has a small family. He sends his children to school. As it is a small family, he can maintain it decently.

Change the following as directed :

a. He will visit our house (Make it past tense.) 

b. The boy went to school. (Make it present tense.) 

c. Linda sang a song. (Make it future tense.) 

d. The boys helped one another. (Make it present tense.) 

e. Newton is a scientist. (Make it past tense.)

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