TENSES AND TRANSLA

TION
TRANSLATION
TENSE :

Tense is a change in the verb to express time.

Tense comes from a word meaning time
There are three great divisions of time - Present, Past and Future.
The name Tense is given to the different forms of verbs which denote them.

The verb is the only kind of word which by its own forms can point at time. The
English verb has only two tenses formed by inflection, the present and
Past. The Future is formed by the help of other verbs.

The Present Tense denotes that the action is going on now; as I love, I am
loving. The Past Tense denotes that the action took place, or was going on, in
time past; as, I saw him; He was walking. The Future Tense denotes that the
action is yet to take place. It is formed by the means of the verbs shall or
will, followed by the infinitive; as, I shall go; He will go.

Each tense has four forms Indefinite; Imperfect (Progressive, Incomplete

and Continuous are other names); perfect; perfect continuous.

An action simply mentioned is said to be Indefinite; as I play, I played, I shall

play. An action mentioned as still going on is said to be imperfect. It is formed
by means of the verb be and the imperfect participle (ing form); as, I am
playing, I was playing, I shall be playing. An action mentioned as finished is
said to be perfect. It is formed by means of the verb have (has, had as
derivatives) and the perfect participle (past participle form of the verb i.e. III
form); as, I have played, I had played, I shall have played. The active voice
has a fourth form called the Perfect Continuous. It expresses an action going
on up to the present time; as, I have been writing -

Work Book for General English

149

Look at the given pictures carefully and try to understand and follow the
patterns :

PRESENT

am / is / are
+ verb 1st
form + ing

She has played.

I have played.

have /
has +
verb in
3rd form

TENSE

You are playing.

Perfect

He is playing.

I am playing.

I play.
(first form of
the verb)

Indefinite

She has been

playing
I have been
playing
for 2 hrs / since
morning.

Table - 1

Imperfect
Continuous

Perfect
Continuous

have /
has +
verb +
ing

Table - 2

150

had +
verb in
3rd form

I had been playing.

I had played.
TENSE

PAST

verb in was / were

(2nd) past + verb+ing
form
in 1st form

We were playing.

Perfect

I was playing.

Indefinite

I played.

Imperfect
Continuous

Perfect
Continuous
had /
been +
verb +
ing

Work Book for General English

Table - 3

He/ She/ It/ They /

We/ You + will + be +
verb + ing
I + shall + be + verb
+ ing

FUTURE

e
ll b
i
You/ He/ She/ It /
u w g.
Yo ayin
They / We + will +
e
pl
ll b
st
a
verb in 1 form
.
h
.
I s ying
ay
l
.
y
p
pla
la
ll
p
a
.
y
h
Indefinite
ill
la
Is
w
p
u
ill
w
Yo
e
H

Perfect

Is
ha
ll
ea hav
Is
m
e
an t e n
h
ea all
go
ti
h
es
.
fo ng m ave
ro
b
ne ang een
ho oe
ur s
.

Imperfect
Continuous

TENSE

I + Shall + Verb in
1st form

Perfect
Continuous
will have been
/
shall have
been + verb in
Ist form + ing.

will
have /
shall
have +
verb in
3rd form

Present Simple / Indefinite Tense

For every plural subject
they / we / you do is used
but I takes do with it

Interrogative

Do

For singular subject he /

she / it / and name does Does
is used.
In negative sentences we
Do
use not after subject
(You / we/ they / I)

verb
in
first
form

In negative sentences we
Does
use not after subject.
(He / she / it / names)
Past Simple Indefinite
With did always first form
of the verb is used.
Did
Did is used with singular
and plural both.

Work Book for General English

Do I eat mangoes ?
Does she eat mangoes?
Do they eat mangoes ?

Do we eat mangoes ?
InterroDoes
he eat mangoes?
gative
Do you eat mangoes?
Do I not eat mangoes ?
InterroDoes
she not eat mangoes?
gative/
Negative Do you not eat mangoes ?
I do not eat mangoes.
Negative You do not eat mangoes
She does not eat mangoes.

Verb in
first
form

Negative : I did not eat mangoes.

They did not eat mangoes.
She did not eat mangoes.
Interrogative : Did I not eat mangoes?
Did they not eat mangoes ?
Did he not eat mangoes ?

151

In present simple / indefinite tense verb in its first form is used eg.,
I eat mangoes.
You eat mangoes.
He eats mangoes.
She eats mangoes.
Neeta eats mangoes.

With singular subject he / she/ it,

names verb takes s or es

He goes to school.
For affirmative sentences do/does is not used until it is used for emphasis as in
I do eat mangoes (in Hindi - U)

In Past Simple Indefinite Tense for affirmative sentences did, is not used until,
it is used for emphasis, as in I did eat mangoes. ( in Hindi - U)
To translate a sentence is to change it from one language to another without
altering its sense / meaning. We will discuss first the simple / indefinite form of
present, past & future tense.

Af
ma
ti
ve Sentences
Afffir
irma
mati
tiv
Present
Structure :
Sub + verb 1st form +
other words.
I + drive + a car
Singular subject
Sub + verb 1st form + s/es
+ other words
She+drives + a car.
Structure :
Sub + verb 2nd form
P
+ other words.
A
S I + drove + a car.
T You drove a car.
They drove a car.

152

Simple /
Indefinite

Structure :
I + shall + verb 1st
form + other words.
I shall drive a car.
He/She/They / We +
will + verb in 1st form
+ other words.
We+will+drive+a car.
I shall drive a car.

F
U
T
U
R
E

Work Book for General English

Translate the following sentences into English :

e.g. Present

Past

Future

U / U

U U/

I drive a car.

I drove a car.

I shall drive a car.

U U /

U U

U U U/

He/She drives a car.

He/She drove a car.

He/She will drive a car.

U S U

U S

U S

goes
_________________

went
_________________

will go
_________________

U $U U

SUU

_________________

_________________

_________________

U U U

U U

_________________

_________________

_________________

U U.. U

_________________

_________________

_________________

U.. - watch T.V., U - chess, U - market

Ne
gati
ve Sentences
Neg
tiv

Present
Structure :
Sub + do/does + not +
verb in 1st form +
other words.
I do not drive a car

Simple /
Indefinite

P
A
S
T

Structure :
Sub + did + not +
verb in 1st form +
other words.
I did not drive a car.

Work Book for General English

Structure :
Sub + shall/will + not
+ verb in 1st form +
other words.
I shall not drive a
car.
You will not drive a
car.

F
U
T
U
R
E

153

Translate the following sentences into English :

e.g. Present

Past

Future

U U / U

U U

U U U/

I do not drive a car.

I did not drive a car.

I shall not drive a car.

U U U / U

U U U

U U U U/

He/She does not drives a car.

He/She did not drive a car.

He/She will not drive a car.

U.. U U

U U

U U

_________________

_________________

_________________

U U U

U U

U U U U U

_________________

_________________

_________________

U S U U

U U

U U

_________________

_________________

_________________

U U - work hard, S - library,

Inter
ve Sentences
Interrrogati
tiv
Present
Structure :
Do/Does + sub +
verb in 1st form +
other words + ?
Do + I + drive + a car ?
Does he drive a car ?
Simple /
Indefinite

Structure :
Did + sub + verb in
P
1st form + other
A
words + ?
S
T Did + I +drive +a car ?
Did they drive a car ?

154

Structure :
Will/Shall + sub +
verb in 1st form +
other words + ?

F
U
T
U
Shall+I+ drive+a car? R
E
Will you drive a car?

Work Book for General English

Translate the following sentences into English :

e.g. Present

Past

Future

U / U?

U ?

U U/?

Do I drive a car ?

Did I drive a car ?

Shall I drive a car ?

U U /

U U /

U U U/?

Does he/she drive a car ?

Did he/she drive a car ?

Will he/she drive a car ?

UU U?

_________________

_________________

_________________

U U U?

UU ?

_________________

_________________

_________________

U U ?

U ?

_________________

_________________

_________________

Ex
er
cise
Exer
ercise
Translate the following sentences into English :

v.

U U U

__________________________________

w.

U U?

__________________________________

x.

__________________________________

y.

__________________________________

z.

__________________________________

{.

U U

__________________________________

|.

U U

__________________________________

}.

__________________________________

~.

U U

__________________________________

v. U U

Work Book for General English

__________________________________

155

Lets now discuss the present, past & future progressive in their affirmative,
interrogative and negative forms :

PR
OGRESSIVE TENSE
PROGRESSIVE
Af
ma
ti
ve Sentences
Afffir
irma
mati
tiv
Past
Structure :
Sub + was/were +
Verb in 1st from + ing +
other words.
I +was+driving +a car.
You were driving a car.
Present
Structure :
Sub + is / am / are +
verb + ing + other words.
I am driving a car.
She is driving a car.
You are driving a car.
Future
Structure :
Sub + shall be / will be +
verb + ing + other words.
I shall be driving a car.
You will be driving a car.
They will be driving a car.

Translate the following sentences into English :

e.g. Present

156

Past

Future

U UU/UU U

U UU/UUU

U UU UU/ UU U

I am driving a car.

I was driving a car.

I shall be driving a car.

U UU/U U

U UU /UU

U UU UU/UU U?

You are driving a car.

You were driving a car.

You will be driving a car.

Work Book for General English

 S U
U UU U

U U U UU

U UU U

_________________

_________________

_________________

U U U UU U

U S U UU

U UU U

_________________

_________________

_________________

U UU U

UU U UU

U UU UU U

_________________

_________________

_________________

- journey / travel, U - repair, U UU - wakeup

Ne
gati
ve Sentences
Neg
tiv
Past
Structure :
Sub + was/were + not +
verb + ing + other words.
I+ was+ not driving+ a
car.
Present
Structure :
Sub + is / am / are + not
verb + ing + other words.
You+ are +not+driving+ a
car.
Future
Structure :
Sub + shall not be / will not
be + v+ing + other words.
I+shall+not be +driving+
a car.
Translate the following sentences into English :
e.g. Present

Past

Future

U U UU/UU U

U U UU/UUU

U U UU U/ UU U

I am not driving a car.

I was not driving a car.

I shall not be driving a car.

Work Book for General English

157

U/ U U U

U/ U U U

U U UU UU

We/they are not driving

a car.

We/they were not driving They will not be driving

a car.
a car.

U U UU U

U UU

U U U UU U

_________________

_________________

_________________

U U
UU U

U U U UU

U
UU U

_________________

_________________

_________________

U U UU U

U U U UU

U U UU U

_________________

_________________

_________________

- participate, - copy, - competition

Inter
ve Sentences
Interrrogati
tiv
Past
Structure :
was / were + sub +
verb + ing + other words.
Was+ I+driving+a car?
Present
Structure :
Is / am / are + sub.
verb + ing + other words.
Am+I+driving+a car?
Future
Structure :
Shall/will + sub + be + v
+ing + other words.
Shall + I+ be+driving+ a
car?
Translate the following sentences into English :
e.g. Present

U UU/UU U?

158

Past

Future

U UU/UUU ?

U UU U U/ UU
U?
Work Book for General English

Am I driving a car?

Was I driving a car?

Shall I be driving a car?

U U UU/U ?

U U /
UU ?

U U U?

Is he/she driving a car ?

Were you driving a car ? Will you be driving a car ?

UU U? U U UU ? UU U?
_________________

_________________

_________________

S
UU U?

U
UU ?

UU UU
U?

_________________

_________________

_________________

U UU U?

UU ?

U
U UU U?

_________________

_________________

_________________

U - wasting time, S - cultural programme,

- exercise
Translate these sentences into English.

v.

x.

z.

|.

~.

U UU

w. UU U

___________________________

________________________________

U UU U

y. U U UU

___________________________

________________________________

U UU U

{. U UU

___________________________

________________________________

U UU U?

}. UU U?

___________________________

________________________________

UU ?

v. U UU U?

___________________________

________________________________

Work Book for General English

159

Now we will talk about the perfect form of Present, Past and Future tenses
in various types of sentences i.e. affirmative, negative and interrogative :

Perf
ect Tense
erfect
Af
ma
ti
ve Sentences
Afffir
irma
mati
tiv
Past
Structure :
sub + had + verb 3rd form +
other words.
I+ had +driven+ a car.
Present
Structure :
sub + has/have + verb 3rd
form + other words.
I +have +driven+a car.
Future
Structure :
sub + shall / will + have + Verb
3rd form + other words.
I+shall+have+driven+a
car.

Clear y
our doubt
your
Pr
esent P
erf
ect Tense
Present
Perf
erfect
I / We / You / They

have

He / She / It

has

Past P
erf
ect Tense
Perf
erfect
*

I / We / You / They
He / She / It.

had

Translate the following sentences into English :

e.g. Present

160

Past

Future

U U/U UU

U /UU U UU/ U

You have driven a car.

You had driven a car.

You will have driven a car.

Work Book for General English

/U U U

/U U

U U U UU

They/we have driven a car.

They/we had driven a car.

We shall have driven a car.

U U

U U

Meena has driven a car.

Meena had driven a car.

Meena will have driven a car.

_________________

_________________

_________________

U U U U U U U U
_________________

_________________

_________________

U U

U U

_________________

_________________

_________________

_________________

_________________

_________________

Ne
gati
ve Sentences
Neg
tiv
Past
Structure :
sub + had + not + verb 3rd
form + other words.
I+ had+ not+ driven+ a car.

Present
Structure :
sub + have/has + not + verb
3rd form + other words.
I +have+ not +driven+ a car.
She has not driven a car.
Future
Structure :
sub + Shall / will + not + have +
verb 3rd form + other words.
I+ shall +not +have +driven+
a car.
We will not have driven a car.

Work Book for General English

161

Translate the following sentences into English :

e.g. Present

Past

Future

U U /
U U

U U /
UU

U U U U/
UU U

I have not driven a car.

I had not driven a car.

I shall not have driven a car.

/U U U U

/U U U

U U U U UU

They/we have not driven a car. They/we had not driven a car. We shall not have driven a car.

U U

U U U

S U U U

_________________

_________________

_________________

U U U

U U U

U U U

_________________

_________________

_________________

U U

U U U

U U

_________________

_________________

_________________

- experiment,
Inter
ve Sentences
Interrrogati
tiv
Past
Structure :
Had + sub + verb 3rd form +
other words.
Had +I +driven +a car ?
Present
Structure :
Have/Has + sub + verb 3rd
form + other words.
Has he/she driven a car?
Have + I +driven +a car ?
Future
Structure :
Shall / will + sub + have + Verb
3rd form + other words.
Shall+I+have+driven+the car?
Will you have driven a car?
162

Work Book for General English

Translate the following sentences into English :

e.g. Present

Past

Future

U /
U U?

U /
UU ?

U U U/
UU U?

Have I driven a car?

Had I driven a car?

Shall I have driven a car ?

U U /
U?

U U
/ ?

U U
U / U?

Has he/she driven

a car?

Had he/she driven

a car?

Will she/he have

driven a car?

U
?

U?

_________________

_________________

_________________

U
U ?

U?

_________________

_________________

_________________

U
U?

U..
?

U U
U?

_________________

_________________

_________________

- exhibition, - boat, U - news, - fair

Translate these following sentences into English :

v.

x.

z.

SUU U

w. U U

___________________________

________________________________

y. U.. U

___________________________

________________________________

U U U

{. U U U

___________________________

________________________________

Work Book for General English

163

|.

~.

U?

}. U U ?

___________________________

________________________________

U U?

v. U U U?

___________________________

________________________________

Finally we will see the perfect continuous form of Present, Perfect and Future
Tenses in affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences.

Perf
ect Pr
ogressi
ve Tense
erfect
Pro
essiv
Af
ma
ti
ve Sentences
Afffir
irma
mati
tiv
Past
Structure : sub + had + been +
verb Ist form + ing + other words.
I +had +been +driving +a car **for two hours.
Present

Clear your doubt

Structure : sub + have/has + been +

verb Ist form + ing + other words.
I+have+been+driving+a car *since 9 o clock.
Future

Since - we use since when we say

the start of a period ( 8 o clock,
monday, 1985 etc):

Structure : sub + will/shall + have +

been + verb Ist form + ing + other words.
I+shall+have+been+driving+a car for two hours.

I have been driving a car since 9 o clock.

9 o clock --------------> now

For - we use for when we say period of time (two hours, six weeks etc.)
I have been driving the car for two hours.
Two hours ago --------------> now

Translate the following sentences into English :

e.g. Present

U UU/
UU U

Past

U UU / U U UU U U/
UUU
UUU U

I have been driving a car I had been driving a car

since 9 O clock.
since 9 O clock.
164

Future

I shall have been driving

a car for two hours.
Work Book for General English

U U U UU /
UU U

U U U UU U U UU UU/
UU U

He/She has been driving We had been driving

a car for two hours.
a car for two hours.

They will have been driving a car for two hours.

U
U UU U

Z
U UU

UU U
UU U

_________________

_________________

_________________

wy
U UU U

U U

U U U U UU
U

_________________

_________________

_________________

U U
U U UU U

U
UU

U U U
U UU U

_________________

_________________

_________________

- field, U - wait, U - flood

Ne
gati
ve Sentences
Neg
tiv
Past
Structure : sub + had + not + been +
verb Ist form + ing + other words.
I +had +not+been+ driving+ a car since 9 o clock.

Present
Structure : sub + have/has + not +
been + verb Ist form+ing + other words.
I+ have+ not+ been+ driving+ a car
since 9 o clock.
Future
Structure: sub + Shall/will + not + have +
been + verb Ist form+ing + other words.
I +shall +not +have +been +driving +a
car since nine o clock.

Work Book for General English

165

Translate the following sentences into English :

e.g. Present

Past

Future

U U
UU U /UU U

U U
UU /UUU

U U U UU
U U/ UUU U

You have not been

driving a car since
9 o clock.

You had not been

driving a car since
9 o clock.

I will not have been

driving a car since
9 o clock.

U
UU U

U U U
UU UU

U UU
U

_________________

_________________

_________________

U U
U U UU U

UU U
U UU

U S
U UU U

_________________

_________________

_________________

UU UU U

U U U U
UU

U U
U UU UU U

_________________

_________________

_________________

Inter
ve Sentences
Interrrogati
tiv
Past
Structure : Had + sub +been + verb Ist
form+ing + other words.
Had+I+been+driving+a car since 9 o
clock?
Present
Structure : Have/Has + sub + been +
verb Ist form + ing + other words.
Have+I+been+driving+a car since nine o clock?

Future
Structure: Shall/will + sub + have + been
+ verb Ist form+ing + other words.
Shall+ I+ have+ been+ driving+ a car
since 9 o clock?

166

Work Book for General English

Translate the following sentences into English :

e.g. Present

Past

Future

U
UU U /UU U?

U
UU /UUU ?

U U UU
U U/ UUU U?

Have you been

driving a car since
9 o clock?

Had you been

driving a car since
9 o clock?

Will you have been

driving a car since
9 o clock?

U
U U ?

U UU ?

v U
UU U

_________________

_________________

_________________

U UU U ?

U U UU ?

U
UU U

_________________

_________________

_________________

U UU ?

#U
UU ?

U
UU U?

_________________

_________________

_________________

- speaker, - speech, - voter

Work Book for General English

167

Wor
dw
hic
h ar
eg
oing to help y
ou in tr
ansla
ting
ord
whic
hich
are
going
you
transla
anslating
the sentences:
1.

home

25.

U/U

in / inside

2.

U U

kitchen

26.

clouds

3.

sofa

27.

bright / shiny

4.

table

28.

weather

5.

food / meal

29.

write

6.

rice

30.

read / study

7.

breakfast

31.

chair

8.

spoon

32.

day

9.

apple

33.

night

10.

go

34.

laugh

11.

eat

35.

cry / weep

12.

UU

get up

36.

wall

13.

rain

37.

stairs

14.

wash clothes

38.

books

15.

ring the bell

39.

fan

16.

sleep

40.

marks

17.

play

41.

good

18.

talk

42.

bad

19.

UU

bathe / take bath

43.

cupboard

20.

$U

market

44.

U ( ) -

watch

21.

buy

45.

U (U ) -

clock

22.

fruits

46.

bag

23.

vegetables

47.

blackboard

24.

UU

outside

168

Work Book for General English