Uses of Tense

Tenses in English are used to indicate when an action takes place. They allow us to understand the
timing of events or actions in relation to the present, past, or future. English has several tenses, each
serving a specific purpose. Here are some common uses of tenses in English:

Present Simple Tense:

Used for general facts and truths: "The Earth revolves around the sun."(s.+ v.(v1/v5)+o)

To express habits or routines: "I wake up at 6 AM every day."

In narratives and storytelling for a sense of immediacy: "He enters the room, and she looks surprised."

To talk about future scheduled plan: “I go to Darjeeling next month.”

Present Continuous Tense:

To describe actions happening right now: "I am writing this message."(s+is/am/are+v4=obj.)

For temporary or ongoing actions: "She's studying for her exams this week."

To talk about future arrangements or plans: "I'm meeting my friend tomorrow."

Present Perfect Tense:

To describe actions that started in the past and have relevance to the present: "I have finished my
homework."

For experiences in a person's life: "I've been to Paris."

I ………have lost……….. (lose) my wallet. I have no fare for the bus.

I………lost…(lose) my wallet yesterday.

Past Simple Tense:

Used to talk about completed actions in the past: "I visited New York last year."

In storytelling or recounting events: "He walked into the room and smiled."

Past Continuous Tense:

To describe actions those were ongoing in the past: "She was reading a book when the phone rang."

To provide background information in a narrative: "It was raining when I left."

Past Perfect Tense:

To show that one action in the past occurred before another: "I had already eaten when she arrived."
In reported speech: "She said she had seen the movie."

Future Simple Tense:

To talk about actions that will happen in the future: "I will call you later."

For predictions or assumptions: "It will probably rain tomorrow."

Future Continuous Tense:

To describe actions that will be ongoing in the future: "I will be working all day tomorrow."

To emphasize the duration of an action in the future: "By this time next year, I will have been working
here for five years."

Future Perfect Tense:

To show that an action will be completed before a certain point in the future: "By the time you arrive, I
will have finished my work."

For predictions about something that will have happened: "She will have graduated by next summer."

Conditional Tenses (e.g., Zero, First, Second, Third Conditionals):

If you heat ice, it melts.(real/truth)[Zero conditional]

If you call me, I will attend the party.( first conditional/possible)

If I were a bird, I would fly in the sky.[second conditional/ present hypothetical]

If I had gone to Pokhara, I would have seen Phewa lake.[ past hypothetical/ Unreal hypothetical]

Used to express hypothetical or unreal situations and their potential outcomes: "If it rains, we won't go
to the beach."

Mixed Tenses:

Often, sentences in English use a combination of tenses to convey complex meanings, especially in
longer narratives or discussions.

Imperative Mood:

Used for giving commands or making requests: "Please close the door."

To offer suggestions: "Let's go to the movies."

Understanding and using these tenses correctly is essential for effective communication in English. The
choice of tense depends on the context and the specific time frame you want to convey.