Tenses

In grammar, tenses refer to the forms of a verb that indicate the time at which an action or state occurs. They express when an event happens—past, present, or future—and also its duration and completeness. Different tenses use various verb conjugations, often involving auxiliary verbs, to provide a nuanced understanding of the timeline and nature of the action. Mastering tenses is crucial for constructing grammatically correct and clear sentences, allowing for precise communication of events and their relationships in time. The choice of tense depends on the speaker's intention to portray time in the event/subject.

Tenses meaning with examples

• She **walked** to the store yesterday (Past Simple). The action of walking is completed in the past. The use of 'walked' helps show that there's nothing more to discuss as there are no lingering effects of the action. Its clear the action is over and done with.
• He **is writing** a letter right now (Present Continuous). This tense emphasizes that the writing activity is happening at the present moment. The use of 'is writing' also conveys its an ongoing process. This tense can be useful when something is taking place or when something else is about to take place.
• They **will travel** to Europe next summer (Future Simple). This indicates a planned action that will happen in the future. The use of 'will travel' can be use to convey a sense of certainty, and can also be used to create a sense of excitement about the future.
• I **had eaten** before he arrived (Past Perfect). This highlights an action completed before another past event. The use of 'had eaten' indicates this specific action took place and was over and done before a secondary action (he arrived).
• We **have been studying** English for five years (Present Perfect Continuous). This tense shows an action that started in the past and continues up to the present. The use of 'have been studying' shows duration of the action.