Tenses:
Examine the following sentences:
1) I completed the work.
2) I am completing the work.
3) I will complete the work.
Looks as if someone is trying to procrastinate. Well, yes, but check the structure of the sentence.
The first sentence denotes the work has been completed, i.e., refers to past time.
The second sentence denotes the work is being done currently, i.e., present time.
The third sentence denotes that the work will be done in the future, i.e., future time.
Thus the verb complete or any verb for that matter may denote past, present and future time.
Check the tables below to get an idea of how a verb plays a role in denoting the time or tense of the sentence:
Present Tense | ||
Person | Singular Number | Plural Number |
1st Person | I joke | We joke |
2nd Person | You joke | You joke |
3rd Person | He jokes | They joke |
Past Tense | ||
Person | Singular Number | Plural Number |
1st Person | I joked | We joked |
2nd Person | You joked | You joked |
3rd Person | He joked | They joked |
Future Tense | ||
Person | Singular Number | Plural Number |
1st Person | I will joke | We will joke |
2nd Person | You will joke | You will joke |
3rd Person | He will joke | They will joke |
Below are examples using the same verb “to joke” as an example to denote the various tenses, just to brush up your skills, and this is no joke, mind it!
Simple Present: I joke.
Present Continuous: I am joking.
Present Perfect: I have joked.
Present Perfect Continuous: I have been joking.
Simple Past: I joked.
Past Continuous: I was joking.
Past Perfect: I had joked.
Past Perfect Continuous: I had been joking.
Simple Future: I shall/will joke.
Future Continuous: I shall/will be joking.
Future Perfect: I shall/will have joked.
Future Perfect Continuous: I shall have been joking.
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