Tenses Flashcards
(36 cards)
What is a tense in English?
A tense is a form of the verb that allows you to express time.
What are the three main types of tenses?
- Past
- Present
- Future
What is the structural formula for the past tense?
Subject + verb (2nd form) + object.
Give an example of a past tense sentence.
We met yesterday.
What is the simple present tense used for?
To talk about something currently going on, habitually performed, or a state that generally or currently exists.
What is the structural formula for the present tense?
Subject + verb (s/es) + object.
Give an example of a present tense sentence.
She lives in Spain.
What is the future tense used to describe?
An event or action that has not yet happened and is expected to happen in the future.
What is the structural formula for the future tense?
Subject + shall/will + verb (s/es) + object.
What is the past continuous tense used for?
To describe events or actions that have already occurred in the past.
What is the structural formula for the past continuous tense?
Subject + helping verb (was/were) + verb (ing) + object.
Give an example of a past continuous tense sentence.
I was watching TV.
What does the past perfect tense describe?
An event that occurred before a completed action in the past.
What is the structural formula for the past perfect tense?
Subject + had + verb (ed) + object.
Give an example of a past perfect tense sentence.
He had gone when she became ill.
What does the past perfect continuous tense represent?
Any action or event that started in the past and sometimes continued into another action or another time.
What is the structural formula for the past perfect continuous tense?
Subject + had been + verb (ing) + object (optional) + time of action.
Give an example of a past perfect continuous tense sentence.
We had been playing games for 6 hours when Dad came home.
What is the present continuous tense used for?
To talk about ongoing actions, events, or conditions that are still not finished.
What is the structural formula for the present continuous tense?
Subject + helping verb (is/am/are) + main verb (ing) + object.
Give an example of a present continuous tense sentence.
She is playing basketball.
What is the present perfect tense used to describe?
A situation or event that has already occurred but has immediate ramifications.
What is the structural formula for the present perfect tense?
Subject + helping verb (have/has) + verb (ed) + object.
Give an example of a present perfect tense sentence.
She has not finished her work yet.
