When it comes to the English language, grammar plays the most important role. In order to create a perfect sentence in English, it is essential that you are well versed with tenses. In English grammar, tenses are probably the most important lessons. It helps in deciding the formation of a sentence in English. To learn more about tenses, read the below article and understand the sentence structure better.
Why are Tenses Important?
Tenses are the parts which help in framing short and long sentences. A little or no knowledge of tenses might lead to huge problems for the students. Tenses might be the most difficult lesson for the students because of the rules attached to the lesson. Therefore, earlier teachers who taught tenses made sure that the students practised enough translations to improve their skills. But with time, the pattern has changed, for which many students are confused. Below, we have briefed you about the tenses to help you improve your grammar skills.
Classification of Tenses
The broad classification of tenses are:
- Present
- Past
- Future
You might now understand the three kinds of tenses, but you will need a clear picture of all three tenses in detail for the formation of sentences. A lot of people may get confused with the present and past tense, and therefore, it is essential to be well versed with the kinds of tenses and their usage in different sentences.
| Present | Past | Future |
| Indefinite, Continuous, Perfect, Perfect continuous | Indefinite, Continuous, Perfect, Perfect continuous | Indefinite, Continuous, Perfect, Perfect continuous -(Seldom used) |
Why Should We Learn Tenses?
Tenses are a fundamental part of the English language. They are an important part of the language as they help in the formation of sentences. Tenses help in various ways:
- To describe the things that take place at different times – present, past and future.
- To build complex sentences and convey complex ideas.
- Tenses help in bringing clarity to the communication.
- Learning the various tenses of the words will help you improve your vocabulary.
A lot of people get confused with the past and present tenses of the terms. When the students are asked to change the words from present to the past tense, they might get confused. A lot of people believe that all those words which end with ‘ed’ are the past forms of various present verbs. But, if you look at the various three letter words, like bed, wed, fed, etc., end with ‘ed’ but are not in the past forms.
How to Improve Tenses?
In order to improve your grammar skills, you must have a complete idea of what tenses are and how they are used to form sentences. Check the steps mentioned below to understand the usage of tenses in various situations.
● Learn and Understand the Rules of Tenses
Each kind of tense is divided into continuous, perfect and perfect continuous forms. Therefore, do not worry about learning all the rules at once. You can learn the rules slowly. You must understand the rules and keep in mind the formats, i.e. ‘verb + ing’, ‘has or have or had + verb’ and ‘has/have/had + verb + ing’.
● Understanding the Formation of Sentences
After learning the rules of tenses, it is essential that they understand how to use those in various sentences. Keep in mind to focus on the tenses while forming the sentences.
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● Exposure to English Everyday
When it comes to English, exposure plays a vital role. Reading books, newspapers, watching movies, etc., helps you gain more exposure. Listening to the news and watching English movies will help you improve your speaking skills.
English grammar is an important part of the language learning process. Tenses play a vital role as it makes your communication smoother and makes it understandable to others. It helps in making communication more effective. Tenses help in expressing your ideas in a better way and explain when the event occurs. We hope that the above-mentioned information will be helpful to you. Read the full article and understand the usage of tenses.
