Tenses | English Grammar

#Introduction to Tense

In English, tenses show the time of an action. A verb can refer to:

1. Present time – something happening now.

   • I write this letter to please you.

2. Past time – something that has already happened.

   • I wrote the letter in his presence.

3. Future time – something that will happen.

   • I shall write another letter tomorrow.

So, there are three main tenses in English:

• Present Tense (I write, I love)

• Past Tense (I wrote, I loved)

• Future Tense (I shall write, I shall love)

The word tense comes from the Latin tempus, meaning time.

Sometimes, tenses don’t strictly follow time. For example:

• I wish I knew the answer. (Past tense form, but meaning refers to present)

• Let’s wait till he comes. (Present tense form, but action is in future)

In short, tense = time of the verb action

#Simple Present Tense 

The Simple Present Tense is mainly used to talk about actions that are regular, true, or fixed.

1. Habitual Actions – to show daily routines or repeated actions.

   • He drinks tea every morning.

   • I get up at five o’clock every day.

2. General Truths or Facts – things that are always true.

   • The sun rises in the east.

   • Honey is sweet.

3. Immediate Actions in Exclamations – when something is happening right now.

   • Here comes the bus!

   • There she goes!

4. Vivid Narration – to make past events sound lively or dramatic.

   • Soharab now rushes forward and strikes Rustam.

5. Fixed Timetables/Programmes – for future events that are scheduled.

   • The train leaves at 5:20.

   • The match starts at 9 o’clock.

Other special uses:

• To introduce quotations: Keats says, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.”

• In time/condition clauses (instead of future tense): I’ll wait till you finish your lunch.

• In sports commentary or live reporting: Dhoni hits the ball and it goes for a six!

• With verbs that are not usually used in continuous form (like know, believe, love).
  
  

Affirmative Sentence 

Subject+V1+s/es+Object (s/es comes only with Third Person Singular)

- He plays cricket.

- We play chess.

- I teach English.

Negative Sentence

Subject+do or does not+v1+object  (Does comes only with Third Person Singular)

- He does not play cricket. 

- I do not teach English. 

Interrogative Sentence 

Do/Does+subject+v1+object?

- Do I teach English?

#Simple Past Tense 

The Simple Past Tense is used to talk about actions that happened and were completed in the past.

1. Completed Actions in the Past – often with time expressions like yesterday, last week, ago, in 2005.

   • The steamer sailed yesterday.

   • I received his letter a week ago.

   • She left school last year.

2. Past Actions without Mentioning Time – sometimes the time is understood from the context.

   • I learnt Hindi in Nagpur.

   • I didn’t sleep well. (meaning: last night)

   • Babar defeated Rana Sanga at Kanwaha.

3. Past Habits – to show actions that someone used to do regularly in the past.

• He studied many
  
  hours every day.

• She always carried an umbrella.

Affirmative Sentence 

Subject+v2+object

- She cooked good food. 

Negative Sentence 

Subject+did not+v1+object

- She did not cook good food. 

Interrogative Sentence 

Did+subject+v1+object?

- Did she cook good food?

#Simple Future Tense 

The Simple Future Tense is used to talk about actions or events that will happen in the future.

1. Future as a Fact (things we cannot control)

   • I shall be twenty next Saturday.

   • It will be Diwali in a week.

   • We will know our exam results in May.

2. Predictions or Beliefs about the Future – often used with phrases like I think, I’m sure, I expect, I believe, probably.

   • I think Pakistan will win the match.

   • I’m sure Helen will get a first class.

3. Instant Decisions (made at the time of speaking)

   • It is raining. I will take an umbrella.

   • “Mr. Sinha is very busy.” – “All right, I’ll wait.”

“Going to” Form (be + going to + verb)

The going to form is used in special situations:

1. Planned Actions (decided before speaking)

   • I am going to resign from my job.

   • She is going to buy a car.

2. Something Likely or Certain (based on present evidence)

   • Look at those clouds. It is going to rain.

   • The boat is full of water. It is going to sink.

   • She is going to have a baby.

3. Action about to Happen (immediate future)

   • Let’s get into the train. It’s going to leave.

   • Look! The cracker is going to explode.

Affirmative Sentence 

Subject+shall/will+v1+object 

I will Play Cricket 

Negative Sentence 

Subject+shall/will not/v1+object 

I will not play cricket. 

Interrogative Sentence 

Shall/will+Subject/V1/object ?

Will I play cricket?

#Present Continueous Tense 

The Present Continuous Tense is used to show actions that are happening right now or situations that are temporary.

1. Action happening at the moment of speaking

   • She is singing now.

   • The boys are playing hockey.

2. Temporary action (not necessarily at the exact moment)

   • I am reading “David Copperfield.” (I may not be reading it this second, but it’s my current activity.)

3. Planned or arranged future action

   • I am going to the cinema tonight.

   • My uncle is arriving tomorrow.

4. Annoying or persistent habits (with adverbs like always, continually, constantly)

• My dog is very silly; he is always running out into the road.

Affirmative Sentence 

Subject+am/is/are+V-ing+object 

I am Writing a letter 

Negative Sentence 

Subject+am/is/are+not+V-ing+object 

I am not writing a letter now.

Interrogative Sentence 

am/is/are+subject+V-ing+object ?

Am I writing a letter now?

#Past Continuous Tense 

The Past Continuous Tense is used to show an action that was happening at a certain time in the past.

1. Action going on in the past

   • We were watching TV all evening.

   • It was getting darker.

2. Longer action interrupted by a shorter action – Past Continuous shows the longer action, while Simple Past shows the shorter one.

   • The light went out while I was reading.

   • When I saw him, he was playing chess.

the Past Continuous is often paired with the Simple Past to describe two actions happening at the same time, where one interrupts the other.

Affirmative Sentence 

Subject+was/were+v-ing+object 

He was buying books.

Negative sentence 

Subject+was/were+not+v-ing+object 

He was not buying books.

Interrogative Sentence 

was/were+Subject+v-ing+object ?

Was he buying books?

#Future Continuous Tense

The Future Continuous Tense is used to show an action that will be happening at a particular time in the future.

1. Action in progress at a future time

   • I suppose it will be raining when we start.

   • This time tomorrow, I will be sitting on the beach in Singapore.

   • “Can I see you at 5 o’clock?” – “Please don’t come then, I will be watching the tennis match on TV.”

2. Planned or expected future actions – things that are already arranged or will normally happen.

• I will be staying here till Sunday.

• He will be meeting us next week.

• The postman will be coming soon.

Affirmative Sentence 

Subject+shall/will+be+v-ing+object 

Ramesh will be sleeping at this time 

Negative Sentence 

Subject+shall/will+not+be+v-ing+object 

Ramesh will not be sleeping at this time. 

Interrogative Sentence 

shall/will+Subject+be+v-ing+object ?

Will Ramesh be sleeping at this time?

#Present Perfect Tense 

The Present Perfect Tense connects the past with the present. It is used to describe actions that happened in the past but still matter now.

1. Recently completed actions (with just)

   • He has just gone out.

   • It has just struck ten.

2. Past actions without a specific time

   • Have you read “Gulliver’s Travels”?

   • I have never known him to be angry.

   • Mr. Hari has been to Japan.

3. Past actions with present results/effects

   • Gopi has eaten all the biscuits. (Now there are none left.)

   • I have cut my finger. (It is bleeding now.)

   • I have finished my work. (Now I am free.)

4. Actions that started in the past and continue up to the present (with since/for)

   • I have known him for a long time.

   • He has been ill since last week.

   • We have lived here for ten years.

   • We haven’t seen Padina for several months.

Affirmative Sentence 

Subject+have/has+v3+object

We have received our books. 

Negative Sentence 

Subject+have/has+not+v3+object 

We have not received our books 

Interrogative Sentence 

have/has+Subject+v3+object ?

Have we received our books?

#Past Perfect Tense 

The Past Perfect Tense is used to show that one action was completed before another action or time in the past.

1. Action completed before a specific time in the past

   • I met him in New Delhi in 1996. I had seen him five years before.

2. When two past actions happen, the earlier action takes Past Perfect and the later one takes Simple Past

• When I reached the station, the train had started. (So I missed it.)

• I had done my exercise when Hari came to see me.

• I had written the letter before he arrived.

Affirmative Sentence 

subject+had+v3+object

I had reached home before it rained. 

Negative Sentence 

subject+had+not+v3+object

I had not reached home before it rained 

Interrogative Sentence 

had+subject+v3+object?

Had I reached home before it rained?

#Future Perfect Tense 

The Future Perfect Tense is used to describe an action that will be finished before a specific time in the future.

• I shall have written my exercise by then.

• He will have left before you go to see him.

• By the end of this month, I will have worked here for five years.

Affirmative Sentence 

Subject+shall/will+have+v3+object 

I will have written the letters to you

Negative Sentence 

Subject+shall/will+not+have+v3+object 

I will not have written the letters to you. 

Interrogative Sentence 

shall/will+Subject+have+v3+object?

Will I have written the letter to you . 

 

#Present Perfect Continuous Tense 

The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used when an action started in the past and is still continuing in the present.

• He has been sleeping for five hours (and is still sleeping).

• They have been building the bridge for several months.

• They have been playing since four o’clock.

Affirmative Sentence 

Subject+have/has+been+v-ing+object 

I have been learning English for two years.

Negative Sentence 

Subject+have/has+not+been+v-ing+object 

I have not been learning English for two years 

Interrogative Sentence 

have/has+Subject+been+v-ing+object ?

Have I been learning English for two years ?

#Past Perfect Continuous Tense

The Past Perfect Continuous Tense is used for an action that began before a certain point in the past and continued up to that time.

• At that time, he had been writing a novel for two months.

• When Mr. Mukerji came to the school in 1995, Mr. Anand had already been teaching there for five years.

Affirmative Sentence

Subject+had+been+v-ing+object

I had been teaching him for two years. 

Negative Sentence 

Subject+had+not+been+v-ing+object

I had not been teaching him for two years 

Interrogative Sentence 

had+Subject+been+v-ing+object?

Had I been teaching him for two years ?

Articles | English Grammar

# Introduction 

The words a, an, and the are called Articles, and they are always placed before nouns. In English, there are two types of articles – a (or an) and the.

The words a or an are known as the Indefinite Article because they refer to a person or thing in a general way, not something particular. For example, when we say a doctor, it means any doctor, not a specific one. The indefinite article is always used before singular countable nouns. Some examples are: a book, an orange, a girl.

On the other hand, the word the is called the Definite Article because it points out a particular person or thing. For example, He saw the doctor means a specific doctor that we already know about. Unlike a or an, the definite article can be used not only with singular countable nouns, but also with plural countable nouns and even with uncountable nouns. Some examples are: the book, the books, the milk.

#Use of A and An Articles  (Indefinite Articles) 

The choice between a and an depends on sound, not just on the first letter of the word.

We use an before a word that begins with a vowel sound. Examples: an ass, an enemy, an ink-pad, an orange, an umbrella, an hour, an honest man, an heir. Notice that in words like hour, honest, and heir, the letter h is not pronounced. That is why they begin with a vowel sound and take an. 

Ex. Ramesh is an immature boy.

     - That was an impactful movie. 

We use a before a word that begins with a consonant sound. Examples: a boy, a woman, a yard, a horse, a hole. Sometimes a word begins with a vowel letter but actually has a consonant sound. In such cases, we also use a. Examples: a university, a union, a European, a ewe, a unicorn, a useful article. These words start with the sound “yu,” which is a consonant sound.

Ex. He is a boy.

     - It is a beautiful day.

     - He is a cricketer. 

Similarly, we say: a one-rupee note, such a one, a one-eyed man, because the word one begins with the sound “w.”

In older English, and still among some native speakers, an is used before words beginning with “h” if the first syllable is not stressed. Examples: an hotel, an historical novel. However, in modern English, it is more common to say a hotel, a historical novel.

The Indefinite Article (a or an) is used in the following ways:

1. In the sense of “one.”

   • Twelve inches make a foot.

   • Not a word was said.

   • A word to the wise is sufficient.

   • A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

2. In the vague sense of “a certain.”

   • A Kishore Kumar is suspected by the police. (= a certain person named Kishore Kumar)

   • One evening a beggar came to my door.

3. In the sense of “any,” to represent a whole class.

   • A pupil should obey his teacher. (= any pupil)

   • A cow is a useful animal. (= cows in general)

4. To make a proper noun into a common noun.

   • A Daniel comes to judgement! (= a very wise man, comparing someone to Daniel of the Bible)

# Use of the Definite Article – “The”

The word the is called the Definite Article because it points to a particular person or thing. 

1. When we talk about a particular person or thing, or one already mentioned.

   • The book you want is out of print. (the book = the one you want)

   • Let’s go to the park. (the park in this town)

   • The girl cried. (the girl already talked about)

2. When a singular noun is used to represent a whole class.

   • The cow is a useful animal. (= cows in general)

   • The horse is a noble animal.

   • The cat loves comfort.

   • The rose is the sweetest of all flowers.

   • The banyan is a kind of fig tree.
     (Wrong: a kind of a fig tree)

   # Man and woman can also be used in a general sense without articles:

   • Man is the only animal that uses fire.

   • Woman is man’s mate.
     
     

   • But in modern English, it is more common to say:

   • A man and a woman OR men and women.
     
     

   • Example: A woman is more sensitive than a man.

3. Before certain proper names, especially place-names:

   • Oceans and seas → the Pacific, the Black Sea

   • Rivers → the Ganga, the Nile

   • Canals → the Suez Canal

   • Deserts → the Sahara

   • Groups of islands → the West Indies

   • Mountain ranges → the Himalayas, the Alps

   • Some countries (with Republic, Kingdom, or plural names) → the Irish Republic, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Ukraine

   • Cities with “the” → the Hague

4. Before names of certain books. (Religious/classical texts)

   • The Vedas, the Puranas, the Iliad, the Ramayana.
     But we say: Homer’s Iliad, Valmiki’s Ramayana.

5. Before names of unique things.

   • The sun, the sky, the ocean, the sea, the earth.

   • Sometimes the is placed before a common noun to give it an abstract meaning:

     • The warrior (the warlike spirit) in him was aroused.

6. Before a proper noun when it is qualified by an adjective or a defining clause.

   • The great Caesar, the immortal Shakespeare.

   • The Mr. Roy whom you met last night is my uncle.

7. With superlatives.

   • The darkest cloud has a silver lining.

   • This is the best book of elementary chemistry.

8. With ordinals.

   • He was the first man to arrive.

#When to Omit Articles 

Sometimes in English, we do not use any article (a, an, or the) before a noun. This usually happens in the following cases:

1. Articles are omitted before names of substances and abstract nouns (uncountable nouns) when used in a general sense. For example: Sugar is bad for your teeth, Gold is a precious metal, Wisdom is the gift of heaven, and Honesty is the best policy. However, if these nouns refer to something specific, then the is used. For instance: Would you pass me the sugar? (meaning the sugar on the table) or The wisdom of Solomon is great.
2. No article is used before plural countable nouns in a general sense. For example: Children like chocolates or Computers are used in many offices. But when these nouns refer to specific people or things, we use the, as in Where are the children? (meaning our children).
3. Most proper nouns—names of people, continents, countries, cities, individual mountains, lakes, or islands—do not take an article. We say Gopal, Europe, Pakistan, Nagpur, Mount Everest.
4. The article is usually dropped before names of meals when used in a general sense: What time do you have lunch? or Dinner is ready. But when meals are described with an adjective or specified, we use a or the. For example: I had a late lunch today or The dinner we had at the Tourist Hotel was very nice.
5. We do not use an article before the names of languages, as in We are studying English or They speak Punjabi at home.
6. Nouns like school, college, university, church, bed, hospital, prison omit the article when the place is used for its primary purpose: I learnt French at school, We go to church on Sundays, He is still in hospital. But if we talk about the place as a building or object, then the is used: The school is very near my home, The bed is broken, I went to the hospital to see my uncle.
7. We leave out the article before names of relations such as father, mother, aunt, uncle, and also words like cook or nurse when they mean “our cook” or “our nurse.” For example: Father has returned, Aunt wants you to see her, Cook has given notice.
8. No article is used before predicative nouns that denote a unique position, i.e., a position normally held by one person at a time. For example: He was elected chairman of the Board or Mr. Banerji became Principal of the College in 1995.
9. The article is dropped in certain verb + object phrases, such as: to catch fire, to take breath, to give battle, to cast anchor, to lose heart, to set sail, to leave home, to strike root, to take offence.
10. Articles are omitted in certain preposition + object phrases, for example: at home, in debt, by day, by night, at noon, at sunset, on foot, by train, on horseback, in jest, at ease, above ground, under ground.

Sense and Sensibility and The Old Man and The Sea | Material

 Sense and Sensibility (Click here to download PDF) 

About Jane Austen

Writing Style of Austen

Overview 

Plot Structure 

Historical Context | Backdrop of Regency Era, Research Article , 

The Rules of Regency Society in Jane Austen’s Novels

Study Guide on Jane Austen's Works 

# Refer to these sites for summary, critical analysis, and themes 

SparkNotes , Lit Charts , Cliff Notes , Britannica 

Critical Insights into Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility (Read online) 

Title Justification of Sense and Sensibility 

From Sensibility to Sense—An Analysis on theShift of Marianne’s Views on Marriage in Senseand Sensibility 

Sense and Sensibility and Psychoanalysis: Jane Austen and the Kristevan Semiotic

# The Old Man and The Sea (Click here for original text)

Santiago as Heming Way Code Hero 

The Hemingway Code Hero is a character who embodies a specific set of optimistic characteristics in the face of a chaotic and often painful world. This hero maintains a code of honor, courage, and endurance to prove their self-worth and achieve grace under pressure. They don't shy away from life's inherent meaninglessness, but rather find purpose in their own actions and the struggle itself.

Facing the Absurd World

The world is often "chaotic and painful." The Code Hero, like Santiago, recognizes this reality. For Santiago, this is the reality of his long period of bad luck—he has gone 84 days without catching a fish. He is old and fragile, facing immense emotional and physical pain due to his age and poor fortune. He must confront this struggle with dignity, refusing to be defeated by the uncontrollable forces of the world.

• Santiago has gone 84 days without catching a fish, mocked as “salao.” (Worst form of luck)

• He admits he has no luck, but still says: “Every day is a new day.” (Renewed sense of purpose, existentialist)

• He pushes himself to row further than any other fisherman, accepting risk. 

The Hero's Inner Courage and Self-Discipline

The core of a Code Hero is their internal courage. This is not about being fearless, but about having the courage to act and the will to persevere despite adversity. Santiago demonstrates this by continuing to fish every day. His self-discipline and unwavering hope are the "key to success."

• Santiago keeps his lines precise, saying: “It is better to be exact. Then when luck comes you are ready.”

• He endures hunger by chewing raw tuna strips for strength.

• He forces himself to sleep in short bursts on the skiff to conserve stamina.

• When his hand cramps, he tells himself calmly to endure until it relaxes.

The Ultimate Test: Defeat vs. Defeat

A Hero faces the "ultimate defeat" of death. However, they also seek to "avoid defeat of defeat." This means that while they cannot escape death, they can live with honor and courage to ensure their struggle is not meaningless. For Santiago, the ultimate test is his battle with the marlin.

• Santiago fights the marlin for three days, refusing to cut the line though it drags him far out.

• He kills the marlin with the harpoon, but sharks devour it piece by piece.

• He returns only with the skeleton, yet does not see himself as beaten: “A man can be destroyed but not defeated.”

The Catalyst for Self-Discovery

The struggle becomes a "catalyst for self-discovery." Santiago's grueling fight with the marlin is a test of his limits, pushing him to a "higher sense of being" and helping him "seek experience that makes you feel alive."

• Santiago admires the marlin as a noble opponent: “You are my brother, but I will kill you.”

• He admits his age: “I may not be as strong as I think, but I know many tricks.”

• He recalls his youth in Africa watching lions play, which reminds him of his enduring inner spirit.

• Through struggle, he learns his greatest strength is endurance and willpower.

Achieving Moral Victory and Dignity

Ultimately, the hero's victory is a "moral victory," not necessarily a physical one. When the sharks eat the marlin, Santiago loses his prize, but he has not lost his dignity. True victory lies in the sense of having fought with courage.

• Despite returning empty-handed, villagers are in awe of the giant skeleton.

• Manolin pledges to fish with him again: “Now we fish together again.”

• Santiago sleeps in peace at the end, dreaming of lions on the beach, a symbol of vitality and dignity.

Grace Under Pressure

Santiago's story is the perfect illustration of "grace under pressure," a core concept in Hemingway's work. By following his personal code of honor and courage, he proves his "worth/manhood" against the chaos and violence of the world.

• Santiago bears pain silently: when the marlin cuts his hands, he simply says, “Pain does not matter to a man.”

• "Cheerful and Undefeated eyes" despite failure. 

• He speaks respectfully to the marlin, never losing composure even in exhaustion.

• When sharks attack, he fights them with harpoon, oar, and even a broken tiller, refusing to surrender.

• He laughs at his own weakness, showing calm humor even in defeat.

[Note: These are the key points for your answer on Santiago as a Hemingway Hero. You may use these notes as a guide and are also free to add more illustrations or examples from the novella to strengthen your answer]