Past Indefinite

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Past Indefinite Tense

The past indefinite tense, also known as the simple past tense, is used to describe actions or events that occurred at a specific point in the past and are now completed.

We use the past indefinite tense in the following situations:

a)    Narrating Past Events: The past indefinite tense is commonly used to narrate or describe completed actions or events that happened in the past.

a.    Example: "She visited Paris last summer."

b)    Talking About Past Habits or Routines: When discussing habits or routines that were regular occurrences in the past, we use the past indefinite tense.

a.    Example: "He played tennis every Saturday morning."

c)    Describing Past Actions with Specific Time References: When referring to actions or events that happened at a definite point in the past, the past indefinite tense is used.

a.    Example: "They arrived at the airport at 9 PM."

Overall, the past indefinite tense is utilized to convey actions, habits, events, or states that occurred and were completed in the past, with a specific focus on their completion and past occurrence.

 Key Rules:

1. Verb Form: Employ the second form of the verb.
2. Negative Sentences: Use "did not" for negation.
3. Interrogative Sentences: Start with "Did."
4. Verb Form in Negative and Interrogative Sentences: Use the first form of the verb.

Sentence Structures:

1. Affirmative Sentence: Subject + verb + object.
2. Negative Sentence: Subject + did not + verb + object.
3. Interrogative Sentence: Did + subject + verb + object?
4. Negative Interrogative Sentence: Did + subject + not + verb + object?

Examples:

Affirmative:

1. He crossed the river in half an hour.
2. She danced at the party.
3. They finished their homework yesterday.
4. The cat chased the mouse.
5. We watched the movie last night.

Negative:

1. She did not like long journeys.
2. He did not complete the project on time.
3. They did not attend the meeting.
4. The dog did not bark all night.
5. We did not receive the package.

Interrogative:

1. Did you like to go to the dance club?
2. Did she finish her homework?
3. Did they visit their grandparents last weekend?
4. Did the cat catch the mouse?
5. Did you watch the movie?

Negative Interrogative:

1. Did you not cook the food?
2. Did she not attend the meeting?
3. Did they not finish their work?
4. Did the dog not bark all night?
5. Did you not receive the package?

How useful is this tense?

We can make many write-ups by using only past indefinite tense. In the following example see that most of the sentences are of past indefinite tense.

Title: The Hare and the Tortoise

Once upon a time, in a big forest, there was a fast hare.
He liked to tell everyone how fast he was.
The slow tortoise heard him and wanted to race.
The hare agreed, thinking it would be an easy win.
They started the race, and the hare ran very fast.
He thought he would win easily and took a nap.
The tortoise kept going slowly but steadily.
When the hare woke up, he saw the tortoise near the finish line.
He ran as fast as he could, but the tortoise won.
The animals were surprised and cheered for the tortoise.
The hare felt sorry and learned not to be too proud.
He respected the tortoise and never bragged again.
From then on, everyone knew to be patient and steady.

 

FAQ:

1. How do we form interrogative sentences in the past indefinite tense?
• Interrogative sentences in the past indefinite tense begin with 'Did' followed by the subject and then the verb.
2. Can contractions be used in the past indefinite tense?
• Yes, contractions like 'didn't' (did not) can be used in negative sentences of the past indefinite tense for informal writing or speech.
3. Are there any specific time indicators used with the past indefinite tense?
• No specific time indicators are required, but adverbs of time can be used to provide context.
4. What is the difference between the past indefinite tense and the present perfect tense?
• The past indefinite tense refers to completed actions in the past, while the present perfect tense indicates actions that occurred at an unspecified time before the present.
5. Can we use adverbs of frequency with the past indefinite tense?
• Yes, adverbs of frequency like 'always,' 'often,' 'sometimes,' etc., can be used with the past indefinite tense to describe the frequency of past actions.
6. Do we always need to use 'did' in negative and interrogative sentences of the past indefinite tense?
• Yes, 'did' is necessary to form negative and interrogative sentences in the past indefinite tense.

For practice see

Past indefinite (practice)-1

Past indefinite (practice)-2

Present Perfect continuous (practice)-2

Rules of present perfect continuous  

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Q1) Translate following sentences into your mother tongue.

1) River has been overflowing since July.

2)  People have been protesting against corruption for test seven days.

3) Workers have been demanding salary rise since last year.

4) He has been appearing in the exam for two years.

5) You have not been sleeping for two days.

6) They have not been going to school since Tuesday.

7) Have you not been   taking food since Monday?

8) Kalash has been writing an essay for half an hour.

9) She has been enjoying good rapport with her teacher since beginning.

10) Children have been dancing for two hours.

11) He has been searching job for three months.

12) Father has been driving car for two hours.

13) I have been preparing a book for six months.

14) My uncle has been living in Indore   since 1998.

15) You have not been paying rent for four months.

Q2) Write 15 sentences   in present perfect tenses.

All see present perfect continuous (practice)-1

Present perfect continuous (practice)-1

Rules of present perfect continuous tense

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Q1) Translate following Sentences into your mother tongue.

1)      He has been learning English for three months.

2)      Temperature has been rising for last three days.

3)      He has been walking since early morning.

4)      She has been waiting for her turn since 2 O’clock.

5)      He has not been suffering from Malaria since yesterday.

6)      Have you been running for long time?

7)      Doctor has been examining the patients for three hours.

8)      Have you not been feeling well since lunch time?

9)      Children have been watching cartoon since 5 O’clock.

10)  I have been supporting him for quite long time.

11)  I have been working in the garden since afternoon.

12)  Your mobile has been ringing for fifteen minutes.

13)   Plumber has been repairing tap for one hour.

14)  It has been raining for two days.

15)  Scientists have been trying to find treatment for AIDS for many years.

Q2) Write 15 sentences in present Perfect continuous

For further practice

see present perfect continuous (practice)-2

Present perfect continuous

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Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Present perfect continuous tense indicates ongoing actions that are not yet completed, with emphasis on their duration. This article delves into its usage, rules, and sentence structures.

Key Rules:

1. Verb Form: Utilize the first form of the verb with 'ing' added.
2. Helping Verbs: Use 'has been' for third-person singular subjects and 'have been' for plural subjects.
3. Negative Sentences: Insert 'not' after the helping verb.
4. Interrogative Sentences: Begin with 'Has/Have' followed by subject-verb-object order.

Sentence Structure:

1. Affirmative Sentence: Subject + has been/have been + verb + object.
2. Negative Sentence: Subject + has/have + not + been + verb + object.
3. Interrogative Sentence: Has/Have + subject + been + verb + object?
4. Negative Interrogative Sentence: Has/Have + subject + not + been + verb + object?

Examples:

Affirmative:

1. He has been living in Mumbai since 1998.
2. They have been playing tennis for two hours.
3. She has been studying English for a year.
4. The flowers have been blooming since spring.
5. We have been waiting for the bus for thirty minutes.

Negative:

1. They have not been going to school for 5 days.
2. She has not been feeling well since yesterday.
3. He has not been practicing the piano lately.
4. We have not been attending meetings this week.
5. The dog has not been eating its food for days.

Interrogative:

1. Have you not been going to the gym for a month?
2. Has she been working on the project all day?
3. Have they been waiting for you since morning?
4. Have you been taking care of your health recently?
5. Has it not been raining in this area for weeks?

Negative Interrogative:

1. Has she not been working in this office for 2 months?
2. Have they not been cleaning the house regularly?
3. Has he not been attending classes since last week?
4. Have you not been practicing yoga for a while?
5. Have we not been discussing this issue for months?

FAQ:

1. What does the present perfect continuous tense indicate?
• The present perfect continuous tense indicates ongoing actions that started in the past and continue up to the present moment.
2. When do we use 'has been' and 'have been' in the present perfect continuous tense?
• 'Has been' is used with third-person singular subjects (he, she, it, a specific name), while 'have been' is used with plural subjects (I, we, they, you).
3. How do we form interrogative sentences in the present perfect continuous tense?
• Interrogative sentences begin with 'Has/Have' followed by the subject and then the verb.
4. Are there any specific time indicators used with the present perfect continuous tense?
• Yes, 'since' is used when referring to the starting time of the action, while 'for' is used to indicate the duration or period of time.
5. What is the difference between the present perfect continuous tense and the present continuous tense?
• The present perfect continuous tense emphasizes the duration of an ongoing action that started in the past and continues up to the present, while the present continuous tense focuses on an action happening at the moment of speaking.
6. Can adverbs of time be used with the present perfect continuous tense?
• Yes, adverbs of time like 'since,' 'for,' 'lately,' 'recently,' etc., are commonly used with the present perfect continuous tense to indicate the duration or timing of the ongoing action.
7. Do we always need to use a helping verb in the present perfect continuous tense?
• Yes, a helping verb ('has been' or 'have been') is necessary in the present perfect continuous tense to denote the ongoing nature of the action.
8. Can contractions be used in the present perfect continuous tense?
• Yes, contractions like 'I've been,' 'he's been,' 'she's been,' 'it's been,' 'we've been,' 'they've been,' and 'you've been' can be employed in the present perfect continuous tense for informal writing or speech.

For practice see

Present perfect continuous (practice)-1

Present perfect continuous (practice)-2 

Present perfect tense (practice)-2

Rules for present perfect tense.

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Q1) Translate following sentences into your mother tongue.

1) Light has spread everywhere.

2) His leader brother has gone to the villages.

3) Train has not arrived at the station.

4) He has wasted all his money.

5) I have not taken the medicine.

6) Have you not read that news?

7) He has won over his fear.

8) Thief has escaped from the Prison.

9) Summer vacations has started.

10) He has reached on the island safely. .

11) Government has declared ceasefire.

12) He has read the whole book.

13) Have they spoilt the plan?

14) My elder sister has completed M.B.A?

15) All farmers have gone to their homes?

Q2) Write 15 sentences in present perfect tense.

Also see present perfect (practice)-1

Present Perfect (practice)-1

Rules for present perfect tense

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Q1) Translate following sentences into your mother tongue.

1)            I have already taken food.

2)            Have you seen Tajmahal earlier?

3)            He has won the election thrice.

4)            I have given up smoking.

5)            He has decided to contest the election.

6)            He has established a grand business in USA.

7)            People have not accepted him as their leader.

8)            Have you ever gone in a forest?

9)            Coach has announced the rules of the game.

10)        Time has ripened to raise voice against exploitation.

11)        Much time has lapsed.

12)        Sun has risen to the head.

13)        He has not revised his lesson.

14)        He has watered the plants.

15)        Leopard has killed three goats.

Q2) Write 15 sentences in present perfect tense.

For further practice see Present perfect tense (practice)-2

Present perfect

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Present Perfect Tense

Understanding Present Perfect Tense

Present perfect tense indicates actions that have been completed before the present moment. This article explores its usage, rules, and sentence structures.

Key Rules:

1. Verb Form: Use the third form of the verb.
2. Helping Verbs: Use 'has' for third-person singular subjects and 'have' for plural subjects.
3. Negative Sentences: Insert 'not' after the helping verb.
4. Interrogative Sentences: Start with 'Has/Have' followed by subject-verb-object order.

Sentence Structure:

1. Affirmative Sentence: Subject + has/have + verb + object.
2. Negative Sentence: Subject + has/have + not + verb + object.
3. Interrogative Sentence: Has/Have + subject + verb + object?
4. Negative Interrogative Sentence: Has/Have + subject + not + verb + object?

Examples:

Affirmative:

1. She has completed her homework.
2. They have visited Paris.
3. He has finished the project.
4. The cat has eaten its food.
5. We have received your message.

Negative:

1. I have not stolen your money.
2. She has not finished reading the book.
3. They have not attended the meeting.
4. He has not returned my call.
5. We have not visited that museum yet.

Interrogative:

1. Have you ever seen a monkey?
2. Has she finished her work?
3. Have they arrived at the airport?
4. Has he written the report?
5. Have we discussed this before?

Negative Interrogative:

1. Has it not happened before also?
2. Have they not heard the news?
3. Has she not received the package?
4. Have you not finished your assignment?
5. Have we not met before?

FAQ:

1. What does the present perfect tense indicate?
• The present perfect tense indicates actions that have been completed before the present moment but are still relevant.
2. When do we use 'has' and 'have' in the present perfect tense?
• 'Has' is used with third-person singular subjects (he, she, it, a specific name), while 'have' is used with plural subjects (I, we, they, you).
3. How do we form interrogative sentences in the present perfect tense?
• Interrogative sentences in the present perfect tense start with 'Has/Have' followed by the subject and then the verb.
4. Are there any irregular forms in the present perfect tense?
• Yes, some verbs have irregular past participle forms in the present perfect tense, such as 'go' (gone), 'eat' (eaten), 'write' (written), etc.
5. Can adverbs of time be used with the present perfect tense?
• Yes, adverbs of time like 'already,' 'just,' 'yet,' 'ever,' 'never,' etc., are commonly used with the present perfect tense to indicate the timing of the action.
6. What is the difference between the present perfect tense and the past simple tense?
• The present perfect tense emphasizes the connection between past actions and the present moment, while the past simple tense focuses solely on actions that occurred in the past with no connection to the present.
7. Do we always need to use a helping verb in the present perfect tense?
• Yes, a helping verb ('has' or 'have') is necessary in the present perfect tense to indicate the completion of the action.
8. Can contractions be used in the present perfect tense?
• Yes, contractions like 'I've,' 'he's,' 'she's,' 'it's,' 'we've,' 'they've,' and 'you've' can be used in the present perfect tense for informal writing or speech.

For practice see

Present perfect (practice)-1

Present perfect (practice)-2 

Present continuous (practice)-2

Rules forPresent continuous tense

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Q1) Translate following sentences into your mother tongue.

1)      Are they dying for a cause?

2)      Dowry system is taking toll on innocent girls.

3)      He is improving his hand writing.

4)      Deserts are proceeding and forests are diminishing.

5)      Are animals adjusting to new environment?

6)      Marketism is spreading in every nook and corner of our country.

7)      Technology is bringing people near.

8)      Villagers are attracting towards glamour of cities.

9)      They are not facing any danger.

10)  News is spreading like a forest fire.

11)  Every student is donating blood for Tsunami victims.

12)   He is suffering from a testing time.

13)  India is becoming an economic power.

14)  Increasing population is posing new challenges before the Government.

15)  His book is gaining popularity.

Q2) Write 15 sentences in present continuous Tense.

see also present continuous (practice)-1

Present Continuous(Practice)-1

Rules for Present continuous tense

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Q1) Translate following sentences into your mother tongue

1)      She is preparing for the exam.

2)      Corruption is eating on our roots.

3)      Many people are starving in food Surplus Country.

4)      Are you joining army now?

5)      Am I presenting my self properly?

6)      Internet is opening many new opportunities for the people.

7)      They are making fool of the common man.

8)      People are protesting against inflation.

9)      I am not going to accept this.

10)  Is he jumping from the roof?

11)  Diseases are spreading due to pollution.

12)   Population of India is increasing at alarming rate.

13)  Nature is providing many clues for peaceful living.

14)  Sun and moon are presenting the power and the Art of the God.

15)  People are migrating to cities.

Q2) Write 15 sentences in present continuous tense.

For further practice see present continuous (practice)-2

Present continuous

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Present Continuous Tense

Understanding Present Continuous Tense

Present continuous tense indicates an ongoing action at the moment of speaking. It signifies that the action is currently happening and not yet completed.

Key Rules:

1. Verb Form: The first form of the verb is used, with 'ing' added.
2. Helping Verbs: 'Is/are/am' is used with different subjects: 'is' for third-person singular, 'are' for plural subjects, and 'am' for 'I.'
3. Negative Sentences: 'Not' is inserted after the helping verb.
4. Interrogative Sentences: Questions begin with 'Is/are/am' and follow the subject-verb-object order.

Sentence Structure:

1. Affirmative Sentence: Subject + is/am/are + verb + object.
2. Negative Sentence: Subject + is/are/am + not + verb + object.
3. Interrogative Sentence: Is/are/am + subject + verb + object?
4. Negative Interrogative Sentence: Is/are/am + subject + not + verb + object?

Examples:

Affirmative:

1. The children are playing in the park.
2. She is reading a book in the library.
3. They are cooking dinner in the kitchen.
4. The birds are chirping outside the window.
5. He is writing an email to his friend.

Negative:

1. I am not watching TV right now.
2. She is not attending the meeting tomorrow.
3. They are not going on vacation next week.
4. The dog is not barking at strangers.
5. He is not wearing a jacket in this weather.

Interrogative:

1. Is she dancing at the party tonight?
2. Are they studying for the exam?
3. Is he playing football with his friends?
4. Are you coming to the concert with us?
5. Is it raining outside?

Negative Interrogative:

1. Is she not participating in the event?
2. Are they not visiting their grandparents this weekend?
3. Is he not wearing glasses today?
4. Are you not feeling well?
5. Is it not snowing in the mountains?

FAQ:

Q1: What does the present continuous tense indicate?

A: The present continuous tense indicates an action that is currently ongoing at the moment of speaking.

Q2: How do we form the present continuous tense?

A: We use the first form of the verb and add 'ing' to it, along with the appropriate helping verb ('is/are/am').

Q3: When do we use 'is,' 'are,' and 'am' in the present continuous tense?

A: 'Is' is used with third-person singular subjects, 'are' with plural subjects, and 'am' with 'I.'

Q4: How do we form interrogative sentences in the present continuous tense?

A: Interrogative sentences start with 'Is/are/am' followed by the subject and then the verb.

Q5: Are there any irregular forms in the present continuous tense?

A: No, the present continuous tense follows a regular pattern of adding 'ing' to the verb.

Q6: Can we use adverbs of frequency with the present continuous tense?

A: Yes, adverbs of frequency can be used to describe the frequency of ongoing actions in the present continuous tense.

Q7: What is the difference between the present continuous tense and the present simple tense?

 A: The present continuous tense describes actions happening at the moment of speaking, while the present simple tense describes habitual or general actions.

Q8: Do we always need to use a helping verb in the present continuous tense?

 A: Yes, a helping verb ('is/are/am') is necessary in the present continuous tense to indicate the ongoing nature of the action.

Q9: Can we use contractions in the present continuous tense?

A: Yes, contractions like 'I'm,' 'he's,' 'she's,' 'it's,' 'we're,' 'they're,' and 'you're' can be used in the present continuous tense for informal writing or speech.

For practice visit

Present continuous (practice)-1

Present continuous (practice)-2