TENSES AND TRANSLATION

TRANSLATION

TENSE :

Tense is a change in the verb to express time.

Tense comes from a word meaning time

There are three great divisions of time - Present, Past and Future.

The name Tense is given to the different forms of verbs which denote them.

The verb is the only kind of word which by its own forms can point at time. The
English verb has only two tenses formed by inflection, the present and
Past. The Future is formed by the help of other verbs.

The Present Tense denotes that the action is going on now; as I love, I am
loving. The Past Tense denotes that the action took place, or was going on, in
time past; as, I saw him; He was walking. The Future Tense denotes that the
action is yet to take place. It is formed by the means of the verbs shall or
will, followed by the infinitive; as, I shall go; He will go.

Each tense has four forms Indefinite; Imperfect (Progressive, Incomplete

and Continuous are other names); perfect; perfect continuous.

An action simply mentioned is said to be Indefinite; as I play, I played, I shall

play. An action mentioned as still going on is said to be imperfect. It is formed
by means of the verb be and the imperfect participle (ing form); as, I am
playing, I was playing, I shall be playing. An action mentioned as finished is
said to be perfect. It is formed by means of the verb have (has, had as
derivatives) and the perfect participle (past participle form of the verb i.e. III
form); as, I have played, I had played, I shall have played. The active voice
has a fourth form called the Perfect Continuous. It expresses an action going
on up to the present time; as, I have been writing -

Work Book for General English 149

 Look at the given pictures carefully and try to understand and follow the
patterns :

Imperfect Table - 1

for 2 hrs / since

Continuous Perfect

morning.
She has played.
You are playing.

I have played.
He is playing.
I am playing.

She has been

(first form of
the verb)

I have been
I play.

playing

playing
Indefinite Perfect
Continuous

am / is / are have / have /

PRESENT
+ verb 1st has + has +
TENSE
form + ing verb in verb +
3rd form ing

Table - 2
Imperfect
Continuous Perfect
We were playing.
I was playing.

I had played.

I had been playing.

I played.

Indefinite Perfect
Continuous

verb in was / were had + had /

(2nd) past + verb+ing verb in been +
TENSE
PAST

form in 1st form 3rd form verb +

ing

150 Work Book for General English

 Imperfect Table - 3
I + Shall + Verb in Continuous Perfect
1st form e
ll b

e
i

ea hav
You/ He/ She/ It / u w g.
Yo ayin

.
an t e n
ll

es
They / We + will + pl e

ha
ll b

go

ne ang een
Is
verb in 1 form
st
. h a .
ay I s ying

ur s
b
ho oe
l .

m
y pla

fo ng m ave
p
ll la

.
a p .

h
Indefinite
Is
h ill la
y Perfect

ea all
w p
ill Continuous

h
u

Is
Yo

ro
ti
w
e
H

He/ She/ It/ They / will will have been

We/ You + will + be + have / /

FUTURE
shall shall have
verb + ing

TENSE
have + been + verb in
I + shall + be + verb verb in Ist form + ing.
+ ing 3rd form

Present Simple / Indefinite Tense

For every plural subject Do Interrogative Do I eat mangoes ?

they / we / you do is used Does she eat mangoes?
but I takes do with it Do they eat mangoes ?
verb
For singular subject he / Do we eat mangoes ?
Interro-
she / it / and name does Does in gative Does he eat mangoes?
is used. Do you eat mangoes?
first
In negative sentences we form Interro- Do I not eat mangoes ?
use not after subject Do gative/ Does she not eat mangoes?
(You / we/ they / I) Negative Do you not eat mangoes ?

In negative sentences we I do not eat mangoes.

use not after subject. Does Negative You do not eat mangoes
(He / she / it / names) She does not eat mangoes.

Past Simple Indefinite Verb in Negative : I did not eat mangoes.

With did always first form They did not eat mangoes.
first She did not eat mangoes.
of the verb is used. Did
Did is used with singular form Interrogative : Did I not eat mangoes?
and plural both. Did they not eat mangoes ?
Did he not eat mangoes ?

Work Book for General English 151

 In present simple / indefinite tense verb in its first form is used eg.,
I eat mangoes.
You eat mangoes.
He eats mangoes.
She eats mangoes.
With singular subject he / she/ it,
Neeta eats mangoes. names verb takes s or es
He goes to school.
For affirmative sentences do/does is not used until it is used for emphasis as in
I do eat mangoes (in Hindi - U)

In Past Simple Indefinite Tense for affirmative sentences did, is not used until,
it is used for emphasis, as in I did eat mangoes. ( in Hindi - U)
To translate a sentence is to change it from one language to another without
altering its sense / meaning. We will discuss first the simple / indefinite form of
present, past & future tense.

Af
Afffir ma
irma ti
mative Sentences
tiv
Present
Structure :
Sub + verb 1st form +
other words.
I + drive + a car
Singular subject
Sub + verb 1st form + s/es
+ other words
She+drives + a car.
Simple / Structure :
Indefinite I + shall + verb 1st
Structure : form + other words.
Sub + verb 2nd form I shall drive a car. F
P + other words. U
A He/She/They / We +
T
will + verb in 1st form
S I + drove + a car. + other words.
U
R
T You drove a car. E
We+will+drive+a car.
They drove a car. I shall drive a car.

152 Work Book for General English

 Translate the following sentences into English :
e.g. Present Past Future
U / U U U U/
I drive a car. I drove a car. I shall drive a car.
U U / U U U U U/
He/She drives a car. He/She drove a car. He/She will drive a car.
U S U U S U S

goes
_________________ went
_________________ will go
_________________

U $U U U SUU
_________________ _________________ _________________

U U U U U U
_________________ _________________ _________________

U U.. U U
_________________ _________________ _________________

U.. - watch T.V., U - chess, U - market

Ne
Neggative Sentences
tiv Present

Structure :
Sub + do/does + not +
verb in 1st form +
other words.
I do not drive a car

Simple /
Indefinite Structure :
Structure : Sub + shall/will + not
P Sub + did + not + + verb in 1st form + F
U
A verb in 1st form + other words. T
S other words. I shall not drive a U
R
T I did not drive a car. car. E
You will not drive a
car.

Work Book for General English 153

Translate the following sentences into English :
e.g. Present Past Future
U U / U U U U U U/
I do not drive a car. I did not drive a car. I shall not drive a car.
U U U / U U U U U U U U/
He/She does not drives a car. He/She did not drive a car. He/She will not drive a car.
U.. U U U U U U
_________________ _________________ _________________

U U U U U U U U U U
_________________ _________________ _________________

U S U U U U U U
_________________ _________________ _________________

U U - work hard, S - library,

Inter
Interrrogative Sentences
tiv

Present

Structure :
Do/Does + sub +
verb in 1st form +
other words + ?
Do + I + drive + a car ?
Does he drive a car ?

Simple /
Structure : Indefinite Structure :
Did + sub + verb in Will/Shall + sub +
F
P 1st form + other verb in 1st form +
U
A other words + ?T
words + ? U
S
T Did + I +drive +a car ? Shall+I+ drive+a car? R
E
Did they drive a car ? Will you drive a car?

154 Work Book for General English

Translate the following sentences into English :
e.g. Present Past Future
U / U? U ? U U/?
Do I drive a car ? Did I drive a car ? Shall I drive a car ?
U U / U U / U U U/?
Does he/she drive a car ? Did he/she drive a car ? Will he/she drive a car ?

U UU U? ?
_________________ _________________ _________________

U U U? ? UU ?
_________________ _________________ _________________

U U ? U ? ?
_________________ _________________ _________________

Exer
Exer cise
ercise
Translate the following sentences into English :

v. U U U __________________________________

w. U U? __________________________________

x. U __________________________________

y. $ __________________________________

z. U __________________________________

{. U U __________________________________

|. U U __________________________________

}. ? __________________________________

~. U U __________________________________

v. U U __________________________________

Work Book for General English 155

 Lets now discuss the present, past & future progressive in their affirmative,
interrogative and negative forms :

PR OGRESSIVE TENSE
PROGRESSIVE

Af
Afffir ma
irma ti
mative Sentences
tiv
Past

Structure :
Sub + was/were +
Verb in 1st from + ing +
other words.
I +was+driving +a car.
You were driving a car.

Present

Structure :
Sub + is / am / are +
verb + ing + other words.
I am driving a car.
She is driving a car.
You are driving a car.
Future

Structure :
Sub + shall be / will be +
verb + ing + other words.
I shall be driving a car.
You will be driving a car.
They will be driving a car.

Translate the following sentences into English :

e.g. Present Past Future
U UU/UU U U UU/UUU U UU UU/ UU U
I am driving a car. I was driving a car. I shall be driving a car.
U UU/U U U UU /UU U UU UU/UU U?
You are driving a car. You were driving a car. You will be driving a car.

156 Work Book for General English

 S U U U U UU U UU U
U UU U
_________________ _________________ _________________

U U U UU U U S U UU U UU U
_________________ _________________ _________________

U UU U UU U UU U UU UU U
_________________ _________________ _________________

- journey / travel, U - repair, U UU - wakeup

Ne
Neggative Sentences
tiv

Past
Structure :
Sub + was/were + not +
verb + ing + other words.
I+ was+ not driving+ a
car.
Present
Structure :
Sub + is / am / are + not
verb + ing + other words.
You+ are +not+driving+ a
car.
Future
Structure :
Sub + shall not be / will not
be + v+ing + other words.
I+shall+not be +driving+
a car.

Translate the following sentences into English :

e.g. Present Past Future
U U UU/UU U U U UU/UUU U U UU U/ UU U
I am not driving a car. I was not driving a car. I shall not be driving a car.

Work Book for General English 157

 U/ U U U U/ U U U U U UU UU
We/they are not driving We/they were not driving They will not be driving
a car. a car. a car.

U U UU U U UU U U U UU U
_________________ _________________ _________________

U U U U U UU U
UU U UU U
_________________ _________________ _________________

U U UU U U U U UU U U UU U
_________________ _________________ _________________

- participate, - copy, - competition

Inter
Interrrogative Sentences
tiv

Past
Structure :
was / were + sub +
verb + ing + other words.
Was+ I+driving+a car?
Present
Structure :
Is / am / are + sub.
verb + ing + other words.
Am+I+driving+a car?
Future
Structure :
Shall/will + sub + be + v
+ing + other words.
Shall + I+ be+driving+ a
car?
Translate the following sentences into English :
e.g. Present Past Future
U UU/UU U? U UU/UUU ? U UU U U/ UU
U?

158 Work Book for General English

 Am I driving a car? Was I driving a car? Shall I be driving a car?
U U UU/U ? U U / U U U?
UU ?
Is he/she driving a car ? Were you driving a car ? Will you be driving a car ?

UU U? U U UU ? UU U?

_________________ _________________ _________________

S U UU UU
UU U? UU ? U?

_________________ _________________ _________________

U UU U? UU ? U
U UU U?

_________________ _________________ _________________

U - wasting time, S - cultural programme,

- exercise

Translate these sentences into English.

v. U UU w. UU U
___________________________ ________________________________

x. U UU U y. U U UU
___________________________ ________________________________

z. U UU U {. U UU
___________________________ ________________________________

|. U UU U? }. UU U?
___________________________ ________________________________

~. UU ? v. U UU U?
___________________________ ________________________________

Work Book for General English 159

 Now we will talk about the perfect form of Present, Past and Future tenses
in various types of sentences i.e. affirmative, negative and interrogative :

Perfect Tense
erfect

Af
Afffir ma
irma ti
mative Sentences
tiv

Past
Structure :
sub + had + verb 3rd form +
other words.
I+ had +driven+ a car.
Present
Structure :
sub + has/have + verb 3rd
form + other words.
I +have +driven+a car.
Future
Structure :
sub + shall / will + have + Verb
3rd form + other words.
I+shall+have+driven+a
Clear your doubt
your car.

Pr esent P
Present erf
Perfect Tense
erfect
I / We / You / They have
He / She / It has
Past Perf
Perfect Tense
erfect

* I / We / You / They
had
He / She / It.

Translate the following sentences into English :

e.g. Present Past Future
U U/U UU U /UU U UU/ U
You have driven a car. You had driven a car. You will have driven a car.

160 Work Book for General English

 /U U U /U U U U U UU
They/we have driven a car. They/we had driven a car. We shall have driven a car.

U U U U U
Meena has driven a car. Meena had driven a car. Meena will have driven a car.

_________________ _________________ _________________

U U U U U U U U
_________________ _________________ _________________

U U U U U
_________________ _________________ _________________

U U U
_________________ _________________ _________________

Ne
Neggative Sentences
tiv

Past
Structure :
sub + had + not + verb 3rd
form + other words.
I+ had+ not+ driven+ a car.
Present
Structure :
sub + have/has + not + verb
3rd form + other words.
I +have+ not +driven+ a car.
She has not driven a car.
Future
Structure :
sub + Shall / will + not + have +
verb 3rd form + other words.
I+ shall +not +have +driven+
a car.
We will not have driven a car.

Work Book for General English 161

Translate the following sentences into English :

e.g. Present Past Future

U U / U U / U U U U/
U U UU UU U
I have not driven a car. I had not driven a car. I shall not have driven a car.
/U U U U /U U U U U U U UU
They/we have not driven a car. They/we had not driven a car. We shall not have driven a car.

U U U U U S U U U
_________________ _________________ _________________

U U U U U U U U U
_________________ _________________ _________________

U U U U U U U
_________________ _________________ _________________

- experiment,

Inter
Interrrogative Sentences
tiv
Past
Structure :
Had + sub + verb 3rd form +
other words.
Had +I +driven +a car ?
Present
Structure :
Have/Has + sub + verb 3rd
form + other words.
Has he/she driven a car?
Have + I +driven +a car ?
Future
Structure :
Shall / will + sub + have + Verb
3rd form + other words.
Shall+I+have+driven+the car?
Will you have driven a car?

162 Work Book for General English

Translate the following sentences into English :

e.g. Present Past Future

U / U / U U U/
U U? UU ? UU U?
Have I driven a car? Had I driven a car? Shall I have driven a car ?
U U / U U U U
U? / ? U / U?
Has he/she driven Had he/she driven Will she/he have
a car? a car? driven a car?

U U
? U?
_________________ _________________ _________________

U
U ? ? U?
_________________ _________________ _________________

U U.. U U
U? ? U?
_________________ _________________ _________________

- exhibition, - boat, U - news, - fair

Translate these following sentences into English :

v. SUU U w. U U
___________________________ ________________________________

x. y. U.. U
___________________________ ________________________________

z. U U U {. U U U
___________________________ ________________________________

Work Book for General English 163

|. U? }. U U ?
___________________________ ________________________________

~. U U? v. U U U?
___________________________ ________________________________

Finally we will see the perfect continuous form of Present, Perfect and Future
Tenses in affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences.

Perfect Pr
erfect Proogressive Tense
essiv

Af
Afffir ma
irma ti
mative Sentences
tiv

Past
Structure : sub + had + been +
verb Ist form + ing + other words.
I +had +been +driving +a car **for two hours.
Present
Structure : sub + have/has + been +
verb Ist form + ing + other words.
I+have+been+driving+a car *since 9 o clock.
Clear your doubt Future
Since - we use since when we say Structure : sub + will/shall + have +
the start of a period ( 8 o clock, been + verb Ist form + ing + other words.
monday, 1985 etc): I+shall+have+been+driving+a car for two hours.
I have been driving a car since 9 o clock.
9 o clock --------------> now
For - we use for when we say period of time (two hours, six weeks etc.)
I have been driving the car for two hours.
Two hours ago --------------> now
Translate the following sentences into English :

e.g. Present Past Future

U UU/ U UU / U U UU U U/
UU U UUU UUU U
I have been driving a car I had been driving a car I shall have been driving
since 9 O clock. since 9 O clock. a car for two hours.

164 Work Book for General English

 U U U UU / U U U UU U U UU UU/
UU U UU U
He/She has been driving We had been driving They will have been driv-
a car for two hours. a car for two hours. ing a car for two hours.

U Z UU U
U UU U U UU UU U
_________________ _________________ _________________

wy U U U U U U UU
U UU U U
_________________ _________________ _________________

U U U U U U
U U UU U UU U UU U
_________________ _________________ _________________

- field, U - wait, U - flood

Ne
Neggative Sentences
tiv

Past
Structure : sub + had + not + been +
verb Ist form + ing + other words.
I +had +not+been+ driving+ a car since 9 o clock.
Present
Structure : sub + have/has + not +
been + verb Ist form+ing + other words.
I+ have+ not+ been+ driving+ a car
since 9 o clock.
Future
Structure: sub + Shall/will + not + have +
been + verb Ist form+ing + other words.
I +shall +not +have +been +driving +a
car since nine o clock.

Work Book for General English 165

Translate the following sentences into English :

e.g. Present Past Future

U U U U U U U UU
UU U /UU U UU /UUU U U/ UUU U
You have not been You had not been I will not have been
driving a car since driving a car since driving a car since
9 o clock. 9 o clock. 9 o clock.

U U U U U UU
UU U UU UU U
_________________ _________________ _________________

U U UU U U S
U U UU U U UU U UU U
_________________ _________________ _________________

U U U U U U
UU UU U UU U UU UU U
_________________ _________________ _________________

Inter
Interrrogative Sentences
tiv

Past
Structure : Had + sub +been + verb Ist
form+ing + other words.
Had+I+been+driving+a car since 9 o
clock?
Present
Structure : Have/Has + sub + been +
verb Ist form + ing + other words.
Have+I+been+driving+a car since nine o clock?
Future
Structure: Shall/will + sub + have + been
+ verb Ist form+ing + other words.
Shall+ I+ have+ been+ driving+ a car
since 9 o clock?

166 Work Book for General English

Translate the following sentences into English :

e.g. Present Past Future

U U U U UU
UU U /UU U? UU /UUU ? U U/ UUU U?
Have you been Had you been Will you have been
driving a car since driving a car since driving a car since
9 o clock? 9 o clock? 9 o clock?
U U - v U
U U ? UU ? UU U
_________________ _________________ _________________

U
U UU U ? U U UU ? UU U
_________________ _________________ _________________

#U U
U UU ? UU ? UU U?
_________________ _________________ _________________

- speaker, - speech, - voter

Work Book for General English 167

 Wor
orddw hic
whic
hichh ar
areeg oing to help y
going ou in tr
you ansla
transla ting
anslating
the sentences:
1. U - home 25. U/U - in / inside

2. U U - kitchen 26. - clouds

3. - sofa 27. - bright / shiny

4. $ - table 28. - weather

5. - food / meal 29. - write

6. - rice 30. U - read / study

7. - breakfast 31. - chair

8. - spoon 32. - day

9. - apple 33. U - night

10. - go 34. U - laugh

11. U - eat 35. U - cry / weep

12. UU - get up 36. U - wall

13. - rain 37. U - stairs

14. U - wash clothes 38. - books

15. U - ring the bell 39. - fan

16. - sleep 40. - marks

17. - play 41. U - good

18. U - talk 42. U - bad

19. UU - bathe / take bath 43. U - cupboard

20. $U - market 44. U ( ) - watch

21. U - buy 45. U (U ) - clock

22. - fruits 46. S - bag

23. - vegetables 47. U - blackboard

24. UU - outside

168 Work Book for General English