GRAMMAR

USING TENSES
TENSES
Every language has ways of talking about time. In most languages there is
a variety of expressions that can be used to show when something
happened or will happen.
TENSE refers to the grammatical expression of the time of the situation
described in the sentence, relative to some other times.
In English language TENSE is indicated on verbs by adding some particles
called affixes. Consider the following examples;
Walked------past tense
Walking-------present tense
PRESENT TENSE
1. PRESENT CONTINOUS TENSE
Present continuous tense is used to describe the following;
A. Things happening at or around the time of speaking. The action is
not complete or finished. Consider the following examples;
They are studying English language.
They are watching football match between Yanga and Simba.
She is driving to work.
Joseph is playing piano.
B. It is used for temporary situations.
I am living with my friends, until I find a place of my own.
You are working very hard today.
C. When am doing something= I’m in the middle of doing it; I have started it and I have
not finished yet.
Some friends of mine are building their own house. They hope to finish next week.
Please don’t make so much noise. I am tying to work.
Hello, Jane. Are you enjoying the party?
Where is Mark? He is having shower.
 D. you can use the present continuous with today/this week/this year (
time around now)
The crops are growing well this year.
You are looking beautiful today.
E. We use the present continuous when we talk about changes happening
around now, especially with these verbs ( get, change, become, increase,
rise, fall, grow, improve, begin, start)
Is your English getting better?
The world population is increasing very fast.
General rule for present continuous
tense
I am cooking
diving
reading
He/ she/it is playing
dancing
singing
We/ you/they are doing
watching
listening
2. SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
The following are the uses of simple present tense;
A. We use simple present for things that happen repeatedly/
habitual actions.
We usually watch movies at weekends.
You wash your hands before eating.
She always gets hungry in the afternoon.
People drink tea every morning.
B. We use present simple for permanent situations
My parents live in Arusha. They have lived here all their lives.
John is not lazy. He works hard most of the time.
C. It is used to express a general truth.
The sun rises from east.
Honey is sweet.
Water boils at 100 degrees.
D. to indicate a future event that has been planned/programme.
The college opens in August.
The visitors arrive next week.
General rule for simple present tense.
1. STATEMENTS
I/we/you/they………no change in the verb form.
He/she/it………………..verb +(s) or (es)
2. QUESTIONS
Do I/we/you/they drive
work
sing
Does He/she/it read
write
speak
3.NEGATIVE STATEMENTS
I/we/you/ they Don’t/ do not play
watch
eat
He/she/it Doesn’t/ does not drink
ask
collect