Tenses

In this chapter, we will be covering the simple Past Tense and the Present Perfect Tense. But, let’s first understand what tenses are. Tense is a verb-based method used to indicate when an action or event happens. Sometimes, it also indicates the continuation or “completeness” of an action or state in relation to the time of speaking.

Let’s now see how these two tenses are used.

What is Simple Past Tense?

The Simple Past Tense is more commonly known as simply the “Past Tense”. However,  there are different types of Past Tenses like the Present Perfect Tense, and Past Perfect Tense, which we will discuss later. The Simple Past Tense is used to refer to a past action where the timing is specified. Let’s now look at how to form sentences using the simple Past Tense with the help of the following table.

Examples of Tenses

Question 1:

Charlie’s finger is swollen. His pet lizard __________ him yesterday.

1. bit
2. bites
3. bited

Answer:

The correct answer to this question is option (1) - bit. “Bit” is an irregular verb.

Question 2:

How many mistakes is/are there in the following sentence?

I flew into a rage and hitted him with all my might. Later, I realise something. I hurted myself during the fight.

1. 2
2. 3
3. None
4. 1

Answer:

The correct answer to this question is option (2) - there are 3 mistakes in the sentence above. The 3 mistakes in the sentence above are “hitted”, “realise” and “hurted”. Check the below table for the correct Past Tense verbs:

What is the Present Perfect Tense?

The Present Perfect Tense is formed by placing “has” or “have” before the past participle form of the verb. It is used for a past action where the timing is not specified. Also, it is usually used with words like “never”, “ever”, “already”, “yet”, “recently”, and “just”. Furthermore, the Present Perfect Tense is also used when an action starts in the past and continues to the present.

Let’s check out the following table to understand how the Present Perfect Tense is different from the simple Past Tense!

Question 3:

What tense is being used in the following sentence?

They’ve forgotten the lyrics to the song.

1. Simple Past Tense
2. Present Perfect Tense

Answer:

The correct answer to this question is option (2) - Present Perfect Tense. This sentence has a contraction. So, when we open it up, the sentence contains “have”. “Have forgotten” is the Present Perfect Tense. The simple Past Tense of this would be “forgot”.

Question 4:

I __________ to Vienna. I do hope to travel there one day.

1. have never went
2. have never gone

Answer:

The correct answer to this question is option (2) - have never gone. The first option is incorrect as the Present Perfect Tense is formed by placing “has” or “have” before the past participle form of the verb. “Went” is the simple Past Tense of the verb “go”. “Have” “has” and “had” can never be paired with the simple Past Tense, only the past participle. “Gone” is the past participle form of the verb “go”.

Question 5:

Over the weekend, they __________ football, then they __________ to a restaurant.

1. have played, have went
2. played, have went
3. have played, went
4. played, went

Answer:

As the timing of the event is specified, which is “over the weekend”, we will use the simple Past Tense form of the verb. So, the correct answer to this question is option (4) - played, went.

Question 6:

She __________ in seven different countries, so she knows a lot about different cultures.

1. lives
2. has lived
3. have lived
4. lived

Answer:

The correct answer to this question is option (2) - has lived. “Has lived” is the Present Perfect Tense, which is used for an action or event that had started in the past but still has an effect in the present.

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