Tense

     
 

TENSE

 
     
  Tense is the form of a verb that shows the time something happened, or is going to happen.  
     
     
     
 
1.1    SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
 
     
  We use the simple present tense:  
     
 

a. for actions that happen now.

For example:

- I watch television.

- I wash my face.

 
     
 

b. for actions that happen again and again.

For example:

- I watch television every night.

- I wash my face every morning.

 
     
 

c. When we talk about facts.

For example:

- Samad likes football.

- Atiqah loves ice cream.

 
     
 

d. When we give instructions.

For example:

- Close the door.

- Open the window!

 
     
  REMEMBER THIS!  
     
 
    Singular Subject           Singular Verb     
A turtle lives
A shark eats
An octopus has
A dolphin is
 
     
     
 
     Plural Subject           Plural Verb     
Turtles live
Sharks eat
Octopuses have
Dophins are
 
     
     
     
 
1.2    SIMPLE PAST TENSE
 
     
  Simple past tense shows actions that happened in the past.  
     
 

Add “-d” or “-ed” to change some verbs into the past tense.

For example:

a. Work = Worked

b. Ask = Asked

c. Enter = Entered

d. Love = Loved

 
     
 

'Was' shows past tense. Use it for singular nouns which means for one person, one place or one thing.

For example:

a. He was happy.

- Meaning: Now he is not happy.

b. She was at the market.

- Meaning: Now she is not at the market.

 
     
 

'Were' shows past tense. Use it for plural nouns which means more than one person, more than one place or more than one thing.

For example:

a. Siti and Senah were hungry.

- Meaning: Now they are not hungry.

b. They were sad.

- Meaning: Now they are not sad.