Tenses in English Language

For anyone who wants to talk or write in the language of English, it is necessary to know about the tense forms clearly. All of us must have read this in our schooling but how much do we remember till now or how much we have implemented it, is the question. So here is a easy and simple recap along with some useful tips. 

12 Basic Tenses in English

As we all know already there are 12 common tenses exist in the English grammar. For better understanding initially I split these 12 tenses into 3 parts.

Present Tense

Past Tense

Future Tense

When we converse we used to say things in present, past or future form. For example, I do (present), I did (past) and I will do(future). If you don't have the clearance when you speak you can just use these basic tenses but remember this is the very basic and it is for beginners alone. Now we subdivide each into 4 forms as given below.

1.Present Tense                 2.Past Tense               3.Future Tense

     (do)                                    (did)                             (will do)

Present continuous           Past continuous            Future continuous 

     (doing)                            (was doing)                  (will be doing)

Present perfect                  Past perfect                  Future perfect

   (have done)                       (had done)                 (will have done)

Present perfect                  Past perfect                  Future perfect

  continuous                        continuous                     continuous

(have been doing)         (had been doing)       (will have been doing)

Here are few simple examples: there are 3 examples for each sentence first one is an example for positive statement, second one is negative form and the third one is the question form.

Examples:

Simple Present - He loves, He does not love, Does he love?

Present continuous - He is loving, He is not loving, Is he loving?

Present perfect - He has loved, He has not loved, Has he loved?

Present perfect continuous - He has been loving, He has not been loving, Has he been loving?

Simple Past - He loved, He did not loved, Did he loved?

Past continuous - He was loving, He was not loving, Was he loving?

Past perfect - He had loved, He had not loved, Had he loved?

Past perfect continuous - He had been loving, He had not been loving, Had he been loving?

Simple Future - He will love, He will not love, Will he love?

Future continuous - He will be loving, He will not be loving, Will he be loving?

Future perfect - He will have loved, He will not have loved, Will he have loved?

Future perfect continuous - He will have been loving, He will not have been loving, Will he have been loving?

Books for further reference to develop your grammar skills

  

Words Often Confused

Accept - to receive

Except- with the exclusion of

Advice - recommendation (noun)

Advise - to recommend (verb)

Adverse - unfavorable

Averse - opposed to

Affect - to influence (verb); emotional response (noun)

Effect - result (noun); to cause (verb)

Aisle - space between rows

Isle - island

Allude - to make indirect reference to

Elude - to avoid

Allusion - indirect reference

Illusion - false idea, misleading appearance

Already - by this time

All ready - fully prepared

Altar- sacred platform or place

Alter- to change

Altogether- thoroughly

All together- everyone/everything in one place

A lot - a quantity; many of something

Allot- to divide or portion out

Angel- supernatural being, good person

Angle- shape made by joining 2 straight lines

Are- plural form of "to be"

Our- plural form of "my"

Accent- pronunciation common to a region

Ascent- the act of rising or climbing

Assent- consent, agreement

Assistance- help

Assistants- helpers

Bare- nude, unadorned

Bear- to carry; an animal

Beside- close to; next to

Besides- except for; in addition

Boar- a wild male pig

Bore- to drill a hole through

Board- piece of wood

Bored- uninterested

Born- brought into life

Borne- past participle of "to bear" (carry)

Breath- air taken in (noun)

Breathe- to take in air (verb)

Brake- device for stopping

Break- destroy; make into pieces

Buy- to purchase

By- next to; through the agency of

Canvas- heavy cloth

Canvass- to take a survey; a survey

Capital- major city

Capitol- government building

Choose- to pick

Chose- past tense of "to choose"

Clothes- garments

Cloths- pieces of fabric

Coarse- rough

Course- path; series of lectures

Complement- something that completes

Compliment- praise, flattery

Conscience- sense of morality

Conscious- awake, aware

 Corps- regulated group

Corpse- dead body

Council- governing body

Counsel- advice; to give advice

Dairy- place where milk products are processed

Diary- personal journal

Descent- downward movement

Dissent- disagreement

Dessert- final, sweet course in a meal

Desert- to abandon; dry, sandy area

Device- a plan; a tool or utensil

Devise- to create

Discreet- modest, prudent behavior

Discrete- a separate thing, distinct

Do- a verb indicating performance or execution of a task

Dew- water droplets condensed from air

Due- as a result of

Dominant- commanding, controlling

Dominate- to control

Die- to lose life; one of a pair of dice

Dye- to change or add color

Dyeing- changing or adding color

Dying- losing life

Elicit- to draw out

Illicit- illegal, forbidden

Eminent- prominent

Imminent- about to happen

Envelop- to surround (verb)

Envelope- container for a letter (noun)

Everyday- routine, commonplace, ordinary (adj.)

Every day- each day, succession (adj. + noun)

Fair- light skinned; just, honest; a carnival

Fare- money for transportation; food

Farther- at a greater(measurable) distance

Further- in greater(non-measurable) depth

Formally- conventionally, with ceremony

Formerly- previously

Forth- forward

Fourth- number four in a list

Gorilla- animal in ape family

Guerrilla- soldier specializing in surprise attacks

Hear- to sense sound by ear

Here- in this place

Heard- past tense of "to hear"

Herd- group of animals

Hoard- a hidden fund or supply, a cache

Horde- a large group or crowd, swarm

Hole- opening

Whole- complete; an entire thing

Human- relating to the species  homo sapiens

Humane- compassionate

Its- possessive form of "it"

It's- contraction for "it is"

Knew- past tense of "know"

New- fresh, not yet old

Know- to comprehend

No- negative

Later- after a time

Latter- second one of two things

Lead- heavy metal substance; to guide

Led- past tense of "to lead"

  

Lessen- to decrease

Lesson- something learned and/or taught

Lightning- storm-related electricity

Lightening- making lighter

Loose- unbound, not tightly fastened

Lose- to misplace

Maybe- perhaps (adv.)

May be- might be (verb)

Meat- animal flesh

Meet- to encounter

Mete- to measure; to distribute

Metal- a hard organic substance

Medal- a flat disk stamped with a design

Mettle- courage, spirit, energy

Miner- a worker in a mine

Minor- underage person (noun); less important (adj.)

Moral- distinguishing right from wrong; lesson of a fable or story

Morale- attitude or outlook usually of a group

Passed- past tense of "to pass"

Past- at a previous time

Patience- putting up with annoyances

Patients- people under medical care

Peace- absence of war

Piece- part of a whole; musical arrangement

Peak- point, pinnacle, maximum

Peek- to peer through or look furtively

Pique- fit of resentment, feeling of wounded vanity

Pedal- the foot lever of a bicycle or car

Petal- a flower segment

Peddle- to sell

Personal- intimate; owned by a person

Personnel- employees

Plain- simple, unadorned

Plane- to shave wood; aircraft (noun)

Precede- to come before

Proceed- to continue

Presence- attendance; being at hand

Presents- gifts

Principal- foremost (adj.); administrator of a school (noun)

Principle- moral conviction, basic truth

Quiet- silent, calm

Quite- very

Rain- water drops falling; to fall like rain

Reign- to rule

Rein- strap to control an animal (noun); to guide or control (verb)

Raise- to lift up

Raze- to tear down

Rational- having reason or understanding

Rationale- principles of opinion, beliefs

Respectfully- with respect

Respectively- in that order

Reverend- title given to clergy; deserving respect

Reverent- worshipful

Right- correct; opposite of left

Rite- ritual or ceremony

Write- to put words on paper

Road- path

Rode- past tense of "to ride"

Scene- place of an action; segment of a play

Seen- viewed; past participle of "to see"

Sense- perception, understanding

Since- measurement of past time; because

Sight- scene, view, picture

Site- place, location

Cite- to document or quote (verb)

 Stationary- standing still

Stationery- writing paper

Straight- unbending

Strait- narrow or confining; a waterway

Taught- past tense of "to teach"

Taut- tight

Than- besides

Then- at that time; next

Their- possessive form of "they"

There- in that place

They're- contraction for "they are"

Through- finished; into and out of

Threw- past tense of "to throw"

Thorough- complete

To- toward

Too- also; very (used to show emphasis)

Two- number following one

Track- course, road

Tract- pamphlet; plot of ground

Waist- midsection of the body

Waste- discarded material; to squander

Waive- forgo, renounce

Wave- flutter, move back and forth

Weak- not strong

Week- seven days

Weather- climatic condition

Whether- if

Wether- a neutered male sheep

Where- in which place

Were- past tense of "to be"

Which- one of a group

Witch- female sorcerer

Whose- possessive for "of who"

Who's- contraction for "who is"

Your- possessive for "of you"

You're- contraction for "you are"

Yore- time long past

How To Use Either/Or And Neither/Nor Properly

Before going into this topic I want to put few questions before you to think about it. First one is, can we use 'either' without 'or' or 'neither' without 'nor'? Do they always come together? The next question is, Does both the words either and neither carries the same meaning? I hope you can find the answer for these questions by the end of this article. These terms are often used by us in many conversations and write ups, but I have seen many people who are struggling to use it in the appropriate place. So let us first discuss about the meaning and usage of these terms with adequate examples.

Either/or

Mostly we use this term when we compare two things, for example we can either drink tea or coffee. In this example we stated the limited in choice to two options. It is not always necessary to use these terms 'either and or' together always, so here goes another example for this I'm not happy either' in this sentence you must have noticed that this is a reply for someone's question or statement. Let us see more examples,

(i) There was no mistake on either side

(ii) Either you can ride the bike or car

(iii) It was either Mary or Sheela who received your letter.
(iv) Either Mary or Sheela received your letter.
(v) Tom doesn't like biscuit or bread.

Neither/nor

Generally 'neither' gives negative meaning to the verbs. This is also tells that the current statement and the following statements are negative. For example, She was not sad and neither were they.  It carries the meaning that not one nor the other, not either. Always the use of either is consider as positive and the use of neither as negative. You can able to find it clear in the below examples.

(i) Neither the teachers nor the students are free in the class

(ii) Neither of my sisters are around

(iii) Neither India nor Srilanka got to the quarter finals this year.
(iv) By the way, neither John nor I drink.

(v) I could neither cry nor laugh.

Note:

1. Either cannot be paired with nor and neither cannot be paired with or

2. Never use two negative terms in a same sentence. For example, Kevin doesn't know nothing, this is absolutely wrong.

3. Louise didn't find the book neither on nor under the table. This sentence is wrong, we shouldn't use both negatives in a sentence which implicitly makes it positive.   


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Difference Between Phrase and Clause

The first and foremost thing about this topic is, why we have to know the differences between phrase and clause. So here are few essential points you must be aware of, inorder to understand the usage of punctuation one must be clear with these difference. And the second point is to construct a proper sentence without any grammatical error we should be knowing the attributes of phrase and clause. Now we are going see the definitions with few elaborate examples to understand the core meaning.

 Phrase

Basically, phrase is a collection of related words without any complete meaning in it. It doesn't contain any subject, predicate or a subject with verb it may have a noun. There are different types of phrases exist and they are,

Types of Phrase:

1. Noun phrase

2. Verb phrase

3. Adjective phrase

4. Adverbial phrase

5. prepositional phrase

Examples:

(i) to win the second prize ( Noun Phrase)

(ii) is running ( Verb Phrase)

(iii) was a healthy woman ( Adjective Phrase)

(iv) in a mild voice ( Adverbial Phrase)

(v) on the bench ( Prepositional Phrase)

Clause

A clause is generally a group of words, it may be a part of sentence or it can be a sentence itself (independent sentence). It contains subject and predicate which delivers a proper meaning.

Types of Clause:

1. Main Clause

2. Subordinate Clause

Example:

(i ) I saw the girl who had helped me. 

In the above example "I saw the girl" is the main clause and "who had helped me" is the subordinate clause. Which means a main clause is a independent clause that can stand as a sentence but the subordinate clause does not have a complete meaning it has to depend on the main clause. Subordinate clause must contain a relative pronoun or subordinate conjunction for eg: after, as, although, who, which etc.

(ii) We rested when evening came.

We rested - Main clause

when evening came - Subordinate clause

Phrase VS Clause

PHRASE	CLAUSE
i. Phrase don't have subject and predicate                                                ii. Don't have a complete meaning   iii. Cannot stand alone	i.  Clauses have subject and predicate                                   ii. Have a complete meaning iii. Independent clause can stand alone

       

Most Common Idioms And Phrases With Meaning

1. Actions speak louder than words

People's intentions can be judged better by what they do than what they say.

2. A hot potato

Speak of an issue (mostly current) which many people are talking about and which is usually disputed

3. A penny for your thoughts

A way of asking what someone is thinking

4. Add insult to injury

To further a loss with mockery or indignity; to worsen an unfavorable situation.

5. An arm and a leg

Very expensive or costly. A large amount of money.

6. At the drop of a hat

Without any hesitation; instantly.

7. Back to the drawing board

When an attempt fails and it's time to start all over.

8. Ball is in your court

It is up to you to make the next decision or step

9. Barking up the wrong tree

Looking in the wrong place. Accusing the wrong person

10.Be glad to see the back of

Be happy when a person leaves

11. Beat around the bush

Avoiding the main topic. Not speaking directly about the issue.

12. Best of both worlds

All the advantages.

13. Best thing since sliced bread

A good invention or innovation. A good idea or plan.

14. Bite off more than you can chew

To take on a task that is way to big.

15. Blessing in disguise

Something good that isn't recognized at first.

16. Burn the midnight oil

To work late into the night, alluding to the time before electric lighting.

17. Can't judge a book by its cover

Cannot judge something primarily on appearance.

18. Caught between two stools

When someone finds it difficult to choose between two alternatives.

19. Costs an arm and a leg

This idiom is used when something is very expensive.

20. Cross that bridge when you come to it

Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary, not before.

21. Cry over spilt milk

When you complain about a loss from the past.

22. Curiosity killed the cat

Being Inquisitive can lead you into an unpleasant situation.

23. Cut corners

When something is done badly to save money

24. Cut the mustard

Possibly derived from "cut the muster"To succeed; to come up to expectations; adequate enough to compete or participate

25. Devil's Advocate

To present a counter argument

26. Don't count your chickens before the eggs have hatched

This idiom is used to express, Don't make plans for something that might not happen

27. Don't give up the day job

You are not very good at something. You could definitely not do it professionally.

28. Don't put all your eggs in one basket

Do not put all your resources in one possibility.

29. Drastic times call for drastic measures

When you are extremely desperate you need to take drastic actions

30. Elvis has left the building

The show has come to an end. It's all over.

31. Every cloud has a silver lining

Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to better days.

32. Feel a bit under the weather

Feeling slightly ill.

33. Give the benefit of the doubt

Believe someone's statement, without proof.

34. Hear it on the grapevine

This idiom means 'to hear rumors' about something or someone.

35. Hit the nail on the head

Do or say something exactly right

36. Hit the sack / sheets / hay

To go to bed.

37. In the heat of the moment

Overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment

38. It takes two to tango

Actions or communications need more than one person

39. Jump on the bandwagon

Join a popular trend or activity.

40. Keep something at bay

Keep something away

41. Kill two birds with one stone

This idiom means, to accomplish two different things at the same time

42. Last straw

The final problem in a series of problems.

43. Let sleeping dogs lie

Do not disturb a situation as it is - since it would result in trouble or complications.

44. Let the cat out of the bag

To share information that was previously concealed

45. Make a long story short

Come to the point - leave out details

46. Method to my madness

An assertion that, despite one's approach seeming random, there actually is structure to it.

47. Miss the boat

This idiom is used to say that someone missed his or her chance

48. Not a spark of decency

No manners

49. Not playing with a full deck

Someone who lacks intelligence.

50. Off one's rocker

Crazy, demented, out of one's mind, in a confused or befuddled state of mind, senile.

51. On the ball

When someone understands the situation well.

52. Once in a blue moon

Happens very rarely.

53. Picture paints a thousand words

A visual presentation is far more descriptive than words.

54. Piece of cake

A job, task or other activity that is easy or simple.

55. Put wool over other people's eyes

This means to deceive someone into thinking well of them

56. See eye to eye

This idiom is used to say that two (or more people) agree on something.

57. Sit on the fence

This is used when someone does not want to choose or make a decision.

58. Speak of the devil!

This expression is used when the person you have just been talking about arrives.

59. Steal someone's thunder

To take the credit for something someone else did.

60. Take with a grain of salt

This means not to take what someone says too seriously.

61. Taste of your own medicine

Means that something happens to you, or is done to you, that you have done to someone else

62. To hear something straight from the horse's mouth

To hear something from the authoritative source.

63. Whole nine yards

Everything. All of it.

64. Wouldn't be caught dead

Would never like to do something

65. Your guess is as good as mine

To have no idea, do not know the answer to a question

Usage of 'for' and 'since' - Simplified

On the whole, a person's communication skill is being evaluated by some modest usage of the language. At times we often used to confuse these two words 'for' and 'since' in our daily usage. Actually it is uncomplicated to understand the very difference. Here is a short write up to clarify the basic things regarding to 'for' and 'since' with examples.

Both 'for' and 'since' refer to a time/period or may be a place/event. We have to be clear with that first so let me explain this with an example.

(i) Rena lived in Delhi for ten years.
(ii) Rena lived in Delhi since she was 5 years old.

In the above example, the first sentence is declared with 'for' shows the period of time the girl spent in that place. The second sentence stated from which period/age she lived in Delhi. Likewise I state few examples to make the thing clear.


1. (i) Tom has been in India for 4 days.
    (ii) Tom has been in India since Sunday.

2. (i) We have been waiting  for 3 hours.
    (ii) We have been waiting since 11'o clock.

3. (i) My mom have worked here since 2007.
    (ii) My mom have worked here for 5 years.

4. (i) I have had this pen for 2 months.

    (ii) I have had this pen since March.

For (period)	Since (point)
Five days Two years Six months An hour Three weeks A long time	Sunday 1981 November 3’o clock 19 August 5 years old

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Parts of Speech with Examples in Brief

Parts of speech plays an important role in the basic of English grammar. For any verbal test that you are going to attend, this is the first section you have to be strong. This will help you to enhance your both writing and speaking skills. You have to be clear in identifying which word belongs to which division. Words are classified into various kinds called Parts of Speech, there are 8 divisions in it and they are, noun, pronoun, adjective, verb, adverb, preposition, conjunction, interjection.

1. Noun: A word used to denote a person, place or a thing. There are two general types of noun called common noun and proper noun. Common noun is a name given to all common people or place or thing. Proper noun is a particular name given to the person, place or thing.

For example, 

Person: John, Shella, Rahul etc. Shella is a proper noun; girl is a common noun
Place: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, state, city
Thing: Ball, book; all objects that we can see, touch and smell and also the things we can think/ feel but can't touch eg: quality(kindness), action(hatred) and state(poverty). 

2. Pronoun: The words which are used instead of noun is called as pronoun. If you use 'she' instead of a girl's name then that 'she' is a pronoun. Examples: i, he, she, it, anyone, them, who, few etc.

3. Adjective: Words which adds some information to the noun; Examples: small house( 'House' is a noun and 'small' is adjective), ten chairs, clever boy, large city. 

4. Verb: A word which used to express a state or an action; Examples: read, write, fight, feel, enjoy, burst etc.

5. Adverb: The words which add something to the meaning of a adjective, verb or for another adverb. Examples: very beautiful( 'very' is an adverb 'beautiful' is an adjective), run quickly( 'run' is a verb and 'quickly' is an adverb).

6. Preposition: A word act as a link between a noun or pronoun with other parts of the sentence. Example: in, on, at, under, among, between, around etc.

7. Conjunction: A word which joins two words or sentences are called conjunction. Examples: and, but, so, or, yet, for etc.

8. Interjection: The words which are used to express a sudden feeling, an expression. Examples, hurrah!, Alas!, oh!, wow! etc. 



Further References:


       

Books Which Aids To Develop Your Vocabulary

Why Vocabulary?

In the fast growing world it is our need to enhance our self in all the aspects which helps us to  prove our ability to the circumstance. Language is tool to speak up your ideas and thoughts in effective way. Words play the major role while conveying your message to others, it shows your exposure towards the development. There are lot of services available in the online market. In my experience I am writing this article and mentioned few books for your reference. 

Word Power Made Easy

This books is absolutely unique, the first book I would like to prefer for the learners. Word power made easy book teach you the basics of learning new terms regardless of your age. It is well written after many research by specialists. 

30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary

Are you a person who wants to achieve things in short period of time then this books is the one for you. It helps you to learn new words which are randomly used in the modern society, this process is planned for just 30 days especially 15 minutes per day is enough to complete this course. 

Oxford Learner's Pocket Word Skills

The most trusted publisher Oxford presented a detailed study on this topic of improving your word bank while communicating. With the approach they provide fine constructed topics that helps you in communication development, IELTS or competitive exams. If you are preparing for any international level skill test this book is best to follow.

Instant Vocabulary

Reading, writing, spoken and comprehension analysis are the major topics of this book. They concentrated on how well one can enhance their skill in the very basic things in a smart and simple way. This book has many passionate readers for the simplicity followed in their approach.

How to Build a Better Vocabulary

Learning is easy when you are interested in analyzing the root facts of a thing. This books presents the approach of learning new things, etymology and pronunciation of words and its methods are deeply discussed in this book. They made the complicated things of remembering a vocabulary bunch in your mind in a simple way.