II) TENSES
i. Most common tenses:
1.) Present simple: This is exactly what is happening now. However, dependent on context, it may also indicate habitual activity, e.g. "We go to the beach [often]" (habitual) vs. "I blink [right this moment]" (what is happening now).
We go to the beach.
I sense the cold.
The zombies try to eat us.
2.) Past simple: This happened before the present.
We went to the beach.
I sensed the cold.
The zombies tried to eat us.
3.) Future simple: This is an event that will happen in the future. Historically, it was formed by using “shall” + verb for first person (I or we) and “will” + verb for second/third person (you, they, he etc.). “Shall” was also used when a commanding or certain tone was used, e.g. You shall eat your food! However, modern American English favors "will" over "shall"; "will" and "shall" can therefore be used interchangeably in most cases.
We shall go to the beach.
I shall sense the cold.
The zombies will try to eat us.
4.) Present continuous: This is an action which is happening now, that is incomplete, in progress or still happening.
We are going to the beach.
I am sensing the cold.
The zombies are trying to eat us.
5.) Past continuous: This is a continuous action which was in progress in the past.
We were going to the beach when you arrived.
I was sensing the cold while you went to fetch blankets.
The zombies were trying to eat us all day.
6.) Future continuous: This continuous action will be in progress in the future:
At this time tomorrow, we shall be going to the beach.
I shall be sensing the cold by the time you come back with the blankets.
The zombies will be trying to eat us while we escape.
7.) Present perfect: This is an action that has happened in the past, but has consequences that are felt in the present.
We have gone to the beach already, so you will have to go alone.
I have sensed the cold and am waiting in suspense for warm blankets.
The zombies have tried to eat us in the past, so we’re not afraid of them.
8.) Past perfect: This tense describes an action that happened before another action that was already in the past:
We had gone to the beach before they arrived.
I had sensed the cold by the time they brought the blankets.
The zombies had tried to eat us before, so we were not afraid when they rocked up at my house yesterday.
9.) Future perfect: This is an action that will happen before another action that is in the future:
We shall have gone to the beach by the time that they arrive.
I shall have sensed the cold before they will bring the blankets.
The zombies will have tried to eat us by then.
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