3 Tips for Using Tenses: A quick Guide

We have noticed a common problem that many first-generation English speakers here, especially in India grapple with—English tenses. If you've ever found yourself in a tense situation (pun intended), worry not! This blog aims to being your quick and easy guide book which will help you on your journey to master the english language.

Understanding the Challenge:

English, with its intricate web of tenses, can be tricky for those navigating it as a second language. It's not uncommon to hear sentences like "I am go to the market" or "She is not knowing the answer" in casual conversations. These nuances often pose challenges, but the good news is that with a bit of guidance, we can untangle the grammatical web with these 3 tips for using tenses correctly

Rules of Using Tenses Correctly:

1. Think in Timelines:

2. Use Signal Words:

3. Practice Regularly:

Rule 1: Think in Timelines Understanding tenses is easy when you start visualising timelines for past, present, and future actions. This mental exercise provides a spatial perspective to grammar, guiding you to select the correct tense effortlessly.

Examples:

1. Present Tense: "I play cricket every day." (Play, Point on the present timeline)

2. Past Tense: "I visited Ooty last summer." (Visited, Point on the past timeline)

3. Future Tense: "I will start a new job next month." (Will, Point on the future timeline)

Rule 2: Use Signal Words In the vast expanse of tenses, signal words act as beacons, guiding you to the right tense for your sentence. Paying attention to these linguistic cues will significantly enhance the precision of your tense choices.

Examples:

Present Tense Signal Words: "Now," "currently," "at present."

• "I am studying for my exams now."

• "She is currently reading a novel."

• "At present, they are exploring new opportunities."

Past Tense Signal Words: "Yesterday," "last week," "in 2005."

• "She traveled to Madurai last year."

• "Yesterday, they finished the project."

• "In 2005, he graduated from college."

Future Tense Signal Words: "Tomorrow," "next month," "in the future."

• "We will attend the conference tomorrow."

• "They plan to launch the product next month."

• "In the future, technology will advance even further."

Rule 3: Precision in Practice Put your understanding of timelines and signal words into practice through examples that showcase past, present, and future tenses seamlessly.

Present Tense Practice:

• "Every morning, she reads the newspaper before work."

• "The sun rises in the east every day."

• "Our team meets for a weekly discussion on Fridays."

Past Tense Practice:

• "Last night, they watched a Rajinikanth movie together."

• "In 2010, he completed his first marathon."

• "They visited the Mahabalipuram during their vacation last summer."

Future Tense Practice:

• "Next week, he will complete his project and submit it."

• "She plans to travel to Valparai next year."

• "Tomorrow, they will announce the winner of the competition."

Conclusion: By internalising these three rules—thinking in timelines, recognising signal words, and applying them in practice—you'll be on the path to crafting sentences with unparalleled precision. The journey to mastering tenses is an exciting one, filled with discovery and linguistic empowerment. Happy writing!