English Point

Friday, February 8, 2013

Past continuous

What is the past continuous tense?

The past continuous describes an incomplete action. Past continuous tense of any verb has two parts, one is the past form of the verb of “To be” [was, were] another is the present participle [principle verb + ing] form of the verb. Here is described how to make and use it.

How to use the past continuous tense?

We can use the past continuous to talk about background information, repeated actions in the past , a continuous action in the past , especially telling a story.

we are talking about background information [atmosphere story].

The sun was shining.
The birds were singing.
The birds were relaxing on the tree.

we are talking about a continuous action in the past.

I was reading a book when you came.
I was having a dream when I woke up.
At seven o'clock, I was working.

we are talking about a repeated actions in the past.

You were always disturbing her.
I was always reading noble.

She was always crying when she was a child.

Formation of past continuous tense.

Person/number	Affirmative	Interrogative	Negative
1^st person/singular	I was eating rice.	Was I eating rice?	I was not eating rice.
2^nd person/singular	You were eating rice.	Were you eating rice?	You were not eating rice.
3^rd person/singular	He/she was eating rice.	Was he/she eating rice?	He/she was not eating rice.
1^st person/plural	We were eating rice.	Were we eating rice?	We were not eating rice.
2^nd person/plural	You were eating rice.	Were you eating rice?	You were not eating rice.
3^rd person/plural	They were eating rice.	Were they eating rice?	They were not eating rice.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Simple past.

What is the simple past?

Simple past is nearly similar to the simple present tense, but it has a different rules to make a sentence. It is easy to make a sentence with the past simple, because 'did' never changes with 'he / she / it'. Here is described how to make and use it.

How to use the simple past tense?

We use the past simple to talk about a completed action and state in the past.

we are talking about a definite point in time .

I came back yesterday.
My father died, when I was a child.
He did not agree to the agreement.

we are talking about a indefinite point in time.

I came back the other day.
My father died a long time ago.
He lived in London a long time ago.

we are talking about Often, Always, Sometimes.

My mother always read Qur’an .
He often saw her in the street.

Sometimes I went to her.

Formation of simple past tense.

Person/number	Affirmative	Interrogative	Negative
1^st person/singular	I ate rice.	Did I eat rice?	I did not eat rice.
2^nd person/singular	You ate rice.	Did you eat rice?	You did not eat rice.
3^rd person/singular	He/she ate rice.	Did he/she eat rice?	He/she did not eat rice.
1^st person/plural	We ate rice.	Did we eat rice?	We did not eat rice.
2^nd person/plural	You ate rice.	Did you eat rice?	You did not eat rice.
3^rd person/plural	They ate rice.	Did they eat rice?	They did not eat rice.

Note: * Auxiliary verbs in the present simple are “do, does” and to be verbs are “am,is ,are.”

* Auxiliary verb in the past simple is “did” and to be verbs are “was, were.”

Present perfect continuous

What is the Present perfect continuous?

Present perfect continuous tense of any verb has two parts, one is the present perfect of the verb of “To be” [have been, has been] another is the present participle form [principle verb + ing] of the verb. Here is described how to make and use it.

How to use the present perfect continuous tense?

We use the present perfect continuous to talk about an action that started in the past, but it is continued until now. We can use this tense to know about a period of time [for] and a point of time [since] of an action.

we are talking about a period of time [for]

I have been working here for five years.
My father has been living in London for three years.
It has been raining for three days.

we are talking about a point of time [since]

I have been working here since 1999.
My father has been living in London since last year.

It has been raining since morning.

Formation of present perfect continuous tense.

Person/number	Affirmative	Interrogative	Negative
1^st person/singular	I have been reading.	Have I been reading?	I have not been reading.
2^nd person/singular	You have been reading.	Have you been reading?	You have not been reading.
3^rd person/singular	He/she has been reading.	Has he/she been reading?	He/she has not been reading.
1^st person/plural	We have been reading.	Have we been reading?	We have not been reading.
2^nd person/plural	You have been reading.	Have you been reading?	You have not been reading.
3^rd person/plural	They have been reading.	Have they been reading?	They have not been reading.

Note: We can not use this tense in states.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Already, Yet, Never, Ever

How to use {already, yet, never, ever,} with the present perfect tense?

Already

We can use “already” for a finished action. [ Before now ]

I have already finished my home work.
Have you seen this film already?
He has already closed his business already.

Note: We can place “already” before the past participle even at the end of sentence.

Yet

We can use “yet” for a unfinished action. [ until Now ]

I have not met with him yet.
Have you gone yet?
He has not eaten yet.

Note: We can usually place “yet” at the end of sentence.

Ever

We can use “ever” for a question [positive and negative] to know the life experience in the past.

Ever { Positive question }

Have you ever been to Japan?
Has Nazrul ever met Robi?
Have they ever come here?

Ever { negative question }

Have not you ever been to Japan?
Has not Nazrul ever met Robi?

Have not they ever come here?

We can also use “ever” for a negative description.

Nobody has ever called me as like you.

Note: We can usually place “ever” before the past perticiple.

Thanks

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

present perfect

what is the present perfect tense?

The present perfect is a difficult tense. Present perfect tense of any verb has two parts, one is the present form of the verb of “To have” [have, has] another is the past participle form of the verb. Here is described how to make and use it.

How to use the present perfect tense?

We can use the present perfect to talk about a unfinished action that started in the past, but it has not finished yet. We can use this tense to know about a period of time [for] and a point of time [since] of an action or state.

we are talking about a period of time [for]

I have known him for five years.
My father has lived in London for three years.
Have you had a cold for a week?

we are talking about a point of time [since]

I have known him since 1999.
My father has lived in London since last year.
Have you had a cold since yesterday?

we are talking about a finished action with life experience in the past.

I have been to Dhaka.
He has lived in India.
You have never read a noble.

we are talking about a finished action with a result in the present.

I have broken the glass.
He has lost her pen.

You have missed the bus.

Formation of present perfect tense.

Person/number	Affirmative	Interrogative	Negative
1^st person/singular	I have eaten rice.	Have I eaten rice?	I have not eaten rice.
2^nd person/singular	You have eaten rice.	Have you eaten rice?	You have not eaten rice.
3^rd person/singular	He/she has eaten rice.	Has he/she eaten rice?	He/she has not eaten rice.
1^st person/plural	We have eaten rice.	Have we eaten rice?	We have not eaten rice.
2^nd person/plural	You have eaten rice.	Have you eaten rice?	You have not eaten rice.
3^rd person/plural	They have eaten rice.	Have they eaten rice?	They have not eaten rice.

Note: In every field, we can use “have” [the verb of 'to be'] without 3^rd person singular [it for “has”, ex: He has finished the work.] for the present perfect tense.

Please click here for more information about the present perfect tense.