English: TENSES
TENSES Definition of Tenses Tenses are grammatical tools used in language to express the time of an action, event, or condition. They indicate whether something happens in the past, present, or future. In English grammar, tenses are essential because they help convey when an action takes place and provide clarity and context to communication. There are three main types of tenses: present, past, and future. Each of these has four aspects—simple, continuous (progressive), perfect, and perfect continuous—making a total of twelve tenses in English grammar. For example, the present simple tense ("She reads every day") describes a habitual action, while the past continuous tense ("She was reading") shows an action in progress in the past. Tenses not only show time but also help express the state or completion of an action. For instance, "I have eaten" (present perfect) tells us the action is complete but still relevant now. Understanding tenses is crucial for ...