3. The Present Continuous Tense

ii.               The Present Continuous Tense

This indicates:

a.     An action that begins at an indefinite time before and is taking place at the present time

Examples: i. I am lecturing the students.

                ii. The Lion is roaring in the forest.

b.     An action that continues from the beginning to an end of a given present or future period of time.

Example: I won’t come because I will be busy throughout today.

c.     Near Future Occurrence (verb of motion).

Example: i. We are meeting on Friday (speaking from Tuesday).

                ii. What are you lecturing tomorrow?

ii.              The Present Perfect Tense

This indicates:

a.     An action or state that is completed during some present incomplete period of time, such as “today”, “this week”, “this month” etc. For instance, action which does not have a specific time.

Example: i. We are expecting the VC this week.

               ii. Have you met my younger brother today?

b.     An action or state that takes place during a time that leads up to the moment of speaking. Such words like: “recently”, “lately”, “ever”, “never”, “since” etc, express these periods of time. Example:

-       The students have never submitted their assignments on time.

c.     Action that has just been made. Example: My boyfriend has just spoken to me.

 1.     THE PAST TENSE

Simply put, this indicates what has happened in the past. This can also be set in the following forms:

i.               The Past Simple Tense

This indicates:

a.     An action that is completed at or during some definite past time. It is frequently used with such words as “yesterday”, “lasy night”, “last month”. Example

Aisha spoke to me three days ago.

b.     When a definite past time is considered, even if an incomplete period of time is expressed. Examples:

i.               The man killed a goat last Sunday.

ii.              The players arrived late last night.

c.     A repeated or a habitual past action. Examples:

i.               I went to school when I was a boy.

We can also use the expression “used to” to show past habitual action.

ii.              Joy used to urinate on bed before.

ii    The Past Continuous Tense

       This indicates:

a.     A past action that begins indefinitely before and lasts to a later time with some other given past action or past time. Examples:

i.               It was raining when my friend returned.

ii.              My sister was sleeping when I went to the stream this morning.

b.     An action or state that continues from beginning to end of a given past period of time. Examples:

i.                Amina was writing an exam all day yesterday.

ii.              What were you doing last night?  

Iii   The Past Perfect Tense

      This is also called past participle. It is used to indicate an action or state of a thing that started at a far distant time in the past and got completed before the time of utterance. Example:

i.               I have eaten my breakfast.

ii.              He had completed his first degree before his father’s death.