English Grammar and Composition chapter 3: The Tense

Unit Three

The Tense

Lesson 1: Present Simple

A. Read the following texts and look at the underlined verbs. Tell your partner which tense it is:

1. Arif lives in a village. His village is beside a river. It is located in the district of Gazipur.

2. Student : Sir, I want to show you my homework.

   Teacher : Very good. Please show it to me.

3. Passenger : Does this bus go to Farmgate?

   Bus conductor : Yes,it does.

4. Daughter : Ma, do you have a nail cutter?

   Mother : Yes, I do. Please get it from the drawer.

5. Abonti : How are you, Anika?

   Anika : I am fine. Thank you.

6. Doctor : Can you walk now?

   Patient : Yes, I can.

Note: Do you understand what tense we are talking about? If we are talking about general present, or about a regular or habitual action we use the present simple tense.

Verbs used in the present simple :

1. Be verbs : am, is, are

2. Have verbs : have, has

3. Action verbs in the present form : want, get, show etc

4. Passive verbs with the past participle form of a main verb : for example, is located.

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5. Auxiliary verbs: do and does which are used in making interrogative or negative sentences. For example, Do you have a nail cutter?

6. Modals: can

B. Now use the correct form of verbs in the following gaps :

1. Hi, Shohag, How ___ everybody at home?

   They____fine. Thanks.

2. I ________ milk most days a week.

3. Students do not know the room in which the game teacher ________.

4. This train does not __________ at every station.

5. The security guard may ask me who I __________.

6. The SSC exam is usually ____________ in February every year.

7. Do you ___________? No, I _____________.

8. Things in this shop ____________ expensive.

9. Mom often asks me, ''Do you brush your teeth regularly?'' "Yes, I _________."

10. The teacher said, "Do you smoke?", The student replied, "No sir, I _________."

C. Describe the following items to your partner :

1. The house/apartment you live in

2. Your home town/birthplace

3. One of your closest relatives

4. A beautiful place in your city

5. A possession you have for a long time

D. Write a paragraph on one of following topics using the present simple tense:

My Best Friend, A Ghost, Our Next-door Neighbour

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Lesson: 2: Past Simple

A. Read the following text and look at the underlined verbs:

1. My father worked in a bank when we lived in Munshiganj. Then he started a business in Dhaka and at one stage we moved there.

2. Rafik was in class six when his mother died.

3. Bangladesh won ICC Trophy in 1997. That time all cricket fans celebrated the event very much.

4. Interviewer: When were you born?

   Interviewee: I was born in 2001.

5. My uncle visited many countries of Europe when he had a job in England.

6. "What did you do last weekend?" "Nothing much, I only finished my homework."

Note: The past simple tense is used with reference to past time. Verbs used in the past simple tense are:

1. Be verb : was, were

2. Have verb : had

3. Action verbs in the past form: worked, lived, started, moved etc.

4. Passive verbs: auxiliary verb (was/were) + past participle. For example, was informed, were stolen, was born etc.

5. Auxiliary verb: "Did" is used in making interrogative or negative sentences. For example, what did you do last weekend?

6. Modals: could, would, used to etc.

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B. Use the correct forms of verbs in the following gaps :

1. When I _______ a child I ________ how to ride a bicycle. My elder brother __________ me carefully and at one stage I ____________ able to learn it.

2. Our school ____________ an inter school debate competition 0n 23 March and we ________ the runner up position. We ____________ a certificate and a crest from the chief guest.

3. Last night we ________ no electricity in our locality. My father ________ some candles nd we all ________ a candle light dinner. It __________ a great fun.

4. He _____ play football in his youth.

C. Make past tense questions and answers using the words given. One is done for you:

1. Who/you see/ in the room? Who did you see in the room?

2. I see/ Jamal /there

3. When / you go/ to school?

4. We/ go / to school/ at 8.15 am.

5. Where / you celebrate/ your holiday?

6. We/ celebrate/ in our village/holiday

7. Why / you come/ late to class?

8. I / come late/ because it / rain/ in the morning

9. When /your father/ promote/ as General Manager?

10. My father/ promote/ early this year.

D. Write a paragraph on any one of the following using the past simple tense:

Our Liberation War, The Day I Passed My PEC Exam, My Last Vacation

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Lesson 3: Future Simple

A. Read the following text and look at the underlined verbs:

1. I will wake up early in the morning. My uncle will take me to the station. The Mohanagar Express will start at 7.30 for Chattogram.

2. He will become Sucessful.

3. You will be the top scorer if you work hard.

4. "Shall I close the door, sir?", the student said to the headmaster.

5. Shefali won't play badminton because she will go to her tutor's in the afternoon.

Note: Future tense is used when we refer to a future action. Here the main verb is used in the base form and the modal shall or will is used before the main verb.

B. Supply the correct form of verbs in the gap of the following sentences :

1. Next Saturday my uncle ____________ for Saudi Arabia. So my father and I __________ to the airport to see him off.

2. The weather forecast says it ____________ rain tomorrow.

3. I _________ an umbrella if it rains.

4. The waiter says, "______ I give you cold drinks, sir?"

5. I am going home now.

b. Ok, I _____ you Sunday morning.

Note: For promises and offers relating to the future, you will use 'will'. Also when you are making predictions about the future that are based on general beliefs, opinions, or attitudes, you will use 'will'.

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C. Use the correct verbs in the following sentences. The first one is done for you:

1. Don't worry; the student volunteers will manage discipline about the program.

2. I am sure you ____________ your visit to Rangamaati.

3. I ____________ you tonight and __________ you about the situation.

4. I am very tired. I ____________ to bed early tonight.

5. People are very angry about the problem. They ___________ a compromising solution of the problem.

D. Now match these sentences with the predictions below :

1. It's Friday morning a. she will call our names

2. I am back from my school b. shops will remain open.

3. If you are not careful c. I will take some rest now.

4. On Fridays d. we will say our Jumma prayer.

5. The class teacher is coming e. you will slip from the steep staircase. to the class

E. Suppose you and your partner are playing the role of a palmist and a client. The dialogue will go like this. Use the verbs employ, earn, export, offer and import and complete the dialogue:

Palmist : You will have a big business in future.

Client : What kind of business?

P : It will be a garment business

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Lesson 4: Present Continuous

A. Read the following text and look at the underlined verbs. Tell your partner which tense it is:

1. Nafisa's school is closed today. She is reading a story book.

2. Asif : What are you doing now? Come and join us in a game if you are free.

   Maruf : Sorry, I can't. I am taking my sister to a doctor. She is suffering from fever.

3. Please don't interrupt me while I am talking over the phone.

4. Desk officer: Are you being served?

   Client: Yes, that young lady is helping me.

5. Teacher: Are you listening to me?

   Students: Yes ma'm, we are.

Note: The Present Continuous tense describes actions which are going on now. The structure goes like this: Subject + auxiliary verbs (am/is/are)+ ing form of the main verb. For example :

He is playing cards. It could be used in the negative or interrogative sense as well. For example :

I am not watching TV now.

Are you going shopping now?

B. Supply appropriate verbs in the gaps of the following sentences :

1. Take this umbrella. It ____________ outside now.

2. "____ you still ________ in a bank?" "No, recently I have left it."

3. Please don't disturb me. I _______________ my homework.

4. Please wait for a minute. I ___________ soon.

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5. There are a few doctors in this clinic. Many patients (not) ____________.

C. Write a sentence using a word from the box. Your subjects may change in every sentence. One example is given for you:

A helicopter is flying in the sky.

Play, sing, fly, ride, hang, check, bake, watch, attend, notice, throw