fine english grammar: Tenses

THE PAST TENSE :--

A Verb, that refers to past time, is said to be in the Past Tense; as,

* I wrote.

* You went.

* Hema sang.

FORMS OF PAST TENSE :--

1. The Past Indefinite or the Simple Past Tense

2. The Past Continuous Tense

3. The Past Perfect Tense

4. The Past Perfect Continuous Tense

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USES OF PAST TENSE :--

1. THE PAST INDEFINITE TENSE OR SIMPLE PAST TENSE :--

This is used --

(a) To indicate an action completed in the past; as,

* The steamer sailed yesterday.

* We had a dinner with our friends.

        (b) For past habits; as,

* She always carried an umbrella.

* He used to go to swim in the river.

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2. THE PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE :--

       This is used :--

        (*) To denote an action going on at some time in the past; as,

* Sita was singing a song.

* My mother was cooking food when Ireached home.

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3. THE PAST PERFECT TENSE :--

       This describes :--

           (*) Some action completed before another was commenced; as,

* I had reached the station before the train started.

* The teacher enteredthe class after the student had left.

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4. THE PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE :--

This is used :--

(*) For an action that began before a certain point in the past and continued up to that time; as,

* The girls had been playing with the dolls for two weeks.

* The British had been ruling over India since 1857.

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fine english grammar