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Question
Here is a letter Nikita wrote to her friend Susie who lives in Milan, Italy. What verb forms has she used in this letter? Bas she used a mix of verb forms? Is there any particular form that has been used more frequently?
Dear Susie
It's a beautiful Sunday morning. Rakesh is busy with some office work and the kids are playing in the park outside and I've time enough to write a quick letter to you.
So, how are you doing? How's your new novel coming along? I hear you're learning Bharatnatyam these days. Couldn't believe it when Sharon told me about it. Bhartnatyam in Milani Never knew there is an Indian Dance school in Italy. Interesting! By the way, who are you taking dance lessons from? I mean, who is your Guru? And why are you learning Bharatnatyam? Must you do everything that I do?
What happened to your plan to visit us this winter? Well, winter is round the corner. When are you coming? How long do you plan to stay? What places would you like to visit? Do let me know, will you? I'll make your itinerruy accordingly. Remember, this time when you come, you are not staying at any hotel as you did last time. You will stay with us. I have a room spare for you to stay as long as you wish. OK? As for the weather, I've already told you, winter is setting in. It's beginning to get cold, especially in the mornings and the evenings. The temperature is falling with each passing day and it's just the right kind of weather for some travel and adventure. Delhi is at its best in the early winter and it is waiting to welcome you with open arms. And how's your mom's health now? Is she keeping well? Is she getting physiotherapy done regularly? I continue to pray for her speedy recovery. I think I got to go now. The kids seem to have had a fight. I can hear the youngerone crying. These boys are giving me a difficult time! Catchyoulater. Bye
Yours
Nikita
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Solution
In this letter the verb forms mostly used are of Present Indefinite and Present Continuous Tenses. Actually, these forms are a mix of various Tenses. Along with these Tenses, Present Perfect Tense has also been used. Students themselves shall see that usage of various Tenses depends greatly on the subject. This can be seen after reading the text of the letter.
APPEARS IN
RELATED QUESTIONS
Change the following sentence into simple sentence.
Einstein smiled and put his arm across my shoulder.
Let us begin by studying the relationship between the different verb forms and the time they denote.
Work individually
Indicate the tense and time of each of the highlighted verbs in the table below.
The first has been done as an example.
| Sentence | Tense | Time | |
| 1. | We are planning to go out for a picnic tomorrow. | Present | Future |
| 2. | India has made tremendous progress in the past few decades. |
||
| 3. | It has been raining since morning. | ||
| 4. | Could you please send your e-mail address as soon as possible? |
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| 5. | The train must have reached Delhi by now. |
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| 6. | It always rains in July here. | ||
| 7. | Cold wave intensifies further. (A news headline) |
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| 8. | He was playing here a minute ago. | ||
| 9. | She won the Student of the Year award last year. |
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| 10. | All incomplete forms will be rejected. |
Now compare your answers with those of your partner and discuss the
following questions and write your observations in the given space.
a. Is the time referred to in the sentences always the same as the tense of
the verb? What conclusion can you draw from your observation? Write
your observation below.
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b. How have you found the tense of the verbs in the sentences above? Are
there any indicators or markers that reveal the tense of the verb? Write
your observation below.
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c. Did you find any verb form that could be called 'future form'? (You will
learn more about the different ways of talking about future later in this
unit.)
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d. Why do you think verb forms are often labelled as 'simple' or 'indefinite', 'progressive' or 'continuous', 'perfect' and 'perfect continuous'?
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Form
• Have/has+ past participle
• Have/ has+ been + past participle
Work individually
Complete the following sentences by using the present perfect form (as
given in C.l)ofthe given verbs.
a) The kids (work) really hard for the show. Now, don't cancel it, please.
b) Yippyl I (select) for the interschool dance competition!
c) I ... (contest) five elections so far.
d) John? 0, he is a delightful boy. I (know) him since his childhood.
e) ... you ever (be) to the Taj Mahal?
• The box below shows different uses or meanings of the present perfect. Match the sentences above with the uses or meanings of the present perfect they illustrate.
i) Something that has happened several times up to the present.
ii) Announcement or news of a recent event.
iii) Finished event connected with the present.
iv) An action or situation that has continued up to the present.
v} Finished event at some/ any time up to now.
Answer: i - c; ii - b; iii - a; iv - d; v - e
Present Progressive
(Progressive = continuous)
Form
S +is/ am/ are +verb+ ing
S +is/ am/ are+ not+ verb+ ing.
Is/am/me+ S + verb+ing?
S + is/ am/ are +being+ Verb (past participle)
- Complete the following sentences by filling in the blanks with the present progressive form of the given verbs.
i. "You've put on weight, Cheryl."
"Yes. I.. .... (eat) a lot these days."
ii. "Hurry up! We ... (get) late for school."
"Justa second, please! I ... (come}."
iii. Temperatures ... (rise} all over the world.
iv. "You .... not ... (wear) this dirty shirt to office. Wait, I'll give you another."
v. "l...not ... (do) your homework-forget it. I still haven't forgotten how you
fought with me in the morning."
vi. The Prime Minister ... (leave) for Russia tomorrow on a 5 day state visit.
Vii "You ... (be) ver:yrude, Abhi."
viii. She ... always (make) excuses for coming late.
ix. Aabha ... (write) a novel these days.
- The table below shows different uses or meanings of the present progressive. Match the verbs in the above sentences with the uses or meanings they convey.
| a. Something pre-arranged or a fixed plan ............ b. Insistence............. c. Annoyance............ d. Repeated action............. e. Some development or change........... f. Emphatic refusal............. g. Something happening 'around now'.............. h. An action just starting.......... i. Temporary action not necessarily taking place at the moment of speaking............ |
*It is a little difficult to match the sentences with uses of present progressive
tense. Here are the answers:
a-vi, b-iv, c-vii, d-i, e-iii, f-v, g-ix, h-ii, i-viii.
Compare your answers with these and have a class discussion.
Work with apartner
In the following sentences, choose and circle the verb form you think best fits the meaning of each sentence. You have been provided an example.
| 1. Tomorrow | is will be is going to be | Wednesday. |
| 2. The train | has left will have left is going to leave | by the time you reach the station. |
| 3. Hurry! The film | does will is about to | start. |
| 4. The Minister | opens is opening is about to open | the new Art Centrenext week. |
| 5. This time next year, he | will live is living will be living | in Mumbai. |
| 6. I | am going to be will be will have been | a nurse when I grow up |
The Dauphin will give me all I need.
(Rewrite the sentence using the present perfect tense)
Use the correct tense form of the verb given in the bracket and rewrite the sentence.
She ______ like a dressmaker’s dummy standing there.
Name the Tense of the Verb underlined to include Time (Past/Present/Future) and Aspect (Simple/Continuous/Perfect/Perfect Continuous).
I am fine, now.
Name the Tense of the Verb underlined to include Time (Past/Present/Future) and Aspect (Simple/Continuous/Perfect/Perfect Continuous).
I have been facing death.
Change the Tense as instructed.
Life hits you in the head. (Present Perfect Continuous)
Change the Tense as instructed.
I started the company. (Present Continuous)
Underline the verb and choose the correct option from the options.
Today Sanjay found a new book.
Underline the verb and choose the correct option from the options.
Preeti was scornful.
Read the following sentence carefully, underline the verb and find out the tense in the sentence.
Still they took no notice of him.
Read the following sentence carefully, underline the verb and find out the tense in the sentence.
He leaned out eagerly.
Read the following sentence carefully, underline the verb and find out the tense in the sentence.
He just felt dizzy.
Rewrite in the past perfect continuous tense:
The marlin fights for its life desperately.
Rewrite the sentences in present perfect tense:
I had been working for Anil for almost a month.
Rewrite the sentence in future tense:
I am doing it.
