Today is our topic of discussion – Sentence errors and faulty arrangements

Sentence errors and faulty arrangements

 

 

Fragments

The issues which are responsible for mistakes while making English sentences should be paid more attention by the learners. If the necessary issues can be avoided or noticed properly, it becomes easier to avoid the mistakes. The learners mainly make mistakes in two sectors:

i) mistakes in the usage of word.

ii) structure related mistakes.

Here, some of the issues will be discussed which will help learners make correct sentences. The first mistake learners make is called “fragments”.

sentence fragment is a common type of mistake students make while making sentences. A sentence fragment is a group of words that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. A fragment is often missing a subject, a complete verb, or both.

Fragment: Are baked in an oven.

This fragment or group of words does not tell who or what are baked in an. It lacks a subject.

Fragment: Especially Asif’s convincing capability.

This fragment or group of words has a subject, “convincing capability”, but lacks a verb.

Fragment: To notice a friendly smile.

This fragment or group of words lacks both a subject and a verb. To notice is not a complete verb. It is an infinitive.
A group of words can have both a subject and a verb but still be a fragment because it does not express a complete thought.

Fragment: Because it has been completely done.

This fragment or group of words does not tell what happened as a result of the “completely done”. Its meaning is incomplete.

Note:

• The previous fragment begins with the subordinating conjunction because. A clause that begins with a subordinating conjunction cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. Word groups that begin with a relative pronoun (that, which, who) are also not complete sentences.

Fragment: Which they looked for many years.

The group of words does not tell what they looked for.

• When a word group begins with a transitional word or phrase (for example, also), make sure that it includes both a subject and a verb.

Fragment: For example, the Bay of Bengal.

Run-Ons

Run-Ons are another common type of mistakes learners make while making sentences. A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined without a punctuation mark or a coordinating conjunction. Run-on sentences are also known as fused sentences. As –

I went to school I attended the classes.

In this example, there are two sentences or two clauses. Either the sentences will be separated or the clauses will be added with a coordinating conjunction.

There are three basic kinds of run-on sentences or mistakes:

The most common mistake or run-on sentence is called a comma splice. It happens when two main clauses are punctuated by a comma rather than a semicolon or a period or a proper punctuation mark. To correct a comma splice, add a coordinating conjunction or replace the comma with an end mark of punctuation, such as a period or a question mark, and begin the new sentence with a capital letter.

 

 

 

RUN-ON: I was hungry, I had my meal.

CORRECT: I was hungry; I had my meal.

CORRECT: I was hungry. I had my meal.

The second kind of run-on sentence is created when no punctuation separates two main clauses. Correct this kind of run-on by inserting a semicolon or an end mark of punctuation between the main clauses. You can also correct the error by separating the clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction.

RUN-ON: I was hungry I had my meal.

CORRECT: I was hungry, so I had my meal.

CORRECT: I was hungry. I had my meal.

CORRECT: I was hungry: I had my meal.

The third kind of run-on sentence is formed when there is no comma before a coordinating conjunction joining two main clauses. Correct the error by inserting the comma before the coordinating conjunction.

RUN-ON: I was hungry so I had my meal.

CORRECT: I was hungry, so I had my meal

Misplaced modifiers

Modifiers that modify the wrong word or seem to modify more than one word in a sentence are called misplaced modifiers. When a modifier is in the wrong place, the reader may not understand just what it is meant to indicate. Misplaced modifiers can lead to misunderstanding – though some of which are unintentionally humorous, most of them are misleading.

Problem 01 – A misplaced modifier

He threw the pen to the girl which is red.

I saw a dog on the way to the class.

In the first sentence the girl is not red; rather the pen is red. In the second sentence the dog is not going to the class. So, here the modifiers are taking wrong places. These mistakes are called misplaced modifiers.

Solution:

Move the misplaced phrase as close as possible to the word or words it modifies.
He threw the pen which is red to the girl. On the way to the class I saw a dog.

Problem 02 – The inaccurate placement of only

I only ate fruits.

The meaning of your sentence may be unclear if the word only is misplaced.

Solution:

Place only immediately before the word or group of words it modifies. Note that each time only is moved in the sentence, the meaning of the sentence changes.

Only I ate fruits.

I only ate fruits.

I ate only fruits.

Problem 03 – A dangling modifier

To improve his writing, every page was checked. Aware of loss, the project was cancelled. Wearing the hat, the sun does not hit my face.

Dangling modifiers do not seem logically to modify any word in the sentence. In most cases the subject or a noun is missing. So, who is doing the work cannot be understood.

 

 

Solution:

Rewrite the sentence, adding a noun to which the dangling phrase clearly refers. Often you will have to add other words, too. To improve his writing, Maruf checked every page.

Aware of loss, we cancelled the project. Wearing the hat, your face is protected from the sun.

 

Today is our topic of discussion – Structure of Sentences

Structure of Sentences

 

 

Clauses

Clause is the part of sentence which has a subject and a verb and a subject verb complement. Sometimes in a clause, the subject can be hidden. In other words, clauses need a subject and a predicate and the predicate is usually a verb phrase (a verb with an object and other modifiers)

Note:

• A clause can act as an independent sentence if there is a proper punctuation mark after the sentence. That is called an independent clause or a principal clause.
• A clause can be a dependent one which needs another clause to complete the meaning which is called a dependent clause or a subordinate clause. As-

I eat at the dining hall and Piku plays at the garden.

If you come, I’ll go.

If the first sentence is noticed, we can find that there are two clauses. They are – I eat at the dining hall and Piku plays at the garden. Both of the clauses have subjects I and Piku and verbs eat and plays. So, they are meeting the conditions to be clauses. They have subject, verb and subject-verb complement.

Both of the clauses can act as independent sentences if they seat independently and take a proper punctuation mark (here that is a full stop “.”). So, both of the clauses are called independent or principal clauses.

However, from the second sentence, we can notice that there are two different clauses in that sentence. If you come – this clause cannot express its meaning completely. Rather it needs I’ll go to complete the meaning. Here If you come is a dependent clause and I’ll go is an independent clause. Structurally sentences can be divided into three categories:

i. Simple Sentence

ii. Compound Sentence

iii. Complex Sentence

iv. Complex-Compound Sentence

Simple sentence

A simple sentence structure contains one independent clause and no dependent clauses. As-

I go.

This simple sentence has one independent clause which contains one subject, I, and one predicate, go.

Lopa goes to school every day.

This simple sentence has one independent clause which contains one subject, Lopa, and one predicate, goes to school every day. The predicate is a verb phrase that consists of more than one word.

Rahim and Karim are going to school. Here, Rahim and Karim are two subjects which is known as a compound subject. Compound subject should not be confused with a compound sentence.

In the backyard, the dog barked and howled at the raccoon.

This simple sentence has one independent clause which contains one subject, dog, and one predicate, barked and howled at the raccoon. This predicate has two verbs known as a compound predicate: barked and howled. This compound verb should not be confused with a compound sentence either. In the backyard and at the raccoon are prepositional phrases.

 

 

 

Compound sentences

A compound sentence is composed of two or more independent clauses. A dependent clause is not required to form a compound sentence. Two or more independent clauses are added or joined together with a coordinating conjunction and form a compound sentence. In the earlier chapter, you have learnt about coordinating conjunctions. They are popularly known as FANBOYS where FANBOYS stands for

• F – For
• A – And
• N – Nor
• B – But
• O – Or
• Y – Yet
• S-So As –

Do or die.

I went to school but the classes were suspended.

The above two sentences are compound sentences. Each sentence contains two independent clauses, and they are joined by a coordinator. In the first sentence I went to school is an independent clause and the classes were suspended is another independent clause and they are joined with but.

In the second sentence Do is an independent clause where the subject “you” is hidden and die is another independent clause where the subject “you” is hidden as well. These two independent clauses are added with or.

Complex sentence

A complex sentence consists of more than one dependent clauses (subordinate clauses). Since a dependent clause cannot stand on its own as a sentence, complex sentences must have at least one independent clause as well. These two different types of clauses are joined together with a subordinating conjunction where the subordinating conjunction can take place at the beginning of the sentence or at the middle of the sentence.

Look at the sentence – Since a dependent clause cannot stand on its own as a sentence, complex sentences must also have at least one independent clause. Here, Since a dependent clause cannot stand on its own as a sentence is a dependent clause as it doesn’t express the full meaning by itself and complex sentences must also have at least one independent clause is an independent clause. Together they form a complex sentence.

If you come, I’ll go.

I’ll go if you come.

Complex sentences need a comma after the dependent clause if the subordinating conjunction takes place at the beginning of the sentence. Otherwise, a comma doesn’t take place in a complex sentence.

 

 

Complex-Compound sentence

A sentence with two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses is called compound-complex or complex-compound sentence.

In addition to a subject and a verb, dependent clauses contain a subordinating conjunction or similar word. There are a large number of subordinating conjunctions in English. As –

I have never been a good student, but because I like literature, I have spent a lot of time to studying Literature.

I have never been a good student and I have spent a lot of time to studying Literature are two independent clauses and because I like literature is a dependent clause and they are connected with a coordinating conjunction but. That’s how they form a complex-compound sentence.

 

Today is our topic of discussion – Asking Questions

Asking Questions

 

 

Asking question

Learning how to ask questions properly is very important. There are different types of questions like – direct questions, indirect questions, tag questions etc.

How to ask direct questions

Direct questions are the most common type of question in English. These types of questions are asked to get yes/no answers or concrete answers.

• This formula is known as QUASM.

Question Word + Auxiliary + Subject +Main Verb + (extensions) +? d+A As-

When are you going tomorrow?

Do you like meat?

How long have you been working on this project?

Where is the boy going alone?

Would you like a cup of tea?

 

 

 

Yes/No questions

Yes/No questions refer to simple questions which are asked to receive either a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ as a response. Yes/No questions do not use question words and always begin with the auxiliary verb.

• This formula is known as ASM.

Auxiliary + Subject + Main Verb + (extentions) + ? As-

Does he live in Dhaka?

Have you ever been to Cox’s Bazar?

Is she coming to our house?

Subject and object questions

Ritu likes playing cricket.

What does Jason like playing? (Answer: cricket) Who likes playing golf? (Answer: Ritu)

In the first question, a question has been asked about the object. When asking about the object, we use direct question construction beginning with a question word followed by the auxiliary verb.

“Wh’ + auxiliary + subject + verb?

Who does he like most among his friends?

In the second question, a question has been asked for the subject of the action. While asking subject questions, we do not use the auxiliary verb. The ‘Wh’ question word plays the role of the subject in the question.

‘Wh’ + (auxiliary) + verb + object?

Who does not understand this calculation?

Note:

• Present Indefinite Tense or past Indefinite Tense do not take the auxiliary in positive sentence structure. As-

Who enjoys watching films?

Who is coming to the field tomorrow?

• Common question forms for subject questions:

Which

Which team will win this time?

What kind of

What kind of cheese is blue?

What sort of

What sort of coffee is cheaper?

Who

Who wants to come with us?

Tag questions

Another type of common question in English is the tag question. Tag questions are used to confirm information that you already know or you think you know. This type of question is used in conversation and when checking that you have understood something or to emphasize on an issue.

A tag question is formed by making a statement followed by a comma and the opposite (positive > negative, negative> positive) form of the appropriate auxiliary verb. If the statement is positive, the tag question will be negative. If the question is negative, the tag question will be positive. As –

You’re going there, aren’t you?

He’s gone to office, hasn’t he?

You didn’t do the math by yourself, did you?

In the above written sentences, there are tag questions at the later halves of the sentences. The first two sentences are positive, that is why the tag question part in negative. And the last sentence the first half is negative and thus the later half is positive.

Indirect questions

Indirect questions are asked when we want to be more polite. They take the same formula of asking direct questions but at first some introductory phrases (do you know, can you tell, I was wondering etc.) are used and sometimes they make a positive statement rather than an actual question. The two phrases with the question word or ‘if’ is connected if there is a yes/no question. Construction Chart:

Introductory phrase + question word (or if) + positive sentence As-

I was wondering if you know the way to the nearest restaurant. Do you know when the next train leaves the platform?

• Here are some of the most common phrases used for asking indirect questions.

 

 

Do you know…

I wonder/was wondering…..

Can you tell me…

I’m not sure…

I don’t know… As-

I wonder when Priya will come.

Can you tell me where the lab is?

I’m not sure what he wants to do.

I don’t know if he is coming.

 

Today is our topic of discussion – Conditional Sentences

Conditional Sentences

 

 

Definition of conditional sentence

A conditional sentence is a type of sentence that tells a condition and the outcome of that condition taking place. A dependent clause and an independent clause join together to make a Conditional sentence.

Conditional sentences are declarations which discuss known factors or hypothetical situations and their consequences. Complete conditional sentences contain a conditional clause or dependent clause (if-clause) and an independent clause or the consequence. As –

If it rains today, I won’t go tomorrow. I would help the poor if I were a king.

Water boils when it reaches 100 degrees.

In the above stated sentences if and when create hypothetical situations and their consequences. In the first sentences, if makes a situation where going to class depends on raining. The second sentences create a hypothetical situation where the speaker has to be king to help the poor and there might not be any chance to become a king. In the third sentence a consequence (water boils) has been told after a certain incident (when it reaches 100 degrees).

Classification of conditional sentence

There are four different types of conditional sentences in English. Each of them expresses a different degrees of chance or possibility that a situation will occur or would have occurred under certain conditions. They are –

i. Zero conditional sentences

ii. First conditional sentences

iiiSecond conditional sentences

iv. Third conditional sentences

Zero conditional sentences

Zero conditional sentences depict general truths or situations in which one thing always depends on or causes another one. When a zero conditional is used, it indicates a general truth rather than a specific case. As-
When people smoke cigarettes, their health suffers. If you heat ice, it melts.

Note:

• Zero conditionals always take present indefinite tense rather than future indefinite tense in both clauses. As-

“When people smoke cigarettes, their health will suffer.” – This will be an incorrect sentence.

• If and when can be used interchangeably in zero conditional sentences as the outcome will always be the same. As –
  If people smoke cigarettes, their health suffers.

First conditional sentences

First conditional sentences indicate situations in which the outcome is expected (but not certain) to occur in the future. As –

If you don’t study hard, you get a poor grade.

Note:

If you come, I’ll go.

• Present indefinite tense is used in the subordinate clause (if clause) and future indefinite tense in the principal clause (the clause that indicate the expected or probable outcome). This is how it is expressed that under a certain condition (as expressed in the subordinate or if clause), a certain result will probably happen in the future. As-

If rain stops, I’ll go for a walk.

Here, the first half of the sentence (If rain stops) is in present indefinite tense and the later half (I’ll go for a walk) is in future indefinite tense.

• Use the zero conditional sentence structure rule (present indefinite + present indefinite) only when a particular outcome is guaranteed. If the result is probable, use the first conditional sentence structure rule (present indefinite + future indefinite).

Incorrect: If you will come, I’ll go.
Correct: If you come, I’ll go.

 

 

 

Second conditional sentences

Second conditional sentences are used to express results which are completely impractical or
will not probably happen in the future. As- If I were a king, I would help the poor.
If I had a million taka, I would build a white palace.

Note:

• Second conditional sentences need past indefinite tense in the subordinate clause (if clause) and an auxiliary modal verb (would, could, should, might) in the principal clause (which indicates the impractical or improbable result).

If I were a bird, I would fly in the sky.

Here, the first half of the sentence (If I were a bird) is in past indefinite tense and the later half which is a principal clause (I would fly in the sky) has a ‘would’ in it.

• While making a second conditional sentence, use past indefinite tense in the subordinate clause.

Incorrect: If I have a million taka, I would build a white palace.
Correct: If I had a million taka, I would build a white palace.

• Use a modal auxiliary verb (would, could, should, might) in the principal clause when using the second conditional sentence structure to express the improbability that the outcome will actually happen.

Incorrect: If I were a king, I will help the poor.
Correct: If I were a king, I would help the poor.

Third conditional sentences

Third conditional sentences refer to explain that present circumstances would be different if something different had happened in the past. In other words, third conditional sentences indicate situations which did not occur in the past, so the outcome did not happen either. As –

If you had come earlier, you could have met the Chairman.

If you hadn’t left the job, you would have a car by now.

These sentences indicate a condition that had probability to happen, but did not actually happen in the past. In the first sentence, somebody had the probability to meet the Chairman if s/he could come earlier. However, the person could not manage to come earlier and thus the other outcome did not happen either.

Note:

• Third conditional sentences need the past perfect structure (had + past participle) in the subordinate clause (if-clause). The modal auxiliary (would, could, should etc.) + have + past participle in the principal or main clause expresses the hypothetical situation that could have happened. As – If you had worked hard, you could get the reward.
• In the third conditional sentences, a modal auxiliary verb does not take place in the subordinate clause (if-clause).

Incorrect: If you would have come earlier, you could have met the Chairman.
Correct: If you had come earlier, you could have met the Chairman.

• The third conditional sentence indicates a circumstance that could have only happened in the past if a certain condition had been completed. That’s why these sentences take the modal auxiliary verb + have + the past participle.

Incorrect: If I had completed my assignment, I could go outside to play.
Correct: If I had completed my assignment, I could’ve gone outside to play.

Exceptions and special cases when using conditional sentences

Use of the future indefinite tense in the subordinate clause (if-clause)

Usually the future indefinite tense should be used only in the principal clause. One exception is when the action in the subordinate clause (if-clause) will take place after the action in the main clause. As –

If aspirin will ease my headache, I will take a couple tonight.

The action in the if-clause is the aspirin easing the headache, which will take place only after the speaker takes them later that night.

“Were to” in the if-clause

The verb phrase “were to” is sometimes used in conditional sentences when the probable or improbable result is particularly absurd or unimaginable. In this case, “were to” is used to place emphasis on this probable outcome. As-

If I were to be sick, I would miss another day of work.

If she were to be late again, she would have to have a conference with the manager.

If the rent were to have been a penny more, they would not have been able to pay it.

Note:

The emphatic “were to” can be used to describe hypothetical situations in the present, future, and past.

 

 

Punctuating conditional sentences

Use a comma after the subordinate clause (if-clause) when the subordinate clause (if-clause) precedes the principal clause. As – If I were a bird, I would fly in the sky. If the principal clause precedes the subordinate clause (if-clause), no punctuation is necessary. As-

I would fly in the sky if I were a bird

 

Today is our topic of discussion – Kinds of Sentences

Kinds of Sentences

 

 

Definition of sentence

Sentence means some adorned words which express the full meaning. In other words, when some words sit together to express a particular meaning is called a sentence.

Notice the below given examples:

Prova is a good girl. That is a statement.

Is Prova a good girl? – Something has been asked. Always obey your teachers. – Something has been suggested.
May your wish come true. – A prayer has been said.

Oh! I can’t believe my eyes. A feeling of surprise has been expressed. So, it can be noticed that, feelings can be expressed in different ways. Words should be decorated in different ways to express different feelings. Thus, many kinds of sentences are formed.

Among the above written sentences, the first sentence is a statement. Through the second sentence, a question has been asked. In the third sentence there is a suggestion. In the fourth sentence, there is a prayer and in the fifth sentence a feeling has been expressed.

Classification of sentences

According to the meaning, there are five kinds of sentences. They are –

1. Assertive sentence

2. Interrogative sentence

3. Imperative sentence

4. Optative sentence

5. Exclamatory sentence

Let’s discuss these five types of sentences in details.

Assertive sentence

The kinds of sentences which give any statement or confess or say something are called assertive sentences. As-

The sun rises in the east.

Rajib is a business major.

You should go home now.

The above mentioned sentences are giving statements or recognizing or attesting something. So, these are called assertive sentences.

Interrogative sentence

The sentences which ask a question about something or somebody are called interrogative sentences.
According to the rules, there is supposed to be a what, who, whom, which, why, when, how etc. to ask a question. As-
What is your name?

Who is the boy in red shirt?

Which one is your book?

In the above stated examples, some questions have been asked to find out some particular information. These are called interrogative sentences. Without using these “wh” (what, who, whom, which, why, when etc), there are some other rules to make meaningful questions as well. In the later lesson learners will get to know about asking questions in detail. It must be kept in the mind that after an interrogative sentence, there must be a Sign of Interrogation (?).

Imperative sentence

The types of sentences which express order, advice, request, prohibition etc. are called imperative sentences.
Sometimes imperative sentences do not show any subject. The subject can be hidden, but its presence can be understood. Example:

Open the door now. (Order)

Never tell a lie. (Suggestion)

Please pass me the water. (Request)

Among the above mentioned sentences, the first sentence expresses order, the second sentence expresses suggestion and the third sentence expresses request. These types of sentences are called imperative sentences.

 

 

 

Optative sentence

The kinds of sentences which express wish or prayer are called optative sentences. Optative sentences need a ‘may’ in the beginning.

May all your dreams come true.

May you obtain success in your every step.

Long live our President.

Among the above mentioned sentences, some express wish, some prayer, and some express blessings. So, each of the sentence is called an optative sentence.

Exclamatory sentence

The kinds of sentences which express feelings like happiness, sadness, amaze, hatred, sudden feelings are called exclamatory sentences.

What a beautiful flower it is!

Alas! I am broke!

What a fool he is!

Oops! I made a great mistake.

The above mentioned sentences are the examples of exclamatory sentences as these sentences express sudden reactions, emotions or expressions. These sentences need sign of exclamation (!).

The five kinds of sentences have been discussed above. Each kind of sentences can be divided into two parts as well. One of them is Assertive and another one is negative. As-

I am reading.

This is an Affirmative Sentence. An incident has been admitted. However, if it is said like –

I am not reading.

Here, an incident has been denied. This is a Negative Sentence.

Assertive or positive sentences are called affirmative Sentences and denial sentences are called negative sentences.
A sentence can be transformed into a negative one from a positive sentence if needed. However, from the above mentioned sentences, all of the sentences can be transformed except the exclamatory sentence. It means each of them has two different features. As –

a. Affimative

b. Negative

Affirmative and Negative sentences are shown below:
1. Aff. This is a school.

Neg. This is not a school.

2. Aff. She should be grateful.

Neg. She should not be grateful.

3. Aff. You are a fool.

Neg. You are not a fool.

4. Aff. I have books.

Neg. I have no books.

5. Aff. Mamun has a ball.

Neg. Mamun has no ball./ They do not have a ball.

6. Aff. They will work hard.

Neg. They will not work hard.

7. Aff. Maruf had a little puppy.

Neg. Maruf had no little puppy./ Maruf did not have a little puppy.

8. Aff. He has a magic box.

Neg. He does not have a magic box. / He has no magic box.

9. Aff. I can do the math.

Neg. I can not do the math.

10. Aff. Lopa should apologize.

Neg. Lopa should not apologize.

11. Aff. You may go there.

Neg. You may not go there.

12. Aff. I must work hard to attain my goal.

Neg. I must not work hard to attain my goal.

13. Aff. We have to go for the practice every weekend.

Neg. We do not have to go for the practice every weekend.

 

 

14. Aff. I play cricket every day.

Neg. I do not play cricket every day.

15. Aff. Shubho used to go to the park everyday.

Neg. Shubho did not use to go to the park everyday

So, it can be seen that, by adding ‘not, no, do not, does not and did not one can transform affirmative sentences into negative ones. While making negative sentences, a ‘no’ should be put before a noun and in other places “not” take place.

 

Today is our topic of discussion – Future Tense

Future Tense

 

 

Definition of Future Tense

Future tense mentions about an incident which has not yet happened or going to happen in future or about a thing which does not yet exist.

Classification of Future Tense

Future tense can be classified into four parts –

i. Future indefinite tense.

ii. Future continuous tense.

iii. Future perfect tense

iv. Future perfect continuous tense.

Future indefinite tense-

Future indefinite tense indicates an action that will take place after the present time and that has no real connection with the present time. As –

She will visit her parents soon.

He will go to school.

In the above mentioned sentences, the actions (will visit and will go) will happen in uncertain future or later. These are the examples of future indefinite tense. Note:

a. the form of future indefinite tense is – Subject + will/shall + verb

Future continuous tense –

Future Continuous Tense indicates an action that is going on in the future. As-

He will be going to school.

I will be doing my homework at tomorrow morning.

In the above mentioned sentences, the actions (will be going and will be doing) will be happening for a period in future or later. These are the examples of future continuous tense. Note

a. The form of Future Continuous Tense is- Subject +will/shall be + verb + ing

 

 

 

Future perfect tense –

Future perfect tense indicates an action in the future that will have been completed before another time or event in the future. As –

He will have gone to school by tomorrow afternoon.

I will have completed my assignment by tomorrow evening.

In the above mentioned sentences, the actions (will have gone and will have completed) will have been happened before a certain action in future or later. These are the examples of future perfect tense.
Note:

a. The form of Future Perfect Tense is – Subject + will/shall have + verb (past participle form or 3rd form of the verb)

Future perfect continuous tense-

Future perfect continuous tense indicates an action in the future that will have been continuing until another time or event in the future. As –

He will have been studying till 10 pm.

According to the forecast, it will have been raining till 5 pm.
In the above mentioned sentences, the actions (will have been studying and will have been raining) will have been happening before in future or later. These are the examples of future perfect continuous tense.
Note:

a. The form of Future Perfect Continuous Tense is- Subject +will/shall have been + verb + ing

Conjugation of Verb ‘go’ in all forms of Future Tense.

Future indefinite tense

Person

• 1st
• 2nd
• 3rd

Singular

• I shall go.
• You will go.
• S/He will go.

Plural

• We shall go.
• You will go.
• They will go.

Future continuous tense

Person

• 1st
• 2nd
• 3rd

Singular

• I shall be going.
• You will be going.
• S/He will be going.

Plural

• We shall be going.
• You will be going.
• They will be going.

Future perfect tense

Person

• 1st
• 2nd
• 3rd

Singular

• I shall have gone.
• You will have gone.
• S/He will have gone.

Plural

• We shall have gone.
• You will have gone.
• They will have gone.

 

 

Future perfect continuous tense

Person

• 1st
• 2nd
• 3rd

Singular

• I shall have been going.
• You will have been going.
• S/He will have been going.

Plural

• We shall have been going.
• You will have been going.
• They will have been going.

 

Today is our topic of discussion – Present Tense

Present Tense

 

 

Definition of present tense

The work which happens or is happening or has just happened or has been happening in the present indicates Present Tense. As –

I eat rice.

I am eating rice.

I have eaten rice.

I have been eating rice for 5 minutes.

Four of these sentences indicate works in present tense through the verbs – eat, am eating, have eaten, have been eating. These are the examples of present tense.

Classification of Present Tense

Present Tense can be classified into four parts –

i. Present Indefinite Tense

ii. Present Continuous Tense

iii. Present Perfect Tense

iv. Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Present indefinite tense –

Present indefinite tense indicates an action that is generally true or habitual which means it took place in the past, continues to take place in the present, and will take place in the future. This tense is used to denote -a habitual action. As –

I go to school.

-general truths. As

The sun rises in the east.

Honey tastes sweet.

-a future event that is part of a fixed timetable. As –

The show starts at 9 o’clock

In the above stated sentences, the actions (go, rises, tastes and starts) happen in the present and they happened in the past and will happen in the future. These are the examples of present indefinite tense.
Note:

a. The form of simple present tense is – Subject + verb (infinitive without ‘to’ and agreeable with the subject)

b. If the subject is third person singular number the ‘verb’ of the sentence takes an ‘s’ or “es” while forming a sentence of present indefinite tense. As –

He eats rice.

He does not eat rice.

Slow and steady wins the race.

Here, eats, does not and wins take place as the subject is third person singular number. Slow and steady considered as singular number because if two nouns are joined by “and” refer to the same person or thing or suggest one idea to the mind, the verb is singular

Present continuous tense-

Present continuous tense indicates an action that is taking place at the moment of speaking. As –
She is going to school.

I am studying.

In the above stated sentences, the actions (is going and am studying) are happening in the present right now. These are the examples of present continuous tense.
Note:

a. the form of present continuous tense is- Subject + is/am/are + verb + ing

 

 

Present perfect tense –

Present Perfect Tense indicates an action that has been completed sometime before the present moment, with a result that affects the present situation. As –

He has finished the math.

The baby has slept.

In the above stated sentences, the actions (has finished and has slept) have happened a few moments back but the affects are still there. These are the examples of present perfect tense.
Note:

a. The form of present perfect tense is – Subject + has/have + verb (past participle form or 3rd form of the verb)

Present perfect continuous tense-

Present Perfect Continuous Tense indicates an action that started in the past and is continuing at the present time. As
He has been sleeping for an hour.

We have been living here since 1990.

In the above stated sentences, the actions (has been sleeping and have been living) have been happening for a certain time. The actions have started earlier and still going on. These are the examples of present perfect continuous tense. Note:

a. The form of Present Perfect Continuous Tense is- Subject +has/have + been + verb + ing

Conjugation of verb ‘go’ in all forms of Present Tense

Present indefinite tense

Person

• 1st
• 2nd
• 3rd

Singular

• I go.
• You go.
• S/He goes.

Plural

• We go.
• You go.
• They go.

Present continuous tense

Person

• 1st
• 2nd
• 3rd

Singular

• I am going.
• You are going.
• S/He is going.

Plural

• We are going.
• You are going.
• They are going.

Present perfect tense

Person

• 1st
• 2nd
• 3rd

Singular

• I have gone.
• You have gone.
• S/He has gone.

Plural

• We gave gone.
• You have gone.
• They have gone.

 

 

Present perfect continuous tense

Person

• 1st
• 2nd
• 3rd

Singular

• I have been going
• You have been going.
• S/He has been going.

Plural

• We have been going.
• You have been going.
• They have been going.

 

 

Today is our topic of discussion – Past Tense

Past Tense

 

 

Definition of past tense

Past tense refers to incidents that happened in past. As-

I went to school.

They won the championship.

She was trying to do the math by herself.

In the above mentioned sentences, some incidents are mentioned (went, won, was trying) which indicate that the actions happened in past or earlier. They are the examples of past tense.

Classification of past tense

Past tense is classified into four divisions:

i. Past indefinite tense.

ii. Past continuous tense.

iii. Past perfect tense

iv. Past perfect continuous tense.

Past indefinite tense

Past Indefinite Tense indicates an action took place before the present moment and that has no real connection with the present time. As-

He played in the team last year.

She went to the market yesterday.

The actions (played and went) took place in the past, and they are finished and completely unrelated to the present. These are the examples of past indefinite tense. Note:

a. The form of Simple Past Tense is – Subject + verb + ed

b. The verb ‘went’ is an irregular verb which does not take ‘ed’ in the past tense like regular verbs.

Past continuous tense

Past continuous Tense indicates an action going on at some time in the past or an action in the past that is longer in duration than another action in the past.

We were getting late.

Shubho was watching cartoon when the phone rang.

The actions (were getting and was watching) were taking place in the past and they are completely unrelated to the present. These are the examples of past continuous tense.
Note:

a. The form of past continuous tense is – Subject +was/were + verb + ing

Past perfect tense

Past perfect tense indicates an action in the past that had been completed before another time or event in the past. As –

He had studied before the show started. We had reached there before she left

The actions (had studied and had reached) had been finished before other events/ actions (started and left) took place. These are the examples of past perfect tense. Note:

a. The form of Past Perfect Tense is- Subject +had + verb (past participle form or the 3rd form of the verb)

b. The task which took place before, its main verb takes the past participle form and the other verb takes past indefinite form. As-

The patient had died before the doctor came.

The train had left before we reached the station.

Here, the actions which took place before are had died and had left which are in past perfect tense and the other action or verbs are came and reached which are in past indefinite tense.

 

 

Past perfect continuous tense

Past perfect continuous tense indicates an action in the past that took place before another time or event in the past and continued during the second event/time point in the past. As –

At that time, he had been learning Spanish for five months.

I had been working at the company for five years when I got the promotion.

The actions (had been learning and had been working) had been going on for a certain time in past. These are the examples of past perfect continuous tense.
Note

a. The form of Past Perfect Continuous Tense is- Subject + had + been + verb + ing

Conjugation of Verb ‘go’ in all forms of Past Tense

Past indefinite tense

Person

• 1st
• 2nd
• 3rd

Singular

• I went.
• You went.
• S/He went.

Plural

• We went.
• You went.
• They went

Past continuous tense

Person

• 1st
• 2nd
• 3rd

Singular

• I was going.
• You were going.
• S/He was going

Plural

• We were going.
• You were going.
• They were going.

Past perfect tense

Person

• 1st
• 2nd
• 3rd

Singular

• I had gone.
• You had gone.
• S/He had gone.

Plural

• We had gone.
• You had gone.
• They had gone.

 

 

Past perfect continuous tense

Person

• 1st
• 2nd
• 3rd

Singular

• I had been going.
• You had been going.
• S/He had been going.

Plural

• We had been going.
• You had been going.
• They had been going.

 

Today is our topic of discussion – Definition of Tense and Categories

Definition of Tense and Categories

 

 

Definition of tense

The word “Tense’ has been originated from a Latin word ‘Tempus’ which means ‘Time’. Notice the below given examples:

We played cricket yesterday.

We are playing cricket today.

We shall play cricket tomorrow.

In the above mentioned sentences, three different tenses have been mentioned. In the first sentence, played indicates past-tense. This is an example of past-tense.

In the second sentence, are playing indicate present tense. This is an example of present tense

In the third sentence, shall play indicate future tense. This is an example of future tense.

So. It can be told that tense is a form of a verb that is used to show the time of an action. Tense is the concept of time which may be present, past or future.

Classification of tense

The concept of Tense can be differentiated into three main categories:

 

 

 

Past tense:

Past-tense indicates incidents which happened in past or which are already done.
Like in the first example, we have noticed an incident (cricket) which was already completed (played) on the previous day which refers to past incident once again. Thus, We played cricket yesterday. – is an example of past-tense.

Present tense:

Present tense indicates incidents which usually happen or is happening right now.

Like in the second example, we have noticed an incident (cricket) which is currently going on (are playing) and it obviously indicates present tense.

Thus. We are playing cricket today. – is an example of present tense.

 

 

Future tense:

Future tense indicates incidents which will occur in future.

Like in the third example, we have noticed an incident (cricket) which will be played (shall play) on the next day (tomorrow). All of these indicate future incident or future tense. Thus. We shall play cricket tomorrow. – is an example of future tense.

 

Today is our topic of discussion – Interjection and kinds

Interjection and kinds

 

 

Definition of interjection

An interjection is a word used to express emotion. Oh!, Wow!, Oops!, Hurray! Etc are the examples of Interjection.
The young boy brought me a very soft chair from his home, and then he quickly disappeared. Oh my God!
Oh my God! is explaining the expression of being astonished in the sentence. That is why it is the example of Interjection.

Classification of interjection

Interjection can be classified into different categories. The most common categories are –

Interjections for greeting

These types of interjections refer to indicate the emotion of warmth to the person meeting with words like – hey, hello, hi etc. As-

Hey! Where have you been?

Hello! I am Rajib.

Here, Hey! and Hello! are the examples of interjections of greeting.

Interjections for joy

These types of interjections refer to immediate joy and happiness on any happy occasion occurred like-hurrah, wow, hurray etc. As-

Wow! What a great news!

Hurray! We have won this trophy.

Here, Wow! and Hurray! are the examples of interjections of joy.

Interjections for approval

These types of interjections refer to the strong sense of approval or agreement for something that has happened like – well done, bravo, brilliant etc. As-

Well done! You got an A+.

Bravo! This is a great decision.

Here, Well done! and Bravo! are the examples of interjections of approval.

 

 

Interjections for attention

These types of interjections refer to draw attention of someone like-look, behold, listen, hush etc. As-

Look! I do not have any time to waste.

Behold! Someone strange is standing there.

Here, Look! and Behold! are the examples of interjections of attention.

Interjections for surprise

These types of interjections refer to express the strong sense of surprise about something that has happened like – ha, what, hey, ah, oh, eh etc. As –

What! I can’t believe that.

Oh! How did you get hurt?

Here, What! and Oh! are the examples of interjections of surprise.

Interjections for sorrow

These types of interjections refer to express the emotion of sadness about something unfortunate has happened like – alas, ouch, ah, oh etc. As –

Alas! I am undone. Ouch! That really hurts.

Here, Alas! and Ouch! are the examples of interjections of sorrow.

 

 

Interjections for understanding/misunderstanding

Interjections of understanding and misunderstanding refer to one’s understanding of a subject being talked about or something which wasn’t well understood before the moment or misunderstood. As-

Oh! I did not get it. So! This is the way we should do it.

Here, Oh! and So! are the examples of interjections of understanding and misunderstanding.

There are some other Interjections like –

Interjections of Anger/Annoyance/Frustration/Disappointment/Dismissive etc which are more or less similar to the other categories of interjection.