Tenses Flashcards
What are tenses?
Verbs perform multiple functions in a sentence i.e. they convey action or state of being. In addition, verbs also help us identify the timing of an action. We have the following types of tenses available.
Note: Perfect continuous tense are not tested on GMAT
These are verbs that also tell us about the time of the action, while verbals cannot indicate the timing of the action
How are simple present tenses used?
Simple tenses are used to describe facts that are true in the present i.e.
- General facts/universal truths
- General properties of an entity
- Other facts true in the present context
General facts or universal truths
1. The sun rises in the East
General properties of an entity
1. Oxygen is highly reactive and forms compounds known as oxides with almost all other elements
As Other facts that are true in the present context
1. Kiara works at the national headquarters of Google as a Digital Ad Sales Manager
How are simple past tenses used?
Simple past tenses are used to denote actions that were completed in the past and are not true in the present context
- Last year, William spent quite some time in Paris to experience the French Culture (Not true in the present context)
- Kiara met her school friends at a coffee shop yesterday
How are simple future tenses used?
Simple future tenses are used to denote actions that will happen in future
William will join Harvard next month to pursue an advanced degree in Management (An event that will happen in the future)
How are progressive/continuous tenses used?
Gmat generally prefers the usage of simple tenses and likes using complex tenses
- Unless to denote the ongoing nature of an action (progressive tense used)
- Clarify the timing of two events in the same timeframe(Perfect tense used)
Usage 1:
Progressive tense is used to denote an action that is ongoing as we speak in the present
William is playing tennis with his cousin (at the moment)
Note: Using continuous tense to represent universal fact is considered incorrect i.e.
Earth is revolving around the sun i.e. although, the earth is currently revolving around the sun as we speak, given it was revolving and will continue revolving tomorrow, we need to use simple present tense
Usage 2:
To describe the ongoing nature of a past event with respect to another past event
Kiara was playing violin when her mother left the house
was playing and left the house are two past event
How are future progressive tenses used?
They are used to describe a future event that will be going on with some other future event
- Kiara will be sleeping in her room when her mother returns from work
her mother returns from work - another future event
will be sleeping - another future event
- This weekend we will be watching the match between Federer and Nadal
Why do we need perfect tenses?
We need perfect tenses to clarify the sequence of events when we have two events in the same time frame, look at 9.png under folder SC Basics > Tenses for diagramtic view.
It is always with the earlier event that we use the perfect form of tense to clarify the sequence of the event
How are perfect tenses formed?
To create a perfect tense use the below formula
right form of has(aiding verb) + past form of the main verb
Example main verb: visit
Active voice form
Past: had visited
Present: have visited
Future: will have visited
Passive voice form
Past: had been visited
Present: have been visited
Future: will have been visited
Example of the past perfect tense
The ancient city’s remains that were declared a world heritage site last year were damaged by invaders and marauders from the Northern province
In the above sentence, we have two past actions
“were declared and were damaged” to clarify the sequencing of events we will need to use the perfect tense.
Now we use perfect tense with earlier of the event, so correct usage would be “had been damaged”
The ancient city’s remains that were declared a world heritage site last year had been damaged by invaders and marauders from the Northern province
Should we use past perfect tense whenever we have two past events
No the usage of past perfect is required only when clarifying sequence of events is important. if two past events have no bearing on each other then using past perfect tense is considered incorrect.
Marie graduated from Boston High, which was established during World War 2.
It is clear that the establishment of the school happened earlier, so we do not need to use perfect tense here
Is the below sentence correct in not using past perfect tense?
The ancient city’s remains that were declared a world heritage site last year were damaged by invaders and marauders from the Northern province decades ago
Yes, using past perfect tense in case sequence markers are indicated in a sentence is optional, thus the sentence is correct. Note: we can use past perfect tense and the sentence will stand correct.
Some sequence markers: after, before
Using past perfect is also optional in the cause/effect relation sentence, the cause must occur before the effect.
How are future perfect tenses used?
They are used for the earlier of the two future event
By the time you finish your meeting with the CEO, I will have completed the report on the new strategy
meaning of the above sentence is “report will be completed first and then the meeting will finish”
How do we use the present perfect tense?
They are used to denote recent past events
- continue in the present
- their effects are still there in the present timeline
Example
a. Events that started in the past - continuing in the present as well
1. Stephanie and Marie have been good friends since 2015 (have been good friends is an action that continues in the present)
2. The police department has received 5 similar homicide cases within the last 5 days (started in the past and continues till this moment)
3. Stephanie has worked as a Maths teacher for six months (started 6 months still continues doing so)
Notice few markers in the above sentence
- since last 5 years - denotes the timeline (T-5) years
- within last 10 days - denotes the timeline (T-5) days
- for 6 months - denotes the timeline (T-5) months
b. Events whose effects are felt in the present
- I have had my dinner
Conveys: Even though I had dinner, I am feeling full at present - Alex has started his Job at Google
Conveys: Alex has started his job recently and it’s still a fresh aspect - I have finished baking the cake for the party
Conveys: Action of baking has been completed, its effect are being felt at present
A common error that one might make in Simple past vs Past perfect tense
We know that we need to use past perfect tense to identify the time sequence of events when two past events that have bearing on one another are present. GMAT can trick us by providing a “past event marker” that does not look like an event. So whenever we have past event markers it is imperative to use past perfect tense.
Construction: BY X,Y had happened
By 2009, the government of India had decided to close
all power plants running on fossil fuels.
By 2009, the government of India decided to close all power plants running on fossil fuels. - This is incorrect because we have an event marker so had is required
By the end of World War II, most of the world “had” realized that even local geopolitical issues if not tackled properly can have far-reaching effects.
Notice usage of “had”
Note:
The structure is by X, Y.
X = time marker; Y = a clause denoting some event.
Please understand that the meaning of the above structure is that by the time X happens Y must have already happened. So in the sequence of events, Y comes before X.
Only when the time marker itself is in the past do we use the tense of the verb in Y in past perfect (had)
Error 1 that one might make in Simple past vs Present perfect tense
We use present perfect tense when we know that the event started in past and continues in the future or has some bearing in present.
Present perfect tenses are used with unspecified time and simple past is used with specified time marker in past
Using present perfect tense with a specific time marker is incorrect
- Mike “saw” the Prestige, a Christopher Nolan classic, twice “last year” - This sentence is correct as we have used a specific time marker last year and along with it simple past tense
- Mike “has” seen the Prestige, a Christopher Nolan classic, twice
Sentence 2 is also correct notice how we have used “has” with and no specific time marker is provided
Incorrect usage of tense
- Mike “saw” the Prestige, a Christopher Nolan classic, twice
- Mike “has” seen the Prestige, a Christopher Nolan classic, twice last year - This is considered incorrect because last year is a period that has ended and we use present perfect tense with the period from past continuing to present.
Notice how I flipped few words in the sentence, using simple past tense with unspecified time results in an incorrect sentence and the same is for using present perfect tense with the specified time marker
