Introduction to Time and Tense
ସମୟ ଏବଂ Tense ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଥିବା ପାର୍ଥକ୍ୟକୁ ବୁଝିବା ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ। Tense ହେଉଛି ଏକ verb ର ରୂପ ଯାହା ସମୟକୁ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରିଥାଏ।
Time (ସମୟ) is a continuous and unending flow, broadly divided into Past (ଅତୀତ), Present (ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ), and Future (ଭବିଷ୍ୟତ). Tense (କାଳ) is a verb form specific to a language, used to express a time. English verbs have only two tenses: the Present Tense and the Past Tense. There is no specific single-word verb form for the future tense in English; various expressions are used instead.
Expressions of Present Time
ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ସମୟର କାର୍ଯ୍ୟଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ପ୍ରାୟତଃ Present Simple ଏବଂ Present Progressive Tense ବ୍ୟବହାର କରି ପ୍ରକାଶ କରାଯାଏ।
Actions occurring in the present time are typically expressed using the Present Simple and Present Progressive tense forms of verbs. For example, "I study in Class IX" (Present Simple) and "Now I am studying English Grammar" (Present Progressive) [[2]].
The Present Simple Tense
Present Simple Tense ର ବିଭିନ୍ନ ବ୍ୟବହାରକୁ ବୁଝିବା, ଯେପରିକି ଅଭ୍ୟାସ, ସତ୍ୟ ଏବଂ ସ୍ଥାୟୀ ଅବସ୍ଥା ପାଇଁ।
We usually use the Present Simple Tense for:
- Habits or Repeated Actions: Things we do again and again. Adverbs like 'always', 'often', 'usually', 'sometimes', 'never' are commonly used.
- Example: I go to school everyday. My friend usually comes with me. [[2]]
- Laws of Nature, General and Scientific Truths: Universal facts.
- Example: The sun rises in the east. Water boils at . [[5]]
- Present or Permanent State or Fact: Conditions that are generally true or unchanging.
- Example: Bhubaneswar is the capital of Odisha. My father works in a bank. [[5]]
- Running Commentaries: Actions taking place at the moment of giving commentaries.
- Example: Rakesh kicks the ball to Ramesh. Ramesh passes it to Suresh. [[5]]
- Planned Future Actions or Fixed Programmes/Timetables: Future events that are part of a schedule.
- Example: Our Prime Minister visits Pakistan tomorrow. The Annual HSC Examination begins next week. [[5]], [[8]]
- Formal Declarations: In specific formal statements.
- Example: I propose that Mr Mohanty be selected Chairman. I apologise for my mistake. [[8]]
- If-Clauses (Conditional Sentences): Used in the 'if' part of certain conditional sentences.
- Example: If we pour oil on water, it floats. If it rains, I shall not go to school today. [[8]]
The Present Progressive Tense
Present Progressive Tense କାର୍ଯ୍ୟଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କରେ ଯାହା ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ଚାଲିଛି, କିମ୍ବା ଅସ୍ଥାୟୀ କିମ୍ବା ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତିତ ଅବସ୍ଥାକୁ ବୁଝାଏ।
In the Present Progressive tense, there is an auxiliary 'be' verb followed by the '-ing' form of the main verb. The form of 'be' depends on the subject (e.g., am, is, are) [[4]].
We use the Present Progressive Tense for:
- Actions Taking Place Around Now (Brief Duration): Actions happening at the moment of speaking or a very short period around it.
- Example: Look, Sabita is getting into the bus. It is raining now. [[4]]
- Actions Started Before, Continuing Now, and Ending After: Actions that are ongoing.
- Example: Guduli is doing her homework. [[4]]
- Temporary Actions: Actions that are happening for a limited period.
- Example: My brother is teaching History in an English medium school this month. [[4]]
- Actions Not Necessarily Happening at the Moment of Speaking: Broader ongoing projects or activities.
- Example: My father is writing a novel. Mr Das is constructing a building over there. [[6]]
- Changing Conditions: To describe trends or developments.
- Example: Prices of commodities are going up every week. Life style of the people is changing very fast. [[6]]
- Repeated Annoying Actions: Often used with 'always' to express irritation.
- Example: He is always losing his keys. My scooter is always giving me troubles. [[6]]
Worked Example: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of verbs (Present Simple or Present Progressive):
Seema: Hello, Lopa, what (you / do) these days? Lopa: Nothing special. I (learn) dancing in a dancing school. What about you?
Solution: Seema: Hello, Lopa, what are you doing these days? (Ongoing activity) [[7]] Lopa: Nothing special. I am learning dancing in a dancing school. (Temporary, ongoing action) [[7]]