Chapter: Verbs and Tenses
📚 Vocabulary
English Grammar and Composition Classes Nine and Ten
⭐ Most Important Exam Words
habitroutinepermanentscheduleinfinitivecurrentlytemporaryarrangementstativeexperiencerecentlyalreadyyetrelevantdefiniteirregularinterruptformerlychildhoodpreviouslyunpackprescribethoroughlypredictionintentionpromiseofferresolution
📃 Word Formation Rules
► Simple present: use the base verb; add -s or -es to a third-person singular subject, as in work-works and go-goes.
► Present continuous: use am, is or are + verb-ing, as in is reading and are working.
► Present perfect simple: use have or has + past participle, as in have seen and has written.
► Present perfect continuous: use have or has + been + verb-ing, as in have been waiting.
► Simple past: use the past form; regular verbs usually take -ed, while irregular verbs must be memorised, as in go-went and take-took.
► Past continuous: use was or were + verb-ing, as in was studying and were playing.
► Past perfect: use had + past participle to show an earlier past action, as in had left.
► Past perfect continuous: use had been + verb-ing to show an activity continuing up to a past point.
► Used to: use used to + base verb for past habits or states that no longer exist.
► Future with will: use will or will not + base verb for predictions, offers, promises and future facts.
► Future with going to: use am, is or are going to + base verb for prior plans and predictions based on present evidence.
► Future arrangements: use the present continuous for fixed plans and the simple present for schedules or timetables.
1. Simple Present Tense (8 words)
habit[/ˈhæbɪt/]nouneasy
Meaning: অভ্যাস; a regular action or behaviour
Alt: স্বভাব; a usual way of acting
Example: Reading the newspaper is his daily habit.
Syn: customAnt: rarity
💡 Exam tip: Use the simple present for habits and repeated actions; add -s or -es with a third-person singular subject.
routine[/ruːˈtiːn/]nouneasy
Meaning: দৈনন্দিন কর্মসূচি; a regular pattern of activities
Alt: নিয়মিত কাজের ধারা; an established procedure
Example: She follows a strict routine every day.
Syn: scheduleAnt: disorder
💡 Exam tip: Adverbs such as always, usually and often commonly occur with the simple present.
permanent[/ˈpɜːrmənənt/]adjmedium
Meaning: স্থায়ী; lasting for a long time or indefinitely
Alt: অপরিবর্তনীয়; not temporary
Example: Tanim lives in Dhaka in a permanent residence.
Syn: lastingAnt: temporary
💡 Exam tip: Use the simple present for long-term or permanent situations.
schedule[/ˈskedʒuːl/]nouneasy
Meaning: সময়সূচি; a plan showing arranged times
Alt: কর্মসূচি; a timetable of events
Example: The train leaves according to the schedule.
Syn: timetableAnt: delay
💡 Exam tip: The simple present can refer to future schedules and timetables.
float[/floʊt/]verbeasy
Meaning: ভাসা; to remain on the surface of a liquid
Alt: ভেসে থাকা; to move gently through air or water
Example: Oil floats on water.
Syn: driftAnt: sink
💡 Exam tip: General truths are normally expressed in the simple present.
frequently[/ˈfriːkwəntli/]advmedium
Meaning: প্রায়ই; often
Alt: ঘন ঘন; at short intervals
Example: He frequently visits his grandparents.
Syn: oftenAnt: rarely
💡 Exam tip: Frequency adverbs usually come before the main verb but after the verb be.
commentary[/ˈkɑːməntəri/]nounmedium
Meaning: ধারাবিবরণী; a spoken description of an event
Alt: মন্তব্য; explanatory remarks
Example: The commentator describes the match in an exciting commentary.
Syn: descriptionAnt: silence
💡 Exam tip: The simple present is often used in sports commentaries and newspaper headlines.
infinitive[/ɪnˈfɪnətɪv/]nounhard
Meaning: ক্রিয়ামূল; the base form of a verb, usually with to
Alt: অব্যয় ক্রিয়ারূপ; the basic form after do, does or did
Example: In 'Does he teach English?', teach is an infinitive.
Syn: base formAnt: conjugated form
💡 Exam tip: After do, does or did, use the base form of the main verb.
2. Present Continuous and Stative Verbs (8 words)
currently[/ˈkɜːrəntli/]adveasy
Meaning: বর্তমানে; at the present time
Alt: এখন; now
Example: She is currently attending a training programme.
Syn: nowAnt: formerly
💡 Exam tip: Use the present continuous for an activity happening now or around now.
temporary[/ˈtempəreri/]adjeasy
Meaning: সাময়িক; lasting for a limited time
Alt: অস্থায়ী; not permanent
Example: He is staying in a temporary accommodation.
Syn: short-termAnt: permanent
💡 Exam tip: Temporary situations often take the present continuous.
arrangement[/əˈreɪndʒmənt/]nounmedium
Meaning: পরিকল্পিত ব্যবস্থা; a planned agreement or activity
Alt: ব্যবস্থা; an organized plan
Example: We are making arrangements for the school trip.
Syn: planAnt: cancellation
💡 Exam tip: Use the present continuous for fixed future arrangements.
stative[/ˈsteɪtɪv/]adjhard
Meaning: অবস্থাসূচক; describing a state rather than an action
Alt: অক্রিয়াধর্মী; expressing condition, thought or feeling
Example: 'Know' is usually a stative verb.
Syn: state-relatedAnt: dynamic
💡 Exam tip: Stative verbs such as know, believe, understand and own are usually not used in the continuous form.
recognise[/ˈrekəɡnaɪz/]verbmedium
Meaning: চেনা; to identify someone or something
Alt: স্বীকার করা; to accept or acknowledge
Example: I recognise that famous singer.
Syn: identifyAnt: misidentify
💡 Exam tip: Use recognise in the simple present, not normally in the present continuous.
possess[/pəˈzes/]verbmedium
Meaning: অধিকারী হওয়া; to own or have
Alt: ধারণ করা; to have a quality or ability
Example: The museum possesses a valuable painting.
Syn: ownAnt: lack
💡 Exam tip: Possession verbs generally do not take the continuous form.
desire[/dɪˈzaɪər/]verbmedium
Meaning: কামনা করা; to want something strongly
Alt: ইচ্ছা; a strong wish
Example: She desires a peaceful life.
Syn: wishAnt: dislike
💡 Exam tip: Emotion and desire verbs are commonly used in the simple present.
irrational[/ɪˈræʃənəl/]adjmedium
Meaning: অযৌক্তিক; not based on reason
Alt: অবিবেচনাপ্রসূত; unreasonable
Example: He is being irrational about the issue.
Syn: unreasonableAnt: rational
💡 Exam tip: Be can take the continuous form when it means temporary behaviour: He is being irrational.
3. Present Perfect Tenses (8 words)
experience[/ɪkˈspɪəriəns/]nouneasy
Meaning: অভিজ্ঞতা; knowledge gained through doing something
Alt: ঘটনা; an event in someone's life
Example: Have you ever had the experience of travelling by plane?
Syn: practiceAnt: inexperience
💡 Exam tip: Use the present perfect for life experiences when no definite past time is mentioned.
recently[/ˈriːsəntli/]adveasy
Meaning: সম্প্রতি; not long ago
Alt: ইদানীং; during the recent period
Example: I have recently finished my homework.
Syn: latelyAnt: formerly
💡 Exam tip: Recently can be used with the present perfect for recent events.
already[/ɔːlˈredi/]adveasy
Meaning: ইতিমধ্যে; before now or before a stated time
Alt: আগেই; by this time
Example: She has already left the office.
Syn: previouslyAnt: not yet
💡 Exam tip: Already usually appears between have or has and the past participle.
yet[/jet/]adveasy
Meaning: এখনও; up to the present time
Alt: এখনও পর্যন্ত; used mainly in questions and negatives
Example: He has not completed the work yet.
Syn: so farAnt: already
💡 Exam tip: Yet commonly appears at the end of negative and interrogative present perfect sentences.
recent[/ˈriːsənt/]adjeasy
Meaning: সাম্প্রতিক; having happened not long ago
Alt: নতুন; belonging to the near past
Example: The recent event has attracted public attention.
Syn: currentAnt: old
💡 Exam tip: Do not use the present perfect with a finished specific time such as yesterday or last year.
relevant[/ˈreləvənt/]adjhard
Meaning: প্রাসঙ্গিক; connected with the matter
Alt: প্রয়োজনীয়; useful to the topic
Example: The result is still relevant to our decision.
Syn: pertinentAnt: irrelevant
💡 Exam tip: The present perfect may show a past action whose result is relevant now.
participate[/pɑːrˈtɪsɪpeɪt/]verbmedium
Meaning: অংশগ্রহণ করা; to take part in an activity
Alt: যোগ দেওয়া; to join an event
Example: She has participated in several competitions.
Syn: joinAnt: withdraw
💡 Exam tip: The past participle of participate is participated.
depart[/dɪˈpɑːrt/]verbmedium
Meaning: রওনা হওয়া; to leave a place
Alt: প্রস্থান করা; to go away
Example: The train has departed from the station.
Syn: leaveAnt: arrive
💡 Exam tip: Learn irregular past participles separately; depart is regular: depart-departed-departed.
4. Past Tense and Past Continuous (8 words)
definite[/ˈdefɪnət/]adjmedium
Meaning: নির্দিষ্ট; clearly fixed or identified
Alt: সুনির্দিষ্ট; certain and exact
Example: The past simple refers to a definite time in the past.
Syn: specificAnt: indefinite
💡 Exam tip: Use the past simple with yesterday, last week, ago and other definite past-time expressions.
irregular[/ɪˈreɡjələr/]adjeasy
Meaning: অনিয়মিত; not following the usual pattern
Alt: ব্যতিক্রমী; having a special past form
Example: Go, went and gone are irregular forms.
Syn: exceptionalAnt: regular
💡 Exam tip: Memorise common irregular verbs such as go-went-gone and take-took-taken.
dawdle[/ˈdɔːdl/]verbhard
Meaning: সময় নষ্ট করে ধীরে চলা; to move or act slowly
Alt: গড়িমসি করা; to waste time
Example: He dawdled instead of completing the work.
Syn: loiterAnt: hurry
💡 Exam tip: The simple past of dawdle is dawdled.
frantically[/ˈfræntɪkli/]advhard
Meaning: হতাশভাবে; in a desperate and hurried manner
Alt: উন্মত্তভাবে; wildly or anxiously
Example: She was trying frantically to find her child.
Syn: desperatelyAnt: calmly
💡 Exam tip: Use the past continuous for an action in progress at a particular past moment.
pacify[/ˈpæsɪfaɪ/]verbmedium
Meaning: শান্ত করা; to make someone calm
Alt: প্রশমিত করা; to reduce anger or distress
Example: Runa was trying to pacify the crying child.
Syn: calmAnt: agitate
💡 Exam tip: The past form of pacify is pacified, not pacifyed.
suspiciously[/səˈspɪʃəsli/]advmedium
Meaning: সন্দেহজনকভাবে; in a doubtful manner
Alt: সন্দেহের চোখে; with distrust
Example: The passers-by were looking at them suspiciously.
Syn: doubtfullyAnt: trustfully
💡 Exam tip: Past continuous often describes background actions interrupted by a past simple event.
interrupt[/ˌɪntəˈrʌpt/]verbeasy
Meaning: বাধা দেওয়া; to stop someone while speaking or acting
Alt: ব্যাহত করা; to break the continuity of something
Example: The phone interrupted my study.
Syn: disturbAnt: continue
💡 Exam tip: Pattern: past continuous background action + when + past simple interruption.
hysterically[/hɪˈsterɪkli/]advhard
Meaning: উন্মত্তভাবে; in an uncontrolled emotional way
Alt: অত্যন্ত উত্তেজিতভাবে; with extreme excitement or distress
Example: The woman was calling her daughter's name hysterically.
Syn: wildlyAnt: quietly
💡 Exam tip: Use an adverb to describe how an action happened; check the -ly ending.
5. Used to and Past Perfect (8 words)
formerly[/ˈfɔːrmərli/]adveasy
Meaning: পূর্বে; in the past
Alt: আগে; at an earlier time
Example: This building was formerly a school.
Syn: previouslyAnt: currently
💡 Exam tip: Used to describes past habits or states that are no longer true.
childhood[/ˈtʃaɪldhʊd/]nouneasy
Meaning: শৈশব; the period when a person is a child
Alt: ছেলেবেলা; early life
Example: I used to play in the pond during my childhood.
Syn: early lifeAnt: adulthood
💡 Exam tip: Use used to + base verb, not used to + past form.
occasion[/əˈkeɪʒən/]nounmedium
Meaning: উপলক্ষ; a particular event or time
Alt: সুযোগ; a suitable time for something
Example: Ali bhai was present on those occasions.
Syn: eventAnt: continuity
💡 Exam tip: Would can sometimes describe repeated past actions, but used to also describes past states.
previously[/ˈpriːviəsli/]adveasy
Meaning: পূর্বে; before the present time or event
Alt: আগে; at an earlier stage
Example: She had previously visited Sylhet.
Syn: formerlyAnt: subsequently
💡 Exam tip: Past perfect shows which of two past actions happened first.
unpack[/ʌnˈpæk/]verbmedium
Meaning: জিনিসপত্র বের করা; to remove things from luggage
Alt: খোলা; to take goods out of a container
Example: She had already unpacked before I called.
Syn: unloadAnt: pack
💡 Exam tip: Pattern: had + past participle, for example had unpacked.
prescribe[/prɪˈskraɪb/]verbhard
Meaning: ওষুধ লিখে দেওয়া; to order medicine or treatment
Alt: নির্দেশ দেওয়া; to officially recommend
Example: The doctor asked what medicine the other doctor had prescribed.
Syn: orderAnt: prohibit
💡 Exam tip: Prescribe is irregular: prescribe-prescribed-prescribed.
thoroughly[/ˈθʌrəli/]advmedium
Meaning: পুঙ্খানুপুঙ্খভাবে; completely and carefully
Alt: ভালোভাবে; in a detailed manner
Example: The doctor examined him thoroughly.
Syn: completelyAnt: superficially
💡 Exam tip: Use thoroughly when an action is done carefully from every aspect.
miserable[/ˈmɪzərəbəl/]adjmedium
Meaning: দুঃখী; very unhappy
Alt: দুর্দশাগ্রস্ত; extremely uncomfortable
Example: He felt miserable because he had missed the farewell.
Syn: unhappyAnt: cheerful
💡 Exam tip: Past perfect can explain the cause of a later past feeling or situation.
6. Future Forms (8 words)
prediction[/prɪˈdɪkʃən/]nouneasy
Meaning: ভবিষ্যদ্বাণী; a statement about what may happen
Alt: পূর্বানুমান; a forecast of the future
Example: The dark clouds are a prediction of rain.
Syn: forecastAnt: certainty
💡 Exam tip: Use will for opinions and predictions; use going to when present evidence supports the prediction.
intention[/ɪnˈtenʃən/]nouneasy
Meaning: উদ্দেশ্য; a plan or purpose
Alt: অভিপ্রায়; what someone plans to do
Example: My intention is to revise grammar regularly.
Syn: purposeAnt: accident
💡 Exam tip: Use be going to for a prior intention or plan.
promise[/ˈprɑːmɪs/]nouneasy
Meaning: প্রতিশ্রুতি; a firm commitment to do something
Alt: প্রতিজ্ঞা; an assurance
Example: He made a promise that he would help me.
Syn: commitmentAnt: refusal
💡 Exam tip: Will and will not are used for promises: I will help you; I will not tell anyone.
offer[/ˈɔːfər/]verbeasy
Meaning: প্রস্তাব দেওয়া; to say that one is willing to do something
Alt: দেওয়ার প্রস্তাব করা; to present something for acceptance
Example: I will offer to carry one of the bags.
Syn: proposeAnt: decline
💡 Exam tip: Use will for an offer made at the moment of speaking.
retire[/rɪˈtaɪər/]verbmedium
Meaning: অবসর নেওয়া; to stop working permanently
Alt: অবসর গ্রহণ করা; to leave employment because of age
Example: He will retire next year.
Syn: withdrawAnt: work
💡 Exam tip: Will can express a future fact: He will retire next year.
pharmacy[/ˈfɑːrməsi/]nouneasy
Meaning: ঔষধের দোকান; a shop where medicines are sold
Alt: ফার্মেসি; a place where drugs are prepared or sold
Example: There is a pharmacy down the street.
Syn: drugstoreAnt: hospital
💡 Exam tip: Remember the spelling pharmacy, not farmacy.
collapse[/kəˈlæps/]verbmedium
Meaning: ধসে পড়া; to fall down suddenly
Alt: ভেঙে পড়া; to fail suddenly
Example: That old building is going to collapse.
Syn: crumbleAnt: stand
💡 Exam tip: Use going to when present evidence makes a future event seem likely.
resolution[/ˌrezəˈluːʃən/]nounmedium
Meaning: নববর্ষের সংকল্প; a firm decision to do something
Alt: সমাধান; a formal decision or answer
Example: Mary made resolutions to study seriously and practise English.
Syn: determinationAnt: indecision
💡 Exam tip: Use going to plus the base verb to write future plans and resolutions.
💡 Exam Tips
• Identify the time expression before choosing the tense: yesterday and ago usually require the simple past, while since and for may require a perfect tense.
• After do, does or did, always use the base form of the main verb: Does he go? Did she write?
• In the third-person singular simple present, add -s or -es: He works, she watches, and it goes.
• Do not normally use stative verbs such as know, understand, believe, own and love in the continuous form.
• Use the present perfect for an experience or recent result without a finished past time; use the simple past when a definite past time is given.
• Use the past continuous for an action in progress and the simple past for an interrupting event.
• Use had + past participle when one past action happened before another past action.
• Use used to only for repeated past actions or past states that are no longer true.
• Use will for a spontaneous offer or promise, but use going to for a plan made before speaking.
• Use the simple present for official schedules and the present continuous for fixed personal arrangements.
• In gap-filling questions, check subject-verb agreement, auxiliary verbs, negative forms and the past participle.
• Learn common irregular verbs in three forms, such as write-wrote-written, see-saw-seen, and take-took-taken.