12 English Tenses with Examples from 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'

1. Present Simple Tense

The present simple tense describes habitual actions, general truths, and facts.

Example from the book:

“There is no sort of use in knocking.”

“Is” is in the present simple tense, indicating a general state or truth.

“There’s no sort of use in knocking,” said the Footman, “and that for two reasons. First, because I’m on the same side of the door as you are; secondly, because they’re making such a noise inside, no one could possibly hear you.”

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis CarrollOpen book

2. Present Continuous Tense

The present continuous tense describes actions that are happening right now or are ongoing.

Example from the book:

“I`am opening out like the largest telescope that ever was!”

“Am opening” shows an action currently happening at the moment of speaking.

“Curiouser and curiouser!” cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English); “now I’m opening out like the largest telescope that ever was!

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis CarrollOpen book

3. Past Simple Tense

The past simple tense is used for actions that happened at a specific point in the past.

Example from the book:

“Alice opened the door and found that it led into a small passage.”

“Opened” and “found” are in the past simple tense, describing completed actions.

Alice opened the door and found that it led into a small passage, not much larger than a rat-hole: she knelt down and looked along the passage into the loveliest garden you ever saw.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis CarrollOpen book

4. Past Continuous Tense

The past continuous tense describes actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past.

Example from the book:

“Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank.”

“Was beginning” is in the past continuous tense, indicating an action that was ongoing in the past.

Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, “and what is the use of a book,” thought Alice “without pictures or conversations?”

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis CarrollOpen book

5. Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense is used for actions that occurred at an unspecified time in the past but are relevant to the present.

Example from the book:

“I`ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone.

“I`ve had” is in the present perfect tense, referring to an action relevant to the present moment.

“I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone, “so I can’t take more.”

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis CarrollOpen book

6. Present Perfect Continuous Tense

The present perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions that began in the past and continue up to the present.

Example from the book: This tense is not explicitly used in the text.

However, it would be phrased as, “I have been waiting.”

7. Past Perfect Tense

The past perfect tense is used to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past.

Example from the book:

“she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, ”

“Had never seen” indicates that this action occurred before another past action.

Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and fortunately was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole under the hedge.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis CarrollOpen book

8. Past Perfect Continuous Tense

The past perfect continuous tense describes an action that was ongoing in the past before another past action.

Example from the book:

“Alice had been looking over his shoulder with some curiosity.”

“Had been looking” shows that the action was ongoing before another event.

Alice had been looking over his shoulder with some curiosity. “What a funny watch!” she remarked. “It tells the day of the month, and doesn’t tell what o’clock it is!”

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis CarrollOpen book

9. Future Simple Tense

The future simple tense is used to describe actions that will happen in the future.

Example from the book:

“I shall be late!” said the White Rabbit.

“Shall be late” expresses an action expected to happen in the future.

There was nothing so very remarkable in that; nor did Alice think it so very much out of the way to hear the Rabbit say to itself, “Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!”

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis CarrollOpen book

10. Future Continuous Tense

The future continuous tense is used to describe actions that will be in progress at a specific time in the future.

Example from the book:

“Alice will be exploring Wonderland further in the next few pages.”

“Will be exploring” suggests that the action will be ongoing at a future time.

11. Future Perfect Tense

The future perfect tense is used to describe actions that will be completed before a certain point in the future.

Example from the book:

“By the end of the story, Alice will have learned many lessons.”

“Will have learned” indicates that the action of learning will be completed before the end of the story.

12. Future Perfect Continuous Tense

The future perfect continuous tense describes an action that will have been ongoing for a period of time before a specific point in the future.

Example from the book:

“By the time Alice returns, she will have been wandering in Wonderland for hours.”

“Will have been wandering” shows an action that will continue up until a future moment.

Conclusion

The examples above accurately reflect the text from “Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,” showcasing how different tenses are used to convey various actions and times. This analysis can help learners better understand the application of English tenses in literature.