Empowered Women Navigating The World (Prose)
Class 10 Unit 3 Prose
Empowered Women
Prose
Navigating the World
Gone are the days, where women in India remained indoors unless permitted to go out with an escort. Conditions today have changed, thanks to all those women who have fought for their freedom and set a very good example for others. The real power of women though realised earlier, is currently being projected to the world by the advancement of technology and media.
Women occupy almost all the major positions in society. Currently, women's accomplishments are tremendous in many fields. One such achievement is the All-women Indian Navy crew who circumnavigated the world for 254 days all alone, in a sailboat called INSV Tarini.
What is INSV Tarini?
INSV stands for Indian Naval Ship Vessel. Tara-Tarini is the patron deity for sailors and is worshipped for safety and success at sea.
INSV Tarini is the second sailboat of the Indian Navy (The first being the INSV Mhadei). It is a 55 foot sailing vessel built indigenously in India by M/s Aquarius Shipyard Pvt. Ltd, located in Goa. After undergoing extensive sea trials, she was commissioned to the Indian Navy service on 18 February 2017. The boat was named after the famous 'Tara-Tarini' temple in Ganjam district of Odisha. The word 'Tarini' means 'boat' and in Sanskrit it means 'Saviour'.
INSV Tarini has an advanced Raymarine navigation suite and an array of satellite communication systems for perfect navigation anywhere in world.
a. What does INSV stand for?
b. When was INSV Tarini commissioned to Indian Navy service?
c. Who is Tara-Tarini?
Navika Sagar Parikrama was a project undertaken in consonance with the National policy to empower women to attain their full potential. "The Project is considered essential towards promoting ocean sailing activities in the Navy while depicting Government of India's thrust for Nari Shakti (women power)," said Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba in his welcome speech.
The voyage was aimed to showcase 'Make in India' initiative by sailing on-board indigenously built INSV Tarini. The special feature of this sailboat was that it encouraged the use of environment friendly non-conventional renewable energy resources such as the wind; collected and updated meteorological, ocean and wave data on regular basis for accurate weather forecast by India Meteorological Department (IMD) and also collected data for monitoring marine pollution on high seas.
Indian Navy's Six Women Crew
Indian Navy's all-women crew was the first-ever to circumnavigate the globe skippered by Lt. Cdr. Vartika Joshi. The all-women team has also Lt. Cdr. Pratibh Jamwal, Lt. Cdr. Swathi Patarapalli, Lt. Aishwarya Boddapati, Lt. Vijaya Devi and Lt. Payal Gupta as its crew members.
The crew started their voyage on 10 September 2017 from Goa, flagged off by the Defence Minister of India. It was a historic day, which would be marked in navigation history and globally. It covered the expedition in five legs with stop-overs at four ports (Fremantle, Australia; Lyttleton, New Zealand; Port Stanley, the Falklands and Cape Town, South Africa) for replenishment of ration and repair as necessary, before returning to Goa in April 2018. They went around the globe within 254-days and reached Goa port on 21 May 2018. The six member women crew broke many stereotypes during their record-setting sail.
The first Indian solo circumnavigation was undertaken by Capt. Dilip Donde, (Retd.) from August 19, 2009 to May 19, 2010 on board another India-built vessel INSV Mhadei.
The first Indian non-stop solo circumnavigation was undertaken by Cdr. Abhilash Tomy, from November 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013.
An Interview with the crew members
India's all-women navy crew who went around the world in 254-days have shared their experiences about their great voyage in an interview. Through their personal experiences, we really come to know their hardships and unpredictable challenges they have faced all through their expeditions.
Interviewer: How well were you acquainted with the sail boat before you took up the task?
Vartika Joshi: None of us was acquainted with a sail boat or ocean-going boat; none of us had sailed before, nor are woman officers allowed entry in combat platforms as yet. At first, it was difficult to take the boat out to sea, from one point to another. But we slowly built upon it through three years of training.
Interviewer: Can you tell us about the training you had undergone before this expedition?
Vartika Joshi: We started with some theoretical courses on navigation, communication and weather prediction. Classroom courses are different from sailing outside. So, we were given hands-on training, like, how to repair things and how to deal with emergencies, when the weather gets rough, if there is a medical emergency, and training was needed in tactical aspects as well.
Aishwarya: We underwent our basic sail training courses in Mumbai at the Indian Naval Waterman ship Training Centre (INWTC), and at various schools in the southern naval base in Kochi. We even sailed on INSV Mhadei to Mauritius (in 2016 and 2017) and back and also to Cape Town in December 2016. We were trained for almost three years to prepare for the voyage. Since the boat was old, it had minor leaks and repairs. Also, we ran out of water and food soon. So the trip was a tutorial for us on how to manage food, water and even electricity during the big voyage.
Interviewer: What was the selection process?
Aishwarya: Out of the thirty women who had applied, six of us were shortlisted, based on the little survival skills we showcased. The crew was mentored by Commander Dilip Donde. But after I was told about the flare-ups at sea, I even had second thoughts about joining the team.
Interviewer: How did your family members react when you told them about this expedition?
Vartika Joshi: Our families did have a hard time, but that was because most of them had never even seen the sea! Four of us are from the mountains. The first time my parents saw the ocean was when I invited them to visit. But once they saw that we're doing well and looking after ourselves, they were quite supportive. They were apprehensive and supportive too.
d. Where did the crew undergo their basic training?
e. How long were they trained to undertake this voyage?
f. Which skill was considered important in the selection process?
g. Who mentored the crew?
Interviewer: What were your aims and how did you work to achieve them?
Vartika Joshi: I wanted to make sure that I complete this journey with ultimate honesty. I didn't set out for a destination; it was the journey that mattered to me the most. So my contention was to make sure that we go by the rules of circumnavigation which say that you don't have to use any auxiliary means of repulsion and you don't have to take anybody else's assistance. I grasped that completely.
Interviewer: Name that one quality of yours that enabled you to complete this expedition successfully?
Vartika Joshi: Whenever the winds dropped, it wouldn't have taken me even a fraction of second to switch on the engine and say let's go one mile ahead. But inside of me something poked me and said that you have to be honest with yourself and this expedition has to be done with honesty. I am glad that we were able to finish it successfully without the use of the engine at all.
Interviewer: As the head of the crew, how did you involve the team?
Vartika Joshi: We've all sailed and trained the same amount, and everybody has their own way of dealing with situations, but that was a good thing, because we could discuss different ways of solving a problem and choose the best one. In fact, I'd say it was easier for us to collaborate and work together.
Payal Gupta: When you are out at sea, teamwork is the most important in the middle of the crisis. Even during the storm when three people would be out on watch, the other three who would be inside wouldn't be able to rest. Somebody would heat the water, the other person would heat the gloves because it was raining also. So team effort actually helped in navigating through the 20 hours long storm. I feel that if I had been alone then it would have been a nightmare to deal with the challenges that the sea throws at you.
Interviewer: Share your experience about the most challenging task while sailing.
Vartika Joshi: The Sea can get really tough when winds are picking up. Those are the times we have to be active and need to anticipate what could be there ahead. In the South Pacific, we encountered a storm where the seas were almost nine to ten meters high and the winds were picking up to 60–70 knots(a unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour exactly 1.852km/h), which is about a hurricane force of wind on land. It is normal on sea where there is hardly any land mass to stop the winds.
It was also a blissful experience when something broke down and after a lot of hard work and effort, we were able to fix it together. We will remember these incidents as well because they gave us the strength to move on and if something went bad, we were able to overcome those challenges.
Interviewer: What were the exciting moments during the trip?
Vartika Joshi: When we were crossing the Tasman Sea, we witnessed the brilliant Southern Lights from sea. It was rare to watch that in those months, that too from sea. We were absolutely awestruck as we were not expecting it, to see the entire sky lit up in green light. There was bio-luminescence, dolphins swimming in the wake of the boat like our neighbours and a variety of sea creatures. We spotted a dead sperm whale once and we thought it was an island from a distance, it was so huge. We are not specialists, so whenever we spotted something in the sea, we had to Google it to learn more about the species.
Interviewer: How did your crew spend time deep in the sea?
Swathi P: During circumnavigation, we picked up some hobbies and kept posting pictures of delicacies like golgappas and cakes. We also read books when the weather was pleasant and did some quilling and craft work. While team leader Joshi read comics and the Ramayana during her journey, I loved cooking as well so I indulged in baking. I also liked crafting a lot, so I used to make lampshades. I love it when people appreciate the food that I cook, so I gave my crew members the best dishes that was possible on land with the limited resources that we had on the boat.
Vartika Joshi: Six is a great number, we were always entertained. We watched movies, listened to music, and you won't believe some of the goodies the crew rustled up in our tiny pantry, even while sailing in rough seas. We made parathas, baked cakes and breads, and even made halwa and rasgullas!
We celebrated festivals at sea. When we think about it now on land, we remember the Diwali we spent at sea. We celebrated three birthdays including the first birthday of the boat; also specific occasions like crossing the equator, the International Date Line and such.
Interviewer: What motivated you to fulfil the country's expectations?
Swathi P: We knew that the entire country was watching us and praying for us, so we never wanted them to have a single day thinking that we are in trouble. We knew that it is going to happen but the people out there did not know what kind of challenges we were facing. So, one of the motives that we kept in mind was that we did not want to frighten them. We decided that once the circumnavigating was over, we are going to show what we have actually gone through.
Interviewer: As a woman, how would you consider this expedition?
Vartika Joshi: It is a matter of great honour and we couldn't have imagined anything better for our cast-off. Of course we being an all-woman team, it is a great boost to women in the country. But, as we are going as sailors, and we as sailors have seen that the sea does not discriminate between genders. It is always gender-neutral and we have realised that gender does not play a role in sailing. But to boost the morale in the country and for more women to take in adventures like sailing, I feel it is great that an all-woman team had been formed to undergo this expedition.
h. Which quality of the skipper helped to bring out a successful expedition?
i. Who among the crew mentioned about teamwork?
j. When did they witness the brilliant southern lights from the sea? How did the sky appear there?
k. What festival did they celebrate during their expedition?
Glossary
expedition (n) – a journey or voyage made for some specific purpose, such as of war or exploration replenishment (n) – restoration of a stock or supply to a former level or condition apprehensive (adj.) – anxious or fearful that something bad or unpleasant will happen contention (n) – strenuous effort; struggling together in opposition auxiliary (adj.) – additional; used as a reserve or substitute in case of need circumnavigate (v) – to travel all the way around something, especially the Earth indigenously (adv.) – naturally; innately; inherently consonance (n) – agreement or compatibility between opinions or actions skippered (v) – acted as a master or captain of a vessel especially a small boat anticipate (v) – to foresee; to realize beforehand; to expect; be sure of bio-luminescence (n) – the production of light by living organisms golgappas (n) – the other term for pani puri morale (n) – emotional or mental condition with respect to confidence especially in the face of hardships Exercise A. True or False 1. Indian Navy's all-women crew was the first-ever to circumnavigate the globe. 2. The crew consists of six members of men and women Indian Navy service. 3. Vartika Joshi skippered the crew to circumnavigate the globe. 4. The crew started their expedition on 10 July 2017 from Mumbai. 5. Dilip Donde was the first person to go on a non-stop solo circumnavigation. Exercise B. Answer the following questions briefly
1. Mention the special features of INSV Tarini.
2. What does the term circumnavigation mean?
3. How did the all-women Indian Navy crew go about their voyage?
4. When did the crew start their voyage? When did they return to India? How many days did it take to complete the expedition?
5. What sort of training did the crew undergo before their expedition?
6. How did the crew members work as a team to make their expedition successful?
7. What challenging tasks did the team face during their voyage?
8. What sort of activities did the crew engage in during their long voyage?
9. Mention the celebrations which the crew enjoyed during their expeditions.
10. What factor motivated the crew to undertake this expedition?
Exercise C. Answer the following in about 100–150 words
1. Highlight the factors responsible for the all-women Indian Navy crew to carry out their expedition.
2. Write in detail about the selection and training process which the crew underwent.
Idioms and Phrases
Idioms are groups of words put together as a unit with a particular meaning. The meaning of the word is not literal. For example, if one says that the cat is out of the bag then it does not literally mean the cat is out of the bag but it has a figurative meaning which means the secret is out. That's why the meaning of idioms cannot be assumed based on the individual meaning of the words but by studying the words as a unit.
Examples
1. Lalitha takes a late night walk in the beach once in a blue moon.
In the above sentence 'once in a blue moon' is an idiom which means an event that happens rarely.
2. The women cricketers were on the ball in their last over of the match.
In the above sentence 'on the ball' is an idiom which means when someone understands the situations well.
A Phrase, on the other hand, is a small group of words put together as a conceptual unit. It does not take a figurative meaning. The meaning of the word is literal. It can be long or short but it does not include the subject-verb pairing, necessary to make a clause. For example, 'looking stunning'; to live and breathe'; 'comfortable bed'.
Example
1. Next week, Prasanth has planned to visit the countryside.
In the above sentence, to visit the countryside is a phrase with the conceptual meaning of going on a visit to the countryside.
2. The child hid under the stairs when the mother called her for a bath.
In the above sentence, under the stairs is a phrase.
A Phrasal verb is an idiomatic phrase consisting of a verb and another element, typically an adverb or a preposition or both, the meaning of which is different from the meaning of its separate parts. For example see to, or a combination of both, such as look down on.
Example
1. The crew ran out of water and food before they could complete their expedition.
In the above sentence, ran out is a phrasal verb which means to use completely.
2. The Police personnel instructed the mob to go away from the place during the strike.
In the above sentence, go away is a phrasal verb which means to leave from the place.
Exercise D. Pick out the idioms and phrases from the box and write them in the blanks equivalent to their meaning
Box: bring it on, find one's voice, lend an ear, come across, on the ball, get along, hang on, over the moon, work out, sharp as a tack
| IDIOMS | PHRASES |
|---|
| 1. Competent - on the ball | 1. To meet or find by chance - |
| 2. Become more confident in expressing oneself - | 2. To exercise - |
| 3. To accept a challenge with confidence - | 3. Extremely happy - |
| 4. Mentally agile - | 4. To have a friendly relationship - |
| 5. Listen - | 5. To keep something - |
Exercise E. Read the given sentences carefully and fill in with appropriate phrasal verbs
Help box: get along with, take off, shut down, look after, warm up
1. The airhostess instructed the passengers to wear the seat belts during the .
2. Venkat felt happy to the neighbours in the new locality.
3. There will be a next week in the office.
4. Doing every day in the morning keeps one healthy.
5. The mother instructed the maid to the child carefully.
Exercise F. Read the given passage carefully and fill in the blanks with suitable phrasal verbs from the help box
Help box: burn off, keep up, build up, tire out, warms up, put on, work out, stretch out
Riya is a young dancer who feels contented and satisfied with herself. Let's hear from her.
Hi, everyone! I am Riya. I suppose I'm really lucky because I don't weight easily. I never in the gym and the only time I is when I need something from the top shelf. I tried aerobics several times but I couldn't with the others. I take my pet for a walk thrice a day and that helps to the calories. I usually watch what I eat but I sometimes binge on icecream.
My sister Diya, is a real fitness fanatic. Before she works out she every day with push ups, sit ups, stretches and a jog around the park. She says it's important to good levels of strength and stamina. I don't want to overdo it though. A fitness regime like hers would me.
Exercise G. Listen to the passage read by the teacher and say whether the given statement is true or false 1. Preethi Srinivasan is a former cricketer from Tamil Nadu. 2. At the age of seventeen, she captained the Indian Women's cricket team. 3. Preethi Srinivasan was not only a cricketer but also a runner. 4. Preethi's own trauma inspired her to create SoulFree, a foundation for those suffering from mental illness. 5. Preethi received the Kalpana Chawla Award for Courage and Daring Enterprise.
*Listening text is on Page -215
Story Telling
Story telling is an art which involves planning, research and skill. A good storyteller makes decisions ahead that drive their stories forward, engage their audience and relate information important to the telling of the story.
Techniques and Presentation skills
There are certain techniques that help narrate a story perfectly.
- Remember and recall the plot.
- Create story frame to remember the key events.
- Self-narrate the story as a rehearsal.
- Change the volume, pitch and tempo of your voice to make the narration effective.
- Use appropriate facial expressions and gestures.
- Include questions and answer them during the narration.
- Retain focus and maintain concentration on what you are narrating.
- Sustain eye contact and grab attention of the audience.
Storytelling is a good exercise to practise in the classroom as it enhances the creativity of students and also brings out their potential in narrating a story interestingly.
Exercise H. Read the clues given below and develop your story. Narrate your story to the class
Robert Bruce - King - lying on the ground in a dejected mood - failed to defeat his enemies - was thinking of giving up the attempt - saw a spider falling down from the ceiling - the ceiling far away - wondered how it would get there - the spider fell back again - again it tried - again it fell - it made nine such attempts - no success - climbed up once more - at last succeeded in reaching the roof - Bruce imitated its example - he too tried once again - was successful.
Exercise I. Develop a story with the given pictures and narrate it to your class. Your story must have a plot and vivid details
[Pictures would be displayed here in the original textbook]
Exercise 3. Multiple Choice Questions
3. In which field of work is women's involvement the second highest?
a. Logistics b. Home maker c. Medicine d. Administration/Human resource Exercise I. Read the data below and answer the following questions
3% 4. Percentage of women working in finance is the same as ______.
13%
3% Percentage
2% Of
46%
11% Women At Work
E 11% N
M P O W E 3 R % ED 8% W O M E
4. Percentage of women working in finance is the same as ______.
a. Home maker b. Information Technology c. Technical Field d. Administration/Human Resources
Home maker
Logistics
Information Technology
Administration/ Human Resources
Finance
Earthmoving Workshop
Slogan
Environmental
Medicine
Technical Field
5. What is the difference between the percentage of women working in Logistics and Medicine?
a. 8 b. 11 c. 13 d. 5
Choose the correct answer.
1. What is the chart about?
a. women empowerment b. women power c. women at work d. women at home
2. Identify the three jobs where the same percentage of women work.
a. b. c. d.
Slogan
A slogan is usually a short phrase that is easy and catchy to remember. They are often used in advertisements and by political parties or organizations who expect people to remember what they are selling. The words used in a slogan are simple, relevant, attractive and brief.
Example:
Exercise J. Read the given slogans and match them appropriately with their theme
| 1. One for all and all for one | |
| 2. Limit your fast food otherwise it would be your last food | |
| 3. Restricting a woman restricts the growth of the family | |
| 4. Clean and green make perfect scene | |
| 5. It takes a lot of blue to stay green | |
Themes: Junk food, Save water, Cleanliness, Woman empowerment, Unity
Exercise K. Look at the images of familiar advertisements given below. Identify the products and try to frame your own slogans for each one of them Exercise L. Look at the pictures given below and frame your own slogans
. .
. .
Letter Writing
A letter is an important means of communication which could be personal or official. Letters are broadly classified into two types: Formal and Informal letter. In Class IX you have studied both the types – formal and informal.
Now let us learn to write a letter ordering goods and how to write a complaint for any damage or any other problem noticed after receiving the goods.
Format of the letter
Sender's address : (Include email and phone number, if required).
Date : (leave one line space and write the date as, 10 July 2019)
Receiver's address : (correct address)
Subject of the letter:
Salutation (Sir / Respected Sir / Madam),
Body of the letter
(Introduce yourself and write the purpose of the letter
Mention the details of the enquiry
Conclusion)
Closure(Yours,)
Sender's signature and designation (if any)
Model of the letter:
Letter ordering things.
Ms. Deepa an NGO writes a letter to the wholesale book shop dealer, placing order for 100 copies of medium size English Oxford Dictionary.
Example:
Ms. Deepa,
NGO (Nallam Trust),
Kalapet village,
Nagappattinam District.
bdeepa04@gmail.com
13 May 2019
The Proprietor,
NIZHAL BOOK SHOP,
Chennai – 600 001.
Sir / Madam,
Subject: Order for English Oxford Dictionaries – Reg.
On reading the discount provided by your shop in the advertisement of yesterday's newspaper, I would like to place an order for 100 copies of medium sized English Oxford Dictionary in your shop. I need the copies within a week. So, let me know the estimation for the bulk order placed, as early as possible.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Deepa.B
Letter of complaint
After receiving the order, Deepa finds that some of the dictionaries are damaged. So, she writes the following letter of complaint.
Example:
Ms. Deepa,
NGO (Nallam Trust),
Kalapet village,
Nagappattinam District.
bdeepa04@gmail.com
20 May 2019
The Proprietor,
NIZHAL BOOK SHOP,
Chennai – 600 001.
Sir / Madam,
Subject: Complaint about damaged dictionaries – Reg.
On receiving the order of 100 copies of English Oxford Dictionary from your shop, I found that around 25 copies of them were damaged. In some copies the pages are missing and in some more copies the pages are not in order. So, duly accept my complaint and replace the damaged copies. Kindly check the returned copies and replace them accordingly.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Deepa.B
Letter of Enquiry
Mr. Srinath lost his bag in an overcrowded train. He had already lodged a complaint in the Police Station. The following is the letter of enquiry about the status of his lost certificates.
Example:
Srinath B,
No.24, I cross, Pon Nagar,
Chengalpattu-10.
bsrinath16@gmail.com
25 July 2019
The Commissioner of Railway Police,
A-2 Police station, D-Nagar,
Chengalpattu-02.
Respected Madam,
Subject: Enquiry on the status of earlier complaint.
I am a graduate seeking employment, residing in the above mentioned address. I lost my certificates on 15th July 2019, while I was returning home in a local train from Chengalpattu. As the train was overcrowded, I placed my bag on the rack above. When I was about to get off, I noticed that my bag was missing. I was helpless and filed a complaint with the Railway Police. I have given all the details in the complaint letter on the same day. So far I have not received any further response. I request you to take immediate action in this regard.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Srinath B.
Exercise M. Exercise
1. Imagine that you have parked your two-wheeler / bicycle inside the school premises. You find it missing in the evening. Write a complaint to the Head of the school regarding this issue.
2. Write a complaint to the officer of the PWD department to take immediate action to maintain cleanliness in the Children's Park in your locality.
3. Write a letter to the manager of a famous daily, ordering subscription for your school library.
Tense
The term, 'Tense' denotes the time of action. They show when a work is done.
The English Tenses are :
1. Past 2. Present 3. Future
Present Tense
Forms and Uses of the Simple Present Tense
| First person | Second person | Third person |
|---|
| Affirmative | | | |
|---|
| *Singular | I sing. | You sing. | She/He/It sings. |
| *Plural | We sing. | You sing. | They sing. |
| Negative | I don't sing. | You don't sing. | She/He/It doesn't sing. |
|---|
| Interrogative | Do I sing? | Do you sing? | Does she/he/it sing? |
|---|
| Don't I sing? | Don't you sing? | Doesn't she/he/it sing? |
Note: Except for third person plural affirmative, the structure does not change for negative forms.
Now try framing plural negative and interrogative negative sentences.
Uses
- to express universal truths, facts, customs
- to express habitual, routine actions
- to express a permanent state
- in exclamatory sentences
- in subordinate clauses beginning with if and when
- in imperative sentences
- to indicate a planned future action or series of actions when they refer to a journey
- in running commentaries
- to introduce quotations
Example: Mahatma Gandhi says, "Be the change you want to see in the world."
Forms and Uses of Present Continuous Tense
| First person | Second person | Third person |
|---|
| Affirmative | | | |
|---|
| *Singular | I am singing now. | You are singing now. | She/He/It is singing now. |
| *Plural | We are singing now. | You are singing now. | They are singing now. |
| Negative | I am not singing now. | You aren't singing now. | She/He/It isn't singing now. |
|---|
Note: The contracted form of 'am not' is aren't and the contracted form of are not is also aren't.
Uses
- The Present Continuous Tense is used for an action that is in progress at the time of speaking.
- It is used for an action that is in progress and will continue in future.
Example: Paul is learning English.
- It is used to denote an action that is planned to take place in the near future
Example: Yazhini is meeting the Prime Minister tomorrow.
- It is used along with adverbs such as 'always, constantly, repeatedly' etc. to express an action that has become a habit by doing it over and over again.
Example: Sumithra is always asking questions.
Note: Verbs of perception and some other verbs are not generally used in the present continuous tense, for example see, smell, hear, taste, know, understand, hate, like, want, wish, etc.
Forms and Uses of Present Perfect Tense
| First person | Second person | Third person |
|---|
| Affirmative | | | |
|---|
| *Singular | I have already sung. | You have already sung. | She/He/It has already sung. |
| *Plural | We have already sung. | You have already sung. | They have already sung. |
| Negative | I haven't recently sung. | You haven't recently sung. | She/He/It hasn't recently sung. |
|---|
Uses
- For an action which began in the past and is in progress now.
Example: Bharani has called the fire man and they are on their way.
- To express an action that has been recently completed
- With adverbs like already, recently, yet,
- To express an action that began in past and is still continues up to the present
Example: She has lived in this house for five years.
Note: We do not use adverbs of time denoting the past tense in Present Perfect Tense.
Example: Father has returned from Vellore yesterday. (This sentence is wrong.)
Father has returned from Vellore.
Forms and Uses of Present Perfect Continuous Tense
| First person | Second person | Third person |
|---|
| Affirmative | | | |
|---|
| *Singular | I have been singing since morning. | You have been singing for two hours. | She/He/It has been singing since morning. |
| *Plural | We have been singing since morning. | You have been singing for two hours. | They have been singing since morning. |
Note: Since is used for a point of time; For is used for a period of time
Uses
- To express an action which began at some time in the past and is still continuing and may extend into the future.
Example: She has been studying since morning.
- To express an action in a sentence which begins with for how long or since when
- To express an action that began sometime in the past and has been just completed. However, its result is visible in the present.
Example: I have been working on this project for five hours and I am tired now.
Exercise A. Complete the sentences in present tense forms
1. Saravanan always (go) for a walk in the morning.
2. We (gather) here for a meeting and the chair person is yet to arrive.
3. Aruna eagerly (wait) to meet her friend since morning.
4. Sheeba (move) to a new house next week.
5. Naseera (attend) music classes regularly.
6. Ilakiya and Adhira(enjoy) each other's company very much.
7. Mani (work) in this school for five years.
8. It(pour) outside now.
Past Tense
| First person | Second person | Third person |
|---|
| Affirmative | | | |
|---|
| *Singular | I sang yesterday. | You sang yesterday. | She/He/It sang last week. |
| *Plural | We sang yesterday. | You sang yesterday. | |
| Negative | I didn't sing yesterday. | You didn't sing yesterday. | She/He/It didn't sing last week. |
|---|
| Interrogative | Did/ Didn't I sing yesterday? | Did/ Didn't you sing yesterday? | Did/ Didn't she/he/it sing last week? |
|---|
Forms and uses of the Simple Past Tense
Uses
- To indicate an action that was completed in the past. Generally the adverbials of past time are used; sometimes without adverbials of time for an activity done in the past
- To express a habitual or regular action only in the past; It can also be expressed by using 'used to'
- In conditional clauses
- In the indirect form of speech
- To express two actions, where the first action leads instantly to the second action
Example: When the meeting ended, the staff members came out.
Forms and Uses of Past Continuous Tense
| First person | Second person | Third person |
|---|
| Affirmative | | | |
|---|
| *Singular | I was singing yesterday by this time. | You were singing when I was playing. | She/He/It was singing yesterday by this time. |
| *Plural | We were singing yesterday by this time. | You were singing when I was playing. | They were singing when I was playing. |
| Negative | I wasn't singing | You weren't singing | She/He/It wasn't singing |
|---|
Uses
- To express a state or an action that was continuing at a certain point of time in the past. It had begun before that point and was probably continuing after it. We use adverbials of time.
Example: We were decorating the house for the birthday party in the morning.
- To express an action that was in progress in the past
- To express an action in progress at some point of time in the past when another event took place
Example: She was cooking when the guests arrived.
- To describe two or more actions continuing at the same time
Example: While I was watching T.V., he was sleeping.
- To indicate a frequently repeated action or persistent habit in the past
Example: Nithish was constantly complaining about something or the other.
Forms and Uses of Past Perfect Tense
| First person | Second person | Third person |
|---|
| Affirmative | | | |
|---|
| *Singular | I had already sung. | You had already sung | She/He/It had already sung |
| *Plural | We had already sung | You had already sung | They had already sung |
Uses
- For an action that had been completed before another action began in the past
Example: He had appealed to the manager for a week's leave before I reached.
- To describe an action or event which has been completed before some point of time.
Example: By 11 a.m. all the students had left the school campus after the Independence Day celebration.
- To describe an action in the past which became the cause of another action
- To describe an action in the past using the time adverbials such as already, since, before, etc.
- To express an unfulfilled action in the past and unfulfilled wish in the past.
Example: If he had informed her, she would have waited for him.
I wish I had accepted the job.
Forms and Uses of Past Perfect Continuous Tense
| First person | Second person | Third person |
|---|
| Affirmative | | | |
|---|
| *Singular | I had been singing for two hours yesterday. | You had been singing for two hours yesterday. | She/He/It had been singing for two hours yesterday. |
| *Plural | We had been singing for two hours yesterday. | You had been singing for two hours yesterday. | They had been singing for two hours yesterday. |
Uses
- to describe an action in the past that had begun and had been going on for sometime before another action took place in the past
Example: Mahi and Ragav had been arguing with each other when their mom arrived.
- to describe an action that had been going on for some time in the past
Example: The students had been practicing for the last couple of weeks.
Exercise B. Complete the sentences in past tense forms
1. I (go) to her place on foot.
2. The children (play) in the ground when the teacher arrived.
3. They (request) him when the manager arrived.
4. If you (work) hard, you would have won the relay match
5. Joanna and Joy already (leave) for Ooty, when the others reached the station.
6. We all (sing) in the choir last week.
7. Nancy (ask) for help.
8. The people (wait) for the train.
Future Tense
Future time in English can be expressed in the following ways:
(i) Simple Present Tense
Example: She leaves this evening.
(ii) Present Continuous Tense
Example: We are meeting the Prime Minister tomorrow.
(iii) be about to
Example: The train is about to leave the station.
(iv) by denoting of the first conditional clause.
Example: If she works hard, she will get a scholarship.
Forms and Uses of Simple Future Tense.
| First person | Second person | Third person |
|---|
| Affirmative | I/we shall sing tomorrow. | You will sing tomorrow. | She/He/It/ They will sing tomorrow. |
|---|
| Negative | I won't sing tomorrow. | You won't sing tomorrow. | She/He/It won't sing tomorrow. |
|---|
Uses
- Shall is used with the second and the third persons to express determination, promise, intention, etc.
- Shall is used with the first person to express an offer or suggestion
- Will is used with the first person to express willingness, determination, etc
- The simple future is used to express the speaker's opinion, for something to be done in the future. We use verbs such believe, know, suppose, think, etc. We also use adverbs such as perhaps, possibly, surely, etc.
- It is used for an action that is yet to take place
Forms and Uses of Future Continuous Tense
| First person | Second person | Third person |
|---|
| Affirmative | I/we will be singing by this time tomorrow. | You will be singing by this time tomorrow. | She/He/It/ they will be singing by this time tomorrow. |
|---|
| Negative | I won't be singing by this time tomorrow. | You won't be singing by this time tomorrow. | She/He/It won't be singing by this time tomorrow. |
|---|
Uses
- The Future Continuous Tense is used to express an action that will be in progress at a given time in future or in the normal course
Example: We will be playing from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m The lift will be running in the month of May
"You will have discussed the plans how to celebrate the function", said my mother.
- It is also used for an action which at a given future time will be in the past.
Example: In two years' time, I shall have earned my degree.
The Future Perfect Tense.
Uses
- The Future Perfect expresses an action that is expected to be completed by a certain time in the future.
Example: We will have completed our work by the time our sisters arrive.
- It is used to express the speaker's belief that something has taken place. In such sentences it does not express the future.
The Future Perfect Continuous Tense.
Uses
- The Future Perfect Continuous Tense is used to express an action that will have been going on at or before some point of time in the future.
By next June, I shall have been completing my studies.
Note: The less frequently used tense forms are Past Perfect Continuous Tense and Future Perfect Continuous Tense.
Exercise C. Fill in the blanks using the verbs in the brackets in the future form
1. We not to the market, in case it rains. (go)
2. Keerthi his work by next week.(do)
3. The peon the bell by the time I reach the school.(ring)
4. I my sister's house next April if I go to Uttarkhand. (visit)
5. If you listen carefully, you my point. (understand)
6. By next year, I in Chennai for fifteen years. (live)
7. The new edition of this book out shortly. (come)
8. She hopes you her. (help)
Exercise D. Underline the verbs and identify the tense forms
1. I am working hard day and night.
2. The Moon revolves around the Earth.
3. Were the milk men milking the cow?
4. He received your messages last night.
5. I have been ill for a couple of days.
Exercise E. In the following passage, some words are missing. Choose the correct words from the given options to complete the passage
Raghav in a middle class family. He is a boy of 8. His mother as a software engineer in an MNC. is his favourite hobby. He the first prize in school level competition for drawing last week. He drawing at the age of 3. His mother he a great painter in future.
(a) (i) will be born (ii) is born (iii) born (iv) has born
(b) (i) school-going (ii) going to school (iii) school coming (iv) school gone
(c) (i) working (ii)works (iii) has worked (iv)will work
(d) (i) drawn (ii) had drawn (iii)drawing (iv) having drawn
(e) (i) win (ii) was winning (iii) wins (iv)won
(f) (i) was starting (ii) starting (iii) started (iv) is starting
(g) (i) hoped (ii)hoping (iii) hopes (iv) has hoped
(h) (i) will become (ii) becomes (iii) would become (iv)will be becoming
Exercise F. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in the tense of the verb in each line. Write the wrong word as well as the correct word in the given place. One is done for you
| Incorrect words | Correct words |
|---|
| reach | reached |
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When Anand reach Arun's place, his friends have arrived already. Arun introduces Anand to them. Arun's brother buy some snacks from the market. Arun serving it to all his friends. Then they all sat together to planning their holidays. Arun have a cottage in Ooty, so they all plan to go to Ooty during the holidays. "Would we have a good time?, asked Arun. They all cheerfully say, "Yes!"
Exercise G. Read the story and rewrite it using the past tense
Juno the elephant is lonely and tries to make friends with the other animals in the forest. But, the other animals refuse to play with Juno because of his size. One day, all the animals are running away from Dera the tiger who is eating everyone he finds. Juno goes and gives Dera a swift kick. Dera immediately runs away. Juno is now everyone's friend.
Exercise H. Read the situations given and frame two suitable sentences in the appropriate form of the tenses
| Give two instructions to your classmates. | Make any two requests to your classmates or friends. |
|---|
| 1. | 1. |
| 2. | 2. |
| Mention any of your two dreams in the correct tense form. | Mention any two of your discontinued habits in the correct tense form. |
|---|
| 1. | 1. |
| 2. | 2. |
📝 Summary
- The all-women Indian Navy crew successfully circumnavigated the world in 254 days aboard INSV Tarini, breaking stereotypes and showcasing women's empowerment in challenging fields.
- INSV Tarini is a 55-foot indigenous sailboat built in India, commissioned in 2017 and named after the Tara-Tarini temple, featuring advanced navigation systems and satellite communication technology.
- The six-member crew was led by Lt. Cdr. Vartika Joshi, with none of the women having prior sailing experience, demonstrating remarkable courage and determination to overcome challenges.
- The Navika Sagar Parikrama project aligned with India's National policy for women empowerment and promoted the 'Make in India' initiative while using environment-friendly renewable energy resources.
- The voyage collected valuable meteorological and oceanographic data for weather forecasting and marine pollution monitoring, contributing to scientific research while showcasing India's maritime capabilities globally.