ENGLISH GRAMMAR - TENSES
TENSE is defined as the form of verb that gives the relation between TIME and
ACTION.
Time is the duration of work and action is the work done.
The tense of a verb shows the time of an action or state of being.
A verb agrees with its subject in number and person.
CLASSIFICATION OF TENSES:
1) PRESENT TENSE
2) PAST TENSE
3) FUTURE TENSE
CLASSIFICATION OF THE TENSE
PRESENT PRESENT INDEFINITE,
PRESENT CONTINUOUS,
PRESENT PERFECT,
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
PAST PAST INDEFINITE,
PAST CONTINUOUS,
PAST PERFECT,
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
FUTURE FUTURE INDEFINITE,
FUTURE CONTINUOUS,
FUTURE PERFECT,
FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
PRESENT TENSE
PRESENT INDEFINITE / SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE.
RULES
AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES
Singular subject +V1+ s /es (does) +O
Plural subject + V1 (do)+O
Water boils at 100°C.
They play cricket in the ground.
NEGATIVE SENTENCES
Singular subject +does not +V1+O
Plural subject +do not+ V1+O
Sham does not watch television.
They do not like to swim.
INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES
Do/Does+ subject +V1 +O?
Question word +do/does +subject+ V1+O?
Do you play football?
Does she paint portraits?
ENGLISH GRAMMAR - TENSES
USAGE
(i)To express habitual action or custom.
Asif gets up every morning at 6 o’clock.
Sheela exercises every morning.
(ii)To talk about a general or universal truth.
The Sun rises in the East.
Two and two make four.
Honesty is the best policy.
(iii)To express fixed official programme.
The office reopens next week.
The examination commences next month.
(iv)To introduce quotes with the verb “says”
Keats says, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.”
(v)To make commentaries
He takes the ball up the boundary again.
He hits the ball hard and strikes a sixer.
(vi)To narrate your thoughts and feelings at the present moment or to convey your
immediate reaction to something
I hear the sound of approaching feet.
I feel drowsy.
I am extremely busy.
(vii)To narrate a past event vividly
Akbar now draws his sword and attacks the enemy.
Ravana fights bravely but he is killed in the end.
(viii)Exclamatory sentences that begin with here or there.
Here you are!
There he goes!
(ix)Imperative sentences
Always speak the truth.
Please clean your room.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE
RULES
AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES
Singular subject +is/am+ V4+O
Plural subject+ are+ V4+O
Harish is reading a book.
I am arranging the books.
We are going to Darjeeling.
NEGATIVE SENTENCES
.Singular subject+ is/am +not+ V4+O
.Plural subject+ are+ not+ V4+O
Calvin is not surfing the net.
They are not watching a movie.
I am not swimming in the pool.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR - TENSES
INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES
is/am/are+ subject +V4 +O?
Question word +is/am/are+ subject+ V4+O?
Is Farid cooking the food?
Are you not writing a letter?
What is Rahul doing here?
Which magazine are you purchasing?
USAGE
(i)To describe an action in progress and the continuity of the action.
Rishi is playing tennis.
They are watering the plants.
The footballers are playing in the field.
(ii)An action that isn’t happening at the time of speaking but it is in progress.
I am studying in a school.
They are studying in St. Xavier’s College.
(iii)Planned personal programmes.
The wedding is going to take place on Sunday.
I am going to attend the webinar tomorrow.
(iv)Persistent and undesirable habit, especially with adverbs like-always, constantly,
continually.
He is constantly gazing at me.
You are always running me down.
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
RULES
AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES
Singular subject+ has+ third form of verb+O
Plural subject+have+third form of verb+O
I have met them.
It has become dark now.
We have won the trophy.
NEGATIVE SENTENCES
Singular subject+ has+ not +V3 +O
Plural subject+ have +not+ V3+O
They have not invited him.
I have not read this book.
INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES
Has/Have+ subject+ third form of verb (V3)+…?
Question word+ has/have +subject +third form of verb(V3)+…?
Has she gone to Agra?
Have they not seen the Taj Mahal yet?
Why have they not eaten today?
ENGLISH GRAMMAR - TENSES
USAGE
(i)To express an action that has recently been completed .
Priya has just taken tea.
They have won the match.
(ii )To describe an action whose time isn’t given
Have you read Shakespeare?
Have you done your MSc in Mathematics?
(iii)To describe a past experience the effect of which may be felt in the present.
I have been to Shimla several times.
He has called up three times.
(iv)To express an action that began in the past and still continues.
I have not seen her since Saturday last.
She has worked with us for two years now(& is still working)
(v)To show how a past situation relates to the present.
I’ve done my homework, so can I help you with yours now?
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
RULES
AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES
Singular subject+ has+ been +first form of verb + ing(V4)+……+for/since+….
Plural subject+ have+ been +first form of verb +ing+(V4)….+for/since+…..
They have been repairing the road for several days.
Anu has been sleeping since 3o’clock.
NEGATIVE SENTENCES
Singular subject+ has+ not+ been+ first form of verb +ing(V4)+….+for/since+…..
Plural subject +have+ not+ been+ first form of verb +ing (V4)+…+for/since+….
You have not been suffering from fever for one week.
INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES
Have/Has+ subject +been +first form of verb +ing+…+for/since+….?
Qn word+ has/have +subject +been +first form of verb +ing+…+for/since+….?
Have you been sleeping since 5o’clock?
Why have they been playing basketball since morning?
USAGE
(i)To describe an action that began in the past and is still continuing
It has been raining since last night.
They have been staying in the village for a long time.
(ii)To express an action already completed but whose effect is still continuing
I have been mowing the lawn all morning and now I am tired.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR - TENSES
PAST TENSE
PAST INDEFINITE TENSE (SIMPLE PAST TENSE)
RULES
AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES
Subject+ second form of verb(V2)+….
I played football in the ground.
She sang a song in the party.
NEGATIVE SENTENCES
Subject+ did not +first form of verb+…
I did not attend the function.
INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES
Did +subject +first form of verb +….?
Question word +did +subject +first form of verb +….?
Did you paint this portrait?
Why did she not speak the truth?
USAGE
(i)To refer to actions/events completed in the past.
We closed the shop at 9p.m.
I wrote a letter to my friend.
The magician showed a number of fascinating tricks.
(ii)To indicate past habits or repeated events that are now over.
In those days, my mother gave me pocket money every week.
I walked a great deal in my younger days.
Each week we trekked to the farmhouse.
(iii)The habitual past can also be expressed by using-“used to”
She used to drink tea in the morning.
My grandfather used to read a few chapters of the Gita every day.
When I was young, I used to climb trees.
(iv)To indicate another action which happened in the middle of a longer action.
.The light went out while I was watching my favourite TV serial.
PAST CONTINUOUOUS TENSE
RULES
AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES
Singular subject+ was+ first form of verb+ ing+….
Plural subject+ were+ first form of verb +ing+…..
She was writing a letter.
They were having dinner at the restaurant.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR - TENSES
NEGATIVE SENTENCES
Singular subject+ was+ not+ first form of verb+ ing+….
Plural subject +were +not+ first form of verb +ing+……..
She was not writing a letter.
They were not practising for the basketball tournament.
INTERRROGATIVE SENTENCES
Was/Were+ subject +was +first form of verb +ing+….?
Question word +was/were+ subject +first form of verb +ing+….?
Why was Anoushka crying?
Were you studying?
USAGE
(i)To indicate an action that was happening at some time in the past. The time of
action may or may not be indicated.
I was studying when the phone rang.
The children were playing in the park.
Were the girls cleaning the room?
I was working late last night.
(ii)To refer to two contrasting activities in the past that were in progress at the same
time.
When we were watching television, mummy was laying the table.
While I was practising the guitar, my brother was doing his homework.
(iii)To draw attention to the repetition of an activity during a period of time in the
past.
Last year he was always coming to me for money.
We were getting milk from a nearby village for a month.
PAST PERFECT TENSE
RULES
AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES
Subject +had +third form of verb+….
He had watered the plants.
NEGATIVE SENTENCES
Subject +had+ not+ third form of verb+….
They had not attended the function.
INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES
Had+ subject+ third form of verb+….?
Had she submitted her assignment?
Why had you not gone to Kathmandu?
ENGLISH GRAMMAR - TENSES
USAGE
(i)To describe an action that was completed before a definite time or before
another action that took place in the past
Manisha reached here after you had gone.
The concert had begun before I reached the auditorium.
(ii)To express expectations and wishes .
I wish I had not wasted my time.
Zeeshan wished he had worked harder.
(iii)If two actions happened in the past, and it is necessary to show which action
happened earlier than the other, the relevance which the earlier action had for the
latter one…then the past perfect is mainly used .
The simple past is used in one clause (the second action) and the past perfect in the
other (first action)
By the time the policemen arrived, the mob had burnt the buses.
When we reached the station, the train had already left.
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
RULES
RULE for AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES
.Subject+ had been +first form of verb +ing+…..+since/for+…..
~Sahil had been suffering from fever since Sunday.
~Ayesha had been rehearsing for two hours.
RULE for NEGATIVE SENTENCES
.Subject +had +not+ been +first form of verb +ing+…..+since/for+…..
~They had not been going to school since April.
RULES for INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES
.Had+ subject +been +first form of verb +ing+…..+since/for+…….?
.Question word+had+ subject +been +first form of verb +ing+…..+since/for+…….?
~Had you not been reading the book since morning?
~Where had he been he playing since morning?
USAGE
(i)To express an action that began in the past and continued up to a certain point of
time in the past.
.When we met in Lucknow, he had been studying in City college for three years.
.At that time she had been working in the company for two months.
(ii)To express expectations and wishes
.We had been hoping for better living conditions.
.They had been expecting some miraculous change.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR - TENSES
FUTURE TENSE
FUTURE INDEFINITE TENSE (SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE)
RULES
AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES
You/He/ She/It/They (Second and Third person Pronouns)+will +first form of
verb(V1)+…..
I/We (First person Pronouns)+shall +first form of verb(V1)+…
He will sell his house .
I shall purchase a new car.
NEGATIVE SENTENCES
You/He/ She/It/They (Second and Third person Pronouns)+will+ not +first form of
verb+….
I/We (First person Pronouns)+shall+ not +first form of verb+…..
We shall not go for the picnic.
My aunt will not host dinner this evening.
INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES
Will/Shall +subject+ first form of verb +…?
Question word+ Will/Shall +subject+ first form of verb +…?
Who will help him?
Will she come to the hospital?
USAGE
(i)To say what we believe or think will happen in future
I am positive we will win the match.
Everyone thinks Arisha will top the school.
(ii)To indicate an instant decision
I shall give you a gift as it is your birthday.
(iii)Things that are factual/beyond our control.
The Sun will rise at 6:00am.
FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE
RULES
AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES
You/He/ She/It/They(Second and Third person Pronouns)+will +be +first form of
verb+ ing+…..
I/We(First person Pronouns)+shall +be +first form of verb +ing+..…
I shall be painting the shed.
Next year my brother will be going to Delhi.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR - TENSES
NEGATIVE SENTENCES
You/He/ She/It/They(Second and Third person Pronouns)
+will+ not +be +first form of verb+ing+….
I/We(First person Pronouns)+shall +not +be +first form of verb +ing+…..
They will not be studying in City College.
I shall not be meditating this evening.
INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES
Will/Shall +subject+be+ first form of verb +ing+…?
Question word+ will/shall +subject +be+ first form of verb +ing+…?
Will this child be wandering in the forest?
How long will they be travelling?
USAGE
(i)To indicate an action that will occur in the normal course.
Sarah will be staying with us till Saturday.
I will be meeting him tomorrow.
(ii)To indicate an action that will be in progress at a given point of time in the future.
We will be staying with our uncle during the winter holidays.
At this time tomorrow, we shall be attending the party.
FUTURE PERFECT TENSE
RULES
AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES
You/He/ She/It/They(Second and Third person Pronouns)+will +have +third form
of verb+…..
I/We (First person Pronouns)+shall have +third form of verb+..…
I shall have painted the shed by the evening.
Your examination will have been over by October.
NEGATIVE SENTENCES
You/He/ She/It/They (Second and Third person Pronouns)+will+ not +have +third
form of verb+….
I/We(First person Pronouns)+shall +not +have +third form of verb+…
I shall not have written the letter by noon.
The passengers will not have reached the station before the train departs.
INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES
Will/Shall +subject +have+ third form of verb +…?
Question word+ Will/Shall +subject+ have+ third form of verb+….?
Will he not have gone before I reach?
What will she have eaten before he sleeps?
USAGE
ENGLISH GRAMMAR - TENSES
(i)To describe an action which will be completed at some point of time in the future
I shall have finished this project by tomorrow.
They will have reached home by now.
The train will have arrived by the time we reach the station.
FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
[NOTE: THIS TENSE IS NOT COMMONLY USED]
RULES
AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES
You/He/ She/It/They(Second and Third person Pronouns)+will +have +been +first
form of verb +ing+….
I/We(First person Pronouns)+shall +have+ been+ first form of verb+ ing+..…
At noon tomorrow, the bikers will have covered 200kilometres!
By next March we shall have leaving for Switzerland.
NEGATIVE SENTENCES
You/He/ She/It/They(Second and Third person Pronouns)+will+ not +have+ been+
first form of verb +ing+….
I/We(First person Pronouns)+shall +not +have +been +first form of verb + ing+…
I shall not have waiting for half an hour.
Mahindra will not have been going to Kanpur for a long time.
INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES
Will/Shall +subject+ have+ been +first form of verb +ing+…?
Question word+ Will/Shall +subject +have+ been+ first form of verb +ing+….?
Will she have playing for some time?
Why will you not have been going to work since 9o’clock?
USAGE
(i)To describe an action that will be in progress over a period of time that will end
in the future
By the end of 2021, we shall have been living in the bungalow for twelve years.
At noon, Mano will have been singing songs for an hour.
NOTE: PLEASE REVISE THE LIST OF THE VERB FORMS
[V1(PRESENT) / V2(PAST) / V3(PAST PARTICIPLE)]
ENGLISH GRAMMAR - TENSES
