ENGLISH
CLASS XI
27-7-21
TENSES
Tenses denote the time of action. They show when the work is done. They are:
1. Present Tense
2. Past Tense
3. Future Tense
They are further divided into:
1. Simple Present-
It is used to denote scientific facts, universal truths and work done on daily basis.
SENTENCES RULE EXAMPLES
ASSERTIVE sub + V1 + s/es She writes a letter
NEGATIVE --- sub + does not + v1 + s/es She does not write a letter
INTERROGATIVE RULE --- Does + sub + v1 + s/es Does she write a letter?
2. Present Continuous–
It is used to express an action taking place at the time of speaking.
SENTENCES RULE EXAMPLES
ASSERTIVE sub + is/am/are + v1 + ing she is writing a letter.
NEGATIVE sub + is/am/are + not + v1 + ing She is not writing a letter.
INTERROGATIVE RULE is/am/are + sub + v1 + ing Is she writing a letter?
3. Present Perfect–
It is used to show an action that started in the past and has just finished.
SENTENCES RULE EXAMPLES
ASSERTIVE sub + has/have + v3 She has written a letter.
NEGATIVE sub + has/have + not + v3 She has not written writing a
letter.
INTERROGATIVE RULE sub + has/have + not + v3 Has she writing a letter?
4. Present Perfect Continuous–
This tense shows the action which started in the past and is still continuing
SENTENCES RULE EXAMPLES
ASSERTIVE sub + has/have + been + v1 + ing She has been writing a letter
NEGATIVE sub + has/have + not been + v1 + She has not been writing a letter.
ing
INTERROGATIVE RULE -has/have + sub + been + v1 + ing Has she been writing a letter?
5. Simple Past –
Used to indicate an action completed in the past. It often occurs with adverb of time. Sometimes it is
used without an adverb of time. Used for past habits
SENTENCES RULE EXAMPLES
ASSERTIVE Subject + V2 She wrote a letter.
NEGATIVE Subject + didn’t + V1 She didn’t write a letter
INTERROGATIVE RULE Did + Subject + V1 Did she write a letter?
6. Past Continuous Tense –
Used to denote an action going on at some time in the past.
SENTENCES RULE EXAMPLES
ASSERTIVE was/were +V1+ ing She was writing a letter
NEGATIVE Subject + was/were + not + ing She was not writing a letter
INTERROGATIVE RULE Was/were + Subject + ing Was she writing a letter?
7. Past Perfect Tense –
Used to describe an action completed before a certain moment in the past, usually a long time ago. If
two actions happened in the past, past perfect is used to show the action that took place earlier.
SENTENCES RULE EXAMPLES
ASSERTIVE Subject + had + V3 She had written a letter.
NEGATIVE Subject + had + not She had not written a letter
INTERROGATIVE RULE Had + Subject + V3 Had + Subject + V3 + Object
8. Past Perfect Continuous Tense –
Used to denote an action that began before a certain point in the past and continued up to sometime
in past
SENTENCES RULE EXAMPLES
ASSERTIVE Subject + had been +V1 + ing She had been writing a letter.
NEGATIVE Subject + had + not been + V1+ ing She had not been writing a letter
INTERROGATIVE RULE Had + Subject+ been+ V1 + ing + Had she been writing a letter?
9. Simple Future Tense –
This tense tells us about an action THAT will occur after saying or in future.
In Future Tense helping verb ‘Shall’ is used with ‘I’ and ‘We’ Helping verb ‘Will’ is used with all others.
In general speaking there is hardly any difference between 'shall & will' and normally ‘Will’ is used with
all.
SENTENCES RULE EXAMPLES
ASSERTIVE Subject + Will/Shall + Verb (Ist She will write a letter.
form)
NEGATIVE Subject + Will/Shall + Not + Verb She will not write a letter.
(Ist form)
INTERROGATIVE RULE Will/Shall + Subject + Verb (Ist Will she write a letter?
form)
10. Future Continuous Tense –
It is used to express an ongoing or continued action in future.
SENTENCES RULE EXAMPLES
ASSERTIVE Subject + Will/Shall + Be + Verb She will be writing a letter.
(Ist form) + Ing
NEGATIVE Subject + Will/Shall + Not + Be + She will not be writing a letter.
Verb (Ist form) + Ing
INTERROGATIVE RULE Will/Shall + Subject + Be + Verb Will she be writing a letter?
(Ist form) + Ing
11. Future Perfect Tense –
It is used to express an action which will happen/occur in future and will be completed by a certain
time in future.
SENTENCES RULE EXAMPLES
ASSERTIVE Subject + Will/Shall + Have + Verb She will have written a letter.
(3rd form)
NEGATIVE Subject + Will/Shall + Not + Have + She will not have written a letter.
Verb (3rd form)
INTERROGATIVE RULE Will/Shall + Subject + Have + Verb Will she have written a letter?
(3rd form)
12. Future Perfect Continuous Tense –
It is used to talk about actions that will commence at a fix time in future and will continue for some
time in future.
SENTENCES RULE EXAMPLES
ASSERTIVE Subject + Will/Shall + Have been + She will have been writing a letter.
Verb (Ist form) + Ing
NEGATIVE Subject + Will/Shall + Not + Have She will not have been writing a
been + Verb (Ist form) + Ing letter.
INTERROGATIVE RULE Will/Shall + Subject + Have been + Will she have been writing a
Verb (Ist form) + Ing letter?
