A NOTE ON TENSES

Verb form that shows the time of action is called the Tense.

There are three main kinds of Tense:

1. Present Tense
2. Past Tense
3. Future tense

Each Tense is further sub-divided into four different forms:

1. Simple or Indefinite
2. Continuous
3. Perfect
4. Perfect Continuous

TENSE FORMS

PRESENT PAST FUTURE

Present Indefinite Past Indefinite Future Indefinite

Present Continuous Past Continuous Future Continuous

Present Perfect Past Perfect Future Perfect

Present Perfect Past Perfect Future Perfect

Continuous Continuous Continuous

SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE/ PRESENT INDEFINITE

Usage : The Present Indefinite is used to

A) Things happening in the present.

For example: We go to school daily.

B) Express a habitual action

For example: My servant gets up early daily.

C) Express a universal truth.

For example: The sun rises in the east.

SPECIAL RULES

HE

SHE

IT s/es (main verb) Does/ has

(Name)

SINGULAR SUBJECT

For all singular subjects, he she and it we use V1+ S/ES

1. My friend often comes to my house.

2. She writes a letter to her mother every week.

3. In summer, the sun rises before six.

4. Our school starts at 9 o’ clock.

5. Rita makes very good tea.

6. The sun is very hot. It gives us light.

PLURAL SUBJECT

For all Plural subjects, me, us, you and them we use V1

1. I go for a walk every morning.

2. We wear warm clothes in winter.

3. Lazy students usually fail in the examination.

4. My friends often send me presents.

5. You waste your time in idle talk.

SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE- QUESTIONS

Plural subject

To make Yes/No questions in the Simple Present tense with I,we, you and
plural subjects, we use the following sentence pattern:

Do + Subject + First form + Complement ?

Do + S + V1 + C ?

1. Do I get up late in the morning?

Yes, you get up late in the morning.

2. Do you wear warm clothes in winter?

Yes, we wear warm clothes in winter.

To make Yes/No questions in the Simple Present tense with he, she it
and Singular subjects, we use the following sentence pattern:

Does + Subject + First Form + Complement ?

Does + S + V1 + C ?
1. Does Mohan often come to your house?

Yes, Mohan often comes to my house.

2. Does Misha obey her parents?

Yes, Misha obeys her parents.

3. Does she come here daily?

No, she doesn’t come here daily.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

We use the Present Continuous tense to express an action that is going on

at the time speaking. It is also used to express a future plan of action.

For positive statements, the verb form is : I / am / are + V1 - ing

For negative statements, the verb form is : is / am/ are + not + V1-ing

1. He is not doing his homework.

2. They are not coming next month.

For questions, is/am/are is used before the subject.

1. Is he doing his homework ?

2. Are they coming next month?

3. What is he eating?

4. Where are they living?

PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

We use the Present Perfect tense to express the following kinds of

action:

1. For an action which began in the past and which was completed by
the time of speaking.

2. For an action which took place in the past and the results of which
we can feel or notice in the present.
Positive statements, the verb form is : has / have + V3

1. Misha has finished her work.

2. They have gone back to their village.

3. He has served in the army. ( this is why he is so smart.)

Negative statements, the verb form is : has / have + not + V3

1. Misha has not finished her work.

2. They have not gone back to their village.

3. He has not taken care of his health. ( That is why he has fallen ill)

Questions, has / have is used before the Subject.

1. Has MIsha finished her work?

2. Have they gone back to their village?

3. What has Misha done?

4. Where have they gone?

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

The Perfect Continuous tense is used when the action continues for
some duration of time.

The verb forms used tenses are

Subject + has/have+been+V1+ing+since/for+time

Example:

Your father has been looking for you for two hours.
They have been looking for you for two hours.

Negative sentence

Subject + has/have+not+been+V1+ing+since/for+time

Example:

The gardner has not been watering the plants for two hours.

Interrogative sentence

Has /have + subject+ been+ V1+ing+object?

Example:

Has the grandfather not been taking medicines?

Wh-family + has /have + subject+ been+ V1+ing+object?

Example:

What has been happening in the school?

SIMPLE PAST TENSE /PAST INDEFINITE

Subject + V2+ Complement

Examples:

1. They built a house in Krishna Nagar.

2. Farmers grew wheat in their fields.

Negative sentence:

Subject + did not+ V1+ Complement

Example:

He did not complete his work yesterday.

Interrogative Sentence:

Did+ subject+ V1+ Complement

Did she learn her lesson?

Did you finish the work in time?

PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

Subject+ was/were+ V1+ing+ Complement

1. She was going to her village

2. They were working at that time.

Negative Sentence

Subject+ was/were+ not+ V1-ing

Example:

1. He was not watching a film.

2. They were not working at that time.

 PAST PERFECT TENSE

Subject + had+ V3 + Complement.

He had taken his breakfast when the the mother arrived.

The king left before the prince came.

My mother had finished her work before everybody woke up.

Negative sentence.

Subject + had not +V3+Complement

She had not taken her breakfast when the mother arrived.

Interrogative sentence

Did + Subject + V3 + Complement?

Has he gone to the theatre?

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

Positive /affirmative sentences

Sub+ had been+ V1-ing+ Complement+since/for +time.

I had been waiting for my friend for 3 hours.

Negative sentence

Subject + Had not been + V1-ing + Complement+since/for +time

I had not been waiting for my friends for 3 hours.

Interrogative sentence.

Had + subject +been+ V1-ing + complement +since/for+time

PRESENT TENSE

Affirmative sentence

Subject + will/shall + V1 + Complement.

He will arrive any time.

I shall come tomorrow.

Negative

Subject + will/shall +V1 + Complement.

Interrogative
Will/Shall + Subject + V1+ Complement?

1. Will they attend school tomorrow?

FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE

Affirmative sentence

Subject + will/shall + be + V1-ING + Complement.

1. You shall be giving the speech tonight.

Negative Sentence

Subject + will/shall + not + be + V1-ing + Complement

He will not be giving the speech tonight.

Interrogative sentence.

Will/Shall + subject + be + V1-ing + Complement?

Will they be paying in the ground in that heat?

FUTURE PERFECT

Affirmative sentence

Subject + will/shall + have + V3 + Complement.

At this time tomorrow, we will have left for the US.

Negative sentence

Subject + will/shall + not + have + V3 + Complement.

I will not have reached the airport in two hours.

Interrogative sentence

Will/Shall + subject + have + V3-ing + Complement.

Will he have practised for the dance performance?

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

Affirmative sentence

Subject + will/shall + shall been + V1-ing + Complement.

You will have been celebrating your birthday tomorrow this time.

Negative sentence.

Subject + will/shall not + have been + V1-ing + Complement.

The programme will not have been going on without the manager’s
consent.

Interrogative sentence
Will/Shall + subject + have been +V1 -ing + Complement?

Will the Censor board have been objecting the scene in the film?