Tenses

The form of a verb which tells us about the time of an action is called "tense"
Ex: They drink milk They drank milk They will drink milk
Here the verb "drink" tells that the action happens daily .The verb "drank" tells
that action is completed . The verb "will drink" tells that the action is going to
happen .
Al the three verbs represent same action in different times .
We have three types of tenses 1) present
2) past
3) future
These three are again divided into four types each so we have "12" tenses.
1) Simple present
2) present continuous
3) Present perfect
4)Present perfect continuous
5) Simple past
6) Past continuous
7) Past perfect
8) Past perfect continuous
9) Simple future
10) Future continuous
11)Future perfect
12) Future perfect continuous
Simple present :
Structure : Subject+V1/V1+s + compliment
We use V1 for subjects "I , we , you, they, plural noun (boys)"
We use V1+s for subjects " he, she, it, noun"
Ex: I play cricket. She plays cricket.
They like tea He likes tea.
Boys dance well. Ram dances well.
Uses
1st usage: It is used to represent the regular habituated actions i.e the action
which repeats in regular intervals of time .
Ex: Ravi goes top temple weekly.
Here the adverb " weekly" tells that the action happens once in a week.
We celebrate independence day on Aug 15th every year
Here the adverb "every year" tells that action happens once in a year.
Clues : if we find the adverbs " always , often ,seldom, hardly, scarcely, daily,
monthly, weekly, yearly, every+ noun, on + plural form of days, regularly"
 Note: He comes here on Sunday
This example tells that he is coming here on coming Sunday
He comes here on Sundays
This example tells that the action is regular and he comes here on every
Sunday.
Some examples ;
Rajesh works daily
She always makes noise
They often visit here
Ram consults doctor monthly
2nd usage: it is used to represent universal facts i.e the facts which are constant
with time and place
Natural facts: the facts which occur naturally
Ex: Trees give oxygen. Milk is white . Crops need rain. Everest is the highest
peak . Sea water is salty.
Scientific facts: The facts which are proved scientifically
Ex: Oxygen and Hydrogen combine to form water
Energy is equal to amount of work done in a given time
Manganese acts like a catalyst
Mathematical facts: All the mathematical formulas and theorems come under
mathematical facts
Ex: A+ B = B+A
Zero is the least whole number
Hypotenuse square is equal to sum of squares of the sides
Titles, first persons inventors, discoverers, founders: All these will remain
constant so we have to say them in simple present .
Ex: Raja Ram Mohan Roy is the founder of Brahma Samaj
Edison is the inventor of bulb
Mahatma Gandhi is the father of our nation
Neil Armstrong is the first to step on the moon
Columbus is the discoverer of America
3rd usage: The simple present is used to represent near by or conformed future
Ex: Ravi comes here tomorrow
They start the business next month
4th usage: Simple present is used in narrations to make it interesting
Ex: Villain kidnaps hero's child . Hero attacks the villain and saves the child.
Actually all these should be said in simple past but we used simple present to make
narration interesting.
 Present continuous
Structure : Subject +am/is/are + ing form
We use "am" for subject "I "
We use "is" for subjects " he, she, it, noun
We use "are" for subjects" we , you, they, plural noun (boys)"
Ex: I am reading. He is playing. They are dancing .
1st usage: It is used to represent the action which is going on at the moment of
speaking.
Ex: I am teaching. You are writing
Clue: generally we use present continuous when we have adverb "now"
Ex: she is singing now . They are running now
2nd usage: It is used to express near by future
Ex: Ram is coming here tomorrow
Boys are going for tour next week
Present perfect
Structure : Subject+ has/ have+ V3
We use "have "for subjects "I , we , you, they, plural noun (boys)"
We use "has" for subjects " he, she, it, noun"
Ex: I have done it. She has said it. We have fixed it.
1st usage: It is used to represent the just now completed actions i.e the actions
which are completed with in the time gap of 10 to 20 minutes.
Ex: I have reached here just now.
She has left just 10min before
Clue : when we find the adverbs "just, just now " we have to use present perfect
2nd usage: we use present perfect to represent recent actions i.e the actions which
have happened last in every field
Ex: He has completed M.B.A
This example tells us his latest or his recent qualification is "M.B.A"
I have taken my break fast
This example tells that my last intake of food is breakfast
Clues: when we find the adverbs " recently, this +noun , today" we have to use
present perfect
Ex: she has shifted here recently
They have started the program me this week
I have paid the fee today .
Note : I am watching movie this Sunday
It implies you are going to watch movie on coming Sunday
I have watched movie this Sunday.
It implies that you have already watched movie on previous Sunday
3rd usage: It is used to represent the action which is started in past and continued
up to present
Ex: we have played for 3hrs
This example tells that we started playing cricket before 3hrs and played till
Now
Clue: if we find the words like " since, for, till now , until now , yet , ever, ,
already" we have to use present perfect
Ex: they have done it since morning
You have said it 10 times till now
I have already posted it
She has already completed it
She hasn’t completed the work yet
Note: "yet" is always used with present perfect negative
Ram hasn’t come yet . They haven’t paid yet . Haven't you gone yet?
Note: while using ever and never in present perfect tense in assertive sentences
we will use ever with negative never with positive.
Ex: she has never done the H.W . She hasn’t ever done the H.W.
They have never paid the fee. They haven’t ever paid the fee.
But while in interrogatives we use ever with positive never with negative
Ex: Have you ever watched it? Haven’t you never watched it?
Has she ever danced? Hasn’t she never danced?
Note : Since is used for point of time ( exact time i.e 11 am 12 pm morning
evening, night all days i.e Sun-Sat all months i.e Jan - Dec all years 1990,
2000…… all stages of life i.e child hood , marriage , teenage ) for is used for
period of time ( number + noun 3hours 4 days 5 months 10 years )
4th usage: It is used to represent the action which is completed in past but its
result is in present
Ex: I have booked a ticket so I can travel comfortably now
Here the action booking ticket happened in the past but its result that is
travelling comfortably is linked to present
Ex: They have done their work so they are free now.
We have prepared well so we wrote well
She has met with in accident so she is in hospital now.
5th usage: it is used to recollect past memories
Ex: I saw Taj Mahal
Here we are giving importance for action i.e seeing
I have seen Taj Mahal
Here we give importance for the memory of seeing Taj Mahal
Present perfect continuous
Structure Sub + has/have+ been+ ingform
 Usage : It is used to represent an action which is started in past and continuing
up to present and continues up to future.
Ex: She has been dancing for 3 hours
This example tells that she started dancing before 3 hours and she is dancing
up to now and it continues for future
Ex: They have been ridding since 9 am,
He has been studying for 10 hours
Simple past
Structure Sub +V2+ compliment
Usage It is used to represent the completed actions in past irrespective of time
Ex: He came here last week. They argued with us yesterday
Once up on a time there was a king
Clue: if we find adverbs "last +noun , ago, once , before " then we have to use
simple past
Past continuous
Structure : Subject +was/were + ing form
We use "was" for subjects " I , he, she, it, noun"
We use "were" for subjects" we , you, they, plural noun (boys)"
Ex: I was playing. They were dancing. He was writing.
Usage: it is used to represent the action which was going on at some moment in
past
Ex: I was playing yesterday
This example tells us that yesterday by the present time "I was playing"
She was singing a song last year
This example tells that last year by this time last year she was singing
Note: when we use past continuous we have to take the reference of present time in
the past
Past perfect
Structure: Subject +had+ V3
Usage: when two actions happened in past the first completed action must be
told in past perfect and the second action must be told in simple past
Ex: I went to the station but the train had left
In above two actions the train left the station before you reached the station so
it happened first and it is told in past perfect and the second action i.e reaching the
station is told in simple past
Ex: After he had brushed his teeth he drank tea
Before we took decision we had discussed a lot
When we had gone out the thieves robbed the house.
Note : we always use past perfect after the conjunctions "after and when" we
use simple past for another action. While in "before" we use simple past after
it and another action will be in past perfect
Past perfect continuous
Structure: Subject + had+ been+ ing form
Usage: It is used to represent an action which was continuing in past until the
another action happened in past
Ex: I had been searching until I found it.
In this the action "searching" continued until the another action "finding"
happened .
Ex: She had been calling until we answered her call
They had been fighting until their mother called hem
Clue: we have to use past perfect when we find the word "until"
Simple future
Structure: Subject + will/shall/can/ may + bare infinity
Usage; it is used to represent an action which is going to happen in future
Ex; you will come here next week . They can start this tomorrow
We shall watch a movie coming Sunday
Future continuous
Structure ; Subject + will/shall/can/ may + be + ing form
Usage: It is used to say an action which is continuing at some time in future
Ex: we will be writing exam tomorrow
It implies that by this time tomorrow we will be writing exam
She may be cooking on Sunday
It implies that by this time on next Sunday she will be cooking
Note: when we use future continuous we have to take the reference of present time
in future.
Future perfect
Structure: Subject + will/shall/can/ may + have + V3
Usage: It is used to say that an action will be completed by the time in future
Ex: He will have submitted the report by 10 am tomorrow
Boys will have won the cup next month
It implies that boys will have the won the cup by this date next month.
Future perfect continuous
Structure: Subject + will/shall/can/ may +have + been + ing form
Usage: It is used to represent an action which was stared or going to start will be
continuing in the future
Ex: She will have been suffering after ten years
This implies that he action "suffering' " started after some time and still after
Ten years she will be still suffering
Kohli will have been playing in 2023
This example tells that kohi will be playing still in 2023 here the action was
already started