Subject: Grammar

Level: Second-semester

Sequence 03: Verb Tenses in English (C)

Prepared By: Dr. RAHMANI Asma, Batna1 University, Algeria.

Introduction

This course tends to introduce the common tenses that exist in the English language.
Furthermore, it provides learners with the restrictions that should be respected when selecting
one particular tense.

Objectives

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

1. Identify and accurately use the 12 primary verb tenses in English.

2. Differentiate between simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous aspects.
3. Understand the relationship between time and verb tense in context.
4. Apply verb tenses effectively in written and spoken communication.
5. Avoid common errors associated with verb tense usage.

The course

The material:
Read the following
1. Present Perfect Tense

Declarative Sentences

1. She has finished her homework.

2. We have lived in this city for five years.

Negative Sentences

1. She has not (hasn't) finished her homework.

2. We have not (haven't) lived in this city for five years.

Questions

1. Has she finished her homework?

2. Have you lived in this city for five years?

2. Past Perfect Tense

Declarative Sentences

1. I had already eaten when they arrived.

2. She had visited Paris before moving to London.

Negative Sentences

1. I had not (hadn't) eaten when they arrived.

2. She had not (hadn't) visited Paris before moving to London.

Questions

1. Had you eaten when they arrived?

2. Had she visited Paris before moving to London?

3. Future Perfect Tense

Declarative Sentences

1. By next year, he will have graduated from university.

2. They will have completed the project by tomorrow evening.

Negative Sentences

1. By next year, he will not (won't) have graduated from university.

2. They will not (won't) have completed the project by tomorrow evening.

Questions: 1. Will he have graduated from university by next year?

3. Will they have completed the project by tomorrow evening?

Definition of the Perfect Tense in English

The Perfect tense in English is used to express actions that are completed or have a
connection to a point in time (past, present, or future). It combines the auxiliary verb "have"
with the past participle (verb-ed or irregular forms). The Perfect tenses emphasize the result,
effect, or relevance of an action rather than the action itself.

4. The Perfect Tenses

A. Present Perfect Tense

 Used to express an action happened in the past and it is finished but its effects still felt
i.e. present result.
 Used to express action that began in the past and still continuous, i.e. Unfinished past.
 Used to express actions occurring in an incomplete period.
Present Perfect Tense Formation
To have in the present: Have(I, you, they, we)/ has(she, he, it)+ Past participle of
verbs.
The past participles of verbs differ:
1. regular verbs= stem +ed.
2. Irregular verbs= changes according to a distinctive list.
Tip:

The present Perfect Tense is used when you find these signal words: Before, yet
,never, already, this morning, since, two days, up to now, for.

Examples:

• He has completed his homework.

• They have already visited Paris.

B. Past Perfect Tense:

  This tense is used to express that an action happened before another action both in
past.
Tense Formation:
To have in past + Past participle of the verb.
 Past perfect tense = had+ PP.
 The past participles of verbs differ: regular verbs= stem +ed.
 Irregular verbs= changes according to a distinctive list.

Examples:

• She had left by the time he arrived.

• They had finished the task before the manager came.

C. Future Perfect Tense

 Used to demonstrate an action that already has happened before a specific time in the
future.
 Describes actions that will be completed before a certain point in the future (By 5 PM,
they’ll have completed the report).

Future Continuous Tense Formation

To be in the future = will/ shall+ have+ past participle.

Examples:

• By next week, I will have finished my research.

• She will have read the book by tomorrow.

5. The Perfect Continuous Tenses

A. Present Perfect Continuous

 Used to express an activity that has recently stooped or just stooped.

 To demonstrate how long action has been occurring .i.e.: the emphasis is on action‘s
length of time.
  Emphasizes the duration of an action that started in the past and continues into the
present (She has been studying since morning).
 Time markers: for, since, all day.

Present Perfect Continuous Formation

To have in the present= has (she, he, it)/ have (you, they, we)+been+ gerund.

Examples:

• I have been working on this project for two hours.

• They have been living here since 2019.

B. Past Perfect Continuous

 It is used to demonstrate how long something or action had been happening before
another action happen.
 Highlights the duration of an action before another past event (I had been working for
five hours when the lights went out).

Past Perfect Continuous Tense Formation

= Had+ been+ gerund.

Examples:

• He had been waiting for an hour before she arrived.

• They had been studying all night when the test was postponed.

C. Future Perfect Continuous

 Used to demonstrate an action that already has happened before a specific time in the
future.
 Expresses the duration of an action that will continue up to a future point (She’ll have
been waiting for 30 minutes when the train arrives).
Future Continuous Tense Formation

To be in the future= will/ shall+ have+ past participle.

Examples:

• By next month, they will have been building the house for a year.
• I will have been studying for 6 hours by the time the exam starts.