TENSES –TIME

Present past future

Now before after

4 forms

1. Simple form
2. Continuous form
3. Perfect simple form
4. Perfect continuous form

1. Present simple – S + V1 + O Ex. I study English everyday .

2. Past simple – S + V2 + O Ex. I studied English yesterday.

3. Future simple – S + Will + V1 + O Ex. I will study English tomorrow.

4. Present continuous – S + am / is / are + Ving + O Ex. I’m studying English now.

5.Past Continuous – S + was / were + Ving + O Ex. I was studying English.

6.Future continuous –S + will be + Ving + O Ex. I will be studying English.

7.Present perfect – S + have / has + V3 + O Ex I have studied English.

8. Past perfect – S + had + V 3 + O Ex. I had studied English.

9. Future perfect – S + will have + V3 + O Ex. I will have studied English.

10. Present perfect continuous - S + have/has been + Ving + O Ex. I have been studying English.

11. Past perfect continuous –S + had been + Ving + O Ex. I had been studying English.

12. Future perfect continuous – S + will have been + Ving + O Ex. I will have been studying English.
 Present simple
Routine/ fact/ habit
Rule: time expression – every day, every month, every week, every summer, on Mondays, in the
evenings, at the weekends.

Verb to be :

Positive - S + am/is/are + O.

Negative – S+ am/is/are +not + O.

Question – Am/is /are + S + O?

Ex. I am at home.

He isn’t happy.

Are they at home?

Main verbs

Positive – S + V1 + O.

Ex. I/We/You/They play football every evening.

He/ She / It plays football every evening.

Samantha watches films a lot.

Rahul studies computer.

Anna and Cathy works together in a same office.

The city museum closes at 5o’clock.

Food is expensive. It costs a lot of money.

Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

Margaret speaks four languages.

They know my phone number.

You do the same thing everyday.

Jim drinks a lot of tea. It's his favorite drink.

Spelling rule.

1. Just add ‘s’ to make singular verb

Clean – cleans
Work – works
Plan – plans
Cook – cooks
Purchase – purchases
Understand-
understands Whistle –

2. Verbs end in’ ch/sh/x/s/ss’ /z and o just add ’ es’ in the last.

Ch Sh X S/SS
Watch – watches Brush – brushes Relax – relaxes Pass –passes
Attach – attaches Push – pushes Wax – waxes Guess – guesses
Catch - catches Wish – wishes Mix - mixes Miss – misses
Breach – Wash – washes
breaches
O Z
Go – goes Buzz – buzzes
Do – does
Echo – echoes
Undergo – undergoes
Overdo – overdoes

3. Verbs end in ‘Y’ and has vowel before ‘Y’ +’S’.

Play – plays
Enjoy –
enjoys Buy –
buys Say -
says
 4. Verbs end in ‘Y’ and has a consonant before ‘Y’ cancel ‘Y’ + ‘ies’.

Carry – carries
Try – tries
Fly – flies
Tidy – tidies
Cry – cries
Study – studies

Negative – S + don’t / doesn’t + V1 +

O.

Ex.I/We/You/They don’t play football.

He/ She/ It doesn’t play football.

Sam doesn’t work hard.

My friend and I don’t argue each other.

They don’t love their neighbor’s but they pretend to be very good to them.

The coach doesn’t train the players well so the players don’t like their coach.

Many countries don’t have enough employment opportunities for the citizens.

Sue is a quiet person. She doesn’t talk very much.

Question – Do/ Does + S + V1 + O?

Ex.Do you play football ?

Yes, I do./ No, I don’t.

Does he play football?

Yes, he does./ No, he doesn’t.

What time do you usually go to bed?

Where do you come from?

Which do you prefer, coffee or tea?

When does Sarah visit her parents?

Why do you always criticize her?

How does John go to work?

How much does it cost to phone New York?

How often do you exercise?

Who do you call everyday?

Whom do I ask for help?

Why don’t you do a course?

Why doesn’t he come and spend evening with us?

Do you always get up early?

Does it often snow here?

Does your brother like football?

Does Robert not eat meat?

Don’t you understand these questions?

Uses:

1. Fact – The sun rises in the east and sets in the

west. Farmers grow crops in the field.
Cow gives us milk.
It snows a lot in winter.
2. Habit – I go to gym three times a week.
We play basketball every Tuesdays.
Seema paints the pictures in her free
time.
3. Feelings – He is angry.
Ramesh is kind and
humble.
Anna and Maria are very intelligent.
4. Jobs – she is a nurse.
Samuel is an engineer.
Seema is a technician.
5. Sensory verb – see, hear, taste, smell and feel
This sauce tastes delicious.
I can see the beach from the window .
It smells horrible.
6. Opinion – English is easy.
The weather is nice today.
 It is difficult to understand.
It is a crucial problem.
Flowers smell sweet.
7. Adverb of frequency - always/usually/often/sometimes / rarely / occasionally/ seldom /
hardly / never.
Ex. They always hangout in the same restaurant.
He hardly speaks French.
We usually have light meal for dinner.
He often surprises me with flowers.
I don’t often drink tea.
She doesn’t usually work late hours.
8. State verbs – want, need, know, promise, insist, believe, remember, forget, mean,
depend, prefer, like, love, hate, think, realize, recognize, suppose, belong etc…
Ex. I know about this place very well.
Most people prefer luxury hotels.
I don’t need this book anymore.
We believe the news on the newspaper and I don’t know what you think about it .
.

Past Tense

 We use the past tense to tell about the actions that have finished or completed in the past.
 Time Expression : yesterday, ago, last year/month/week/night, in 2018, in March, on Tuesday
etc…
 Past simple of be

Positive: S + was/ were + object

Negative: S + was/were + not +noun/adjective.

Question: Wh + was/were + S + noun/adjective?

Ex: Where was he yesterday?

He was at home yesterday.

He wasn’t at home
yesterday.

Were they happy?

Yes , They were.

No , They weren’t.

Past simple with main verb

To talk about a finished /completed action

Regular verb Irregular verb

Present Past Present Past

Watch Watched Run Ran
Carry Carried Eat Ate
Stop Stopped Go Went
Live Lived Hit Hit
Finish Finished Write Wrote

Positive: S + V2 + O.
Negative: S + didn’t + V1 + O.

Question: Wh + did + S +V1+ O?

Q: Who did you meet yesterday?

P: I met my friend yesterday.

N: I didn’t meet any one yesterday.

Q: Did he watch the match last week?

P: Yes, he did.

N: No, he didn’t.

USE: Conjunctions to describe series of action in the past.

I didn’t live with my parents when I was young so I watched lots of television after school everyday.

Ali came home, went straight to bed and slept for an hour.

I finished work walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim.

I finished my college in 2014, and I joined a musical class which was really interesting.

Salem worked in a company from January to July.

Andrew lived in the USA for 3 years

Write the past forms of these verbs.

 Future Simple

An action that will happen later/ after.

Time Expression : tomorrow, next week/month/year, after three days.

Positive: S + will +V1 + O.

Negative: S + won’t + V1 + O.

Question: WH + will +S +V1 + O?

Use: 1. An action that is possible /certain.

Ex. We will speak good English after 1 month.

I will become a doctor.

Sam will be at 25th of next month.

2. Make decisions at the time of speaking.

Ex. A: It is very hot in this room. Isn’t it?

B: Ok I will turn on the fan.

A: Can you drop me to the airport in the evening?

B: Sure I will drop you.

3.To make offers

Ex. Your bag looks heavy. I will help you to carry it?

Don’t worry, I will pick you up from the station.

4. For promises

Ex.I will pass the exam.

I won’t be late to class again.

5. To give opinion: I think/I don’t think/Do you think?

Ex. I think Sarah will score good marks in the exam.

I don’t think Sam will come today.

Do you think people will live longer in the future?

6. To say how certain : definitely/surely/ probably

Ex. He will definitely meet her at the station.

She will surely come to the party.

It will probably rain today.

Shall: I/We = question/offer /suggestion.

Ex. It’s raining. Shall I open the umbrella?

Shall we go on a holiday?

Shall we eat out tonight?

Be going to – For future

1. already decided, planned and arranged to

do Rule: S + am/ is/ are +going to + V1 + O.

We are going to travel to Mumbai next week.

My brother is going to be an engineer.

2. Near future (evident)

Look at the clouds! It’s going to rain .
I ate a lot of food at the party .I’m going to be sick.
A: Why are you filling that bucket with water?
B:I ’m going to wash the car.

 Choose the correct word from the italics:

At 9 a.m. next Monday an exciting exhibition called ‘The Office of the Future’ opens/is going to opening
at the Brighton Conference Centre. The exhibition is show/will show hundreds of new inventions that
could change the way people work.

The office of the future?

Doug Stevenson, The Exhibition Organizer, says that large offices full of hundreds of workers probably
exist in the future. Many people work at home but they go into the office for meetings. In the future this
will not be/not will be necessary because you will be able to do everything from your own living rooms.
With new technology it is being/ will be possible to have meetings on your computer your computer is
going to show/will show moving images of your colleagues and business partners. As soon as you will
turn/ turn it on, you will see your colleagues, and you will think they are standing in the room next to
you!

If you want to find out more about these developments, Mr. Stevenson gives/ is giving a talk in the
exhibition hall on Wednesday. After the talk will finish/finishes, you will be able to look at the newest
computer software from California.
 Present Continuous

The action happening now/around at the time of speaking.

Time Expression: now/right now/ at present/ at the moment/ today/ this week/ year/ month
/currently.

Positive : S + am/is/are +V1ing + O

Negative : S + am/is /are + not + V1ing + O

Question : Wh + is /are/am + S + V 1ing +

O?

Is/are /am+S +V 1ing + O? yes/no

Eg : Q: What are you doing now?

P : I am reading a book now.

Q : Where is he playing?

P: He’s playing in the garden.

N: He isn’t playing in the garden.

Q: Who is using the internet currently?

P: They are using the internet.

N: They aren’t using the internet.

Q: Are you reading a book at the moment?

P: Yes, I am.

N: No, I’m not.

Spelling rules

Play + ing = playing

Hope + ing = hoping

Dance + ing = dancing

Stop + ping = stopping

Visit + ing = visiting

See + ing = seeing

Lie + ing = lying

Die + ing =dying

Present simple and Present Continuous

Present simple Present continuous

1. Routine /fact/to give 1.Things happening at the time of speaking
instruction/direction Ex. It is raining heavily, we can’t go out now.
Ex. It rains a lot in Bangalore. The water is boiling .Can you turn off the stove?
The earth revolves round the sun. I’m studying two languages: English and
You phone the police on your mobile. Spanish
2. Permanent action 2.Temporary action
Ex. Tom lives in Kolkata. He works in Ex. Tom’s living in Bangalore at the moment. He
a company. is working as an accountant.

3. Regular and repeated events and habits 3.To talk about situations that are gradually
Ex . I visit my friends every month. changing.
We play basketball every weekend. Ex. The noise is getting louder.
The cost of living is increasing day by day.
4. State verbs :think, feel, believe, know, State verbs : it gives a different meaning.
seem, appear, like, consist, have and Ex. I’m thinking of taking a few days off.
belong (consider)
Ex. What do you think of Jane’s
result?(opinion)

5. Adverb of frequency –habit/typical Adverb of frequency- to express annoying habits

behavior Ex. He’s always losing his keys.(more than the
Ex. He always loses his keys. usual)
Sam is very selfish. He never Ex. I don’t know why John is being selfish these
helps anyone.(general behavior) days.(he’s isn’t usually selfish)

 Complete the email with the present simple or present continuous tenses.

Hi Luis
Thanks for your email. I’m really pleased that you......................(enjoy)your English course in the
UK...................................................(your English/get)better?
We’re all fine here –As always. I...............................(not /have)much free time at the moment. I
…………………………..(practice)hard for the tennis competition- only three weeks to go and I’m
really nervous about it. I really…......................(want)to win the competition this year.
Brain……………..(think)I’m playing well, but I..............................(not think) I am.
………………………………………………. (you/ remember)my ‘baby sister’ Maria? Well, can you believe
she’s 13 now? We…...................................(still/think)of her as a little child, but she’s very grown-
up now. She..................................(learn) to play the violin, and she’s already quite good.
She………………………………….(play)right now, while I.................................(write)this email.
Right, time to stop writing. I have loads of work to do! See you soon.
Angela

 Match the two parts of the sentences:

1. We always have often listen to the Radio.

2. Sally is having stay with their grandparents in August

3. I think I’ve English magazines?

4. This week the children got Flu.

5. The children usually a party again. It’s really noisy.

6. Be quite. I are staying with their grandparents.

7. On Sunday mornings I am listening to the radio.

8. Are you reading fun at Miranda’s parties.

9. How often do you read enjoying their holiday.

10. They are a good book at the moment?

 Complete the news story, using the present simple or continuous form of the verbs in the box.
Ask, be, consider, follow, look forward to, love, play, score, think, want.

JOHNSON.................FOR NEW CONTRACT

City strikers Simon Johnson ……………………….. a new contract, and the club…...................the
possibility of offering him a five year deal, according to Johnson’s website. The News
……………………….winning goal in last Saturday’s game against their rivals United. Johnson’s
agent told reporters: ‘Simon….....................the best football of his career, and the fans
……………………………him. He….................................a lot of goals at the moment, and
he……………………he can help the club to win the league. Simon…...........................one of the best
players at the club, and right now he…................................to score lots more goals for them in
the next twelve months’.
 Past continuous tense

It tells about one single action that was in progress for a particular time in the past.

Time expression: yesterday morning/evening/ at 2o’clock

Positive: S +was/were +V1ing + O.

Negative: S +was/were + not +V1ing + O.

Question: Wh + was/were + S +V1ing + O?

Q What were you doing in the morning at 9o’clock?

P: I was having my breakfast at 9 o’ clock.

N: We weren’t watching TV. We were getting ready for work.

Q: Was he writing his homework yesterday evening?

P: Yes, He was.

N: No, He wasn’t.

 We can use past simple with past continuous tense to say a longer action was interrupted by
a short action.

USE: When/while and as

 When – before/after the past simple or continuous.

Ex. When he arrived home ,everybody was watching TV.

I was playing football when it started to rain.

It was raining , so we weren’t driving fast.(two actions happen simultaneously)

I was washing the dishes and he was cleaning the cupboards.

 While – after the past continuous verbs.

Ex. My dad phoned while I was having a shower.

 As/while - to describe two short events that happen simultaneously.

Ex. As the train crashed, everyone screamed.

While I was on the train Mike called me.

 Use past simple

1. for past actions, states and facts.
Ex. Casey lived in the USA.
Millions of immigrants moved to the USA in the nineteenth century.
2. Repeated or usual actions/situations.
Ex. While I was on the train Jack called
twice. Sam went to the shop three times
today.
3. To say one action happened after the other. (order of actions)
Ex. Jessy went home, sat on the sofa, turned on the TV and watched for an hour.

EXERCISE
Sarah did a lot of things yesterday morning. Look at the table below and complete the
sentences in past continuous tense.

8.10 – 8.25 9.30 – 10.00 10.20 – 11.00 11.30 – 12.00 12.30 – 1.00
Eat breakfast Wash her car Listen music Swim the pool Cook lunch

1. At 11.45 ……………………………………………………………………………………….
2. At 8.15 …………………………………………………………………………………………
3. At 9.45 ………………………………………………………………………………………….
4. At 12.50…………………………………………………………………………………………..
5. At 10.30 ………………………………………………………………………………………….

 Complete these stories using Past simple or past continuous forms of the verbs in
the bracket.
The clock………………………(break)while the children...............................(play) football in the
house. The clock……………..(fall)when the ball………………(hit) it. The accident……………………
(happen)while their parents......................(come) home.

 Complete the gaps using the appropriate tense past simple /past continuous.
Casey Jones (1863-1900) ………..(be) an American railway driver. He…..........(become) a hero
when he…………………(die) because he.....................(save) the lives of many passengers in a
terrible accident.
On 30 April 1900 Casey.............................(drive) his train back to the station during a dark
and wet night. He................(be) with another driver, his friend Webb. The train
……………………(go) fast because Casey................(want) to get back home quickly but this
…………………(be/not) the problem. There.....................(be) another train on the same railway.
Casey and Webb..................(not/ know) about this train.
As Casey.........................(come) around a bend, he saw the other train. Casey
………………….(realize) the danger, ’Jump !’ he…....................(shout)to his friend. Webb
…………………..(jump) from the train while Casey………………………(try) to stop. Webb…………….
(fall) 100 metres but he………………..(not/die). While he………………………..(fall), he…………………
(hear) Casey. Casey ………………….(shout), ‘Help!’ The train......................(go) fast, so it
couldn’t stop quickly. Casey ……………. (slow) the train down but it still…...............(crash).
Casey………………..(be/kill) but the passengers......................(not /die).
Casey ……………………..(become) very famous after this and his friend..................(write) a very
popular song, The Ballad of Casey Jones, about him.
 Future continuous tense

An action that will be in progress at a specific time in the future.

Positive : S + will be + Ving + O.

Negative: S + will not be/won’t be + Ving + O.

Question: Will + S + be + Ving + O?

Ex. P : Tomorrow at the same time I will be attending a meeting.

We are playing tennis tomorrow from 4:00 to 5:00 so at 4:30 we will be playing tennis.

N : You can call Sam at 5 o’ clock , he won’t be driving the car.

When you arrive home tonight the children won’t be sleeping.

Q : Will you be working in the same company after five years?

Where will you be studying after your school?

Which country will you be working in after your

graduation?

Uses: 1. To describe interrupted actions in the future.

Ex. When you come tomorrow they will be playing tennis.

2. To express actions in progress at a particular time in the future

Ex. At 12o’clock tomorrow, we will be having lunch at Sam’s house.

3. To ask questions politely about the future.

Ex. Will you be bringing your friend to the party tonight?

4. For future plans and intentions.

Ex. He’ll be coming to visit us next week.

5. To describe atmosphere in the future.

Ex. When I arrive at the party everybody will be celebrating, some will be dancing, children will be
running around.

6. -To express parallel actions in the future.

Ex. She will be watching TV and he will be cooking dinner.

Exercise

Complete the sentences putting the verbs in the brackets, in future continuous tense:
 1. Our luxury winner.............................(stay) at the luxurious Moore Hotel in a quiet village near
London.
2. I can’t come out because I.................................(take) an exam between 9 and 11 am.
3. The boys........................(gather) wood for fire.
4. What ……………..you...............(do) Lucy?
5. Meet me at 7 pm. I…....................(wait)outside the theatre.
6. This time next year I................(live) in Srinagar.
7. At 8 pm tonight I...........................(eat) dinner with my family .
8. Unfortunately I.......................(work) on my essay so I won’t be able to watch the match.
9. They…......................(run) for about four hours. Marathons are incredibly difficult.
10. (you/wait) at the station when she arrives.
11. (she/visit) her grandmother again this week
12. At 3 pm I….................(watch)that movie on channel four.
13. (they/attend) your concert next Friday? It would be lovely to see them.
14. I......................(drink) at a restaurant while you are taking your exam.
15. She…..................(study) at the library tonight.

Fill in the blanks with future simple or future continuous tense.

1. I…........................(not do)anything until Monday.

2. I think he….................(find) this work more interesting when he grows up.
3. I wish I could visit you, but I…..........................(manage)a very important project.
4. They…...................(have to) change their diet if they want to keep fit.
5. I….....................(not do)that if he doesn’t apologize to me.
6. Can I borrow your car? Sure, I….....................(not use) it until Friday.
7. You can visit me tomorrow. I.........................(not do) anything important.
8. At 10 pm I…....................(go) to bed to take some rest.
9. I’m sure that next week this city….................(look) much better.
10. You should recognize her easily. She…........................(wear) a red skirt.
11. I can’t go with you but I...............(make) it up to you.
12. Hold on, I…..................(give) you a lift.
13. This time next month I.........................(enjoy) the holidays.
14. We…........................(leave) this house as soon as possible.
15. He…....................(give) me 20$ a day during my stay.
 PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

 We use present perfect for past experiences

 We use present perfect for an action that happened sometime in the past with a result now.
 An action that happened once in life time.

V3 = Past participle.

V1 V2 V3
Live lived lived

Cry cried cried

Eat ate eaten

Drive drove driven

Buy bought bought

Positive: S + have/has + V3+ O.

Negative: S + haven’t/hasn’t + V3 +O.

Question: Wh + have/has + S + V3 + O?

Have/has + S + V3 + O?

Have you worked anywhere before?

YES, I have

NO, I haven’t.

Where has he studied?

He has studied in Cambridge.

Somebody has broken the window.

John has finished his homework.

 Ever : once in your lifetime.

 Never : not even once in life time.

Have you ever visited the USA?

NO,I have never visited the USA.

Yes, I’ve visited the USA once/twice.

 S + have/has +just/already + V3 + O.
 Just: a short time ago.

They have just finished their

class.
She has just eaten her lunch.

 Already: before now [something happened before the expected time]

I‘ve already studied basic grammar.

We’ve already completed the exam.

 YET: Until now.

 USE: Question /negative
 At the end of the sentence.

S + haven’t/hasn’t + V3 + O + yet.

Have you finished your course yet?

No, I haven’t finished my course yet.

Has Ram come home yet?

No, Ram hasn’t come home yet.

 To say how many times something happened .

It’s the first time I have driven a car.
Bill is phoning his girlfriend again. That’s the third time he has phoned her this evening.

 To introduce new /recent action.

Someone has invented a new type of washing machine.

India has won the gold cup in cricket.

 S+ have/has (Been to /gone to)+ O

 Been to: you went to a place and returned back.

Where have you been?

I have been to Mumbai.

 Gone to : you go to a place and you are still

there. Where is Albert?

He has gone to shop.

 To answer the question how long?

S + have/has + V3 + for/since + O

 For + a period of time.

For 2 days, 6 months,5 years, a long time, an hour, 3 weeks, ages.

  Since + beginning of time

Since Monday, 2014, August, 3o’clock, last week, lunch time, morning, June, childhood, I was 10.

How long have they lived in India?

They have lived in India for 2 years/since2015.

How long have you been married?

I have been married for ten years.

 Time expression

Today, this week, this month, this year, this morning, recently, lately, so far, in the last few days.

I haven’t seen anyone this morning.

wIt hasn’t rained much this year.

I’ve met a lot of people in the last few days.

Everything is going well. We haven’t had any problems so far.

Exercise

 Underline the correct option.

Interviewer: Hi Lee. Tell us about your tour of Europe.
Lee: Well, I’ve always /ever wanted to visit different countries, and I always/I’ve always
been good at cycling. So about two years ago I decided/have decided to cycle around
Europe. My plan is to visit every country in the European Union.
Interviewer: And how many countries did/have you visited so far?
Lee: Only 11. I’ve been/gone to all the countries in the south of Europe. I started/have
started in Cyprus last year, and then I took/have taken a boat to Greece. Since then I
cycled/I’ve cycled about 5,000 km.
Interviewer: Have you been to Ireland still/yet?
Lee: No, I didn’t/haven’t. I haven’t been to any countries in the north of Europe
yet/already, but I’m going to take a boat from Spain to Ireland next week.
Interviewer: Are you tired after cycling so far?
Lee: Yes, I am. I used/have to get really tired at the beginning but it has got easier
since/from I left Spain.
Interviewer: Did/have you had any problems so far?
Lee: Well, I fell/I’ve fallen off my bike many times, but I don’t/haven’t really hurt myself.
I’ve also lost my bike three times, but I’ve always/already found it again. It’s a very special
bike for me- I have/I’ve had it for six years, and it has been like a good friend for me.
Interviewer: Have you met/meet any interesting people?
Lee: I didn’t/haven’t had time to talk to people, but in every country the people have been
very good to me. They have helped me a lot.
 Interviewer: One last question. Why are you doing this?
Lee: I’m trying to collect money for a children’s hospital. So far I collected/I’ve collected
almost $5,000.

Complete these news stories with the present perfect and the past simple.
1. John Brucewon(win) three million euros in a lottery. He buy (buy) the lottery ticket
last Saturday.
2. Prince Lola and Sir John Falstaff married?(marry). They met(meet) at a party at
Windsor Castle in 2009.
3. Cameron Bowie break (break) the 800 m record in Oslo. He run.(run)1.40.23, the
fastest time in the world.
4. Farmer Bo Peep lost .(lose) all her sheep. She called (call) the police last night .
5. Pop star Donna Ma gone(go) to live in Greenland. The pop star said (say)
that….
6. Builders Hansel and Gretel Sweet build (build) a house out of sugar. Work on the
House started (start) two years ago.
 Past Perfect tense

It is used to talk about an event which happened before another event in the past .

Time expressions : already, just, yet, before, after, until, the moment that.

Positive: S + had + V3 + O.

Negative : S + hadn’t +V3 + O.

Question : wh + had + S + V3 + O?

Ex. When we arrived at the station the train had already gone.

I went to meet my friend last night, he had been out and had just come home.

It was half past ten by the time they had finished work.

He had finished the test when the bell rang.

When the hurricane hit the city, many people had already left.

We hadn’t had anything to eat when we went trekking in the mountains.

Had you been on a holiday last summer?

How long had they stayed in the

USA? Use:

 Action finished before another past action.

Ex. Richard had gone out when his wife arrived in the office.
I met them after they had divorced each other.
 Action happened before a specific time in the past.
Ex. Charles had never been to an opera before last night.
 An action started in the past and continued up to a given time in the past.
Ex. We had owned the car for ten years before it broke down.
When she died, they had been married for 32 years.
 Cause and effect
Ex. I got stuck in traffic because there had been an accident.
I couldn’t take my flight because I had forgotten my boarding pass.
 To emphasize the result of an activity in the past.
Ex. I had been to London twice by the time I got a job in New York.
 To talk about things that did not happen as you expected or wished.
Ex. I had intended to visit New York that summer.
I wasn’t ready for the exam. I had intended to study more for them.

Exercise
Complete the following sentences using the words in the brackets. Use one word in the past
simple and the other in the past perfect.

1. I found (find) the letter in my bag .I had forgotten (forget) to post it.
2. I make (make) some new friends by the time my first day ended.
3. He visited (visit)Bali twice before, so he had the best hotel to stay at.
4. I thank (thank)my aunt for the book, But she had given(give) me the same one the
year before!
5. We just finished (just finish) our lunch when Jemma had arrived(arrive).
6. She thanked (think) that her friends had not been ( not be) very kind.
7. When my Mum come (come)home, I still had not tidy (not tidy) up.
8. She taken (take) the wrong turning, so she had got(get)lost.
9. We had become (become)friends a few years earlier on holiday.
10. He had (have)an accident when he had been (be)on his way to work.
 Future Perfect Tense

To talk about actions or situations that will be finished by a certain time in the future.

Time Expression: before, till, until, by the time, by then.

Positive : S + will have + V3 + O.

Negative : S + won’t have + V3 + O.

Question : Will + S + have + V3 + O?

Ex. My sister will have given birth to a baby by December.

We won’t have started our project until next week.

They will have played the match by the time we reach the stadium.

How many countries will you have visited by the end of your trip?

By next year I shall have married my sweetheart.

Uses:

 Completion before a specified time in the future

Ex. By the end of this week, she will have submitted her assignment.
 Duration in the future.
Ex. He will have worked in Japan for exactly thirty years by 2025.
 Certainty about the near past.
Ex. They will have arrived at the hotel by now.

Exercises

Put in the verbs in the future Perfect simple.

1. When you come home, I (cook) will have cooked dinner for you.

2. They (wash) the dishes by

now.

3. He (invite) her for a coffee.

into ruin.
4. In ten years’ time the house (fall)

5. She (leave) work for today.

6. You (finish/not) this work by the end of the work day.

7. Don’t come round before 9 o’clock. I (get by then.

up/not)

8. They (arrive/not) yet.

 9. He (forget/not) to lock the door.

10. We (switch off/not) the TV.

Write questions in the future Perfect simple.

1. (he/change) at the right

2. (you/write) station? the letter

3. (she/accept) by tomorrow?

his apology?

4. (they/finish) all their exams by July?

5. (How far/we/run) by then?

 Put the verb into the correct form, Future continuous (will be doing) and future perfect(will
have done).
1. If you need to contact me,.....................................................(i/stay) at the Lion Hotel until
Friday.
2. Don’t phone me between 7and 8.............................................(we/have) dinner then.
3. Phone me after 8 o’clock..................................................................(we/finish) dinner by then.
4. Tomorrow afternoon we’re going to play tennis from 3o’clock until4:30 so at 4 o’clock
,….....................................................(we/play)tennis.
5. Jane is from New Zealand. She is travelling around Europe at the moment. So far she has
travelled about 1, 000 miles. By the end of the trip, ………………………………………………………………
(she/travel) more than 3, 000 miles.
6. A: Can we meet tomorrow afternoon?
B: Not in the afternoon...................................................................................(I/work).
7. Do you think…....................................................(you/still/do) the same job in ten years’ time?
8. Chuck came to Britain from the USA nearly three years ago. Next Monday it will be exactly
three years. So on Monday,................................................................(he/be) in Britain for
exactly three years.
9. Tom is on holiday and he is spending his money very quickly. If he continues like this,
………………………………………………………………(he/spend) all his money before the end of his
holiday.
10. B has to go to a meeting which begins at 10 o’clock. It will last about an hour.
A: Will you be free at 11.30?
B: Yes,.........................................................(the meeting/finish) by that time.
 Present Perfect continuous

This tense is used to describe the duration of an action that began in the past and continues into the
present.

This tense is also used to describe events that have been in progress recently and are rather
temporary.

Time Expression : For, since; how long?

The Form : I/You/We/They have + been + verb + ing + O

She/He/It has + been + verb + ing + O

Subject + has/have+been+v1+ing +object

Positive Negative Interrogative

I have I have not Have you been
been been working. working?
working.

Example : I have been studying English for two years.

She has been practicing Math since three hours.

They have been riding for 10 years.

They haven’t been dancing for any programs.

He hasn't been hanging around with his friends since a week.

You haven’t been working hard since few months.

Have you been studying French for two years?

Have they been travelling all day?

Has she been singing for movies recently?

Uses:

 To say how long things have been continuing.

Ex. I’ve been learning English for six months.
It has been raining all day.
 To say what you have been doing up to now.
A: your hands are dirty.
B: I have been painting the walls.

 Note!

We don’t use present perfect continuous with state verbs like be, know, need, etc…

Difference between Present perfect and Present perfect continuous.

 Present perfect simple Present perfect continuous
Focuses on the result Focuses on the activity
You've cleaned the bathroom! It looks I've been gardening. It's so nice out
lovely! there.
Says 'how many' Says 'how long'
She's read ten books this summer. She's been reading that book all day.
Describes a completed action
Describes an activity which
I've written you an email.
may continue
I've been writing emails.
Time expression
Just
Already When we can see evidence of
Yet recent activity
Ever
Never The grass looks wet. Has it been raining?
For
I know, I'm really red. I've been running!
Since

Exercise

 Read the situations and complete the sentences. Present perfect continuous.
1. We started waiting for the bus 20 minutes ago. We’re still waiting now.
We…...................................................................................................for 20 minutes.
2. I started Spanish classes in December. I’m still learning Spanish now.
I….................................................................................................since December.
3. Ann began looking for a job six months ago. She’s still looking now.
………………………………………………………………………………………………….for six months.
4. Mary started working in London on 18 January. She’s still working there now.
………………………………………………………………………………………………….since 18 January.
5. Years ago you started writing to a pen friend. You still write to each other regularly now.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….for years.

 Put in for or since.

1. It’s been raining.............................lunch time.
2. Tom’s father has been doing the same job….....................20 years.
3. Sarah has lived in London….....................1985.
4. Have you been learning English......................a long time?
5.……………….Christmas, the weather has been quite good.
6. Kevin has been looking for a job............................he left school.
7. Please hurry up! We’ve been waiting.............................an hour.
8. The house is very dirty. We haven’t cleaned it......................ages.
9. I haven’t had a good meal......................last Tuesday.
10. They haven’t had a holiday......................ten years.
Complete the conversation using present perfect simple or present perfect continuous.

Robin: I think the waiter (forget) us. We (wait) here for over half an

hour and nobody (take) our order yet.

Michele: I think you're right. He (walk) by us at least twenty times. He probably thinks

we (order, already) .

Robin: Look at that couple over there, they

here for five or ten minutes and
(be, only) they already have their food.

Michele: He must realize we (order, yet! We here

not) (sit) for
over half an hour staring at him.

Robin: I don't know if he (notice,

us. He from table to
even) table taking orders and (run)
serving food.

in our direction once.

Michele: That's true, and he (look, not)
 Past perfect continuous

An action that was happening over a period of time and completed before another action or event in
the past.

The Form : Had + been + verb + ing

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I had been working. I had not been working. Had I been working?
You had been working. You had not been Had you been working?
working.

Example :
Ram started waiting at 9am. I arrived at

11am. When I arrived, Ram had been waiting

for two hours.

I had been working at the company for five years when I got the promotion.

He hadn’t been drinking milk out the carton when Mom walked into the kitchen.

Had you been waiting there for more than two hours when she finally arrived?

Martha had been walking three miles a day before she broke her leg.

She had been driving around the city for three hours before she finally found the right office.

Cathy had been playing the piano for 35 years when she was finally asked to do a solo with the local
orchestra.
The program that was terminated had been working well since 1945.

Make the past simple or the past perfect continuous.

1) I …………………………..(wait) for hours so I was really glad when the bus finally (arrive).

2) Why ………………………….(be) the baby's face so dirty? He.........(eat) chocolate.

3) I …………………………………(see) John yesterday, but he..................(run) so he was too

tired to chat.

4) It ……………………………..(rain) and the pavement.................(be) covered with puddles.

5) When I ………………………..(arrive) it was clear she....................(work). There were papers

all over the floor and books everywhere.

6) They ……………………………(study) all day so when we...........(meet) they were

exhausted.
7) The boss …………………………….(talk) to clients on Skype for hours so she......(want) a

break.

8) I ………………………………..(drink) coffee all morning. By lunchtime, I (feel) really

strange!

9) Lucy ………………………….(hope) for a new car, so she was really pleased when she (get)

one.

10) I......................(dream) about a holiday in Greece. I couldn't believe it when my

husband......................(book) one as a surprise!

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the
appropriate tenses.(past perfect and past perfect continuous)

I'm sorry I left without you last night, but I told you to meet me early because the show started at

8:00. I (try) to get tickets for that play for months, and I didn't want to miss it. By
the time I finally left the coffee shop where we were supposed to meet, I

(have) five cups of coffee and I (wait) over an hour. I had to

leave because I (arrange) to meet Kathy in front of the theater.

up the tickets and she

When I arrived at the theater, Kathy (pick, already)
was waiting for us near the entrance. She was really angry
because she
(wait for more than half an hour. She said she
) (give,
 up and (go)
almost) into the theater without us.

Kathy told me you (be) late several times in the past and that she would not

make plans with you again in the future. She mentioned that she (miss) several

movies because of your late arrivals. I think you owe her an apology. And in the

future, I suggest you be on time!

Future Perfect Continuous

An action that will be in progress over a period of time in the future.

The Form : will + have + been + verb + ing

Affirmative
Negative
Interrogative
I will have been teaching.
I will not/won't have been
teaching. will you have been
teaching?

Example :

I will have been teaching for more than 35 years when I retire.

Will you have been teaching for more than 35 years when you retire?

She will have been working for over 8 hours by the time her children arrive. .

He will have been studying English for three years next month.
In November, I will have been working at my company for three years.

At five o'clock, I will have been waiting for thirty minutes.

When I turn thirty, I will have been playing piano for twenty-
one years. On Thursday, I will have been knowing you for a
week.(wrong)
On Thursday, I will have known you for a week.

Exercise:
  Choose the correct option.

1. My mom for two days by the time I see her.

has been travelling

will have been

travelling will has

been travelling

2. They'll be exhausted by dinner. They will have been hockey for seven hours.

playin

playe

d play

3. Will you here for ten years by the time of the Christmas party?

have been

worked have to

work

have been working

4. It's a 24-hour relay. They'll only have been for half the time by 6pm.

ra

ru

running

5. We been waiting long.

will not

have have
not will

will have

not
6. I
working for two years.

willn't have

been won't

have been not

have been

7. Won't they travelling for two weeks by then?

have

been had

been has

been

8. The teachers will for a month by the time the deal is made.

have been

striking will

strike

will be striking

9. The films run all night. We movies for six hours by the time the feature comes on.

watched

will have been

watching will watch

10.She'll still be groggy. She undergoing surgery for three hours.

will has

been will

have been

will be have
 Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the
appropriate tenses, Future perfect simple or future perfect continuous
1. By the time we get to Chicago this evening, we (drive) more than four hundred miles.

We are going to be exhausted.

2. When Sarah goes on vacation next month, she (study) German for over two

years. She should be able to communicate fairly well while she is in Austria.

3. I have not traveled much yet; however, I (visit) the Grand Canyon and San

Francisco by the time I leave the United States.

4. By the time you finish studying the verb tense tutorial, you (master) all twelve

tenses including their passive forms.

5. Drive faster! If you don't hurry up, she (have) the baby by the time we get to the

hospital.

6. I came to England six months ago. I started my economics course three months ago. When I return to

Australia, I
for nine months and I in England for
(study)
(be)

exactly one year.

7. Margie just called and said she would be here at 8 o'clock. By the time she gets here, we

(wait) for her for two hours.

8. Frank just changed jobs again. If he keeps this up, he (change) jobs at least four or

five times by the end of the year.

9. Come over to my house around 9 o'clock. By then, I (complete) my history essay

and we can go see a movie.

10.In June, my grandmother and grandfather (be) married for fifty years.

used to
We use (used to + infinitive )to talk about a past situation that is no
longer true. It tells us that there was a repeated action or state in
the past which has now changed.

Positive: S + used to + V1 + O.

Negative: S + didn’t use to + V1 + O.

Question: Did + S + use to + V1 + O?

 She used to be a long-distance runner when she was younger.

 I didn't use to sleep very well, but then I started doing yoga and it really
helps.

 Did you use to come here as a child?

Use 'would + infinitive' - to talk about a habit or repeated action in

the past. We usually use 'would + infinitive' when we're telling a
story about the past.

Example.

When I was a student, we would often have a soft drink after class
on a Friday. When I lived in Italy, we would go to a little restaurant
near our house.

Don't use 'would + infinitive' to talk about states in the past. So, if we're
talking about the past, we CAN'T say:

be used to and get used to

Be used to means 'be familiar with' or 'be accustomed to'.
 and are followed by a noun, pronoun or the - form of a verb, and can be used
about the past, present or future.

S + am/ is / are + used to + Ving + O.

S + am / is / are + used to + noun.

 She's used to the city now and doesn't get lost any more.

 He wasn't used to walking so much and his legs hurt after the hike.

 I'm a teacher so I'm used to speaking in public.

 It was difficult when I first started university, because I wasn't

used to the amount of work we had to do.

 Soon I'll be used to driving in London and I won't be so frightened!

We use get used to to talk about the process of becoming familiar

with something.

 I'm finding this new job hard but I'm sure I'll get used to it soon.

 It took my mother years to get used to living in London after moving

from Pakistan.

 I'm getting used to the noise now. I found it really stressful when I first
moved in.

 Don't worry if your new job is hard at first. You'll get used to it.
 It took me a while, but I got used to speaking another language every day.
 It took me a few months to get used to living in Japan. At first
everything seemed very different, but then gradually it
became normal for me.

Exercise

For each of the following sentences, choose either "used to" or

"would". If both are possible, use "would".

1. Do you remember how your Uncle David................sit in that chair

and smoke those disgusting cigars.
2. Your mother …………….. have a Yorkshire Terrier when she was
a young girl, didn't she?

3. For years, they …………………… go on holiday to the Rockies, but then

it became very fashionable and, hence, expensive.

4. Years ago, I ………….. write a diary every day but then I got
bored with doing it and I stopped. Maybe it was my life that was
boring!

5. At the start of their marriage, they………….. be very happy - but then

it all went wrong!

6. You …………… spell so well. Whatever happened?

7. When I was five, I …………. be able to do incredible gymnastics. Now

I can't even touch my toes.

8. Before getting my driving licence, I ……………. ride a

bicycle everywhere.

1.Which sentence is NOT correct?

We would go swimming every Friday.

My grandmother would have long,
fair hair. We would go to the zoo
every summer.

2.Which sentence is correct?

I didn’t used to like cabbage.
I didn’t use to like
cabbage. I never use to
like cabbage.

3.Whichwords go in the space?

My granddad us stories about his life as a policeman.
was used to
tell use to tell
used to tell
4.Which
word goes in the space?
My mum my hair in the kitchen.
would to cut
would use to
cut would cut

5.What does this sentence mean?

I didn’t use to smoke.
I smoked in the past but now I
don’t. I smoke now, but I didn’t
in the past.
I smoke now and I also smoked in the past.

6.Which word(s) CANNOT go in the space?

We go to the park and play football.
were used
to would
used to

7.Which sentence is correct?

I used never to like cheese, but I love it now.
I never used to like cheese, but I love
it now. I used to never like cheese, but
I love it now.

8. Which sentence is correct?

My brother and I often would fight.

Often my brother and I would
fight. My brother and I would
often fight.

9. Which sentence is correct?

There would be a post office on this street, but it’s not
there now. My brother would be very short when he was
younger.
I would often play by myself when I was younger.

10. Which sentence means: ‘I am familiar with / I am accustomed

to working alone’?
I am used to work alone.
I am used to working
alone. I used to work
alone.