1.
Present Tenses
1.1 Present Simple
Structure:
(+) Subject + V1 (s/es for he/she/it)
(-) Subject + do/does + not + V1
(?) Do/Does + subject + V1?
Use: Facts, general truths, habits, routines.
Example: "The sun rises in the east."
1.2 Present Continuous
Structure:
(+) Subject + is/am/are + V-ing
(-) Subject + is/am/are + not + V-ing
(?) Is/Am/Are + subject + V-ing?
Use: Ongoing actions, temporary situations, trends.
Example: "More people are working remotely these days."
1.3 Present Perfect
Structure:
(+) Subject + has/have + V3
(-) Subject + has/have + not + V3
(?) Has/Have + subject + V3?
Use: Past actions with present impact, life experiences.
Example: "I have visited London twice."
1.4 Present Perfect Continuous
Structure:
(+) Subject + has/have + been + V-ing
(-) Subject + has/have + not + been + V-ing
(?) Has/Have + subject + been + V-ing?
Use: Actions continuing from past to present.
Example: "She has been studying for three hours."
2. Past Tenses
2.1 Past Simple
Structure :
(+) Subject + V2
(-) Subject + did + not + V1
(?) Did + subject + V1?
Use: Completed past actions.
Example: "She completed her degree in 2020."
2.2 Past Continuous
Structure :
(+) Subject + was/were + V-ing
(-) Subject + was/were + not + V-ing
(?) Was/Were + subject + V-ing?
Use: Background actions, interrupted actions.
Example: "I was watching TV when the phone rang."
2.3 Past Perfect
Structure :
(+) Subject + had + V3
(-) Subject + had + not + V3
(?) Had + subject + V3?
Use: Action before another past action.
Example: "By the time she arrived, I had already left."
2.4 Past Perfect Continuous
Structure :
(+) Subject + had + been + V-ing
(-) Subject + had + not + been + V-ing
(?) Had + subject + been + V-ing?
Use: Long past actions before another past event.
Example: "She had been working there for five years before she resigned."
3. Future Tenses
3.1 Future Simple
Structure :
(+) Subject + will + V1
(-) Subject + will + not + V1
(?) Will + subject + V1?
Use: Predictions, instant decisions, promises.
Example: "I will call you later."
3.2 Future Continuous
Structure :
(+) Subject + will + be + V-ing
(-) Subject + will + not + be + V-ing
(?) Will + subject + be + V-ing?
Use: Ongoing future actions at a specific time.
Example: "This time tomorrow, I will be traveling to Paris."
I will be traveling to Paris tomorrow.
3.3 Future Perfect
Structure :
(+) Subject + will + have + V3
(-) Subject + will + not + have + V3
(?) Will + subject + have + V3?
Use: Actions completed before a future time.
Example: "By next year, I will have finished my studies."
3.4 Future Perfect Continuous
Structure :
(+) Subject + will + have + been + V-ing
(-) Subject + will + not + have + been + V-ing
(?) Will + subject + have + been + V-ing?
Use: Ongoing actions up to a future point.
Example: "By 2030, she will have been working here for 10 years."
For : when the time is not known.
since : when the time is known.
Key Tenses for IELTS
Writing Task 1
Present Simple (for trends)
Past Simple (for past data)
Future Tenses (for predictions)
Writing Task 2
Present Simple (for opinions and facts)
Present Perfect (for changes over time)
Future Simple (for predictions)
Speaking
Present Simple (daily life, habits)
Past Simple & Present Perfect (past experiences)
Future Tenses (future plans)
