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Tenses
The concept of time can be split into:

1. The Present - What are you currently doing? I am eating food.

2. The Past - What did you do some time back? I ate food.

3. The Future - What will you do later? I will eat food.

In the English language, tenses play an important role in sentence formation.

The tense of a verb shows the time of an event or action.
There are four types of tenses. Simple, Perfect, Continuous and Present Perfect Continuous and each of these has a
present, past and future form.
PRESENT TENSES
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
In Simple Present, the action is simply mentioned and there is nothing being said about its completeness.
I eat.
I sleep.
I play.

Rule1-
Singular-
He/She/It/Singulars+ V1+s/es
Add -es to verbs ending in:-ss, -x, -sh, o, -ch:
he passes, she catches, he fixes, it pushes, he goes
e.g.- He eats food.
He fixes a meeting.
Plural-
They/We/You/I/ Plurals+ V1
They eat food.
They fix a meeting.

Rule2- Negative
Singular-
He/She/It/Singular (Subject) + does not+ V1
He does not eat food.
Plural-
They/We/You/I/Plural (Subject) + do not+ V1
They do not eat food.
Rule3- Interrogative
Singgular-

Doesn’t + He/She/It/Singulars (Subject)+ V1+ ?

OR
Does+ He/She/It/Singulars (Subject)+ Not+ V1+ ?
Doesn’t he eat food?
OR
Does he not eat food?

Plural-

Don’t+ They/We/You/I/Plural (Subject)+ V1+ ?

OR
Do+ They/We/You/I/Plural (Subject)+ Not+ V1+ ?
Don’t they eat food?
OR
Do they not eat food?
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Simple Present

USE 1 Repeated Actions

Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a
daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or
usually does not do.

Examples:

• I play tennis.
• She does not play tennis.
• Does he play tennis?
• The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.
• The train does not leave at 9 AM.
• When does the train usually leave?
• She always forgets her purse.
• He never forgets his wallet.
• Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun.
• Does the Sun circle the Earth?

USE 2 Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in
the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. It is also used to make generalizations about
people or things.

Examples:

• Cats like milk.

• Birds do not like milk.
• Do pigs like milk?
• California is in America.
• California is not in the United Kingdom.
• Windows are made of glass.
• Windows are not made of wood.
• New York is a small city. IT IS NOT IMPORTANT THAT THIS FACT IS UNTRUE.

USE 3 Scheduled Events in the Near Future

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Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the near future. This is most commonly
done when talking about public transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well.

Examples:

• The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.

• The party starts at 8 o'clock.
• The P.M. goes America next year.
• The school reopens in July.

USE 4 Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

Many verbs are used in continuous tenses. Here are some examples:

Present continuous - I'm working at the moment.

Past continuous - Jack was cooking dinner when I arrived.
Future continuous - I will be playing tennis this time tomorrow.
Present perfect continuous - She's been working here for three years.

Generally, continuous (or progressive) tenses are used to describe what is happening at a particular moment in time.
The focus when using continuous tenses is always on an action in progress. However, there are some important
exceptions to using continuous tenses. Most importantly, there are a number of common non-continuous verbs that are
never or rarely used with continuous forms. These verbs fall into a few categories:

Mental and Emotional States see

seem
believe smell
dislike sound
doubt taste
imagine
know Examples
like
love I saw him when the train arrived. NOT I was seeing
hate him when the train arrived.
prefer It tastes strange. NOT It is tasting strange.
realize Did you hear that? NOT Were you hearing that?
recognize
remember
suppose Communication
understand
want agree
wish astonish
deny
Examples disagree
impress
mean
She dislikes that boy. NOT She is disliking that boy. please
Jack prefers going out for dinner tonight. NOT Jack is promise
preferring going out for dinner tonight. satisfy
I recognize you! NOT I'm recognizing you! surprise

Sense Examples

appear
hear
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You astonish me! NOT You are astonishing me! involving a lot of work.
I'm afraid I disagree with you. NOT I'm afraid I am It doesn't matter. NOT It isn't mattering.
disagreeing with you.
I meant to tell him yesterday afternoon. NOT I was There are also a number of verbs that don't take the
meaning to tell him yesterday afternoon. continuous forms in one meaning but DO take the
continuous forms in other meanings. Here are some of
Other States the most important:

be Non-Continuous Meanings
belong
concern feel = 'have an opinion' - He feels he should get a
consist second chance.
contain see = 'understand' - I see what you mean.
cost think = 'have an opinion' - I think we should leave
depend immediately.
deserve appear = 'look like' - That appears to be stale.
fit look = 'seem' - It looks impossible!
include
taste = 'have a taste' - That tastes yummy!
involve
lack
matter Continuous Meanings
need
owe feel = 'feel physically' - I'm feeling awful this
own afternoon.
possess see = 'visit' - She's seeing a doctor this morning.
think = 'use the brain' - He's thinking hard about the
Examples problem.
appear = 'be on stage / perform' - Jack Daniels is
performing at the Paramount tonight.
It depends on how much it costs. NOT It is depending look = 'stare at' - I'm looking at that strange man.
on how much it is costing. taste = 'use the mouth' - The cook is tasting the sauce!
She said it involved a lot of work. NOT She said it was

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

In Present Continuous, the action is on-going/ still going on and hence continuous.
I am eating.
I am sleeping.
I am playing.

Singular(Noun)/He/She it/+is+V1+ing
E.g.- He is singing.
I+am+V1+ing
I am singing
Plural/They/We/You+are+ not+ V1+ing
They are singing.

Negative-
Subject+is/am/are+not+V1+ing
He is not singing.
I am not singing.
They are not singing.
Interrogative-
Is/am/are+Subject+V1+ing+?
Is he singing?
Is he not singing?
Or
Isn’t he singing?
Are they singing?
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Am I singing?

Present Continuous

USE 1 Now

Use the Present Continuous with Normal Verbs to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very
moment. Examples:

• He is dancing.
• I am cooking food.
• He is playing.

USE 2 Longer Actions in Progress Now

In English, "now" can mean: this second, today, this month, this year, this century, and so on. Sometimes, we use the
Present Continuous to say that we are in the process of doing a longer action which is in progress; however, we might
not be doing it at this exact second.

Examples: (All of these sentences can be said while eating dinner in a restaurant.)

• I am studying to become a doctor.

• I am not studying to become a dentist.
• I am reading the book Tom Sawyer.
• I am not reading any books right now.
• Are you working on any special projects at work?
• Aren't you teaching at the university now?

USE 3 Near Future

Sometimes, speakers use the Present Continuous to indicate that something will or will not happen in the near future.

Examples:

• I am going to meet some friends after work.

• I am not going to the party tonight.
• Is he visiting his parents next weekend?
• Isn't he coming with us tonight?
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USE 4 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"

The Present Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or
shocking often happens. Notice that the meaning is like Simple Present, but with negative emotion. Remember to put
the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."

Examples:

• She is always coming to class late.

• He is constantly talking. I wish he would shut up.
• I don't like them because they are always complaining.

PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

In Present Perfect, the action is complete or has ended and hence termed Perfect.
I have eaten.
I have slept.
I have played.

He/She/It/Singular+has+V3
He has sung a song.
They/We/You/Plural+ have+ V3
They have sung a song.
I have sung a song.

Negative-
Subject+ has/have+ not+ V3
He has not sung a song.
They have not sung a song.

Interrogative-

Has/Have+Subject+V3?

Have they cooked food?

Haven’t they cooked food?
Or
Have they not cooked food?
Has he cooked food?

Present Perfect

USE 1 Unspecified Time Before Now

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We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not
important. You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last
week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc. We CAN use the Present
Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet,
etc. Apart from it, we can also use today, this week, this month, etc in Present Perfect.

Or

To express past actions whose time is not given and not definite; as,
Have you read The Geeta?
I have gone to Japan.

Examples:

• I have seen that movie twenty times.

• I think I have met him once before.
• There have been many earthquakes in California.
• People have traveled to the Moon.
• People have not traveled to Mars.
• Have you read the book yet?
• Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.
• A: Has there ever been a war in the United States?
B: Yes, there has been a war in the United States.
See the following usage of Time phrases in Simple Past and Present Perfect-
Present Perfect-
Have you ever done it?
I have never done it.
I have done it many times.
I have done it several times.
I have done it so far.
I have already done it.
I have not done it yet.
Simple Past-
I completed it yesterday.
I completed it year ago.
I completed it last week.
I completed it when I was a child.
I completed it when I lived in Jalandhar.
I completed it at that moment.
I completed it on that day.
I completed one day.

Use2- To indicate completed activities in the immediate past (With ‘just’); as,
He has just gone out.
It has just struck ten.

Use3- To describe past events when we think more of their effect in the present than of the action itself; as,

Gopi has eaten all the biscuits (That is, There aren’t any left for you.)
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I have cut my finger. (And it is my bleeding.)

Use4- To denote an action beginning at some time in the past and continuing up to the present moment (Often with
‘since’ and ‘for’ phrases).
As we cannot use non-continuous verbs in Present Perfect Continuous, we express their continuity in
Present perfect with time phrase. Otherwise, continuous/progressive actions with time in present tense are
usually expressed in Present Perfect Continuous.
e.g.- I have known him for seven years.
I have liked this program for five years.
Or sentence like the following is written in this tense-
We have taken all the trouble since her birth.

We cannot write a sentence like this: I have been knowing him for seven years. (Incorrect)
OR
I have been liking this program for five years. (Incorrect)

• For and since can both be used with the past perfect.
• Since can only be used with perfect tenses, for can also be used with the simple past.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

In Present Perfect Continuous, the action has been taking place for some time and is still ongoing.
I have been eating. (Eating for some time- it is understood. Time is not mentioned. But the concept of time is
there.)
I have been sleeping.
I have been playing.

He/She/It/Singular has been+V1+ing+ Since/For or Recently/Lately

He has been sleeping for six hours.

I/They/We/You/ Plural/Have been/ V1+ ing+ Since/For or Recently/Lately

They have been sleeping for six hours.

Negative
Subject+ has/have+ not been+V1+Ing+time

He has not been sleeping for six hours.

They have not been sleeping for six hours.

Interrogative
Has/Have+ Subject+ (not) been+V1+ing+time

Has he been sleeping for six hours?

Have they been sleeping for six hours?
Haven’t they sleeping for six hours?
OR
Have they not been sleeping for six hours?

Present Perfect Continuous

Remember

It is important to note that the basic difference between Present Continuous tense and Present Perfect Continuous tense
is of time. In present Perfect Continuous Tense, time is emphasized or atleast under consideration.
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I have been eating. (Eating for some time. You know when “I” started eating. Focus is on the time between ‘the
moment “I” started eating’ and ‘Now.’)

I am eating. (Eating at present. You don’t know or consider when “I” started eating. Focus is on ‘Now.’)

Present Continuous+ Time= Present Perfect Continuous

I am eating food+ for two hours = I have been eating food for two hours.

USE 1 Duration from the Past Until Now

We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. "For
five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the Present Perfect
Continuous.

Examples:

• They have been talking for the last hour.

• She has been working at that company for three years.
• What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes?
• James has been teaching at the university since June.
• We have been waiting here for over two hours!
• Why has Nancy not been taking her medicine for the last three days?

USE 2 Recently, Lately

You can also use the Present Perfect Continuous WITHOUT a duration such as "for two weeks." Without the
duration, the tense has a more general meaning of "lately." We often use the words "lately" or "recently" to emphasize
this meaning.

Examples:

• Recently, I have been feeling really tired.

• She has been watching too much television lately.
• Have you been exercising lately?
• Mary has been feeling a little depressed.
• Lisa has not been practicing her English.
• What have you been doing?

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs

It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Examples:

• Sam has been having his car for two years. Not Correct
• Sam has had his car for two years. Correct (Has+V3)
Usage of Since/For-
‘For’ is for duration of time and ‘since’ is for point of time here.
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Easy to remember the usage of ‘For’: Watch Method

The smallest unit in a watch is Second.
Then go on with bigger units-
Second, Minutes, Hours
Now come out of ‘watch’
Days, Weeks, Months, Years, Decades, Centuries, long time
Any time phrase ending with these bold words will be used with ‘for’.
Example-
For ten seconds, for ten minutes, for ten hours, for ten days, for ten weeks, for ten months, for ten years, for
ten decades.
See the Usage of ‘Since’:
Since 1947
Since 2 O’clock
Since June
Since Monday
Since the beginning of time

For more information on the topic, you may visit the following site:
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-m_for-since.htm

PAST TENSES
SIMPLE PAST TENSE
In Simple Past, the action is simply mentioned and understood to have taken place in the past.
I ate.
I slept.
I played.
Remember: Unlike the past expressed in Present Perfect Tense, actions/happenings expressed in Simple Past
always carry a sense of time. Time may or may not be mentioned, but it is always in the mind of speaker.

For e.g.-
He completed this task. – Simple Past- (He completed the task at some particular point of time about which the
speaker is conscious)
He has completed this task. - Present Perfect Tense (In the sense of past, the sentence is more about the information
related to the completion of some activity in the past. Time is not important here.)

Simple Past
He/She/they/We/You/I/It/Singular/Plural+V2

They ate.
I slept.
You went home.
Negative-
He/She/they/We/You/I/It/Singular/Plural+ did not+ V1
They did not eat.
I didn’t sleep.
You didn’t go home.
Remember:- V1 is used with ‘did.’
Interrogative-
Did+ He/She/they/We/You/I/It/Singular/Plural+V1?
Did they eat?
Didn’t they eat?
Or
Did they not eat?
Did they eat?
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Did I not eat?

USE 1 Completed Action in the Past

Use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past. Sometimes, the
speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.

Examples:

• I saw a movie yesterday.

• I didn't see a play yesterday.
• Last year, I traveled to Japan.
• Last year, I didn't travel to Korea.
• Did you have dinner last night?
• She washed her car. (Speaker is conscious of time though he/she has not mentioned it.)
• He didn't wash his car. (Speaker is conscious of time though he/she has not mentioned it.)

USE 2 A Series of Completed Actions

We use the Simple Past to list a series of completed actions in the past. These actions happen 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and so
on.

Examples:

• I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim.
• He arrived from the airport at 8:00, checked into the hotel at 9:00, and met the others at 10:00.
• Did you add flour, pour in the milk, and then add the eggs?

USE 3 Duration in Past

The Simple Past can be used with a duration which starts and stops in the past. A duration is a longer action often
indicated by expressions such as: for two years, for five minutes, all day, all year, etc.

Examples:

• I lived in Brazil for two years.

• Shauna studied Japanese for five years.
• They sat at the beach all day.
• They did not stay at the party the entire time.
• We talked on the phone for thirty minutes.
• A: How long did you wait for them?
B: We waited for one hour.
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USE 4 Habits in the Past

The Simple Past can also be used to describe a habit which stopped in the past. It can have the same meaning as "used
to." To make it clear that we are talking about a habit, we often add expressions such as: always, often, usually, never,
when I was a child, when I was younger, etc.

Examples:

• I studied French when I was a child.

• He played the violin.
• He didn't play the piano.
• Did you play a musical instrument when you were a kid?
• She worked at the movie theater after school.
• They never went to school, they always skipped class.

USE 5 Past Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Past can also be used to describe past facts or generalizations which are no longer true. As in USE 4
above, this use of the Simple Past is quite similar to the expression "used to."

Examples:

• She was shy as a child, but now she is very outgoing.

• He didn't like tomatoes before.
• Did you live in Texas when you were a kid?
• People paid much more to make cell phone calls in the past.
• It was said that the sun revolved around the earth.

IMPORTANT When-Clauses Happen First (Extra Shots)

Clauses are groups of words which have meaning but are often not complete sentences. Some clauses begin with the
word "when" such as "when I dropped my pen..." or "when class began..." These clauses are called when-clauses, and
they are very important. The examples below contain when-clauses.

Examples:

• When I paid her one dollar, she answered my question.

• She answered my question when I paid her one dollar.

When-clauses are important because they always happen first when both clauses are in the Simple Past. Both of the
examples above mean the same thing: first, I paid her one dollar, and then, she answered my question. It is not
important whether "when I paid her one dollar" is at the beginning of the sentence or at the end of the sentence.
However, the example below has a different meaning. First, she answered my question, and then, I paid her one dollar.

Example:

• I paid her one dollar when she answered my question.

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PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

In Past Continuous, the action was ongoing till a certain time in the past.
I was eating.
I was sleeping.
I was playing.

Past Continuous

USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Past

Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a
shorter action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.

Examples:

• I was watching TV when she called.

• When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
• While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.
• What were you doing when the earthquake started?
• I was listening to my iPod, so I didn't hear the fire alarm.
• You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the oven off.
• While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.
• Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.
• While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly went off.
• A: What were you doing when you broke your leg?
B: I was snowboarding.

USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption

In USE 1, described above, the Past Continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the Simple Past. However, you
can also use a specific time as an interruption.

Examples:

• Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.

• At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.
• Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.

IMPORTANT

In the Simple Past, a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished. In the Past Continuous, a specific
time only interrupts the action.

Examples:
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• Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.

I STARTED EATING AT 6 PM.
• Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
I STARTED EARLIER; AND AT 6 PM, I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF EATING DINNER.

USE 3 Parallel Actions

When you use the Past Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were
happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.

Examples:

• I was studying while he was making dinner.

• While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.
• Were you listening while he was talking?
• I wasn't paying attention while I was writing the letter, so I made several mistakes.
• What were you doing while you were waiting?
• Thomas wasn't working, and I wasn't working either.
• They were eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.

USE 4 Atmosphere

In English, we often use a series of parallel actions to describe the atmosphere at a particular time in the past.

Example:

• When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some were talking on the phones, the
boss was yelling directions, and customers were waiting to be helped. One customer was yelling at a
secretary and waving his hands. Others were complaining to each other about the bad service.

USE 5 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"

The Past Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or
shocking often happened in the past. The concept is very similar to the expression "used to" but with negative
emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."

Examples:

• She was always coming to class late.

• He was constantly talking. He annoyed everyone.
• I didn't like them because they were always complaining.

While vs. When

When you talk about things in the past, "when" is most often followed by the verb tense Simple Past, whereas "while"
is usually followed by Past Continuous. "While" expresses the idea of "during that time." Study the examples below.
They have similar meanings, but they emphasize different parts of the sentence.
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Examples:

• I was studying when she called.

• While I was studying, she called.

PAST PERFECT TENSE

Past Perfect is used to express something that happened before another action in the past.
I had eaten. (before I slept)
I had slept. (before I completed the novel)
I had played. (before I studied)

Past Perfect Tense is also known as ‘Double Past’ Tense. It does not have individual existence without Simple Past.

Past Perfect
They/We/You/He/She/It/I/Singular/Plural+ Had+V3

They had gone home.

Interrogative

Had+They/We/You/He/She/It/I/Singular/Plural+ V3

Had they gone home?

Negative

They had not gone home.

Had they not gone home?
Hadn’t they gone home?
OR
Had they not gone home?

USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in the Past

The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It can also show that
something happened before a specific time in the past.

Examples:

• I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Kauai.

• The patient had died before the doctor came.
• Tony knew Istanbul so well because he had visited the city several times.
• Had Susan ever studied Thai before she moved to Thailand?
• She only understood the movie because she had read the book.
• Kristine had never been to an opera before last night.
• We were not able to get a hotel room because we had not booked in advance.
• A: Had you ever visited the U.S. before your trip in 2006?
B: Yes, I had been to the U.S. once before.
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USE 2 Non-Continuous Verbs in Double Past

With Non-Continuous Verbs , we use the Past Perfect to show that something started in the past and continued up until
another action in the past.

Examples:

I had liked him for ten years before I left home.

I had known him for five years before he died.

IMPORTANT Specific Times with the Past Perfect

Unlike with the Present Perfect, it is possible to use specific time words or phrases with the Past Perfect. Although this
is possible, it is usually not necessary.

Example:

• She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

Past Perfect Continuous is used to express something that started in the past and continued until another time in the
past.
I had been eating. (for five minutes before he went)
I had been sleeping. (for one hour before he came)
I had been playing. (For ten minutes before he met with an accident)

Past Perfect Continuous

They/We/You/He/She/It/I/Singular/Plural+ had been+V1+ing+ time

They had been sleeping for six hours. (Before I slept)

Interrogative

Had+They/We/You/He/She/It/I/Singular/Plural+ been+ V1+ing+time

Had they been sleeping for six hours?

Negative

They had not been sleeping for six hours.

Had they not been sleeping for six hours?
Hadn’t they been sleeping for six hours?
OR
Had they not been sleeping for six hours?
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USE 1 Duration Before Something in the Past

The Past Perfect Continuous is used for an action that began before a certain point in the past and continued up to that
time. Notice that this is related to the Present Perfect Continuous; however, the duration does not continue until now,
it stops before something else in the past.

Examples:

• They had been talking for over an hour before Tony arrived.
• She had been working at that company for three years when it went out of business.
• How long had you been waiting to get on the bus?
• Mike wanted to sit down because he had been standing all day at work.
• James had been teaching at the university for more than a year before he left for Asia.
• A: How long had you been studying Turkish before you moved to Ankara?
B: I had not been studying Turkish very long.
FUTURE TENSES
SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE
Simple Future is used when we plan or make a decision to do something. Nothing is said about the time in the future.
I will eat.
I will sleep.
I will play.
Subject+Will+V1

Negative-
Subject+Will+Not+V1
I will not play.
Interrogative
Will+Subject+Not+ V1?
Will I not play?

Use 1: Promises
The first use of the Future Simple to make promises.
• I promise I will buy you this toy.
• Promise you will never leave me!
Use 2: Unplanned actions
Use this tense also to talk about unplanned (spontaneous) decisions.
• Don't worry! I will help you with this problem.
• I will close the window. It's about to rain.
Use 3: Predictions
We often use the Future Simple when making a prediction based on experience or intuition.
• It will rain in a moment.
• It will get more difficult.
Use 4: Habits
The last use of this tense is interesting: we can also use the Future Simple to express habits.
• She will bit her lip if she is thinking or if she's nervous about something.
• He will always make noise when we are sleeping.
Contracted forms (more)
WILL = 'LL
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• She'll dance = she will dance

WILL + NOT = WON'T

• She won't dance = she will not dance

FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE

The future continuous tense is used to express action at a particular moment in the future. However, the action will
not have finished at the moment.
I will be eating at 9 a.m.
I will be sleeping when you arrive.
I will be playing at 5 p.m
.
Subject+Will+be+ V1+ing

Negative-
Subject+Will+Not+be+V1+ing
I will not be playing.

Interrogative
Will+Subject+Not+Be+ V1+ing?
Will I not be playing?
Use 1: Future actions in progress
The first use of the Future Continuous is to express future action in progress.
• In an hour, I will be sitting in front of my TV.
• In the evening, I will be baking a birthday cake.
Use 2: Guesses
Use this tense also to make guesses about something in the present or future.
• He won't be coming any time soon. He is still at the office.
• Beatrice will be getting married very soon.
Use 3: Questions
And the last use of the tense is to make polite questions about something or somebody.
• Will you be coming home before or after 10 PM?
• Will you be going to the supermarket? I have something to buy.

Notice
Like any of the Future Tenses, Future Continuous cannot be used in sentences beginning
with: while, when,before, by the time, if, etc.
• By the time you will be finishing your painting, I will come.
• By the time you finish your painting, I will come. (Correct)

FUTURE PERFECT TENSE

Future Perfect expresses action that will occur in the future before another action in the future.
I will have eaten before 10 a.m.
I will have slept before you arrive.
I will have played before 6 p.m.

Subject+Will+have+V3

Negative-
Subject+Will+Not+have+V3
I will not have played.
Interrogative
Will+Subject+ have Not+ V3?
Will I have not played?
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Use 1: Completion before a specified point in the future

The first use of this tense is to talk about future actions that will be finished before some specified point in the future.
• Before they come, we will have cleaned up the house.
• John will have eaten the whole cake, by the time the birthday party starts!
Use 2: Duration in the Future
Another use of this tense is to talk about actions will last after a given point in the future.
• By the next year, I will have known Monica for 30 years.
• Patrick will have lived in Hong Kong for 20 years by 2012.
Common Time Expressions

Time expressions that are commonly used with the Future Perfect:
• By
• By the time
• Before
• By tomorrow/7 o'clock/next month
• Until/till
Use 3: Certainty About the Near Past
The last use is to express conviction that something happened in the near past.
• The train will have left by now. We have to look for another way to get there. (I'm sure the train has left)
• The guests will have arrived at the hotel by now. (I'm sure the guests have arrived at the hotel)

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

Future Perfect Continuous is used to talk about an on-going action before some point in the future.
I will have been sleeping for two hours when you arrive.
I will have been playing for an hour when it is 5 p.m.

Future Perfect Continuous-- Subject+Will+have been+ V1+ing+time

Negative-
Subject+Will+Not+have been+V1+ing +time
I will not have been playing for two hours.
Interrogative
Will+Subject+Not+ have been+ V1+ing+time
Will I not have been playing for two hours?
USE 1: Duration
We use this tense to express situations that will last for a specified period of time at a definite moment in the future. It
is important that we expect these situations to last longer.
• Before they come, we will have been cleaning the house for 5 hours.
• By the next year, Ben and his wife will have been living together for 50 years.
Common Time Expressions
Time expressions that are commonly used with the Future Perfect Continuous:
• By tomorrow / 8 o'clock
• This year / month / week
• Next year / month / week
USE 2: Cause
English speakers also use this tense when they want to express certainty about the cause of some future situation.
• By this time, he will have been working for 12 hours, so he will be very tired.
• We will be making a rest stop in half an hour, because you will have been driving the car for 6 hours by then.

Sources-
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbtenseintro.html
http://www.englishleap.com/grammar/tenses
http://www.englishtenses.com/tenses/future_perfect_continuous
Grammar by Wren and Martin
And others
Compiled and Edited by – Dr. Nakul Kundra