The text below are to lessons for each of the 12 basic English tenses. In each lesson we look at two aspects of the tense:
Structure: How do we make the tense?
Use: When and why do we use the tense?
Verbs come in three tenses: past, present, future. The past is used to describe things that have already happened (e.g. earlier in the day, yesterday, last week, three years ago). The present tense is used to describe things that are happening right now, or things that are continuous. The future tense describes things that have yet to happen (e.g. later, tomorrow, next week, next year, three years from now).
The Present Tenses
Simple present
Present perfect
Present continuous
Present perfect continuous
The Past Tenses
Simple past
Past perfect
Past continuous
Past perfect continuous
The Future Tenses
Simple Future
Future perfect
Future continuous
Future perfect continuous
Types of Tenses
Present tense I do, I do do
Present Continuous tense I am doing
Present Perfect tense I have done
Present Perfect Continuous tense I have been doing
Past tense I did, I did do
Past Continuous tense I was doing
Past Perfect tense I had done
Past Perfect Continuous tense I had been doing
Future tense I will do
Future Continuous tense I will be doing
Future Perfect tense I will have done
Future Perfect Continuous tense I will have been doing
tense
Affirmative/Negative/Question
Use
Signal Words
Simple Present
A: He speaks. N: He does not speak. Q: Does he speak?
action in the present taking place once, never or several times
facts
actions taking place one after another
action set by a timetable or schedule
always, every …, never, normally, often, seldom, sometimes, usually if sentences type I (If Italk, …)
Present Progressive
A: He is speaking. N: He is not speaking. Q: Is he speaking?
action taking place in the moment of speaking
action taking place only for a limited period of time
action arranged for the future
at the moment, just, just now, Listen!, Look!, now, right now
Simple Past
A: He spoke. N: He did not speak. Q: Did he speak?
action in the past taking place once, never or several times
actions taking place one after another
action taking place in the middle of another action
yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 1990, the other day, last Friday if sentence type II (If Italked, …)
Past Progressive
A: He was speaking. N: He was not speaking. Q: Was he speaking?
action going on at a certain time in the past
actions taking place at the same time
action in the past that is interrupted by another action
when, while, as long as
Present Perfect Simple
A: He has spoken. N: He has not spoken. Q: Has he spoken?
putting emphasis on the result
action that is still going on
action that stopped recently
finished action that has an influence on the present
action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment of speaking
already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now
Present Perfect Progressive
A: He has been speaking. N: He has not been speaking. Q: Has he been speaking?
putting emphasis on the course or duration (not the result)
action that recently stopped or is still going on
finished action that influenced the present
all day, for 4 years, since 1993, how long?, the whole week
Past Perfect Simple
A: He had spoken. N: He had not spoken. Q: Had he spoken?
action taking place before a certain time in the past
sometimes interchangeable with past perfect progressive
putting emphasis only on thefact (not the duration)
already, just, never, not yet, once, until that day if sentence type III (If Ihad talked, …)
Past Perfect Progressive
A: He had been speaking. N: He had not been speaking. Q: Had he been speaking?
action taking place before a certain time in the past
sometimes interchangeable with past perfect simple
putting emphasis on theduration or course of an action
for, since, the whole day, all day
Future I Simple
A: He will speak. N: He will not speak. Q: Will he speak?
action in the future that cannot be influenced
spontaneous decision
assumption with regard to the future
in a year, next …, tomorrow If-Satz Typ I (If you ask her, she will help you.) assumption: I think, probably, perhaps
Future I Simple
(going to)
A: He is going to speak. N: He is not going to speak. Q: Is he going to speak?
decision made for the future
conclusion with regard to the future
in one year, next week, tomorrow
Future I Progressive
A: He will be speaking. N: He will not be speaking. Q: Will he be speaking?
action that is going on at a certain time in the future
action that is sure to happen in the near future
in one year, next week, tomorrow
Future II Simple
A: He will have spoken. N: He will not have spoken. Q: Will he have spoken?
action that will be finished at a certain time in the future
by Monday, in a week
Future II Progressive
A: He will have been speaking. N: He will not have been speaking. Q: Will he have been speaking?
action taking place before a certain time in the future
putting emphasis on the courseof an action
for …, the last couple of hours, all day long
Conditional I Simple
A: He would speak. N: He would not speak. Q: Would he speak?
action that might take place
if sentences type II (If I were you, I would go home.)
Conditional I Progressive
A: He would be speaking. N: He would not be speaking. Q: Would he be speaking?
action that might take place
putting emphasis on the course/ duration of the action
Conditional II Simple
A: He would have spoken. N: He would not have spoken. Q: Would he have spoken?
action that might have taken place in the past
if sentences type III (If I had seen that, Iwould have helped.)
Conditional II Progressive
A: He would have been speaking. N: He would not have been speaking. Q: Would he have been speaking?
action that might have taken place in the past
puts emphasis on the course /duration of the action
Level-I
I _________ ice-cream.
A.) likes
B.) liked
C.) have been liking
D.) like
Children generally _________ quarrels easily.
A.) forgets
B.) forget
C.) forgot
D.) will forget
She ________ to school every day.
A.) goes
B.) go
C.) will go
D.) gone
At present, he _______ in Mahindra Satyam.
A.) works
B.) work
C.) is working
D.) worked
I _______ just ___________ my homework.
A.) have, completed
B.) has, completed
C.) had, completed
D.) will, complete
He ________ for him for two days.
A.) have been waiting
B.) had been waiting
C.) has been waiting
D.) is waiting
I _______ him yesterday.
A.) meets
B.) met
C.) meeting
D.) meet
She _________ food when the guests arrived yesterday.
A.) preparing
B.) was preparing
C.) is preparing
D.) has been preparing
Mishra ______ for Bombay before Praveen reached the station.
A.) have left
B.) has left
C.) left
D.) had left
Show Answer
The president ___________ for about half an hour when trouble started.
They ________ for her for 2 hours by the time she cooks the food.
A.) will have been waiting
B.) will has been waiting
C.) will had been waiting
D.) will be waiting
If I _______ the news, I would have informed.
A.) has known
B.) had known
C.) have known
D.) knew
Rahul enquired the guard whether anyone _______ in his absence.
A.) has come
B.) have come
C.) had come
D.) will have come
Children will not learn anything if they __________.
A.) are discouraged
B.) have been discouraged
C.) had been discouraged
D.) is discouraged
He _______ here for 6 years by next year.
A.) will has been working
B.) will be working
C.) will had been working
D.) will have been working
I ________ Ruchi lately.
A.) hasn’t seen
B.) haven’t seen
C.) wasn’t seen
D.) hadn’t seen
At this moment, I _______ a letter.
A.) am writing
B.) writing
C.) writes
D.) wrote
Answers:
Level-I
1. D
2. B
3. A
4. C
5. A
6. C
7. B
8. B
9. D
10. C
Level-II
1. A
2. D
3. C
4. A
5. B
6. C
7. A
8. D
9. B
10. A
,
Tense
Tense is a grammatical category that indicates the time of an action or event. In English, there are six tenses: simple present, simple past, simple future, present continuous, past continuous, and future continuous.
Simple present tense
The simple present tense is used to talk about things that happen regularly or repeatedly, or things that are true in general. It is also used to talk about future events that are planned or scheduled.
I go to school every day.
The sun rises in the east.
The meeting starts at 9:00 am.
Simple past tense
The simple past tense is used to talk about things that happened in the past. It is also used to talk about habits or activities that were done regularly in the past but are not done anymore.
I went to school yesterday.
I used to go to the park every weekend.
Simple future tense
The simple future tense is used to talk about things that will happen in the future. It is also used to talk about predictions or possibilities.
I will go to school tomorrow.
It will rain tomorrow.
Present continuous tense
The present continuous tense is used to talk about things that are happening now or that are happening around the time of speaking. It is also used to talk about temporary or ongoing situations.
I am writing a paper.
The baby is sleeping.
Past continuous tense
The past continuous tense is used to talk about things that were happening at a specific time in the past. It is also used to talk about temporary or ongoing situations in the past.
I was writing a paper when the power went out.
The baby was sleeping when you called.
Future continuous tense
The future continuous tense is used to talk about things that will be happening at a specific time in the future. It is also used to talk about temporary or ongoing situations in the future.
I will be writing a paper tomorrow.
The baby will be sleeping when you come over.
Perfect tenses
The perfect tenses are used to talk about things that have happened or will have happened by a certain time. They are also used to talk about things that have been happening or will have been happening for a certain amount of time.
Simple perfect tense
The simple perfect tense is formed with the present tense of the verb “to have” and the past participle of the main verb. It is used to talk about things that have happened or will have happened by a certain time.
I have eaten dinner.
You will have finished your homework by the time I get home.
Continuous perfect tense
The continuous perfect tense is formed with the present tense of the verb “to be” and the present participle of the verb “to have” and the past participle of the main verb. It is used to talk about things that have been happening or will have been happening for a certain amount of time.
I have been eating dinner for an hour.
You will have been finishing your homework for two hours by the time I get home.
Modal verbs
Modal verbs are used to express possibility, necessity, permission, or obligation. They are not conjugated for tense.
Can you help me?
You must go to school.
May I come in?
Should I do my homework?
Passive voice
The passive voice is used to focus on the action rather than the person or thing doing the action. It is formed with the verb “to be” and the past participle of the main verb.
The book was written by John.
The house was built in 1900.
Tense is a complex and important topic in English grammar. By understanding the different tenses and how they are used, you can communicate more effectively in English.
1. What is the difference between past, present, and future tense?
The past tense is used to talk about things that happened before now. The present tense is used to talk about things that are happening now or that happen regularly. The future tense is used to talk about things that will happen in the future.
2. What are the different types of verb tenses?
There are three main types of verb tenses: simple, progressive, and perfect. Simple tenses are used to talk about general facts or events. Progressive tenses are used to talk about things that are happening or were happening at a specific time. Perfect tenses are used to talk about things that have happened or will have happened by a specific time.
3. How do I use verb tenses correctly?
To use verb tenses correctly, you need to know the difference between the different types of tenses and when to use each one. You also need to be able to conjugate verbs correctly in each tense.
4. What are some common verb tense errors?
Some common verb tense errors include using the wrong tense for the time frame you are talking about, using the wrong tense for the type of action you are describing, and using the wrong tense for the subject of the sentence.
5. How can I improve my verb tense skills?
The best way to improve your verb tense skills is to practice using them correctly. You can do this by reading books and articles, watching movies and TV shows, and listening to podcasts and music. You can also practice by speaking with native speakers and by taking online grammar quizzes.
6. What are some tips for using verb tenses correctly?
Here are some tips for using verb tenses correctly:
Know the different types of tenses. There are three main types of verb tenses: simple, progressive, and perfect. Simple tenses are used to talk about general facts or events. Progressive tenses are used to talk about things that are happening or were happening at a specific time. Perfect tenses are used to talk about things that have happened or will have happened by a specific time.
Know when to use each tense. Simple tenses are used to talk about general facts or events. Progressive tenses are used to talk about things that are happening or were happening at a specific time. Perfect tenses are used to talk about things that have happened or will have happened by a specific time.
Conjugate verbs correctly in each tense. To conjugate a verb, you need to change its form depending on the tense, person, number, and gender of the subject.
Practice using verb tenses correctly. The best way to improve your verb tense skills is to practice using them correctly. You can do this by reading books and articles, watching movies and TV shows, and listening to podcasts and music. You can also practice by speaking with native speakers and by taking online grammar quizzes.
7. What are some common verb tense mistakes?
Some common verb tense mistakes include using the wrong tense for the time frame you are talking about, using the wrong tense for the type of action you are describing, and using the wrong tense for the subject of the sentence.
8. How can I avoid making verb tense mistakes?
The best way to avoid making verb tense mistakes is to be aware of the different types of tenses and when to use each one. You should also practice using verb tenses correctly. You can do this by reading books and articles, watching movies and TV shows, and listening to podcasts and music. You can also practice by speaking with native speakers and by taking online grammar quizzes.
There are many resources available for learning more about verb tenses. You can find books, articles, websites, and online courses on the subject. You can also find native speakers who can help you practice using verb tenses correctly.
Sure, here are some MCQs without mentioning the topic Tense:
The man was walking down the street when he saw a dog. The dog was running towards him. The man was scared. He ran away. The dog chased him. The man ran faster. The dog ran faster. The man tripped and fell. The dog jumped on him. The man screamed. The dog licked his face. The man laughed. The dog wagged its tail. The man petted the dog. The dog was happy. The man was happy.
The sun was shining. The birds were singing. The flowers were blooming. The children were playing. The adults were relaxing. It was a beautiful day.
The rain was pouring. The wind was blowing. The thunder was roaring. The lightning was flashing. The people were running for cover. The animals were hiding. It was a terrible storm.
The snow was falling. The ground was covered in a blanket of white. The trees were bare. The air was cold. It was a winter wonderland.
The leaves were changing color. The air was crisp and cool. The days were getting shorter. The nights were getting longer. It was fall.
The flowers were blooming. The bees were buzzing. The birds were singing. The sun was shining. It was spring.
The sun was setting. The sky was ablaze with color. The birds were singing their evening songs. The crickets were chirping. It was a beautiful evening.
The moon was full. The stars were twinkling. The night was quiet. It was a perfect night for a walk.
The clock struck midnight. The world was still. The only Sound was the ticking of the clock. It was the witching hour.
The sun was rising. The birds were singing. The flowers were blooming. The day was starting anew. It was a beautiful day.