Basic Forms of Tenses

&Their Uses

ContentsPresent Tense

Simple Present Tense Present Continuous Tense Present Perfect Tense Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Past Tense Simple Past Tense Past Perfect Tense Past Continuous Tense Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Future Tense Simple Future Tense Future Perfect Tense Future Continuous Tense Future Perfect Continuous Tense

Present Tense

Simple Present Tense

When something happens regularly or is a permanent situation we usually use the simple present tense.

When using the simple present the verb (with the exception of the auxiliary verbs) remains in the dictionary form

(verb + s with he/she/it).

Simple Present Tense

Examples:

The Queen of England lives in Buckingham Palace.

The train to Berlin leaves every hour.

They travel to their country house every weekend.

Present Continuous Tense

Continuous tenses are also called progressive tenses. So the present progressive tense is the same as the present continuous tense.

subject+ auxiliary verb+ main verb  be base + ing

[am/is/are + present participle]

Present Continuous Tense

Examples:

She is loving this chocolate ice cream.

Are you still watching TV?

I am studying to become a engineer.

She loves this chocolate ice cream.

Incorrect

Correct

Present Perfect Tense

The English Present Perfect tense is used to express actions which have already been completed, or perfected, at the time of speaking or writing.

Form:[ has/have + past participle ]

Present Perfect TenseExamples:

In the first example, the use of the Present Perfect tense emphasizes the fact that, at the time of speaking or writing, the work has already been completed.

In the second example, the use of thePresent Perfect indicates that, at the time of speaking or writing, half the questions have beenanswered.

I have done the work.

She has answered half the questions.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Present perfect continuous tense is used for an action which began at some time in past and is still continuing.

Syntax:Has/have + been + Present

participle

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Examples:

Sam has been having his car for 2 years.

He has been sleeping for 5 hrs.

James have been teaching at university since last year.

Sam has had his car for 2 years.

Incorrect

correct

Past Tense

Simple Past Tense

This tense is usually used for those actions which are already over.

It's syntax is given as:(subject + V2 +  object)

where V2 - second form of the verb

Simple Past Tense

Examples:

I went to all the art exhibitions I could.

She lived in Tokyo for seven years.

They were in London from Monday to Thursday of last week.

Past Perfect Tense

It is used to express an action which has occurred in past (usually, a long time ago) and action which has occurred in past before another action in past.

Syntax: Subject + auxiliary verb + main

verb (past participle) + object

Past Perfect Tense

Examples:

It have not rained heavily last month.

 They had visited a doctor.

I had not finished my work last year.

It had not rained heavily last month

Incorrect

correct

Past Perfect Continuous TenseIt is used to express a continued

or ongoing action in past, an ongoing action which occurred in past and completed at some point in past.

Syntax:Auxiliary verb + Subject + Main

verb (present participle) + object

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

subject auxiliary verb

auxiliary verb

main verb

+ I had been working.

+ You had been playing tennis.

- It had not been working well.

- We had not been expecting her.

? Had you been drinking?

? Had they been waiting long?

For negative sentences in the past perfect continuous tense, we insert not after the first auxiliary verb. For question sentences, we exchange the subject and first auxiliary verb:

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Examples:

We had'nt exposed to programming before joining the IT Dept.

 Yadnya had been waiting for two hours when his friend arrived.

Students had been asking for an off lecture before sir scolded them.

We had'nt been exposed to programming before joining the IT Dept.

Incorrect

correct

Past Continuous Tense

In the Past Continuous tense, the action was ongoing till a certain time in the past. This tense is used to talk about an action at a particular time in the past.

Syntax:Subject + Auxiliary verb + main verb (Present participle) + Object + Time

reference

Past Continuous Tense

SUBJECT WAS / WERE VERB + ing REST OF THE SENTENCE

I was sleeping at 11 p.m. last night.

You were sleeping at 11 p.m. last night.

He was sleeping at 11 p.m. last night.

For positive sentences:

Past Continuous Tense

Examples:

 I burned my finger while I was cooking breakfast.

I was practicing the guitar when he came home.

Future Tense

Simple Future Tense

It is used to express an action which has not occurred yet and will occur after saying or in future.

Syntax:  Subject + auxiliary verb + main

verb (present participle) + object

Simple Future Tense

Examples:

When you will arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner.

 He will start a business.

I will not give you a pen tomorrow.

When you arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner.

Incorrect

correct

Future Continuous Tense

It is used to express a continued or an ongoing action in future.

Syntax:  Subject + auxiliary verb + main

verb (present participle) + object

Future Continuous Tense

Examples:

Jane will be being at my house when you arrive

 While I am finishing my homework, she is going to make dinner. 

You are going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.

Jane will be at my house when you arrive. 

Incorrect

correct

Future Perfect Tense

It is used to express an action which will occur in future and is thought to be completed in future.

Syntax:  Subject + auxiliary verb + main

verb (past participle) + object

Future Continuous Tense

Examples:

I am going to see a movie when I will have finished my homework.

 They will have completed the Presentation before the deadline. 

You are going to have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S..

I am going to see a movie when I have finished my homework. 

Incorrect

correct

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

It is used to express a continued or ongoing action that will start in future and is thought to be continued till sometime in future.

Syntax:  Subject + Auxiliary verb + main

verb (Present participle) + Object + Time

reference

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

Examples:

Vidya will have been having his driver's license for over two years.

The famous artist will have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it is finished. 

You will have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives.

Vidya will have had his driver's license for over two years. 

Incorrect

correct

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