Verb Tenses
In this article, we will learn all about the English Tenses. We also learn how to use the verb tenses, when to use it and what mistakes to avoid.The tenses are one of the fundamental things to make the structure of the sentences. It specifies the time for the particular actions.
The tenses represents how an action relates to the flow of time.In below table, we will understand how the action and time are related.There are 12 tenses in the English Grammar. The three basic tenses are past tense, present tense and future tense.The Verb tenses are used to describe something that happened in the past, happening at present or will happen in the future.The 12 tenses in English grammar are
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| TENSES - ENGLISH GRAMMAR |
The tenses represents how an action relates to the flow of time.In below table, we will understand how the action and time are related.There are 12 tenses in the English Grammar. The three basic tenses are past tense, present tense and future tense.The Verb tenses are used to describe something that happened in the past, happening at present or will happen in the future.The 12 tenses in English grammar are
Past Tense
- Simple Past tense
- Past Continuous tense
- Past Perfect tense
- Past Perfect Continuous tense
Present Tense
- Simple Present tense
- Present Continuous tense
- Present Perfect tense
- Present Perfect Continuous tense
Future Tense
- Simple Future tense
- Future Continuous tense
- Future Perfect tense
- Future Perfect Continuous tense
Past Tense
|
Present Tense
|
Future Tense
|
Simple
Past
|
Simple
Present
|
Simple
Future
|
Past
Continuous
|
Present
Continuous
|
Future
Continuous
|
Past
Perfect
|
Present
Perfect
|
Future
Perfect
|
Past
Perfect Continuous
|
Present
Perfect Continuous
|
Future
Perfect Continuous
|
Simple Past Tense
Verbs are the action words. The past tense is defined as the action that happened in past or the action that was completed.In simple words, we were referring to the action that happened at the specific point in time in the past.
Eg: I started work at 8 a.m
In above example,it clearly mentions the particular point of time (6 p.m). The person started his work at specific time, it represents the simple past.
Eg: I started work at 8 a.m
In above example,it clearly mentions the particular point of time (6 p.m). The person started his work at specific time, it represents the simple past.
Past Continuous Tense
The past continuous tense is defined as the ongoing action that happened in past. It is also known as past progressive tense. In simple words, it is used to talk about something that started and continued in the past.
Eg: I was working from 8 a.m to 5 p.m
In above example, it clearly tell us that the person started doing his work at 8 a.m and finished at 5 p.m.It means that the action (work) started and continued in the past.
Eg: I was working from 8 a.m to 5 p.m
In above example, it clearly tell us that the person started doing his work at 8 a.m and finished at 5 p.m.It means that the action (work) started and continued in the past.
Past Perfect Tense
The past perfect tense is used to show that action happened at some point before another action in the past. In simple words, it used to talk about two or more things that happened in the past. It is aslo called the past of past.
Eg: When we arrived at the railway station, the train had left.
In above example, it clearly states that two things happened in the past.when they were arrived the railway station, the train had left. The first action taken place was train had left the railway station after that only they were reached the station. The action which took place first should be written as had + past participle .
In above example, the person had started to teach(action) in the past and continued teaching for 1 year and stopped teaching after that point.. It means that at present that person is not teaching. we have to use past perfect continuous tense in this scenario.
I hope that it gives a brief idea about the tenses in English grammar.We will learn the tenses with more examples , difference between the tenses and the tenses worksheet in the next topic.
Eg: When we arrived at the railway station, the train had left.
In above example, it clearly states that two things happened in the past.when they were arrived the railway station, the train had left. The first action taken place was train had left the railway station after that only they were reached the station. The action which took place first should be written as had + past participle .
Structure of Past Perfect Tense - positive form
POSITIVE FORM
|
||
SUBJECT +
HAD + v3
|
||
I
You
He
She
It
We
They
|
+ had
|
+ played
|
Ex: I had played football.
|
Structure of Past Perfect Tense - negative form
NEGATIVE FORM
| ||
SUBJECT + HAD NOT + v3
| ||
I
You
He
She
It
We
They
|
+ had not/
hadn't
|
+ played
|
Ex: I hadn't played football.
|
Structure of Past Perfect Tense - question form
QUESTION FORM
| ||
HAD + SUBJECT + v3
| ||
Had +
|
I
You
He
She
It
We
They
|
+ played
|
Ex: Had You played football ?
|
Past Perfect Continuous/Progressive Tense
The past perfect continuous tense is used to emphasize an action that started in the past , continued in the past and also stopped at some specific point in the past. It is also called as past perfect progressive tense. The structure of past perfect continuous tense is had been + verb + ing.
Ex: I had been teaching grammar for 1 year.
In above example, the person had started to teach(action) in the past and continued teaching for 1 year and stopped teaching after that point.. It means that at present that person is not teaching. we have to use past perfect continuous tense in this scenario.
Structure of Past Perfect Continuous Tense - positive form
POSITIVE FORM
| ||
SUBJECT + HAD BEEN + VERB + ING
| ||
I
You
He
She
It
We
They
|
+ had been
|
+ playing
|
Ex: I had been playing football for 5 years.
|
Structure of Past Perfect Continuous Tense - negative form
NEGATIVE FORM
| ||
SUBJECT+ HAD NOT BEEN + VERB +ING
| ||
I
You
He
She
It
We
They
|
+ had not been/
hadn't been
|
+ playing
|
Ex: I hadn't been playing football.
|
Structure of Past Perfect Continuous Tense - question form
QUESTION FORM
| ||
HAD + SUBJECT + BEEN + VERB+ING
| ||
Had +
|
I
You
He
She been
It
We
They
|
+ playing
|
Ex: Had You been playing football ?
|
Simple Present Tense
The present simple is used to emphasize an action that happened in present. We use this tense in five different scenarios. They are
1.Permanent Situation
We use this tense for the permanent situations.
Ex 1: We live in Oman.
Ex 2: He works at a school.
In above two examples, both the sentences indicates the permanent situation. The person lives in Oman for some years. They wont move to other country in a daily basis. Likewise in 2nd example, the person doesn't change the job on a daily basis.
2.Routines
We use the present simple for the habitual routines.
Ex 1: I wake up at 5:00 a.m.
Ex 2: I go to office at 8:00 a.m.
3.Facts
We use this for the universal truth.
Ex : The sun rises in the east.
4.Schedules
It is used to represent the schedules.
Ex 1: Our meeting starts at 11:00 a.m.
Ex 2: The Air India flight departs at noon.
5.Frequency
The present simple tense is used for the frequently occurring events.
Ex 1: She always takes the train.
Present Continuous/Progressive Tense
The present continuous tense is used to emphasize for an action happening now or for an ongoing action or for an action which is temporary. It is also called as the present progressive tense.
Ex: I am playing cricket.
In above example, an action (playing) happening now and it is temporary (they play cricket for some time).
Structure of present continuous tense - positive form
POSITIVE FORM
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||
Subject
+ am/is/are + verb + ing
|
||
I
You
He
She
It
We
They
|
+ am
+ is
+ are
|
+ playing
|
Ex: I am playing cricket.
|
||
Structure of present continuous tense - negative form
NEGATIVE FORM
|
||
Subject
+ am/is/are + NOT + verb + ing
|
||
I
You
He
She
It
We
They
|
+ am not
+ is not/isn’t
+ are not/aren’t
|
+ playing
|
Ex: I am not playing cricket.
|
||
Structure of present continuous tense - Question form
QUESTION FORM
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||
Am/is/are
+ Subject + verb + ing
|
||
am
is
are
|
I
You
He
+ She
It
We
They
|
+ playing
|
Ex: Are you playing cricket?
|
||
Present Perfect Tense
The present perfect tense is used to emphasize an action that happened in the past and it exist till now. It talks about the condition that exist between the past and present. It is also called as present progressive tense. The structure of the present perfect tense is has/have + past participle (v3).
Ex: I have bought a car.
Structure of Present Perfect Tense - positive form
POSITIVE FORM
| ||
SUBJECT + HAS/HAVE + v3
| ||
I
You
He
She
It
We
They
|
+ has/have
|
+ bought
|
Ex: I have bought a house.
|
Structure of Present Perfect Tense - negative form
NEGATIVE FORM
| ||
SUBJECT + HAS NOT / HAVE NOT + v3
| ||
I
You
He
She
It
We
They
|
+ have not/
has not
|
+ done
|
Ex: I have not done the exam.
|
Structure of Present Perfect Tense - question form
QUESTION FORM
| ||
Has/Have + Subject + verb v3
| ||
have /
has
|
I
You
He
+ She
It
We
They
|
+ bought
|
Ex: Have you bought the house?
| ||
Present Perfect Continuous/Progressive Tense
The present perfect progressive tense is used to emphasize that an action that has started in certain point in the past and still continuing in the present. It is also known as present perfect progressive tense. The structure of the present perfect continuous tense is subject + has/have + verb +ing.
Ex: My brother has been living in London since 1988.
In above example, the person has started to live in London in 1988 and still he is living there. The action that has started past and it is continuing till now and it may continue in future.
Structure of Present Perfect Continuous Tense - positive form
POSITIVE FORM
| ||
Subject + has/have been + verb + ing
| ||
I
You
He
She
It
We
They
|
+ has been/ have been
|
+ playing
|
Ex: I have been playing cricket for two month.
| ||
Structure of present perfect continuous tense - negative form
NEGATIVE FORM
| ||
Subject + has/have + NOT +been+ verb + ing
| ||
I
You
He
She
It
We
They
|
+ has not been/hasn't been
+ have not been/haven't been
|
+ playing
|
Ex: I have not been playing cricket since 2 month.
| ||
Structure of present perfect continuous tense - question form
QUESTION FORM
| ||
Has/Have + Subject +been+ verb + ing
| ||
Has/Have |
I
You
He
+ She + been
It
We
They
|
+ playing
|
Ex: Have you been playing cricket?
| ||
Simple Future Tense
The simple future tense is used for an action that has not happened yet but it will occur in the future.In other words , an action which is going to take place in future.
Ex: I will get the books tomorrow.
Future Continuous/Progressive Tense
The future continuous tense is used for an action that is in progress at a particular point of time in future.In other words, an ongoing action that will occur in future. It is also called as future progressive tense.
Ex: I will be learning English next month.
Structure of Future Continuous Tense - positive form
POSITIVE FORM
| ||
Subject + will + be+ verb + ing
| ||
I
You
He
She
It
We
They
|
+ Will be
|
+ attending
|
Ex: I will be attending meeting tomorrow
| ||
Structure of Future Continuous Tense - negative form
NEGATIVE FORM
| ||
Subject + will NOT+ be+ verb + ing
| ||
I
You
He
She
It
We
They
|
+ Will not be
|
+ attending
|
Ex: I will not be attending meeting tomorrow
| ||
Structure of Future Continuous Tense - question form
QUESTION FORM
| ||
Will + Subject +be+ verb + ing
| ||
Will |
I
You
He
+ She + be
It
We
They
|
+ playing
|
Ex: Will you be going to market tomorrow?
| ||
Future Perfect Tense
The future perfect tense is used to an action that has been completed at particular point of time in future. The structure of future perfect tense is Subject + will + have + verb3(past participle).
Ex: I will have finished the work before my mother comes from the office.
Structure of Future Perfect Tense - positive form
POSITIVE FORM
| ||
Subject + will + have+ verb
| ||
I
You
He
She
It
We
They
|
+ Will have
|
+ joined
|
Ex: He will have joined the job.
| ||
Structure of Future Perfect Tense - negative form
POSITIVE FORM
| ||
Subject + will + not + have+ verb
| ||
I
You
He
She
It
We
They
|
+ Will have
|
+ joined
|
Ex: He will not have joined the job.
| ||
Structure of Future Perfect Tense - question form
QUESTION FORM
| ||
Will + Subject +have+ verb
| ||
Will |
I
You
He
+ She + have
It
We
They
|
+ joined
|
Ex: Will he have joined the job?
| ||
Future Perfect Continuous/Progressive Tense
The future perfect continuous tense is defined as an action that happened in the past and continuing in the present and going to progress until certain point in future . It is also called as the future perfect progressive tense. The structure of this tense is will + have + been + verb + ing. The future perfect continuous tense is rarely used tense.
Ex: I will have been learning french for 6 months by March.
Structure of Future Perfect Continuous Tense - positive form
POSITIVE FORM
| ||
Subject + will +have + been + verb + ing
| ||
I
You
He
She
It
We
They
|
+ Will have been
|
+ learning
|
Ex: I will have been learning Tamil for 6 months by March
| ||
Structure of Future Perfect Continuous Tense - negative form
NEGATIVE FORM
| ||
Subject + will NOT+ have +been+ verb + ing
| ||
I
You
He
She
It
We
They
|
+ Will not have
been |
+ completing
|
Ex: I will not have not been completing the work by march
| ||
Structure of Future Continuous Tense - question form
QUESTION FORM
| ||
Will + Subject +been+ verb + ing
| ||
Will |
I
You
He
+ She + be
It
We
They
|
+ playing
|
Ex: Will you been waiting for a bus when the auto arrives?
| ||
I hope that it gives a brief idea about the tenses in English grammar.We will learn the tenses with more examples , difference between the tenses and the tenses worksheet in the next topic.
Final Note
I hope this article gives you a better idea about tenses in English grammar and also about tenses definition and structure of verb tenses.'Beyond the School Time' is always and forever to assist you in education, parenting and fitness.In case you have queries on the above topic, please comment below.
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