TABLE OF TENSES
Tense
Simple Present
Type Of Sentence
(+) ve Statement
(-) ve Statement
Present Continuous
Sentence Structure
Sub + V1 + ….
Examples
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6)
He sp spea ks ks. She sp speaks eaks.. I speak. You spea speak k. We sp speak. They They spe speak. ak.
Sub + does/do + 1) not + V1 2) + …. 3) 4) 5) 6)
He does does not not speak speak.. She She doe doesn sn’t ’t speak speak.. I don don’’t spe speak ak.. You don’ don’tt spe speak. ak. We don don’t ’t speak speak.. They They don’ don’tt spe speak ak..
Yes/No Question
Does/Do + Sub + V1 +….
Does Does he spea speak? k? Does Does she she spe speak ak?? Do you spea speak? k? Do they they spea speak? k?
‘Wh’ Question
‘Wh’ word + 1) What What does does he speak speak?? does/do + Sub + 2) How How doe doess she she spea speak? k? V1 + …. 3) When When do you you spe speak? ak? 4) Why Why do do the they y spe speak? ak?
(+) ve Statement
Sub + is/am/are + Ving + ….
(-) ve Statement
Yes/No Question
‘Wh’ Question
Sub + is/am/are + not + Ving + ….
Is/Are + Sub + Ving + …?
‘Wh’ word + is/are + Sub + Ving + …?
1) 2) 3) 4)
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6)
He is spea speaki king ng.. She She is spe speak akin ing. g. I am am spe speak akin ing. g. You are are spe speaki aking ng.. We are are speak speakin ing. g. They They are are spe speaki aking ng..
1) He is not not spe speak akin ing. g. 2) She She is not not spea speaki king ng.. 3) I am am not not spea speaki king ng.. 4) You are not speaki speaking ng.. 5) We are are not not spea speaki king ng.. 6) They They are are not not spe speaki aking ng.. 1) 2) 3) 4)
Is he spea speaki king ng?? Is she she spe speak akin ing? g? Are Are you you spea speaki king ng?? Are Are the they y spe speak akin ing? g?
1) 2) 3)
What What is he speak speakin ing? g? Wher Wheree is she she spe speaki aking ng?? When hen ar are yo you speaking? How are are the they y speaking?
4)
Uses
To speak about Daily/Regular Actions Frequent Actions, Habits Universal/General Truths Customs/Traditions Scheduled Activities
SIGNAL WORDS Always, every day, every month, every week, daily, never, normally, often, seldom, generally, generally, sometimes, usually, frequently, occasionally, occasionally, rarely, once a week, twice a month, once in two days, etc.
To speak about actions going on now. To speak about temporary actions going on these days. To speak about pre-planned future actions.
SIGNAL WORDS At the moment, just now, now, Listen!, Look!, now, right now, these days, nowadays, etc. VERBS NOT USED IN THE CONTINUOUS TENSE Agree, believe, doubt, forget, know, know, mean, recognize, recollect, remember, suppose, think, understand, want, wish, desire, need, see, smell, hear, taste, notice, like, dislike, love, hate, prefer, feel, forgive, appear, seem, deserve, depend, possess, contain, belong to, consist of, own, have
5
Examples
1) She teaches Mathematics. 2) I drink milk daily. 3) The sun rises in the east. 4) They speak English fluently. 5) People celebrate Diwali grandly. 6) He visits his parents once a month. 7) They often meet at the café. 8) I usually take rotis at night. 9) Our boss rarely smiles. 10) Barking dogs seldom bite. 11) He never tells the truth. 12) The football match starts at 10 am tomorrow. 13) Ramesh doesn’t smoke. 14) These children don’t go to school. 15) Does she sing well? 16) Do you like old movies? 17) What does he want? 18) Why do you waste your time? 19) How much does this cost? 20) Who sends you money?
1) 2) 3)
He is speaking at the conference now. Radha is cooking in the kitchen. Promod is always complaining about petty things.
4) Don’t disturb me. I am studying now. 5) Listen! Someone is climbing up the stairs. 6) Look! All are beating up the small boy. boy. 7) We are planning to go abroad. 8) They are visiting holy places. 9) I’m learning English these days. 10) Nowadays, people are opting for overseas jobs.
11) They are holding an exhibition here next week.
12) He is not paying attention to the lecture. 13) I am not working there now. 14) She is not doing anything right now. 15) They are not willing to come here.
Tense
Type Of Sentence
Sentence Structure
Examples
Uses
(=own), etc. The above verbs are usually used in the Simple or Perfect tenses.
Present Perfect
(+) ve Statement
(-) ve Statement
Yes/No Question
‘Wh’ Question
Sub + has/have + V3 + …..
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6)
He has has spo spoke ken. n. She She has has spok spoken en.. I hav havee spo spoke ken. n. You have have spok spoken en.. We have have spo spoke ken. n. They They have have spok spoken en..
Sub + has/have 1) He has has not not spok spoken en.. + not + V3 + …. 2) She She hasn hasn’t ’t spok spoken en.. 3) I hav havee not not spok spoken en.. 4) You haven haven’t ’t spoken spoken.. 5) We have haven’ n’tt spok spoken en.. 6) They They hav haven en’t ’t spo spoke ken. n. Has/Have + Sub 1) Has Has he he spo spoke ken? n? + V3 + …? 2) Has Has she she spok spoken en?? 3) Have Have you you spok spoken en?? 4) Have Have they they spok spoken en?? ‘Wh’ word + has/have + Sub + V3 + …..
1) 2) 3) 4)
To speak about actions completed in the immediate past. To speak about actions that completed in the past but have a connection with the present. To speak about actions those have not happened till now (in the negative).
SIGNAL WORDS Already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now, etc. NOTE: When the time of a past action is mentioned, use the Simple Past Tense and not the Present Perfect Tense.
What What has has he he spo spoke ken? n? How How has has she she spo spoke ken? n? Why Why hav havee you you spok spoken en?? I have completed my degree in 2006. Wher Wheree hav havee the they y I completed my degree in 2006. spoken?
Examples
16) Is Suresh writing the exam? 17) Are you going there now? 18) What is the boy doing in the ro om? 19) Where are you working? 20) How far are they going? 21) When are you meeting her? 22) Why is the girl crying? 23) Who is seeing you this evening? 24) What is happening there? 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9)
I have just spoken to your father about it. He has just gone out. The members have just concluded their meeting. These students have already written the test. Don’t pay him money. I have already paid him. I am happy now because I have won the case. He has not yet finished his work for the day. I haven’t met him till now. They haven’t informed us so far. So, we are worried.
10)We have never been to the US. 11)Have you finished lunch? 12)Has Anand invited you to the party? 13)Has he come? com e? 14)Have you ever been to Delhi? 15)What have you done with this? It is not working.
16)Why have you come late? 17)Where have you been till now? I was waiting for you.
Present Perfect Continuous
(+) ve Statement
(-) ve Statement
Sub + has/have 1) + been + Ving + 2) …… 3) 4)
He has has been been spe speaki aking ng.. She She has has been been spe speak akin ing. g. I hav havee been been spe speak akin ing. g. You have have been been speaking. 5) We hav havee bee been n speaking. 6) They They have have been been speaking.
Sub + has/have + not + been + Ving + ……
1) He has has not not been been speaking. 2) She She has hasn’ n’tt bee been n speaking. 3) I hav havee not not been been speaking. 4) You have haven’ n’tt bee been n speaking. 5) We hav haven en’t ’t been been speaking.
For an action that started in the Past, continued over a period of time into the Present and is still going on. If such an action as stated above has been completed in the Present and does not continue at the time of speaking, we usually use the Present Perfect Tense.
SIGNAL WORDS all day, for 6 years, since 2003, how long?, the whole week
18)Who has told you this? 19)How has your friend written his exam? 1) Vikram has been speaking for an hour. 2) She has been working in the garden since morning.
3)
I have been trying to contact my friend for two weeks.
4)
We have been designing the programme the whole week.
5)
Our neighbours have been living here since 1996.
6) 7) 8)
They have been calling us all day. We have been learning English for a month. They have not been answering our calls for two days.
9) I haven’t been doing anything since morning. 10)Madhavi has not been a ttending classes 6
Tense
Type Of Sentence
Sentence Structure
Examples
6)
Uses
Examples
regularly.
They haven’t been speaking.
11)Have you been using these medicines for long?
Yes/No Question
Has/Have + Sub + been +Ving + …..
1)
Has he been speaking?
2)
Has she been speaking? Have you been speaking? Have they been speaking?
3) 4) ‘Wh’ Question
Simple Past
(+) ve Statement
(-) ve Statement
Yes/No Question
‘Wh’ Question
‘Wh’ word + 1) What What has has he he bee been n has/have + Sub speaking? + been + Ving + 2) How How has has she she bee been n ….. speaking? 3) How How lon long g have have you you been speaking? 4) Sinc Sincee whe when n have have they they been speaking? Sub + V2 + …. 1) He sp ok oke. 2) She sp spoke. 3) I spoke. 4) You spo spoke. 5) We sp sp ok oke. 6) They They spok spoke. e. Sub + did + not + V1 + ….
Did + Sub + V1 +….
‘Wh’ word + did + Sub + V1 + ….
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 1) 2) 3) 4) 1) 2) 3) 4)
Past Continuous
(+) ve Statement
(-) ve Statement
Sub + was/were + Ving + ….
Sub + was/were + not + Ving + ….
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 1) 2) 3)
He did not speak. She didn’t speak. I didn’t speak. You didn’t speak. We didn’t speak. They didn’t speak. Did he speak? Did she speak?
12)Has your brother been coming home late? 13)Has the boss been looking for me? 14)What have you been doing since morning? 15)How long have they been living here? 16)Since when has Sudha bee n working in this office?
17)How have you been handling this problem? 18)How long has he been waiting for her? 19)Why have you been shouting? 20)Where have they been learning animation? 21)Who has been troubling her? 22)What has been happening here? 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) NOTE: If such a past habit or daily/ regular action continues even in the 8) present, use the Simple Present 9) Tense and not the Simple Past Tense. 10) 11) NOTE: Usually, when we talk 12) about past habits or daily/regular 13) actions in the past, we use 14) Used to + V1 instead of Simple Past Tense(V2). Tense(V2). 15) 16) I used to visit my uncle daily 17) last year. 18) He used to smoke a lot.
For an action that happened at a point of time in the Past. For a past habit. For daily/regular actions in the past.
She She spok spokee the the tru truth th.. I met my cous cousin in yeste yesterday rday. They went went out out two minut minutes es ago. ago. We saw him him at the the theatre theatre the the other other day. day. Meena did did not not meeet meeet her parents parents last last Friay. Friay. These These boys boys didn didn’t ’t write write the the exam. exam. They didn didn’t ’t answer answer becaus becausee they didn’t didn’t know know the answer. Did you ask him for money? money? Did the the student studentss protest protest against against the college college authorities? Did Kamala invite invite you you yesterday? yesterday? Why did you you fight with your brother? Where did did the children children go? go? How did they perform at the competition? What did did you do do last week? When did did she complete complete her degree? degree? Who told told you the the truth? truth? Who organize organized d this function? function? What happened at the college yesterday. yesterday.
Did you speak? Did they speak?
SIGNAL WORDS yesterday, yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 1990, the other day, last Friday, etc.
What did he speak? How did she speak? When did you speak? Why did they speak?
He was speaking.
She was speaking.
To speak about an action going on at a point of time in the Past. For an action going on when another action happened in the Past. (In such cases, we use the Past Continuous Tense for the action going on and the Simple Past Tense for the other action) I was writing the test when the inspectors came in. When two actions were going on simultaneously at a point of time in the past, we use the Past Continuous Tense Tense for b oth the actions and combine them using
I was speaking. You were speaking. We were speaking. They were speaking. He was not speaking.
She was not speaking. I wasn’t speaking.
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1)
We were listen listening ing to to the radio all evening evening yesterday. 2) The light light went out while while I was was reading reading.. 3) When I saw him he was was playing playing with some kids. 4) I was think thinking ing about about it when when he called called me. 5) Please Please don’t don’t take take it seriou seriously sly.. I was just kidding. 6) The childr children en were were shoutin shouting g when when the the teacher teacher entered the class. 7) She was was watching watching TV at 5 o’ clock last evening. 8) They were were insult insulting ing him him while while he he was serving them. 9) I was not doing doing anything anything when he came came to
Tense
Type Of Sentence
Yes/No Question
‘Wh’ Question
Sentence Structure
Was/Were + Sub + Ving + …?
‘Wh’ word + was/were + Sub + Ving + …?
Examples
4) 5) 6) 1) 2) 3) 4) 1) 2)
Past Perfect
(+) ve Statement
(-) ve Statement
Yes/No Question
‘Wh’ Question
Simple Future
(+) ve Statement
Sub + had + V3 + …..
Sub + had + not + V3 + ….
Had + Sub + V3 + …?
‘Wh’ word + had + Sub + V3 + …..
Sub + will + VI + ….
You were not speaking. We weren’t speaking.
SIGNAL WORDS when, while, then, at 5 o’ clock, etc.
Was he speaking? Was she speaking? Were you speaking? Were they speaking? What was he speaking? Where was she speaking? Why were you speaking?
4)
How were they speaking?
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6)
He had spoken.
1) 2) 3) 4)
‘while’. Pradeep was studying while his friends were chatting.
They weren’t speaking.
3)
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6)
Uses
She had spoken. I had spoken. You had spoken. We had spoken. They had spoken. He had not spoken. She hadn’t spoken. I had not spoken. You hadn’t spoken. We hadn’t spoken. They hadn’t spoken.
For an action that had taken place before another action in the past. (In such cases, the Past Perfect Tense is used for the earlier action and the Simple Past Tense is used for the later action.) NOTE: If only one past action is stated or understood from the context, the Simple Past Tense should be used for that action and not the Past Perfect Tense. I had completed my work last night. I completed my work last night. SIGNAL WORDS already, just, never, not yet, once, until that day, etc.
Had he spoken? Had she spoken? Had you spoken? Had they spoken?
1) 2) 3) 4)
What What had had he he spo spoke ken? n? How How had had she she spo spoke ken? n? Why Why had had you you spo spoke ken? n? Wher Wheree had had they they spoken?
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6)
He will will spea speak. k. She She will willll speak speak.. I wil willl spe speak ak.. You will will speak speak.. We wil willl spe speak ak.. They They will will spea speak. k.
To express the future as a fact. To say what we think or believe will happen in the future. ( With expressions like ‘I think’, ‘I believe’, ‘Probably’, etc.)
8
Examples
my house. 10) Suresh was not practising practising his lessons when I met him. 11) We were not copying copying when the the invigilator invigilator saw us. 12) The boy wasn’t talking talking to anyone then. 13) The students weren’t weren’t listening listening to the the lecture in the class. 14) Was he working there? 15) Were you speaking to the boss boss then? 16) Were the brothers quarrelling with each other other last night? 17) Was it raining there yesterday? yesterday? 18) What was she doing when you met her? 19) Why were you laughing while while he was talking talking to you? 20) How were they playing playing when you saw them? them? 21) Where were the the children going late late last night? 22) When were were they fighti fighting? ng? 23) Who was talking talking to you you last night? night? 24) Who were quarrelling quarrelling on the street at that time? 25) What was happening when you went there?
1)
She had had already already finished finished the work work when I met her. 2) We had just just complet completed ed our dinner dinner when when they came in. 3) The train train had left left when when they they reached reached the station. 4) Gopal had informed informed many many people people about it before we stopped him. 5) I had been there twice twice before before last last summer summer.. 6) I could could not not meet meet her her because because she had had gone gone to her mother’s place. 7) They had despatched despatched the goods goods before before we sent them a reminder. 8) She had had not not done done anythin anything g when when we went there. 9) They had had not gone far when when they they met with an accident. 10) I hadn’t finished my work when my my friends dropped in. 11) Had she spoken to the boss when you met met her? 12) Had they made all the arrangements before the boss came in? 13) Why had he come before before his brothe brotherr came? 14) Where had they spoken before they they spoke at at the university? 15) Where had had she worked before before she she joined here? 16) Who had informed informed them about about it before before you did?
1) 2)
He will will speak speak with with the the manager manager tomorrow tomorrow.. You will will need need this this money money on your return return journey. 3) I will will call call you you later later.. 4) Sunil Sunil will will be thirt thirty y in a week week.. 5) I’ll I’ll wait wait for for him him..
Tense
Type Of Sentence
Sentence Structure
Examples
Uses
Future Continuous
(-) ve Statement
Sub + will + not + V1 + ….
Yes/No Question
Will + Sub + V1 1) Will ill he he spe speak ak?? +…. 2) Will ill she she spea speak? k? 3) Will ill you you spe speak ak?? 4) Will ill they they spea speak? k?
‘Wh’ Question
‘Wh’ word + 1) What What will will he speak speak?? will + Sub + V1 2) How How wil willl she she spea speak? k? + …. 3) When When wil willl you you spea speak? k? 4) Wher Wheree will will the they y spea speak? k?
(+) ve Statement
Sub + will + be + Ving + ….
(-) ve Statement
Yes/No Question
Future Perfect
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6)
He will will not not spe speak ak.. She She won’ won’tt spea speak. k. I won won’t ’t spea speak. k. You won’ won’tt spe speak ak.. We won won’t ’t speak speak.. They They won’ won’tt spe speak ak..
1) He will will be be speak speakin ing. g. 2) She She will will be be spea speaki king ng.. 3) I wil willl be be speak speakin ing. g. 4) You will will be be speak speaking ing.. 5) We will will be be spea speaki king ng.. 6) They They wil willl be spe speaki aking ng..
1) He will will not not be be Sub + will + not speaking. + be + Ving + 2) She She won’t won’t be be spea speaki king ng.. …. 3) I won won’t ’t be be speak speakin ing. g. 4) You won won’t ’t be be speaki speaking. ng. 5) We won won’t ’t be speaki speaking. ng. 6) They They won’ won’tt be speaking. 1) 2) 3) Will + Sub + be 4) + Ving + …? 1)
For an action which will be going on at a time in the future. For actions in the future which are already planned but are less definite as they are expected to happen in the normal course of things. (As a routine or casual event.) For an action that the speaker thinks is happening now.
SIGNAL WORDS next week, tomorrow, then, at that time, etc.
Will ill he he be spe speak akin ing? g? Will ill she she be spe speaki aking ng?? Will ill you you be spea speaki king ng?? Will they they be speaki speaking? ng?
What What will will he be be speaking? 2) Wher Wheree wil willl she she be be speaking? 3) When When will will you you be be speaking? 4) Why Why wil willl the they y be be speaking?
‘Wh’ Question
‘Wh’ word + will + Sub + be + Ving + …?
(+) ve Statement
Sub + will + 1) He will will have have spok spoken en.. have + V3 + ….. 2) She She will will hav havee spok spoken en.. 3) I wil willl have have spok spoken en.. 4) You will will have have spoken spoken.. 5) We will will hav havee spok spoken en.. 6) They They wil willl have have spo spoke ken. n.
(-) ve Statement
To speak about an action that we have decided to do at the time of speaking. SIGNAL WORDS in a year, next …, tomorrow, later, etc.
1) He will will not have have Sub + will + not spoken. + have + V3 + 2) She won’t won’t have spoken spoken..
Examples
6) 7) 8) 9)
I think, think, she’ll she’ll go go to the party. party. I believe believe everyt everythin hing g will will be fine soon. Probably Probably,, they will call us tonig tonight. ht. The board board will announce announce the the result resultss next next month. 10) I will will not go there. there. 11) I won’t won’t do it again. again. 12) She will will not write write this this test. 13) Deepak won’t visit his his parents again tis month. 14) Will you attend attend the meeting? 15) Will he finish the work in time? 16) Will they wait for you? you? 17) Will ill your parents be happy with your performance? 18) What will will you you do now? now? 19) Where will will she she go now? now? 20) How will will they they come here? here? 21) How much money money will will you pay them? them? 22) Why will they they misunderst misunderstand and us? 23) Who will tell you the the right way way there? 24) Who will become the next Prime Minister of India? 25) What will happen next? 26) What will happen to your your aged parents parents if you leave them now?
1)
2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16)
1) To speak about actions which will be completed by a certain future time. (Usually, with ‘by + 2) a future time expression’) 3) 4) SIGNAL WORDS by Monday, Monday, in a week, by the 15 th , 5) etc.
6)
9
Don’t Don’t come come to my house house at 11 o’ clock tomorrow morning. I will be watching the serial then. He will will be speakin speaking g at the conference conference tomorrow. I must leave now. now. My brothe brotherr will will be waitin waiting g for me. Don’t Don’t call him him now. now. He will will be talkin talking g to the the Director. Naresh Naresh will will be leaving leaving for for Mumbai Mumbai next week. I will will be visiting visiting a doctor doctor at at that that time. time. Shravan Shravan will will not be attendi attending ng the the meeting meeting on on Monday. They won’t won’t be coming coming with with us us to the the party party.. Don’t Don’t worry worry. They won’ won’tt be waiting waiting for us. us. I won’t be be doing anythin anything g then. Will they be coming with with us? Will she be speaking at the meet? What will you be doing doing tomorrow morning? Why will they be meeting the officer? Where will Latha Latha be giving giving her lecture lecture this Friday? Who will be entertaining entertaining the guests?
We will have have finishe finished d our syllab syllabus us by the the 20 th of this month. The team team will will have have complet completed ed the the project project by next Wednesday. I will will have have written written the test test by then. They will have lived lived here here for five years years by the end of this month. She will will have worked worked here here for 3 months months by this week-end. The Director Directorss will will have finalize finalized d the deal deal in a
Tense
Type Of Sentence
Sentence Structure
….
Examples
3) 4) 5) 6)
I won’t won’t have spoken. spoken. You won’t won’t have spoken. spoken. We won’t won’t have spoken spoken.. They They won’ won’tt have have spoken.
1) 2) 3) 4)
Will Will he he have have spoken? spoken? Will Will she she have have spoken? spoken? Will Will you you have spoken? spoken? Will Will they they have have spoken? spoken?
Yes/No Question
Will + Sub + have + V3 + …?
‘Wh’ Question
1) What What will will he he have have spoken? 2) How wil willl she have have ‘Wh’ word + spoken? will + Sub + 3) Why wil willl you have have have + V3 + ….. spoken? Where will they have spoken?
Uses
Examples
week. She will will not have done done the work by Tuesday Tuesday.. The childr children en won’t won’t have have finish finished ed their their lunch lunch by then. 9) Will Will they they have have compl completed eted the job by tomorrow morning? 10) Will she have made all the arrangements by the time the guests drop in? 11) How long will you have stayed here here by next March? 12) How many projects will will the students have have done by the end of the course? 13) How many years will you have worked here by this year-end? 7) 8)
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