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Understanding English Tenses Explained

The document discusses different tenses in English including simple past, present, and future tenses as well as continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous tenses. It provides examples and patterns to illustrate each tense.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
23 views5 pages

Understanding English Tenses Explained

The document discusses different tenses in English including simple past, present, and future tenses as well as continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous tenses. It provides examples and patterns to illustrate each tense.
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

TENSE(S)

PAST TENSES PRESENT TENSES FUTURE TENSES

1. SIMPLE PAST TENSE 1. SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE 1. SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE


I. S + V2 + O I. S + V1 (S / ES) + O I. a. S + WILL/SHALL + V1 + O
 He called me 5 minutes ago  She drinks coffee every morning. (Habitual Action)  I shall translate the email so Mr. Jansen can read it.
II. S + WAS/WERE + NON–VERBS  I like Indian serials. (Fact) b. S + WILL BE/SHALL BE + NON–VERBS
 Alice was ill yesterday  Iron sinks in the water. (General Truth)  She will be happy if he can come tonight.
2. PAST CONTINOUS TENSE
II. S + IS/AM/ARE + NON–VERBS II. a. S + IS/AM/ARE + GOING TO + VI + O]
I. S + WAS/WERE + [Link] + O
 The earth is round. (General Truth)  We are going to go to Japan next year.
 He was playing football yesterday afternoon.
II. WHILE/AS – S + WAS/WERE + [Link], S + V2 + O  He is my best friend. (Fact) b. S + IS/AM/ARE + GONG TO BE + NON–VERBS
2. PRESENT CONTINOUS TENSE  He is going to be a prosecutor.
 While/As I was teaching, my friend called.
III. S + WAS/WERE + [Link] – WHEN – S + V2 + O  S + IS/AM/ARE + [Link] + O 2. FUTURE CONTINOUS TENSE
 They were reading their books when I came to the  We are studying English now.  S + WILL BE/ SHALL BE + [Link] + O
class.  He is taking his doctoral program concentrating in  We will be studying if you come at seven o’clock
IV. (WHILE) – S + WAS/WERE + [Link] + (WHILE) S + Electrical Engineering. tonight.
WAS/WERE + [Link] 3. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE 3. FUTURE PERFECT TENSE
 While my sister was watching TV, my mother was I. S + HAS/HAVE + V3 + O I. S + WILL HAVE/ SHALL HAVE + V3 + O
sleeping.  She has taught English for 11 years.  I shall have finished my work tomorrow night.
3. PAST PERFECT TENSE  I have watched the movie. II. S + WILL HAVE BEEN/ SHALL HAVE BEEN +
I. S + HAD + V3 + O + (BEFORE/AFTER/WHEN/UNTIL +  John has just met her in hall. NON–VERBS
PAST TENSE) II. S + HAS BEEN / HAVE BEEN + NON–VERBS  They will have been busy at ten o’clock tomorrow
 Amy had slept when Alan called her last night.  I have been to Karimunjawa. morning.
 We had copied the lesson before our teacher came to  She has lived in Bali since 2012 4. FUTURE PERFECT CONTINOUS TENSE
the class 4. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINOUS TENSE  S + WILL HAVE BEEN/ SHALL HAVE BEEN +
II. S + HAD BEEN + NON–VERBS + [Link]
 S + HAS BEEN / HAVE BEEN + [Link] + O
(BEFORE/AFTER/WHEN/UNTIL + PAST TENSE)
 We have been studying for an hour.  My friends and I will have been doing our
 They had been in the classroom when I came. assignment for two hours when you come this
4. PAST PERFECT CONTINOUS TENSE afternoon.
 S + HAD BEEN + [Link] + O (AFTER/WHEN + PAST TENSE)
 The students had been studying for two hours when
Mr. James came. *NON – VERBS: ADJECTIVE/NOUN/ADV. OF PLACE/ADV. OF TIME
SIMPLE TENSES

SIMPLE PAST TENSE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE

 Time Signal :  Time Signal :  Time Signal :


 Yesterday  Always  Sometimes  Tomorrow  Next week
 The day before yesterday  Never  Usually  Tomorrow morning  Two days later
 This morning  Often  Every three days  The day after tomorrow  Soon
 2 years ago  Seldom  On Sundays  Tonight  Immediately
 Last week
 Just now  Patterns :  Patterns :
I. S + V1 (s/es) + O I. A. S + WILL/SHALL + V1 + O
(+) I/ You/ We/ They + V1 + O (+) S + will/ shall + V1 + O
 Patterns :
He/ She/ It + V1(s/es) (–) S + will not/ shall not + V1 + O
I. S + V2 + O
(+) S + V2 + O (–) I/ You/ We/ They + do not  V1 + O (?) Will/ Shall + S + V1 + O?
He/ She/ It + does not Yes, S + will/ shall
(–) S + did not + V1 + O
(?) Do / Does + S + V1 + O? No, S + won’t/ shall not
(?) Did + S + V1 + O?
Yes, S + do / does B. S + WILL BE/SHALL BE + NON – VERBS
Yes, S + did + Non – Verbs
No, S + didn’t No, S + don’t / doesn’t (+) S + will be/ shall be
(–) S + will not be / shall not be + Non – Verbs
II. S + IS/AM/ARE + NON – VERBS (?) Will / Shall + S + be + Non – Verbs?
II. S + WAS/WERE + NON – VERBS
(+) I – am Yes, S + will / shall
(+) I/ He/ She/ It + was  Non – Verbs You/ We/ They – are + Non – Verbs No, S + won’t / shall not
You/ We/ They + were He/ She/ It – is II. A. S + IS/AM/ARE + GOING TO + V1 + O
(–) S + was not / were not + Non – Verbs (–) S + is/ am/ are + not + Non – Verbs (+) S + is/ am/ are + going to + V1 + O
(?) Was / Were + S + Non – Verbs? (?) Is/ Am/ Are + S + Non – Verbs? (–) S + is/ am/ are + not + going to + V1 + O
Yes, S + was / were Yes, S + is/ am/ are (?) Is/ Am/ Are + S + going to + V1 + O?
No, S + wasn’t / weren’t No, S + isn’t/ am not/ aren’t Yes, S + is/ am/ are
No, S + isn’t/ am not/ aren’t
B. S + IS/AM/ARE + GOING TO BE + NON – VERBS
(+) S + is/ am/ are + going to be + Non – Verbs
(–) S + is/ am/ are + not + going to be + Non – Verbs
(?) Is/ Am/ Are + S + going to be + Non–Verbs?
Yes, S + is/ am/ are
No, S + isn’t/ am not/ aren’t
*NON – VERBS: ADJECTIVE/NOUN/ADV. OF PLACE/ADV. OF TIME
PROGRESSIVE / CONTINOUS TENSES

PAST CONTINOUS TENSE PRESENT CONTINOUS TENSE FUTURE CONTINOUS TENSE

 Time Signal :  Time Signal :


 Time Signal :
 At this time tomorrow
 While  Now
 At seven o’clock this evening
 When  Right now
 By the end of this year
 As  At the moment
 Soon
 For the time being
 Pattern :
 Pattern :
I. S + was / were + [Link] + O  Pattern :
 S + will be/shall be + [Link] + O
(+) S + was / were + [Link] + O  S + is/am/are + [Link] + O (+) S + will be/shall be + [Link] + O
(–) S + was not / were not + [Link] + O (+) S + is/am/are + [Link] + O
(–) S + will not be / shall not be + [Link] + O
(?) Was / Were + S + [Link] + O ? (–) S + is/am/are + not + [Link] + O
Yes, S + was / were (?) Will/Shall + S + be + [Link] + O?
(?) Is/Am/Are + S + [Link] + O?
No, S + wasn’t / weren’t Yes, S + will/shall
Yes, S + is/am/are
No, S + won’t /shall not
II. While S + was / were + [Link] , S + V2 + O No, S + is/am/are + not
 Example :
III. S + was / were + [Link] when S + V2 + O  Example :
1. (+) I will study at 3 p.m. You will come at 4 p.m.
1. (+) We are studying at the moment.
IV. (While) S + was/were + [Link] (while) S + was/were + [Link] I will be studying when you come.
(–) We are not studying at the moment.
(–) I will not be studying when you come.
(?) Are we studying at the moment?
 Example : (?) Will I be studying when you come?
Yes, we are.
I. (+) My mother was cooking at 6 o’clock this morning. Yes, I will
No, we aren’t / we’re not.
(–) My mother was not cooking at 6 o’clock this No, I won’t
morning.  Common Non–Progressive Verbs
(?) Was my mother cooking at 6 o’clock this morning?
 Wish  consist  matter  need
Yes, she was.
 Adore  contain  hate  own
No, she wasn’t.  appear  cost  have  posses
II. While my mother was cooking, the telephone rang.  want  desire  hear  remember
III. My mother was cooking when the telephone rang.  understand  dislike  include  refuse
IV. While I was sleeping, my mother was cooking.  think  feel  know  seem
 believe  forget  like  smell
 belong  forgive  love  taste
PERFECT TENSES

PAST PERFECT TENSE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE FUTURE PERFECT TENSE

 Time Signal :  Time Signal :  Time Signal :


 Before  Since  recently  By four p.m. today
 After  For  lately  By next week
 When  Just  so far  Tonight
 Until  Never  already  Tomorrow
 Ever  yet  This evening
 Pattern :
I. S + had + V3 + O  Pattern :  Pattern :
(+) S + had + V3 + O I. S + has/have + V3 + O I. S + will have/shall have + V3 + O
(–) S + had not + V3 + O (+) I/You/We/They + have (+) S + will have/shall have + V3 + O
(?) Had + S + V3 + O? He/She/It + has + V3 + O (–) S + will not have/shall not have + V3 + O
Yes, S + had (–) S + has not/have not + V3 + O (?) Will/Shall + S + have + V3 + O?
No, S + hadn’t (?) Has/Have + S + V3 + O? Yes, S + will/shall
Yes, S + has/have No, S + won’t/ shall not
II. S + had been + Non–Verbs
No, S + hasn’t/haven’t
(+) S + had been + Non–Verbs II. S + will have been/shall have been + Non–Verbs
(–) S + had not been + Non–Verbs (+) S + will have been/shall have been + Non–Verbs
II. S + has been/have been + Non–Verbs
(?) Had + S + been + Non–Verbs? (–) S + will not have been/shall not have been + Non–
(+) S + has been/have been + Non–Verbs
Yes, S + had Verbs
(–) S + has not been/have not been + Non–Verbs
No, S + hadn’t (?) Will/Shall + S + have been + Non–Verbs?
(?) Has/Have + S + been + Non – Verbs? Yes, S + will/shall
Yes, S + has/have No, S + won’t/ shall not
No, S + hasn’t/haven’t

*NON – VERBS: ADJECTIVE/NOUN/ADV. OF PLACE/ADV. OF TIME


PERFECT CONTINOUS TENSE

PAST PERFECT CONTINOUS TENSE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINOUS TENSE FUTURE PERFECT CONTINOUS TENSE

 Time Signal :  Time Signal :  Time Signal :


 When  For  the whole days  By 10 a.m. tomorrow
 After  Since  long  By the end of this year
 Lately  still  By 7 o’clock tonight
 Pattern :  Recently  this week  By next January
 S + had been +[Link] + O
(+) S + had been + [Link] + O  Pattern :  Pattern :
(–) S + had not been + [Link] + O  S + has been/have been + [Link] + O  S + will/shall have been + [Link] + O
(?) Had + S + been + [Link] + O? (+) S + has been/have been + [Link] + O (+) S + will/shall have been + [Link] + O
Yes, S + had (–) S + has not been/have not been + [Link] + O (–) S + will/shall have not been + [Link] + O
No, S + hadn’t (?) Has/Have + S + been [Link] + O? (?) Will/Shall + S + have been + [Link] + O?
Yes, S + has/have Yes, S + will/shall
 Example : No, S + hasn’t/haven’t No, S + won’t/ shall not
1. (+) She had been being sick for three days when we
went to her house.  Example :
 Example :
(–) She had been being sick for three days when 1. (+) I have been doing this proposal the whole day.
1. (+) I shall have been studying for two hours when
we went to her house. (–) I have not been doing this proposal the whole
you come tonight.
(?) Had she been being sick for three days when day.
(–) I shall not have been studying for two hours
we went to her house? (?) Have I been doing this proposal the whole day?
when you come tonight.
Yes, she had Yes, I have
(?) Shall I have been studying for two hours when
No, she hadn’t No, I haven’t
you come tonight?
2. (+) She had been being very busy after she
Yes, I shall
received many orders from her costumers.
No, I shall not
(–) She had not been being very busy after she
received many orders from her costumers.
(?) Had she been being very busy after she
received many orders from her costumers?
Yes, she had.
No, she hadn’t

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