TENSES
Notes on Usage of Tenses
Simple Present
Simple Present Tense
Singular Plural
Rule: Subject + V1 + s/es + Object Rule: Subject + V1 + Object
Example: The girl sings a song Example: The girls sing a song
Here the subject is Girls (plural) and no
Here the subject is Girl (singular) and
changes have been made with V1 (first
“s” has been added to the verb (sing),
form of verb) and the object
followed by the object (song)
Present Continuous
Present Continuous Tense
Rule: Subject + is/am/are + V1 + ing + object
Example: She is eating food
Here the subject is She, followed by “is”
The first form of verb (V1) here is “eat” and “ing” has been added to it, followed by
the object “food”
Present Perfect
Present Perfect Tense
Singular Plural
Rule: Subject + has + V3 + Object Rule: Subject + have + V3 + Object
Example: He has cleaned the utensils Example: They have cleaned the
utensils
Here, “He” is the subject + has
Here, “They” is the subject + have
“Cleaned” is the third form of verb and
“Cleaned” is the third form of verb and
utensils is the object
utensils is the object
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Singular Plural
Rule: Subject + has been + V1 + ing + Rule: Subject + have been + V1 + ing +
for/since+ Object for/since+ Object
Example: She has been practising Example: They have been practising
since morning since morning
Here “They” is the subject + have been,
Here “She” is the subject + has been,
followed by “ing” added to the the first
followed by “ing” added to the the first
form of verb “practise” and then the
form of verb “practise” and then the
object
object
Simple Past Tense
Rule: Subject + V2 + Object
For example: He ran away
Here, the subject is “He” and “ran” is the second form of verb (V2) of “run” followed
by the object
Past Continuous
Past Continuous Tense
Singular Plural
Rule: Subject + was + V1 + ing + Object Rule: Subject + were + V1 + ing +
Object
For example: She was going shopping For example: They were going
shopping
Here, the subject is “She” + was
Here, the subject is “They” + were
It is followed by the first form of verb
Followed by the first form of verb (V1)
(V1) “go” + “ing” and then the object
“go” + “ing” and then the object
“shopping”
“shopping”
Past Perfect
Past Perfect Tense
Rule: Subject + had + V3 + Object
For example: Sumit had left the job
Here the subject is “Sumit” + had
Then “left”, which is the third form of verb (V3) “leave” is given followed by the
object
Past Perfect Continuous
Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Rule: Subject + had been + V1 + ing + for/since+ Object
For example: They had been preparing for their performance for two months
Here the subject is “They” + had been
It is followed by “preparing”, which is the first form of verb (V1) of “prepare” and
then the object
Simple Future
Simple Future Tense
Rule: Subject + will/shall + V1 + Object
For Example: I will visit my Uncle tomorrow
Here, the subject is “I” + will
It is followed by the first form of verb (V1) “visit” and then the object
Future Continuous
Future Continuous Tense
Rule: Subject + will be/shall be + V1 + ing + Object
For Example: I shall be going to the market tomorrow
In this example, the subject is “I” + shall be
Following it is the first form of verb (V1) “go”+ing and then the object
Future Perfect
Future Perfect Tense
Rule: Subject + will have/shall have + V3 + Object
For Example: I shall have prepared the notes by tomorrow morning
In this example, the subject is “I” + shall have
It is followed by “prepared”, which is the third form of Verb (V3) “prepare” and then
the object
Future Perfect Continuous
Future Perfect Continuous Tense
Rule: Subject + will have been + V1 + ing + for/since+ Object
For Example: She will have been working here since 2015
Here, the subject is “She” + will have been
It is followed by the first form of verb “work”+ing and then the object
Key Functions of Tenses
Tenses are a crucial aspect of grammar that helps convey the time of an
action or state in relation to the present moment. Each tense serves to
place an action or state in a specific time frame, providing clarity and
context to communication. Here are the key functions of Tenses in
English:
Present Tense:
1. Simple Present: Describes habitual actions, general truths, and
states. [e.g., “She walks to school every day”.]
2. Present Continuous [Progressive]: Indicates ongoing actions
happening right now or around the present time. [e.g., “She is
walking to school.”]
3. Present Perfect: Connects past actions or states to the present,
often indicating relevance or result. [e.g., “She has walked to
school.”]
4. Present Perfect Continuous: Emphasizes the duration of an action
that began in the past and continues into the present. [e.g., “She
has been walking to school for an hour.”]
Past Tense:
1. Simple Past: Describes completed actions or states that occurred at
a specific time in the past. [e.g., “She walked to school yesterday.”]
2. Past Continuous: Indicates outgoing actions that were happening at
a specific moment in the past. [e.g., “She was walking to school
when it started to rain.”]
3. Past Perfect: Refers to actions or states that were completed before
another past action. [e.g., “She had walked to school before it
started to rain.”]
4. Past Perfect Continuous: Emphasizes the duration of an action that
was ongoing up to a specific point in the past. [e.g., “She had been
walking to school for an hour before it started to rain.”]
Future Tense:
1. Simple Future: Describes actions or states that will occur at a later
time. [e.g., “She will walk to school tomorrow.”]
2. Future Continuous: Indicates ongoing actions that will be happening
at a specific time in the future. [e.g., “She will be walking to school
at 8 am.”]
3. Future Perfect: Refers to actions that will be completed before a
certain future point. [e.g., "She will have walked to school by the
time the ball rings."]
4. Future Perfect Continuous: Emphasizes the duration of an action
that will be ongoing up to a specific future point. [e.g., “She will
have been walking to school for an hour by the time the bell rings.”]
Exercises
1. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the sentence.
The boys _____ to my lecture since 8 O’clock this
morning.
(a) were listening
(b) have been listening
(c) had been listening
(d) None of these
Complete the given sentence, by filling in the blank
with the correct option:
They met you at night after you _____ your work.
(a) had finished
(b) have finished
(c) finished
(d) will finish
Some guys like to fights on even playing grounds, and
some guys like to cheat.
Use the given format for your response.
Error Correction
Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to
complete the sentence.
If we _____ one more batsman in our team, we
would have won the match.
(a) had had
(b) would have been
(c) would have
(d) would have had
Select the option identifies the error and supplies the
correction for the following line:
Have you ever learn from a mistake you have made?
Option No. Error Correction
(a) learn learnt
(b) Have Has
Complete the given sentence, by filling in the blank
with the correct option :
I bought a new car last year, but I _____ my old
car yet, so at present I have two cars.
(a) sell
(b) have not sold
(c) sold
(d) did not sell
Identify the error in the given sentence and supply the
correction.
A good business letter is one that get results.
Use the given format for your response.
Error Correction
Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to
complete the sentence.
The bridge is being _____ at the moment so it
can’t be used.
(a) repaired
(b) repairing
(c) repair
(d) repairs
Select the option that identifies the error and supplies
the correction for the following line:
The people of India show remarkable unity at the
time of Kargil Conflict.
Option No. Error Correction
(a) time times
(b) conflict conflicts
(c) show showed
(d) The A
Complete the given sentence, by filling in the blank
with the correct option :
When I was a child, I _____ to school everyday
instead of going by cycle.
(a) walked
(b) have been walking
(c) had walked
(d) have walked
Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word
in the bracket.
Many a student _____ (try) hard to pass his
entrance exam
Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the sentence.
The higher you go, the more difficult it _____ to breathe.
(a) had become
(b) becomes
(c) is becoming
(d) became
Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket.
The level of intoxication _____ (vary) from subject to subject.
As he was crossing the road, a car _____ him down.
(a) was knocking
(b) had knocked
(c) knocked
(d) would have knocked
vi. Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word
in the bracket.
The woman in the pool _____ (swim) well.
Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to
complete the sentence.
When the third entered the house, the inmates
_____ in the hall.
(a) were slept
(b) were sleeping
(c) slept
(d) had been sleeping
Complete the given sentence, by filling in the blank
with the correct option:
Rohit _____ when we arrived at the party.
(a) had already left
(b) has already left
(c) have already left
(d) was already left
vi. Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word
in the bracket.
The Sushi and the pasta _____ (look) delicious.
Identify the error in the given sentence and supply the
correction.
The boys were played in the park when it started
raining.
Use the given format for your response.
Error Correction
Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to
complete the sentence.
My mother _____ my clothes at this time.
(a) is washing
(b) was washing
(c) has washing
(d) will be washing
Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word
in the bracket.
Age and experience _____ (bring) wisdom to man.