English Grammar Tenses

Tenses
The English Tense System The links below are to lessons for each of the 12 basic tenses. In each lesson we look at two aspects of the tense: Structure: How do we make the tense? Use: When and why do we use the tense?
ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES
Some lessons look at additional aspects and most of them finish with a !ui" to check your understandin#.
$resent Tense I do do I do $resent %ontinuous Tense I am doin# I am doin# tomorrow $resent $erfect Tense I ha&e done $resent $erfect %ontinuous Tense I ha&e been doin# $ast Tense I did do I did $ast %ontinuous Tense I was doin# $ast $erfect Tense I had done $ast $erfect %ontinuous Tense I had been doin# 'uture Tense I will do 'uture %ontinuous Tense I will be doin# 'uture $erfect Tense I will ha&e done 'uture $erfect %ontinuous Tense I will ha&e been doin#
(any )n#lish learners worry too much about tense. If you stopped 1** nati&e )n#lish speakers in the street and asked them about tense one of them mi#ht #i&e you an intelli#ent answer+if you were lucky. The other ,, would know little about terms like -past perfect- or -present continuous-. .nd they would know nothin# about aspect &oice or mood. /ut they can all speak fluent )n#lish and communicate effecti&ely. 0f course for )S1 it helps to know about tenses but don2t become obsessed with them. /e like those nati&e speakers3 Speak naturally3
Page 1 of 38 %opyri#ht 4 2*15 )n#lishStation
Simple Present Tense

I sing
How do we make the Simple Present Tense?
sub6ect 7 au8iliary &erb 7 main &erb

do There are three important exceptions: 1. 'or positi&e sentences we do not normally use the auxiliary. 2. 'or the 5rd person sin#ular 9he she it: we add s to the main &erb or es to the au8iliary. 5. 'or the &erb to be we do not use an au8iliary e&en for !uestions and ne#ati&es. 1ook at these e8amples with the main &erb like: subject auxiliary verb main verb like likes do does I you we they he she it not not like like like like coffee. coffee. coffee. coffee. coffee? coffee? base
7 ; ?
I you we they He she it I you we they He she it <o <oes
1ook at these e8amples with the main &erb be. =otice that there is no au8iliary: subject I main verb am 'rench. 'rench. 'rench. not old. not old. not old. late?
Page 2 of 38
>ou we they are He she it I is am
; ?
>ou we they are He she it .m is I
%opyri#ht 4 2*15 )n#lishStation
ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES .re Is you we they he she it late? late?
How do we use the Simple Present Tense?

We use the simple present tense when: the action is #eneral the action happens all the time or habitually in the past present and future the action is not only happenin# now the statement is always true
?ohn dri&es a ta8i.

past present future
It is ?ohn2s 6ob to dri&e a ta8i. He does it e&ery day. $ast present and future. 1ook at these e8amples: I li&e in =ew >ork. The (oon #oes round the )arth. ?ohn dri&es a ta8i. He does not dri&e a bus. We do not work at ni#ht. <o you play football?
=ote that with the &erb to be we can also use the simple present tense for situations that are not #eneral. We can use the simple present tense to talk about now. 1ook at these e8amples of the &erb -to bein the simple present tense+some of them are general some of them are now:
.m I ri#ht? Tara is not at home. >ou are happy.

past present future
The situation is now.
Page 3 of 38
%opyri#ht 4 2*15 )n#lishStation ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES
I am not fat. Why are you so beautiful? @am is tall.

past present future
The situation is #eneral. $ast present and future.
This pa#e shows the use of the simple present tense to talk about #eneral e&ents. /ut note that there are some other uses for the simple present tense for e8ample in conditional or if sentences or to talk about the future. >ou will learn about those later.
Page 4 of 38
Present ontinuous Tense

I am singing We often use the present continuous tense in )n#lish. It is &ery different from the simple present tense both in structure and in use. In this lesson we look the structure and use of the present continuous tense follwed by a !ui" to check your understandin#: Structure: how do we make the present continuous tense? Ase: when and why do we use the present continuous tense? Spellin#: how do we spell &erbs with ;in# for the present continuous tense? $resent %ontinuous Tense Bui"
ontinuous tenses are also called progressive tenses. So the present pro#ressi&e tense is the same as the present continuous tense.
!ow do we ma"e the Present ontinuous Tense#

The structure of the present continuous tense is:

be 1ook at these e8amples: subject auxiliary verb main verb speakin# readin# not stayin# not playin# watchin# waitin# to you. this. in 1ondon. football. TC? for ?ohn?
Page 5 of 38
base 7 in#
7 7 ; ; ? ?
I >ou She We Is .re
am are is are he they
!ow do we use the Present ontinuous Tense#

We use the present continuous tense to talk about: action happenin# now action in the future
Present continuous tense for action happening now

a: for action happenin# exactly now
I am eatin# my lunch.
past present future
The action is happenin# now. 1ook at these e8amples. @i#ht now you are lookin# at this screen and at the same time...
...the pa#es are turnin#.
...the candle is burnin#.
...the numbers are spinnin#.
b: for action happenin# around now The action may not be happenin# e8actly now but it is happenin# 6ust before and 6ust after now and it is not permanent or habitual.
?ohn is #oin# out with (ary.

past present future
The action is happenin# around now. 1ook at these e8amples: (uriel is learning to dri&e. I am living with my sister until I find an apartment.
Page 6 of 38
Present continuous tense for the future

We can also use the present continuous tense to talk about the future+if we add a future word33 We must add 9or understand from the conte8t: a future word. -'uture words- include for e8ample tomorrow next year in $une at hristmas etc. We only use the present continuous tense to talk about the future when we ha&e planned to do somethin# before we speak. We ha&e already made a decision and a plan before speakin#.
I am takin# my e8am ne8t month.

past present future
333
. firm plan or pro#ramme e8ists now. 1ook at these e8amples: We%re eating in a restaurant toni#ht. We2&e already booked the table.. They can play tennis with you tomorrow. They%re not wor"ing. When are you starting your new 6ob? The action is in the future.
In these e8amples we ha&e a firm plan or programme before spea"ing. The decision and plan were made before speakin#.
!ow do we spell the Present ontinuous Tense#

We make the present continuous tense by addin# ;in# to the base &erb. =ormally it2s simple+we 6ust add ; in#. /ut sometimes we ha&e to chan#e the word a little. $erhaps we double the last letter or we drop a letter. Here are the rules to help you know how to spell the present continuous tense. &asic rule ?ust add 'ing to the base &erb: work play assist see be Exception ( If the base &erb ends in consonant ) stressed vowel ) consonant double the last letter: D D D D D workin# playin# assistin# seein# bein#
Page 7 of 38
$<' created with pdf'actory $ro trial &ersion www.pdffactory.com
consonant 9&owels E a e i o u: stop run be#in D D D
ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES stressed consonant &owel stoppin# runnin# be#innin#
Note that this exception does not apply when the last syllable of the base verb is not stressed: open D openin#
Exception * If the base &erb ends in ie chan#e the ie to y: lie die D D lyin# dyin#
Exception + If the base &erb ends in vowel ) consonant ) e omit the e: come mistake D D comin# mistakin#
Page 8 of 38 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com
Present Perfect Tense

I have sung
The present perfect tense is a rather important tense in )n#lish but it #i&es speakers of some lan#ua#es a difficult time. That is because it uses concepts or ideas that do not e8ist in those lan#ua#es. In fact the structure of the present perfect tense is &ery simple. The problems come with the use of the tense. In addition there are some differences in usa#e between /ritish and .merican )n#lish. In this lesson we look at the structure and use of the present perfect followed by a !ui" to check your understandin#: Structure: how to make the present perfect tense Ase: when and why to use the present perfect tense 'or and Since with the present perfect tense. What2s the difference? $resent $erfect Bui"
The present perfect tense is really a &ery interestin# tense and a &ery useful one. Try not to translate the present perfect tense into your lan#ua#e. ?ust try to accept the concepts of this tense and learn to -think- present perfect3 >ou will soon learn to li"e the present perfect tense3
!ow do we ma"e the Present Perfect Tense#

The structure of the present perfect tense is:

ha&e past participle Here are some e8amples of the present perfect tense: subject auxiliary verb main verb seen eaten not been not played )T. mine. to @ome. football.
Page 9 of 38
7 7 ; ;
I >ou She We
ha&e ha&e has ha&e
PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com
? Ha&e ? Ha&e
you they
finished? done it?
Contractions with the present perfect tense

When we use the present perfect tense in speakin# we usually contract the sub6ect and au8iliary &erb. We also sometimes do this when we write.
I ha&e >ou ha&e He has She has It has ?ohn has The car has We ha&e They ha&e
I2&e >ou2&e He2s She2s It2s ?ohn2s The car2s We2&e They2&e
!e%s or he%s??? /e careful3 The %s contraction is used for the au8iliary &erbs have and be. 'or e8ample -It2s eaten- can mean: It has eaten. Fpresent perfect tense acti&e &oiceG It is eaten. Fpresent tense passi&e &oiceG
It is usually clear from the conte8t.
Here are some e8amples:

I2&e finished my work. ?ohn2s seen )T. They2&e #one home.
!ow do we use the Present Perfect Tense#

This tense is called the present perfect tense. There is always a connection with the past and with the present. There are basically three uses for the present perfect tense: 1. e8perience 2. chan#e 5. continuin# situation
1. Present perfect tense for experience

We often use the present perfect tense to talk about experience from the past. We are not interested in when you did somethin#. We only want to know if you did it:
I ha&e seen )T.

Page 10 of 38
He has li&ed in /an#kok. Ha&e you been there? We ha&e ne&er eaten ca&iar.
past present future
333
The action or state was in the past. In my head I ha&e a memory now. onnection with past: the e&ent was in the past. onnection with present: in my head now I ha&e a memory of the e&entH I "now somethin# about the e&entH I ha&e experience of it.
2. Present perfect tense for change

We also use the present perfect tense to talk about a change or new information:
I ha&e bou#ht a car.

past present future
;
1ast week I didn2t ha&e a car.
7
=ow I ha&e a car.
?ohn has broken his le#.

past present future
7
>esterday ?ohn had a #ood le#.
;
=ow he has a bad le#.
Has the price #one up?

past present future
7
Was the price I1.J* yesterday?
;
Is the price I1.K* today?
Page 11 of 38
The police ha&e arrested the killer.

past present future
;
>esterday the killer was free.
7
=ow he is in prison.
onnection with past: the past is the opposite of the present. onnection with present: the present is the opposite of the past. .mericans do not use the present perfect tense so much as /ritish speakers. .mericans often use the past tense instead. .n .merican mi#ht say -<id you ha&e lunch?where a /ritish person would say -Ha&e you had lunch?-
3. Present perfect tense for continuing situation

We often use the present perfect tense to talk about a continuing situation. This is a state that started in the past and continues in the present 9and will probably continue into the future:. This is a state 9not an action:. We usually use for or since with this structure.
I ha&e worked here since ?une. He has been ill for 2 days. How lon# ha&e you known Tara?
past present future
The situation started in the past.
It continues up to now.
9It will probably continue into the future.:
onnection with past: the situation started in the past. onnection with present: the situation continues in the present.
,or - Since with Present Perfect Tense

We often use for and since with the present perfect tense. We use for to talk about a period of time+J minutes 2 weeks L years. We use since to talk about a point in past time+, o2clock 1st ?anuary (onday. Page 12 of 38
for
a period of time
since
a point in past time x''''''''''''
2* minutes three days L months M years 2 centuries a lon# time e&er etc Here are some e8amples:
L.1Jpm (onday ?anuary 1,,M 1N** I left school the be#innin# of time etc
I ha&e been here for 2* minutes. I ha&e been here since , o2clock. ?ohn hasn2t called for L months. ?ohn hasn2t called since 'ebruary. He has worked in =ew >ork for a lon# time. He has worked in =ew >ork since he left school.
,or can be used with all tenses. Since is usually used with perfect tenses only.
Present Perfect ontinuous Tense

I have been singing
How do we make the Present Perfect Continuous Tense?

The structure of the present perfect continuous tense is:
sub6ect 7 au8iliary &erb 7 au8iliary &erb 7 main &erb

ha&e has been base 7 in#
Here are some e8amples of the present perfect continuous tense: subject auxiliary verb auxiliary verb main verb been been not been not been been been waitin# talkin# rainin#. playin# seein# doin# football. her? their homework? for one hour. too much.
7 7 ; ; ? ?
I >ou It We Ha&e Ha&e
ha&e ha&e has ha&e you they
ontractions
When we use the present perfect continuous tense in speakin# we often contract the sub6ect and the first au8iliary. We also sometimes do this in informal writin#. I ha&e been >ou ha&e been He has been She has been It has been ?ohn has been The car has been I2&e been >ou2&e been He2s been She2s been It2s been ?ohn2s been The car2s been
ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES We ha&e been They ha&e been We2&e been They2&e been
Here are some e8amples: I2&e been readin#. The car2s been #i&in# trouble. We2&e been playin# tennis for two hours.
How do we use the Present Perfect Continuous Tense?

This tense is called the present perfect continuous tense. There is usually a connection with the present or now. There are basically two uses for the present perfect continuous tense:
1. An action that has just stopped or recently stopped

We use the present perfect continuous tense to talk about an action that started in the past and stopped recently. There is usually a result now.
I2m tired because I2&e been runnin#.

past present future
333
@ecent action.
I2m tired
FnowG
@esult now.
because I%ve been running. FnowG Why is the #rass wet ? !as it been raining? FnowG >ou don2t understand because you haven2t been listening.
2. An action continuing up to now

We use the present perfect continuous tense to talk about an action that started in the past and is continuin# now. This is often used with for or since.
I ha&e been readin# for 2 hours.

past present future
.ction started in past.
.ction is continuin# now.
I have been reading for 2 hours. FI am still readin# now.G Page 15 of 38
ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES We%ve been studying since , o2clock. FWe2re still studyin# now.G How lon# have you been learning )n#lish? F>ou are still learnin# now.G We have not been smo"ing. F.nd we are not smokin# now.G
or and Since with Present Perfect Continuous Tense

We often use for and since with the present perfect tense. We use for to talk about a period of time+J minutes 2 weeks L years. We use since to talk about a point in past time+, o2clock 1st ?anuary (onday.
for
a period of time 2* minutes three days L months M years 2 centuries a lon# time e&er etc Here are some e8amples:
since
a point in past time L.1Jpm (onday ?anuary 1,,M 1N** I left school the be#innin# of time etc
I ha&e been studyin# for 5 hours. I ha&e been watchin# TC since Kpm. Tara hasn2t been feelin# well for 2 weeks. Tara hasn2t been &isitin# us since (arch. He has been playin# football for a lon# time. He has been li&in# in /an#kok since he left school.
,or can be used with all tenses. Since is usually used with perfect tenses only.
Simple Past Tense

I sang
The simple past tense is sometimes called the preterit tense. We can use se&eral tenses to talk about the past but the simple past tense is the one we use most often. In this lesson we look at the structure and use of the simple past tense followed by a !ui" to check your understandin#:
!ow do we ma"e the Simple Past Tense#

To make the simple past tense we use: past form only or au8iliary did ) base form
Here you can see e8amples of the past form and base form for irre#ular &erbs and re#ular &erbs: .( base re#ular &erb wor" explode li"e go see sing .* past wor"ed exploded li"ed went saw sang .+ past participle worked e8ploded liked #one seen sun# >ou do not need the past participle form to make the simple past tense. It is shown here for completeness only. The structure for positive sentences in the simple past tense is: The past form for all re#ular &erbs ends in ;ed. The past form for irre#ular &erbs is &ariable. >ou need to learn it by heart.
irre#ular &erb
sub6ect 7 main &erb

past The structure for negative sentences in the simple past tense is:
sub6ect 7 au8iliary &erb 7 not 7 main &erb

did base Page 17 of 38 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com
ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES The structure for /uestion sentences in the simple past tense is:
au8iliary &erb 7 sub6ect 7 main &erb

did base
The au8iliary &erb did is not con6u#ated. It is the same for all persons 9I did you did he did etc:. .nd the base form and past form do not chan#e. 1ook at these e8amples with the main &erbs go and wor":
subject auxiliary verb
main verb went worked to school. &ery hard. with me. yesterday. to 1ondon? at home?
7 ; ?
I >ou She We <id <id did did you they
not #o not work #o work
Exception0 The &erb to be is different. We con6u#ate the &erb to be 9I was you were heOsheOit was we were they were:H and we do not use an au8iliary for ne#ati&e and !uestion sentences. To make a !uestion we e8chan#e the sub6ect and &erb. 1ook at these e8amples: subject main verb was here. in 1ondon. not there. not happy. ri#ht? late?
7 ; ?
I heOsheOit
>ou we they were I heOsheOit was
>ou we they were Was Were I heOsheOit you we they
!ow do we use the Simple Past Tense#

We use the simple past tense to talk about an action or a situation+an e&ent+in the past. The e&ent can be short or long. Here are some short e&ents with the simple past tense: Page 18 of 38 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com
The car e8ploded at ,.5*am yesterday. She went to the door. We did not hear the telephone. <id you see that car?
past present future
The action is in the past. Here are some long e&ents with the simple past tense:
I li&ed in /an#kok for 1* years. The ?urassic period lasted about L2 million years. We did not sin# at the concert. <id you watch TC last ni#ht?
past present future
The action is in the past. =otice that it does not matter how lon# a#o the e&ent is: it can be a few minutes or seconds in the past or millions of years in the past. .lso it does not matter how lon# the e&ent is. It can be a few milliseconds 9car e8plosion: or millions of years 9?urassic period:. We use the simple past tense when: the e&ent is in the past the e&ent is completely finished we say 9or understand: the time andOor place of the e&ent
In #eneral if we say the time or place of the e&ent we must use the simple past tenseH we cannot use the present perfect. Here are some more e8amples: I lived in that house when I was youn#. He didn2t li"e the mo&ie. What did you eat for dinner? ?ohn drove to 1ondon on (onday. (ary did not go to work yesterday. Page 19 of 38 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com
ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES 1id you play tennis last week? I was at work yesterday. We were not late 9for the train:. 2ere you an#ry?
=ote that when we tell a story we usually use the simple past tense. We may use the past continuous tense to -set the scene- but we almost always use the simple past tense for the action. 1ook at this e8ample of the be#innin# of a story: -The wind was howlin# around the hotel and the rain was pourin# down. It was cold. The door opened and ?ames /ond entered. He too" off his coat which was &ery wet and ordered a drink at the bar. He sat down in the corner of the loun#e and !uietly dran" his...This pa#e shows the use of the simple past tense to talk about past e&ents. /ut note that there are some other uses for the simple past tense for e8ample in conditional or if sentences.
Past ontinuous Tense

I was singing
The past continuous tense is an important tense in )n#lish. We use it to say what we were in the middle of doin# at a particular moment in the past. In this lesson we look at the structure and the use of the past continuous tense followed by a !ui" to check your understandin#:
!ow do we ma"e the Past ontinuous Tense#

The structure of the past continuous tense is:
sub6ect
7 au8iliary &erb /)
con6u#ated in simple past tense was were
7 main &erb
present participle base ) ing
'or ne#ati&e sentences in the past continuous tense we insert not between the au8iliary &erb and main &erb. 'or !uestion sentences we e8chan#e the subject and auxiliary verb. 1ook at these e8ample sentences with the past continuous tense: subject auxiliary verb was were was were you they not not main verb watchin# workin# helpin# 6okin#. bein# playin# silly? football? TC. hard. (ary.
7 7 ; ; ? ?
I >ou He she it We Were Were
The spellin# rules for addin# ing to make the past continuous tense are the same as for the present continuous tense.
!ow do we use the Past ontinuous Tense#

ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES The past continuous tense e8presses action at a particular moment in the past. The action started before that moment but has not finished at that moment. 'or e8ample yesterday I watched a film on TC. The film started at Kpm and finished at ,pm.
.t Npm yesterday I was watchin# TC.

past Npm .t Npm I was in the middle of watchin# TC. When we use the past continuous tense our listener usually knows or understands what time we are talkin# about. 1ook at these e8amples: I was wor"ing at 1*pm last ni#ht. They were not playing football at ,am this mornin#. What were you doing at 1*pm last ni#ht? What were you doing when he arri&ed? She was coo"ing when I telephoned her. We were having dinner when it started to rain. @am went home early because it was snowing. present future
Some &erbs cannot be used in continuousOpro#ressi&e tenses.
We often use the past continuous tense to -set the scene- in stories. We use it to describe the back#round situation at the moment when the action be#ins. 0ften the story starts with the past continuous tense and then mo&es into the simple past tense. Here is an e8ample: - ?ames /ond was driving throu#h town. It was raining. The wind was blowing hard. =obody was wal"ing in the streets. Suddenly /ond saw the killer in a telephone bo8...-
Past ontinuous Tense ) Simple Past Tense

We often use the past continuous tense with the simple past tense. We use the past continuous tense to e8press a long action. .nd we use the simple past tense to e8press a short action that happens in the middle of the lon# action. We can 6oin the two ideas with when or while. In the followin# e8ample we ha&e two actions: 1. lon# action 9watchin# TC: e8pressed with past continuous tense 2. short action 9telephoned: e8pressed with simple past tense
Page 22 of 38
ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES past 1on# action. I was watchin# TC at Npm. Npm >ou telephoned at Npm. Short action. We can 6oin these two actions with when: I was watchin# TC when you telephoned. present future
9=otice that -when you telephoned- is also a way of definin# the time FNpmG.: We use: when 7 short action 9simple past tense: while 7 long action 9past continuous tense:
There are four basic combinations: I was walkin# past the car 2hen the car e8ploded The car e8ploded 2hile I was walkin# past the car while when it e8ploded. I was walkin# past it. I was walkin# past it. it e8ploded.
=otice that the long action and short action are relati&e. -Watchin# TC- took a few hours. -Telephoned- took a few seconds. -Walkin# past the car- took a few seconds. -)8ploded- took a few milliseconds.
Past Perfect Tense

I had sung The past perfect tense is !uite an easy tense to understand and to use. This tense talks about the -past in the past-. In this lesson we look at:
!ow do we ma"e the Past Perfect Tense#

The structure of the past perfect tense is:
sub6ect
7 au8iliary &erb H.C)

con6u#ated in simple past tense had
7 main &erb
past participle .+
'or ne#ati&e sentences in the past perfect tense we insert not between the au8iliary &erb and main &erb. 'or !uestion sentences we e8chan#e the subject and auxiliary verb. 1ook at these e8ample sentences with the past perfect tense: subject auxiliary verb main verb finished stopped not #one not left. arri&ed? eaten dinner? my work. before me. to school.
7 7 ; ; ? ?
I >ou She We Had Had
had had had had you they
When speakin# with the past perfect tense we often contract the sub6ect and au8iliary &erb: I had you had I2d you2d Page 24 of 38 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com
ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES he had she had it had we had they had he2d she2d it2d we2d they2d
The %d contraction is also used for the au8iliary &erb would. 'or e8ample we%d can mean: We had or We would
/ut usually the main &erb is in a different form for e8ample: We had arrived 9past participle: We would arrive 9base:
It is always clear from the conte8t.
!ow do we use the Past Perfect Tense#

The past perfect tense e8presses action in the past before another action in the past. This is the past in the past. 'or e8ample: The train left at ,am. We arri&ed at ,.1Jam. When we arri&ed the train had left.
The train had left when we arrived.

past Train lea&es in past at ,am. present future
We arri&e in past at ,.1Jam. 1ook at some more e8amples: I wasn2t hun#ry. I had 6ust eaten. They were hun#ry. They had not eaten for fi&e hours. I didn2t know who he was. I had ne&er seen him before. Page 25 of 38 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

-(ary wasn2t at home when I arri&ed.-@eally? Where had she gone?-
>ou can sometimes think of the past perfect tense like the present perfect tense but instead of the time bein# now the time is past. past perfect tense had P done P DP past now future present perfect tense ha&e P done P DP past now future
'or e8ample ima#ine that you arri&e at the station at ,.1Jam. The stationmaster says to you: ->ou are too late. The train has
left.- 1ater you tell your friends: -We were too late. The train had left.-
We often use the past perfect tense in reported speech after &erbs like said3 told3 as"ed3 thought3 wondered: 1ook at these e8amples: He told us that the train had left. I thou#ht I had met her before but I was wron#. He e8plained that he had closed the window because of the rain. I wondered if I had been there before. I asked them why they had not finished.
Past Perfect ontinuous Tense

I had been singing
How do we make the Past Perfect Continuous Tense?

The structure of the past perfect continuous tense is:
sub6ect
au8iliary &erb H.C)

con6u#ated in simple past tense had
au8iliary &erb /)
past participle been
7 main &erb
'or ne#ati&e sentences in the past perfect continuous tense we insert not after the first au8iliary &erb. 'or !uestion sentences we e8chan#e the subject and first auxiliary verb. 1ook at these e8ample sentences with the past perfect continuous tense: subject auxiliary verb auxiliary verb main verb been been not been not been been been workin#. playin# workin# e8pectin# drinkin#? waitin# lon#? tennis. well. her.
7 7 ; ; ? ?
I >ou It We Had Had
had had had had you they
When speakin# with the past perfect continuous tense we often contract the sub6ect and first au8iliary &erb: I had been you had been he had she had been I2d been you2d been he2d been she2d been Page 27 of 38 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com
ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES it had been we had been it2d been we2d been
they had been they2d been
How do we use the Past Perfect Continuous Tense?

The past perfect continuous tense is like the past perfect tense but it e8presses lon#er actions in the past before another action in the past. 'or e8ample: @am started waitin# at ,am. I arri&ed at 11am. When I arri&ed @am had been waiting for two hours.
@am had been waiting for two hours when I arrived.

past @am starts waitin# in past at ,am. , 11 I arri&e in past at 11am. Here are some more e8amples: ?ohn was &ery tired. He had been running. I could smell ci#arettes. Somebody had been smo"ing. Suddenly my car broke down. I was not surprised. It had not been running well for a lon# time. !ad the pilot been drin"ing before the crash? >ou can sometimes think of the past perfect continuous tense like the present perfect continuous tense but instead of the time bein# now the time is past.
past perfect continuous tense present perfect continuous tense
present
future
had P been P doin# P DDDD P
P P P P
P P P P
ha&e P been P doin# P DDDD P
past
now
future
past
now
future
'or e8ample ima#ine that you meet @am at 11am. @am says to you: Page 28 of 38
ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES -I am an#ry. I have been waiting for two hours.1ater you tell your friends: -@am was an#ry. He had been waiting for two hours.-
Simple ,uture Tense

I will sing The simple future tense is often called will because we make the simple future tense with the modal au8iliary will.
How do we make the Simple uture Tense?

The structure of the simple future tense is:
sub6ect
7 au8iliary &erb WI11

in&ariable will
7 main &erb
base .(
'or ne#ati&e sentences in the simple future tense we insert not between the au8iliary &erb and main &erb. 'or !uestion sentences we e8chan#e the subject and auxiliary verb. 1ook at these e8ample sentences with the simple future tense: subject auxiliary verb will will will will you they not not main verb open finish be lea&e arri&e want the door. before me. at school tomorrow. yet. on time? dinner?
7 7 ; ; ? ?
I >ou She We Will Will
When we use the simple future tense in speakin# we often contract the sub6ect and au8iliary &erb: I will you will I2ll you2ll Page 30 of 38 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com
ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES he will she will it will we will he2ll she2ll it2ll we2ll
they will they2ll 'or ne#ati&e sentences in the simple future tense we contract with won%t like this: I will not you will not he will not she will not it will not we will not they will not I won2t you won2t he won2t she won2t it won2t we won2t they won2t
How do we use the Simple uture Tense?

No Plan
We use the simple future tense when there is no plan or decision to do somethin# before we speak. We make the decision spontaneously at the time of speakin#. 1ook at these e8amples: Hold on. I%ll get a pen. We will see what we can do to help you. (aybe we%ll stay in and watch tele&ision toni#ht.
In these e8amples we had no firm plan before speakin#. The decision is made at the time of spea"ing. We often use the simple future tense with the &erb to thin" before it: I thin" I2ll #o to the #ym tomorrow. I thin" I will ha&e a holiday ne8t year. I don2t thin" I2ll buy that car.
Prediction
We often use the simple future tense to make a prediction about the future. .#ain there is no firm plan. We are sayin# what we thin" will happen. Here are some e8amples: It will rain tomorrow. Page 31 of 38 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com
ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES $eople won%t go to ?upiter before the 22nd century. Who do you think will get the 6ob?
Be
When the main &erb is be we can use the simple future tense e&en if we ha&e a firm plan or decision before speakin#. )8amples: I%ll be in 1ondon tomorrow. I2m #oin# shoppin#. I won%t be &ery lon#. 2ill you be at work tomorrow?
=ote that when we ha&e a plan or intention to do somethin# in the future we usually use other tenses or e8pressions such as the present continuous tense or going to.
,uture ontinuous Tense

I will be singing
How do we make the uture Continuous Tense?

The structure of the future continuous tense is:
sub6ect
au8iliary &erb WI11

in&ariable will
au8iliary &erb /)
in&ariable be
7 main &erb
'or ne#ati&e sentences in the future continuous tense we insert not between will and be. 'or !uestion sentences we e8chan#e the subject and will. 1ook at these e8ample sentences with the future continuous tense: subject auxiliary verb auxiliary verb main verb be be not be not be be be workin# lyin# usin# ha&in# playin# watchin# at 1*am. on a beach tomorrow. the car. dinner at home. football? TC?
7 7 ; ; ? ?
will will will will you they
When we use the future continuous tense in speakin# we often contract the sub6ect and will: I will you will he will she will it will I2ll you2ll he2ll she2ll it2ll Page 33 of 38 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com
ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES we will we2ll
they will they2ll 'or spoken ne#ati&e sentences in the future continuous tense we contract with won%t like this: I will not you will not he will not she will not it will not we will not I won2t you won2t he won2t she won2t it won2t we won2t
they will not they won2t
We sometimes use shall instead of will especially for I and we.
How do we use the uture Continuous Tense?

The future continuous tense e8presses action at a particular moment in the future. The action will start before that moment but it will not ha&e finished at that moment. 'or e8ample tomorrow I will start work at 2pm and stop work at Lpm:
.t Mpm tomorrow I will be workin#.

past present future Mpm .t Mpm I will be in the middle of workin#. When we use the future continuous tense our listener usually knows or understands what time we are talkin# about. 1ook at these e8amples: I will be playing tennis at 1*am tomorrow. They won%t be watching TC at ,pm toni#ht. What will you be doing at 1*pm toni#ht? What will you be doing when I arri&e? She will not be sleeping when you telephone her. We %ll be having dinner when the film starts. Take your umbrella. It will be raining when you return. Page 34 of 38 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com
,uture Perfect Tense

I will have sung
The future perfect tense is !uite an easy tense to understand and use. The future perfect tense talks about the past in the future.
How do we make the uture Perfect Tense?

The structure of the future perfect tense is:
sub6ect
au8iliary &erb WI11

in&ariable will
au8iliary &erb H.C)

in&ariable have
main &erb
past participle .+
1ook at these e8ample sentences in the future perfect tense: subject auxiliary verb auxiliary verb main verb ha&e ha&e not ha&e not ha&e ha&e ha&e finished for#otten #one left. arri&ed? recei&ed it? by 1*am. me by then. to school.
7 7 ; ; ? ?
In speakin# with the future perfect tense we often contract the subject and will. Sometimes we contract the subject will and have all to#ether: I will ha&e you will ha&e he will ha&e I2ll ha&e you2ll ha&e he2ll ha&e I2ll2&e you2ll2&e he2ll2&e Page 35 of 38 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com
ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES she will ha&e it will ha&e we will ha&e they will ha&e she2ll ha&e it2ll ha&e we2ll ha&e she2ll2&e it2ll2&e we2ll2&e
they2ll ha&e they2ll2&e
We sometimes use shall instead of will especially for I and we.
How do we use the uture Perfect Tense?

The future perfect tense e8presses action in the future before another action in the future. This is the past in the future. 'or e8ample: The train will lea&e the station at ,am. >ou will arri&e at the station at ,.1Jam. When you arri&e the train will have left.
The train will have left when you arrive.

past present future Train lea&es in future at ,am.
, ,.1J
>ou arri&e in future at ,.1Jam. 1ook at some more e8amples: >ou can call me at work at Nam. I will have arrived at the office by N. They will be tired when they arri&e. They will not have slept for a lon# time. -(ary won2t be at home when you arri&e.-@eally? Where will she have gone?-
>ou can sometimes think of the future perfect tense like the present perfect tense but instead of your &iewpoint bein# in the present it is in the future: present perfect tense P ha&e P done P DP past now future past future perfect tense will P ha&e P done P DP now future Page 36 of 38
,uture Perfect ontinuous Tense

I will have been singing
How do we make the uture Perfect Continuous Tense?

The structure of the future perfect continuous tense is:
sub6ect
au8iliary 7 &erb WI11

in&ariable will
au8iliary 7 &erb H.C)

in&ariable have
au8iliary 7 &erb /)
past participle been
main 7 &erb
'or ne#ati&e sentences in the future perfect continuous tense we insert not between will and have. 'or !uestion sentences we e8chan#e the subject and will. 1ook at these e8ample sentences with the future perfect continuous tense: subject auxiliary verb auxiliary verb auxiliary verb ha&e ha&e not ha&e not ha&e ha&e ha&e been been been been been been main verb workin# tra&ellin# usin# waitin# playin# watchin# for four hours. for two days. the car. lon#. football? TC?
7 7 ; ; ? ?
When we use the future perfect continuous tense in speakin# we often contract the sub6ect and au8iliary &erb: I will you will he will she will I2ll you2ll he2ll she2ll Page 37 of 38 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com
ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES it will we will it2ll we2ll
they will they2ll 'or ne#ati&e sentences in the future perfect continuous tense we contract with won%t like this: I will not you will not he will not she will not it will not we will not I won2t you won2t he won2t she won2t it won2t we won2t
they will not they won2t
How do we use the uture Perfect Continuous Tense?

We use the future perfect continuous tense to talk about a lon# action before some point in the future. 1ook at these e8amples: I will have been wor"ing here for ten years ne8t week. He will be tired when he arri&es. He will have been traveling for 2M hours.

English Grammar Tenses

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

English Grammar Tenses

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

English Grammar Tenses

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Tenses

ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES

Page 1 of 38 %opyri#ht 4 2*15 )n#lishStation

ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES

Simple Present Tense

How do we make the Simple Present Tense?

sub6ect 7 au8iliary &erb 7 main &erb

I you we they He she it I you we they He she it <o <oes

>ou we they are He she it I is am

>ou we they are He she it .m is I

%opyri#ht 4 2*15 )n#lishStation

ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES .re Is you we they he she it late? late?

How do we use the Simple Present Tense?

?ohn dri&es a ta8i.

.m I ri#ht? Tara is not at home. >ou are happy.

The situation is now.

%opyri#ht 4 2*15 )n#lishStation ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES

I am not fat. Why are you so beautiful? @am is tall.

The situation is #eneral. $ast present and future.

%opyri#ht 4 2*15 )n#lishStation ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES

Present ontinuous Tense

!ow do we ma"e the Present ontinuous Tense#

sub6ect 7 au8iliary &erb 7 main &erb

I >ou She We Is .re

am are is are he they

%opyri#ht 4 2*15 )n#lishStation ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES

!ow do we use the Present ontinuous Tense#

Present continuous tense for action happening now

...the pa#es are turnin#.

...the candle is burnin#.

...the numbers are spinnin#.

?ohn is #oin# out with (ary.

%opyri#ht 4 2*15 )n#lishStation ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES

Present continuous tense for the future

I am takin# my e8am ne8t month.

!ow do we spell the Present ontinuous Tense#

$<' created with pdf'actory $ro trial &ersion www.pdffactory.com

consonant 9&owels E a e i o u: stop run be#in D D D

ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES stressed consonant &owel stoppin# runnin# be#innin#

Page 8 of 38 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES

Present Perfect Tense

!ow do we ma"e the Present Perfect Tense#

sub6ect 7 au8iliary &erb 7 main &erb

ha&e ha&e has ha&e

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES

finished? done it?

Contractions with the present perfect tense

It is usually clear from the conte8t.

Here are some e8amples:

!ow do we use the Present Perfect Tense#

1. Present perfect tense for experience

I ha&e seen )T.

$<' created with pdf'actory $ro trial &ersion www.pdffactory.com

ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES

2. Present perfect tense for change

I ha&e bou#ht a car.

?ohn has broken his le#.

Has the price #one up?