The word “Tense” is derived from latin word “tempus”

which means time. A verb indicates the time of an action, event

or condition by changing its form.
The verb tenses may be categorized according to the time
frame:

•Present Tense
•Past Tense
•Future Tense

Verb Tenses

Past Present Future

-Present Simple -Future Simple

-PastSimple
-"Be going to"Future
-Past Continuous -Present Continuous
-Future Continuous

-
-Future Perfect Simple
-Past Perfect Simple -Present Perfect Simple
-Future Perfect Continuous
-Past Perfect Continuous -Present Perfect Continuous
-Future in the Pat
PRESENT

Present Simple

The affirmative form:

Subj + V (III-s/-es)

The negative form:

Subj + do not/ does not (III) +V

The interrogative form:

Do/ Does (III) + subj+ V

USES:
1.general truths/ laws of nature
e.g. The sun rises in the East.

2. repeated activites/ habits/ daily routine/ preferences

e.g. I go to school every day.

3.headlines/ captions/ stage directions

e.g. Ex-champ dies.
4. instructions/ directions/ explanations
e.g. You take the first turning to the left and then you go straight down.

5. live sports commentaries

e.g. Smith passes the ball to John to shoots and scores.

6. cookery demonstrations
e.g. I bet 5 eggs in a bowl and then I add sugar.

7. official timetable (+future value)

e.g. School starts at 8 in the morning.
The train leaves at 9 tomorrow morning.
8. after time expressions (= future value)
e.g. I will buy the book when I have the money.

 When, before, after, until, till, by the time, once, the moment, as
soon as

9. after conditional expressions (=future value)

e.g. You will go out if you have finished/ finish your work.

10. in narratives/ commentaries/ summaries/ review

e.g The man leaves his country and goes to Africa.
11. opinios/ suggestion/ advice
e.g. I think this book is great.

12. states and permanent situations/ characteristics

e.g I like ice-cream.
He’s tall.
I believe in God.

 Adverbs of frequency:

 Always
 Usually
 As usual
 As a rule
 Often
 Sometimes
 Rarely
 Seldom
 Never
 Ever
 Every day/ week/ month
 Every now and then
 Every 2 weeks
 Every so often
 On Mondays
 In the mornings
 At weekends
 Generally
Present Continuous

The affirmative form:

Subj + to be+ V-ing

The negative form:

Subj + to be + not +V-ing

The interrogative form:

To be + subj +V-ing

USES:
1.an activity in progress at the present moment of speech
e.g. I am reading an interesting book now.

2. a temporary activity
e.g. I usually drink coffee, but today I’m drinking tea.

3. a personal arrangement (=future value)

e.g. I am meeting my friends at the cinema tonight.
4.changing or developing situations (+comparative adj , “increasingly”)
e.g. Days are getting shorter and shorter.

5. annoying/ amusing habits (always, forever, all the time, continually)

e.g. He’s continually interrupting me!

Adverbs of frequency:
 Now
 Right now
 For now
 For the time being
 At present
 At this time
 Today / tonight
 Tomorrow
 These days
Present Perfect Simple

The affirmative form:

Subj + to have(have/ has- III) + V 3 (Past Participle)

The negative form:

Subj + to have +not + V 3

The interrogative form:

To have+ subj+ V 3

USES:

1.an action completed before the present moment of speech, we do not

say when it happened
e.g. I have done my homework.

2.the experience the subj has had so far:

e.g. We have traavelled across Europe.
3. the result of a completed activity
e.g. I have forgotten my glasses at home, so I can’t read now.(ta state)
He has read 3 books by Dickens. (number)

4. the duration of a finished activity or of a permanent situation

e.g. It has rained for 2 hours.

Adverbs of frequency:
 Now
 Never
 Already
 Just
 Still
 Yet
 Before
 So far
 Recently
 Always
 Once/ twice
 It is the first time
Present Perfect Continuous

The affirmative form:

Subj + to have(have/ has- III) + to be (V3 – been)+ V-ing

The negative form:

Subj + to have +not + to be(V3-been)+ V-ing

The interrogative form:

To have+ subj+ to be (V3-been)+ V-ing

USES:
1.the duration of an activity which started in the past and is still in
progress at present
e.g. They have been writing for an hour.

2.the annoyens regarding sb’s repeated activity

e.g.Who has been using my umbrella; it’s all wet.

3. the action may stop just before the present moment

e.g. I have been climbing the staires; that’s why I’m breathless.
Adverbs of frequency:
 For
 Since
 How long
 Lately
 All

Past Simple

The affirmative form:

Subj + V 2

The negative form:

Subj +did+ not+ V short infinitive

The interrogative form:

Did +subj+ V short infinitive

USES:
1.actions completed at a definite past moment
2. repeated or habitual actions in the past
3.general truths about the past
4.permanent situations and states in the past
5.the main events in a story

Adverbs of frequency:
 Last
 Ago
 Yesterday
 Then
 When
 Before
 After
 Until

Past Continuous

The affirmative form:

Subj + was/were + V-ing

The negative form:

Subj +was/were + not+ V-ing
The interrogative form:
Was/Were + subj + V-ing

USES:
1.actions in progress at a particular moment in the past
2.temporary situations
3.background information in a story
4.actions in progress over a period of time
5.annoying or amusing past habits

Adverbs of frequency:
 While
 As
 When
 At 6 o’clock
 This time yesterday
 At the time

Past Perfect Simple

The affirmative form:

Subj + had + V3
The negative form:
Subj +had+ not+ V3

The interrogative form:

Had+ subj + V3

USES:
1.completed actions before a moment in the past

Adverbs of frequency:
 Before
 By the time
 When
 Until
 After
 By then
 Never
 Just
 Already
 Still
 Yet
 Past Perfect Continuous

The affirmative form:

Subj + had + been+ V-ing
The negative form:
Subj +had + not+been + V-ing
The interrogative form:
Had + subj +been + V-ing

USES:
1.past actions which are still in progress at a past moment or they have
just stopped; it shows duration

Adverbs of frequency:
 For
 Since
 How long
 Before
 Until
 By the time
 When
 Future Simple

The affirmative form:

Subj + will+ V
The negative form:
Subj +will + not+ V
The interrogative form:
Will + subj+ V

USES:
1.predictions
2.future facts
3.decisions made at the moment of speaking
4.offers, suggestions
5.promises
6.requests
7.refusals

 I hope/ think/ expect/ believe

 Probably/ perhaps
 I’m certain sure
 Future Continuous

USES:
1.actions in progress at a future moment
2.situations which will happen in the future in the normal course of
events
3.in the negative, the subj can’t do the action

Adverbs of frequency:
 Tomorrow
 This time next week
 On Monday

Future Perfect Simple

USES:
1.future actions completed before another action

Adverbs of frequency:
 By the time
 When
 Before
Future Perfect Continuous

USES:
1.future action which is still in progress when another future actions
occurs; it shows duration

Adverbs of frequency:
 For
 All the morning
 This time next week

Future in the Past

Will > Would: the main verb in the past