Tense

The word tense is a period of time which specifies the time of an action’s occurrence trough verb
forms.
Note: the word tense is derived from a Latin word tempus which means time.

Tenses in English (Main tenses)

Present
Past
Future

Categories
Simple tenses Progressive tenses Perfect tenses Perfect progressive tenses

Simple past tense
Past continuous tense
Past perfect simple
Past perfect Continuous
Sub tenses
Simple present tense
Present Continuous tense
Present perfect simple
Present perfect continuous
Simple future tense
Future continuous tense
Future perfect simple
Future perfect continuous

Note: We have six simple tenses and six continuous tenses.In simple tenses we can talk about
both actions and states but in continuous tenses we can only talk about the actions.
Remember: We use ing form of the verbs in all continuous tenses.In simple present tense and in
simple future tense we use base form of the verbs. In simple past tense we use second form of the
verbs. In present perfect tense, past perfect tense and future perfect tense we use third form of the
verbs.

Simple Present Tense

Structures
Action
Statement: Subject + verb + (s, es) + complement.
Negative: Subject + do (es) + not + complement.
Question: Do (es) + subject + verb + complement +?

Simple present tense talks about regular actions, daily actions, habitual actions and fact.

Examples: We play cricket everyday.

We don’t play cricket everyday.
Do we play cricket everyday? Yes, we do. No, we don’t.

She plays cricket everyday.

She doesn’t play cricket everyday.
Does she play cricket everyday? Yes, she does. No she doesn’t.
State
Statement: Subject + be (is, am, are) + complement.
Negative: Subject + be (isn’t, aren’t, am not) + complement.
Question: Be (is, am, are) + subject + complement+?
Examples: She is a teacher. She isn’t a teacher. Is she a teacher? Yes, she is.
We are happy. We aren’t happy. Are we happy? No, we aren’t

Present Continuous Tense

Structures
Action
Statement: Subject + be (is, am, are) + verb/ing + Complement.
Negative: Subject + be (isn’t, am not, aren’t) + verb/ing + complement.
Question: Be (is, am, are) + subject + verb/ing + complement +?

Present continuous tense talks about an action that is in progress at the moment of speaking or
around the moment of speaking.

Examples: We are studying English now.

We aren’t studying English now.
Are we studying English now? Yes, we are. No, we aren’t.
I am teaching now.
I am not teaching now.
Am I teaching now? Yes, you are. No, you aren’t.

Simple Past Tense

Structures
Action
Statement: Subject + 2nd form of a verb + complement.
Negative: Subject + didn’t + base form of a verb + complement.
Question: Did + subject + base form of a verb + complement +?

Simple past tense talks about an action or a state that happened in some specific time in the past.

Examples: We played cricket yesterday.

We didn’t play cricket yesterday.
Did we play cricket yesterday? Yes, we did. No, we didn’t.
State
Statement: Subject + be (was, were) + complement.
Negative: Subject + be (wasn’t, weren’t) + complement.
Question: Be (was, were) + subject + complement+?
Examples: She was a teacher. She wasn’t a teacher. Was she a teacher? Yes, she was.
We were happy. We weren’t happy. Were we happy? No, we weren’t

Past Continuous Tense

Structures
Action
Statement: Subject + be (was, were) + verb/ing + Complement.
Negative: Subject + be (wasn’t, weren’t) + verb/ing + complement.
Question: Be (was, were) + subject + verb/ing + complement +?
Use 1: Past continuous tense talks about an action that was in progress in some specific time in
the past.

Examples: We were studying English at 10:00 am yesterday.

We weren’t studying English at 10:00 am yesterday.
Were we studying English at 10:00 am yesterday? Yes, you were. No, you weren’t.

Use 2: Past continuous tense talks about two actions in the past in which one action started first
and it was in progress then another action happened and interrupted that first action.
Note: here we use these two conjunctions.
1) When: “when” means at that time. It is used with simple past tense clause.
2) While: “while” means during that time. It is used with past continuous tense clause.

Examples:
While we were studying English, Ali came
Ali came while we were studying English.
When our teacher came, we were studying
We were studying when our teacher came.

Use 3: Past continuous tense talks about two actions that were in progress at the same time in the
past.
Note: Only “while” is used.

Examples: While I was studying, my brother was sleeping.

He was dancing while were capping

Simple Future Tense

Structures
Action
Statement: Subject + will + verb + complement.
Negative: Subject + won’t + verb + complement.
Question: Will + subject + verb + complement +?

Simple future tense talks about an action or a state that will happen in some specific time in the
future.

Examples: We will play cricket next week.

We won’t play cricket next week.
Will we play cricket next week? Yes, we will. No, we won’t.
State
Statement: Subject + will + be + complement.
Negative: Subject + won’t + be + complement.
Question: Will + subject + be + complement+?
Examples: We will be in Pakistan next month.
We won’t be in Pakistan next month.
Will we be in Pakistan next month? Yes, you will. No, you won’t.
 Future Continuous Tense
Structures
Action
Statement: Subject + will + be + verb/ing + Complement.
Negative: Subject + won’t + be + verb/ing + complement.
Question: Will + subject + be + verb/ing + complement +?

Future continuous tense talks about an action that will be in progress in some specific time in the
future.

Examples: We will be studying English at 10:00 am tomorrow.

We won’t b studying English at 10:00 am tomorrow.
Will we be studying English at 10:00 am tomorrow? Yes, we will.
No, we won’t.

Present Perfect Simple

Structures
Action
Statement: Subject + have/has + 3rd form of a verb + complement.
Negative: Subject + haven’t/hasn’t + 3rd form of a verb + complement.
Question: Have/Has + subject + 3rd form of a verb + complement +?

Use 1: Present perfect simple talks about an action or a state that happened or didn’t happen in
some unspecified time in the past.

Examples: I have seen Ali.

I haven’t seen Ali.
Have I seen Ali? Yes, you have No, you haven’t
She has gone to India.
She hasn’t gone to India.
Has she gone to India? Yes, she has No, she hasn’t.
Use 2: Present perfect tense talks about the repetition of action or a state that happened many
times or several times up to now.
Note: In this case of present perfect tense we use these expressions of frequency.
(Many times, several times, a couple of time, once in one’s lifetime………etc)

Examples: I have seen Ali many times.

She has gone to Pakistan a couple of times.

Use 3: Present perfect tense talks about the duration of an action or a state that started in the past.
Continued to present. May or may not continue to future.
Note: in this case of present perfect simple we use the following two prepositions.
Since: shows the starting point of an action or a state.
For: shows the duration of an action or a state.
Examples: I have lived in Afghanistan since 2000.
I have lived in Afghanistan for eight years.
She has studied English since 2004.
She has studied English for four years.
State
Statement: Subject + have/has + been + complement.
Negative: Subject + haven’t/hasn’t + been + complement.
Question: Have/ has + subject + been + complement+?

Examples: I have been in India.

She has been sick for one week

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Structures
Action
Statement: Subject + have/has + been + verb/ing + Complement.
Negative: Subject + haven’t/hasn’t + been + verb/ing + complement.
Question: Have/has + subject + been + verb/ing + complement +?

Present perfect continuous tense talks about the constant duration of an action that started in the
past. Continued to present. It might or might not continue to future.
Note: in this tense we use the following two prepositions.
Since: shows the starting point of an action or a state.
For: shows the duration of an action or a state.

Examples: She has been living in India for ten years.

I have been teaching English since 2004.
I haven’t been teaching English since 2004.
She hasn’t been living in India for ten years.
Has she been living in India for ten years? Yes , she has. No, she hasn’t.

Past Perfect Simple

Structures
Action
Statement: Subject + had + 3rd form of a verb + complement.
Negative: Subject + hadn’t + 3rd form of a verb + complement.
Question: Had + subject + 3rd form of a verb + complement +?

Past perfect simple talks about an action or a state that happened before another action or time in
the past.
Note: here we use these conjunctions. (Before, when, by the time, after…etc)

Examples: I had done my homework before I came to class.

I had done my homework by the time I came to class.
I had done my homework when I came to class.
 After I had done my homework, I came to class.
State
Statement: Subject + had + been + complement.
Negative: Subject + hadn’t+ been + complement.
Question: Had + subject + been + complement+?

Examples: I had been in India before I came to Afghanistan.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Structures
Action
Statement: Subject + had + been + verb/ing + Complement.
Negative: Subject + hadn’t + been + verb/ing + complement.
Question: Had + subject + been + verb/ing + complement +?

Past perfect continuous tense talks about the constant duration of an action before another action
or time in the past.
Note: only “for + duration “is used.
Note: here we use these conjunctions” before, when, by the time….. Etc”.

Examples: I had been living in India for ten years before I came to Afghanistan.
She had been studying English for two years before she started teaching.
We had been watching the film for two hours by the time our father came.

Future Perfect Simple

Structures
Action
Statement: Subject + will + have + 3rd form of a verb + complement.
Negative: Subject + won’t + have + 3rd form of a verb + complement.
Question: Will + subject + have + 3rd form of a verb + complement +?

Talks about an action or a state that will happen before another action or time in the future.
Note: here we use these conjunctions. (Before, when, by the time, after…etc)

Examples: I will have done my homework before I go to bed.

Before I go to bed, I will have done my homework.
She will have cleaned the bedroom before she cleans the kitchen.
State
Statement: Subject + will + have + been + complement.
Negative: Subject + won’t + have + been + complement.
Question: Will + subject + have + been + complement+?

Examples: I will have been in Kabul before I go to Kandahar.

 Future Perfect Continuous Tense
Structures
Action
Statement: Subject + will + have + been + verb/ing + Complement.
Negative: Subject + won’t + have + been + verb/ing + complement.
Question: Will + subject + have + been + verb/ing + complement +?

Future perfect tense talks about the duration of an action before another action or time in the
future.
Note: only “for + duration “is used.
Note: here we use these conjunctions” before, when, by the time….. Etc”.

Examples: I will have been studying English for two years before I start teaching.
The players will have been practicing for two weeks before they take part in the
competitions.