Tenses denote the time of action as well as the state.

Tenses

Tenses

Present Past Future

Perfect
Indefinite Continuous Perfect
Continuous
Note: questions are often based on confusing pairs

CONFUSING PAIRS

1. Simple present and present continuous

2. Continuous and perfect continuous
3. Present perfect and simple past
4. Simple past and past perfect

1. Present indefinite: under present indefinite we include the following

activities:
a. Routine action: Regular action - I come here daily
Irregular Action - Earthquake comes in Japan
Habits – He smokes
Universal Truth- The sun rises in the east.
2. Note: In newspaper headlines and commentary of sports, simple present
Tense is used.

E.g. PM signs a deal

Sachin strikes the ball and off it goes across the boundary lines

3. Simple Present Tense is used to express planned action of near future

E.g. PM leaves for China next week

Formulae: Positive → Sub + V1 + Obj. (If the sub is I, we, they, you or plural)

Negative → Sub + do not (don’t) + V1+ obj.

Question → Do + Sub + V1 + obj?

Do + Sub + not + V1 + obj?

Don’t + Sub + V1+ obj?

 Positive → Sub + V1 + s/es + obj. (If sub is he, she, it, name or singular)

Negative →Sub + does not (doesn’t) + V1 + obj.

Question→ Does + Sub + V1 + obj?

Does + Sub + not + V1 + obj?

Doesn’t + Sub + V1 + obj?

Correct the following sentences

1. What he knows about you? (x)

What does he know about you? (correct).
2. I do not know what he knows about you. (correct)
3. The appeal of the victims to transfer the cases related to riots to some
other states do not affect the merit of the case. (change ‘do’ into ‘does’ as
the main subject is ‘appeal’.

Explanation of sentences 1 & 2:

In the first statement ‘what’ is being used to ask a question. Hence,

interrogative form should be used after ‘what’. In the 2nd sentence, ‘what’ is
joining two sentences. Thus, a normal sentence should follow ‘what’.

Sentence 3: [Explanation]

A verb should always agree with the main subject of the sentence. We often
relate the verb with the nearest subject but this is wrong.

Simple past

An action that is over is expressed in Simple Past Tense

E.g. I saw you but you did not see me.

 Formulae: Sub + V2 + obj

Sub + did not (didn’t) + V1 + obj

Did + Sub + not + V1 + obj?

Didn’t + Sub + v1 + obj?

Note: If the sentence starts with ‘It’s time’, ‘It’s high time’ or ‘It’s about time’ and
if it is followed by a subject, the verb that will follow the subject will be in the
second (V2) form.

E.g. It’s time you should study. (wrong)

It’s time you studied. (correct)

If ‘It’s time’ is followed by ‘to’, ‘V1’ will be used.

E.g. It’s time to study.

 Usually in a sentence, ‘do’, ‘does’, and ‘did’, are not used in positive
sentences as a helping verb. But to emphasize the main verb, we use ‘do’,
‘does’ and ‘did’ before the main verb. In such sentences main verb should
be in ‘V1’ form.
1. You do come (V1) here everyday
2. He did make (V1) a mistake.
 If a past time is given in a sentence, the sentence must be in simple past
tense and never in Present Perfect Tense.

E.g. 1. I have come yesterday. (wrong).

2. I came yesterday. (correct).

Simple Future:

An action to take place in future comes under Simple Future Tense

E.g. I shall meet you tomorrow

Formulae: Positive→ Sub + shall/will + V1 + obj

Negative→ Sub = shall/will + not + V1 + obj

Sub + shan’t/won’t + V1 + obj

Question → Shall/will + sub + V1 + obj?

Shall/will + sub + not + V1 + obj?

Shan’t/won’t + sub + V1 + obj?

PRESENT CONTINUOUS:

An action that is going on at the time of speaking comes in Present Continuous

Tense.

E.g. I am studying English right now.

Sometimes some events are going on even at the time of speaking but we cannot
see them, they too come in present continuous tense.

E.g. 1. Coastal areas are getting submerged

2. Population is increasing day by day.

Note: For events that will take place in near future, Present Continuous Tense is
used.

E.g: I am going to Mumbai tomorrow.

Formulae: Positive→ Sub + is/am/are + V1 + ing + obj

Negative→ Sub + is/are/am / + not + V1 + ing + obj

Sub + isn’t/aren’t/am not + V1 + ing + obj

Question → Is/am/are + S + V1+ ing + obj?

Is/am/are + S + not + V1 + ing + obj?

Isn’t/aren’t + S + V1 + ing + obj?

‘Am not’ has no contracted form. Hence in question tag aren’t is used.

E.g: I am fine, aren’t I?

Use of is/am/are

Is – he/she/it/name/singular

Am – I

Are – you/we/they/all/plural

Note:

My father is working in a bank and my brother is studying in a school. (wrong).

My father works in a bank and my brother studies in a school. (Correct).

 If the statement deals with a routine action, Simple Present Tense is used
and not Present Continuous Tense. But if the work is just a temporary
routine action, present Continuous Tense is used.

E.g. I am preparing for competitive exams now-a-days

PAST CONTINUOUS

If an action was in continuation in the past, Simple Past Tense is used.

E.g. I was waiting for you.

Formulae: Positive → Sub + was/were + V1 + ing + obj

Negative → Sub + was /were + not + V1 + ing + obj

Sub + wasn’t/weren’t + V1 + ing + obj

Question→ Was/Were + Sub + V1 + ing + obj?

Was/were + Sub + not + V1 + ing + obj?

Wasn’t/weren’t + Sub + not + V1 + ing + obj?

Use of was/were

Was → he/she/it/name/singular/I

Were → you/we/they/plural/all

 In imaginary sentences, ‘were’ is used with all subjects no matter whether

it is used as a helping verb or main verb.

E.g: 1. I wish, I were (main verb) a bird.

2. He pretended as if he were (helping verb) sleeping.

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

An action going on in future comes under Future Continuous Tense.

E.g. We shall be taking the examination at this time, next month.

Formulae: Positive→ Sub + shall/will + be + v1 + ing + obj

Negative → Sub + shall/will + not + be + V1 + ing + obj

Sub + shan’t/won’t + be + V1 + ing + obj

Question→ Will/shall + sub + be + V1 + ing + obj?

Will/shall + sub + not + be + V1 + ing + obj?

Won’t/shan’t + sub + be + V1 + ing + obj?

Note: Some verbs do not take ‘ing’ form. Hence, they cannot come in continuous
tense.

 List of such verbs:

1. Verbs of perception- see, taste, smell, hear, prefer, please, notice,
recognize
2. Verbs of thinking process- think, know, mean, mind, remember, suppose.
 3. Verbs showing possession- Own, have, belong, comprise, possess, contain,
consist
4. Verbs expressing feelings or state of mind- believe, like, dislike, love,
adore, want, wish, desire, hate, agree, trust, imagine
5. Verbs in general- look, seem, appear, affect, resemble, cos, require,
become, hope, refuse

E.g. 1. He is owning a car. (wrong).

He owns a car. (correct).

2. This house is belonging to me. (wrong)

This house belongs to me. (correct).

3. I am not meaning anything wrong. (wrong)

I don’t mean anything wrong. (correct).

4. I am seeing man standing there. (wrong)

I see a man standing there. (correct).

Note: If ‘have’ denotes ‘possession,’ it is not used in ‘ing’ form but if ‘have’
denotes ‘to have fun or to eat’, ‘have’ can be used in ‘ing’ form.

E.g: I am having a piece of cake. (right).

I am having a car. (wrong).

I have a car. (right).

If think, remember, feel, look, appear etc. are used to express emotions or the
verbs given above are used in progressive state, they can come in ‘ing’ form.

E.g. 1. I am thinking you are right (wrong).

I think you are right. (right).

2. I am thinking of you. (right).

3. It was appearing as if they were going to kill us. (wrong).

It appeared as if they were going to kill us. (right).

4. You are looking good. (right).

5. Look! He is smelling the rose. (right)

In ‘Gerund’ and ‘Present Participle’, verbs are used in ‘ing’ form.

E.g. 1. Being ill, I could not come.

2. Getting a job is easy now-a-days.

3. Seeing is believing.

4. Swimming is a good exercise.

Note: See verb (Advance) for detailed explanation

If we use a verb after a preposition, the verb will be in ‘ing’ form

E.g. 1. Bats are capable of hearing (V1 + ing) ultrasonic waves,

2. We must keep away from smoking (V1 + ing).

PRESENT PERFECT

 An action that has recently finished is expressed in Present perfect Tense

E.g: He has come to Delhi recently.

 If the action is important and not the time of action, and the time of action
is not given, we use Present perfect Tense.

E.g: We have progressed a lot.

We have reached the moon.

Formulae: Positive → Sub + has/have + V3 + obj

Negative → Sub + has/have + not + V3 + obj

Sub + hasn’t/haven’t + V3 + obj

Question → Has/have + sub + V3 + obj?

Has/have + sub + not + V3 + obj?

Hasn’t/haven’t + sub + V3 + obj?

Use of Has/ Have:

Has- with he/she/it/name/singular

Have- with I/We/They/You/Plural

See the difference

1. Science has given us many new inventions

2. We have reached the moon.
1. Science has given us many new inventions in the 19th century. (Wrong)
2. We have reached the moon on 22nd Oct, 2008. (Correct)
 If past time is given, use Simple Past Tense and not Present Perfect
Tense.

The correct sentences will be:

1. Science gave us many lifesaving drugs in the 19th century.

2. We reached the moon on 22nd Oct, 2008.

Note: In a sentence, any form of ‘have’ can be followed by ‘had’ (Here ‘had’ will
be the main verb). This is because in Perfect Tense, such combinations are used.
1. I have had enough problems here.
2. He has had his breakfast.

2. ‘Usually’, ‘recently’, ‘already’, ‘yet’, ‘so far’ are used in Perfect Tense. ‘Yet’
is generally used in negative sentences of Present Perfect.
E.g.: He has not reached home yet. (Present perfect)
He had not done any work so far. (Past perfect)
3. If ‘since’ is followed by ‘Simple Past Tense’, ‘since’ is preceded by ‘Present
Perfect Tense’.
E.g.: I haven’t seen him since he left India.
Present Perfect Simple Past

Note: In such sentences the perfect form of any modal can also be used.
E.g.: He may have grown old since she last saw him.
Modal in perfect form Simple past

 If since is used at the beginning of a sentence, the formation of the

sentence will be as follows:
E.g.: Since he joined the army, he has not taken any leave.
Simple past Present Perfect

PAST PERFECT
Look at the sentences given below:
1. I saw him before he stopped his car. (x)
2. I had seen him before he stopped his car.
3. Before he understood anything the robber fled. (x)
Before he understood anything, the robber had fled.
4. I met him after I finished my work. (x)
I met him after I had finished my work.
5. By the time I reached theatre, the show started. (x)
By the time I reached the theatre, the show had started.
6. When Anand reached his village, he found that the news about him had
preceded him.
  If two actions take place in the past, one after the other, the 1st
action will be in Past Perfect Tense and the 2nd action will be in
Simple Past Tense.
Formulae: Positive> sub+had+v3+obj.
Negative- sub+ had+ not (hadn’t)+V3+obj.
Ques. Had+sub+V3+obj?
Had+sub+not+V3+obj?
Hadn’t + sub+V3+obj?
Note: See the 5th sentence.
When Anand reached his village, he found that the news about him had preceded
him.
EXPLANATION
 ‘Precede’ means ‘to come before’. The first action is the coming of
the news’ which must be in Past Perfect Tense and the 2nd action is
‘Anand going to the village’ which must be in Simple Past Tense.
FUTURE PERFECT
 An action that will have been completed in future, comes under
Future Perfect Tense.
E.g. You will have finished your syllabus by the end of next month.
Note: Look at the following sentences:
E.g. By the time I reach the station, the train will have left.
By the time Simple Present Future Perfect

 By the time, Simple Present, Future Perfect

Formulae: Positive> Sub + will/shall+have+v3+obj
Negative> Sub + will/shall+not+have+v3+obj
Sub + won’t/shan’t+have+v3+obj
Question> Will/shall+sub+have+v3+obj?
 Will/Shall+ sub+not+have+v3+obj?
Won’t/ Shan’t +sub+have+v3+obj?
Look at the difference:
1. By the time I reach the station, the train will have left.
Simple Present Future Perfect

2. By the time reached the station (Simple Past), the train had left (Past Perfect).

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS:

 An action already started and still going on comes under Present Perfect
Continuous Tense.

E.g. I have been living in Delhi for five years.

Formulae:
Positive -> Sub + has/have+ been + V1 + ing + obj + for/since + time.
Negative-> Sub +has/have + not + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/since + time.
Sub+ hasn’t/haven’t + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/since + time.
Question -> Has/have + Sub + been + V1 +ing + obj + for/since + time?
Hasn’t/haven’t + Sub + been + V1 +ing + obj + for/since+ time?

E.g.: I am teaching you since one hour. (Wrong)

I have been teaching you for an hour. (Right)

 For: is used for a period of time.

E.g. For two hours, for last two years.

For five years, for last 2 months.

For 10 years, for last 3 weeks.

 Since: is used for a point of time.

E.g. Since Monday, Since the beginning,

 Since 2008, since time immemorial.

Since 7 p.m., since last year.

Days -> Monday, Tuesday etc.

Calendar Dates -> 7 th May, 8th July etc.

Since Years -> 2020, 2021

Months -> May, June etc.

Occasions -> Holi, Diwali etc.

Clock 7 o’clock, 8 p.m. etc.

Stages of life Childhood, adolescence etc.

Part of each day Morning, last night, noon etc.

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

An activity that started in the past, continued and finished in the past comes
under Past Perfect Continuous Tense.

E.g. I had been waiting for you since morning.

Formulae:

Positive -> Sub + had + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/ since + time.

Negative -> Sub + had not (Hadn’t) + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/since+ time.

Question -> Had + Sub + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/since + time?

Had + Sub + not + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/since + time?

Hadn’t+ Sub + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/since + time?

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS:

An action that continues up to some future point of time comes under Future
Perfect Continuous.

E.g. I shall have been living in Delhi for five years by the end of this year.

Formulae:

Positive-> Sub + will/shall + have + been+ V1+ ing + obj+ for/from+ time.

Negative->Sub + will/shall + not + have + been + V1+ ing +obj+ for/from+ time.

Sub + won’t/shan’t + not + have + been + V1+ ing +obj+ for/from+

time.

Question-> Will/shall + Sub + have + been + V1+ ing +obj+ for/from+ time?

Will/shall + Sub + not + have + been + V1+ ing +obj+ for/from+ time?

Won’t/shan’t + Sub + have + been + V1+ ing +obj+ for/from+ time?

Note: Verbs that are not used in ‘ing’ form are not used in ‘continuous /

perfect continuous tense’.

Such verbs should be used in Indefinite Tense instead of Continuous

Tense

E.g. I am knowing you. (wrong)

I know you. (Correct)

 Such verbs should be used in Perfect Tense instead of Continuous Tense.

E.g. I have been knowing him for five years. (Wrong)

I have known him for five years. (Correct)

 For/since is used in both Perfect & Perfect Continuous Tense.

E.g. I have been living in Delhi for five years. (Correct)

I had known him for two years. (Wrong)

4. If ‘for/since + time’ is used in a sentence, the sentence will be in Perfect or

Perfect Continuous Tense.

E.g. I ate nothing since morning. (Wrong)

I have eaten nothing since morning. (Correct)