Tenses

Possible Verb Combinations

1.1. be + Ving → Progressive Tense

1.2. be + V3 → Passive Voice

1.3. be + to + V1 → Arrangements (Formal)

2.1. do + V1 → Simple Present Tense & Simple Past Tense

3.1. have + V3 → Perfect Tense

3.2. have + to + V1 → External Obligation / Commitment / Necessity

4.1. Modal + V1 → * Usage depends on the Modal

to + V1

for + Ving → ** Observed in most cases…

of + Ving
Non-progressive Verbs
- Mental and Emotional States
- believe - know - realise - think (=have an opinion)
- doubt - like - recognise - understand
- hate - love - remember - want
- imagine - prefer - see (=understand)

- Uses of the senses

- feel - see - sound
- hear - smell - taste

- Other
- be - disagree - mean - owe
- belong - deserve - matter - own
- appear - fit - need - promise
- agree - include - owe - surprise
The Present Tense

1. State
Present Time 2. General truth / Fact
Simple Present
3. Single action / event
4. Habitual action / event

Present Progressive 5. Action / event in progress

( am / is / are + Ving) 6. Temporary habit

Past Time 1. State up to now

Present Perfect 2. Indefinite past actions / events
(have + V3) 3. Habit continued up to now
4. Past action / event with present results

Progressive 5. Action / event that continued up to now

(have + been + Ving) 6. Habitual action / event continued up to now
The Past Tense

1. State
Past Time 2. Single action / event
Simple Past
3. Habitual action / event — (also used to…)

Past Progressive 4. Action / event in progress at a past moment

(was / were + Ving) 5. Background action of a past action / event

1. Sate before a past moment (time / action / event)

2. Action / event before a past moment
Past Perfect
(had + V3)

Progressive 3. Action / event that continued up to a past moment

(had + been + Ving) 4. Habitual action / event continued up to a past moment
Future Time 1. Based on beliefs / predictions
Simple Future
2. Facts about the future

3. Planned future actions

Present Progressive 4. Based on evidence / present time (also going to…)

Simple Present 5. Time-tables, schedules, and arrangements

Future Progressive 6. Action / event in progress at a future time

(will + be + Ving) 7. Background action of a past action / event
8. Temporary actions / event in future time

1. Action / event ending before a future moment (time /

Future Perfect action / event)
(will + have + V3)

2. Action / event that will continue up to a future moment

Progressive
(will + have + been + Ving) 3. Habitual action / event that will continue up to a future
moment
Simple Present Tense & Related Time Expressions
1. Frequency:
○ always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never…
○ everyday, every month, once a week, twice a month, once every three months…

2. Background Action:

Main Clause Subordinate Clause

Simple Present when / while Present Progressive

3. Other:
○ when, whenever, while, before, after, until / till, as soon as, as long as
 How often?
always

usually, generally, normally

often every ________

sometimes

occasionally
once
seldom twice a _______

rarely one time

two times
hardly ever every _______
three times
four times
etc.

never
General Time

󰟴 Supuni is a teacher. She teaches chemistry. 🧪

Now
Past Future

󰥎 Supuni goes to the gym every other day. 󰤒

Now
Past Future
Today

Tomorrow
2 d’ b’ y’day

D’ b’ y’day

Yesterday

D’ a’ t’row

2 d’ a’ t’row
 Subject Verb Agreement in Simple Present Tense

Active Voice Passive Voice

S. HV V The helping verb (HV) becomes a one-part verb S. HV V

in the Affirmative form (1.1).

I I am
do + V1 → Vi / Vm
You do You
V1 are V3
does + V1 → Vo
<many> <many>

<one> does <one> is

Simple Past Tense & Related Time Expressions
1. Definite past time:
○ yesterday, last week / month / year, in 1982, 3 hours ago…

2. Background Action:
Main Clause Subordinate Clause

Simple Past when / while Past Progressive

3. Other:
○ when, whenever, while, before, after, until / till, as soon as, as long as
Finished actions or events at a past moment or time period

🏫 I left school in 2006.

Now
Past Future

2006
Past states that ended at a past moment

💖 I loved her for 3 years.

Now
Past Future
Past habits or states that are no longer true

🚬 I used to smoke.

Now
Past Future
 Subject Verb Agreement in Simple Past Tense

Active Voice Passive Voice

S. HV V The helping verb (HV) becomes a one-part verb S. HV V

in the Affirmative form (1.1).

I I was
did + V1 → V2
You You
did V1 were V3
<many> <many>

<one> <one> was

Present Progressive Tense & Related Time Expressions
1. now, right now, at the moment…

2. Background Action:

Main Clause Subordinate Clause

Present Progressive while Present Progressive

Actions or events in progress at the moment of speaking

󰟴 We are learning a grammar lesson.

Now
Past Future
Temporary actions or events happening around now

📚 I’m following an English course.

Now
Past Future
Subject Verb Agreement in Present Progressive Tense

S. HV V

I am

You
are V+ing
<many>

<one> is
Past Progressive Tense & Related Time Expressions
1. at that moment, at this time yesterday, at 9 o’clock last Tuesday…

2. Past moment (action / event):

Main Clause Subordinate Clause

Past Progressive when Simple Past

3. Background action:

Main Clause Subordinate Clause

Past Progressive while / when Past Progressive

Actions or events in progress at a moment in the past

🍜 We were having dinner at 8pm last night.

Now
Past Future
Actions or events in progress at a moment in the past

We were having dinner when she called .

Past Future

Main Clause Subordinate Clause (when)

Past Continuous Simple Past

Background actions or events of another past action or event

I wrote down important points when the teacher was teaching .

I wrote down important points while the teacher was teaching .

Past Future

Main Clause Subordinate Clause

(when/while...)

Simple Past Past Continuous

Subject Verb Agreement in Past Progressive Tense

S. HV V

I was

You
were V+ing
<many>

<one> was
Present Perfect Tense & Related Time Expressions
1. Indefinite past time:
○ so far, never, already, yet, three times, many times…

2. Duration:
○ for three years

3. Past moment as starting point (action / event):

○ since 2018, since the moment / the day….
Past actions or events that have relevance to the present

🚪 Kasun has called three times already.

Now
Past Future
Past actions or events without mentioning time

+ Past experiences

🚪 Kasun has helped me many times before.

Now
Past Future

Time words:
never, yet, already, always, so far
Subject Verb Agreement in Present Perfect Tense

S. HV V

You have
V3
<many>

<one> has
Past Perfect Tense & Related Time Expressions
1. by the time:
○ by 2018, by the time ( S + V ): by the time we arrived

2. Duration:
○ for three years

3. Past moment as starting point (action / event):

○ from 2018, from the moment / the day….
Actions or events that finished before a Past Time

🚪 Kasun’s mother had locked the door by the time he went home.

Now
Past Future
Actions or events that finished before a Past Time

🚪 Kasun’s mother had locked the door before he went home.

Now
Past Future
Subject Verb Agreement in Past Perfect Tense

S. HV V

You
had V3
<many>

<one>
 Actions or events that started in the past
and continued upto now
(may or may not continue)
🚪 Kasun has been standing there for three hours.

Now
Past Future

Time words:
since, for, lately
Subject Verb Agreement in Present Perfect Progressive Tense

S. HV V

You have
been V+ing
<many>

<one> has

s
i v e form re
Pas s a
s t e nse .
i
of th ely rare
m
ext e
r
 The Future
Different methods to talk about different Futures.
Planned future actions or events
Use Present Progressive Tense with a Future Time Expression.
e.g. tomorrow, next week, in a (little) while, in a few minutes...

Subject Verb Agreement with Present Progressive Tense

S. HV V

I am

You
are V+ing
<many>

<one> is
Simple Future Tense & Related Time Expressions
1. Future time:
○ tomorrow, in the future, in 2121, next week / month / year, 10 years from now, this month,
someday…

2. Background Action:

Main Clause Subordinate Clause

Simple Future when / while Present Progressive

3. Other:
○ when, whenever, while, before, after, until / till, as soon as, as long as
Predictions about the Future (based on belief)
Predictions rely highly on the speaker’s belief. They may use one of the modals:
will / may / might according to the probability they assume for the action or event.

will

may
y
r o b abilit
er p
Less
might
Subject Verb Agreement in Simple Future Tense

S. HV V

You
will V1
<many>

<one>
Instant Decisions / Promises / Offers* / Threats
1. Hasn’t Kasun come home yet? I will call him.

2. I will never raise my voice at you again.

3. I will carry these into the house -- don’t fret.

4. I will suspend you if you keep disturbing the class.

* When you make offers in the question form, use “shall”.

3. Shall I carry these into the house?

Predictions about the Future (based on evidence)
People use “be going to + V1” instead of “will + V1” when making predictions
based on current evidence.

Subject Verb Agreement with “be going to”

S. HV V

I am

You
are going to + V1
<many>

<one> is
Future Progressive Tense & Related Time Expressions
1. at that moment, at this time tomorrow, at 9 o’clock next Tuesday…

2. Future moment (action / event):

Main Clause Subordinate Clause

Future Progressive when Simple Present

3. Background action:

Main Clause Subordinate Clause

Future Progressive while / when Present Progressive

Actions or events in progress at a moment in the future

We will be having dinner when she calls .

Now
Past Future

Main Clause Subordinate Clause (when)

Future Progressive Simple Present

Background actions or events of another future action or event

The students will be writing notes when the teacher is teaching .

The students will be writing notes while the teacher is teaching .

Now
Past Future

Main Clause Subordinate Clause

(when/while...)

Future Progressive Present Progressive

Subject Verb Agreement in Future Progressive Tense

S. HV V

You
will be V+ing
<many>

<one>

s
i v e form re
Pas s a
s t e nse .
i
of th ely rare
m
ext e
r
Future Perfect Tense & Related Time Expressions
1. by the time:
○ by 2121, by the time ( S + V ): by the time we arrive at the airport tomorrow

2. Duration:
○ for three years
Actions or events that finished before a Future Time

🚪 Kasun’s mother will have locked the door by the time he goes home.

Now
Past Future
Subject Verb Agreement in Future Perfect Tense

S. HV V

You
will have V3
<many>

<one>
Actions or events that continued upto a future moment
(may or may not continue)

🚪 Kasun will have been working at ABC for three months next month.

Now
Past Future
Subject Verb Agreement in Future Perfect Progressive Tense

S. HV V

You
will have been V+ing
<many>

<one>

s
i v e form re
Pas s a
s t e nse .
i
of th ely rare
m
ext e
r