Past
• Simple- Two years ago, I studied English (V)
• Continuous- I was studying English when you called yesterday (was/were + V)
• Perfect- I had studied a little English before I moved to the U.S. (had+V) • Perfect Continuous- I had been studying English for five years.
(had+been+v) Present
• Perfect- I have studied English in different countries. ( has/have+V)
• Perfect Continuous- I have been studying English for five years. (has/have+been+V)
Future
• Simple- I will teach you a lesson. (will/shall+V)
• Continuous- I will be studying English when you arrive tonight. (will/shall +be+ V)
• Perfect- I will have studied every tense by the time I finish this course (will / shall +have+V)
• Perfect Continuous- I will have been studying English for over two hours by
PRESENT TENSE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE—
To denote present state of things. e.g. Students study very well.
The swimmer floats on water.
To present scientific facts and universal truths. e.g. Oil floats on water.
To describe routine.
e.g. We come to college by bus. He exercises every day.
To talk about fixed future actions.
e.g. The space shuttle takes off on Monday. They have a meeting tomorrow.
To give live commentary.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE—
An action that is happening at the time of speaking. e.g. We are studying present continuous tense.
A future expression that expresses an idea or intention of the speaker. e.g. The guests are arriving tomorrow.
They are going to have interview tomorrow. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE—
An action that began in the past and is still continuing. e.g. Check if your response has met the criteria.
We have worked here for quite some time now. An action completed in immediate past.
e.g. They have just invented a new machine.
An action whose time is not specified. e.g. I have read ‘Scarlet Letter’.
He has helped me many times.
An action that has finished but its effect is still felt. e.g. We have not completed the lesson.
I have finished my assignment. • Note-
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE—
This tense is used for an action which began at some time in past but is still continuing.
e.g. I have been teaching since 10am. I have been teaching for ten years.
PAST TENSE SIMPLE
e.g. I kicked the ball and scored a goal. I walked the dog yesterday.
PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE
Use the past continuous form of a verb when you want to talk about a long action that carried on in the past. The continuous past is often used to
describe what people were doing when something else happened. e.g. I was kicking the ball when Dave broke his arm.
He was walking the dog when I saw George.
• The past continuous is made by having was, or were + the verb + 'ing'. I/he/she/it+was+working hard
you/we/they+were+working hard PAST PERFECT
It is used to describe a past event or condition completed before another event in the past.
e.g. When I arrived home, he had already called the police.
• With will/won't -- Activity or event that will or won't exist or happen in the future. With going to -- future in relation to circumstances in the
present.e.g.
I'll get up late tomorrow. I won't get up early.
I'm hungry, I'm going to get something to eat. FUTURE PERFECT
To express action that will be completed by or before a specified time in the future. E.g.
Identify the tense of the following sentences-1. He has a beautiful wife.
2. Do I have a car?
3. Do have a cup of coffee. 4. I will go to the teacher.
5. My wife doesn’t like milk, neither do I. 6. It has nothing to do with him.
7. I let Jim clean up the mess.
11. I have had my lunch.
12. She has had her breakfast.
13. Suresh has his thesis written by somebody. 14. My dreams have come true.
15. I had no problem in reaching to this place. 16. You had better not miss the train.
17. Did he have a personal library? 18. Did he have a library?
19. I made her read a book.
20. I got my homework done by him.
22. She had had her breakfast early in the morning before I met her. 23. Would you let me join your company?
• 1-7 is Present simple(In 7th ‘let’ is helping verb and ‘clean up’ is main
verb); 8th is Present Continuous; 9-14 is Present Perfect; 15-21 belongs to
Past Simple(21 has ‘leaving’ as Gerund and ‘became’ as main verb); 22nd
is Past Perfect; and 23rd is Future Simple(‘Would’ as auxiliary verb and