ASSIGNMENT ON

TENSES
SUBJECT:
Language in Use
DEPARTMENT:
BS English (1st Semester)
SUBMITTED TO:
Respected Madam Ansa Ahsan

SUBMITTED BY:
Nageen D/O Abdul Waheed

DATE: 8th October 2019

PREPARED BY: Nageen Abdul Waheed Page 1

 TENSES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TENSES
 Present Tense
 Present Indefinite Tense
 Present Continuous Tense
 Present Perfect Tense
 Present Perfect Continuous Tense
 Past Tense
 Past Indefinite Tense
 Past Continuous Tense
 Past Perfect Tense
 Past Perfect Continuous Tense
 Future Tense
 Future Indefinite Tense
 Future Continuous Tense
 Future Perfect Tense
 Future Perfect Continuous Tense

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 PRESENT INDEFINITE TENSE
TENSE: A grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time.
PRESENT TENSE: The verb tense expressing action in the present time.
PRESENT INDEFINITE TENSE: It is used to express an action in present time, habitual or usual actions or
daily event or universal fact. It is used to express an action in present time which is usually done on a regular basis. For
example a student says, “I go to school”. It is a daily activity of a student to go to school, so such actions are expressed by
present simple tense. Another example is, “I work in a factory”. It tells about a usual action of a person that he works in a
factory on regular basis.
Rules: 1st form of verb or base verb is used as main verb in sentence

STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES IN PRESENT SIMPLE TENSE

Affirmative Sentence:
Subject + 1st form of verb (or base verb) + Object
Note: If the subject in a sentence is “he, she, it, singular or proper noun” then “s” or “es” is added to the first form
of verb or base form in the sentence.
Negative Sentences:
Subject + Do not/Does not + 1st form of verb (or base form) + object
Note: In negative sentence auxiliary verb “do or does” along with “not” is used. If the subject in a sentence is “he,
she, it, singular or proper noun”, then “Does not” is used after subject in sentence. If subject is “I, we, they, you or
plural” then “Do not” is used after subject in sentence. “s” or “es” is not added to main verb in negative sentence.
Interrogative Sentence:
Do/Does + Subject + 1st for of verb (or base verb) + Object?
Note: If the subject in a sentence is “he, she, it, singular or proper noun” the sentence is started with Auxiliary
verb “Does”. If the subject in a sentence is “I, we, they, you or plural” the sentence is started with auxiliary verb
“Do”. “s” or “es” is not added to main verb in Interrogative sentence.
Interrogative-Negative Sentence:
Do/Does + Subject + not +1st for of verb (or base verb) + Object?
Note: This type is same in rules with interrogative but “not” is added after every subject.

Present Indefinite Tense

Affirmative Negative Sentence Interrogative Interrogative-
Sentence Sentence Negative Sentence
I write a letter. I do not write a letter. Do I write a letter? Do I not write a letter?

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE: It is used to express a continued or ongoing action at present time. It
expresses an action which is in progress at the time of speaking. For example, a person says, “I am writing a letter”. It means
that he is in the process of writing a letter right now. Such actions which are happening at time of speaking are expressed by
present continuous tense. Present Continuous tense is also called Present progressive tense.
Rules: Auxiliary verb “am or is or are” is used in sentence. 1st form of verb or base verb + ing (present participle) is used as
main verb in sentence.
STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES IN PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE
Affirmative Sentence:
Subject + am/is/are + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object
Note: If the subject is “I” then auxiliary verb “am” is used after subject in sentence.
If the subject is “He, She, It, singular or proper name” then auxiliary verb “is” is used after subject in sentence. If
subject is “You, They or plural” then auxiliary verb “are” is used after subject in sentence. The participle “ing” is
added to the 1st form of verb.
Negative Sentences:
Subject + am/is/are + not + (1st form of verb + ing) + object
Note: Rules for using auxiliary verbs (am or is or are) after subject in negative sentences are same as mentioned
above.

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Interrogative Sentence:
Am/is/are + Subject + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object?
Note: For making interrogative sentences, the sentence is started with auxiliary verb rather than putting auxiliary
verb inside the sentence. If the subject is “I” the sentence starts with auxiliary verb “am”. If the subject is “He,
She, It, singular or proper name” the sentence starts with auxiliary verb “is”. If subject is “You, They or plural” the
sentence starts with auxiliary verb “are”.
Interrogative-Negative Sentence:
Am/is/are + Subject + not+ (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object?
Note: This type is same in rules with interrogative but “not” is added after subject.

Present Continuous Tense

Affirmative Negative Sentence Interrogative Interrogative-
Sentence Sentence Negative Sentence
We are throwing a We are not throwing a Are we throwing a Are we not throwing a
ball. ball. ball? ball?

PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

PRESENT PERFECT TENSE: It is used to express an action which happened or completed in past but usually
the action which happened or completed at a short time before now (near past) not a very long time before now. Specific
time such as two years ago, last week or that day is usually not used in the sentences of in this tense. It means that this tense
expresses the action whose time when it happened, is not exactly specified but it sounds to refer to some action that
happened or completed in near past.
Rules: Auxiliary verb “has or have” is used in sentence. 3rd form of verb (past participle) is used as main verb in sentence.

STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES IN PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

Affirmative Sentence:
Subject + has/have + 3rd form of verb or past participle + subject
Note: If the subject is “He, She, It, singular or proper name” then auxiliary verb “has” is used after subject in
sentence. If subject is “You, They or plural” then auxiliary verb “have” is used after subject in sentence.
Negative Sentences:
Subject + has/have + NOT + 3rd form of verb or past participle + subject
Note: Rules for using auxiliary verb “has or have” in negative sentence are same as mentioned above.
Interrogative Sentence:
Has/have + Subject + 3rd form of verb or past participle + subject?
Note: Interrogative sentence starts with auxiliary verb. If the subject is “He, She, It, singular or proper name” then
the sentence starts with auxiliary verb “has”.
If subject is “You, They or plural” then the sentence starts with auxiliary verb “have”.
Interrogative-Negative Sentence:
Has/have + Subject + not + 3rd form of verb or past participle + subject?
Note: This type is same in rules with interrogative but “not” is added after every subject.

Present Perfect Tense

Affirmative Negative Sentence Interrogative Interrogative-
Sentence Sentence Negative Sentence
He has drunk milk. He has not drunk milk. Has he drunk milk? Has he not drunk milk?

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE: It is used to express a continued or ongoing action that
started in past and is continued until now.

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Note: If there is not time reference or sense of time reference then it is not Present perfect continuous tense because there is
no hint about the time of action when it started in past and it seems just an ongoing action at present time which resembles
“present Continuous tense. So the reference of time differentiates between Present perfect continuous tense and Present
continuous tense.
Rules: An auxiliary verb “has been or have been” is used in sentence. 1st form of verb (base verb) +ing (present participle)
is used as main verb in sentence.

STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES IN PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

Affirmative Sentence:
Subject + has been/have been + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object
Note: If the subject is “He, She, It, singular or proper name” then auxiliary verb “has been” is used after subject in
sentence. If subject is “You, They or plural” then auxiliary verb “have been” is used after subject in sentence.
Negative Sentences:
Subject + has not been/have not been + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object
Note: To make negative sentence, the word “not” is written between the auxiliary verbs, so it becomes like “has
not been or have not been”. The rule for using auxiliary verb “has been or have been” in negative sentences is as
same as mentioned above.
Interrogative Sentence:
Has/have + Subject + been + (1st form of verb or base verb+ing) + object?
Note: Interrogative sentence starts with auxiliary verb. If the subject is “He, She, It, singular or proper name” then
the sentence starts with auxiliary verb “has” and auxiliary verb “been” is used after subject. If subject is “You,
They or plural” then the sentence starts with auxiliary verb “have” and “been” is used after subject
Interrogative-Negative Sentence:
Has/have + Subject +not+ been + (1st form of verb or base verb+ing) + object?
Note: This type is same in rules with interrogative but “not” is added after every subject.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Affirmative Negative Sentence Interrogative Interrogative-
Sentence Sentence Negative Sentence
She has been sewing She has not been sewing Has she been sewing Has she not been sewing
clothes. clothes. clothes? clothes?

PAST INDEFINITE TENSE

PAST INDEFINITE TENSE: It is used to express an action that happened or completed in past, usually a very
little time before speaking, or action which is just completed. Time of action is not specified in terms of long time ago or
short ago but it make a sense that the action has done a little time ago. For example, a person says, “I watched a movie”, it
means the speaker of this sentence watched a movie a little time ago or little time ago in the same day.
Rules: 2nd form of verb (past simple) is used as main verb in the positive sentences and base form is used in negative and
interrogative sentences.

STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES IN PAST SIMPLE TENSE

Affirmative Sentence:
Subject + 2nd form of verb (past simple) + object
Negative Sentences:
Subject + did not + 1st form of verb or base form + object
Note: In negative sentence “did not” is written and the 1st form of verb (base verb) is used instead of using 2nd
form (or past simple verb).
Interrogative Sentence:
Did + subject + 1st form of verb (or base verb) + object?
Note: Interrogative sentence starts with “did” and the 1st form of verb (base verb) is used instead of using 2nd
form (or past simple verb).
Interrogative-Negative Sentence:
Did + subject + 1st form of verb (or base verb) + object?
Note: This type is same in rules with interrogative but “not” is added after subject.

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 Past Indefinite Tense
Affirmative Negative Sentence Interrogative Interrogative-
Sentence Sentence Negative Sentence
He ran fast. He did not run fast. Did he run fast? Did he not run fast?

PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE: It is used to express a continued or ongoing action in past, an ongoing action
which occurred in past and completed at some point in past. It expresses an ongoing nature of an action in past. For
example, “he was laughing.” This sentence shows ongoing action (laughing) of a person which occurred in past. Past
continuous tense is also called past progressive.
Rules: Auxiliary verb “was or were” is used in sentence. 1st form of verb or base verb + ing (present participle) is used as
main verb in sentence.
STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES IN PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE
Affirmative Sentence:
Subject + was/were + (1st form of verb or base verb +ing) +object
Note: If the subject is “he, she, It, I, singular or proper noun” then auxiliary verb “was” is used. If subject is “you,
we, they or plural” then auxiliary verb “were” is used.
Negative Sentences:
Subject + was/were + NOT + (1st form of verb or base verb +ing) +object
Note: Rules for using auxiliary verb after subject are same as mentioned above
Interrogative Sentence:
Was/were + Subject + (1st form of verb or base verb +ing) +object ?
Note: The interrogative sentence starts with the auxiliary verb. If the subject is “he, she, It, I, singular or proper
noun” then the sentence starts with auxiliary verb “was”. If subject is “you, we, they or plural” then the sentence
starts with auxiliary verb “were”.
Interrogative-Negative Sentence:
Was/were + Subject +not + (1st form of verb or base verb +ing) +object?
Note: This type is same in rules with interrogative but “not” is added after subject.

Past Continuous Tense

Affirmative Negative Sentence Interrogative Interrogative-
Sentence Sentence Negative Sentence
Aslam was walking Aslam was not walking Was Aslam walking Was Aslam not walking
slowly. slowly. slowly? slowly?

PAST PERFECT TENSE

PAST PERFECT TENSE: It is used to express an action which has occurred in past (usually, a long time ago)
and action which has occurred in past before another action in past.
The students had gone before the teacher came. (The first part of sentence “The student has gone” is sentence of past perfect
tense, it says about an action which occurred before another action in past which is “the teacher came”. The second part “the
teacher came” is sentence of past simple tense. So such a sentence which express an action in past before another action in
past comprises two parts where the first part of sentence is past perfect tense)
Rules: Auxiliary verb “had” is used in sentence. 3rd form of verb (past participle) is used as main verb in sentence

STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES IN PAST PERFECT TENSE

Affirmative Sentence:
Subject + had + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object

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Negative Sentences:
Subject + had + not + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object
Note: “Not” is written after auxiliary verb in negative sentence.
Interrogative Sentence:
Had + subject + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object?
Note: Interrogative sentence starts with auxiliary verb “had”.
Interrogative-Negative Sentence:
Had + subject + not + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object?
Note: This type is same in rules with interrogative but “not” is added after subject.

Past Perfect Tense

Affirmative Negative Sentence Interrogative Interrogative-
Sentence Sentence Negative Sentence
You had played You had not played Had you played Had you not played
cricket. cricket. cricket? cricket?

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE: It is used to express a continued or ongoing action that started
in past and continued until sometime in past. (Remember, an ongoing action in past which continued till some time in past).
Note: If there is not time reference or sense of time reference, then it is not Past perfect continuous tense because there is no
hint about the time of action when it started in past or continued for some time period, so it seems just an ongoing action in
past which resembles “past Continuous tense”. So the reference of time differentiates between Past perfect continuous
tense and past continuous tense.
Rules: An auxiliary verb “had been” is used in sentence. 1st form of verb (base verb) +ing (present participle) is used as
main verb in sentence.

STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES IN PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

Affirmative Sentence:
Subject + had been + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object
Note: If the subject is “He, She, It, singular or proper name” then auxiliary verb “has been” is used after subject in
sentence. If subject is “You, They or plural” then auxiliary verb “have been” is used after subject in sentence.
Negative Sentences:
Subject + had not been + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object
Note: To make negative sentence, the word “not” is added inside auxiliary verb, so it becomes “had not been”.
Interrogative Sentence:
Had + Subject + been + (1st form of verb or base verb+ing) + object?
Note: Interrogative sentence starts with auxiliary verb “had” and auxiliary verb “been” is used after subject in
sentence.
Interrogative-Negative Sentence:
Had + Subject +not+ been + (1st form of verb or base verb+ing) + object ?
Note: This type is same in rules with interrogative but “not” is added after every subject.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Affirmative Negative Sentence Interrogative Interrogative-
Sentence Sentence Negative Sentence
They had been They had not been Had they been Had they not been
working hard. working hard. working hard? working hard?

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 FUTURE INDEFINITE TENSE
FUTURE INDEFINITE TENSE: It is used to express an action which has not occurred yet and will occur after
saying or in future. For example, “I shall go to zoo tomorrow”, in this sentence the person intend for tomorrow’s visit to zoo.
In short, these sentences express actions which will be done in future.
Rules: Auxiliary verbs “will/shall” are used in sentence. 1st form of verb or base form is used as main verb in sentence.

STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES IN FUTURE SIMPLE TENSE

Affirmative Sentence:
Subject + shall/will + (1st form of verb or base form) + object
Negative Sentences:
Subject + shall/will +not + (1st form of verb or base form) + object
Note: To make negative sentence “not” is written after auxiliary verb in sentence.
Interrogative Sentence:
shall/Will + subject + (1st form of verb or base form) + object?
Note: Interrogative sentence starts with auxiliary verb “will”
Interrogative-Negative Sentence:
Shall/Will + subject + not + (1st form of verb or base form) + object?
Note: This type is same in rules with interrogative but “not” is added after subject.

Future Indefinite Tense

Affirmative Negative Sentence Interrogative Interrogative-
Sentence Sentence Negative Sentence
We shall throw a We shall not throw a Shall we throw a Shall we not throw a
ball. ball. ball? ball?

FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE

FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE: It is used to express a continued or an ongoing action in future. For
example, “I will be waiting for you tomorrow”, it conveys ongoing nature of an action (waiting) which will occur in future.
Rules: Auxiliary verbs “will be/shall be” are used in sentence. 1st form of verb + ing (present participle) is used as main
verb in sentence.

STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES IN FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE

Affirmative Sentence:
Subject + will/Shall + be + (1st form of verb or base form +ing) + object
Negative Sentences:
Subject + will/Shall +not +be+ (1st form of verb or base form +ing) + object
Note: To make negative sentence “not” is written between auxiliary verbs “will and be” in sentence .
Interrogative Sentence:
Will/shall + subject + be+ 1st form of verb or base form+ing (present participle) + object?
Interrogative-Negative Sentence:
Will/shall + subject + not + be+ 1st form of verb or base form+ing (present participle) + object?
Note: This type is same in rules with interrogative but “not” is added after subject.

Future Continuous Tense

Affirmative Negative Sentence Interrogative Interrogative-
Sentence Sentence Negative Sentence
She will be sewing She will not be sewing Will she be sewing Will she not be sewing
clothes. clothes. clothes? clothes?

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 FUTURE PERFECT TENSE
FUTURE PERFECT TENSE: It is used to express an action which will occur in future and is thought to be
completed in future. It expresses a sense of completion of an action which will occur in future. For example, “John will have
gone tomorrow”. It shows a sense of completion of an action (go) which will occur in future (tomorrow).
Rules: Auxiliary verb “will/shall have” is used in sentence. 3rd form of verb or past participle form of verb is used as main
verb in sentence.

STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES IN FUTURE PERFECT TENSE

Affirmative Sentence:
Subject + will/shall have + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object

Negative Sentences:
Subject + will/shall not have + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object

Interrogative Sentence:
Will/shall + Subject +have + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object?

Interrogative-Negative Sentence:
Will/shall + Subject +have+ not + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object?

Future Perfect Tense

Affirmative Negative Sentence Interrogative Interrogative-
Sentence Sentence Negative Sentence
Aslam will have Aslam will not have Will Aslam have Will Aslam not have
walked slowly. walked slowly. walked slowly? walked slowly?

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE: It is used to express a continued or ongoing action that
will start in future and is thought to be continued till sometime in future. (Remember, an ongoing action in future which will
continue till some time in future).
Note: If there is not time reference or sense of time reference then it is not future perfect continuous tense because there is
no hint about the time of action when it will start in future and it seems just an ongoing action in future which resembles
“future Continuous tense. So the reference of time differentiates between Future perfect continuous tense between future
continuous tense.
Rules: An auxiliary verb “will/Shall have been” is used in sentence. 1st form of verb (base verb) +ing (present participle) is
used as main verb in sentence.
STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES IN FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
Affirmative Sentence:
Subject + will/shall have been + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object

Negative Sentences:
Subject + will/shall not have been + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object
Note: To make negative sentence, the word “not” is added inside auxiliary verb, so it becomes “will not have
been”.

Interrogative Sentence:
Will/Shall + Subject + have been + (1st form of verb or base verb+ing) + object + time reference?
Note: Will + Subject + have been + (1st form of verb or base verb+ing) + object

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Interrogative-Negative Sentence:
Will/Shall + Subject + have not been + (1st form of verb or base verb+ing) + object ?

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

Affirmative Negative Sentence Interrogative Interrogative-
Sentence Sentence Negative Sentence
They will have been They will not have been Will they have been Will they have not been
working hard. working hard. working hard? working hard?

THE -END

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