THE TENSES

Contents
❑Classification based on Time Frame
❑Classification based on Aspects
❑Block diagram of Tenses
❑List of rules
❑Present Tense
❑Past tense
❑Future Tense
❑Exercise
 INTRODUCTION

The word Tense is derived from
the Latin word “tempus” which
means time. It denotes the time
an action takes place, whether
sometime in the past, in the
present or will take some time in
the future.
 Based on Time Frame

The verb tenses may be categorized according to the
time frame:

• Present tense
• Past tense
• Future tense
Present Tense:---
Present tense is the form of language used to refer to an
event, transaction, or occurrence which is happening now (at the
present time), or an object that currently exists.

Past tense:---
The past tense is a verb tense used for a past activity or a past
state of being.

Future Tense:---
The future tense expresses actions that have not yet occurred or
that will occur at a later time.
 Based on Aspect
Verb tenses may also be categorized
according to aspect. Aspect refers to the
nature of the action described by the verb.
There are four aspects:
 Indefinite or Simple
 Continuous or Progressive
 Perfect or Complete
 Perfect Continuous
Indefinite Tense
The three indefinite tenses, or simple tenses, describe an action but do
not state whether the action is finished.
Continuous Tense
The three continuous tenses, or progressive tenses, describe an
unfinished action.
Perfect Tense
The three complete tenses, or perfect tenses, describe a finished
action.
Perfect Continuous Tense
To combine the complete tenses and the incomplete tenses , to describe
an action which was in progress and then finished.
There are twelve possible verb
tenses.
Verb Tenses

Present Past Future

Present Indefinite Past Indefinite Future Indefinite

Present continuous Past continuous Future continuous
Present Perfect Past Perfect Future Perfect
Present Perfect Cont. Past Perfect Cont. Future Perfect Cont.
Here is a list of rules of these
tenses:
Structure
of Subject + Formula of Tense + Object
Sentence
Perfect
Simple Perfect
Continuous Tense Continuous
Tense Tense
Tense

Present Ist Form + Is/Am/Are + Ist Has/Have + IIIrd

Has/Have Been +

Tense s/es Form + ing Form

Ist Form + ing +
since/ for + time

Past Was/Were + Ist

Had Been + Ist

Tense IInd Form

Form + ing
Had + IIIrd Form Form + ing +
since/for + time

Will/shall + Have
Future Will/Shall + Will/Shall + be + Will/shall + Have Been + Ist Form
Tense Ist Form Ist Form + ing + IIIrd Form + ing + since/for
+ time
Present Tense

Present Present
Indefinite Continuous
Tense Tense

Present
Present
perfect Cont.
Perfect Tense
Tense
Present Indefinite Tense

It represents an action which is regular or normal or true

and uses the base form of the verb. In case of the third
person singular number, ‘s or es’ is added with the verb.
 I write articles on different topics.
 He reads various kinds of books.
 They love to play football.
Present Continuous Tense
The present continuous tense is used for
actions happening now or for an action that is
unfinished. This tense is also used when the
action is temporary.
 I am singing at church today.
 The boys are playing ball after school.
Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect is a verb tense which is used to show

that an action has taken place once or many times before
now. The present perfect is most frequently used to talk
about experiences or changes that have taken place, but
there are other less common uses as well.
• You have seen that movie many times.
• People have not traveled to Mars.
• Have you read the book yet?
Present Perfect Continuous
It represents the work which started in the past and is
still running. It uses “have been/has been” and “ing” is
added with the verb.
 I have been writing articles on different topics since
morning.
 He has been reading the book for two hours.
 They have been playing football for an hour.
PAST TENSE

Past
Past Indefinite
Tense Continuous
Tense

Past Perfect Past Perfect

Tense Cont. Tense
It represents an action occurred in the
past or a habit of the past and uses the
past form of the verb.
 I wrote articles on different topics.
 He read various kinds of books.
 They played football in that field.

Past Indefinite Tense

 It represents an on-going action of the
past. It uses was/were and "ing" is added
with the verb.
 I was writing articles on different topics.
 He was reading various kinds of books.
 They were playing football in that field.

Past Continuous Tense

 It represents two works which were occurred
in the past; the second or later action follows
Past Indefinite Tense. Past Perfect Tense uses
had and the past participle form of the verb.
 I had written articles on various topics before
he came.
 He had read different kinds of books before
you came.
 They had played football in that field before it
started to rain.

Past Perfect Tense

 It represents an ongoing action that started
and continued for some time in the past. To
indicate time reference “for” and “since” are
used and it describes when the action started
and how long it continued in the past.
 I had been writing articles on various topics
for three hours.
 He had been reading different kinds of books
since morning.
 They had been playing football in that field
before it started to rain.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Future Tense

Future Future
Indefinite Continuous
Tense Tense

Future
Future Perfect Perfect Cont.
Tense Tense
 The simple future tense is used when an
action is promised/thought to occur in the
future.

 We shall move to another city.

 He will come to New York tomorrow.
 They will make a phone which has
artificial intelligence.

Future Indefinite Tense

Future Continuous Tense represents a
continuous action which will happen in the
future.

 I will be writing articles on different

topics.
 Robert will be reading various kinds of
books.
 They will be playing football in that field.

Future Continuous Tense

 It represents an action which will have been
occurred at some time in the future. If two
actions take place in the future, the first one
is Future Perfect Tense and the second one
is Simple Present Tense.
 I will have written articles on different topics
before you come.
 Robert will have read various kinds of books.
 They will have played football in that field
before you reach.

Future Perfect Tense

 It represents a continuous action which will be
done at a certain time in the future. If two
actions take place in the future, the first one
which will be continued is Future Perfect
Continuous Tense and the second one
is Simple Present Tense.
 I will have been written articles on different
topics before you come.
 Robert will have been reading various kinds
of books on this topic.
 They will have been playing football in that
field before you reach.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

EXERCISE:-
Complete the following sentences using an appropriate verb form.
I usually tea in the morning, but today I drank coffee.
a) drinks b) drink c) drank d) was drinking
2. Ram is one of the players who ………………. selected for the Test match.
a) has been b) have been c) is d) was
3. Each of the candidates ……………….. interviewed by the manager.
a) are b) were c) has been d) have been
4. We would rather ………………. than surrender.
a) be dying b) die c) died d) will die
5. Not …………….. in time, he did not get the job.
a) being applied b) applying c) having applied d) applied
6. ……………….. by the storm, we took shelter under a bridge.
a) driving b) drove c) driven d) none of these
7. She complained of ………………….. by her husband.
a) having been abused b) abused c) abusing d) having abused
8. We ……………… in this city for ten years.
a) lived b) have lived c) had lived d) were living
9. Did you ……………….. him?
a) recognized b) recognize c) were recognizing d) had recognized
10. No one ………………… what happened to her.
a) know b) knew c) had known d) be knowing
Can you find all the errors in the following sentences?


 She always take her textbook to class.
 Soda and milk is high in calcium.
 Oxidation make cut apples turn brown.
 Research have the purpose of giving support
to theory.
 This information do not support our
conclusion.
Thank You