COIS 231

Technical
Writing

Tenses- Part 1

Dr. LAL
 Tense- Part 1
https://www.ef.com/ca/english-resources/
Very useful link
Past Progressive/Continuous

Affirmative He was driving.

Negative He was not driving.
Interrogative Was he driving?
Form to be (in the simple past) + verb + ing
 action going on at a certain time in the
past
Uses  actions taking place at the same time
 action in the past that is interrupted by
another action
I was driving , You was driving , We were driving
Examples They were driving
She was driving , He was driving , It was driving
Functions of the past continuous

The past continuous describes actions or events in a time before now, which began in the past
and were still going on when another event occurred.
• It is used:
• Often, to describe the background in a story written in the past tense, e.G.
• The sun was shining and the birds were singing as the elephant came out of the jungle.
• The other animals were relaxing in the shade of the trees, but the elephant moved very
quickly.
• To describe an unfinished action that was interrupted by another event or action, e.G.
• "I was having a beautiful dream when the alarm clock rang."
• To express a change of mind: e.G.
• "I was going to spend the day at the beach but i've decided to get my homework done
instead."
• With 'wonder', to make a very polite request: e.G.
• "I was wondering if you could baby-sit for me tonight."
past continuous

• Examples
• They were waiting for the bus when the accident happened.
• Caroline was skiing when she broke her leg.
• When we arrived he was having a bath.
• When the fire started i was watching television.
• Note: with verbs not normally used in the continuous form, the simple past is
used.
Forming the Past continuous
Subject was/were base + ing
They were watching
Affirmative
She was reading
Negative
She wasn't reading
Interrogative
Was she reading?
Interrogative Negative
Wasn't she reading?

The past continuous of any verb is composed of two parts : the past tense of the verb "to be" (was/were), and the base of the main verb +ing.
Present Perfect Simple

Present Perfect Simple

Affirmative They have slept.
Negative They have not slept.
Interrogative Have they slept?
Have / has + past participle (past participle of regular verbs: verb + ed | Past
Form participle of irregular verbs: forms differ and should be learned by heart. This is a
list of irregular verbs)
 emphasis is on the result (not the duration)
 action that started in the past & is still going on
Uses  action that stopped recently
 finished action that has an influence on the present

 I have slept , You have slept , They have slept , We have slept
Examples  He has slept, She has slept, It has slept
Present Perfect Simple

Definition of the present perfect tense

The present perfect is used to indicate a link between the present and the
past. The time of the action is before now but not specified, and we are
often more interested in the result than in the action itself.

BE CAREFUL! There may be a verb tense in your language with a similar

form, but the meaning is probably NOT the same.
Present Perfect Simple

• The Present Perfect is used to describe

• An action or situation that started in the past and continues in the present. I have lived
in Bristol since 1984 (= and I still do.)
• An action performed during a period that has not yet finished. She has been to the
cinema twice this week (= and the week isn't over yet.)
• A repeated action in an unspecified period between the past and now. We have visited
Portugal several times.
• An action that was completed in the very recent past, expressed by 'just'. I have just
finished my work.
• An action when the time is not important. He has read 'War and Peace'. (= the result of
his reading is important)
• Note: When we want to give or ask details about when, where, who, we use the simple
past. Read more about
choosing between the present perfect and the simple past tenses.
Present Perfect Simple

Actions started in the past and continuing in the present

• They haven't lived here for years.

• She has worked in the bank for five years.

• We have had the same car for ten years.

• Have you played the piano since you were a child?

When the time period referred to has not finished

• I have worked hard this week.

• It has rained a lot this year.

• We haven't seen her today.

Actions repeated in an unspecified period between the past and now.

• They have seen that film six times

• It has happened several times already.

• She has visited them frequently.

• We have eaten at that restaurant many times.

Present Perfect Simple

• Actions completed in the very recent past (+just)

• Have you just finished work?
• I have just eaten.
• We have just seen her.
• Has he just left?

• When the precise time of the action is not important or not known
• Someone has eaten my soup!
• Have you seen 'Gone with the Wind'?
• She's studied Japanese, Russian, and English.

• Read more about

using the present perfect with the words "ever", "never", "already", and "yet", and about
using the present perfect with the words "for" and "since".
Forming the Present Perfect
The present perfect of any verb is composed of two elements : the
appropriate form of the auxiliary verb to have (present tense), plus the
past participle of the main verb. The past participle of a regular verb is
base+ed, e.g. played, arrived, looked. For irregular verbs, see the Table of
irregular verbs in the section called 'Verbs'.

Affirmative
Subject to have past participle
She has visited.
Negative
Subject to have + not past participle
She has not (hasn't) visited.
Interrogative
to have subject past participle
Has she visited?
Negative interrogative
to have + not subject past participle
Hasn't she visited?
Present Perfect Simple
• To Walk, present perfect

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I have walked I haven't walked Have I walked?

You have walked You haven't walked. Have you walked?

He, she, it has walked He, she, hasn't walked Has he, she, it walked?

We have walked We haven't walked Have we walked?

You have walked You haven't walked Have you walked?

They have walked They haven't walked Have they walked?

Past Perfect Simple
Affirmative She had won.
Negative She had not won.
Interrogative Had she won?
had + past participle (past participle of regular verbs: verb + ed |
Past participle of irregular verbs: forms differ and should be learned
Form by heart. This is a list of irregular verbs)

 action taking place before a certain time in the past

 sometimes interchangeable with past perfect progressive
Uses  putting emphasis only on the fact (not the duration)

 I had won, you had won , they had won, we had won
Examples  He had won, she had won, it had won
Functions of the Past perfect
• The past perfect refers to a time earlier than before now. It is used to
make it clear that one event happened before another in the past. It
does not matter which event is mentioned first - the tense makes it
clear which one happened first.
• In these examples, Event A is the event that happened first and Event B
is the second or more recent event:

Event A Event B
John had gone out when I arrived in the office.
Event A Event B
I had saved my document before the computer crashed.
Event B Event A
When they arrived we had already started cooking.
Event B Event A
He was very tired because he hadn't slept well.
Forming the Past perfect tense
The Past Perfect tense in English is composed of two
parts: the past tense of the verb to have (had) + the
past participle of the main verb
Subject had past participle
Affirmative
She had given
Negative
She hadn't asked.
Interrogative
Had they arrived?
Interrogative Negative
Hadn't you finished?
Past perfect tense(Cont.)
• To decide, past perfect

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I had decided I hadn't decided Had I decided?

You had decided You hadn't decided Had you decided?

She had decided She hadn't decided Had she decided?

We had decided We hadn't decided Had we decided?

They had decided They hadn't decided Had they decided?

Past perfect tense(Cont.)
• Past perfect + just
• 'Just' is used with the past perfect to refer to an
event that was only a short time earlier than before
now, e.g.
• The train had just left when I arrived at the station.
• She had just left the room when the police arrived.
• I had just put the washing out when it started to
rain.
Future PlanPresent Perfect Progressive/Continuous

Affirmative He has been thinking.

Negative He has not been thinking.
Interrogati Has he been thinking?
ve
Form have or has + been + verb + ing
 putting emphasis on the course or duration (not
the result)
Uses  action that recently stopped or is still going on
 finished action that influenced the present
 I have been thinking, you have been thinking, we have been
thinking,
Examples  They have been thinking,
 He has been thinking, she has been thinking, it has been
thinking
Present Perfect Continuous
• The present perfect continuous is used to refer to an unspecified time
between 'before now' and 'now'. The speaker is thinking about something
that started but perhaps did not finish in that period of time. He/she is
interested in the process as well as the result, and this process may still be
going on, or may have just finished.

• Actions that started in the past and continue in the present

• She has been waiting for you all day (= and she's still waiting now).
I've been working on this report since eight o'clock this morning (= and I still
haven't finished it).
They have been travelling since last October (= and they're not home yet).

• Actions that have just finished, but we are interested in the results
• She has been cooking since last night (= and the food on the table looks delicious).
It's been raining (= and the streets are still wet).
Someone's been eating my chips (= half of them have gone).
Forming the Present Perfect
Continuous
• The present perfect continuous is made up of two
elements:
1. the present perfect of the verb 'to be' (have/has
been), and
2. the present participle of the main verb (base+ing)
Subject has/have been base+ing
She has been swimming

Affirmative: She has been / She's been running.

Negative: She hasn't been running.
Interrogative : Has she been running?
Interrogative negative: Hasn't she been running?
Present Perfect Continuous(Cont.)
• Example: present perfect continuous, TO LIVE
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
I have been living I haven't been living Have I been living?
You haven't been Have you been
You have been living
living living?
He, she, it has been
He hasn't been living Has she been living?
living
We haven't been Have we been
We have been living
living living?
You haven't been Have you been
You have been living
living living?
They have been They haven't been Have they been
living living living?
Present Perfect Continuous(Cont.)
• Verbs without continuous forms
• With verbs not normally used in the continuous
form, use the simple present perfect instead (verbs
such as: know, hate, hear, understand, want).
I've wanted to visit China for years.
She's known Robert since she was a child.
I've hated that music since I first heard it.
I've heard a lot about you recently.
We've understood everything.
 Future Simple

Affirmative I will open the door.

Negative I will not open the door.

Interrogative Will you open the door?

Form will + verb

· We use the simple future for instant decisions.

We use the simple future when we predict a future situation

Uses We use the simple future in conditional sentences type one. (

More on conditional sentences here)

The materia source By Mis Nida Qayoom

Functions of the simple future tense
• The simple future refers to a time later than now,
and expresses facts or certainty. In this case there is
no 'attitude'.
• The simple future is used:
• To predict a future event:
It will rain tomorrow.
• With I or We, to express a spontaneous decision:
I'll pay for the tickets by credit card.
• To express willingness:
I'll do the washing-up.
He'll carry your bag for you.
Functions of the simple future tense

• In the negative form, to express unwillingness:

The baby won't eat his soup.
I won't leave until I've seen the manager!
• With I in the interrogative form using "shall", to make an offer:
Shall I open the window?
• With we in the interrogative form using "shall", to make a suggestion:
Shall we go to the cinema tonight?
• With I in the interrogative form using "shall", to ask for advice or instructions:
What shall I tell the boss about this money?
• With you, to give orders:
You will do exactly as I say.
• With you in the interrogative form, to give an invitation:
Will you come to the dance with me?
Will you marry me?
Note:

In modern English will is preferred to shall. Shall is mainly used with I and we to make an
offer or suggestion, or to ask for advice (see examples above). With the other persons
(you, he, she, they) shall is only used in literary or poetic situations, e.g. "With rings on her
fingers and bells on her toes, She shall have music wherever she goes."

The materia source By Mis Nida Qayoom

Forming the simple future

The simple future tense is

composed of two parts: will / Subject will infinitive without to
shall + the infinitive without to
Affirmative
I will go
I shall go
Negative
They will not see
They won't see
Interrogative
Will she ask?
Interrogative negative
Won't they try?
Contractions

I will = I'll
We will = we'll
You will = you'll
Note: The form "it will" is not
He will = he'll
normally shortened.
She will = she'll
They will = they'll
Will not = won’t
To see: Simple future tense
Interrogative
Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative
I will see I won't see Will I see? Won't I see?
*I shall see *Shall I see?
You will see You won't see Will you see? Won't you see?
He will see He won't see Will he see? Won't he see?
We will see We won't see Will we see? Won't we see?
*We shall see *Shall we see?
They will see They won't see Will they see? Won't they see?

*Shall is dated, but it is still commonly used instead of "will" with the affirmative or interrogative forms of I
and we in certain cases (see above).
Future Plan(going to)

Future Plan(going to)

Affirmative He is going to clean the car.
Negative He is not going to clean the car.
Interrogative Is he going to clean the car?
Form to be (in the simple present) + going + to + verb
 to express the future when we intend to do something or have decided to do
something but did not arrange it. It is just an intention.
Uses
 predictions in the future
 I am going to clean the car, you are going to clean the car,
 They are going to clean the car, we are going to clean the car,
Examples  He is going to clean the car, she is going to clean the car,
 It is going to clean the car
Future Plan(Present Progressive/Continuous)

Future Plan(Present Progressive/Continuous)

Affirmative He is traveling to Egypt next week.

Negative He is not traveling to Egypt next week.
Interrogative Is he traveling to Egypt next week?
Form to be (in the simple present) + verb + ing
 when we say what we have planned and arranged to do at a
Uses specific time in the future. These are fixed plans with
definite time and/or place.
 I am traveling to Egypt next week, you are traveling to Egypt
next week, they are traveling to Egypt next week,
 We are traveling to Egypt next week,
Examples
 He is traveling to Egypt next week, she is traveling to Egypt
next week, it is traveling to Egypt next week
Future Progressive/Continuous

Future Progressive/Continuous
Affirmative She will be listening to music.
Negative She will not be listening to music.
Interrogative Will she be listening to music?
Form will + be + verb + ing
 action that is going on at a certain time in the
future
Uses
 action that is sure to happen in the near future
 I will be listening to music, you will be listening to
music, they will be listening to music, we will be
listening to music,
Examples
 He will be listening to music, she will be listening to
music , it will be listening to music
Form

The future continuous is made up of two elements:

the simple future of the verb 'to be' + the present participle (base+ing)

simple future of the

Subject verb 'to be' present participle

You will be watching

I will be staying
 To stay, future continuous

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative

I will be staying. I won't be staying. Will I be staying? Won't I be staying?

You will be staying. You won't be staying. Will you be staying? Won't you be staying?

He will be staying. He won't be staying. Will he be staying? Won't he be staying?

She will be staying. She won't be staying. Will she be staying? Won't she be staying?

It will be staying. It won't be staying. Will it be staying? Won't it be staying?

We will be staying. We won't be staying. Will we be staying? Won't we be staying?

They will be staying. They won't be staying. Will they be staying? Won't they be staying?
Functions

• The future continuous refers to an unfinished action or event that will be in progress at a time
later than now. The future continuous is used for quite a few different purposes.
• The future continuous can be used to project ourselves into the future.
Examples
1. This time next week I will be sun-bathing in Bali.
2. By Christmas I will be skiing like a pro.
3. Just think, next Monday you will be working in your new job.

• The future continuous can be used for predicting or guessing about future events.
Examples
1. He'll be coming to the meeting, I expect.
2. I guess you'll be feeling thirsty after working in the sun.
3. You'll be missing the sunshine once you're back in England.
Functions • In the interrogative form, the future continuous can be used
to ask politely for information about the future.
Examples
1. Will you be bringing your friend to the pub tonight?
2. Will Jim be coming with us?
3. Will she be going to the party tonight?
4. Will I be sleeping in this room?

• The future continuous can be used to refer to continuous

events that we expect to happen in the future.
Examples
1. I'll be seeing Jim at the conference next week.
2. When he is in Australia he will be staying with friends.
3. I'll be eating with Jane this evening so I can tell her.
Functions

• When combined with still, the future continuous refers to events that are already
happening now and that we expect to continue some time into the future.
Examples
1. In an hour I'll still be ironing my clothes.
2. Tomorrow he'll still be suffering from his cold.
3. Next year will she still be wearing a size six?
4. Won't stock prices still be falling in the morning?
5. Unfortunately, sea levels will still be rising in 20 years.
Future Perfect

Future Perfect
Affirmative He will have spoken.
Negative He will not have spoken.
Interrogative Will he have spoken?
will + have + past participle (past participle of regular verbs:
verb + ed | Past participle of irregular verbs: forms differ and
Form should be learned by heart. This is a list of irregular verbs)

 action that will be finished at a certain time in the future

Uses
 I will have spoken, you will have spoken, they will have
spoken, we will have spoken,
Examples  He will have spoken, she will have spoken, it will have
spoken
Form

The future perfect is composed of two

elements
the simple future of the verb "to have"
(will have) + the past participle of the + past
main verb
Subject + will have participle of
the main
verb
He will have finished.
I will have finished.
To arrive, future perfect tense

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative

Interrogative
I will have I won't have Will I have Won't I have
arrived arrived arrived? arrived?
You will have You won't have Will you have Won't you have
arrived arrived arrived? arrived?
He will have He won't have Will he have Won't he have
arrived arrived arrived? arrived?
We will have We won't have Will we have Won't we have
arrived arrived arrived? arrived?
They will have They won't have Will they have Won't they have
arrived arrived arrived? arrived?
Function

The future perfect tense refers to a completed action in the future. When we use this
tense we are projecting ourselves forward into the future and looking back at an action
that will be completed some time later than now. It is most often used with a time
expression.

Examples
• I will have been here for six months on June 23rd.
• By the time you read this I will have left.
• You will have finished your report by this time next week.
• Won't they have arrived by 5:00?
• Will you have eaten when I pick you up?
Future Perfect Progressive/Continuous

Future Perfect Progressive/Continuous

Affirmative You will have been studying.
Negative You will not have been studying.
Interrogative Will you have been studying?
Form will + have + been + verb + ing
 action taking place before a certain time in the future
Uses  putting emphasis on the course of an action
 I will have been studying, you will have been studying,
 they will have been studying, we will have been studying,
 He will have been studying, she will have been studying,
Examples  It will have been studying
Form

The future perfect continuous is

composed of two elements
the future perfect of the verb
"to be" (will have been) + the
present participle of the main + will have + present
verb (base + ing) Subject
been participle
will have
He playing.
been
will have
I playing.
been
 To live, future perfect continuous tense

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative

I will have been living I won't have been living Will I have been living? Won't I have been
living?

You will have been You won't have been Will you have been Won't you have been
living living living? living?

He will have been living He won't have been Will he have been Won't he have been
living living? living?

We will have been living We won't have been Will we have been Won't we have been
living living? living?

They will have been They won't have been Will they have been Won't they have been
living living living? living?
Function

• Like the future perfect simple, this form is used to project ourselves forward in time and
to look back. It refers to events or actions that are currently unfinished but will be
finished at some future time. It is most often used with a time expression.
Examples
1. I will have been waiting here for three hours by six o'clock.
2. By 2001 I will have been living in London for sixteen years.
3. When I finish this course, I will have been learning English for twenty years.
4. Next year I will have been working here for four years.
5. When I come at 6:00, will you have been practicing long?
Verb Forms Practice
Exercises:
 Exercises
Put in the verbs in brackets in the correct tenses.

A. We TV when it started to rain. (watch)

B. I to visit you yesterday, but you not at home.
(want) (to be)
C. Look! It , so we can't to the beach. (to rain) ( go)
D. There are a lot of clouds! It soon. (to rain)
E. The sun in the East. ( rise)
F. Since 2011 they their son every year. (visit)
G. While the doctor Mr Jones this morning, his son outside. ( examine) (wait)
H. I for my girlfriend for two hours. (wait)
I. After Larry the film on TV, he decided to buy the book. ( see)
J. Wait a minute, I this box for you. (carry)
B. Write the missing verb form into the boxes.

Infinitive/Present Past Past Participle

Fly
Steal
Write
Spring
Send
Let
Do
Hide
Sink
Hold
Catch
Plan
Run
Eat
Sleep
Wash
Rise
Tear
Grow
Lend
Sweep
Swear
Study
Listen
Hear
Kill
Put
Do
Walk
Watch
Pick
Copy
Eat
D. Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple present or present progressive/continuous)

1. Look! Sara (go) to the movies.

2. On her right hand, Sara (carry) her handbag.
3. The handbag (be) very beautiful.
4. Sara usually (put) on black shoes but now she (wear) white trainers.
5. And look, she (take) an umbrella because it (rain)

E. Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive/continuous).

1. The receptionist (welcome) the guests and (ask) them to fill in the form
2. The car (break) down and we (have) to walk home.
3. The boys (swim) while the girls (sunbath) .
4. My father (come) in, (look) and (tell) me to tidy up my room.
5. While one group (prepare) dinner the others (collect) wood for the campfire.
6. While the parents (have) breakfast the children (run) about.
7. Martha (turn) off the light and (go) to bed.
F. Fill in the boxes with future tense:

1. I him tomorrow. (meet)

2. They to Dublin. (drive)
3. He to the football match. (go)
4. She her aunt. (visit)
5. We a test. (write)
6. They them tea. (offer)
7. My friends their holidays in Wales. (spend)
8. My uncle a birthday present for Harry. (buy)
9. I the rabbits. (feed)
10. My father his car. (wash)
11. Tom you with the homework. (help)
12. There a meeting at our school. (be)
13. Winter holidays in the first week of February. (be)

14. I it for you. (repair)

15. They Japanese. (learn)