all TENSES structure

1. This topic will cover;
 Introduction
 Classification based on time Frame
 Classification based in Aspect
 List of Rules
 Present Tense
 Past Tense
 Future Tense
 List of Examples

2. Introduction
What is Tense?
Tenses are defined as the form of a verb which indicates
the time and the state of an action or event.

3. Based on Time frame
The verb tenses may be categorized according
to the time frame:
● Present Tense
● Past Tense
● Future Tense

4. Explanation
Present Tense
Present tense expresses an unchanging, repeated, or recurring action or
situation that exists only now. It can also represent a widespread truth.
Past Tense
Past tense expresses an action or situation that was started and finished
in the past.
Future Tense
Future tense expresses an action or situation that will occur in the future.

5. 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

6. Explanation
● 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, incomplete 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 describe an action which was in progress and then finished.

7. Tenses Overview
Verb Tenses
Present Indefinite
Present Continuous
Present Perfect
Present Perfect Continuous
Past Indefinite
Past Continuous
Past Perfect
Past Perfect Continuous
Future Indefinite
Future Continuous
Future Perfect
Future Perfect Continuous

8. Tenses Overview

9. Present Indefinite Tense
Subject + Ist form of Verb + Object
We write a letter
USAGE
● Repeated Activities
○ EXP: He goes to School. # He sells the religious books.
● Indicate Consistent Habit
○ Exp: The office closes at 4 P.M. # We read our lesson daily.
● For Universal Truth
○ Exp: The sun rises in the east. # The earth revolves around the sun.
● For Custom and Practice
○ Exe: The Muslims embrace one another on the Eid day.

10. Present Continuous Tense
Subject + is/ am/ are + ing form of Verb + Object
We are walking on foot
USAGE
● In progress Activity
○ EXP: We are walking on foot. # He is writing an important easy.
● Describe Present in General
○ Exp: He is writing a book these days.
● For Future Planning
○ Exp: They are coming to see us tomorrow.
■ He is constructing a house the next month.
● With “Always” to show habit or repeated action
○ Exe: Ali is always working.

11. Present Perfect Tense
Subject + Has/ Have+ 3rd
form + Object
I have read the holy Quran
USAGE
● For the task that took place in the near past
○ EXP: You have finished the book.
■ He has written a letter.
● For the action that started in the past and still going on
○ Exp: I have known him for ten years.
■ I have friendly relation with him for several years.

12. Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Subject + Has/ Have+ Been+ ing form+ Object + Since/For
She has been playing a piano since 2 o’clock
Since use to indicate “Point of Time” (since morning, since 1997)
For use to indicate “Period of time” (For two hours, for three years)
USAGE
● For the activity started in near past, is till going and can continue in future also.
○ EXP: I have been writing for you since morning.
■ They have been coming to see us for several months.
■ I have been waiting for him for two hours.

13. Past Indefinite Tense
Subject + Past form of Verb + Object
I wrote a letter
USAGE
● Activity that occurred at fixed time in the past
○ EXP: I wrote a book.
■ He met me yesterday.
● For near past
○ Exp: I waited for him till 3 o’clock
■ He reached here early in the morning.

14. Past Continuous Tense
Subject + was/ were + Object
We were playing hockey.
USAGE
● The activity that continued in the past
○ EXP: You were running on the road.
■ The soldiers were fighting.
● The past action that is in progress when another activity occurs
○ Exp: He was walking down the street when it began to rain.
■ They were chatting happily when I reached.
● For Future Planning and intentions
○ Exp: He was reading a book to pass the exam.
■ He was running fast to catch the train.

15. Past Perfect Tense
Subject + Had + 3rd
form + Object
He had reached university
USAGE
● For the activity that is completed before the other task
○ EXP: Match had started when I reached.
■ Student had gathered before the teacher came.
● Minister had left when the people reached.

16. Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Subject + Had+ Been+ ing form + Object + Since/For
He had been building a house for several
months
Since use to indicate “Point of Time” (since morning, since 1997)
For use to indicate “Period of time” (For two hours, for three years)
USAGE
● Duration of the past action up to a certain point in the past
○ EXP: I had been compiling book since morning.
■ It had been raining for two days.
● They had been coming here since 1970.

17. Future Indefinite Tense
Subject + Will/Shall + Ist form of Verb + Object
She will clean the class
USAGE
● For possibility of repeated action in future
○ EXP: He will smoke again.
■ I shall go to school.
● To show estimate or doubt about future activity
○ Exp: Perhaps, he will reach soon.
■ Where shall we be next year, we wonder?
● For weather forecast
○ Exp: It will be cloudy tomorrow.

18. Future Continuous Tense
Subject + will be/ shall be + ing form + Object
He will be writing an article.
USAGE
● The activity that will continue in future at a fixed time
○ EXP: They will be playing football in the afternoon.
■ You will be working till 4 o’clock.
● For expression of future intentions
○ Exp: We shall be running on the road.
■ You will be looking after your parents.

19. Future Perfect Tense
Subject + will / shall + Have + 3rd
form of verb + Object
She will have stopped taking medicine by March next
USAGE
● For the activity that will complete in future before the other one
○ EXP: I shall have finished my work till your return.
■ He will have reached home till morning.
● They will have left Pakistan before the end of year.

20. Future Perfect Continuous Tense
Subject will/shall+ Have Been+ ing form Object Since/For
I shall have been working on this project for ten years
USAGE
The task or activity that will continue in future at fixed time or period
● EXP: I shall have been sleeping for two hours.
● Girls will have been singing a song for an hour.
● He will have been studying for two years in the school