This document provides information about tenses in English grammar. It defines tenses as demonstrating the time of an action performed by the subject of a sentence. The main tenses discussed are present, past, and future. For each tense, the definitions, structures, examples, and forms (simple, progressive, perfect, perfect progressive) are explained in detail. Special emphasis is placed on explaining the different structures, examples, and uses of each tense form.

1. P R E P A R E D B Y
A N T O H
D E P A R T M E N T O F E N G L I S H
S T X A V I E R ’ S C O L L E G E O F E D U C A T I O N ( A U T O N O M O U S )
P A L A Y A M K O T T A I
T I R U N E L V E L I
I N D I A
T A M I L N A D U
P I N – 6 2 7 0 0 2 .
TENSES

2. Definition
 Tenses demonstrate the time of an action in a
sentence usually performed by or centered around
the subject of the sentence.
 The actions are called verbs. Verbs change according
to tenses and other issues.
 As verbs are the most important elements of English
sentences, tenses also carry paramount importance
in English grammar.

3. Types
 Present Tense
 Past Tense
 Future Tense

4. Present Tense
 Present Tense represents actions which occur in the
present.

5. Examples
 Rock wants to sing.
 Bill writes the letters.
 Peter is coming to our place.
 Bob has given the book to Allen.
 I am going to the varsity.
 Austen loves to read books.
 Lisa has been living in this area for twenty years.
 The singer is singing nicely.
 The program is going on smoothly.

6. Forms
 Present Indefinite Tense
 Present Progressive (Continuous) Tense
 Present Perfect Tense
 Present Perfect Progressive (Continuous) Tense

7. Present Indefinite Tense
 The present indefinite tense, also known as
simple present tense, denotes a stative or habitual or
eternally true action.
 Generally simple present tense is used to indicate an
action which happens – always, regularly,
every day, daily, normally, generally,
usually, occasionally, sometimes, often,
rarely, frequently, nowadays, naturally,
seldom, constantly, never, every a week,
every year, once a year, on a week, at times,
at present, now and then, or all the time.

8. Structure
 Subject (third person singular number) +
verb in simple present form + s/es + . . . . .
 Subject (all other kinds) + verb in simple
present form + . . . . .
 Note: When ‘be’ verbs work as the main verb in a
sentence, they are different from the above
structures.

9. Further Information
Person/
Number
Singular Plural
First
I am a good cricket
player.
We are good cricket
players.
Second
You are an irresponsible
person.
You all are always
irresponsible.
Third
The earth is smaller than
Jupiter.
Junk foods are not good
for health.

10. Stative Verbs
Have
Understand
Know
Believe
Hate
Need
Hear
Love
Appear
See
Like
Seem
Smell
Want
Taste
Wish
Sound
Own

11. Examples
 I know Billy Bob.
 He understands it.
 They love swinging in the park.
 Some people do not believe in God.
 I usually wake up at 6.00 AM.
 He plays cricket, but his brother plays football.
 Earth is bigger than Mercury.
 The heat of the sun is the least in the polar.

12. Present Progressive (Continuous) Tense
 The present progressive is used to indicate the
ongoing time (now).
 However, the stative verbs do not usually take the
form of present progressive even though they refer to
the present time.
 Now, continually, perpetually, at this
moment, at the moment, right now, This
season, this year, forever, etc, are usually the
signs of a verb to take present progressive tense.
 However, these signs are not necessary all the time
for a verb to present progressive tense.

13. Structure
 Subject + am/is/are + verb + ing + . . . . . . . . .

14. Examples
 I am going to the college field.
 He is coming here for some tips.
 They are making a basketball ground.
 Why are you working in that horrible place?
 Four teams are playing at this moment.

15. Further Information
 This structure is also used to demonstrate
future time.
 Example:
Alex is leaving for Portugal tomorrow.
I am going to complete my task tomorrow.
Our bus is leaving at 6.00 PM.
They are flying to Australia next month.

16. Present Perfect Tense
 The present perfect tense is used when one
intends to indicate:
1. an action that occurred at a time which is indefinite
and has its effect on the subject
2. or an action that occurred many times and has the
possibility to occur in the present/future
3. or an action that began in the past and still going
on in the present.

17. Structure
 Subject + have/has + verb in the past
participle form + . . . . . . .

18. Examples
 Alex has read the book through. (No time is
indicated)
 I have read this poem many times. (Not habitual
but occurred many times in the past)
 He has lived in this apartment for 15 years. (Still
going on)

19. Further Information
 Just, already, yet, just now, ever, lately,
recently, etc. are some of the signs for present
perfect tense.
 Note: Already comes between have/has and
the past participle; yet appears with a
negative form at the end of the sentence.

20. Examples
 Alex has already reached there.
 Alex has not reached yet.
 I have already cleaned the house.
 I have not cleaned the house yet.

21. Present Perfect Progressive (Continuous) Tense
 It is the least used form of present tense.
 Present perfect progressive is used to indicate
an action that began in the past and is still occurring
in the present.
 Both present perfect and present perfect continuous
can be used to indicate this type of action.

22. Structure
 Subject + have/has + been + [verb + ing] + . . .

23. Examples
 Alex has been reading for 3 years.
 I have been sleeping since 10.00 AM
 Robert has been working in that shop for 6 years.
 We have been living together for four years.

24. Past Tense
 Past Tense represents actions happened in the
past.

25. Examples
 Bill attended the program.
 Tom performed in the show.
 Alice was practicing on the tennis court.
 Jim had been there a long time ago.
 I was waiting for my friends.
 Peter had been cooking the meal before we reached
there.
 Alana was happy to hear the news.
 Jeff had left the place before we reached.
 Rock was singing in the show.

26. Forms
 Past Indefinite Tense
 Past Progressive (Continuous) Tense
 Past Perfect Tense
 Past Perfect Progressive (Continuous) Tense

27. Past Indefinite Tense
 The past indefinite tense, also known as simple past
tense, is used to indicate a finished or
completed action/task that occurred/happened
at a specific point in time in the past.
 ‘A specific time’ can be diverse and can cover a
long period of time but it cannot be undeterminable.

28. Structure
 Subject + verb in the past form + . . . . . +
adverb of time + . . . . .
 Note: Adverb of time can also be at the
beginning of the sentence. Other sentences
can also refer to that adverb and can use
simple past tense.

29. Examples
 Alex went to Mexico last year.
 I ate a mango a few minutes ago.
 He had an exam yesterday.
 I used to travel around the world when I was fit. (It
can also indicate a habit of the past which is
not a habit in the present).

30. Past Progressive (Continuous) Tense
 The past progressive tense is used to
demonstrate an action that was happening in the
past for a period of time in a particular context.
 The context can be a specific time or another action.

31. Structure 1
 Subject + was/were + verb + ing + . . . . . a
specific time
 Examples
Alex was sleeping yesterday at 6.30 AM
I was cleaning the dishes at around 5.30-6.30
yesterday.

32. Structure 2
 When + subject + simple past tense + subject
+ was/were + verb+ing . . . .
 Examples
When I went out, you were shouting from behind.
When Alex came, I was sleeping.

33. Structure 3
 Subject + was/were + verb+ing + when +
subject + simple past tense . . . .
 Examples
You were shouting from behind when I went outside.
I was sleeping when Alex came home.

34. Structure 4
 While + subject + was/were + verb+ing +
subject + was/were + verb+ing . . . .
 Examples
While I was sleeping, you were making noises.
While Alex was playing, I was sleeping.
 Note: While can also be placed between the
two clauses, and one of the clauses can be of
simple past tense.

35. Examples
 I was writing articles on different topics.
 He was reading various kinds of books.
 They were playing football in that field.
 She was drinking coffee in that coffee shop.
 He was studying in the library.
 We were shopping in this market last week.
 We were watching a movie in this Cineplex yesterday.
 You were shopping in that market.
 I was singing different kinds of songs, especially modern.

36. Past Perfect Tense
 The past perfect is used to demonstrate an action
that occurred before another action in the past.
 There are usually two completed actions in the
sentence; one happens before the other.

37. Structure 1
 Subject + had + past participle form of the
main verb + before + subject + simple past
tense . . . .
 Examples
Alex had completed the task before the teacher
asked.
I had bought a phone before you came here.

38. Structure 2
 Before + subject + simple past tense + subject
+ had + past participle form of the verb +. . . .
 Examples
Before I went to the office, I finished some business
with her.
Before she went home, she had taken a test.

39. Structure 3
 Subject + simple past tense + after + subject
+ had + past participle . . . .
 Examples
Mark ate after I had bought him a bat.
I went to the office after I had finished some
business with her.

40. Structure 4
 After + subject + had + past participle +
subject + simple past tense . . . .
 Examples
After I had bought a phone, she came to the shop.
After she had gone, I came in.
 Note: When can be used in place
of before or after in any of the above
structures.

41. Examples
 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.
 She had gone to the coffee shop before she came home.
 He had studied in the library before he came to the class.
 I came here after you had left.
 We had shopped in that shop before we came home.
 We had watched a movie in that Cineplex before he
came.
 You had shopped in that market before you came home.

42. Past Perfect Progressive (Continuous) Tense
 The past perfect progressive tense is an
extension to the past perfect tense and its structures.
 Past perfect progressive is used to demonstrate an
action which continued for a specific period of time
but stopped before another action.

43. Structure
 Subject + had + been + verb+ing + . . . . . +
for/since + . . . . .+ before + subject + past
simple tense
 Examples
Alan had been playing cricket for 18 years before he
retired.
Jack had been living in Sydney since 2010 before he
moved to Melbourne.
 Note: This tense can be replaced by the past
perfect tense withdrawing for/since.

44. Examples
 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.
 Jane had been gossiping in the coffee shop for two hours.
 Jeff had been studying in the library before he came to the
class.
 We had been shopping in that shop before we came home.
 We had been watching a movie in this Cineplex for three
hours.
 You had been shopping in that market before you came home.
 I had been singing different kinds of songs for an hour.

45. Future Tense
 Future tense represents actions which will
happen in the future.

46. Examples
 I will give a speech in the program.
 Robert will be going to the varsity.
 Tom will have reached the place by now.
 I will be singing modern songs in the program.
 I will help you to do the project.
 Alice will assist you in this case.
 We will have reached home before you come.
 Robin will come to our place.
 Alana will sing country songs in the program.

47. Forms
 Simple Future (Future Indefinite) Tense
 Future Continuous Tense
 Future Perfect Tense
 Future Perfect Continuous Tense

48. Simple Future (Future Indefinite) Tense
 The simple future tense is used when an action is
promised/thought to occur in the future.

49. Structure
 Subject + shall/will + verb + . . . . . . . .

50. Example
 We shall move to another city.
 He will come to New York tomorrow.
 They will make a phone which has artificial
intelligence.
 Note: The structure of the present
progressive tense also can be used when an
action is promised/arranged/planned to take
place in the near future.

51. Further Example
 We are moving to Texas next week.
 The bus is leaving at 6.00 PM.

52. Future Continuous Tense
 The future continuous tense is used when an action
is promised/thought to be going on at a specific
time/context in the future.

53. Structure
 Subject + shall/will + be + verb+ing . . . . . . . .

54. Example
 I shall be sleeping at around 6.00 AM tomorrow.
 They will be playing at this time tomorrow.
 She will be watching TV when I come home.
 I will be working in the office while you watch a
movie.

55. Future Perfect Tense
 The future perfect tense is used to demonstrate an
action which is promised to be done by a certain time
in the future.

56. Structure
 Subject + shall/will + have + verb in the past
participle . . . . . . . .

57. Examples
 I shall have completed the assignment by Monday.
 She will have cleaned the house before her father
comes.
 Alex will have submitted the tender by tomorrow.
 Before I go to see her, she will have left the place.
 They will have finished making the bridge by
January.

58. Future Perfect Continuous Tense
 Future Perfect Continuous Tense 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.

59. Examples
 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.
 April will have been gossiping in the coffee shop before she comes
here.
 Bob will have been studying in the library before he comes to the
class.
 We will have been shopping in that market before you come home.
 We will have been watching a movie in the Cineplex before you
come.
 You will have been shopping in that market before we come.
 I will have been singing different kinds of songs before you join us.
 Note: There is no practical use of this tense.

60. THANK YOU