Learn How To Write English Tenses In Nutshells

Learn how to write sentences in correct grammatical manner without any problem.
- Made and Written by Waheed
- Helping partner Shahriyaar Saleem

1. English Tenses In a Nutshell

English Tenses

[There are three primary tenses in English, each with its own variations and
[combinations that give rise to additional tenses. All of these are illustrated in the
Following table.

Action» Simple / A | allen Perfect
Times Indefinite Continuous
Present Present Perfect

Present Simple Present
” Gontinuous Perfect Continuous

Past Past
imple Pas Past Perfect
Simple Past Continuous Perfect Continuous

Future Future
Future Simple Future Future Perfect
di Continuous Continuous

[Each of the tenses discussed above serves the purpose of conveying information
[about an action taking place within a particular timeframe, Tenses are constructed
lby combining the main verb with auxiliary verbs, also known as helping verbs.
[These auxiliary verbs assist the main verb in forming the correct tense and
[conveying additional information about the action. The choice of auxiliary verb and
its tense form depends on the intended timeframe and the grammatical structure of
Ihe sentence.

[The following helping verb table illustrate helping verbs for each tenses.

Helping Verb Table

2. Continuous Perfect Pert
Continuous

Present dojdoes islamare havelnas ra

Past aia wasiwere nad had + been

wilishal's itésna +

Future wilshal witshalls be Ya haiga

Note: Helping Verbs for Simple/indefinite tenses{Present, Past, Future) are only
sed ftenses are In Negative or Interrogative form. Otherwise tense doesn't have
any helping verb.

[Each of the tenses we discussed earlier has its own way of being expressed, but
[many of them share a common structure. To keep things simple, just remember the
[following structure to solve any tense.

Subject + Helping Verb (if applicable) + Nain Vorb (in the appropriate
tense form) + (GE applicable)

[Before delving directly into tenses, let's take a look at a table that outlines which
Iverb forms are used in each tense.

Tense Simple Continuous Perfect Pert
Continuous

Tetformof —Tetformot Sréfomef 1stformof

Bisset vero verb + ng verb Form vero + ng

Istformot SéFomot tetfomot

2ndForm ein vero verb ing

et form of ist form of aka Form of st form of

une vero vero + ng vero, vero

[By putting together the helping verb table and the verb forms table, we create the
[following merged table.

3. Continuous Perfect Pert
Continuous

ocre amine a nasmave +
Present o amores Pas Bean yt
= ing m form of verb.

= ing ine verb,

wilshall+

wvshot eee Pital be will + Senke

Future O ststformof have + ard aseos
verb + ing formofven Ih

Present Tense

[Present tense are used to describe actions, events, or states that are happening
right now or are generally true.

1. Simple/Indefinite Present

[The present indefinite tense, also known as the simple present tense, is used to
[describe actions, habits, or general truths that occur regularly or are considered
fimetess.

[Solving Expression: Subject + Form of Verb + Object (If applicabl
INegative Sentence

lExpression: subject + do/does + Not + Form of Verb

Interrogative Sentence

lExpression: Helping Verb + Subject + Form of Verb?

4. Exceptions

[Remember that with "I / You / We / They " you should use the simple 1st Form
[of the verb. However, when referring to" He / She / Tt/Third Person Singular
luse the 1st form of the verb with an additional s or es at the end, as in words like

works, plays, eats, does ‚and runs , etc.

© Tokeep things simple, just remember that * 1/You/Me/They " uses Do , and
* We/She/tt "uses does

Example

+ read a book every evening.
+ He works.
+ Ido not read a book

+ Dolread a book?

2. Present Continuous

[The present continuous tense is used to describe actions that are happening right
Inow or around the current time. This tense emphasizes ongoing actions or
[temporary situations.

[Expression: Subject + Helping Verb(is/an/are) + ist form of Verb + ing +
[object

[Negative Sentence

Expression: Subject + Helping Verb + Not + Form of Verb-ing + Object

Interrogative Sentence

Expression: Helping Verb + Subject + Form of verb-ing + Object?

[Example

5. + She is reading a book right now.
+ She is not reading a book right now.
+ Is she reading a book right now?

[3. Present Perfect Tense

[The present perfect tense is used to express actions that were completed at an
indefinite time in the past but have relevance to the present.

Expression: Subject + Helping Verb(has/have) + rd form of Verb + Object
INegative Sentence
Expression: Subject + Helping Verb + Not + Form of Verb + Object
Interrogative
Expression: Helping Verb + Subject + form of verb + object?

© He;Sheorany tir person singular > Has

(you, we, they oranyfrt/second person plural) > Have

Example

They have completed their assignment.
They have not completed their assignment.
Have they completed their assignment?

He has completed their assignment.

4. Present Perfect Continuous

[The present perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions that started in the
[past and have been ongoing up to the present moment.

6. Expression: Subject + Helping Verb(has/have) + been + ast form verb + ing +

object
[Exception

In the present perfect continuous tense, you can add extra details like specific

[dates or times (such as "morning" or “1 January 2010") in the sentence. When you

[do this, you usually put these details after the object and use words like "Since" or
For"

since":

+ "Since" is used to specify the starting point of an action or event in the past
that continues into the present. Itis often used with a specific point in time
(e.9., a date or a specific moment)

+ Example: "I have been working here since 2010: (Starting point: 2010)
pea

+ "Fort is used to indicate the duration of time an action or event has lasted. It
is often followed by a period of time.

+ Example: "She has been studying for three hours.” (Duration: three hours)

) Use" since "to indicate the beginning point of an action, and Use * For o indicate
the duration of that action.

INegative
Expression: subject + Helping verb + Not + form of verb +
Interrogative

Expression: Helping verb + Subject + forn of verb + ing + object?

[Example

7. + She has been studying for three hours.
+ She has not been studying for three hours.

+ Has she been studying for three hours?

Summary

Present Simple

general facts, regular
Activities, schedules

Present Continuous

ontinuing actions
happening now) |
ne-time actions

Present Perfect

neral experience .
specific time is not imp)

Present Perfect
Continuous

Actions started in past (time not
imp} “Continued in present

Past Tense

He speaks English.
I work on Saturdays.
| don't eat dinner at 8.

1 am having dinner.

1 am working this
saturday.

They have been to Dubai.

She has never eaten
Sushi.

Ihave been studying
engineering for 3 yedrs.

We have been sti
in Mumbai for Pes id

[The past tense is used to describe actions, events, or situations that occurred and
[ere completed at a specific point in time in the past.

8. 1. Simple Past Tense

[Past indefinite (Simple Past) Tense is used to express completed actions or events|
in the past, often with a specific time reference.

Interrogative
Expression: Helping Verb(did) + Subject + 2nd form of verb + object?
[Example

+ She watched a movie yesterday.
+ She did not watched a movie yesterday,

+ Did she watched a movie yesterday?

[2. Past Continuous

[Past Continuous (Past Progressive) Tense describes ongoing actions or events
Ihat were happening at a specific point in the past.

Expression: Subject + Helping verb(nas/nere) + ist form of verb + ing +

jobject

9. lExpression: Subject + Helping Verb + not + 1st form of verb + ing + object
Interrogative
IExpression: Helping Verb + Subject + 4st form of verb + ing + object?
[Example

+ They were playing soccer when it started raining.

+ Were they playing soccer when it started raining?

+ They were not playing soccer when i started raining

(3. Past Perfect

[Past Perfect Tense is used to show that one action in the past happened before
lanotner action. it emphasizes the order of events,

Expression: Subject + Helping Verb(had) + 3rd fo: + object.
INegative

Expression: Subject + helping verb + not + 3rd form of verb + object
Interrogative

Expression: Helping Verb + Subject + 3rd form of verb + object?
[Example

+ She had already finished her work before the meeting.
+ She had not finished her work before the meeting.
+ Had she finished her work before the meeting?

14. Past Perfect Continuous

10. [Past Perfect Continuous Tense expresses the duration of an action that started in
Ihe past and continued up to a certain point in the past. It emphasizes the ongoing
Inature of an action before another past event

lExpression: Subject + Helping Verb(had been) + ist form of verb + ing +

object

[Negative

Expression: Subject + Helping Verb + not + 1st form of verb + ing + object

Interrogative

Expression: Helping Verb + Subject + 1st forn of verb + ing + object?

[Example

+ They had been studying for hours before the exam.
+ They had not been studying for hours before the exam.

+ Had they been studying for hours before the exam?

Summary

11. Past Simple

Actions started and
finished in the past

Past Continuous

Actions that were
ontinuing in the past.
food time arar)

Past Perfect

Actions completed at a
non-specific point in the
past.

Past Perfect

Continuous

Actions started in the past and
finished at unknow tine in the

Future Tense

I worked all week.
They didn't eat.
We had dinner.

They were cookii
diner Yesterday. >

We were playing cards
last evening.

They had been to Dubai

| had taken the wrong
exit and got lost.

| had been searching on google
since morning Dut Couldnt ind

They had been waiting for us
since afternoon.

[The future tense is used to express actions, events, or situations that will happen at
lo later time. It helps describe plans, predictions, or possibilties that are expected to

loccur.

1. Future Simple Tense

[Future indefinite (Simple Future) Tense is used to express actions that will happen
in the future. It indicates a simple prediction or intention.

Expression: Subject + 1st form of verb + object.

12. [Negative

Expression: subject + Holping Verb(will/shell) + Ast form of verb + object.

Interrogative

Expression: Helping Verb + Subject + 1st forn of verb + object?

[Example

+ She will visit her grandparents tomorrow.
+ She wil not visit her grandparents tomorrow.

+ Will she visit her grandparents tomorrow?

2. Future Continuous Tense

[Future Continuous (Future Progressive) Tense describes actions that will be
Jongoing at a specific time in the future. It emphasizes the duration of an action.

Expression: Subject + Helping Verb(mi11/shel1) + be + 1st form of verb +

lobject

[Negative

Expression: Subject + Helping Verb + not + be + 1st form of verb + objes

Interrogative

Expression: Helping Verb + Subject + be + 1 + object?

[Example

+ She will be studying for her exam at this time tomorrow.
+ She will not be studying for her exam at this time tomorrow.

+ Will she be studying for her exam at this time tomorrow?

13. (3. Future Perfect Tense

[Future Perfect Tense is used to indicate an action that will be completed before a
[certain point in the future. It shows the relationship between two future events.

Expression: Subject + Helping Verb(nill/shel1) + have + 3rd form of verb +

lobject
[Negative

Expression: Subject + helping verb + not + have + 3rd form of verb +

object
Interrogative

Expression: Helping Verb + Subject + have 3rd fo: + object?
[Example

+ By the time they arrive, she will have finished her presentation,
+ By the time they arrive, she will not have finished her presentation.

+ By the time they arrive, Will she have finished her presentation?

14. Future Perfect Continuous

[Future Perfect Continuous Tense expresses the duration of an action that will
[continue up to a certain point in the future. It emphasizes the ongoing nature of an
[action before another future event.

lExpression: Subject + Helping Verb(will/shell) + have been + 1st form of

lverb + object

INegative

14. lExpression: subject + Ho!

object

Interrogative

lExpression: Helping verb + Subject + have been + Ist form of verb + object?

For a Negative Interogative sentence not is writen in between have and been
Such as have not been

[Example

+ By next week, they will have been working on the project for three months.
+ By next week, they will not have been working on the project for three months.
+ By next week, Will they have been working on the project for three months?

Summary

15. Future Simple

Plannedand _
unplanned actions

Future Continuous
Things you think will
continue in the future.

Future Perfect

Action, you think wil start in the
future and will be completed
before a specific time in the future.

Future Perfect Continuous.
Looking back to the past, from a.
point inthe future and we want to
Emphasize the length or duration
of dh activity or event:

| will have to go.
He's going to call me.
He won't come tonight.

Up tangactions willbe
inuing to grow.

| will not be working after 45.

‘The guests are coming at.
havé finished cooking bythen.

will have worked in Google for 2
years.

In December, | will have been
living in Mumbai for 5 years,

| think they'll have been waiting
forus.