Tenses
The tense of a verb shows not only the time of the action but also whether it is complete or not. There are three tenses in English:
1. The Present Tense
2. The Past Tense
3. The Future Tense
The Present Tense refers to the present time. It has four forms:
a) Present Indefinite or Simple Present
b) Present continuous or Present progressive
c) Present Perfect
d) Present Perfect Continuous
Read the sentences given below.
1. He writes.
2. He is writing.
3. He has written.
4. He has been writing.
The sentence 1 is said to be in the present indefinite or simple present tense because it just makes a simple statement about an action – the action of writing – without indicating definitely whether the action is complete or note.
The sentence 2 shows that the action of writing is continuing for some time in the present and hence the tense of the verb is called present continuous.
The sentence 3 shows that the action of writing has been completed or perfected at the time of speaking and hence the tense of the verb is called present perfect.
The verb in sentence 4 is said to be in the present perfect continuous tense because it indicates that the action which started sometime in the past has gone on continuously and is still going on. It is not yet complete.
Past Tense
Just as the present tense has four forms, the past tense also has four forms:
a) Past indefinite or Simple past
b) Past continuous
c) Past perfect
d) Past perfect continuous
Read the sentences given below:
1. I wrote.
2. I was writing.
3. I had written.
4. I had been writing.
The verb in sentence 1 is said to be in the simple past because it just makes a simple statement about the action of writing. It doesn’t state whether the action is complete or not.
The verb in sentence 2 shows that the action of writing was continuing for some time in the past and hence the tense of the verb is called past continuous.
Sentence 3 indicates that the action of writing had been completed or perfected before some other action or point of time in the past and hence the tense of the verb is called past perfect.
1. The Present Tense
2. The Past Tense
3. The Future Tense
The Present Tense refers to the present time. It has four forms:
a) Present Indefinite or Simple Present
b) Present continuous or Present progressive
c) Present Perfect
d) Present Perfect Continuous
Read the sentences given below.
1. He writes.
2. He is writing.
3. He has written.
4. He has been writing.
The sentence 1 is said to be in the present indefinite or simple present tense because it just makes a simple statement about an action – the action of writing – without indicating definitely whether the action is complete or note.
The sentence 2 shows that the action of writing is continuing for some time in the present and hence the tense of the verb is called present continuous.
The sentence 3 shows that the action of writing has been completed or perfected at the time of speaking and hence the tense of the verb is called present perfect.
The verb in sentence 4 is said to be in the present perfect continuous tense because it indicates that the action which started sometime in the past has gone on continuously and is still going on. It is not yet complete.
Past Tense
Just as the present tense has four forms, the past tense also has four forms:
a) Past indefinite or Simple past
b) Past continuous
c) Past perfect
d) Past perfect continuous
Read the sentences given below:
1. I wrote.
2. I was writing.
3. I had written.
4. I had been writing.
The verb in sentence 1 is said to be in the simple past because it just makes a simple statement about the action of writing. It doesn’t state whether the action is complete or not.
The verb in sentence 2 shows that the action of writing was continuing for some time in the past and hence the tense of the verb is called past continuous.
Sentence 3 indicates that the action of writing had been completed or perfected before some other action or point of time in the past and hence the tense of the verb is called past perfect.
We have seen that the past perfect tense is used to talk about a completed past action. Note that when two past actions have to be mentioned, the past perfect is used for the earlier of the two, and the simple past for the later.
The patient had died before the doctor arrived.
The thief had escaped before the police came.
The train had left before we reached the station.
Sentence 4 indicates that the action of writing which started some time in the past had been continuing uninterruptedly till another later action or point of time in the past. An example would make this clear:
I had been giving him financial help till he got a good job.
We had been working in the garden until he came.
I had been reading until the lights went off.
Future tense
Just as the present and past tenses have four forms, the future tense also has four forms:
a) Future indefinite or Simple future
b) Future continuous
c) Future perfect
d) Future perfect continuous
Read the sentences given below:
1. I will write.
2. I will be writing.
3. I will have written.
4. I will have been writing.
All these sentences refer to the future time. The verb in sentence 1 is said to be in the future indefinite tense because it simply makes a statement about an action to be performed in the future without indicating any details about it.
Sentence 2 shows that the action will be continuing for a certain period of time in the future and hence the verb is said to be in the future continuous tense.
The verb in sentence 3 shows that the action will be completed or perfected by a certain point of time in the future and hence it is said to be in the future perfect tense. The future perfect tense emphasizes the completion of the action by a certain point of time in the future.
The verb in sentence 4 is said to be in the future perfect continuous tense because it indicates that the action of writing which had been in progress over a period of time will continue uninterruptedly up to a certain point of time in the future. The future perfect continuous tense emphasizes the duration and continuity of the action rather than its completion.
You will have noticed that all the tense forms given here are in the active voice. Most of these active voice tense forms have their corresponding passive forms also. We will learn about them in another chapter.
The patient had died before the doctor arrived.
The thief had escaped before the police came.
The train had left before we reached the station.
Sentence 4 indicates that the action of writing which started some time in the past had been continuing uninterruptedly till another later action or point of time in the past. An example would make this clear:
I had been giving him financial help till he got a good job.
We had been working in the garden until he came.
I had been reading until the lights went off.
Future tense
Just as the present and past tenses have four forms, the future tense also has four forms:
a) Future indefinite or Simple future
b) Future continuous
c) Future perfect
d) Future perfect continuous
Read the sentences given below:
1. I will write.
2. I will be writing.
3. I will have written.
4. I will have been writing.
All these sentences refer to the future time. The verb in sentence 1 is said to be in the future indefinite tense because it simply makes a statement about an action to be performed in the future without indicating any details about it.
Sentence 2 shows that the action will be continuing for a certain period of time in the future and hence the verb is said to be in the future continuous tense.
The verb in sentence 3 shows that the action will be completed or perfected by a certain point of time in the future and hence it is said to be in the future perfect tense. The future perfect tense emphasizes the completion of the action by a certain point of time in the future.
The verb in sentence 4 is said to be in the future perfect continuous tense because it indicates that the action of writing which had been in progress over a period of time will continue uninterruptedly up to a certain point of time in the future. The future perfect continuous tense emphasizes the duration and continuity of the action rather than its completion.
You will have noticed that all the tense forms given here are in the active voice. Most of these active voice tense forms have their corresponding passive forms also. We will learn about them in another chapter.
Simple Present and Present Continuous Tenses
The present indefinite or the simple present
Form:
Affirmative
I work.
She works.
They/you work.
Negative
I don’t work.
She doesn’t work.
They/you don’t work.
Interrogative
Do I work?
Does she work?
Do they/you work?
The simple present tense has several uses.
Habitual action
Read the sentences given below.
Water boils.
The dog barks.
The cow eats grass.
Birds fly in the air.
John wakes up at 7 am.
In the sentences given above, the simple present tense is used to talk about a habitual action.
Exclamation
Here comes the bus.
How beautiful she is!
There goes the dinner bell!
Here the simple present tense is used in exclamatory sentences.
General truth
The earth revolves around the sun.
Honesty is the best policy.
Man is mortal.
Honey is sweet.
Glass is brittle.
Here the simple present tense is used to talk about some general or universal truth.
Historic present
The two boxers sparred for sometime. Suddenly John Louis knocks his opponent out with a terrific upper cut for the full count.
Here the simple present tense is used instead of the simple past tense to make the narration lively and immediate. This use of the simple present tense is called the ‘historic present’.
Schools re-open on Monday.
We leave for Mumbai tomorrow.
The Prime Minister returns next Monday.
Here the simple present tense is used to talk about a planned future event.
Conditional clauses
The simple present tense is also used in conditional clauses when the result clause is in the future tense.
When you go abroad, who will look after your house?
The present continuous tense
Form
Affirmative
I am working.
He is working.
They/you are working.
Negative
I am not working.
He is not working.
They/you are not working.
Interrogative
Am I working?
Is he working?
Are they/you working?
The present continuous tense is used to talk about an action that is going on at the time of speaking. Note that the present continuous tense is more frequently used for this purpose than the simple present.
I am writing.
It is snowing.
She is working.
We are watching TV.
They are waiting for us.
To talk about a future event
The present continuous tense can be used to talk about a pre-planned future event. This is very common in informal English.
We are coming.
I am going to New York tomorrow.
He is getting married.
Note that there are some verbs that are not normally used in the present continuous tense. Examples are: think, know, want, suppose, understand, remember, trust, agree, hear, see, smell, wish, desire, love, hate etc.
I love her. (NOT I am loving her.)
I know. (NOT I am knowing.)
I understand your predicament. (NOT I am understanding your predicament.)
I think he is right. (NOT I am thinking he is right.)
Form:
Affirmative
I work.
She works.
They/you work.
Negative
I don’t work.
She doesn’t work.
They/you don’t work.
Interrogative
Do I work?
Does she work?
Do they/you work?
The simple present tense has several uses.
Habitual action
Read the sentences given below.
Water boils.
The dog barks.
The cow eats grass.
Birds fly in the air.
John wakes up at 7 am.
In the sentences given above, the simple present tense is used to talk about a habitual action.
Exclamation
Here comes the bus.
How beautiful she is!
There goes the dinner bell!
Here the simple present tense is used in exclamatory sentences.
General truth
The earth revolves around the sun.
Honesty is the best policy.
Man is mortal.
Honey is sweet.
Glass is brittle.
Here the simple present tense is used to talk about some general or universal truth.
Historic present
The two boxers sparred for sometime. Suddenly John Louis knocks his opponent out with a terrific upper cut for the full count.
Here the simple present tense is used instead of the simple past tense to make the narration lively and immediate. This use of the simple present tense is called the ‘historic present’.
Schools re-open on Monday.
We leave for Mumbai tomorrow.
The Prime Minister returns next Monday.
Here the simple present tense is used to talk about a planned future event.
Conditional clauses
The simple present tense is also used in conditional clauses when the result clause is in the future tense.
When you go abroad, who will look after your house?
The present continuous tense
Form
Affirmative
I am working.
He is working.
They/you are working.
Negative
I am not working.
He is not working.
They/you are not working.
Interrogative
Am I working?
Is he working?
Are they/you working?
The present continuous tense is used to talk about an action that is going on at the time of speaking. Note that the present continuous tense is more frequently used for this purpose than the simple present.
I am writing.
It is snowing.
She is working.
We are watching TV.
They are waiting for us.
To talk about a future event
The present continuous tense can be used to talk about a pre-planned future event. This is very common in informal English.
We are coming.
I am going to New York tomorrow.
He is getting married.
Note that there are some verbs that are not normally used in the present continuous tense. Examples are: think, know, want, suppose, understand, remember, trust, agree, hear, see, smell, wish, desire, love, hate etc.
I love her. (NOT I am loving her.)
I know. (NOT I am knowing.)
I understand your predicament. (NOT I am understanding your predicament.)
I think he is right. (NOT I am thinking he is right.)
Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous Tenses
Present Perfect Tense
Form
Affirmative
I have written.
He has written.
They/you/we have written.
Negative
I have not written.
She has not written.
They/you/we have not written.
Interrogative
Have I written?
Has he written?
Have they/you/we written?
The present perfect tense is used to talk about an action just completed.
Read the sentences given below.
I have finished the story.
They have returned.
She has applied for leave of absence.
The present perfect tense can also be used to talk about an action which began some time in the past and has continued up to the present.
I have always wanted to learn the art of painting.
We have lived in this city for several years.
I haven’t seen him for a long time.
To talk about past actions that cannot be attributed to a definite time
The present perfect tense can be used to talk about past actions which cannot be attributed to a definite time.
I have visited Canada and Australia.
I have written several short stories.
I have often gone to that theatre.
She has acted in a film.
Here we are talking about past actions but we do not state when that particular past action took place. Note that we use simple past tense to talk about past actions which can be attributed to a definite time.
Compare
I visited Canada and Australia last year. (NOT I have visited Canada and Australia last year.)
I wrote several short stories last week. (NOT I have written several short stories yesterday.)
I wrote to him yesterday. (NOT I have written to him yesterday.)
Notes
No adverbs of time referring to the past can be used with the present perfect tense. If you have to, use simple past instead.
However, certain adverbs like ever, always, never, constantly etc., can be used with the present perfect tense.
I have never seen him before.
Have you ever been to Kashmir?
He has constantly eluded the police.
John has always been a rebel.
The Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Form
Affirmative
I have been writing.
She has been writing.
They/you/we have been writing.
Negative
I have not been writing.
She has not been writing.
They/you/we have not been writing.
Interrogative
Have I been writing?
Has she been writing?
Have they/you/we been writing?
The present perfect continuous tense is used to talk about an action which began sometime in the past, has gone on till the present and is still continuing.
She has been sleeping for four hours.
I have been working in the garden since morning.
It has been raining since yesterday.
In the sentence She has been sleeping for four hours, she started sleeping four hours ago, slept without stopping for four hours and is still sleeping.
Note that we use the present perfect continuous tense to emphasize the duration and continuity of the action.
Form
Affirmative
I have written.
He has written.
They/you/we have written.
Negative
I have not written.
She has not written.
They/you/we have not written.
Interrogative
Have I written?
Has he written?
Have they/you/we written?
The present perfect tense is used to talk about an action just completed.
Read the sentences given below.
I have finished the story.
They have returned.
She has applied for leave of absence.
The present perfect tense can also be used to talk about an action which began some time in the past and has continued up to the present.
I have always wanted to learn the art of painting.
We have lived in this city for several years.
I haven’t seen him for a long time.
To talk about past actions that cannot be attributed to a definite time
The present perfect tense can be used to talk about past actions which cannot be attributed to a definite time.
I have visited Canada and Australia.
I have written several short stories.
I have often gone to that theatre.
She has acted in a film.
Here we are talking about past actions but we do not state when that particular past action took place. Note that we use simple past tense to talk about past actions which can be attributed to a definite time.
Compare
I visited Canada and Australia last year. (NOT I have visited Canada and Australia last year.)
I wrote several short stories last week. (NOT I have written several short stories yesterday.)
I wrote to him yesterday. (NOT I have written to him yesterday.)
Notes
No adverbs of time referring to the past can be used with the present perfect tense. If you have to, use simple past instead.
However, certain adverbs like ever, always, never, constantly etc., can be used with the present perfect tense.
I have never seen him before.
Have you ever been to Kashmir?
He has constantly eluded the police.
John has always been a rebel.
The Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Form
Affirmative
I have been writing.
She has been writing.
They/you/we have been writing.
Negative
I have not been writing.
She has not been writing.
They/you/we have not been writing.
Interrogative
Have I been writing?
Has she been writing?
Have they/you/we been writing?
The present perfect continuous tense is used to talk about an action which began sometime in the past, has gone on till the present and is still continuing.
She has been sleeping for four hours.
I have been working in the garden since morning.
It has been raining since yesterday.
In the sentence She has been sleeping for four hours, she started sleeping four hours ago, slept without stopping for four hours and is still sleeping.
Note that we use the present perfect continuous tense to emphasize the duration and continuity of the action.
Simple Past and Past Continuous Tense
The Simple Past or Past Indefinite Tense
Affirmative
I wrote.
She wrote.
They/you/we wrote.
Negative
I didn’t write.
She didn’t write.
They/you/we didn’t write.
Interrogative
Did I write?
Did she write?
Did they/you/we write?
The simple past tense is used to talk about a past action or event. The time of the action may or may not be mentioned.
I visited him yesterday.
The letter arrived in the morning.
She spoke eloquently.
He looked charming.
The simple past tense is also used in the sense of used to do to talk about a habitual action in the past.
Edison sold newspapers before he became a famous inventor. (Edison used to sell newspapers before he became a famous inventor.)
In his youth he went for a walk everyday. (In his youth he used to go for a walk everyday.)
The Past Continuous
Affirmative
I was writing.
He was writing.
They/we/you were writing.
Negative
I was not writing.
He was not writing.
They/we/you were not writing.
Interrogative
Was I writing?
Was he writing?
Were they/we/you writing?
The Past Continuous tense is used to talk about an action as going on continuously at some time in the past. The time of the action may or may not be indicated.
The children were playing.
It was raining when we went out.
She was writing.
They were waiting.
The child was crying bitterly.
Why were you shouting so loudly?
Was the boy flying a kite?
The past continuous tense is also used to talk about an action which was in progress when another action commenced.
They were sleeping when the thief broke in.
The lights went out when I was reading.
Note that we use the past continuous tense for the ‘background’ action and the simple past tense for the action that happens in the middle.
Affirmative
I wrote.
She wrote.
They/you/we wrote.
Negative
I didn’t write.
She didn’t write.
They/you/we didn’t write.
Interrogative
Did I write?
Did she write?
Did they/you/we write?
The simple past tense is used to talk about a past action or event. The time of the action may or may not be mentioned.
I visited him yesterday.
The letter arrived in the morning.
She spoke eloquently.
He looked charming.
The simple past tense is also used in the sense of used to do to talk about a habitual action in the past.
Edison sold newspapers before he became a famous inventor. (Edison used to sell newspapers before he became a famous inventor.)
In his youth he went for a walk everyday. (In his youth he used to go for a walk everyday.)
The Past Continuous
Affirmative
I was writing.
He was writing.
They/we/you were writing.
Negative
I was not writing.
He was not writing.
They/we/you were not writing.
Interrogative
Was I writing?
Was he writing?
Were they/we/you writing?
The Past Continuous tense is used to talk about an action as going on continuously at some time in the past. The time of the action may or may not be indicated.
The children were playing.
It was raining when we went out.
She was writing.
They were waiting.
The child was crying bitterly.
Why were you shouting so loudly?
Was the boy flying a kite?
The past continuous tense is also used to talk about an action which was in progress when another action commenced.
They were sleeping when the thief broke in.
The lights went out when I was reading.
Note that we use the past continuous tense for the ‘background’ action and the simple past tense for the action that happens in the middle.
Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous Tenses
The Past Perfect Tense
Affirmative
I had worked.
She had worked.
They/you/we had worked.
Negative
I had not worked.
She had not worked.
They/you/we had not worked.
Interrogative
Had I worked?
Had she worked?
Had they/you/we worked?
The Past perfect tense denotes an action completed at some point in the past before some other past action commenced. When two actions in the past have to be referred to, the past perfect is used for the earlier action and the simple past for the later one.
John had taken two wickets before rain interrupted the play.
I had seen him twice before he left for Paris.
The train had left before we reached the station.
He had left before I reached home.
The sun had set before the traveler reached his destination.
The Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Affirmative
I had been writing.
She had been writing.
They/you/we had been writing.
Negative
I had not been writing.
She had not been writing.
They/you/we had not been writing.
Interrogative
Had I been writing?
Had she been writing?
Had they/you/we been writing?
The past perfect continuous tense is used to talk about an action which started some time in the past and continued uninterruptedly till a later point of time in the past when some other development took place.
Consider the sentence given below:
I had been reading till midnight when the lights suddenly went out.
In the sentence given above, I started reading some time in the past, continued till midnight and was still continuing when the lights went out.
The war had been going on for two years when John enlisted.
The war started some time in the past, continued for two years and was still continuing when John enlisted.
I had been giving him financial help for three years when he got a good job.
I started giving him financial help some time in the past, continued for three years and was still continuing when he got a good job.
Note that it is the duration and continuity of the action up to a point of time in the past that is stressed by the past perfect continuous tense.
Affirmative
I had worked.
She had worked.
They/you/we had worked.
Negative
I had not worked.
She had not worked.
They/you/we had not worked.
Interrogative
Had I worked?
Had she worked?
Had they/you/we worked?
The Past perfect tense denotes an action completed at some point in the past before some other past action commenced. When two actions in the past have to be referred to, the past perfect is used for the earlier action and the simple past for the later one.
John had taken two wickets before rain interrupted the play.
I had seen him twice before he left for Paris.
The train had left before we reached the station.
He had left before I reached home.
The sun had set before the traveler reached his destination.
The Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Affirmative
I had been writing.
She had been writing.
They/you/we had been writing.
Negative
I had not been writing.
She had not been writing.
They/you/we had not been writing.
Interrogative
Had I been writing?
Had she been writing?
Had they/you/we been writing?
The past perfect continuous tense is used to talk about an action which started some time in the past and continued uninterruptedly till a later point of time in the past when some other development took place.
Consider the sentence given below:
I had been reading till midnight when the lights suddenly went out.
In the sentence given above, I started reading some time in the past, continued till midnight and was still continuing when the lights went out.
The war had been going on for two years when John enlisted.
The war started some time in the past, continued for two years and was still continuing when John enlisted.
I had been giving him financial help for three years when he got a good job.
I started giving him financial help some time in the past, continued for three years and was still continuing when he got a good job.
Note that it is the duration and continuity of the action up to a point of time in the past that is stressed by the past perfect continuous tense.
Future Tenses
Simple Future or Future Indefinite Tense
Affirmative
I will/shall write.
He will/shall write.
They will/shall write.
Negative
I will/shall not write.
He will/shall not write.
They will/shall not write.
Interrogative
Will/shall I write?
Will/shall he write?
Will/shall they write?
The simple future tense is used to talk about an event which is yet to take place. The simple future tense form is constructed with the help of the auxiliaries will/shall.
I shall write to him.
I will come.
We will wait.
He will certainly pass the test.
We will buy a house in the city.
Note that the simple future tense constructed with will or shall is still only a weak expression of a wish or hope. To make it a strong expression of determination, the phrase ‘going to’ is often used.
I am going to write to him.
He is going to pass the test.
I am going to get a job.
We are going to buy a house in the city.
The Future Continuous Tense
Affirmative
I will/shall be writing.
He will/shall be writing.
They/you/we will/shall be writing.
Negative
I will/shall not be writing.
He will/shall not be writing.
They/you/we will/shall not be writing.
Interrogative
Will/shall I be writing?
Will/shall he be writing?
Will/shall they be writing?
The future continuous tense represents an action as going on some time in the future, whether by habit or by deliberate planning.
He will be having a nap in the afternoon. (Habit)
They will be assembling at the club this evening. (Habit)
We shall be visiting Paris in the summer. (Plan)
The Future Perfect Tense
Affirmative
I will/shall have written.
He will/shall have written.
They will/shall have written.
Negative
I will/shall not have written.
He will/shall not have written.
They will/shall not have written.
Interrogative
Will/shall I have written?
Will/shall he have written?
Will/shall they have written?
The future perfect tense is used to indicate that some action will be completed before a certain point of time in the future.
I will have finished this job by that time.
She will have left before he arrives.
We will have completed half the course by Christmas.
Future Perfect Continuous Tense
The future perfect continuous tense is no longer in use. It is used to describe an action that has been in progress for some time and will be continuing uninterruptedly until a certain point of time in the future.
By 2011 we shall have been living in this house for 15 years.
Affirmative
I will/shall write.
He will/shall write.
They will/shall write.
Negative
I will/shall not write.
He will/shall not write.
They will/shall not write.
Interrogative
Will/shall I write?
Will/shall he write?
Will/shall they write?
The simple future tense is used to talk about an event which is yet to take place. The simple future tense form is constructed with the help of the auxiliaries will/shall.
I shall write to him.
I will come.
We will wait.
He will certainly pass the test.
We will buy a house in the city.
Note that the simple future tense constructed with will or shall is still only a weak expression of a wish or hope. To make it a strong expression of determination, the phrase ‘going to’ is often used.
I am going to write to him.
He is going to pass the test.
I am going to get a job.
We are going to buy a house in the city.
The Future Continuous Tense
Affirmative
I will/shall be writing.
He will/shall be writing.
They/you/we will/shall be writing.
Negative
I will/shall not be writing.
He will/shall not be writing.
They/you/we will/shall not be writing.
Interrogative
Will/shall I be writing?
Will/shall he be writing?
Will/shall they be writing?
The future continuous tense represents an action as going on some time in the future, whether by habit or by deliberate planning.
He will be having a nap in the afternoon. (Habit)
They will be assembling at the club this evening. (Habit)
We shall be visiting Paris in the summer. (Plan)
The Future Perfect Tense
Affirmative
I will/shall have written.
He will/shall have written.
They will/shall have written.
Negative
I will/shall not have written.
He will/shall not have written.
They will/shall not have written.
Interrogative
Will/shall I have written?
Will/shall he have written?
Will/shall they have written?
The future perfect tense is used to indicate that some action will be completed before a certain point of time in the future.
I will have finished this job by that time.
She will have left before he arrives.
We will have completed half the course by Christmas.
Future Perfect Continuous Tense
The future perfect continuous tense is no longer in use. It is used to describe an action that has been in progress for some time and will be continuing uninterruptedly until a certain point of time in the future.
By 2011 we shall have been living in this house for 15 years.
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