Verbs tense - English

BY HECTON P.DOMINGOS

Simple Present

A sentence is presented in simple present tense when it is used to describe an action that’s happening at presente and does not indicate when the action is expected to end:

Simple presente tense is used when:

The action that is taking place in general.

The action is not only occurring now; it repeats after regular intervals of time.

To indicate facts those are generally true.

Examples.

Simple Present

I play tennis.

She does not play tennis

Does he play tennis?

The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.

The train does not leave at 9 AM

When does the train usually leave?

She Always forgets her purse.

He never forgets his wallet.

Simple Present

Structure

VERB + S/ES in the third person.

If the subjectis 3rd person singular.

The verb is used in its original form;

If subject is 1st and/or 2nd person singular.

If subject is 1st and/or 2nd person plural.

If subject is 3rd person plural.

Present continuous

Though the simplepresent and presente continous tenses are used interchangeably, presente continous usually defines na act that is going on at the time of speaking. The sentences with presente progressive tense are used when:

Something is taking place now, while speaking and has a definite end as well.

When something is already decided and arranged as well to perform it.

To indicate na undesirable habit.

Examples:

Present continuous

You are learning English now.

You are not swimming now.

Are you sleeping?

I am sitting.

I am not standing

Is he sitting or standing?

They are Reading their books.

They are not watching television.

What are you doing?

Present Continuous

Structure.

AM/IS/ARE + PRESENT PARTICIPLE

Use first form of verb “+ing”

Singular 3rd person subject – use “is”.

Plural 1st, 2nd and 3rd person and singular 2nd person subject – use ‘are’.

1st person singular – use ‘am’

In other words, it is “Subject + be (is, am, are) + Verb+ -ing + Object”

Present Perfect

Present Perfect

You have seen that movie many times.

Have you seen that movie many times?

You have not seen that movie many times.

Present Perfect

Structure

HAS/HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

I have seen him

You have done it

We have been there.

They have eaten it

I have seen that movie twenty times.

I think I have met him once before.

There have been manu Earthquakes in California.

Present Perfect continuous

Usually, present perfect continuous tese is used for a situation that has occurred in the past and which continues until that moment.

Examples:

They have been talking for the last hour.

She has been working at that company for three years.

What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes?

James has been teaching at the university since June.

We have been waiting here for over two hours!

Why has Nancy not been taking her medicine for the last three days?

Present Perfect Continuous

Structure

HAS/HAVE + BEEN + PRESENT PARTICIPLE

Use the first form of the verb + “-ing”

Singular subject (has been), plural subject or I (have been)

‘Since’ – if the pont of time id mentioned.

‘For’ – if the duration of time is specified.

Simple PasT

Simple past tense is used to narrate na action of the past. The verb in the past tense ends with an ‘-ed’ and hence, there are seven ways of making the irregular verbs in the past tense. The most common being the change of the vowel as in ‘drink’ – ‘drank’.

Examples:

You called Debbie.

Did you call Debbie?

You did not call Debbie.

Simple Past

Structure:

VERB + ED or Irregular verbs.

Katie worked in that office for almost four years.

He passed away in 1999

We went for the movie yesterday.

Three years ago, I studied at the Canada University.

I didn’t arrive

We/she/he/it didn’t arrive

Past Perfect Continuous

A continuous action that was completed sometime in the past falls under past perfect continuous tense. Such sentences are framed by using the modal, ‘had’ + ‘been’ + the presente participle of the verb (-ing)

Examples:

You had been waiting there for more than two hours.

Had you been waiting there for more than two hours when she finally arrieved?

You had not been waiting there for more than two hours when she finally arrived.

Simple Future

This tense is used for those sentences which refer to the actions which will occur later, in future. This requires a future tense auxiliary verb even though the verb would be unmarked.

Examples:

You will help him later.

Will you help him later?

You will not help him later.

Extructure: WILL + VERB - AM/IS/ARE + GOING TO + VERB

Simple Future

Structure

WILL+VERB

AM/IS/ARE + GOING TO + VERB

I will be there tomorrow

We will be there

I am going to leave

Am I going to leave?

Future continuous

This tense defines those acts wich will be continued at future point of time. In order to form a future continuous tense sentence, a future auxiliary verb is required followed by amain verb that ends with – ing

Examples.

You will be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.

Will you be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight?

You will not be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.

Future continuous

Structure

WILL + BE + Present participle of the verb (ing).

Use first form of the verb (+ing)

1st and 2nd person – ‘Shall be’

3rd person _ ‘will be’

I will be waiting

I will not be waiting

Future Perfect

This tense is used to express na act that is predicted to be finished withn a certain span of time in the future. Such sentences are formed by ‘will’ + ‘have’ + ‘past participle of the verb’.

Examples.

You will have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S

Will you have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S?

You will not have perfected your English byt the time you come back from the U.S.

Future Perfect

Structure

WILL HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE --- with ‘will’.

AM/IS/ARE + GOING TO HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE --- with ‘be Going to’

The filme will have started by the time we get there.

Future Perfect Continuous

This tense form indicates na action that is continuous na, at some point in the future, it will be completed. It is formed using the modal ‘will/shall’ + ‘have’ + ‘been’ + ‘the past participle of the verb (-ing)’

Examples:

You will have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives.

Will you have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives?

You will not have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives.

Future Perfect Continuous

Structure

WILL HAVE BEEN + PRESENT PARTICIPLE - with ‘will’.

AM/IS/ARE + GOING TO HAVE BEEN + PRESENT PARTICIPLE -- with ‘be going to’.

Next year I will have been working in the company for 10 years.

I won’t have been working in the company for 10 years.