RULES OF TENSES
1. SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
Usage:
• To talk about habits or daily routines
• To describe general truths orfacts
• To express arrangements or scheduled events
• Use "do" with I/You/We/They
• Use "does" with He/She/It
• Add -s/-es to the verb when the subject is He/She/It (e.g., He works, She watches)
Structure:
- Affirmative: Subject + base verb (+ s/es for he/she/it)
- Negative: Subject + do/does + not + Verb
- Question: Do/Does + subjeg+base verb?
Examples:
- I play football every day.
- She reads books in the evening.
- Do you like apples?
- wake up early every morning.
- She goes to school by bus.
- We play football after class.
- Erie reads the newspaper every day
- They eat lunch at 12 0'clock.
- The sun rises in the east.
- My father works in an office.
- Birds fly in the sky.
- Do you like chocolate?
- She does not watch TV at night.
Quick Tips:
- Always use the base form of the verb (e.g., play, eat, go) after do/does.
- Add -s or -es only for he/she/it in affirmative sentences.
- This tense is often used with adverbs of frequency (e.g., always, usually, often, sometimes, never). She always drinks tea in the morning.
2. SIMPLE PAST TENSE
Usage:• To talk about actions or events that happened in the past.• To describe completed actions, usually with a time reference (é.f., "sterday, last week, in 2020).
Structure:
- Affirmative: Subject + past form of verb
- Negative: Subject + did not + base verb
- Ouestion: Did + subject + base verb?
Examples:
- He visited his grandmother yesterday.
- They did not go to school. Did you watch the movie?
- 1 visited the museum yesterday.
- She watched a movie last night.
- We studied English last weekend.
- The teacher gave us homework.
- My parents traveled to Singapore last year.
Quick Tips:
- Regular verbs * add -ed (e.g., play * played, clean * cleaned).
- Irregular verbs * change form (e.g., go went, eat * ate, see —+ saw).
- Common time expressions: yesterday, last night, last week, two days ago, in 2019, etc.
3. SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE
Usage:
- To talk about actions that will happen in the future.
- To express plans, predictions, promises, or decisions made at me, moment. Structure:
- Affirmative: Subject+ will + base verb
- Negative: Subject + will not (won't) + base verb
- Question: Will + subject + base verb?
Examples:
- She will travel to Cambodia next week. I won't forget your birthday.
- Will they come to the party? I will visit my grandparents next weekend.
- She will start a new job next month.
- They will go to the beach tomorrow.
- We will not forget your birthday.
- Will you help me with my homework?
Common Time Expressions:
- Tomorrow
- Next week / next month / next year
- Soon
- In a few days Later
4. PRESENT CONTINOUS TENSE
Usage:
- To talk about actions happening right now,
- To describe temporary situations.
- To talk about u!gre plans (infornud).
Structures
- Attirmative: Subject + am/is/are + verb+ing
- Negative: Subject + am/is/are + not + verb+ing
- Question: Am/Is/Are + subject + verb+ing?
Examples:
- I am studying English now. She is not cooking dinner.
- Are they playing football? I am studying English right now.
- She is cooking dinner in the kitchen. They are playing football at the park.
- We are watching a movie together. He is not*leaving at the moment.
Common Time Expressions:
- Now
- Right now
- At the moment
- Currently
- These days
5. PAST CONTINOUS TENSE
Usage:
- To talk about actions that were happening at a specific time in the past.
- To describe two actions happening at the same time in the pa'!,
- To set the backgroundfor another action (often used With Simple Past).
Structure:
- Af!ifihative: Subject + was/were + verb+ing
- Negative: Subject + was/were + not + verb+ing
- Question: Was/Were + subject + verb+ing?
Examples:
- He was sleeping at 10 p.m. last night. They were not watching TV.
- Were you reading when I called? I was reading a book at 8 p.m. yesterday.
- She was cooking dinner when I arrived. They were playing football in the rain.
- We were watching a movie last night. He was not sleeping when you called him.
Common Time Expressions:
- Yesterday at [time]
- At this time yesterday
- When (another action happened)
- Last night / last week (with a specific time)
- While
Example:
- "While I was studying, my phone rang."
6. FUTURE CONTINOUS TENSE
Usage:
- To talk about actions that will be happening at epecific time in the future.
- To describe(uture ongoing actions or eyents already planned.
- To maké polite inquiries about future plans.
Structure:
- Affirmative: Subject + will be + verb+ing
- Negative: Subject + will not be + verb+ing
- Question: Will + subject + be + verb+ing?
Examples:
- I will be working at 8 a.m. tomorrow.
- She won't be studying tonight,
- Will they be traveling next week?
7. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
Usage:
- To talk about actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past but are connected to the present.
- To describe hie experiences.
- To express recent actions (often with just, already, yet).
- To talk about actions that started in the past and continue until now.
Structure:
- Affirmative: Subject + has/have + past participle (V3)
- Negative: Subject + has/have + not + V3
- Question: Has/Have + subject + V3?
Examples:
- I have finished my homework.
- She has not visited the museum.
- Have you ever eaten sushi?
8. PAST PERFECT TENSE
Usage:
- To talk about an action that was completed before another action or time in the past.
- It is often used with Simple Past Tense to show the sequéhce • oftwo past actions.
- The earlier action uses Past Perfect, and lie - I-co later action uses Simple Past.
Structure:
- Affirmative: Subject + had + past participle (V3)
- Negative: Subject + had not + V3
- Question: Had + subject + V3?
Examples:
- They had left before I arrived.
- He had not finished the project.
- Had you ever seen that movie?
9. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINOUS TENSE
Usage:
- To talk about actions that started in the past andare still continuing now.
- To emehgsizéåjw duration ofan activity.
- Often used with time expressions like for, since, all day, recently.
Structure:
- Affirmative: Subject + has/have + been + verb+ing
- Negative: Subject + has/have + not + been + verb+ing
- Question: Has/Have + subject + been + yerb+ing?
Examples:
- I have been studying English for 2 years.
- She has not been working here long.
- Have you been waiting for me?
10. PAST PERFECT CONTINOUS TENSE
Usage:
- To talk about actions that were ongoing if (he past and were completed before anothéi•' past action or time.
- To emphasize the duration ofa past action.
- Often used with before, for, since, by the time.
Structure:
- Affirmative: Subject + had + been + verb+ing
- Negative: Subject + had not + been + verb+ing
- Question: Had + subject + been + verb+ing?
Examples:
- He had been working all day before he rested.
- They had not been living there for long.
- Had you been studying before the test?
12. FUTURE PERFECT CONTINOUS TENSE
Usage:
- To talk about actions that will he ongoing up tec a specific time in the future.
- To emphasize ihe duration ofa future activity.
- Ofteh used with by [time], for [duration], by the time.
Structure:
- Affirmative: Subject + will have been + verb+ing
- Negative: Subject + will not have been + verb+ing
- Question: Will + subject + have been + lygrb+ing?
Examples:
- By next month, I will have b&en working here for 5 years.
- She won't have been studying long by then.
- Will you have been waiting for an hour?