The document defines and discusses the different tenses in English grammar - present, past and future tenses. It explains 12 tenses through examples - simple present, present continuous, present perfect, present perfect continuous, simple past, past continuous, past perfect, past perfect continuous, simple future, future continuous, future perfect and future perfect continuous. For each tense, it provides the rules for positive, negative and interrogative sentences along with examples.
3. TYPES OF TENSE
1. PRESENT TENSE
a) Simple Present
b) Present Continuous
c) Present Perfect
d) Present Perfect Continuous
4. TYPES OF TENSE
2. PAST TENSE
a) Simple Past
b) Past Continuous
c) Past Perfect
d) Past Perfect Continuous
5. TYPES OF TENSE
3. FUTURE TENSE
a) Simple Future
b) Future Continuous
c) Future Perfect
d) Future Perfect Continuous
6. SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
•It is used to express an action in
present time which is usually
done on a regular basis.
7. SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE (POSITIVE SENTENCE)
RULE: 1. Subject + Main Verb + Object
2. Subject + 1st form of verb (Base verb) + Object
SENTENCE 1: I write a letter.
SENTENCE 2: He gets up early in the morning.
SENTENCE 3: The sun rises in the east.
8. SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE (NEGATIVE SENTENCE)
RULE: 1. Subject + Auxiliary Verb + NOT + Main Verb + Object
2. Subject + do/does + NOT + 1st form of verb + Object
SENTENCE 1: I do not write a letter.
SENTENCE 2: He does not get up early in the morning.
SENTENCE 3: The sun does not rise in the east.
9. SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE (INTERROGATIVE
SENTENCE)
RULE: 1. Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb + Object?
2. Do/Does + Subject + 1st form of verb + Object?
SENTENCE 1: Do I write a letter?
SENTENCE 2: Does he get up early in the morning?
SENTENCE 3: Does the sun rises in the east?
11. PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE (POSITIVE
SENTENCE)
RULE: 1. Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb + (-ing) + Object
2. Subject + is/am/are + 1st form of verb + (-ing) + Object
SENTENCE 1: I am playing cricket.
SENTENCE 2: He is driving car.
SENTENCE 3: They are reading their lessons.
12. PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE (NEGATIVE
SENTENCE)
RULE: 1. Subject + Auxiliary Verb + NOT + Main Verb + (-ing) +
Object
2. Subject + is/am/are + NOT + Main Verb + (-ing) + Object
SENTENCE 1: I am not playing cricket.
SENTENCE 2: He is not driving car.
SENTENCE 3: They are not reading their lessons.
13. PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE
(INTERROGATIVE SENTENCE)
RULE: 1. Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb + (-ing) + Object?
2. Am/Is/Are + Subject + 1st form of Verb + (-ing) + Object?
SENTENCE 1: Am I playing cricket?
SENTENCE 2: Is he driving car?
SENTENCE 3: Are they reading their lessons?
15. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE (POSITIVE
SENTENCE)
RULE: 1. Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb + Object
2. Subject + has/have + 3rd form of verb + Object
SENTENCE 1: I have eaten meal.
SENTENCE 2: She has learnt a lesson.
16. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE (NEGATIVE
SENTENCE)
RULE: 1. Subject + Auxiliary Verb + NOT + Main Verb + Object
2. Subject + has/have + NOT + 3rd form of verb + Object
SENTENCE 1: I have not eaten meal.
SENTENCE 2: She has not learnt a lesson.
17. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE (INTERROGATIVE
SENTENCE)
RULE: 1. Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb + Object?
2. Has/Have + Subject + 3rd form of verb + Object?
SENTENCE 1: Have I eaten meal?
SENTENCE 2: Has she learnt a lesson?
18. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
•It is used to express a continued
or ongoing action that started in
past and is continued till now.
•There will be a time reference.
19. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
(POSITIVE SENTENCE)
RULE: 1. Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb + Object + Time
Reference.
2. Subject + has been/have been + 1st form of verb + (-ing) +
Object + Time Reference.
SENTENCE 1: He has been watering the plants for two hours.
SENTENCE 2: I have been studying since 3 o’clock.
20. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
(NEGATIVE SENTENCE)
RULE: 1.Subject + “NOT” between Auxiliary Verbs + Main Verb +
Object + Time Reference
2.Subject + has not been/have not been + 1st form of verb +
(-ing) + Object + Time Reference
SENTENCE 1: He has not been watering the plants for two hours.
SENTENCE 2: I have not been studying since 3 o’clock.
21. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
(INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES)
RULE: 1.Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb +
Object + Time Reference?
2.Has/Have + Subject + been + 1st form of verb + (-ing) +
Object + Time Reference?
SENTENCE 1: Has he been watering the plants for two hours?
SENTENCE 2: Have I been studying since 3 o’clock?
22. SIMPLE PAST TENSE
•It is used to express an action
that completed or happened in
past.
23. SIMPLE PAST TENSE (POSITIVE SENTENCES)
RULE: 1.Subject + Main Verb + Object
2.Subject + 2nd form of verb + Object
SENTENCE 1: I killed a snake.
SENTENCE 2: He ate a mango.
24. SIMPLE PAST TENSE (NEGATIVE SENTENCES)
RULE: 1.Subject + Auxiliary Verb + NOT + Main Verb + Object
2.Subject + did + NOT + 1st form of verb + Object
SENTENCE 1: I did not kill a snake.
SENTENCE 2: He did not eat a mango.
25. SIMPLE PAST TENSE (INTERROGATIVE
SENTENCES)
RULE: 1.Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb + Object?
2.Did + Subject + 1st form of verb + Object?
SENTENCE 1: Did I kill a snake?
SENTENCE 2: Did he eat a mango?
27. PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE (POSITIVE
SENTENCES)
RULE: 1.Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb + Object
2.Subject + was/were + 1st form of verb + (-ing) + Object
SENTENCE 1: She was crying yesterday.
SENTENCE 2: They were climbing on a hill.
28. PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE (NEGATIVE
SENTENCES)
RULE: 1.Subject + Auxiliary Verb + NOT + Main Verb + Object
2.Subject + was/were + NOT + 1st form of verb + (-ing) +
Object
SENTENCE 1: She was not crying yesterday.
SENTENCE 2: They were not climbing on a hill.
29. PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE (INTERROGATIVE
SENTENCES)
RULE: 1.Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb + Object?
2.Was/Were + Subject + 1st form of verb + (-ing) + Object?
SENTENCE 1: Was she crying yesterday?
SENTENCE 2: Were they climbing on a hill?
30. PAST PERFECT TENSE
•It is used to express an action
which has occurred in past and
action which has occurred in past
before another action in past.
31. PAST PERFECT TENSE (POSITIVE SENTENCES)
RULE: 1.Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb + Object
2.Subject + had + 3rd form of verb + Object
SENTENCE 1: He had taken the exam last year.
SENTENCE 2: A thief had stolen my watch.
32. PAST PERFECT TENSE (NEGATIVE SENTENCES)
RULE: 1.Subject + Auxiliary Verb + NOT + Main Verb + Object
2.Subject + had + NOT + 3rd form of verb + Object
SENTENCE 1: He had not taken the exam last year.
SENTENCE 2: A thief had not stolen my watch.
33. PAST PERFECT TENSE (INTERROGATIVE
SENTENCES)
RULE: 1.Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb + Object?
2.Had + Subject + 3rd form of verb + Object?
SENTENCE 1: Had he taken the exam last year?
SENTENCE 2: Had a thief stolen my watch?
34. PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
•It is used to express a continued
or ongoing action that started in
past and continued till sometime
in past.
35. PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE (POSITIVE
SENTENCES)
RULE: 1.Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb + Object + Time
Reference
2.Subject + had been + 1st form of verb + (-ing) + Object +
Time Reference
SENTENCE 1: I had been waiting for him for one hour.
SENTENCE 2: She had been playing chess since 7 o’clock.
36. PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE (NEGATIVE
SENTENCES)
RULE: 1.Subject + “NOT” between Auxiliary Verbs + Main Verb +
Object + Time Reference
2.Subject + had NOT been + 1st form of verb + (-ing) + Object
+ Time Reference
SENTENCE 1: I had not been waiting for him for one hour.
SENTENCE 2: She had not been playing chess since 7 o’clock.
37. PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
(INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES)
RULE: 1.Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb +
Object + Time Reference?
2.Had + Subject + been + 1st form of verb + (-ing) + Object +
Time Reference?
SENTENCE 1: Had I been waiting for him for one hour?
SENTENCE 2: Had she been playing chess since 7 o’clock?
38. SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE
•It is used to express an action
which has not occurred yet and
occur after saying or in future.
39. SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE (POSITIVE SENTENCES)
RULE: 1.Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb + Object
2.Subject + will/shall + 1st form of verb + Object
SENTENCE 1: I shall buy a computer tomorrow.
SENTENCE 2: They will come here.
40. SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE (NEGATIVE
SENTENCES)
RULE: 1.Suject + Auxiliary Verb + NOT + Main Verb + Object
2.Subject + will/shall + NOT + Main Verb + Object
SENTENCE 1: I shall not buy a computer tomorrow.
SENTENCE 2: They will not come here.
41. SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE (INTERROGATIVE
SENTENCES)
RULE: 1.Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb + Object?
2.Will/Shall + Subject + 1st form of verb + Object?
SENTENCE 1: Shall I buy a computer tomorrow?
SENTENCE 2: Will they come here?
43. FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE (POSITIVE
SENTENCES)
RULE: 1.Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb + Object
2.Subject + will be/shall be + 1st form of verb + (-ing) +
Object
SENTENCE 1: I shall be waiting for you.
SENTENCE 2: You will be feeling well tomorrow.
44. FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE (NEGATIVE
SENTENCES)
RULE: 1.Subject + “NOT” between Auxiliary Verbs + Main Verb +
Object
2.Subject + will not be/shall not be + 1st form of verb + (-ing)
+ Object
SENTENCE 1: I shall not be waiting for you.
SENTENCE 2: You will not be feeling well tomorrow.
45. FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE (INTERROGATIVE
SENTENCES)
RULE: 1.Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb +
Object
2.Will/Shall + be + 1st form of verb + (-ing) + Object
SENTENCE 1: Shall I be waiting for you?
SENTENCE 2: Will you be feeling well tomorrow?
46. FUTURE PERFECT TENSE
•It is used to express an action
which will occur in future and is
thought to be completed in
future.
47. FUTURE PERFECT TENSE (POSITIVE
SENTENCES)
RULE: 1. Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb + Object
2. Subject + will have/shall have + 3rd form of verb + Object
SENTENCE 1: She will have finished the work by Wednesday.
SENTENCE 2: You will have started a job.
48. FUTURE PERFECT TENSE (NEGATIVE
SENTENCES)
RULE: 1.Subject + “NOT” between Auxiliary Verbs + Main Verb +
Object
2.Subject + will not have/shall not have + 3rd form of verb +
Object
SENTENCE 1: She will not have finished the job by Wednesday.
SENTENCE 2: You will not have started a job.
49. FUTURE PERFECT TENSE (INTERROGATIVE
SENTENCES)
RULE: 1.Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Auxiliary verb + Main Verb +
Object?
2.Will/Shall + Subject + have + 3rd form of verb + Object?
SENTENCE 1: Will she have finished the work by Wednesday?
SENTENCE 2: Will you have started a job?
50. FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
•It is used to express a continued
or ongoing action that will start
in future and is thought to
continue till somewhere in
future.
51. FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
(POSITIVE SENTENCES)
RULE: 1. Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb + Object + Time
Reference
2.Subject + will have been/shall have been + 1st form of verb
+ (-ing) + Object + Time Reference
SENTENCE 1: I shall have been waiting for him for one hour.
SENTENCE 2: She will have been playing football since 2015.
52. FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
(NEGATIVE SENTENCES)
RULE: 1.Subject + “NOT” between Auxiliary Verbs + Main Verb +
Object + Time Reference
2.Subject + will not have been/shall not have been + 1st form
of verb + (-ing) + Object + Time Reference
SENTENCE 1: I shall not have been waiting for him for one hour.
SENTENCE 2: She will not have been playing football since 2015.
53. FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
(INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES)
RULE: 1.Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb +
Object + Time Reference
2.Will/Shall + Subject + have been + 1st form of verb + (-ing)
+ Object + Time Reference
SENTENCE 1: Shall I have been waiting for him for one hour?
SENTENCE 2: Will she have been playing football since 2015?