Tenses Basic Structure
1. Present Simple
(Also called Present
Indefinite OR Simple Present)
Formula
Subject + Verb
(first form) + Object / Adverb
for third person
singular we add s/es/ies [Click
here for spelling rules]
Examples
- I play cricket.
- He/She/It goes there.
- Ahmed goes there.
- We/They play cricket.
- Ahmed and Yaqoob play cricket.
2. Past Simple
(Also called Past
Indefinite OR Simple Past)
Formula
Subject + Verb
(Second form) + Object / Adverb
Examples
- You wrote a beautiful letters.
- They drove a car.
(drove is the second
form of drive)
3. Future Simple
(Also called Future
Indefinite OR Simple Future)
Formula
Subject +
will/shall + Verb (first form) + Object / Adverb
[I / We =
shall/will]
[The rest = will]
Examples
- It will rain tomorrow.
- My uncle will sign this document.
4. Present Continuous
(Also called Present
Progressive)
Formula
Subject + is/are/am
+ Verb [fourth form (an-ing)] + Object / Adverb
[Singular Subject
= is]
[Plural subject =
are]
[I = am]
Examples
- I am playing cricket.
- Yaqoob is reading a book.
- We are leaving for the beach tomorrow morning.
5. Past Continuous
Formula
Subject + was/were +
Verb [fourth form (an-ing)] + Object / Adverb
[Singular Subject
= was]
[Plural subject =
were]
[I = was]
Examples
- I was making dinner when she arrived.
- Yaqoob and Maria were planning to go.
- They were cleaning window.
6. Future Continuous
Formula
Subject +
will/shall + be + Verb [fourth form (an-ing)] + Object / Adverb
[I / We =
shall/will]
[The rest = will]
Examples
- I will be making dinner.
- He will be reading a book.
7. Present Perfect
Formula
Subject + have/has +
Verb [third form] + Object / Adverb
[Singular Subject
= has]
[Plural subject =
have]
[I = have]
Examples
- I have known for many years more than twenty years.
- Yaqoob has read a book.
- We have done our work.
[Usage of since and for starts from Perfect Tense]
8. Past Perfect
Formula
Subject + had +
Verb [third form] + Object / Adverb
Examples
- After she had moved out, I found her notes.
- She had met him before the party.
(met
is the second and third form of meet)
9. Future Perfect
Formula
Subject +
will/shall + have + Verb [third form] + Object / Adverb
[I / We =
shall/will]
[The rest = will]
Examples
- I will have finished this book.
- They will have done their work.
10. Present Perfect Continuous
Formula
Subject + have/has +
been + Verb [fourth form (an-ing)] + Object / Adverb
[Singular Subject
= has]
[Plural subject =
have]
[I = have]
Examples
- I have been playing cricket for two hours.
- Yaqoob has been reading a book since morning.
11. Past Perfect Continuous
Formula
Subject + had +
been + Verb [fourth form (an-ing)] + Object / Adverb
Example
- I had been working at the company for five years when I got the promotion.
12. Future Perfect Continuous
Formula
Subject +
will/shall + have + been + Verb [fourth form (an-ing)] + Object / Adverb
Example
- She will have been working for two hours.