# English Grammar - Tenses ## Quick Revision Guide ### **Present Tense** #### **Simple Present** - **Structure**: Subject + V1 (s/es for 3rd person singular) - **Uses**: - Habitual actions: I go to school daily - Universal truths: The sun rises in the east - Scheduled events: The train leaves at 6 PM - Future in time clauses: When you come, I will help you #### **Present Continuous** - **Structure**: Subject + is/am/are + V1 + ing - **Uses**: - Actions happening now: I am reading a book - Temporary actions: I am staying in Delhi these days - Future arrangements: I am meeting him tomorrow - **Non-continuous verbs**: know, believe, like, love, hate, want #### **Present Perfect** - **Structure**: Subject + have/has + V3 - **Uses**: - Completed actions with present relevance: I have finished my work - Actions started in past, continuing now: I have lived here for 10 years - Recent actions: I have just arrived - **Signal words**: just, already, yet, never, ever, since, for #### **Present Perfect Continuous** - **Structure**: Subject + have/has + been + V1 + ing - **Uses**: - Actions started in past, still continuing: I have been working since morning - Emphasis on duration: I have been waiting for 2 hours - **Not used with**: Non-continuous verbs ### **Past Tense** #### **Simple Past** - **Structure**: Subject + V2 - **Uses**: - Completed actions in past: I went to school yesterday - Past habits: I used to play cricket - Historical events: India became independent in 1947 - **Signal words**: yesterday, ago, last, in 1990 #### **Past Continuous** - **Structure**: Subject + was/were + V1 + ing - **Uses**: - Actions in progress in past: I was reading when he called - Two actions happening simultaneously: While I was cooking, she was cleaning - **When vs While**: When + simple past, While + past continuous #### **Past Perfect** - **Structure**: Subject + had + V3 - **Uses**: - Action completed before another past action: I had finished my work before he came - Past perfect + simple past sequence - **Signal words**: before, after, already, by the time #### **Past Perfect Continuous** - **Structure**: Subject + had + been + V1 + ing - **Uses**: - Action continuing up to a point in past: I had been working for 2 hours when he arrived - Emphasis on duration in past ### **Future Tense** #### **Simple Future** - **Structure**: Subject + will/shall + V1 - **Uses**: - Predictions: It will rain tomorrow - Spontaneous decisions: I will help you - Promises: I will always love you - **Shall**: Used with I/we for offers, suggestions #### **Future Continuous** - **Structure**: Subject + will/shall + be + V1 + ing - **Uses**: - Actions in progress at future time: I will be working at 6 PM tomorrow - Polite inquiries: Will you be coming to the party? #### **Future Perfect** - **Structure**: Subject + will/shall + have + V3 - **Uses**: - Actions completed by future time: By next year, I will have completed my degree ### **Important Rules** #### **Sequence of Tenses** - **Main clause in present**: Subordinate clause can be in any tense - **Main clause in past**: Subordinate clause must be in past tense - **Exception**: Universal truths remain in present tense #### **Common Mistakes** - **Using present continuous for habits**: ❌ I am going to school daily - **Using simple present for actions happening now**: ❌ I read a book now - **Mixing tenses incorrectly**: ❌ I have been to Delhi yesterday --- *Last updated: 2024*
# English Grammar - Tenses ## Quick Revision Guide ### **Present Tense** #### **Simple Present** - **Structure**: Subject + V1 (s/es for 3rd person singular) - **Uses**: - Habitual actions: I go to school daily - Universal truths: The sun rises in the east - Scheduled events: The train leaves at 6 PM - Future in time clauses: When you come, I will help you #### **Present Continuous** - **Structure**: Subject + is/am/are + V1 + ing - **Uses**: - Actions happening now: I am reading a book - Temporary actions: I am staying in Delhi these days - Future arrangements: I am meeting him tomorrow - **Non-continuous verbs**: know, believe, like, love, hate, want #### **Present Perfect** - **Structure**: Subject + have/has + V3 - **Uses**: - Completed actions with present relevance: I have finished my work - Actions started in past, continuing now: I have lived here for 10 years - Recent actions: I have just arrived - **Signal words**: just, already, yet, never, ever, since, for #### **Present Perfect Continuous** - **Structure**: Subject + have/has + been + V1 + ing - **Uses**: - Actions started in past, still continuing: I have been working since morning - Emphasis on duration: I have been waiting for 2 hours - **Not used with**: Non-continuous verbs ### **Past Tense** #### **Simple Past** - **Structure**: Subject + V2 - **Uses**: - Completed actions in past: I went to school yesterday - Past habits: I used to play cricket - Historical events: India became independent in 1947 - **Signal words**: yesterday, ago, last, in 1990 #### **Past Continuous** - **Structure**: Subject + was/were + V1 + ing - **Uses**: - Actions in progress in past: I was reading when he called - Two actions happening simultaneously: While I was cooking, she was cleaning - **When vs While**: When + simple past, While + past continuous #### **Past Perfect** - **Structure**: Subject + had + V3 - **Uses**: - Action completed before another past action: I had finished my work before he came - Past perfect + simple past sequence - **Signal words**: before, after, already, by the time #### **Past Perfect Continuous** - **Structure**: Subject + had + been + V1 + ing - **Uses**: - Action continuing up to a point in past: I had been working for 2 hours when he arrived - Emphasis on duration in past ### **Future Tense** #### **Simple Future** - **Structure**: Subject + will/shall + V1 - **Uses**: - Predictions: It will rain tomorrow - Spontaneous decisions: I will help you - Promises: I will always love you - **Shall**: Used with I/we for offers, suggestions #### **Future Continuous** - **Structure**: Subject + will/shall + be + V1 + ing - **Uses**: - Actions in progress at future time: I will be working at 6 PM tomorrow - Polite inquiries: Will you be coming to the party? #### **Future Perfect** - **Structure**: Subject + will/shall + have + V3 - **Uses**: - Actions completed by future time: By next year, I will have completed my degree ### **Important Rules** #### **Sequence of Tenses** - **Main clause in present**: Subordinate clause can be in any tense - **Main clause in past**: Subordinate clause must be in past tense - **Exception**: Universal truths remain in present tense #### **Common Mistakes** - **Using present continuous for habits**: ❌ I am going to school daily - **Using simple present for actions happening now**: ❌ I read a book now - **Mixing tenses incorrectly**: ❌ I have been to Delhi yesterday --- *Last updated: 2024*