Tenses in English Grammar with Examples

Last updated on November 22nd, 2022 at 09:45 pm

Tenses

Tenses shows exactly the time of action. Tenses show time when the work is done. They are:

(1) Present Tense

(2) Past Tense

(3) Future Tense

_{Present Tense}

They are further divided into:

Simple present- we use simple present tense to show when an action is done .

Positive structure – Subject – first form of verb – s/es – object

Example – Shanaya writes a thesis.

 

Negative structure – Subject – does not – verb first form – s/es – object

Example – Shanaya does not write a thesis.

 

Interrogative structure – Does + subject + verb first form + s/es + object

Example – Does Shanaya write a thesis?

 

Present continuous– used for action takes place at the time of speaking.

 

Positive structure – Subject + is/am/are + verb first form + ing + object.

Example – Shanaya is writing a thesis.

 

Negative structure – Subject + is/am/are + not + verb first form + ing + object.

Example – Shanaya is not writing a thesis.

 

Interrogative structure – Is/am/are + subject + verb first form + ing + object.

Example – Is Shanaya writing a thesis?

 

Present perfect– used to show an action, started in past and just it is finished.

 

Positive structure – Subject + has/have + verb third form + object.

Example- Shanaya has written a thesis.

 

Negative structure – Subject + has/have + not + verb third form + object.

Example – Shanaya has not written a thesis.

 

Interrogative structure – Has/have + subject + verb third form + object.

Example- Has Shanaya written a thesis?

 

Present perfect continuous– used to show the work which started in the past and still it is continuing.

 

Positive structure – Subject + has/have + been + verb first form + ing + object.

Example – Shanaya has been writing a thesis.

 

Negative structure – Subject + has/have + not been + verb first form + ing + object.

Example– Shanaya has not been writing a thesis.

 

Interrogative structure – Has/have + subject + been + verb first form + ing + object.

Example – Has Shanaya been writing a thesis?

 

Past tense

Simple past – It shows the work that completed in the past.

 

Positive sentences – Subject + Verb second form  + object + (.)

Shanaya wrote a thesis.

 

Negative sentences- Subject + didn’t + verb first form + object + (.)

Shanaya didn’t write a thesis.

 

Interrogative sentences-Did + subject + verb first form + object + (?)

Did Shanaya write a thesis?

 

Past perfect tense – It shows that work completed in the past, usually a Long time ago

 

Positive sentences – Subject + had + verb third form + object + (.)

Shanaya had written a thesis.

 

Negative sentences- Subject + had + not + verb third form  /  object + (.)

Shanaya had not written a thesis.

 

Interrogative sentences- Had + subject + verb third form + object + (?)

Had Shanaya written a thesis?

 

Past Continuous Tense – it shows that the work is going on at some time in the past.

 

Positive Sentences – Subject + was/were +V1+ ing + Object + (.)

Shanaya was writing a thesis.

 

Negative Sentences- Subject + was/were + not + ing + Object + (.)

Shanaya was not writing a thesis.

 

Interrogative Sentences- Was/were + Subject + ing+ Object + (?)

Was Shanaya writing a thesis?

 

Past perfect continuous tense – shows that a work started in the past and continued for some time in past.

E.g. I had been studying in this college for last 2 years.

 

Positive sentences – Subject + had been +verb first form + ing + object + (.)

Shanaya had been writing a thesis.

 

Negative sentences-Subject + had + not been + verb first form+ ing + object + (.)

Shanaya had not been writing a thesis.

 

Interrogative sentences- Had + subject+ been+ verb first form + ing + object + (?)

Had Shanaya been writing a thesis?

 

Future tense

 

Simple future – It shows that the tense is going to happen in future.

 

Positive sentences – Subject + will/shall + verb (ist form) + object + (.)

Shanaya will write a thesis.

 

Negative sentences- Subject + will/shall + not + verb (ist form) + object + (.)

Shanaya will not write a thesis.

 

Interrogative sentences- Will/shall + subject + verb (ist form) + object + (?)

Will Shanaya write a thesis?

 

Future continuous tense – It is used to show an ongoing action in future.

 

Positive sentences – Subject + will/shall + be + verb (ist form) + ing + object + (.)

Shanaya will be writing a thesis.

 

Negative sentences- Subject + will/shall + not + be + verb (ist form) + ing + object + (.)

Shanaya will not be writing a thesis.

 

Interrogative sentences- Will/shall + subject + be + verb (ist form) + ing + object + (?)

Will Shanaya be writing a thesis?

 

Future perfect tense – It is used to show that the work will happen  in future and will be completed after a  certain time in future.

 

Positive sentences – Subject + will/shall + have + verb (3rd form) + object + (.)

Shanaya will have written a thesis.

 

Negative sentences- Subject + will/shall + not + have + verb (3rd form) + object + (.)

Shanaya will not have written a thesis.

 

Interrogative sentences- Will/shall + subject + have + verb (3rd form) + object + (?)

Will Shanaya have written a thesis?

 

Future perfect continuous tense – It is used to tell about the work that will happen  at a fix time in future and Continue for some time.

 

Positive sentences – Subject + will/shall + have been + verb (ist form) + ing + object + (.)

Shanaya will have been writing a thesis.

 

Negative sentences- Subject + will/shall + not + have been + verb (ist form) + ing + object+ (.)

Shanaya will not have been writing a thesis.

 

Interrogative sentences- Will/shall + subject + have been + verb (ist form) + ing + object +(?)

Will Shanaya have been writing a thesis?

 

Types of Tenses in English Grammar with Examples