English Verb Tenses: A Comprehensive Review
Simple Present
Affirmative: Subject + Verb (infinitive without ‘to’). In the third person, add -s or -es to the verb.
Example: I read my book. / He reads his book.
Interrogative: Do/Does + Subject + Verb (infinitive without ‘to’) + Complement.
Example: Do you read the book? / Does he read the book?
Negative: Subject + do/does + not + Verb (infinitive without ‘to’).
Example: I do not read the book. / He does not read the book.
Simple Past
Affirmative: Subject + Verb (past form – usually ending in -ed, or use the second column of irregular verbs) + Complement.
Example: I bought flowers.
Interrogative: Did + Subject + Verb (infinitive without ‘to’) + Complement.
Example: Did I buy flowers in the shop?
Negative: Subject + did not + Verb (infinitive without ‘to’).
Present Continuous
Affirmative: Subject + To Be (am, is, are) + Verb-ing.
Example: I am playing football.
Interrogative: To Be (am, is, are) + Subject + Verb-ing.
Example: Am I playing football?
Negative: Subject + To Be (am, is, are) + not + Verb-ing.
Example: I am not playing football.
Past Continuous
Affirmative: Subject + was/were + Verb-ing.
Example: I was playing football.
Interrogative: Was/were + Subject + Verb-ing.
Example: Was I playing football?
Negative: Subject + was not/were not + Verb-ing.
Example: I was not playing football.
Uses:
- To discuss actions that were occurring at a particular time in the past.
- When two actions occur, the continuous action expresses the longer duration.
- When two actions are parallel, while is often used.
Present Perfect
Affirmative: Subject + Have/Has + Verb (past participle – usually ending in -ed, or use the third column of irregular verbs). Use “has” for the third person singular.
Example: I have been in New York.
Interrogative: Have/Has + Subject + Verb (past participle).
Example: Have I been in New York?
Negative: Subject + Have/Has + not + Verb (past participle).
Example: I have not been in New York.
Uses:
- When the action started in the past and continues in the present.
- When we do not know when the action happened.
- When the time reference given is not yet over.
Common adverbs with Present Perfect:
- Just
- Yet? (Interrogative)
- Already (Affirmative)
- For
- Since
Present Perfect Continuous
Affirmative: Subject + Have/Has + Been + Verb-ing.
Example: I have been playing football.
Interrogative: Have/Has + Subject + Been + Verb-ing.
Example: Have you been playing football?
Negative: Subject + Have/Has not + Been + Verb-ing.
Example: I have not been playing football.
Uses:
- For actions repeated over a period of time.
- When we speak generally of what we’ve been doing, without specifying when.
Past Perfect
Affirmative: Subject + had + Verb (past participle).
Example: I had been in New York.
Interrogative: Had + Subject + Verb (past participle).
Example: Had you been in New York?
Negative: Subject + had not + Verb (past participle).
Example: I had not been in New York.
It’s the past of the past; it describes a past action before another past action.
1st Action: Past Perfect; 2nd Action: Past Simple.
Object Questions
Tom visited Mary. – Who did Tom visit?
Who visited Tom?
Subject Questions
Tom visited Mary. – Who visited Mary?
When ‘who’ or ‘what’ is the subject of the question, do not use an auxiliary verb, and the verb remains in the third person singular affirmative.
Likelihood
May (maybe), Might (might) + less likely than May.
Going To
Expresses a future intention.
Affirmative: To Be + going to + infinitive.
Negative: Subject + is/am/are + not + going to + infinitive.
Interrogative: Is/Are/Am + Subject + going to + infinitive?
Uses:
- When we have decided to do something in advance.
- When we see that something will happen in the near future.
Simple Future (Will)
Affirmative: Subject + will + infinitive.
Negative: Subject + will not + infinitive.
Interrogative: Will + Subject + infinitive?
Uses:
- When deciding to do something at the moment of speaking.
- When something is coming in the distant future.
- With requests.
- With forecasts.
- With promises.
- When we refuse to do something.