TENSES OF THE VERB
PRESENT TENSES
Simple Present:
Usage: The simple present is used for general truths, habits, routines, and facts.
Form: For most verbs, the simple present is formed by adding "-s" or "-es" to the base form of the verb in the third
person singular (he, she, it).
Examples:
I eat breakfast every morning.
She works in a hospital.
Present Continuous (Present Progressive):
Usage: The present continuous is used to describe actions that are happening right now or around the present moment.
Form: It is formed using the present tense of the verb "to be" (am/are/is) + the present participle (verb + -ing).
Examples:
I am writing an email.
They are studying for the exam.
Present Perfect:
Usage: The present perfect tense is used to express actions that occurred at an indefinite time in the past but have
relevance to the present.
Form: It is formed using the present tense of the verb "to have" (have/has) + the past participle of the main verb.
Examples:
I have visited that museum before.
She has already finished her work.
present perfect continuous tense is a verb form used to express an action that started in the past, continues into the
present, and may or may not continue into the future. It is formed by using the present perfect of the auxiliary verb
"have" (have/has) combined with the past participle of the main verb, "been," and the present participle (base verb + ing).
The structure is:
Subject + have/has + been + present participle (-ing form of the verb)
Example:
I have been working on this project for three hours.
Uses of the present perfect continuous tense:
Duration of an action: It is commonly used to emphasize the length of time an action has been happening up to the
present moment.
She has been studying all day.
Repeated or continuous actions: It can be used to describe actions that have been happening repeatedly or continuously
over a period of time.
They have been playing soccer every weekend.
Cause and effect: It is used to show the cause of a present result or situation.
I'm tired because I have been running.
Unfinished actions with present relevance: It is used to indicate an action that is still in progress and has relevance to
the present.
She has been gardening, and her hands are covered in dirt.
Tips for using the present perfect continuous tense properly:
Duration: Consider whether the action has been ongoing for a period leading up to the present. If so, present perfect
continuous may be appropriate.
Relevance: Think about whether the action has a connection to the present moment. If there is present relevance, the
present perfect continuous tense might be suitable.
Adverbs of time: Words like "for" and "since" are often used with this tense to indicate the duration of the action.
Context: Consider the context of the situation. If the focus is on the duration of an activity that began in the past and
continues to the present, the present perfect continuous tense is likely appropriate.
Example:
Incorrect: "I have been reading this book yesterday." (The use of "yesterday" is not compatible with the present perfect
continuous tense.)
Correct: "I have been reading this book for an hour." (Emphasizing the duration of the action.)
Tips for Using Present Tenses Properly:
Understand the Context:
Consider the context in which the action is happening to choose the appropriate present tense.
Be Aware of Signal Words:
Certain words and phrases often signal the use of a specific tense. For example, "always," "usually," and "every day" may
indicate the simple present, while "right now" or "currently" may suggest the present continuous.
Third Person Singular Form:
Remember to add "-s" or "-es" to the base form of the verb for third person singular in the simple present tense.
Use Present Perfect for Unspecified Past Time:
When talking about experiences or actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past with relevance to the
present, use the present perfect.
Avoid Unnecessary Shifts:
Be consistent with your choice of tense within a sentence or paragraph, unless there is a logical reason to shift.
PAST TENSES
Simple Past:
Form: Regular verbs typically add "-ed" to the base form (e.g., walked, talked), while irregular verbs have specific past
forms (e.g., went, ate).
Use: Simple past is used to express completed actions at a specific point in the past. It often includes a specific time or
time frame.
Example: She visited her grandparents last weekend.
Past Continuous:
Form: Formed using the past tense of the verb "to be" (was/were) and the present participle of the main verb (e.g.,
was/were + eating, walking).
Use: Past continuous is used to describe actions that were ongoing or in progress at a specific moment in the past.
Example: They were studying when the phone rang.
Past Perfect:
Form: Composed of the past tense of "to have" (had) and the past participle of the main verb (e.g., had + eaten, gone).
Use: Past perfect is used to indicate that one action in the past occurred before another action. It emphasizes the
completion of the earlier action.
Example: By the time we arrived, they had already finished the movie.
Tips for Proper Usage:
Use simple past for actions that occurred at a specific time in the past.
Use past continuous for actions in progress at a particular moment.
Use past perfect to show the sequence of events and emphasize the completion of an action before another.
Past Perfect Continuous Tense:
Formation:
The past perfect continuous tense is formed by using the past perfect of the auxiliary verb "to have" (had), the past
participle of the main verb "to be" (been), and the present participle of the main verb, usually ending in -ing.
Structure:
Had been+present participle (verb+ing)
Example:
She had been studying for hours before the exam.
Uses of Past Perfect Continuous Tense:
Duration Before Something in the Past: It is used to express the duration of an action that started in the past and
continued up to another point in the past.
Example:
They had been working on the project for months before they finally submitted it.
Cause of Something in the Past: It is used to indicate the cause of something that happened in the past.
Example:
He was exhausted because he had been running for an hour.
Unfinished Actions in the Past: It is employed to describe an unfinished action that was happening at a specific moment
in the past.
Example:
The sun had set, and it had been raining for hours.
How to Use It Properly:
Understand the Timing: Use the past perfect continuous when you want to convey that an action started in the past,
continued for a specific duration, and was still ongoing at a certain point in the past.
Identify the Relevant Past Events: Determine the two points in time you are comparing - the starting point of the action
and the point when something else occurred.
Use Signal Words: Signal words like "for," "since," and "before" can help indicate when to use the past perfect
continuous tense.
Example:
She had been waiting for an hour before the bus finally arrived.
FUTURE TENSES
The future tenses in English are used to express actions or events that will happen at some point in the future. There are
several ways to convey future actions, and the choice of tense depends on the context and the speaker's intention. The
main future tenses in English are the simple future, future continuous, future perfect, and future perfect continuous.
Simple Future:
Form: Will + base form of the verb (e.g., I will go, they will study).
Use: Used for predictions, promises, offers, and spontaneous decisions.
Example: She will travel to Europe next summer.
Future Continuous:
Form: Will be + present participle (verb + ing) (e.g., I will be working, he will be studying).
Use: Used to indicate that an action will be in progress at a specific time in the future or to emphasize the duration of an
action.
Example: At this time tomorrow, they will be celebrating their anniversary.
Future Perfect:
Form: Will have + past participle (e.g., I will have finished, she will have completed).
Use: Indicates that an action will be completed before another specific point or action in the future.
Example: By the time you arrive, I will have prepared dinner.
Future Perfect Continuous:
Form: Will have been + present participle (e.g., I will have been working, they will have been waiting).
Use: Expresses the duration of an action up to a certain point in the future.
Example: By the end of the month, he will have been working at the company for ten years.
Tips for using future tenses properly:
Context is key: Consider the context of the conversation to choose the most appropriate future tense.
Signal words: Certain words and phrases often accompany specific future tenses, helping to clarify the intended
meaning.
Intent: Choose the tense that best conveys your intended meaning. For example, use the simple future for predictions
and the future perfect for completed actions.
Practice: Familiarize yourself with the different future tenses through practice exercises and examples to gain confidence
in using them correctly.
"Have had," "had had," and "has has" are different forms of the verb "to have" used in various tenses and contexts.
Let's break down their usage:
Have had:
Present Perfect Tense: This is the most common usage. It indicates an action that started in the past and continues up
to the present or has just been completed.
Example: "I have had three cups of coffee today."
Had had:
Past Perfect Tense: This is used when you want to talk about an action that occurred before another action in the past.
Example: "By the time I arrived, he had had lunch."
Has has:
This is grammatically correct but rarely used because it results from combining the third person singular form of "to
have" (has) with itself. In most cases, you would use "has" with another verb.
Example: "He has has a difficult time lately." (Less common and might be confusing; it's generally better to rephrase the
sentence.)
"Has had" is a phrase used in the present perfect tense. It combines the present tense of the auxiliary verb "has" with
the past participle "had" of the main verb. Here's how to use it properly:
Present Perfect Tense:
Use "has had" to indicate an action that started in the past and has relevance to the present. This tense emphasizes
the connection between the past and the present.
Examples:
"She has had the flu for a week."
"The company has had several meetings to discuss the new project."
It can also be used in questions and negative sentences:
Questions:
"Has he had any experience in project management?"
"Has she had a chance to review the report?"
Negative sentences:
"She hasn't had the opportunity to attend the training yet."
"The team hasn't had much success with this approach."
CONDITIONALS
First Conditional (Type 1):
Structure: If + Present Simple, will + base form
Usage: Used for real or likely situations in the future. It expresses a possible cause-and-effect relationship.
Example: If it rains tomorrow, we will stay at home.
Second Conditional (Type 2):
Structure: If + Past Simple, would + base form
Usage: Used for unreal or unlikely situations in the present or future. It often expresses hypothetical or imaginary
conditions and their probable results.
Example: If I won the lottery, I would buy a new car.
Third Conditional (Type 3):
Structure: If + Past Perfect, would have + past participle
Usage: Used for unreal or impossible situations in the past. It describes a condition and its hypothetical result, both of
which did not happen.
Example: If she had studied harder, she would have passed the exam.
Let's break down the examples:
In the first conditional, the speaker believes there is a real possibility of rain tomorrow, and as a result, they will stay at
home.
In the second conditional, winning the lottery is presented as an unlikely or imaginary event in the present or future. The
speaker is expressing what they would do if this unlikely event were to occur.
In the third conditional, the speaker is talking about a situation in the past (not studying hard enough) and the imaginary
result (not passing the exam). Both events are unreal because they did not happen.