Tenses Notes
1. Present Tenses
a) Simple Present
Form: Subject + base verb (+ "s" for third-person singular)
Use: Habits, routines, facts, or general truths.
Example: I study for exams every day.
b) Present Continuous
Form: Subject + am/is/are + verb (-ing)
Use: Ongoing actions happening now or around the present.
Example: I am studying for the exam.
c) Present Perfect
Form: Subject + have/has + past participle
Use: Completed actions with relevance to the present.
Example: I have studied for the exam.
d) Present Perfect Continuous
Form: Subject + have/has been + verb (-ing)
Use: Ongoing actions that started in the past and continue to the present.
Example: I have been studying for hours.
2. Past Tenses
a) Simple Past
Form: Subject + past verb form
Use: Actions completed in the past.
Example: I studied for the exam yesterday.
b) Past Continuous
Form: Subject + was/were + verb (-ing)
Use: Ongoing actions in the past, often interrupted by another event.
Example: I was studying when the phone rang.
c) Past Perfect
Form: Subject + had + past participle
Use: Action completed before another action in the past.
Example: I had studied for the exam before I went to bed.
d) Past Perfect Continuous
Form: Subject + had been + verb (-ing)
Use: Ongoing action that was happening before another action in the past.
Example: I had been studying for hours before the lights went out.
3. Future Tenses
a) Simple Future
Form: Subject + will + base verb
Use: Actions planned or expected in the future.
Example: I will study for the exam tomorrow.
b) Future Continuous
Form: Subject + will be + verb (-ing)
Use: Ongoing actions at a specific time in the future.
Example: I will be studying for the exam at 8 PM.
c) Future Perfect
Form: Subject + will have + past participle
Use: Actions that will be completed before a specific time in the future.
Example: I will have studied for the exam by the time you arrive.
d) Future Perfect Continuous
Form: Subject + will have been + verb (-ing)
Use: Ongoing action continuing up to a point in the future.
Example: I will have been studying for five hours by midnight.
Quick Tips for Identifying Tenses
1. Look for helping verbs (am, is, are, was, were, have, has, had, will, etc.).
2. Check the verb ending (-ing for continuous, -ed for past participles).
3. Pay attention to time references (yesterday, tomorrow, for hours, since 8 PM, etc.).