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12(All)EnglishTenseswithExamplesMyEnglishTeacher.euBlog

12(All)EnglishTenseswithExamples
MyEnglishTeacher.euBlog
08.16.2013
Tenseandaspect,althoughtheyaretwodifferentcategories,alwaysappeartogether.Therearesix
tensesandtwoaspectsinEnglish.
Withreferencetotenseandaspect,wecanspeakaboutthefollowingstructuresinpracticalusage.
AllEnglishTenseswithExamples!
(Note:progressiveaspectisoftencalledcontinuous.)

PresentSimple(presenttense+commonaspect)

Affirmative:Subject+BaseFormoftheVerb
*note:for3rdPersonSingular(he/she/it)addstothebaseform
I/You/We/Theyworkinabank.
He/Sheworksinabank.

Negative:Subject+dont/doesnt+BaseFormoftheVerb
I/You/We/Theydont(donot)work.
He/She/Itdoesnt(doesnot)work.

Interrogative:QuestionWord+do/does+Subject+BaseFormoftheVerb

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WheredoI/you/we/theywork?
Wheredoeshe/shework?
1.Usual,regularaction:
Iusuallygofishingatweekends.Idontgofishingatweekends.DoIgofishingatweekends?
Youalwaysknowtheanswer.Youdontalwaysknowtheanswer.Doyoualwaysknowthe
answer?
Sheneverputsmilkinhertea.Shedoesntputmilkinhertea.Doessheeverputmilkinher
tea?
Myfatherplaystheviolin.Myfatherdoesntplaytheviolin.Doesyourfatherplaytheviolin?
WesometimesgotothecinemaonFriday.WedontgotothecinemaonFriday.Dowegoto
thecinemaonFridays?
Theyneverwalkinthewood.Theydontwalkinthewood.Dotheywalkinthewood?
2.Generalexistencestatingafact:
Anostrichhastwolegs.Arabbitdoesnthavetwolegs.Howmanylegsdoesaspiderhave?
Theearthgoesroundthesun.Thesundoesntgoroundtheearth.Doesthemoongoround
theearth?
Waterisliquidatroomtemperature.Goldisntliquidatroomtemperature.Isgoldsolidatroom
temperature?
3.Dramaticnarrative(theatre,sports,etc.events):
Johnsontakestheball,hebouncesittothefloor,thenhethrowsandscorestwopoints.
4.Timetables
Thetrainleavesathalfpastfour.Thetraindoesntleaveatfive.Whattimedoesthetrain
leave?
Thecoursestartson1July.ThecoursedoesntstartinJune.Whendoesthecoursestart?

PresentProgressive(presenttense+progressiveaspect)

Affirmative:Subject+BE+VerbING
Youarecooking.

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Negative:Subject+BEnot+VerbING
Youarent(arenot)cooking.

Interrogative:QuestionWord+BE+Subject+VerbING
Whatareyoucooking?
1.Actionhappeningnow:
ImwatchingafilmonTVnow.Imnotwatchingafilm.AmIwatchingafilm?
Watchout,acarscoming.Itisntnotcoming.Isitcoming?
Theboysaresleepingupstairs.Theyboysarentsleepingupstairs.Aretheboyssleeping
upstairs?
2.Actionhappeningaboutthistime,butnotnecessarilynow:
HesstudyingSpanishandGerman.HesnotstudyingFrench.Whatlanguagesishe
studying?
Theyregoingtoabusinesscourse.Theyarentgoingtoacookingcourse.Whatcourseare
theygoingto?
Yourevisitingmuseumswhileyourehere.Yourenotvisitingfactories.Areyouvisiting
museumsinourcity?
3.Definitearrangementinthenearfuture:
ImtravellingtoParistomorrow.ImnottravellingtoParistomorrow.AmItravellingtoParis
tomorrow?
Mysonistakinghisgirlfriendtodinnertonight.Mysonisnttakinghisgirlfriendtodinner
tonight.Ishetakinghisgirlfriendtodinnertonight?
YouregoingtoItalyonholidaythisyear,arentyou?YouarentgoingtoGreece.Whereareyou
goingonholidaythisyear?

PastSimple(pasttense+commonaspect)

Affirmative:Subject+VerbinPastSimple(2ndform)
I/You/He/She/It/We/TheylivedinLondontenyearsago.
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Negative:Subject+didnt(didnot)+BaseFormoftheVerb
I/You/He/She/It/We/Theydidntlikethefilm.

Interrogative:QuestionWord+did+subject+BaseFormoftheVerb
WheredidI/you/he/she/it/we/theymeetRichard?Actions,eventsinthepast:
IhadlunchwithMrsRobinsonyesterday.IdidnthavelunchwithMrsRobinsonyesterday.DidI
havelunchwithMrsRobinsonyesterday?
MotherwenttoworkonTuesday.MotherdidntgotoworkonTuesday.DidMothergotowork
onTuesday?
Youdidtheshoppingthismorning.Youdidntdotheshoppingthismorning.Wheredidyoudo
theshoppingthismorning?
ShetravelledtoSpainlastyear.Shedidnttravelanywherelastyear.Wheredidshetravellast
year?

PastProgressive(pasttense+progressiveaspect)

Affirmative:Subject+was/were+VerbING
I/He/Shewashavingashowerwhenyoucalled.
We/You/TheywerewatchingTVwhenBobarrived.

Negative:Subject+wasnt(wasnot)/werent(werenot)+VerbING
I/He/Shewasnthavingashowerwhenyoucalled.
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We/You/TheywerenwatchingTVwhenBobarrived.

Interrogative:Questionword+was/were+VerbING
WhatwereyoudoingwhenBobarrived?
Whatwasshedoingwhenyoucalled?
Actioninprogressinthepast:
Iwasworkinginthegardenwhenmysisterarrived.Iwasntworkinginthegardenwhenmy
sisterarrived.WasIworkinginthegardenwhenmysisterarrived?
Wewerewatchingafilmattenlastnight.Wewerentwatchingafilmattenlastnight.Werewe
watchingfilmattenlastnight?
Shewasplayingwiththekidsfromeighttonine.Shewasntplayingwiththekidsfromeightto
nine.Whowassheplayingwith?

PresentPerfectSimple(presentperfecttense+commonaspect)

Affirmative:Subject+have/has+PastParticiple(3rdFormoftheVerb)
I/You/We/Theyhavefinishedtheletter.
He/Shehasfinishedtheletter.
Negative:Subject+havent(havenot)/hasnt(hasnot)+PastParticiple

I/You/We/Theyhaventfinishedtheletter.
He/Shehasntfinishedtheletter.

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Interrogative:QuestionWord+have/has+PastParticiple
HaveI/you/we/theyfinishedtheletter?
Hashe/shefinishedtheletter?
1.Actionwitharesult:
Sorry,Iveparkedatthewrongplace.Ihaventparkedatthewrongplace.HaveIparkedatthe
wrongplace?
Youve(already)printedtheletters.Youhaventprintedtheletters(yet).Haveyouprintedthe
letters(yet)?
Weve(already)donetherooms.Wehaventdonetheroomsyet.Havewedonetherooms
(yet)?
Hehasalreadyrepairedthelawnmower.Hehasntrepairedthelawnmoweryet.Hashe
repairedthelawnmoweryet?
2.Actioninincompletetime:
Ourfriendshavevisitedusfourtimesthissummer.Ourfriendshaventvisitedusthissummer.
Howmanytimeshaveourfriendsvisitedusthissummer?
Ivebeentothecinemaalotlately.Ihaventbeentothecinemalately.HaveIbeentothe
cinemalately?
Youvebeenonholidaythisyear.Youhaventbeenonholidaythisyear.Haveyoubeenon
holidaythisyear?
3.Actioninthepastwithoutsayingwhen:
JanehasalreadybeentoItaly.JanehasneverbeentoItaly.HasJaneeverbeentoItaly?
Youhavealreadyswuminthislake.Youhaventswuminthislakeyet.Haveyoueverswumin
thislake?
Youvebeentothehairdressers.Youhaventbeentothehairdressers.Wherehaveyoubeen?
4.Actionbeginninginthepastandstillcontinuing:
TheSimpsonshavelivedhereforeightyears.TheSimpsonshaventlivedhereforlong.How
longhavetheSimpsonslivedhere?
Hehasdrivenacarsince2002.Hehasntdrivenacarsince2002.Hashedrivenacarsince
2002?
Youveworkedherefortwoyears.Youhaventworkedherefortwoyears.Howlonghaveyou
workedhere?

PresentPerfectProgressive(presentperfecttense+progressiveaspect)
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Affirmative:Subject+have/hasbeen+VerbING
I/you/We/TheyhavebeenlearningEnglishforayear.
He/ShehasbeenlearningEnglishforayear.

Negative:Subject+havent/hasntbeen+VerbING
I/You/We/Theyhaventbeenplayingtennisforalongtime.
He/Shehasntbeenplayingtennisforalongtime.

Interrogative:QuestionWord+have/has+Subject+beenVerbING
HowlonghaveI/you/we/theybeenlearningEnglish?
Howlonghashe/shebeenlearningEnglish?
Actionbeginninginthepastandstillcontinuing(withtheprogressemphasized):
Theyvebeenstayinginthishotelfortendays.Theyhaventbeenstayinginthishotelforten
days.Havetheybeenstayinginthishotelfortendays?
Hehasbeenmowingthelawnallthismorning.Hehasntbeenmowingthelawnallthis
morning.Howlonghashebeenmowingthelawn?
Youvebeenmissingclasseslately.Youhaventbeencomingtoclasslately.Whathaveyou
beendoinglately?

PastPerfectSimple(pasttense+commonaspect)

Affirmative:Subject+had+PastParticiple
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I/You/He/She/We/TheyhadalreadymetSarahbeforetheparty.

Negative:Subject+hadnt(hadnot)+PastParticiple
I/You/He/She/We/TheyhadntmetSarahbeforetheparty.

Interrogative:QuestionWord+had+Subject+PastParticiple
HadI/you/he/she/we/theymetSarahbeforetheparty?
Actioninthepastbeforeanother:
Shesaidshehadwrittenthreelettersthedaybefore.Shesaidshehadntwrittenanylettersthe
daybefore.Howmanylettershadshewrittenthedaybefore?
TheyhadlivedinYorkbeforetheymovedtoLiverpool.TheyhadntlivedinYorkbeforethey
movedtoLiverpool.WherehadtheylivedbeforetheymovedtoLiverpool?
Youdlockedthedoorbeforeyouleft.Youhadntlockedthedoorbeforeyouleft.Hadyou
lockedthedoorbeforeyouleft?

PastPerfectProgressive(pastperfecttense+progressiveaspect)

Affirmative:Subject+hadbeen+VerbING
I/You/He/She/We/TheyhadbeenlivinginGermanforyearsbeforemovinghere.

Negative:Subject+hadntbeen+VerbING

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I/You/He/She/We/TheyhadntbeenlivinginGermanyforalongtimebeforemovinghere.

Interrogative:QuestionWord+had+Subject+beenVerbING
HowlonghadI/you/he/she/we/theybeenlivinginGermanybeforemovinghere?Actioninthe
pastbeforeanother(withtheprogressemphasized):
Hesaidhehadbeenmowingthelawnallthatmorning.Hesaidhehadntbeenmowingthelawn
allthatmorning.Howlonghadhebeenmovingthelawnwhenyoumethim?
Theyhadbeenworkingforthesamecompanyforalongtimebeforetheychangedjobs.They
hadntbeenworkingforthesamecompanyforalongtimebeforetheychangedjobs.Hadthey
beenworkingforthesamecompanyforalongtimebeforetheychangedjobs?
TheyhadbeenlivinginYorkbeforetheymovedtoLiverpool.TheyhadntbeenlivinginYork
beforetheymovedtoLiverpool.HowlonghadtheybeenlivinginYorkbeforetheymovedto
Liverpool?

FutureSimple(futuretense+commonaspect)

Affirmative:Subject+Will+BaseFormoftheVerb
I/You/He/She/We/TheywillseeJanewhenshecomesbackfromIndia.

Negative:Subject+Wont(willnot)+BaseFormoftheVerb
I/You/He/She/We/TheywontseeJanewhenshecomesbackfromIndia.

Interrogative:QuestionWord+Will+Subject+BaseFormoftheVerb
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WillI/you/he/she/we/theyseeJanewhenshecomesbackfromIndia?Fact,actionoreventin
thefuture:
Iwillbethirtyyearsoldnextyear.Iwontbethirtyyearsoldagain.WillIbethirtyyearsold
again?
Wellmeetthematthestationatsix.Wewontmeetthematthestation.Wherewillwemeet
them?
Youllcrossthechannelbyferry.Youwontcrossthechannel.Howwillyoucrossthechannel?

FutureProgressive(futuretense+progressiveaspect)

Affirmative:Subject+WillBe+VerbING
I/You/He/She/We/Theywillbehavingfunattheparty.

Negative:Subject+WontBe+VerbING
I/You/He/She/We/Theywontbehavingfunattheparty.

Interrogative:QuestionWord+Will+Subject+BeVerbING
WillI/you/he/she/we/theybehavingfunattheparty?Actioninprogressatagiventimeofthe
future:
ThistimetomorrowwewillbeflyingtoLosAngeles.WewontbeflyingtoNewYork.Where
willwebeflying?
Youllbedoinghouseworkwithmeatsixtomorrow.Youwontbeplayingfootball.Whatwillyou
bedoingatsixtomorrow?
Illbeplayingtennisfromseventonine.Iwontbeplayingtennisatsix.WhenwillIbeplaying
tennis?

FuturePerfectSimple(futureperfecttense+commonaspect)
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Affirmative:Subject+WillHave+PastParticiple
I/You/He/She/We/TheywillhavemetDorashusbandbythistimetomorrow.

Negative:Subject+WontHave+PastParticiple
I/You/He/She/We/TheywonthavemetDorashusbandbythistimetomorrow.

Interrogative:QuestionWord+Will+Subject+Have+PastParticiple
WillyouhavemetDorashusbandbythistimetomorrow?Actioncompletedbyagiventimeofthe
future:
Iwillhavedonethisworkbytheendofnextweek.Iwonthavedonethisworkbytheendof
nextweek.WillIhavedonethisworkbytheendofnextweek?
Theyllhavearrivedbythetimewereturn.Theywonthavearrivedbythetimewereturn.Will
theyhavearrivedbythetimewereturn?
ShewillhavetakenthreeexamsbynextTuesday.Shewonthavetakenanyexamsbynext
Tuesday.HowmanyexamswillshehavetakenbynextTuesday?

FuturePerfectProgressive(futureperfecttense+progressiveaspect)

Affirmative:Subject+WillHaveBeen+VerbING
I/You/He/She/We/TheywillhavebeenworkingwithJohnfortenyearsnextweek.

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Negative:Subject+WontHaveBeen+VerbING
I/You/He/She/We/TheywonthavebeenworkingwithJohnfortenyearsnextweek.

Interrogative:QuestionWord+Will+Subject+HaveBeen+VerbING
HowlongwillI/you/he/she/we/theyhavebeenworkingwithJohnnextweek?Actioncompleted
byorstillinprogressatagiventimeofthefuture(withtheprogressemphasized):
Wewillhavebeenstayinghereforaweektomorrow.Wewonthavebeenstayingherefora
weektomorrow.Howlongwillwehavebeenstayinghere?
Youwillhavebeenlivinghereforthirtyyearsbythistimenextyear.Youwonthavebeen
livinghereforthirtyyearsbythistimenextyearHowlongwillyouhavebeenlivingherebythis
timenextyear?
Illhavebeenplayingtheguitarfortenyearsbynextyear.Iwonthavebeenplayingthe
guitarfortenyearsbynextyear.HowlongwillIhavebeenplayingtheguitar?
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