Tenses

Simple present tense: is used to show the habitual action or general fact.
We have three purposes in simple present tense.
1. Habitual action I smoke cigarette.
2. General fact God is one.
3. Repeat action I come to class everyday.
General structure S+V+C
Present continuous tense: is usually used for what is happening right now or during
themoment
of speaking it starts right now and it may go to future.
Structure: sub+ (tobe verb) +verb/ing+complement
I am (am not) working now.
We} He}
You} are (aren’t) working now. She} is (isn’t) working now.
They} It}
Past tense: Expresses and activity that occurred before now at particular time in the past-
. It starts in the past and finish in the past.
Ex: I went to Pakistan yesterday.
Structure: S+2nd form of (V) +C

Past progressive tense: Expresses an activity that something was in progress in the past.
Ex: I was teaching English When she came to class.
Structure: S+2nd form of tobe v +V/ing +C
Simple future tense: “Simple future tense” expresses an activity that is occurring in the
Coming time or at one particular time in the future, this will happen.
Will and be going are used with future tense but the main difference
Is that, that be going to is stronger than will.
Ex: I will come to class tomorrow.
Ex: I am going to study English.
Structure: S+will or be going to +V+C
Future progressive tense: Expresses an activity that will happen in the future at progress
Time.
Ex: He will be sleeping when we arrive.
Structure: S+will be+V/ing+C
Present perfect tense: “The present perfect” expresses the idea that something happened
(Or never happened) before now, at unspecified time in the past.
The exact time it happens is not important.
If there is a specific mention of time, the simple past is used.
Ex: I have gone to Pakistan.
Ex: I have never gone to Pakistan.
Structure: S+have/has+third form the verb+C
Prepared and designed by Muhammad Haroon (Nawabi)
Present perfect tense: “The present perfect” also expresses the repetition of an activity
. Before now. The exact time of each repetition is not important.
Ex: I have gone to London many times.
Present perfect “The present perfect “also, when used with for or since, expresses a
Situation that began in the past and continues to the present.
In the examples, notice the difference between since and for.
Since+ A particular time
For + A duration of time.
Ex: She has gone to London since 2000.
Ex: She has gone to London for four years.
General structure: S+have/has+past participle+C
Present perfect progressive: This tense is used to indicate the duration of an activity that
Began in the past and continues to the present or it may go to
The future.
Ex: we have been watching the movie since morning.
Structure: S+have/has+been+V/ing +C
Past perfect: “The past perfect” expresses an activity that was completed before another
Activity or time in the past.
Ex: I had already gone to Pakistan when she called me to come back to
Office.
If either before or after is used in the sentence, the past perfect is often not
Necessary because the time relationship is already clear.
The simple past may be used as a following.
Ex: Haroon Nawabi left before we got there.
Ex: After the guests left, I went to bed.
Structure: S+had+past participle+C

Past perfect progressive “The past perfect progressive” emphasizes the duration of an
Activity that was in progress before another activity or time in
The past.
Ex: The police had been looking for the criminal for two years
Before they caught him.
Structure: S+had+been+V/ing+C
Future perfect: “The future perfect “expresses an activity that will be completed before
Another time or event in the future.
(Notice in the examples: by the time introduces a time clause, the simple
Present is used in a time clause.)
Ex: I will graduate in June. I will see u in July. By the next time I see
You, I will have graduated.
Structure: S+will have +past participle+C
Future perfect progressive: “The future perfect progressive” emphasizes the duration of
An activity that will be in progress before another time or
Event in the future.
Ex: I will go to bed at ten p.m He will get home at midnight
At midnight I will be sleeping. I will have been sleeping for
Two hours by the time he gets home.
Structure: S+will have +been +V ing +C