TENSES

“Revolutions owe their success to numerous evolutions” - Waqar Ahmed Qazi

Compiled by: Sir Waqar Ahmed (MPhil – English Linguistics) # 0331-5422720
 Tenses
When we start learning any foreign language, such as English, we need to learn all the ways to
express our opinion related to specific time and purpose. Tenses play a major role in making us
understand when and in what way to propound a particular idea. Tenses are divided into three
basic phases, such as: Past, Present and future. All three of them are further divided in sub-
categories. Some of the commonly used types are:
Present

(a) Present simple tense or present indefinite tense.

(b) Present continuous tense or present progressive tense.
(c) Present perfect tense.
(d) Present perfect continuous tense

Past
(a) Past simple tense or past indefinite tense.
(b) Past continuous/progressive tense.
(c) Past perfect tense.
(d) Past perfect continuous tense.
Future
(a) Future simple tense or future indefinite tense.
(b) Future continuous tense or future progressive tense.
(c) Future perfect tense.
(d) Future perfect continuous tense.

Present Simple
We use present simple when we want to share thoughts, feelings, states, facts, repeated actions
and things that are true for a long time. Such as: We live in Karachi, we go there every month.
There are also some spelling rules for the verbs in present simple tense. Before going into the
details of this tense, we must throw a glance at those spelling rules.
Spelling Rules
The spelling for the verb in the third person differs depending on the ending of that verb:

1. For verbs that end in -O, -CH, -SH, -SS, -X, or -Z we add -ES in the third person.

Compiled by: Sir Waqar Ahmed (MPhil – English Linguistics) # 0331-5422720

• go – goes
• catch – catches
• wash – washes
• kiss – kisses
• fix – fixes
• buzz – buzzes
2. For verbs that end in a consonant + Y, we remove the Y and add -IES.
• marry – marries
• Study – studies
• carry – carries
• worry – worries
NOTE: For verbs that end in a vowel + Y, we just add -S.
• play – plays
• enjoy – enjoys
• Say – says
Structure:
• Subject + Main verb + Object
• Subject + 1st form of verb (or base verb) + Object

Other uses of present simple

(a) When we ask about books, notices, letters or sign boards, we say: what does that sign
board say? It says, “No parking”.
(b) We can also use verbs of communication. Brother advises us not to borrow or lend. A
notice at the end of the road warns people not to go any further.
(c) It is also used in newspaper headlines. Peace talks fail. Thief escapes.
(d) Dramatic use, for acts, dramas, stories: suddenly the window opens and a fat man enters.
(e) It is also used in conditional sentences: If I see Ali I will ask him. Unless you work hard,
you will not succeed.
(f) Also used in time clauses. (1) When there is an idea of routine: as soon as he reaches
home, he goes to bed. (2) He takes his brother to school before he goes to work.
(g) When the main verb is referring to future. When he comes here, I’ll talk to him.

Compiled by: Sir Waqar Ahmed (MPhil – English Linguistics) # 0331-5422720

 (h) Habitual actions: He drinks. I go to gym daily. Cats drink milk. Monkeys like fruits.
(i) Present simple tense also has future related uses, mostly when we use “will”. If he comes
here, I’ll help him. Will you wait here until I call you? If they don’t come today, will you
cancel the plan? I guarantee that you will like this movie.
Present simple tense does not tell us whether the action is performed at the time of speaking
or not. If it is performed at the time of speaking, we add present continuous tense to make it
clear. He is singing, he always sings on Sundays. Present simple tense can also be used with
adverbs, such as: usually, often, never, sometimes, every week, twice a year.

Present Continuous Tense

Structure:
• Subject + auxiliary verb + main verb-ing (Present participle) + object
• Subject + am/is/are + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object

When we are in the middle of an action, we use present continuous tense: I am waiting for
the bus. (I am at the bust stop). I am shaving. (I am in the bathroom). She is weeping. (The
action of weeping is not yet over).
The present continuous tense can also be used when we are in the middle of something but
not doing it at the moment of reporting. We are becoming richer with the passage of time. I
am very busy these days, I am preparing for exams.

Things that are happening for a long time can also be expressed using present continuous
tense. The number of birds in the park is increasing. Earth is slowly getting colder.
Present continuous tense also has future meaning. We are meeting tomorrow. John is
coming next week. Repeated actions can also be expressed using present continuous tense.
Why are you coming here again and again? I am hearing lot of good reports about your
work these days.
Compare present continuous tense with present simple
(a) We usually have dinner at 8:00 pm (we start eating at 8:00 pm). We are usually having
dinner at 8:00 pm (we are already eating at 8:00 pm).
(b) He teaches English in a school. (Permanent job). He is teaching English in a college. (It
may be temporary).
Compiled by: Sir Waqar Ahmed (MPhil – English Linguistics) # 0331-5422720
 (c) Banks lend money to make a profit. (This is what happens normally). Banks are lending
more money these days to encourage the business. (Might be a temporary action).

Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense is used when we want to say something about past and present. In
other words, when we use present perfect tense, we observe things happening in the past but
having a result in the present. It can also be used to talk about a recently completed action. I
have completed my work. He has gone to school.

Structure:
• Subject + Auxiliary verb + main verb (past participle) + Subject
• Subject + has/have + 3rd form of verb or past participle + subject

Other uses of present perfect tense

(a) For a recently completed action, use JUST in present perfect tense. He has just driven a
car = he drove a car few minutes ago.
(b) When we mention a connection between past and present we use present perfect to
show that some action that happened a few minutes back, has the results in the present.
I have washed my hands so that I can prepare lunch for you. (My hands are clean now).
We should close this shop because very few customers have come to buy anything.
(c) We can use present perfect tense to tell how long a situation has remained the same. I
have gone to the mosque all my life. Prices have fallen sharply over the past 2 years. I
have played cricket since my childhood. Continual actions: I have worn glasses since my
childhood.
(d) Present perfect tense can be used with Ever, never and always. I have never gone there.
I have always respected him. Have you ever seen a snake?

Compare present perfect tense with simple past

We use present perfect tense to express actions that are occurring in an incomplete period. For
that we use today, this morning, this year, this afternoon, this week, and this year. But we should
keep it in mind that after 1:00 o’clock “this morning” becomes a completed action or period, so
we use it in the simple past tense. Around 10:00 or 11:00 a.m. we say: Aslam has rung up 4 times
this morning. But at 2:00 or 3:00 p.m. We should say in simple past tense: Aslam rang up four
times this afternoon. Similarly, around 4:00 or 5:00 p.m. I haven’t seen Aslam this afternoon.
And around 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. I didn’t see Aslam this afternoon.

When we don’t know or don’t remember the specific time of action, we say: I have met him
today (at some time during the day). But when we know a certain time when an action happens
and it didn’t happen today, we can say: The postman didn’t come today. In news reports we often

Compiled by: Sir Waqar Ahmed (MPhil – English Linguistics) # 0331-5422720

see the combination of present perfect and simple past. He has returned from Karachi today,
he lived there for a year. I have thrown my toothbrush today, I used it for a month.

(1) He has waited all day. (He is still waiting).

(2) He has lived here all his life. (He still lives here).
(3) He has always respected us. (He still respects us).
(4) But in simple past: I smoked for six months. (After smoking for 6 months I stopped
smoking)
(5) He lived here all his life. (He is dead now or living somewhere else).

Sometimes we also use present perfect tense instead of present continuous tense but then the
meanings may change. I have sung songs. (I don’t sing anymore). I have been singing for a long
time. (I still sing). I have knocked 4 times. (I am not knocking anymore). I have been knocking at
the door for an hour. (I am still knocking).

Note: when we are more interested in “when” and less interested in “for how long”, we use
simple past tense. (Means when we want to know when an action occurred and are not
interested in knowing for how long it continued. When did you arrive in Lahore? How long have
you been in Lahore?

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Formula:

Subject + Auxiliary verb + main verb (Present participle) + Object + Time reference

Subject + has been/have been + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object + time

When we talk about the action that occurs over a period of time, we use present perfect
continuous tense. When the specific period of time in which an action occurs, is mentioned, we
use it with “for”, “since”, and “how long”. Sometimes the action leads up to the present while in
other cases, action occurs repeatedly.

Note: If there is not time reference or sense of time reference then it is not Present perfect
continuous tense because there is no hint about the time of action when it started in past and it
seems just an ongoing action at present time which resembles “present Continuous tense. So the

Compiled by: Sir Waqar Ahmed (MPhil – English Linguistics) # 0331-5422720

reference of time differentiates between Present perfect continuous tense and Present
continuous tense.

Uses of present perfect continuous tense

(1) He has been playing guitar since he was a kid. (Repeated action).
(2) When we talk about an action that ended just before present, we can say: I have been
painting the room. I have been doing workouts so I am fatigued.
(3) For actions which lead up to the present, we can say: we have been waiting here for
twenty minutes. (We are waiting now).
(4) For: my brother has been staying with me for 2 weeks now. I have been singing for 20
minutes.
(5) Since: he has been sleeping since 7:00 p.m. You have been playing games on your mobile
since eight o’clock.
(6) How long: How long have you been living in this city? How long have you been waiting?
When we say “how long”, something is in progress.

Simple Past
When we want to talk about an action that happened at a specific time, we use past indefinite
tense. Mostly we also mention the specific time. (Present simple is widely used to talk about a
completed action in past). He left a few minutes ago. They arrived at Karachi airport at 1 o’clock
this morning. When something happened in the past, we can say: when I was younger I played
football for my local team. When some action no longer occurs and it happened long ago, we
can use simple past. I stayed with my friend for 3 months (I am not staying there anymore).

Structure:

Subject + main verb (past simple) + object

Subject + 2nd form of verb (past simple) + object

Past Continuous Tense

When we want to tell that in past we were in the middle of an action, we use past continuous
tense. I was playing. They were sleeping. You were talking. People were walking in the park.
We can also use past continuous and simple past together. I was reading when it started to rain.
He was sleeping when they arrived. When he realized that I was sleeping, he closed the door.
When we talk about two past actions, we can say: Ali was reading a book while she was cleaning
Compiled by: Sir Waqar Ahmed (MPhil – English Linguistics) # 0331-5422720
the kitchen. When one action causes another, we use past simple. I woke up as my phone fell
onto the floor. When we talk about a permanent situation in past, we can say: when I was a child,
I played guitar.

Structure

Subject + auxiliary verb + Main Verb (present participle) + object

Past Perfect Tense

We use past perfect tense to talk about an action that occurred before another action in the past
(mostly long time ago). And for that we mostly use it with simple past tense. When he reached
at the airport, the plane had taken off. When my teacher came back, I had already done my
homework. By the time the ambulance arrived, the patient had already died. I hadn’t seen a
snake until I went to jungle. She had been a nurse before she became a doctor. He lost the match
because he hadn’t practiced.

Structure:

Subject + auxiliary verb + main verb (past participle) + object

Past Perfect Continuous Tense:

Structure:

Subject + Auxiliary verb + main verb (Present participle) + Object + Time reference

It is not used with the verbs which are not used in the continuous forms, excepting wish and
want. The teacher was delighted with a new hand bag, she had been wanting one for a long
time. We can also express repeated actions in the past perfect by using past perfect continuous.
He had tried five times to get her on the car. He had been trying to get her on the car. But there
is a difference between a single action in past perfect and past perfect continuous. He had
cooked food. (The action of cooking had been completed) He had been cooking. (It does not tell
us whether the cooking was completed or not). He had painted the door (Perhaps recently,
perhaps some time ago). He had been painting the door. (Perhaps the paint was still wet).

Note: If there is not time reference or sense of time reference, then it is not Past perfect continuous
tense because there is no hint about the time of action when it started in past or continued for some
time period, so it seems just an ongoing action in past which resembles “past Continuous tense”.

Compiled by: Sir Waqar Ahmed (MPhil – English Linguistics) # 0331-5422720

The reference of time differentiates between Past perfect continuous tense and past continuous
tense.

Simple Future or Future Indefinite:

Whether we use will, going to, or intend to. We actually express the same thing in different ways.
They all have same meanings most of the time. Generally, future simple is used to express an
action which has not occurred yet and will occur in future. It is also used to express the speaker’s
opinion, assumption, and predictions about the future. We use the following verbs to introduce
our sentence. Be afraid, believe, suppose, doubt, hope and know. Also with adverbs like:
Surely, perhaps, possibly. But we can also express our intentions without using any verbs or
adjectives. He will come. I’m sure he will come. He will find them. Perhaps he will find them.

Other uses of future simple:

(1) Future simple is used when some action is assumed to happen as a matter of fact. Birds
will build nests. Spring will come again. (Will be would also be possible).
(2) Future simple is mostly used in newspapers and news broadcasts, formal announcements
for future plans and also for weather forecasts. In conversations those intentions would
be expressed by using present continuous. The singer will launch the new album
tomorrow. The singer is launching the new album tomorrow.
(3) When you accept an offer, you can use will with have. Otherwise, I would like to can also
be used in the place of I will have. I would like to drink a glass of water. I will have a
glass of water please. But these two forms are not interchangeable in negative. So when
you wish to refuse an invitation you can say: I won’t have anything, thanks. Wouldn’t like
means “would dislike”, so could not be used here.

Structure:

Subject + auxiliary verb + main verb + object

Subject + will + 1st form of verb or base form + object

Future Continuous Tense

It is used to express a continued or an ongoing action in future. For example, “I will be waiting
for you tomorrow”, it conveys ongoing nature of an action (waiting) which will occur in future.
Rules: Auxiliary verb “will be” is used in sentence. 1st form of verb + ing (present participle) is
used as main verb in sentence.

Structure
Compiled by: Sir Waqar Ahmed (MPhil – English Linguistics) # 0331-5422720
Subject + auxiliary verb + main verb (present participle) + object

Subject + will be+ 1st form of verb or base form+ing (present participle) + object

Uses of future continuous tense:

(1) Future simple tense has two uses. Either it is used as an ordinary action or an action
without intention.
(2) Ordinary actions: (To mention an action that occurs before or after a point of time) They
are sleeping, at this time tomorrow they will be travelling. He is free today so he is
taking rest, tomorrow it’s not a holiday so he will be working in his office. It is a
holiday tomorrow so they will not be sitting in the classroom. Ali will be playing cards.
Sana will be shopping and I will still be sleeping.
(3) Without intention: I will be helping my teacher tomorrow (does not mean I have
arranged to help my teacher. It only expresses that this will happen tomorrow).
(4) Present continuous tense expresses a deliberate or planned future action, while the
future continuous refers to an action that will occur in the normal course of events. I am
seeing uncle jawad tomorrow. (This means speaker has arranged the meeting). I will be
seeing uncle jawad tomorrow. (This means it is bound to happen because may be they
work in the same company, office or place). The difference is not important always.
Either way can be used. He will be going to Karachi. He is going to Karachi. He will
not be coming to the party. He is not coming to the party.
(5) This can also be used to ask questions about intentions. What are you going to sing
today? What are you singing today? What will you be singing today? Will you have a
drink? Will you be working tomorrow? Will they be coming here? What will you be
eating this time tomorrow?

Future Perfect Tense

Structure:

Subject + auxiliary verb + main verb (past participle) + object

Subject + will have + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object

Future perfect tense is used to say that something will be ended, completed or achieved by a
particular point in the future. Let’s hope he will have finished the work before we ring him. I
will have cooked the food before you reach here. He made a mistake but I’m sure his behavior
will soon have been forgotten. By the time you reach Karachi I will have written an essay. It is
normally used with a time expression beginning with by, by that time, by 24th and by then. By the
end of the next month he will have been here for 20 years.
Compiled by: Sir Waqar Ahmed (MPhil – English Linguistics) # 0331-5422720
Other uses:

(1) It is used for an action which at a given future time will be in the past, or will just have
finished. Imagine it is 3 December and Ali is very worried about an exam that he is taking
on 13 December. Someone planning a party might say: we had better wait till 14
December, Ali will have taken his exam by then, and so he will be able to join the party.
(2) We can also say: I save 1000 rupees a month, by the end of the year I will have saved
12000 rupees.
(3) You have bought 5 perfumes, how long will these last? 5 years? – No, I use perfumes so
much that I will have finished all these by the end of this year.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense:

Structure:

Subject + Auxiliary verb + main verb (Present participle) + Object + Time reference

Subject + will have been + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object + time reference

It is used to express a continued or ongoing action that will start in future and is thought to be
continued till sometime in future. (Remember, an ongoing action in future which will continue till
some time in future). There will be a time reference, such as “since 1980, for three hours” from
which the action will start in future and will continue. A sense of time reference is found which
gives an idea that action will start at some time in future and will continue for some time. Such
time reference or sense of time reference is the identity of Future perfect continuous tense because
it tells that action will start at a particular time in future. For example, “He will have been studying
in this school since 2005”, so the it means that he will start studying in this school in 2005 and will
study in this school till sometime in future.

Note: If there is not time reference or sense of time reference then it is not future perfect continuous
tense because there is no hint about the time of action when it will start in future and it seems just
an ongoing action in future which resembles “future Continuous tense. So the reference of time
differentiates between Future perfect continuous tense between future continuous tense.

We can use future perfect continuous to say how long something has been going on by a
particular point in the future: On Saturday, we will have been living in this house for a month.
Next year, I will have been working in this company for 30 years.

Other uses:

Compiled by: Sir Waqar Ahmed (MPhil – English Linguistics) # 0331-5422720

(1) We use by in this tense like we use it in future perfect tense. By the end of this year he
will have been acting for 12 years. Future perfect continuous tense can also be used in
the place of future perfect tense.
(2) When the action is continuous: by the end of July he will have been studying here for 5
years. By the end of the year he will have been teaching for 2 years. By the 21 st of October
he will have been climbing mountains for eight years.
(3) But when we want to put emphasize on the number of students or mountains, we can
say: By the end of the year he will have taught 200 students. By the 21 st of October he
will have climbed 50 mountains.

Compiled by: Sir Waqar Ahmed (MPhil – English Linguistics) # 0331-5422720