12 Tenses and Their Structure with Examples In English

12 tenses structure

English grammar can be a complex and daunting subject for many learners. One aspect that often leaves people scratching their heads is verb tenses. Understanding and using verb tenses correctly is crucial for effective communication in English. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the 12 tenses in English, provide examples for each tense, and offer tips on how to use them effectively.

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tenses in english

Present Simple Tense Structure

The Simple Present Tense is used to describe actions or situations that are general, habitual, or true in the present.

(+) —— Sub + V1(s/es) + Ob

(-) ——– Sub. + Do not/Does not + V1 + Ob

(?)——— Do/Does + Sub + V1 + Ob + ?

Present Simple Examples

Affirmative (+)

Negative (-)

Interrogative (?)

I run I do not run Do I run?
You run You do run Do you run?
He runs He  does run Does he run?
She runs She does run Does she run?
It runs It does run Does it run?
We run We do run Do we run?
They run They do run Do they run?

 Present Continuous Tense Structure

The Present Continuous Tense is used to describe actions that are happening right now or in the current moment.

(+) —— Sub + is/are/am + V(ing) + Ob

(-) ——– Sub + (Is, are, am) Not + V(ing) + Ob

(?)——— is/are/am + Sub + V(ing) + Ob + ?

 Present Continuous Examples

Affirmative (+)

Negative (-)

Interrogative (?)

I am taking Tea. I am taking Tea. Am I taking tea?
You are taking Tea. You are not taking Tea. Are you taking tea?
He is taking Tea. He is not taking Tea. Is he taking tea?
She is taking Tea. She is not taking Tea. Is she taking tea?
It is taking Tea. It is not taking Tea. Is it taking tea?
We are taking Tea. We are not taking Tea. Are we taking tea?
They are taking Tea. They are not taking Tea. Are they taking tea?

 Present Perfect Tense Structure

The Present Perfect Tense is used to describe actions that were completed in the past but have relevance or a connection to the present.

(+) —— Sub + Has/Have + V3 + Ob

(-) ——– Sub + (Has/Have) not + V3 + Ob

(?)——— Has/Have + Sub. + V3 + Ob + ?

Present Perfect Examples

Affirmative (+)

Negative (-)

Interrogative (?)

I have Played. I have not Played. Have I Played?
We have Played. We have not Played. Have we Played?
They have Played. They have not Played. Have they Played?
You have Played. You have not Played. Have you Played?
He has Played. He has not Played. Has he Played?
she has Played. she has not Played. Has she Played?
It has Played. It has not Played. Has it Played?

 Present Perfect Continuous Tense Structure

The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used to describe actions that started in the past and are still ongoing or have recently stopped.

(+) —— Sub + (Has/Have) been + V(ing) + Ob

(-) ——– Sub + (Has been/Have been) not + V(ing) + Ob

(?)——— Has/Have + Sub + been + V(ing) + Ob + ?

Present Perfect Continuous Examples

Affirmative (+)

Negative (-)

Interrogative (?)

He has been playing. He has not been Playing. Has he been Playing?
She has been Playing. She has not been Playing. Has she been Playing?
It has been Playing. It has not been Playing. Has it been Playing?
I have been playing. I have not been Playing. Have I been Playing?
We have been playing. We have not been Playing. Have we been Playing?
You have been Playing. You have not been Playing. Have you been Playing?
They have been Playing. They have not been Playing. Have they been Playing?


Present tense example

Simple Past Tense Structure

The Simple Past Tense is used to describe actions or events that occurred in the past and are now completed.

(+) —— Sub + V2 + Ob

(-) ——– Sub + Did not + V1 + Ob

(?)——— Did + Sub + V1 + Ob + ?

Simple Past Examples

Affirmative (+) Negative (-)

Interrogative (?)

I ran I did not run Did I run?
You ran You did not run Did you run?
He ran He did not run Did he run?
She ran She did not run Did she run?
It ran It did not run Did it run?
We ran We did not run Did we run?
They ran They did not run Did they run?

 Past Continuous Tense Structure

The Past Continuous Tense is used to describe actions that were ongoing in the past at a specific point in time or over a period.

(+) —— Sub + was/were + V(ing) + Ob

(-) ——– Sub + (was/were) Not + V(ing) + Ob

(?)——— was/were + Sub + V(ing) + Ob + ?

Past Continuous Examples

Affirmative (+)

Negative (-)

Interrogative (?)

I was taking Tea. I was taking Tea. Was I taking tea?
You were taking Tea. You were not taking Tea. Were you taking tea?
He was taking Tea. He was not taking Tea. Was he taking tea?
She was taking Tea. She was not taking Tea. Was she taking tea?
It was taking Tea. It was not taking Tea. Was it taking tea?
We were taking Tea. We were not taking Tea. Were we taking tea?
They were taking Tea. They were not taking Tea. Were they taking tea?

 Past Perfect Tense Structure

The Past Perfect Tense is used to describe actions that happened before another action in the past.

(+) —— Sub + had + V3 + Ob

(-) ——– Sub + had not + V3 + Ob

(?)——— had + Sub + V3 + Ob + ?

Past Perfect Examples

Affirmative (+)

Negative (-)

Interrogative (?)

I had Played. I had not Played. Had I Played?
We had Played. We had not Played. Had we Played?
They had Played. They had not Played. Had they Played?
You had Played. You had not Played. Had you Played?
He had Played. He had not Played. Had he Played?
she had Played. she had not Played. Had she Played?
It had Played. It had not Played. Had it Played?

 Past Perfect Continuous Tense Structure

The Past Perfect Continuous Tense is used to describe actions that were ongoing in the past before another action took place.

(+) —— Sub + had been + V(ing) + Ob

(-) ——– Sub + had not + V(ing) + Ob

(?)——— had + Sub + been + V(ing) + Ob + ?

Past Perfect Continuous Examples

Affirmative (+) Negative (-)

Interrogative (?)

He had been Playing. He had not been Playing. Had he been Playing?
She had been Playing. She had not been Playing. Had she been Playing?
It had been Playing. It had not been Playing. Had It been Playing?
I had been playing. I had not been Playing. Had I Been Playing?
We had been Playing. We had not been Playing. Had we been Playing?
You had been Playing. You had not been Playing. Had you been Playing?
They had been Playing. They had not been Playing. Had They been Playing?

Past tense example

Future Simple Tense Structure

The Simple Future Tense is used to describe actions that will happen in the future.

(+) —— Sub + will/shall + V1+ Ob

(-) ——– Sub + (will/shall) not + V1 + Ob

(?)——— will/shall + Sub  + V1 + Ob + ?

Future Simple Examples

Affirmative (+)

Negative (-)

Interrogative (?)

I will run I will not run Will I run?
You will run You will not run Will you run?
He will run He  will not run Will he run?
She will run She will not run Will she run?
It will run It will not run Will it run?
We will run We will not run Will we run?
They will run They will not run Will they run?

 Future Continuous Tense Structure

The future continuous tense is used to describe actions or events that will be ongoing at a specific point in the future.

(+) —— Sub + (will/shall) be + V(ing)+ Ob

(-) ——– Sub + (will/shall) not + be + V(ing) + Ob

(?)——— will/shall + Sub + be + V(ing) + Ob + ?

 Future Continuous Examples

Affirmative (+)

Negative (-)

Interrogative (?)

I will be running I will not be running Will I be running?
You will be running You will not be running Will you be running?
He will be running He  will not be running Will, he running?
She will be running She will not be running Will, she running?
It will be running It will not be running Will, it running?
We will be running We will not be running Will we be running?
They will be running They will not be running Will they be running?

 Future Perfect Tense Structure

The future perfect tense is used to describe actions or events that will be completed before another action or event in the future.

(+) —— Sub + (will/shall) have + V(3) + Ob

(-) ——– Sub + (will/shall) + not + have + V(3) + Ob

(?)——— will/shall + Sub + have + V(3) + Ob + ?

 Future Perfect Examples

Affirmative (+)

Negative (-)

Interrogative (?)

I will have Played. I will not have Played. Will I Have Played?
We will have Played. We will not have Played. Will we Have Played?
They will have Played. They will not have Played. Will they Have Played?
You will have Played. You will not have Played. Will you Have Played?
He will have Played. He will not have Played. Will he Have Played?
she will have Played. she will not have Played. Will she Have Played?
It will have Played. It will not have Played. Will it Have Played?

 Future Perfect Continuous Tense Structure

The future perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions or events that will have been ongoing for a specific duration by a certain point in the future.

(+) —— Sub + (will/shall) have been + V(ing) + Ob

(-) ——– Sub + (will/shall) + not + have been + V(ing) + Ob

(?)——— will/shall + Sub + have been + V(ing) + Ob + ?

 Future Perfect Continuous Examples

Affirmative (+) Negative (-) Interrogative (?)
I will have been Played. I will not have been Played. Will I Have been Played?
We will have been Played. We will not have been Played. Will we Have been Played?
They will have been Played. They will not have been Played. Will they Have been Played?
You will have been Played. You will not have been Played. Will you Have been Played?
He will have been Played. He will not have been Played. Will he Have been Played?
she will have been Played. she will not have been Played. Will she Have been Played?
It will have been Played. It will not have been Played. Will it Have been Played?

Future tense example

12 English Tenses Examples

Present simple

  • I go out for a walk every morning.
  • You go to bed late.
  • We pray to one God.
  • He thanks me.
  • We waste our time.

Past Simple

  • We went to the zoo yesterday.
  • He rang me up.
  • Did you pay the fine?
  • He rode a horse.
  • Did he go to Lahore?

Future Simple

  • I shall go to Lahore tomorrow.
  • The rich will help the poor.
  • We shall go to the zoo in the evening.
  • I shall accept his proposal.
  • You will not tell a lie.

present tenses

Present Continuous Tense

  • It is raining.
  • I am waiting for my father.
  • You are catching fish.
  • He is weeping at the death of his daughter.
  • They are flying kites.

Past Continuous Tense

  • The boy was reading his lesson.
  • They were sprinkling water in the courtyard.
  • The students were wasting time.
  • It was raining.
  • Were they making noise?

Future Continuous Tense

  • The boys will be doing the sums.
  • The barber will be coming here every day.
  • He will not be looking for you.
  • The doctor will not be treating the patient.
  • Will he be buying the new pen?

Continuous tenses

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

  • The baby has been crying since morning.
  • The boys have been playing in the playground for one hour.
  • He has been waiting for me since evening.
  • He has been living in this house since 1970.
  • He has not been weeping since four O clock.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

  • We had been playing since morning.
  • The child had been weeping since evening.
  • The boys had been solving the sums for ten minutes.
  • He had been teaching at this college since 1990.
  • It had not been raining since morning.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

  • I shall have been studying at this college for two years.
  • We shall have been waiting for you since morning.
  • He will have been praying for rain for two months.
  • I shall have been learning the poem for 4 hours.
  • The doctor will not have been treating the patient since yesterday.

perfect continuous

Present Perfect Tense

  • We have won the match.
  • I have learned my lesson.
  • The servant has lit the lamp.
  • We have heard the news.
  • He has not fulfilled his promise.

Past Perfect Tense

  • Saleem had already posted the letter.
  • When I reached the house, the rain had stopped.
  • I had never seen such a beautiful picture before.
  • I had never seen such a lion before.
  • You had gone before I came.

Future perfect Tense

  • He will have written a letter.
  • The farmer will have ploughed the fields.
  • He will not have finished the work by now.
  • You will not have tried to win the prize.
  • He will not have reached the college till now.

perfect tense

simple present tense

 

present continuous tense

present perfect tense

present perfect continuous tense

past continuous tense

past perfect tense

past perfect continuous tense

future continuous tense

Future Perfect Tense

future perfect continuous tense

simple past tense

tenses in english

present continuous tense

Future continuous tense

What are the 12 forms of tenses?

Here are the 12 forms of tenses:

  1. Present indefinite Tense
  2. Present continuous Tense
  3. Present Perfect Tense
  4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense
  5. Past Indefinite Tense
  6. Past continuous Tense
  7. Past Perfect Tense
  8. Past Perfect Continuous Tense
  9. Future indefinite Tense
  10. Future continuous Tense
  11. Future Perfect Tense
  12. Future Perfect Continuous Tense

What is a tense example?

Here are examples of tenses:

  • I run
  • You run
  • He runs
  • She runs
  • It runs
  • We run
  • They run

How to teach English tenses?

Teaching English tenses can be a challenging task, but there are several strategies that you can use to make it easier for your students to understand and apply them correctly. Here are some suggestions:

  • Start with the basics: Begin with the present, past, and future simple tenses. These are the most commonly used tenses in English, and students need to master them before moving on to more complex tenses.
  • Use real-life examples: Provide students with examples of each tense in context. Use real-life situations and scenarios that they can relate to.
  • Use visual aids: Use diagrams, charts, and other visual aids to help students understand the different tenses and how they relate to each other.
  • Practice, practice, practice: Provide plenty of opportunities for students to practice using the tenses in speaking and writing. This can include role-playing activities, conversation practice, and writing prompts.
  • Focus on irregular verbs: Make sure to cover irregular verbs in each tense. This is an area that students often struggle with, but it’s important for them to learn to use irregular verbs correctly in order to communicate effectively in English.
  • Provide feedback: Give students feedback on their use of tenses, both in speaking and writing. Correct any errors they make and provide explanations for why they are incorrect.
  • Build on previous knowledge: As students progress, continue to build on their knowledge of tenses by introducing more complex tenses such as the present perfect, past continuous, and future perfect. Make sure to reinforce the tenses they have already learned.

By using a combination of these strategies, you can help your students develop a solid understanding of English tenses and become more confident and effective communicators in English.

What is tense and its rules?

In English, there are three main tenses: past, present, and future. Each tense has its own set of rules for how to use it correctly.

Past tense: This tense is used to talk about actions or events that have already happened. To form the past tense, add “ed” to regular verbs, or use the past form of irregular verbs. For example, “walked,” “ate,” and “went” are all in the past tense.

Present tense: This tense is used to talk about actions or events that are happening now, or that are always true. For regular verbs, add “s” to the base form when the subject is singular third person (he, she, it), but not for other subjects. For example, “I walk to work,” “She walks to work.” For irregular verbs, the base form is usually used. For example, “I have a dog,” “She has a dog.”

Future tense: This tense is used to talk about actions or events that will happen in the future. To form the future tense, use “will” or “shall” with the base form of the verb. For example, “I will go to the store,” “She shall eat dinner.”

There are also various tenses that combine aspects of past, present, and future, such as the present perfect, the past perfect, and the future perfect. These tenses are used to talk about more complex relationships between actions and time.

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