Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Legend
action that takes place once, never or several times
actions that happen one after another
moment in time actions that suddenly take place
action that started before a certain moment and lasts beyond that moment
actions taking place at the same time
period of time
action taking place before a certain moment in time
Result puts emphasis on the result
Type
Tense Of Sentence Examples Uses Examples
Sentence Structure
(+) ve Sub + is/am/are 1) He is speaking. To speak about actions going 1) He is speaking at the conference now.
Present Statement + V1ing + …. 2) She is speaking. on now. 2) Radha is cooking in the kitchen.
Continuous 3) I am speaking. To speak about temporary 3) Promod is always complaining about petty
4) You are speaking. actions going on these days. things.
5) We are speaking. To speak about pre-planned 4) Don’t disturb me. I am studying now.
6) They are speaking. future actions. 5) Listen! Someone is climbing up the stairs.
6) Look! All are beating up the small boy.
(-) ve Sub + is/am/are 1) He is not speaking. 7) We are planning to go abroad.
Statement + not + V1ing 2) She is not speaking. SIGNAL WORDS 8) They are visiting holy places.
+ …. 3) I am not speaking. 9) I’m learning English these days.
4) You are not speaking. At the moment, just now, Listen!, 10) Nowadays, people are opting for overseas
5) We are not speaking. Look!, now, right now, these days, jobs.
6) They are not nowadays, etc. 11) They are holding an exhibition here next
speaking. week.
VERBS NOT USED IN THE 12) He is not paying attention to the lecture.
Yes/No Is/Are + Sub + 1) Is he speaking? CONTINUOUS TENSE 13) I am not working there now.
Question V1 ing + …? 2) Is she speaking? 14) She is not doing anything right now.
3) Are you speaking? Agree, believe, doubt, forget, 15) They are not willing to come here.
4) Are they speaking? know, mean, recognize, recollect, 16) Is Suresh writing the exam?
remember, suppose, think, 17) Are you going there now?
‘Wh’ ‘Wh’ word + 1) What is he speaking? understand, want, wish, desire, 18) What is the boy doing in the room?
Question is/are + Sub + 2) Where is she need, see, smell, hear, taste, notice, 19) Where are you working?
V1ing + …? speaking? like, dislike, love, hate, prefer, 20) How far are they going?
3) When are you feel, forgive, appear, seem, 21) When are you meeting her?
speaking? deserve, depend, possess, contain, 22) Why is the girl crying?
4) How are they belong to, consist of, own, have 23) Who is seeing you this evening?
speaking? (=own), etc. 24) What is happening there?
The above verbs are usually used
in the Simple or Perfect tenses.
Type
Tense Of Sentence Examples Uses Examples
Sentence Structure
Present Perfect (+) ve Sub + has/have 1) He has spoken. To speak about actions 1) I have just spoken to your father about it.
Statement + V3 + ….. 2) She has spoken. completed in the immediate 2) He has just gone out.
3) I have spoken. past. 3) The members have just concluded their
4) You have spoken. To speak about actions that meeting.
5) We have spoken. completed in the past but have 4) These students have already written the test.
6) They have spoken. a connection with the present. 5) Don’t pay him money. I have already paid
To speak about actions those him.
(-) ve Sub + has/have 1) He has not spoken. have not happened till now (in 6) I am happy now because I have won the
Statement + not + V3 + 2) She hasn’t spoken. the negative). case.
…. 3) I have not spoken. 7) He has not yet finished his work for the day.
4) You haven’t spoken. 8) I haven’t met him till now.
5) We haven’t spoken. SIGNAL WORDS 9) They haven’t informed us so far. So, we are
6) They haven’t spoken. worried.
Already, ever, just, never, not yet, 10) We have never been to the US.
Yes/No 1) Has he spoken? so far, till now, up to now, etc. 11) Have you finished lunch?
Question Has/Have + 2) Has she spoken? 12) Has Anand invited you to the party?
Sub + V3 + …? 3) Have you spoken? NOTE: When the time of a past 13) Has he come?
4) Have they spoken? action is mentioned, use the 14) Have you ever been to Delhi?
Simple Past Tense and not the 15) What have you done with this? It is not
‘Wh’ 1) What has he spoken? Present Perfect Tense. working.
Question ‘Wh’ word + 2) How has she spoken? I have completed my degree in 16) Why have you come late?
has/have + Sub 3) Why have you 2006. 17) Where have you been till now? I was
+ V3 + ….. spoken? I completed my degree in 2006. waiting for you.
4) Where have they 18) Who has told you this?
spoken? 19) How has your friend written his exam?
(+) ve Sub + has/have 1) He has been speaking. For an action that started in the 1) Vikram has been speaking for an hour.
Present Perfect Statement + been + 2) She has been Past, continued over a period of 2) She has been working in the garden since
Continuous V1+ing + …… speaking. time into the Present and is still morning.
3) I have been speaking. going on. 3) I have been trying to contact my friend for
4) You have been If such an action as stated two weeks.
speaking. above has been completed in 4) We have been designing the programme the
5) We have been the Present and does not whole week.
speaking. continue at the time of 5) Our neighbours have been living here since
6) They have been speaking, we usually use the 1996.
speaking. Present Perfect Tense. 6) They have been calling us all day.
7) We have been learning English for a month.
(-) ve Sub + has/have 1) He has not been 8) They have not been answering our calls for
Statement + not + been + speaking. two days.
V1+ing + …… 2) She hasn’t been SIGNAL WORDS 9) I haven’t been doing anything since
speaking. morning.
3) I have not been all day, for 6 years, since 2003, 10) Madhavi has not been attending classes
speaking. how long?, the whole week regularly.
4) You haven’t been 11) Have you been using these medicines for
speaking. long?
5) We haven’t been 12) Has your brother been coming home late?
speaking. 13) Has the boss been looking for me?
6) They haven’t been 14) What have you been doing since morning?
speaking. 15) How long have they been living here?
16) Since when has Sudha been working in this
Yes/No Has/Have + 1) Has he been office?
Question Sub + been speaking? 17) How have you been handling this problem?
+V1+ing + ….. 18) How long has he been waiting for her?
2) Has she been
19) Why have you been shouting?
speaking?
20) Where have they been learning animation?
3) Have you been 21) Who has been troubling her?
speaking? 22) What has been happening here?
4) Have they been
speaking?
‘Wh’ ‘Wh’ word +
Question has/have + Sub 1) What has he been
+ been + speaking?
V1+ing + ….. 2) How has she been
speaking?
3) How long have you
been speaking?
4) Since when have they
been speaking?
Simple Past (+) ve Sub + V2 + …. 1) He spoke. For an action that happened at 1) She spoke the truth.
Statement 2) She spoke. a point of time in the Past. 2) I met my cousin yesterday.
3) I spoke. For a past habit. 3) They went out two minutes ago.
4) You spoke. For daily/regular actions in the 4) We saw him at the theatre the other day.
5) We spoke. past. 5) Meena did not meeet her parents last Friay.
6) They spoke. 6) These boys didn’t write the exam.
NOTE: If such a past habit or daily/ 7) They didn’t answer because they didn’t
(-) ve Sub + did + 1) He did not speak. regular action continues even in the know the answer.
Statement not + V1 2) She didn’t speak. present, use the Simple Present 8) Did you ask him for money?
+ …. 3) I didn’t speak. Tense and not the Simple Past 9) Did the students protest against the college
Type
Tense Of Sentence Examples Uses Examples
Sentence Structure
4) You didn’t speak. Tense. authorities?
5) We didn’t speak. 10) Did Kamala invite you yesterday?
6) They didn’t speak. NOTE: Usually, when we talk 11) Why did you fight with your brother?
about past habits or daily/regular 12) Where did the children go?
Yes/No Did + Sub + 1) Did he speak? actions in the past, we use 13) How did they perform at the competition?
Question V1 +…. 2) Did she speak? Used to + V1 14) What did you do last week?
3) Did you speak? instead of Simple Past Tense(V2). 15) When did she complete her degree?
4) Did they speak? I used to visit my uncle daily 16) Who told you the truth?
last year. 17) Who organized this function?
‘Wh’ ‘Wh’ word + 1) What did he speak? He used to smoke a lot. 18) What happened at the college yesterday.
Question did + Sub + V1 2) How did she speak?
+ …. 3) When did you speak? SIGNAL WORDS
4) Why did they speak? yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 1990,
the other day, last Friday, etc.
Past (+) ve Sub + 1) He was speaking. To speak about an action going 1) We were listening to the radio all evening
Continuous Statement was/were + 2) She was speaking. on at a point of time in the Past. yesterday.
V1+ing + …. 3) I was speaking. For an action going on when 2) The light went out while I was reading.
4) You were speaking. another action happened in the 3) When I saw him he was playing with some
5) We were speaking. Past. (In such cases, we use the kids.
6) They were speaking. Past Continuous Tense for the 4) I was thinking about it when he called me.
action going on and the Simple 5) Please don’t take it seriously. I was just
(-) ve 1) He was not speaking. Past Tense for the other action) kidding.
Statement Sub + 2) She was not speaking. I was writing the test when the 6) The children were shouting when the
was/were + not 3) I wasn’t speaking. inspectors came in. teacher entered the class.
+ V1+ing + …. 4) You were not When two actions were going 7) She was watching TV at 5 o’ clock last
speaking. on simultaneously at a point of evening.
5) We weren’t speaking. time in the past, we use the 8) They were insulting him while he was
6) They weren’t Past Continuous Tense for both serving them.
speaking. the actions and combine them 9) I was not doing anything when he came to
using ‘while’. my house.
Yes/No 1) Was he speaking? Pradeep was studying while his 10) Suresh was not practising his lessons when I
Question Was/Were + 2) Was she speaking? friends were chatting. met him.
Sub + V1+ing 3) Were you speaking? 11) We were not copying when the invigilator
+ …? 4) Were they speaking? SIGNAL WORDS saw us.
when, while, then, at 5 o’ clock, 12) The boy wasn’t talking to anyone then.
‘Wh’ 1) What was he etc. 13) The students weren’t listening to the lecture
Question ‘Wh’ word + speaking? in the class.
was/were + 2) Where was she 14) Was he working there?
Sub + V1+ing speaking? 15) Were you speaking to the boss then?
+ …? 3) Why were you 16) Were the brothers quarrelling with each
speaking? other last night?
4) How were they 17) Was it raining there yesterday?
speaking? 18) What was she doing when you met her?
19) Why were you laughing while he was
talking to you?
20) How were they playing when you saw
them?
21) Where were the children going late last
night?
22) When were they fighting?
23) Who was talking to you last night?
24) Who were quarrelling on the street at that
time?
25) What was happening when you went there?
Past Perfect (+) ve Sub + had + V3 1) He had spoken. For an action that had taken 1) She had already finished the work when I
Statement + ….. 2) She had spoken. place before another action in met her.
3) I had spoken. the past. (In such cases, the 2) We had just completed our dinner when they
4) You had spoken. Past Perfect Tense is used for came in.
5) We had spoken. the earlier action and the 3) The train had left when they reached the
6) They had spoken. Simple Past Tense is used for station.
the later action.) 4) Gopal had informed many people about it
(-) ve Sub + had + 1) He had not spoken. NOTE: If only one past action is before we stopped him.
Statement not + V3 + …. 2) She hadn’t spoken. stated or understood from the 5) I had been there twice before last summer.
3) I had not spoken. context, the Simple Past Tense 6) I could not meet her because she had gone
4) You hadn’t spoken. should be used for that action and to her mother’s place.
5) We hadn’t spoken. not the Past Perfect Tense. 7) They had despatched the goods before we
6) They hadn’t spoken. I had completed my work last sent them a reminder.
night. 8) She had not done anything when we went
Yes/No Had + Sub + 1) Had he spoken? I completed my work last there.
Question V3 + …? 2) Had she spoken? night. 9) They had not gone far when they met with
3) Had you spoken? an accident.
4) Had they spoken? SIGNAL WORDS 10) I hadn’t finished my work when my friends
Type
Tense Of Sentence Examples Uses Examples
Sentence Structure
already, just, never, not yet, once, dropped in.
‘Wh’ ‘Wh’ word + 1) What had he spoken? until that day, etc. 11) Had she spoken to the boss when you met
Question had + Sub + V3 2) How had she spoken? her?
+ ….. 3) Why had you spoken? 12) Had they made all the arrangements before
4) Where had they the boss came in?
spoken? 13) Why had he come before his brother came?
14) Where had they spoken before they spoke at
the university?
15) Where had she worked before she joined
here?
16) Who had informed them about it before you
did?
Simple (+) ve Sub + will + VI 1) He will speak. To express the future as a fact. 1) He will speak with the manager tomorrow.
Future Statement + …. 2) She willl speak. To say what we think or 2) You will need this money on your return
3) I will speak. believe will happen in the journey.
4) You will speak. future. (With expressions like 3) I will call you later.
5) We will speak. ‘I think’, ‘I believe’, 4) Sunil will be thirty in a week.
6) They will speak. ‘Probably’, etc.) 5) I’ll wait for him.
To speak about an action that 6) I think, she’ll go to the party.
(-) ve Sub + will + 1) He will not speak. we have decided to do at the 7) I believe everything will be fine soon.
Statement not + V1 2) She won’t speak. time of speaking. 8) Probably, they will call us tonight.
+ …. 3) I won’t speak. SIGNAL WORDS 9) The board will announce the results next
4) You won’t speak. in a year, next …, tomorrow, later, month.
5) We won’t speak. etc. 10) I will not go there.
6) They won’t speak. 11) I won’t do it again.
12) She will not write this test.
Yes/No Will + Sub + 1) Will he speak? 13) Deepak won’t visit his parents again tis
Question V1 +…. 2) Will she speak? month.
3) Will you speak? 14) Will you attend the meeting?
4) Will they speak? 15) Will he finish the work in time?
16) Will they wait for you?
‘Wh’ ‘Wh’ word + 1) What will he speak? 17) Will your parents be happy with your
Question will + Sub + 2) How will she speak? performance?
V1 + …. 3) When will you speak? 18) What will you do now?
4) Where will they 19) Where will she go now?
speak? 20) How will they come here?
21) How much money will you pay them?
22) Why will they misunderstand us?
23) Who will tell you the right way there?
24) Who will become the next Prime Minister
of India?
25) What will happen next?
26) What will happen to your aged parents if
you leave them now?
Future (+) ve Sub + will + be 1) He will be speaking. For an action which will be 1) Don’t come to my house at 11 o’ clock
Continuous Statement + V1+ing + …. 2) She will be speaking. going on at a time in the future. tomorrow morning. I will be watching the
3) I will be speaking. For actions in the future which serial then.
4) You will be speaking. are already planned but are less 2) He will be speaking at the conference
5) We will be speaking. definite as they are expected to tomorrow.
6) They will be happen in the normal course of 3) I must leave now. My brother will be
speaking. things. (As a routine or casual waiting for me.
event.) 4) Don’t call him now. He will be talking to
(-) ve Sub + will + 1) He will not be For an action that the speaker the Director.
Statement not + be + speaking. thinks is happening now. 5) Naresh will be leaving for Mumbai next
V1+ing + …. 2) She won’t be week.
speaking. SIGNAL WORDS 6) I will be visiting a doctor at that time.
3) I won’t be speaking. next week, tomorrow, then, at that 7) Shravan will not be attending the meeting
4) You won’t be time, etc. on Monday.
speaking. 8) They won’t be coming with us to the party.
5) We won’t be 9) Don’t worry. They won’t be waiting for us.
speaking. 10) I won’t be doing anything then.
6) They won’t be 11) Will they be coming with us?
speaking. 12) Will she be speaking at the meet?
Yes/No Will + Sub + be 13) What will you be doing tomorrow morning?
Question + V1+ing + …? 1) Will he be speaking? 14) Why will they be meeting the officer?
2) Will she be speaking? 15) Where will Latha be giving her lecture this
3) Will you be speaking? Friday?
4) Will they be 16) Who will be entertaining the guests?
speaking?
Future Perfect (+) ve Sub + will + 1) He will have spoken. To speak about actions which 1) We will have finished our syllabus by the
Statement have + V3 + 2) She will have spoken. will be completed by a certain 20th of this month.
….. 3) I will have spoken. future time. (Usually, with ‘by 2) The team will have completed the project by
4) You will have spoken. + a future time expression’) next Wednesday.
5) We will have spoken. 3) I will have written the test by then.
6) They will have SIGNAL WORDS 4) They will have lived here for five years by
spoken. by Monday, in a week, by the 15th , the end of this month.
etc. 5) She will have worked here for 3 months by
(-) ve 1) He will not have this week-end.
Statement Sub + will + spoken. 6) The Directors will have finalized the deal in
not + have + 2) She won’t have a week.
V3 + …. spoken. 7) She will not have done the work by
3) I won’t have spoken. Tuesday.
4) You won’t have 8) The children won’t have finished their lunch
spoken. by then.
5) We won’t have spoken. 9) Will they have completed the job by
6) They won’t have tomorrow morning?
spoken. 10) Will she have made all the arrangements by
the time the guests drop in?
Yes/No 1) Will he have spoken? 11) How long will you have stayed here by next
Question Will + Sub + 2) Will she have spoken? March?
have + V3 + 3) Will you have spoken? 12) How many projects will the students have
…? 4) Will they have spoken? done by the end of the course?
13) How many years will you have worked here
‘Wh’ 1) What will he have by this year-end?
Question spoken?
‘Wh’ word + 2) How will she have
will + Sub + spoken?
have + V3 + 3) Why will you have
….. spoken?
Where will they have
spoken?
PERSONAL PRONOUN
SIMPLE FUTURE
(+) S + WILL/SHALL + VERB1 + O/ADV
(-) S + WILL/SHALL + NOT + VERB1 + O/ADV
(?) WILL/SHALL + S + VERB1 + O/ADV + ?
FUTURE CONTINUOUS
(+) S + WILL/SHALL + BE + VERB-ING + O/ADV
(-) S + WILL/SHALL + NOT + BE + VERB-ING + O/ADV
(?) WILL + S + BE + VERB-ING + O/ADV + ?
FUTURE PERFECT
(+) S + WILL/SHALL + HAVE + VERB3 +O/ADV
(-) S + WILL/SHALL + HAVE + NOT + VERB3 + O/ADV
(?) WILL/SHALL + S + HAVE + VERB3 + O/ADV + ?
PERSONAL PRONOUN