Tense
Classification of Auxiliary Verbs
Auxiliary verbs are divided into two main categories: Primary Auxiliary Verbs and Modal Auxiliary Verbs.
Primary Auxiliary Verbs:
Verb-to-be:
Present: is, am, are
Past: was, were
Future: be
Others: been, being
Verb-to-do:
Present: do, does
Past: did
Verb-to-have:
Present: have, has
Past: had
Modal Auxiliary Verbs:
Can, could
May, might
Shall, should
Will, would
Must
Ought to
Forms of Main Verbs
Main verbs have five principal forms, which are used to create different tenses and aspects in English:
Base Form (V¹): The simplest form of the verb (e.g., eat, play, go).
Past Simple Form (V²): The form used to describe actions that happened in the past (e.g., ate, played, went).
Past Participle Form (V³): The form used with perfect tenses (e.g., eaten, played, gone).
Present Participle Form (V⁴): The form used with continuous tenses (e.g., eating, playing, going).
Third Person Singular Form (V⁵): The form used in the present simple tense for third person singular subjects (e.g., eats, plays, goes).
Definition of Tense and Its Importance
Tense refers to the form of a verb that indicates the time of the action or state expressed by the verb. It is a crucial aspect of grammar as it helps in expressing when an action takes place: in the past, present, or future. Understanding tenses is essential for constructing sentences that clearly communicate the timing of actions and events.
Rules for Changing Sentences:
Negative Sentences: Put 'not' just after the first auxiliary verb.
Interrogative Sentences: Bring the first auxiliary verb just before the subject and put '?' at the end of the sentence.
WH-Questions: Bring the first auxiliary verb just before the subject, place the WH-word just before the first auxiliary verb, and put '?' at the end of the sentence.
Simple Tense
The Simple Tense is used to describe habitual actions, general truths, and actions happening at the moment. It can be divided into three forms: Simple Present, Simple Past, and Simple Future.
Root Structure:
Present: [Subject + V¹/V⁵]
Past: [Subject + V²]
Future: [Subject + shall/will + V¹]
Examples:
Simple Present
Affirmative:
She reads the newspaper every morning.
They play football on weekends.
Negative:
She does not read the newspaper every morning.
They do not play football on weekends.
Interrogative:
Does she read the newspaper every morning?
Do they play football on weekends?
WH-Question:
When does she read the newspaper?
Why do they play football on weekends?
Simple Past
Affirmative:
He visited his grandparents last summer.
They watched a movie yesterday.
Negative:
He did not visit his grandparents last summer.
They did not watch a movie yesterday.
Interrogative:
Did he visit his grandparents last summer?
Did they watch a movie yesterday?
WH-Question:
When did he visit his grandparents?
What did they watch yesterday?
Simple Future
Affirmative:
She will attend the meeting tomorrow.
They will travel to Paris next month.
Negative:
She will not attend the meeting tomorrow.
They will not travel to Paris next month.
Interrogative:
Will she attend the meeting tomorrow?
Will they travel to Paris next month?
WH-Question:
When will she attend the meeting?
Where will they travel next month?
Continuous Tense
The Continuous Tense indicates actions that are ongoing at a specific time in the present, past, or future. It includes the Present Continuous, Past Continuous, and Future Continuous.
Root Structure: [Subject + verb-to-be + V⁴]
Present: [Subject + is/am/are + V⁴]
Past: [Subject + was/were + V⁴]
Future: [Subject + shall/will + be + V⁴]
Examples:
Present Continuous
Affirmative:
She is reading a book right now.
They are playing football at the moment.
Negative:
She is not reading a book right now.
They are not playing football at the moment.
Interrogative:
Is she reading a book right now?
Are they playing football at the moment?
WH-Question:
What is she reading right now?
Why are they playing football at the moment?
Past Continuous
Affirmative:
He was cooking dinner when I called.
They were watching TV last night.
Negative:
He was not cooking dinner when I called.
They were not watching TV last night.
Interrogative:
Was he cooking dinner when I called?
Were they watching TV last night?
WH-Question:
What was he cooking when I called?
Why were they watching TV last night?
Future Continuous
Affirmative:
She will be studying at this time tomorrow.
They will be traveling to New York next week.
Negative:
She will not be studying at this time tomorrow.
They will not be traveling to New York next week.
Interrogative:
Will she be studying at this time tomorrow?
Will they be traveling to New York next week?
WH-Question:
What will she be studying at this time tomorrow?
Why will they be traveling to New York next week?
Perfect Tense
The Perfect Tense describes actions that have been completed before a certain point in time. It includes the Present Perfect, Past Perfect, and Future Perfect.
Root Structure: [Subject + verb-to-have + V³]
Present: [Subject + have/has + V³]
Past: [Subject + had + V³]
Future: [Subject + shall/will + have + V³]
Examples:
Present Perfect
Affirmative:
She has finished her homework.
They have traveled to several countries.
Negative:
She has not finished her homework.
They have not traveled to several countries.
Interrogative:
Has she finished her homework?
Have they traveled to several countries?
WH-Question:
What has she finished?
Where have they traveled?
Past Perfect
Affirmative:
He had completed the project before the deadline.
They had left the party before it started raining.
Negative:
He had not completed the project before the deadline.
They had not left the party before it started raining.
Interrogative:
Had he completed the project before the deadline?
Had they left the party before it started raining?
WH-Question:
When had he completed the project?
Why had they left the party?
Future Perfect
Affirmative:
She will have graduated by next year.
They will have built the house by the end of the year.
Negative:
She will not have graduated by next year.
They will not have built the house by the end of the year.
Interrogative:
Will she have graduated by next year?
Will they have built the house by the end of the year?
WH-Question:
When will she have graduated?
Why will they have built the house?
Perfect Continuous Tense
The Perfect Continuous Tense indicates actions that were ongoing for a period of time up to a certain point. It includes the Present Perfect Continuous, Past Perfect Continuous, and Future Perfect Continuous.
Root Structure: [Subject + verb-to-have + been + V⁴]
Present: [Subject + have/has + been + V⁴]
Past: [Subject + had + been + V⁴]
Future: [Subject + shall/will + have + been + V⁴]
Examples:
Present Perfect Continuous
Affirmative:
She has been studying for three hours.
They have been living in this city for five years.
Negative:
She has not been studying for three hours.
They have not been living in this city for five years.
Interrogative:
Has she been studying for three hours?
Have they been living in this city for five years?
WH-Question:
How long has she been studying?
How long have they been living in this city?
Past Perfect Continuous
Affirmative:
He had been working at the company for ten years before he retired.
They had been playing for two hours before it started raining.
Negative:
He had not been working at the company for ten years before he retired.
They had not been playing for two hours before it started raining.
Interrogative:
Had he been working at the company for ten years before he retired?
Had they been playing for two hours before it started raining?
WH-Question:
How long had he been working at the company?
How long had they been playing?
Future Perfect Continuous
Affirmative:
She will have been teaching for twenty years by the time she retires.
They will have been traveling for six months by the end of the year.
Negative:
She will not have been teaching for twenty years by the time she retires.
They will not have been traveling for six months by the end of the year.
Interrogative:
Will she have been teaching for twenty years by the time she retires?
Will they have been traveling for six months by the end of the year?
WH-Question:
How long will she have been teaching?
How long will they have been traveling?