TENSES

FUNCTIONAL ENGLISH
 Present Simple Tense
• It is used to express an action in present time,
habitual or usual actions or daily event or
universal fact. It is used to express an action in
present time which is usually done on a
regular basis.
• Rules. 1st form of verb or base verb is used as
main verb in sentence.
 Structure of sentence – Rules
Positive Sentence
• Subject + Main verb + Object
• Subject + 1st form of verb + Object

Note: If the subject in a sentence is “he, she, it,

singular or proper noun” then “s” or “es” is added
to the first form of verb or base form in the
sentence.

Examples.
I write a letter.
He gets up early in the morning.
Sun rises in east.
Negative Sentence

Subject + auxiliary verb +NOT + Main verb +object

Subject + Do not/Does not + 1st form of verb + object

Examples.
I do not write a letter.
He does not get up early in the morning.
Sun does not rise in east.

Note: In negative sentence auxiliary verb “do or does” along

with “not” is used. If the subject in a sentence is “he, she,
it, singular or proper noun”, then “Does not” is used after
subject in sentence. If subject is “I, we, they, you or plural”
then “Do not” is used after subject in sentence. “s” or “es”
is not added to main verb in negative sentence
Interrogative Sentence
• Auxiliary verb + Subject + Main verb + Object
• Do/Does + Subject + 1st for of verb + Object

Examples.
Do I write a letter?
Does he get up early in the morning?
Does sun rise in east?

Note: If the subject in a sentence is “he, she, it, singular

or proper noun” the sentence is started with Auxiliary
verb “Does”. If the subject in a sentence is “I, we, they,
you or plural” the sentence is started with auxiliary
verb “Do”. “s” or “es” is not added to main verb in
Interrogative sentence
 Present Continuous Tense
• It is used to express a continued or ongoing
action at present time. It expresses an action
which is in progress at the time of speaking.
• For example, a person says, “I am writing a
letter”.

Rules. Auxiliary verb “am or is or are” is used

in sentence. 1st form of verb or base verb +
ing (present participle) is used as main verb in
sentence.
 Structure of sentence
• Positive Sentence
Subject + auxiliary verb + main verb-ing (Present participle) + object
Subject + am/is/are + (1st form of verb + ing) + object

If the subject is “I” then auxiliary verb “am” is used after subject in
sentence.
If the subject is “He, She, It, singular or proper name” then auxiliary
verb “is” is used after subject in sentence.
If subject is “You, They or plural” then auxiliary verb “are” is used
after subject in sentence.
The participle “ing” is added to the 1st form of verb i.e. going (go)
writing (write)

Examples
I am playing cricket.
He is driving a car
They are reading their lessons.
Negative Sentence
• Subject + auxiliary verb + not + main verb-ing (Present participle) + object
• Subject + am/is/are + not + (1st form of verb + ing) + object
Rules for using auxiliary verbs (am or is or are) after subject in negative sentences are same as
mentioned above.
Examples.
I am not playing cricket.
He is not driving a car
They are not reading their lessons.

Interrogative Sentences

• Auxiliary verb + Subject + main verb-ing (Present participle) + object

• Am/is/are + Subject + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object

For making interrogative sentences, the sentence is started with auxiliary verb rather than
putting auxiliary verb inside the sentence. If the subject is “I” the sentence starts with
auxiliary verb “am”. If the subject is “He, She, It, singular or proper name” the sentence
starts with auxiliary verb “is”. If subject is “You, They or plural” the sentence starts with
auxiliary verb “are”.

Examples.
Am I playing cricket?
Is he driving a car?
Are they reading their lessons?
 Present Perfect Tense
• It is used to express an action which happened or
completed in past but usually the action which happened
or completed at a short time before now (near past) not a
very long time before now. Specific time such as two years
ago, last week or that day is usually not used in the
sentences of in this tense. It means that this tense
expresses the action whose time when it happened, is not
exactly specified but it sounds to refer to some action that
happened or completed in near past.

Rules: Auxiliary verb “has or have” is used in sentence. 3rd

form of verb (past participle) is used as main verb in
sentence.
 Structure of Sentence
Positive Sentence
• Subject + Auxiliary verb + main verb (past participle)
+ Subject
• Subject + has/have + 3rd form of verb or past
participle + subject

If the subject is “He, She, It, singular or proper name” then

auxiliary verb “has” is used after subject in sentence.
If subject is “You, They or plural” then auxiliary verb “have”
is used after subject in sentence.
Examples
I have eaten meal
She has learnt a lesson
Negative Sentence
• Subject + Auxiliary verb + NOT + main verb (past participle) + Subject
• Subject + has/have + NOT + 3rd form of verb or past participle +
subject
Rules for using auxiliary verb “has or have” in negative sentence are same as
mentioned above.
Examples
I have not eaten meal.
She has not learnt a lesson.

Interrogative Sentences
• Auxiliary verb + Subject + main verb (past participle) + Subject
• Has/have + Subject + 3rd form of verb or past participle + subject

Interrogative sentence starts with auxiliary verb. If the subject is “He, She, It,
singular or proper name” then the sentence starts with auxiliary verb “has”.
If subject is “You, They or plural” then the sentence starts with auxiliary verb
“have”.
Examples
Have I eaten meal?
Has she learnt a lesson?
 Present Perfect Continuous Tense
• It is used to express a continued or ongoing action that started in
past and is continued until now. There will be a time reference, such
as “since 1980, for three hours etc” from which the action has been
started. A sense of time reference is found in these sentences
which gives an idea that action has been continued from some time
in past till now.

• Rules: An auxiliary verb “has been or have been” is used in

sentence. 1st form of verb (base verb) +ing (present participle) is
used as main verb in sentence. “Since” or “for” is used before the
“time reference” in sentence. If the time reference is exactly known
such as 1995, 4 O’clock then “since” is used before the time in
sentence. If the time reference is not exactly known such as three
hours, six years, four days, then “for” is used before the time in
sentence.
 Structure of sentence.
• Positive Sentence.
Subject + Auxiliary verb + main verb (Present participle) +
Object + Time reference
Subject + has been/have been + (1st form of verb+ ing) +
object + time reference
If the subject is “He, She, It, singular or proper name”
then auxiliary verb “has been” is used after subject in
sentence.
If subject is “You, They or plural” then auxiliary verb
“have been” is used after subject in sentence.
Examples.
He has been watering the plants for two hours.
I have been studying since 3 O’clock
Negative Sentence.
Subject +”Not” between the Auxiliary verb + main verb (present participle) + Object + Time reference
Subject + has not been/have not been + (1st form of verb + ing) + object + time reference

To make negative sentence, the word “not” is written between the auxiliary verbs, so it becomes like
“has not been or have not been”. The rule for using auxiliary verb “has been or have been” in negative
sentences is as same as mentioned above.

Examples.
He has not been watering the plants for two hours.
I have not been studying since 3 O’clock.

Interrogative Sentence.
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Auxiliary verb + main verb (present participle) + object + time reference
Has/have + Subject + been + (1st form of verb or base verb+ing) + object + time reference

Interrogative sentence starts with auxiliary verb. If the subject is “He, She, It, singular or proper name” then
the sentence starts with auxiliary verb “has” and auxiliary verb “been” is used after subject
If subject is “You, They or plural” then the sentence starts with auxiliary verb “have” and “been” is used
after subject

Examples.
Has he been watering the plants for two hours?
Have I been studying since 3 O’clock?
 Simple Past Tense
• It is used to express an action that happened or
completed in past, usually a very little time
before speaking, or action which is just
completed. Time of action is not specified in
terms of long time ago or short ago but it make a
sense that the action has done a little time ago.

• Rules:2nd form of verb (past simple) is used as

main verb in the positive sentences and base
form is used in negative and interrogative
sentences.
 Sentence Structure
• Positive Sentence
• Subject + main verb (past simple) + object
• Subject + 2nd form of verb (past simple) + object
Examples
I killed a snake
He ate a mango.
• Negative sentences
• Subject + (auxiliary verb + not) main verb (base form) + object
• Subject + did not + 1st form of verb or base form + object
In negative sentence “did not” is written and the 1st form of verb (base verb) is used instead of using
2nd form (or past simple verb).
Examples.
I did not kill a snake
He did not eat a mango
• Interrogative sentences
• Auxiliary verb + subject + main verb (base verb) + object
• Did + subject + 1st form of verb (or base verb) + object
Interrogative sentence starts with “did” and the 1st form of verb (base verb) is used instead of using
2nd form (or past simple verb).
• Examples
Did I kill a snake?
Did he eat a mango?
 Past Continuous Tense
• It is used to express a continued or ongoing
action in past, an ongoing action which
occurred in past and completed at some point
in past.
• For example, “he was laughing.”

• Rules: Auxiliary verb “was or were” is used in

sentence. 1st form of verb or base verb + ing
(present participle) is used as main verb in
sentence.
 Sentence Structure
• Positive sentences
• Subject + auxiliary verb + Main Verb (present participle) + object
• Subject + was/were + (1st form of verb or base verb +ing) +object
If the subject is “he, she, It, I, singular or proper noun” then auxiliary verb “was” is used. If subject is
“you, we, they or plural” then auxiliary verb “were” is used.
Examples.
She was crying yesterday.
They were climbing on a hill.
• Negative sentences
• Subject + auxiliary verb + NOT + Main verb (present participle) + object
• Subject + was/were + NOT + (1st form of verb or base verb +ing) +object
Rules for using auxiliary verb after subject are same as mentioned above.
Examples.
She was not crying yesterday.
They were not climbing on a hill.
• Interrogative sentences
• Auxiliary verb + Subject + Main verb (present participle) + object
• Was/were + Subject + (1st form of verb or base verb +ing) +object
The interrogative sentence starts with the auxiliary verb. If the subject is “he, she, It, I, singular or
proper noun” then the sentence starts with auxiliary verb “was”. If subject is “you, we, they or
plural” then the sentence starts with auxiliary verb “were”.
Examples.
Was she crying yesterday?
Were they climbing on a hill?
 Past Perfect Tense
• It is used to express an action which has occurred in past (usually, a
long time ago) and action which has occurred in past before
another action in past.

• For example,
I had lived in America. (The sense of time in this sentence refers to
a completed action in past and especially a long time ago)
•
• The students had gone before the teacher came. (The first part of
sentence “The student has gone” is sentence of past perfect tense,
it says about an action which occurred before another action in past
which is “the teacher came”. The second part “the teacher came” is
sentence of past simple tense. So such a sentence which express an
action in past before another action in past comprises two parts
where the first part of sentence is past perfect tense)

• Rules. Auxiliary verb “had” is used in sentence. 3rd form of verb

(past participle) is used as main verb in sentence
 Sentence Structure
• Positive sentence
• Subject + auxiliary verb + main verb (past participle) + object
• Subject + had + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object
Examples.
He had taken the exam last year
A thief had stolen my watch.
• Negative sentence
• Subject + auxiliary verb + NOT + main verb (past participle) + object
•Subject + had + not + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object
“Not” is written after auxiliary verb in negative sentence.
Examples.
He had not taken the exam last year
A thief had not stolen my watch.
• Interrogative sentence
• Auxiliary verb + subject + main verb (past participle) + object
• Had + subject + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object
Interrogative sentence starts with auxiliary verb “had”
Examples.
Had he taken the exam last year
Had a thief stolen my watch?
 Past Perfect Continuous Tense
• It is used to express a continued or ongoing action that
started in past and continued until sometime in past.
(Remember, an ongoing action in past which continued
till some time in past) There will be a time reference,
such as “since 1980, for three hours etc” from which
the action had started.

• Rules: An auxiliary verb “had been” is used in

sentence. 1st form of verb (base verb) +ing (present
participle) is used as main verb in sentence. “Since” or
“for” is used before the “time reference” in sentence
 Sentence Structure
Positive Sentence.
Subject + Auxiliary verb + main verb (Present participle) + Object + Time reference
Subject + had been + (1st form of verb + ing) + object + time reference

Examples.
I had been waiting for him for one hour.
She had been playing chess since 7 O’clock.

Negative Sentence.
Subject +”Not” between the Auxiliary verbs + main verb (present participle)+Object +Time
reference.
Subject + had not been + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object + time reference

To make negative sentence, the word “not” is added inside auxiliary verb, so it becomes
“had not been”.

Examples.
I had not been waiting for him for one hour.
She had not been playing chess since 7 O’clock.
• Interrogative Sentence.
Auxiliary verb+ Subject + Auxiliary verb + main verb (present participle) +
object + time reference.
Had + Subject + been + (1st form of verb +ing) + object + time reference

Interrogative sentence starts with auxiliary

verb “had” and auxiliary verb “been” is used
after subject in sentence.
Examples.
Had I been waiting for him for one hour?
Had she been playing chess 7 O’clock?
 Future Simple Tense
• It is used to express an action which has not
occurred yet and will occur after saying or in
future. For example, “I will go to zoo tomorrow”,
in this sentence the person intend for tomorrow’s
visit to zoo. In short, these sentences express
actions which will be done in future.

Rules. Auxiliary verb “will” is used in sentence.

1st form of verb or base form is used as main
verb in sentence.
 Sentence Structure
• Positive sentence
• Subject + auxiliary verb + main verb (present participle) + object
•Subject + will + (1st form of verb or base form +ing) + object
Examples.
I will buy a computer tomorrow.
They will come here.
Negative sentence
• Subject + auxiliary verb+ not + main verb (present participle) + object
• Subject + will +not + (1st form of verb or base form +ing) + object
To make negative sentence “not” is written after auxiliary verb in sentence.
Examples.
I will not buy a computer tomorrow.
They will not come here.

Interrogative sentence
• Auxiliary verb + subject + main verb (present participle) + object
• Will + subject + (1st form of verb or base form +ing) + object
Interrogative sentence starts with auxiliary verb “will”
Examples.
Will I buy a computer tomorrow?
Will they come here?
 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.
 Sentence Structure
• Positive sentence
• Subject + auxiliary verb + main verb (present participle) + object
• Subject + will be+ 1st form of verb or base form+ing (present participle) + object
Examples.
I will be waiting for you.
You will be feeling well tomorrow.

• Negative sentence
• Subject + not between auxiliary verbs+ not + main verb (present participle) + object
• Subject + will not be + 1st form of verb or base form+ing (present participle) + object
To make negative sentence “not” is written between auxiliary verbs “will and be” in sentence.
Examples.
I will not be waiting for you.
You will not be feeling well tomorrow.

• Interrogative sentence
• Auxiliary verb + subject + auxiliary verb + main verb (present participle) + object
• Will + subject + be+ 1st form of verb or base form+ing (present participle) + object
Interrogative sentence starts with auxiliary verb “will” and auxiliary verb “be” comes after subject in
interrogative sentence
Examples.
Will I be waiting for you?
Will you be feeling well tomorrow?
 Future Perfect Tense
• It is used to express an action which will occur in
future and is thought to be completed in future.
It expresses a sense of completion of an action
which will occur in future. For example, “John will
have gone tomorrow”. It shows a sense of
completion of an action (go) which will occur in
future (tomorrow).

• Rules. Auxiliary verb “will have” is used in

sentence. 3rd form of verb or past participle form
of verb is used as main verb in sentence.
 Sentence Structure
• Positive sentence
• Subject + auxiliary verb + main verb (past participle) + object
• Subject + will have + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object
Examples
She will have finished the work by Wednesday.
I will have left for home by the time he gets up.
You will have started a job.
Negative sentence
• Subject + Not between auxiliary verbs + main verb (past participle) + object
• Subject + will not have + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object
Examples
She will have finished the work by Wednesday.
I will have left for home by the time he gets up.
You will not have started a job.

• Interrogative sentence
• Auxiliary verb + Subject + auxiliary verb + main verb (past participle) + object
• Will + Subject +have + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object
Examples
Will she have finished the work by Wednesday?
Will I have left for home by the time he gets up?
Will you have started a job?
 Future Perfect Continuous Tense
• 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).

• Rules: An auxiliary verb “will have been” is used

in sentence. 1st form of verb (base verb) +ing
(present participle) is used as main verb in
sentence.
 Sentence Structure
• Positive Sentence.
• Subject + Auxiliary verb + main verb (Present participle) + Object
•Subject + will have been + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object
Examples.
I will have been waiting for him.
She will have been playing football.

• Negative Sentence.
• Subject +”Not” inside Auxiliary verbs + main verb (present participle) + Object.
• Subject + will not have been + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object.
• To make negative sentence, the word “not” is added inside auxiliary verb, so it becomes “will not have
been”.
Examples.
I will not have been waiting for him.
She will not have been playing football.

• Interrogative Sentence.
• Auxiliary verb + Subject + auxiliary verb + main verb (present participle) + object .
• Will + Subject + have been + (1st form of verb or base verb+ing) + object.
• Interrogative sentence starts with auxiliary verb “will” and auxiliary verb “have been” is used after subject
in sentence.
Examples.
Will I have been waiting for him?
Will she have been playing football?
 Rashid Sajjad

Make a mind which never Minds.

Make a heart which never Hurts.