Tenses — Complete Grammar Guide
What is a Tense?
A tense tells us when an action happens. It shows whether an action happens in the present, happened in the past, or will happen in the future. Tense is shown by the form of the verb.
There are three main times: Present, Past and Future. Each of these has four forms: Simple, Continuous, Perfect and Perfect Continuous. So there are twelve tenses in English.
Why Do We Use Tenses?
Tenses help us talk clearly about time. Without the correct tense, the listener or reader cannot understand when the action happened. In the SEE examination, tenses are tested in fill-in-the-blank questions, error correction, sentence transformation and free writing. Mastering tenses is essential for high marks in English.
- They show the time of an action.
- They show whether the action is complete or still continuing.
- They help in correct sentence formation.
- They are one of the most important grammar topics in SEE.
The Twelve Tenses
| Time | Simple | Continuous | Perfect | Perfect Continuous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present | Present Simple | Present Continuous | Present Perfect | Present Perfect Continuous |
| Past | Past Simple | Past Continuous | Past Perfect | Past Perfect Continuous |
| Future | Future Simple | Future Continuous | Future Perfect | Future Perfect Continuous |
Present Simple Tense
We use the Present Simple for habits, general truths, regular actions and permanent situations.
Structure of Present Simple
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + V1 (s/es with he/she/it) + Object | She plays football. They play football. |
| Negative | Subject + do/does not + V1 + Object | She does not play football. They do not play football. |
| Yes/No Question | Do/Does + Subject + V1 + Object? | Does she play football? Do they play football? |
| WH Question | WH word + do/does + Subject + V1 + Object? | Where does she play football? |
Remember: Use s/es with he, she, it and singular nouns. Use the base form (V1) with I, we, you, they.
Uses of Present Simple
- 1Habit or regular action: I go to school every day. She brushes her teeth twice a day.
- 2General truth or fact: The sun rises in the east. Water boils at 100°C.
- 3Permanent situation: He lives in Kathmandu. She works in a bank.
- 4Timetable or schedule: The bus leaves at 8 a.m. The school starts at 10 o’clock.
- 5With stative verbs (know, like, love, want, believe, understand, etc.): I know the answer. She likes music.
Signal Words for Present Simple
- always, usually, often, sometimes, never, rarely, seldom
- every day, every week, every year
- on Sundays, in the morning, once a week
Present Continuous Tense
We use the Present Continuous for actions happening now or around now, and for temporary situations or fixed future plans.
Structure of Present Continuous
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + am/is/are + V4 (verb + ing) + Object | She is playing football. I am reading a book. |
| Negative | Subject + am/is/are + not + V4 + Object | She is not playing football. I am not reading a book. |
| Yes/No Question | Am/Is/Are + Subject + V4 + Object? | Is she playing football? Are you reading a book? |
| WH Question | WH word + am/is/are + Subject + V4 + Object? | What is she playing? |
Uses of Present Continuous
- 1Action happening at the moment of speaking: She is writing a letter now.
- 2Temporary action or situation: He is staying with his uncle this week.
- 3Fixed future plan or arrangement: We are going to Pokhara tomorrow.
- 4Changing or developing situation: The climate is getting warmer.
Signal Words for Present Continuous
- now, at the moment, at present, currently, right now, today, this week, this month, Look!, Listen!
Important Note: Stative Verbs
Some verbs are not normally used in the continuous form. These are called stative verbs. Examples: know, like, love, hate, want, need, believe, understand, remember, forget, belong, own, seem, appear, prefer.
- Correct: I know the answer. (Not: I am knowing the answer.)
- Correct: She likes ice cream. (Not: She is liking ice cream.)
Present Perfect Tense
We use the Present Perfect for actions that started in the past and have a connection with the present, or for completed actions when the time is not important.
Structure of Present Perfect
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + has/have + V3 + Object | She has finished her homework. They have finished their homework. |
| Negative | Subject + has/have + not + V3 + Object | She has not finished her homework. |
| Yes/No Question | Has/Have + Subject + V3 + Object? | Has she finished her homework? |
| WH Question | WH word + has/have + Subject + V3 + Object? | What has she finished? |
Uses of Present Perfect
- 1Action completed in the past with result in the present: I have lost my keys. (I cannot open the door now.)
- 2Experience in life (time not mentioned): Have you ever been to Pokhara? She has visited many countries.
- 3Action that started in the past and continues to the present (with for/since): He has lived here for five years. She has worked here since 2018.
- 4Recently completed action: I have just finished my work. They have already left.
Signal Words for Present Perfect
- already, just, yet, ever, never, so far, recently, lately
- for + period of time, since + point of time
- this week, this month, this year (when the period is not finished)
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
We use the Present Perfect Continuous for actions that started in the past and are still continuing, or have just stopped and have a present result.
Structure of Present Perfect Continuous
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + has/have been + V4 + Object | She has been studying for two hours. |
| Negative | Subject + has/have not been + V4 + Object | She has not been studying for two hours. |
| Question | Has/Have + Subject + been + V4 + Object? | Has she been studying for two hours? |
Uses of Present Perfect Continuous
- 1Action that started in the past and is still continuing: It has been raining since morning.
- 2Action that has recently stopped with a present result: She is tired because she has been working all day.
Past Simple Tense
We use the Past Simple for completed actions in the past when the time is known or clear.
Structure of Past Simple
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + V2 + Object | She played football yesterday. They went to school. |
| Negative | Subject + did not + V1 + Object | She did not play football yesterday. |
| Yes/No Question | Did + Subject + V1 + Object? | Did she play football yesterday? |
| WH Question | WH word + did + Subject + V1 + Object? | When did she play football? |
Important: After did/did not, always use the base form (V1), never V2.
Uses of Past Simple
- 1Completed action at a definite time in the past: I met him yesterday. She finished her work last night.
- 2Series of completed actions: He woke up, brushed his teeth and went to school.
- 3Past habit or regular action (with used to or always): He always walked to school when he was young.
Signal Words for Past Simple
- yesterday, last week, last month, last year, last night
- ago (two days ago, a year ago)
- in 2020, in 1995
- when + past clause
Past Continuous Tense
We use the Past Continuous for actions that were in progress at a particular time in the past.
Structure of Past Continuous
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + was/were + V4 + Object | She was playing football at 5 p.m. |
| Negative | Subject + was/were + not + V4 + Object | She was not playing football at 5 p.m. |
| Question | Was/Were + Subject + V4 + Object? | Was she playing football at 5 p.m.? |
Uses of Past Continuous
- 1Action in progress at a specific time in the past: At 8 o’clock last night I was watching TV.
- 2Two actions happening at the same time in the past: While she was cooking, he was reading.
- 3Background action interrupted by a shorter action (Past Simple): I was walking when it started to rain.
Past Perfect Tense
We use the Past Perfect for an action that was completed before another action or time in the past.
Structure of Past Perfect
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + had + V3 + Object | She had finished her homework before dinner. |
| Negative | Subject + had not + V3 + Object | She had not finished her homework before dinner. |
| Question | Had + Subject + V3 + Object? | Had she finished her homework before dinner? |
Uses of Past Perfect
- 1Action completed before another past action: When I arrived, the train had already left.
- 2Action completed before a specific time in the past: By 8 o’clock she had finished her work.
Past Perfect Continuous Tense
We use the Past Perfect Continuous for an action that continued up to a certain point in the past.
Structure of Past Perfect Continuous
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + had been + V4 + Object | She had been waiting for two hours when the bus arrived. |
| Negative | Subject + had not been + V4 + Object | She had not been waiting for two hours. |
| Question | Had + Subject + been + V4 + Object? | Had she been waiting for two hours? |
Future Simple Tense
We use the Future Simple (will) for predictions, decisions made at the moment of speaking, offers, promises and future facts.
Structure of Future Simple (will)
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + will + V1 + Object | She will come tomorrow. |
| Negative | Subject + will not (won’t) + V1 + Object | She will not come tomorrow. |
| Question | Will + Subject + V1 + Object? | Will she come tomorrow? |
Be Going To
We also use be going to for planned future actions and predictions based on present evidence.
- I am going to visit my uncle next week. (plan)
- Look at those clouds. It is going to rain. (evidence)
Future Continuous Tense
We use the Future Continuous for actions that will be in progress at a particular time in the future.
Structure of Future Continuous
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + will be + V4 + Object | This time tomorrow I will be flying to Pokhara. |
| Negative | Subject + will not be + V4 + Object | I will not be flying to Pokhara. |
| Question | Will + Subject + be + V4 + Object? | Will you be flying to Pokhara? |
Future Perfect Tense
We use the Future Perfect for actions that will be completed before a certain time in the future.
Structure of Future Perfect
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + will have + V3 + Object | By next year she will have finished her studies. |
| Negative | Subject + will not have + V3 + Object | She will not have finished her studies by next year. |
| Question | Will + Subject + have + V3 + Object? | Will she have finished her studies by next year? |
Future Perfect Continuous Tense
We use the Future Perfect Continuous for actions that will continue up to a certain time in the future.
Structure of Future Perfect Continuous
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + will have been + V4 + Object | By next month I will have been working here for five years. |
| Negative | Subject + will not have been + V4 + Object | I will not have been working here for five years. |
| Question | Will + Subject + have been + V4 + Object? | Will you have been working here for five years? |
Important Differences
| Present Simple | Present Continuous |
|---|---|
| Habit or permanent situation | Action happening now or temporary |
| She goes to school every day. | She is going to school now. |
| I live in Kathmandu. | I am living with my uncle this month. |
| Past Simple | Present Perfect |
|---|---|
| Completed action with definite past time | Completed action with present connection (time not important) |
| I met him yesterday. | I have met him before. |
| She finished her work last night. | She has finished her work. |
| Past Simple | Past Continuous |
|---|---|
| Completed short action | Action in progress in the past |
| I was walking when it started to rain. | I was walking when it started to rain. |
| Past Perfect | Past Simple |
|---|---|
| Earlier past action | Later past action |
| When I arrived, the train had left. | When I arrived, the train left. (different meaning) |
Important Rules
- 1After did, does, do, will, shall, can, may, must, always use the base form (V1).
- 2He/She/It takes s/es in Present Simple affirmative.
- 3Stative verbs are not normally used in continuous forms.
- 4Use since with a point of time and for with a period of time in Perfect tenses.
- 5Past Perfect is used for the earlier of two past actions.
- 6In negative and question forms of Past Simple, use did + V1 (never V2).
- 7Time expressions help you choose the correct tense — learn the signal words.
Common Mistakes
- 1Wrong: He go to school every day. Correct: He goes to school every day. Reason: He/She/It needs s/es.
- 2Wrong: She did not went to school. Correct: She did not go to school. Reason: After did, use V1.
- 3Wrong: I am knowing the answer. Correct: I know the answer. Reason: Know is a stative verb.
- 4Wrong: I have seen him yesterday. Correct: I saw him yesterday. Reason: Yesterday needs Past Simple.
- 5Wrong: She is living in Kathmandu since 2015. Correct: She has been living / has lived in Kathmandu since 2015. Reason: Since needs Perfect tense.
- 6Wrong: When I reached home, he already left. Correct: When I reached home, he had already left. Reason: Earlier action needs Past Perfect.
- 7Wrong: I am studying English for five years. Correct: I have been studying English for five years. Reason: For + period with continuing action needs Perfect Continuous.
Remember (Memory Tricks)
- He / She / It → s/es in Present Simple
- Did → always V1 after it
- Does → always V1 after it
- Has / Have + V3 = Present Perfect
- Had + V3 = Past Perfect
- Will + V1 = Future Simple
- am/is/are + Ving = Present Continuous
- was/were + Ving = Past Continuous
- Since = point of time, For = period of time
SEE Exam Tips
- 1First identify the time (present, past or future) from the sentence or signal words.
- 2Then decide if the action is simple, continuous, perfect or perfect continuous.
- 3Look for signal words: yesterday → Past Simple; now → Present Continuous; since/for → Perfect; already/just/yet → Present Perfect.
- 4Check the subject carefully for has/have, is/are, was/were, s/es.
- 5In transformation questions, keep the meaning the same while changing the tense.
- 6Practise irregular verbs regularly (go-went-gone, see-saw-seen, write-wrote-written, etc.).
- 7In error correction, look first at the verb form and the time expression.
How Tenses Appear in SEE
- Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb
- Choose the correct tense option
- Rewrite sentences changing the tense
- Correct the errors in the given sentences
- Complete the sentences using suitable tense
Quick Revision
- Present Simple: habits, facts → V1 / V1+s/es
- Present Continuous: now / temporary → am/is/are + Ving
- Present Perfect: past with present result → has/have + V3
- Present Perfect Continuous: started in past, still continuing → has/have been + Ving
- Past Simple: completed past action → V2 (did + V1 in negative/question)
- Past Continuous: in progress in the past → was/were + Ving
- Past Perfect: earlier past action → had + V3
- Future Simple: will + V1 or be going to
- Always match the verb form with the time and the subject.