Basic Grammar

Tenses are forms of a verb that show the time, continuance or completion of an action or a state that is expressed in connection with the moment at which a statement is made about it. The following tenses are commonly used:

We use the simple present tense:

• to show a fact or something that is always true.

• for daily routines or something done regularly or habitually.

• for an action that is planned to happen in the future.

We use the present continuous tense to show we are in the middle of an activity that is in progress at this moment. The activity started in the past and will go on in the future.

So when we use the present continuous tense we are talking about something that is still not yet finished or complete at the time of speaking.

Forming the Present Continuous Tense

The present continuous tense of any verb is formed with the simple present tense of the verb to be (=am, is, are) and the present participle of the main verb (verb + ing)

We use the present continuous tense:

• for an action that is still happening at the time of speaking.

• for an action that is still going on about this time but not necessary at the time of speaking.

The Present Perfect Tense connects the present to the past. It describes an action that happened in the past and goes right to the present moment. The time of occurrence of the action is not mentioned. Usually, the time is not important or is not necessary to know. It is the result of the action that matters. It tells us the outcome to date of the action. E.g., “Frank has gone” tell us that Frank is no longer with us.

To express something in the present perfect tense, join the present simple tense of have/has with the past participle of the main verb (which can be a regular verb or irregular verb).

have/has + past participle

The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is made up of the present perfect tense of the verb to be (have/has been), and the present participle of the main verb (verb + ing)

The Present Perfect Continuous is:

• used for an action that began in the past and has been continuing up to now (and may still be going on)

• used for an action that began and just finished in the past.

• often used with since, for, ever since, etc.

We use the simple past tense for events that happened or started and completed in the past and that have no relation with the present.

We use the simple past tense:

• to describe an action that occurred in the past or at a specified time or the time is easily understood or already implied.

Example: We finished our final exam an hour ago. (NOT: We have/had finished our final exam an
hour ago.)
Example: My grandfather played for the Yellow Hornless Bull football team.
Example: I ate a big spicy piece of pizza for my breakfast.

• for an action that began and ended in the past.

Example: The dangerous criminal was recaptured after three months on the run.

• to refer to an action completed regardless of how recent or distant in the past.

Example: Alexander Bell invented the telephone in 1876.
Example: My brother joined the circus as a clown last week.

• for an action done repeatedly, habitually or at regular times in the past.

Example: We saw the movie ‘Titanic’ several times at the cinema.
Example: Brian was always a heavy drinker in the old days.
Example: He phoned his mother every Sunday until her death.

The past continuous tense is formed with the past tense of the verb to be (was/were) + present participle (verbs ending in …ing).

The past continuous tense questions are formed with was/were + subject + … ing.
Example: What were you doing exactly twenty-four hours ago? (NOT: What did you do exactly
twenty-four hours ago?)

The past continuous tense is used:

• for an action that was taking place in the past when a shorter action (expressed in the simple past tense) happened.

Example: I was camping when I got stung by a bee.
Example: When I visited him in the hospital, he was snoring loudly.
Example: While he was reading the newspaper, he fell asleep.
Example: While I was talking to him, his eyes looked somewhere else.
Note: The past continuous tense and the simple past tense are used together

• with while to describe two actions that were going on at the same time in the past.

Example: While my brother was laughing, my sister was crying.
Example: My father was drinking while my mother was eating.

The past perfect tense is formed with the past tense of the verb to have (had) and the past participle of the verb (e.g. eaten, stolen, taken).

The past perfect tense describes an event that happened in the past before another event  was completed in the past. It tells us which event happened first regardless of which event is mentioned first or second in a sentence or conversation.

The Past Perfect Tense is used:
1. to show an action happened in the past before another event took place.

• Words usually used with the Past Perfect tense are when and after.

Example: They had already finished their dinner when I arrived to join them.
Example: When he had done his homework, he went for a smoke in the park.
Example: After I had eaten five apples, I felt ill.
Example: I arrived at the cinema after the film had started.
In each of the above examples there are two past actions. The past perfect tense is combined with a past simple tense to show which of the two actions happened earlier.
The event in the past perfect tense occurred before the event in the simple past tense.

The past perfect continuous tense is formed with the past perfect tense of the verb to be (= had been) + the present participle (–ing).

Example: I had been praying.

The past perfect continuous is used:

• for an action that occurred over a period of time in the past.

Example: He had been playing saxophone in a jazz band.

• for an action which started and finished in the past before another past action. Here, since or for is usually used.

Example: Jack got a job at last. He had been looking for a job since last year.
Example: He and his brother had been playing badminton together for ten years before one of them got married.

• in reported speech, the present perfect continuous tense becomes past perfect continuous tense.

Example: John said, “We have been traveling by train across Europe.”
Example: John said they had been traveling by train across Europe.

Past perfect continuous tense not used for states or feelings
The past perfect continuous is not normally used for states.
NOT: He had been seeming pretty angry at me.
The past simple is used instead:
Example: He seemed pretty angry at me.

We use the simple future tense for actions that will happen in the future. How we use it depends on how we view the events are going to happen. The followings show the different tenses used to express the completion of an activity in the future:

The police will conclude their investigation of the computer fraud next week. (simple future)
The police conclude their investigation of the computer fraud next week. (simple present)
The police are concluding their investigation of the computer fraud next week.(present continuous)
The police will be concluding their investigation of the computer fraud next week. (future continuous)

There are ways we can use to express the future in English:

1. Will
2. Be going to
3. Be to
4. Be about to
5. Simple Present
6. Present continuous

1. Will
We use will to:

• say something that we are certain will occur in the future.

Example: A meeting will be held next Monday at 2 p.m.

• say something that we are not so certain will happen.

Example: I think he will phone me later.

• make a prediction.

Example: The rain will stop soon.

• state a fact.

Example: Oil will float on water.

• express willingness to do something in the future.

Example: I will help you clear the rat-infested storeroom in a moment.

• make a sudden decision at the moment of speaking.

Example: There’s a noise outside. I will just go and check.

• give a command.

Example: You will report to me at eight o’clock tomorrow.

• give an invitation, make an order or a threat.

Example: They will invite Professor Dunce to speak at the scientific conference.
Example: I will have a double brandy.
Example: Give me your wallet or I will slit your throat with this.

• ask questions or make a suggestion or promise.

Example: Will you phone your mother-in-law to apologize, please?
Example: Shall we sneak a couple of bottles of brandy through Customs?
Example: I will try not to be late again.

2. Be going to
Be going to is used to refer to future actions as follow:

• Intention or decision already made to do or not to do something.

Example: We are going to move to a new neighbourhood next month.

• Plans or arrangements for the near future that are made prior to the time of speaking

Example: We are going to visit the zoo on Sunday.

• Prediction of an outcome based on current situation.

Example: Look at the overcast sky. It is going to rain hard.

The future continuous tense is made up of the simple future tense of the verb to be (shall/will be) + a present participle (verb + -ing), as follow:

We use the future continuous tense:

• for an action that lasts a period of time in the future.

Example: His father will be working the whole day tomorrow.

• for an action that has been planned.

Example: They will be going on vacation this summer.

• to express an action that will be in progress at a certain or specified time in the future.

Example: We will/shall be sleeping by the time you return.
Example: At this time next week, I shall/will be playing poker.
Example: Will they be coming at 6 p.m. tomorrow?

• for an action which will happen as a matter of routine or as scheduled (without intention)

Example: You will be working with Miss Cool again when you turn up for work tomorrow.
Example: The first train will be departing at 5.30 a.m.

• to seek a favour of someone by asking about their plans

Example: Will you be passing the post office on your way home?

The future perfect tense is formed by using the simple future tense of the verb to have (will have) + the past participle of the main verb. It is used for an action which will have finished by some future time or date as mentioned:

Statement: She will have sewn the patch on her jeans by nine o’clock
Question: Will the people have put out the fire by the time the firemen arrive?

The future perfect tense is used:

• to show that an activity will be completed by a specified time in the future.

Example: I will have saved about one million dollars by the year 2090.

• to show that an action will be completed before another takes place in the future.

Example: The fire will have burnt the building to the ground by the time the firemen arrive.

• to show a situation will be over in the future.

Example: The special offer – buy two, get one free – will have finished by midday tomorrow.

• with conditional ‘if’.

Example: If you don’t hurry up, we will have eaten all the food when you get to the table.

via GIPHY