PRESENT TENSE

GROUP
USAGE

SIMPLE PRESENT
TENSE
Facts or general
Permanent / habits

PATTERN (ACTIVE
VOICE)

PAST TENSE GROUP

The girl helps.

The girls help.
The girl is +
Complement
The girls are +
Complement
I am + Complement
The cat is chased by
the dog.
The cats are chased by
the dogs.
I am scolded by my
teacher.
SIMPLE PAST TENSE

USAGE

PATTERN (PASSIVE
VOICE)

PATTERN (ACTIVE
VOICE)

PATTERN (PASSIVE
VOICE)

FUTURE TENSE
GROUP

Used for actions done

at a definite time
Short, sudden actions

Manchester United
defeated Mancester
City last night.
They worked hard last
week to complete their
project.
Manchester City was
defeated by
Manchester United.
The cats were chased
by the dogs yesterday
SIMPLE FUTURE
TENSE

PRESENT
CONTINUOUS TENSE
Actions
now/nowadays
Temporary actions
Annoying situation
The girl is reading a
book
The girls are studying.
I am studying.

PRESENT PERFECT
TENSE
Emphasise results of
recently completed
activity

PRESENT PERF. .CONT.

.TENSE
Emphasis activities
that were in progress
right up to the time of
speaking

The girl has read The

Pearl.
The girls have read The
Pearl.

A book is being read by

Alice.
The clothes are being
washed by the women.

The Pearl has been

read by the girl.
The chocolates have
been eaten by them.

PAST CONTINUOUS
TENSE
Used for long actions
in the past

PAST PERFECT TENSE

While I was waiting for

the ferry, I ate some
sandwiches.
I was washing the car
while my father was
planting a tree.
The late comers was
being punished when I
reached school.
The late comers were
being punished when I
reached school.
FUTURE CONTINUOUS
TENSE

An activity
completed before
another past activity
(past before past)
I had just taken my
dinner before my
relatives came.
By the time I reached
school, the bell had
already rung.
The projects had already
been done by the girls
by the time I reached
their house.

The girl has been

reading and she has
not finished reading.
The girls have been
reading and they
have not finished
reading.

PAST PERF. .CONT.

.TENSE
Emphasis a past
activity that was in
progress right up to
the time of speaking
The police arrested the
man whose company
had been producing
illegal CDs.

USAGE

Express future actions

PATTERN(ACTVE)

The boys will help to

decorate.
The sun will rise
tomorrow morning.
The coconut(s) will be
plucked.
The boys will be
warned soon.

PATTERN(PASSIVE)

Express a progressive
action
MY father will be
sleeping when I get
home.