11/3/2020 GUIDE FOR TENSES

PRECISELY DEFINED

BY
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 PRESENT TO BE TENSE
DEF: This tense shows the “STATE” or “EXISTENCE” of any person, place or thing in present/running/current
time.
To be verbs: Is, Am, and Are
IS: is used with He, She, It or any singular noun
Am: is used with only I
Are: is used with We, You, They or plural nouns
EXAMPLES: He is a good boy (state) They are at school (Existence)
Ali is at his home (Affirmative) Ali is not at his home (Negative)
Is Ali at his home? (Interrogative) Is Ali not at his home? (Interrogative & Negative)
Ali is really at his home. (Emphatic)

PAST TO BE TENSE
DEF: This tense shows the “STATE” or “EXISTENCE” of any person, place or thing in past time.
To be verbs: Was and Were
Was: is used with I, He, She, It or any singular noun
Were: is used with We, You, They or plural nouns
EXAMPLES: He was a good student (State) All the guests were at event (Existence)
Plates were on the table (Affirmative) Plates were not on the table (Negative)
Were plates on the table? (Interrogative) Were plates not on the table? (Int & Neg)
Plates were really on the table (Emphatic)

FUTURE TO BE TENSE
DEF: This tense shows the “STATE” or “EXISTENCE” of any person, place or thing in coming time.
To be verbs: Shall be and Will be
Shall be: is used with I and We
Will be: is used with He, She, It, You, They or any singular and plural nouns
NOTE: For emphatic sentences, WILL is used with I & We. SHALL is used with He, She, It, They or any singular and
plural nouns (IN SIMPLE VICE VERSA)
EXAMPLES: He will be a doctor (State) They will be at the park (Existence)
Flowers will be in the vase (Affirmative) Flowers will not be in the vase (Negative)
Will flowers be in the vase? (Interrogative) Will flowers not be in the vase? (Int & Neg)
Flowers shall be in the vase (Emphatic)
 PRESENT INDEFINITE TENSE
DEF: This tense shows that subject does some work in running/current/present time.
Helping verbs: Do and Does
Does: is used with He, She, It or any singular noun
Do: is used with I, We, You, They or plural nouns
Note: (1) In case of He, She , It or any singular noun, “s” or “es” is used at the end of main verb being used
(2) In case of We, You, They or any plural noun main verb is used without “s” or “es”.
(3) 1st form of verb is used.
EXAMPLES: Amna practices Maths daily We try our best to pass the exams
He keeps fasts in Ramzan (Affirmative) He does not keep fasts in Ramzan (Negative)
Does he keep fasts in Ramzan? (Interrogative) Does he keep fasts in Ramzan? (Int & Neg)
He does keep fasts in Ramzan (Emphatic)

PAST INDEFINITE TENSE

DEF: This tense shows that subject did some work in past time.
Helping verb: “Did” and is used with all the subjects.
NOTE: 2nd form of the verb is used in this tense.
Examples: Aslam watched movie yesterday Anum did her work within time.
You wasted your time continuously. (Affirmative) You did not waste your time (Negative)
Did you waste your time? (Interrogative) Did you not waste your time? (Int & Neg)
You did waste your time (Emphatic)

FUTURE INDEFINITE TENSE

DEF: This tense shows that subject will do some work in coming time.
Helping verbs: Shall and Will
Shall : is used with I and We
Will : is used with He, She, It, You, They or any singular and plural nouns
NOTE: For emphatic sentences WILL is with used I & We. SHALL is used with He, She, It, They or any singular and
plural nouns (IN SIMPLE VICE VERSA) and “1st form” of verb is used.
EXAMPLES: He will go to USA They will go for picnic tomorrow
They will make efforts to do more. (Affirmative) They will not make efforts to do more. (Negative)
Will they make efforts to do more? (Interrogative) Will they not make efforts to do more? (Int & Neg)
They shall make efforts to do more. (Emphatic)
 PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE
DEF: This tense shows that subject is doing some work continuously in the running time.
Helping verbs: Is, Am, and Are
IS: is used with He, She, It or any singular noun
Am: is used with only I
Are: is used with We, You, They or plural nouns
NOTE: “ING” form of the verb is used.
EXAMPLES: She is not working in a nice company. Are they ignoring you continuously?
He is having a bath. (Affirmative) He is not having a bath (Negative)
Is he having a bath? (Interrogative) Is he not having a bath? (Int & Neg)
He is really having a bath. (Emphatic)

PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

DEF: This tense shows that subject was doing some work continuously in the past time.
Helping verbs: Was and Are.
NOTE: “ING” form of the verb is used.
Was: is used with I, He, She, It or any singular noun
Were: is used with We, You, They or plural nouns
EXAMPLES: Was he not paying attention. Were they going to the classroom?
Anum was submitting documents. (Affirmative) Anum was not submitting documents. (Negative)
Was Anum submitting documents? (Interrogative) Was Anum not submitting documents. (Int & Neg)
Anum was really submitting documents. (Emphatic)

FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE

DEF: This tense shows that subject will be doing some work continuously in the coming time.
Helping verbs: Will be and Shall be.
NOTE: (1). “ING” form of the verb is used.
(2). Usage of Shall and Will and their emphatic is same as learnt in the previous tenses.
EXAMPLES: I shall be working hard. It will not be raining today.
He will be purchasing a computer. (Affirmative) He will not be a purchasing a computer. (Negative)
Will he be purchasing a computer? (Interrogative) Will he not be purchasing a computer? (Int & Neg)
He shall be purchasing a computer. (Emphatic)
 PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
DEF: This tense shows that subject started some work in the past time but has recently completed it in the present
time.
Helping Verbs: Has and Have
Has: He, She, It, or any Singular Noun
Have: We, You, They or any Plural Noun
NOTE: 3rd form of the verb is used in this tense.
EXAMPLES: I have thrown away all the waste into dustbin. Have you written the complete passage?
They have completed all tasks. (Affirmative) They have not completed all tasks. (Negative)
Have they completed all tasks? (Interrogative) Have they not completed all tasks? (Int & Neg)
They have really completed all the tasks. (Emphatic)

PAST PERFECT TENSE

DEF: This tense shows that subject started some work in the past time and completed it in the same time as well.
Helping Verb: “Had” and is used with all the subjects.
NOTE: 3rd form of the verb is used in this tense.
EXAMPLES: Had you passed by me that time? Ahmed had not bought snacks for him.
You had done a great job. (Affirmative) You had not done a great job. (Negative)
Had you done a great job? (Interrogative) Had they not done a great job? (Int & Neg)
You had really done a great job. (Emphatic)

FUTURE PERFECT TENSE

DEF: This tense shows that subject started some work in the past time and will complete it in the coming time.
Helping Verbs: Shall Have & Will have.
NOTE: (1). 3rd form of the verb is used in this tense.
(2). Usage of Shall and Will and their emphatic is same as learnt in the previous tenses.
EXAMPLES: We shall have completed this task by today. Will they have written the paper?
They will have eaten breakfast. (Affirmative) They will not have eaten breakfast. (Negative)
Will they have eaten breakfast? (Interrogative) Will they not have eaten breakfast? (Int & Neg)
They shall have eaten breakfast. (Emphatic)
 PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
DEF: This tense shows that subject started some work in the past time but is still going on in the present time.
Helping Verbs: Has been & Have been.
NOTE: (1). “ING” form of the verb is used in this tense.
(2). Usage of Has and Have with subjects is same as learnt in the previous tense.
(3). SINCE is used with POINT OF TIME and FOR is used with PERIOD OF TIME.
EXAMPLE: He has been been working since 9 O’clock. (Point of time) She has been talking for half an hour.
(Period of time)
They have been listening to lecture for 2 hours. (Affirmative)
They have not been been listening to lecture for 2 hours. (Negative)
Will they have been listening to lecture for 2 hours? (Interrogative)
Will they not have been listening to lecture for 2 hours? (Int & Neg)
They have really been listening to lecture for 2 hours. (Emphatic)

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

DEF: This tense shows that subject started some work in the past time but was still going on in the past time.
Helping Verbs: “Had Been” and is used with all subjects.
NOTE: (1). “ING” form of the verb is used in this tense.
(2). SINCE is used with POINT OF TIME and FOR is used with PERIOD OF TIME. (SAME AS PREVIOUS TENSE)
EXAMPLE: Had Ali been waiting for his result for 6 months? (Period of time) Had you been using this
phone since 2017? (Point of time)
She had been cooking since 1’O clock. (Affirmative)
She had not been cooking since 1’O clock. (Negative)
Had she been cooking since 1’O clock. (Interrogative)
Had she not been cooking since 1’O clock? (Int & Neg)
She had really been cooking since 1’O clock.. (Emphatic)
 FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
DEF: This tense shows continuity of completion of an action in future time is called Future Perfect Continuous
Tense.
Helping verbs: "Shall have been" and "Will have been"
NOTE: (1). “ING” form of the verb is used.
(2). Usage of Shall and Will and their emphatic is same as learnt in the previous tenses.
(3). SINCE is used with POINT OF TIME and FOR is used with PERIOD OF TIME. (SAME AS PREVIOUS TENSE)
EXAMPLES: I shall have been using my computer without taking rest. Our friends will have been encouraging
us.
Police will have been catching wanted criminals. (Affirmative)
Police will not have been catching wanted criminals. (Negative)
Will Police have been catching wanted criminals? (Interrogative)
Will Police not have been catching wanted criminals? (Interrogative & Negative)
Police shall have been catching wanted criminals. (Emphatic)

PRESENT AORIST TENSE

DEF: This tense shows possibility, wish, permission or purpose of the subject in a sentence in present time.
Helping Verb: May and is used with all the subjects , singular as well as plural.
EXAMPLES: They may visit us tonight. (Possibility) May He do it ? (Permission)
May You achieve first position in class! (Wish) I work hard so that I may become a doctor. (Purpose)
I may do it myself. (Affirmative) I may not do it. (Negative) May I do it? (Interrogative)
May I not do it? (Int & Neg)

PRESENT DUBIOUS TENSE

DEF: This tense shows a dubitative condition of some action in present time.
Helping Verb: "May Be" and "Might Be" and are used with all the subjects.
NOTE: (1) “ING” form of the verb is used. (2). MUST is used in emphatic sentences
EXAMPLES: She may be cooking Sindhi Biryani. He might be repeating his work.
They may be feeling cold. (Affirmative) I may not be feeling cold. (Negative)
May I be feeling cold? (Interrogative) May I not be feeling cold? (Int & Neg)
I must be feeling cold. (Emphatic)
 PAST DUBIOUS TENSE
DEF: This tense denotes a dubitative condition of some action in past time.
Helping Verbs: "May Have" and "Might Have" and are used with all the subjects.
NOTE: (1) “3rd” form of the verb is used. (2). MUST HAVE is used in emphatic sentences.
EXAMPLES: She may have gone home. He may have avoided from bad company..
You may have warned them. (Affirmative) You may not have warned them (Negative)
May you have warned them? (Interrogative) May you not have warned them? (Int & Neg)
You must have warned them. (Emphatic)

PAST DUBIOUS CONTINUOUS TENSE

DEF: This tense signifies a dubitative condition of some action showing continuity in past time.
Helping Verbs: "May Have Been" and "Must Have" and are used with all the subjects.
NOTE: (1) “3rd” form of the verb is used. (2). MUST HAVE BEEN is used in emphatic sentences.
EXAMPLES: He may have been completing his work. She may have been spending time with parents.
They may have been preaching the Islam. (Affirmative)
They may not have been preaching the Islam. (Negative)
May they not have been preaching the Islam? (Interrogative)
May they not have been preaching the Islam? (Int & Neg)
They must have been preaching the Islam. (Emphatic)

PRESENT POTENTIAL TENSE

DEF: Shows the potential, power or strength of the subject to do some work in present time.
Helping Verb: “Can” and is used with all the subjects.
NOTE: (1). First form of the verb is used in this tense.
(2). "Can" is also used for Ability, Power, Authority, Offer and Request.
EXAMPLES: Only he can do this task. (Ability) Allah can protect every living thing. (Power)
Teacher can punish a student. (Authority) You can use my laptop. (Offer)
Can you please open the door? (Request)

She can learn English very quick. (Affirmative) She can’t/can not learn English very quick. (Negative)
Can she learn English very quick? (Interrogative) Can she not learn English very quick? (Int & Neg)
She can learn English very quick. (Emphatic)
 PAST POTENTIAL TENSE
DEF: Shows the potential, power or strength of the subject to do some work in past time.
Helping Verb: “Could” and is used with all the subjects. “OR” “WAS ABLE TO” & “WERE ABLE TO” are also used as
alternative helping verbs.
NOTE: (1). First form of the verb is used in this tense.
(2). Use of “WAS” & “WERE” will be same as learnt in the previous tenses.
EXAMPLES: She could catch fish. He could earn a lot of money.
We could drive a car fast. (Affirmative) We could not drive a car fast. (Negative)
Could we drive a car fast.? (Interrogative) Could we not drive a car fast? (Int & Neg)
We could really drive a car fast. (Emphatic)

OR

She was able to catch fish. He was able to earn a lot of money.
We were able to drive a car fast. (Affirmative) We were not able to drive a car fast. (Negative)
Were we able to drive a car fast? (Interrogative) Were we not able to drive a car fast? (Int & Neg)
We were really able to drive a car fast. (Emphatic)

FUTURE POTENTIAL TENSE

DEF: Shows the potential, power or strength of the subject to do some work in coming time.
Helping Verb: Shall Be Able To and Will Be Able To are the helping verbs of this tense.
NOTE: Use of “WILL” & “SHALL” will be same as learnt in the previous tenses.
EXAMPLES: I shall be able to leave bad habits. You will be able to revise your course.
I shall be able to deliver my speech. (Affirmative) I shall not be able to deliver my speech. (Negative)
Shall I be able to deliver my speech? (Interrogative) Shall I not be able to deliver my speech. (Int & Neg)
I will be able to deliver my speech.. (Emphatic)