ENGLISH TENSES: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE

Present Continuous Tense (is/am/are + V-ing)

Used for an action happening at the time of speaking, a temporary action, or a planned future action.

1. The boys are playing football right now. (Action at time of speaking)
2. I am reading 'Tom Sawyer' these days. (Temporary action)
3. I am going to the circus tonight. (Planned future action)
4. He is always helping the weak. (Repeated action with 'always')
5. She is teaching English at Delhi University. (Temporary action)
6. Look! It is raining outside. (Action at time of speaking)
7. My sister is getting married next week. (Planned future action)
8. He is constantly complaining about his job. (Repeated action with 'constantly')
9. We are working on a new project at the moment. (Action at time of speaking)
10. Why are you making so much noise? (Action at time of speaking)

Present Perfect Tense (has/have + V3)

Used for actions just completed, past actions with no defined time, or actions starting in the past and continuing to the present.

1. He has just returned from the office. (Just completed)
2. Mr. Ram has been to the USA. (Past action, undefined time)
3. I have cut my finger. (Effect continues)
4. I have known him for a long time. (Continuing to the present)
5. She has lived here for ten years. (Still living here)
6. The train has arrived at the platform. (Just completed)
7. Have you ever seen a ghost? (Past action, undefined time)
8. I have finished my work, so I can go home. (Effect continues)
9. He has been ill since last week. (Continuing to the present)
10. We have already watched that movie. (Past action, undefined time)

Present Perfect Continuous Tense (has/have been + V-ing)

Used for an action that began in the past and is still continuing, or for drawing conclusions from evidence.

1. They have been playing since 4 o'clock. (Started in past, still continuing)
2. We have been building this house for six months. (Unfinished action)
3. Her eyes are red; she has been crying. (Drawing a conclusion)
4. He has been working here for ten years. (Started in past, still continuing)
5. I have been waiting for you all morning. (Unfinished action)
6. The ground is wet. It has been raining. (Drawing a conclusion)
7. She has been learning French since last year. (Started in past, still continuing)
8. They have been talking on the phone for an hour. (Unfinished action)
9. He looks tired because he has been studying all night. (Drawing a conclusion)
10. We have been living in this city since 2010. (Started in past, still continuing)

Simple Past Tense (V2)

Used to indicate a completed action in the past, often with a time adverb, or for past habits.

1. I read the letter yesterday. (Completed action with time adverb)
2. I didn't sleep well last night. (Completed action, time implied)
3. He always carried a bag to school. (Past habit)
4. She took a long walk every morning when she was young. (Past habit)
5. We studied chemistry for two years in college. (Action over a past period)
6. Who left the door open? (Completed action, time implied)
7. They visited the Taj Mahal last year. (Completed action with time adverb)
8. The company launched the product in 2020. (Completed action with time adverb)
9. He never told a lie. (Past habit)
10. I bought this car a month ago. (Completed action with time adverb)

Past Continuous Tense (was/were + V-ing)

Used for an action that was in progress at some time in the past, or for persistent past habits.

1. He was listening to the radio all day. (Action in progress in the past)
2. She was weeping bitterly when I saw her. (Action in progress in the past)
3. It was raining all night. (Emphasizing continuity)
4. He was always grumbling about something. (Persistent past habit)
5. I was wondering if you could help me. (Polite enquiry)
6. The children were doing their homework when the guests arrived. (Action in progress in the past)
7. It was still raining when I woke up. (Emphasizing duration)
8. She was constantly checking her phone during the movie. (Persistent past habit)
9. What were you doing at 8 PM yesterday? (Action in progress in the past)
10. They were living in Paris at that time. (Action in progress in the past)

Past Perfect Tense (had + V3)

Used to describe an action completed before another action in the past (the "past of the past").

1. The patient had died when the doctor arrived.
2. I had written the letter before he arrived.
3. I had thought of sending him a letter but couldn't. (Unfulfilled wish)
4. When I reached the station, the train had already left.
5. After he had finished his work, he went home.
6. She had hoped to win the competition. (Unfulfilled wish)
7. By the time the police arrived, the thief had escaped.
8. He told me he had never seen such a thing before.
9. I had wanted to thank you, but I didn't get the chance. (Unfulfilled wish)
10. She had already eaten, so she didn't join us for dinner.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense (had been + V-ing)

Used for an action that began before a certain time in the past and continued up to that time.

1. At that time, he had been editing the newspaper for two years.
2. The children had been practicing for two hours until I called them.
3. Her eyes were red; it was obvious she had been crying all day.
4. By the time he got the job, he had been searching for months.
5. They had been waiting for an hour before the bus arrived.
6. He was tired because he had been working since morning.
7. She had been living in that city for five years when she decided to move.
8. When I found my keys, I had been looking for them for hours.
9. The team had been training hard before they finally won the championship.
10. He had been feeling unwell for a week before he went to the doctor.

Simple Future Tense (will/shall + V1)

Used for an action that has still to take place, or to express a plan or intention.

1. I shall see him tomorrow.
2. The price of goods will rise by the year's end.
3. The college opens on 10th July. (Using Simple Present for future)
4. He is arriving this evening. (Using Present Continuous for future)
5. I am going to think about your proposal. (Using 'going to')
6. He is going to be a doctor when he grows up. (Using 'going to')
7. They will finish the project next week.
8. I think it will rain today.
9. We shall overcome this challenge.
10. The ceremony will begin at 10 AM.

Future Continuous Tense (will be + V-ing)

Used to represent an action as going on at some time in the future or for planned future events.

1. The guests will be arriving any time from now.
2. He will be meeting us next month.
3. I shall be seeing the President tonight.
4. Will you be doing it in our absence? (Polite question)
5. This time tomorrow, I will be travelling to London.
6. Don't call me at 9 PM; I will be watching the movie.
7. Next year, we will be celebrating our anniversary in Paris.
8. He will be working on the new project all of next week.
9. She will be waiting for you at the station.
10. They will be playing football on Sunday afternoon.

Future Perfect Tense (will have + V3)

Used to indicate the completion of an action by a certain time in the future.

1. I will have returned by 2025.
2. Before you come, he will have slept.
3. By next month, I will have finished this book.
4. By 8 PM, she will have cooked dinner.
5. They will have built the bridge by the end of the year.
6. By the time we arrive, the movie will have started.
7. She will have graduated from university by next June.
8. He will have saved enough money to buy a car by then.
9. In three more years, we will have been married for a decade.
10. By next week, I will have completed my training.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense (will have been + V-ing)

Used to indicate an action that will be in progress over a period of time that will end in the future.

1. By next June, we shall have been living here for four years.
2. I will have been studying for two hours when she calls me tonight.
3. By the end of this year, he will have been working at this company for a decade.
4. In September, they will have been building that road for a full year.
5. By 10 PM, she will have been watching TV for three hours.
6. When he retires, he will have been teaching for over thirty years.
7. By the time you arrive, I will have been waiting for an hour.
8. Next month, I will have been learning Spanish for two years.
9. At 5 o'clock, he will have been driving for six hours straight.
10. By the end of the match, the team will have been playing for 90 minutes.

How to Identify Tenses in Seconds

This is a quick-reference guide for competitive exams. Focus on the verb structure and keywords to identify the tense instantly.

1. Simple Present Tense

How to Identify: Look for the base verb (V1) or the verb ending in -s/-es. In questions/negatives, look for `do` or `does`.

Keywords: always, usually, often, every day, never, sometimes, on Mondays, seldom.

1. The sun rises in the east.
2. She goes to the gym every day.
3. They often play football on Sundays.
4. He never tells a lie.
5. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
6. My father reads the newspaper in the morning.
7. I usually drink coffee for breakfast.
8. The train to Mumbai leaves at 8 PM.
9. Do you like classical music?
10. The Earth rotates on its axis.

2. Present Continuous Tense

How to Identify: Look for the structure `am / is / are + verb-ing`.

Keywords: now, right now, at the moment, currently, Look!, Listen!.

1. I am writing an email at the moment.
2. Listen! Someone is playing the piano.
3. They are working on a new project currently.
4. She is talking on the phone right now.
5. What are you doing here?
6. The children are sleeping now.
7. He is waiting for the bus.
8. We are planning a party.
9. Look! The plane is taking off.
10. My brother is studying for his final exams.

3. Present Perfect Tense

How to Identify: Look for the structure `have / has + past participle (V3)`.

Keywords: already, yet, just, ever, never, since, for, so far, recently.

1. She has just finished her homework.
2. Have you ever been to Japan?
3. They haven't arrived yet.
4. I have seen this movie before.
5. He has lived in this city for five years.
6. We have already eaten lunch.
7. She has never visited that museum.
8. I have lost my keys.
9. He has worked here since 2015.
10. The company has launched a new product recently.

4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense

How to Identify: Look for the structure `have / has + been + verb-ing`.

Keywords: for, since, all day, all morning, for hours.

1. He has been working on this report for three hours.
2. I have been waiting for you since 10 AM.
3. She has been studying all day.
4. They have been playing outside since morning.
5. We have been living in this house for ten years.
6. It has been raining all week.
7. How long have you been learning English?
8. He has been feeling unwell since yesterday.
9. I have been trying to call you all day.
10. The team has been practicing for the match.

5. Simple Past Tense

How to Identify: Look for the past tense form of the verb (V2), which often ends in -ed. In questions/negatives, look for `did`.

Keywords: yesterday, last week/month/year, ago, in 2010, the other day.

1. They visited Paris last summer.
2. I saw that movie two days ago.
3. She did not attend the meeting yesterday.
4. He finished his work and left the office.
5. We went to the beach last weekend.
6. The company was founded in 1990.
7. She wrote a letter to her friend.
8. I bought a new phone last week.
9. When did you arrive?
10. He lived in London for several years.

6. Past Continuous Tense

How to Identify: Look for the structure `was / were + verb-ing`.

Keywords: while, when, as, at 5 PM yesterday.

1. I was watching television when the power went out.
2. He was sleeping while she was studying.
3. At this time yesterday, we were travelling to the mountains.
4. She was cooking dinner when the phone rang.
5. What were you doing at 10 PM last night?
6. The sun was shining and the birds were singing.
7. He was waiting at the bus stop.
8. They were playing in the park when it started to rain.
9. I was living in Delhi at that time.
10. She was wearing a beautiful red dress.

7. Past Perfect Tense

How to Identify: Look for the structure `had + past participle (V3)`. It describes an action that happened before another past action.

Keywords: before, after, already, by the time, when.

1. The train had already left by the time I reached the station.
2. After he had finished his work, he went home.
3. She told me she had never seen such a beautiful place before.
4. I had just gone to bed when the doorbell rang.
5. He had not studied, so he failed the test.
6. By the time the police arrived, the thieves had escaped.
7. She had lived in New York before she moved to California.
8. I didn't go to the movie because I had already seen it.
9. He had already eaten when I offered him the cake.
10. When we arrived, the party had already started.

8. Past Perfect Continuous Tense

How to Identify: Look for the structure `had + been + verb-ing`.

Keywords: for, since, by the time.

1. He had been waiting for an hour before she finally arrived.
2. By the time he passed the exam, he had been studying since January.
3. They had been travelling for days when they reached their destination.
4. She had been working there for five years when she got promoted.
5. He was tired because he had been driving all night.
6. The ground was wet because it had been raining.
7. I had been trying to solve the puzzle for an hour before I gave up.
8. They had been living in that house since 2010.
9. She had been feeling unwell for a week before she saw a doctor.
10. By the time the concert started, we had been waiting in line for two hours.

9. Simple Future Tense

How to Identify: Look for the structure `will + base verb (V1)` or `am/is/are + going to + V1`.

Keywords: tomorrow, next week/month/year, soon, later, in the future.

1. I will call you tomorrow.
2. They are going to launch the product next month.
3. He will be here soon.
4. We shall overcome this problem.
5. I think it will rain this afternoon.
6. She is going to start a new job next week.
7. The concert will begin at 7 PM.
8. He will help you with your homework.
9. I am going to visit my grandparents this weekend.
10. They will travel to Europe next summer.

10. Future Continuous Tense

How to Identify: Look for the structure `will be + verb-ing`.

Keywords: at this time tomorrow, by this time next week, at 8 PM tonight.

1. At 9 PM tomorrow, I will be watching the final match.
2. Don't call me in the morning; I will be working.
3. This time next year, she will be studying at university.
4. He will be waiting for you when you arrive.
5. They will be travelling to London this time next week.
6. I will be having dinner at 8 PM, so please call after that.
7. She will be giving a presentation at the conference.
8. We will be celebrating our anniversary next month.
9. This time tomorrow, he will be flying to New York.
10. The team will be practicing all day tomorrow.

11. Future Perfect Tense

How to Identify: Look for the structure `will have + past participle (V3)`.

Keywords: by, by the time, by next week/month/year.

1. By 8 PM, I will have finished my dinner.
2. She will have graduated by next year.
3. By the time you arrive, the movie will have started.
4. He will have completed the project by the deadline.
5. They will have left before you get there.
6. By next month, I will have saved enough money for the trip.
7. She will have read the entire book by the end of the day.
8. We will have been married for ten years next April.
9. He will have learned Spanish by the time he moves to Spain.
10. By 2030, scientists will have found a cure.

12. Future Perfect Continuous Tense

How to Identify: Look for the structure `will have been + verb-ing`.

Keywords: for, by the time.

1. By December, I will have been working here for five years.
2. By the time he retires, he will have been teaching for over thirty years.
3. Next week, we will have been living in this house for a year.
4. When you arrive, they will have been waiting for an hour.
5. By 6 PM, he will have been studying for four hours straight.
6. In May, she will have been travelling for six months.
7. By the end of the marathon, the athletes will have been running for hours.
8. Next year, they will have been building that bridge for three years.
9. By the time the movie ends, we will have been watching it for two hours.
10. He will have been driving for ten hours by the time he reaches his destination.