Democratic Republic of Algeria

Ministry of Higher Education

English Tenses
 English tenses are used to indicate the timing of actions, events, or states. They are divided into
three main times (present, past, future) and each of these times has four aspects (simple,
continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous). Here's a brief overview of each:
Simple Tenses : Simple tenses are used whenever we are talking about a point in time.
Form Uses Time Indicators

Assertive Negative Interrogative

Past Regular verbs : S+did + not + base Did + subject + base sequences of actions, Yesterday /In 1990
verb+object verb+object completed actions in the past ,
base form +ed Last week/month/year
past habits but not
Irregular verbs : anymore,past facts or The other day / Ago
generalizations
2nd column of When

Present base form+ s/es/ies for S+do / does + not + Do / Does + subject scientific facts, general truths Every day/week/month/
third person singular base verb+object + base verb+object habitual daily actions, Frequency Adverbs
instructions,after conjunctions like : Always / Often/
like :if ,after, when, Sometimes/ Generally
before,til,until Never
On Mondays, Tuesdays
Fixed Schedules Words
like : Daily, Weekly,
Monthly, Yearly
Future S+ am/is /are+ going to S+ am/is /are+ not Am/is /are+S+ going Will Tomorrow
+ base form+O +going to + base to + base for Predictions or Guesses with no Next week/month/year
form+O Evidence In a moment/ /hour
Soon /Later
S+ will +not +base Spontaneous Decisions
S+will + base form+O
form+O Promises /Offers/Threats Someday/ Oneday
Going to
Plans and Intentions
Predictions Based on Present
Evidence
 Progressive / Continuous Tenses : They are used whenever we are talking about a length of time.
Form Uses Time Indicators

Assertive Negative Interrogative

Past S+was/ were + base S+ was/ were + not + Was/ were + S +base Ongoing Action in the Past At this time yesterday
verb+ing +O base verb+ing +O verb+ing +O Parallel Actions While
Interrupted Action When
To give background As
information in a story During
Until
All day /All night
Present S+am/ is/are + base S+am/ is/are + not + Am/ is/are + S +base Actions happening now Now /At the moment
verb+ing +O base verb+ing +O verb+ing +O Ongoing Actions Right now
Temporary situations
Future plans with a present Currently
arrangement Today
annoyance This week/month
These days
Future S+will be + base verb+ing S+will be +not + base Will + S + be + base Actions that will be At (a specific time)
+O verb+ing +O verb+ing? happening at a particular By (a specific time)
time in the future In (a specific period)
For (a duration)
Action in progress at a
specific future time: This
is the primary function.
Planned or scheduled
future events with a
predetermined timeframe
in the future.
Emphasis on duration
 Perfect tenses :They are used when talking about a point in time before another point in time.
Form Uses Time Indicators

Assertive Negative Interrogative

Past S+had +past participle +O S+had +not +past Had +S+ past Completed Action Before As soon as
participle + O participle +O Another Past Action before
Result of an Action in the after
Past Til
Hypothetical Situations in until
the Past
S+have/has +past participle S+have/has +not +past Have/has +S+ past actions that happened at analready
Present +O participle +O participle +O unspecified time before ever
now and have a connection never
to the present moment. just
since
experiences up to the for
present moment, especially recently
when you have done
something more than once.
 Modal Verbs
Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that express necessity, possibility, permission, or ability. The
most common modal verbs in English are can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and
would. Let’s go through each of these modal verbs with their uses and examples.
### 1. Can
- **Present Ability:** "She can speak four languages."
- **Possibility:** "It can get very hot in Arizona."
- ** Informal Permission:** "Can I leave early today?"
- ** Informal Request** "Can you help me?"
### 2. Could
- **Past Ability:** "When I was younger, I could run five miles easily."
- **Possibility:** "It could rain later."
- ** Formal Permission:** "Could I leave early today, please?"
- **Polite Formal Requests:** "Could you please open the window?"
### 3. May
- ** Polite Permission:** "May I use your phone, please?"
- **Possibility:** "We may go to the beach tomorrow."
### 4. Might
- ** Remote Possibility / Less certain possibility :** "There might be a strike
next week."
- **Suggestion:** "You might try the cheesecake—it’s excellent."
### 5. Must
- ** Internal Obligation:** "I must obey my parents and respect them utterly".
- ** Prohibition:** "We must not break laws."
- **Deduction:** "She is absent .She must be sick ".
### 6. Have to
- ** External Obligation:** "You have to wear a pinafore ".
### 7. Shall
- **Formal Suggestions:** "Shall we dance?"
### 7. Should
- **Advice:** "You should check that document before submitting it."
- **Expectation:** "The train should arrive in ten minutes."
### 8. Will
- **Future actions:** "The war will stop next year."
- **Prediction with no evidance:** "It will probably snow tomorrow."
### 9. Would
- **Past Habit:** "When I was a child, I would play outside for hours."
- **Polite Request:** "Would you mind closing the door?"
- **Hypothetical Situations:** "I would travel more if I had more time."

Take this test ONLINE: https://www.englishtestsonline.com/mixed-tenses-advanced-level-test-quiz-