Simple Present Tense

The verb in the simple present tense is the same as the base form of the verb. If the subject of a
sentence is a singular noun (a man, an apple) or singular pronoun (he, she, it), and the main verb that
follows it is in the simple present tense, it (main verb) has an –s added to it: the man/he/she/it eats.
We use the simple present tense: to show a fact or something that is always true.
Examples:

o The heart pumps blood through the body.

o A dentist treats people's teeth.
o Some birds sleep by day and hunt by night.
o Her parents like to listen to owls’ hoot, but she hates it.
o He does not speak a word of English.

We use the simple present tense: for daily routines or something done regularly or habitually.
Examples:

o Some people go to church every Sunday.

o He smokes two packets of cigarettes a day.
o Every night, she goes to bed and reads for a while.
o Farmers sell their produce at the open-air markets in the weekends.

We use the simple present tense: for an action that is planned to happen in the future.
Examples:

o The train for Birmingham departs at seven o'clock.

o The meeting begins in an hour's time.
o The new supermarket opens next week.
o The match starts in exactly ten minutes.

We use the simple present tense: to express beliefs, feelings, opinions and states.
Examples:

o He believes everything he reads.

o They feel a lot of loyalty to the company..
o Jill doubts the truth of his statement.
o She deeply regrets saying those nasty things about him.

with adverbs such as always, never, often, rarely, seldom, sometimes, and usually to indicate the way
that something often happens.
Examples:

o We never eat at that expensive restaurant.

o The beach is a bit far, but sometimes we walk all the way there.
o She rarely talks about her husband.
o They usually hold the meeting in the conference room.

We use the simple present tense: for timetable, schedule, plan, and programs.
Examples:

o The zoo opens daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

o The first flight for London leaves at 6:30 a.m.
o There’s a weekly television program at six o'clock about cooking.
o According to the timetable, the bus arrives at 7:00.

We use the simple present tense: In newspaper headlines.

Examples:

o PRESIDENT DUNNO RESIGNS.

o POLICE DISCOVER MORE DEAD BODIES.

We use the simple present tense: for instructions, directions.

Examples:

o Mix the flour and water together, then add sugar.

o Go straight on and when you come to the first traffic lights, turn left.

We use the simple present tense: in "I declare, I promise, I assure, etc.
Examples:

o I declare this pet show open.

o I promise you, I won't do anything stupid.
o I assure you everything will be all right.

We use the simple present tense: with the following time expressions: all the time, at night/the
weekend, every day/week/month/year, in the morning/afternoon/evening, on Mondays/Tuesday, etc.,
once/twice a day/week, etc.
Examples:

o He picks his nose all the time.

o Tom often goes to the library in the evening.
o My father works part-time at night at weekends..
o The flight to Timbuktu takes off twice a week.

To ask a question in the simple present tense using the auxiliary verb do (plural) or does (singular).
Examples:

o Do they know they are behaving like idiots?

o Does it bark only in the daytime?
o Does she always talk for hours on the phone?

Present Continuous Tense

The present continuous tense is used to show an activity that is in progress or not complete at the time
of speaking. The activity started in the past and will go into the future.
The present continuous tense of any verb is formed with the auxiliary verb to be (am, is, are, was, were)
and the present participle of the main verb (verb + ing). The auxiliary verb varies according to the person
used with the present continuous tense.
Examples:

o I am eating pasta with meat sauce.

o She is reading a book on how to get rid of cockroaches.
o The sisters are walking out after a row with their boyfriends.
o Police were investigating a dead body that was burnt beyond recognition.

We use the present continuous tense: for an action that is still happening at the time of speaking.
Examples:

o Grandfather is removing dirt under his nail.

o We are waiting to greet our new neighbor at the door.
o His parents are taking drugs to treat depression, insomnia and sleep disorders.

We use the present continuous tense: for an action in the future without specifying when.
Examples:

o The mother is cooking traditional Indian dishes for dinner.

(It's still early in the day, and the mother is not cooking now. She will cook for dinner later in the
evening.)
o We are going to complain to the council about this!
o I am replying to the letter as soon as I have the time.

We use the present continuous tense: to talk about a planned or an arranged action that is to take
place at a particular time in the future.
Examples:

o She is running in the big race on Saturday.

o We are flying kites after lunch..
o The students are performing magic tricks on stage next week.

We use the present continuous tense: for an action that is going on but not taking place at the time of
speaking.
o Jack is teaching at a secondary boys' school.
(Jack is a teacher at the school, but he is not actually teaching now. He may be watching television
at the moment of speaking.)
o Grace is studying Italian in college.
(Grace is pursuing a course in Italian, but she's not doing any studying in college now.)

We use the present continuous tense: for a changing or evolving situation.

Examples:

o Pollution is causing global warming.

o They are hailing it as the new wonder drug.
o A small acorn is growing into a great oak tree.

We use the present continuous tense: to describe a repeated action that the speaker finds irritating.
Examples:

o The noise is beginning to irritate me.

o She is moaning to me again that she hasn't got enough money.
o The dogs are barking again..

We use the present continuous tense:with an adverb like always, constantly, forever, etc to describe
an action that happens many times or frequently.
Examples:

o My old car is always breaking down.

o She is constantly reminding me to pay back the money I owe her.
o He is forever making unfavourable comments about his mother-in-law.

There are main verbs, generally action verbs that are not normally used in the present continuous
tense. These are verbs of perception; verbs used with the five senses; or verbs used to describe states.
Examples:

o Wrong: I am liking Indian food.

o Right: I like Indian food.

o Wrong: We are believing her ghost story is true.

o Right: We believe her ghost story is true.

o Wrong: They are deciding to go for a ride on a camel.

o Right: They decide to go for a ride on a camel.

In questions, the auxiliary to be (am/is/are/was/were) comes before the subject, and the subject is
followed by the present participle of the main verb (am/is/are/were + subject + verb-ing).
Examples:
o Is the boss taking us out for dinner?
o Is your dog barking at nothing again?
o Are those dogs barking at my kitten yours?

In answer to question, the auxiliary verb is commonly used without the main verb.
Examples:

o Am I eating more than you? Answer: Yes, you are.

o Are you keeping that slice of pizza for me? Answer: No, I am not.
o Are they saying behind my back that I am good for nothing? Answer: Yes, they are.
o Was their dog eating from my dog's food dish? No, it wasn’t. / No, it was not.

Remember the present continuous tense is used in the following ways.

Examples:

o Statement – we place the auxiliary verb to be (am/is/are/etc) after the subject: I am shaving.
o Negative – the negative word not is placed after the verb to be (am/is/are/etc) and usually in
contracted forms (isn’t /aren’t/wasn’t/weren’t): He is not sleeping. / He isn’t sleeping.
o Question – the auxiliary verb to be (am/is/are/etc) is placed before the subject: Are they coming
here?

Present Perfect Tense

The Present Perfect Tense connects the past to the present. 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
which may also come after the present moment.
To express something in the present perfect tense, it must use the simple present tense of the auxiliary
verb have or has depending on whether the subject or noun being referred to is plural or singular. The
auxiliary verb is followed by the past participle of the main verb (for example, regular verb: have called;
irregular verb: has given).
have/has + past participle

Statement: subject + have/has + past participle

He has woken up.
They have done it again.
Question form: have/has subject past participle
Has he woken up?
Have they done it again?
As stated, the time of an action is not mentioned when the present perfect tense is used.
Examples:
o Incorrect: I have just spoken to him ten minutes ago.
o Correct: I have just spoken to him.

o Incorrect: We have had a meeting with a client this morning.

o Correct: We have had a meeting with a client.

o Incorrect: She has written a book about spider webs last year.
o Correct: She has written a book about spider webs..

Auxiliary verb have and has in compound sentence.

A compound sentence has at least two independent clauses. If the verbs in both clauses use the present
perfect tense, the auxiliary verb have or has does not need to be repeated.
Examples:

o They have eaten their dinner and decided to go for a drive.

Not: They have eaten their dinner and have decided to go for a drive.
o She has filled in the form and signed her name..

The Present Perfect tense is used: for an action or situation that began in the past and continues to the
present.
Examples:

o Sue has lived in the house for seven years.

(Sue lives in the house for seven years and is still living in it.)
o He has been in prison since his marriage.
o We have known each other for a very long time.

The Present Perfect tense is used: to show a completed action.

Examples:

o Frank has gone.

(The present perfect tense tells us that Frank is no longer with us.)
o He has finished arguing with his boss.
o The police have completed the investigation.

The Present Perfect tense is used: to express repetition of an action at unspecified time in the past.
Examples:

o She has had a few quarrels with her neighbour.

o I have been to see the elephants in the circus a few times.
The adverbs ever and never are used to show or ask if an action has happened at any time or not at all
up to now. They are used mainly in negative statements, and their positions are just before the past
participle verb. Ever is often used in questions.
Examples:
o That's the biggest lie I have ever heard in my whole life.
o This is the first time we have ever listened to such a dirty joke.

o Have you ever seen a female ghost?

o Have you ever lost your temper in a public place?

o I have never been in a lift alone.

o We have never seen bats roosting in a cave.

The present perfect tense is often used with other adverbs and time expressions such as the following:
Examples:

o always: He has always believed every ghost story he reads.

o a week: I have waited a week for her reply.
o how long: How long have you waited for the rain to stop?
o lately: She has developed a strange habit lately of talking to herself.
o recently: I have only recently started learning English.
o rarely: Rarely have I seen such a big lizard.
o so far: We haven't had any trouble with the new tenant so far.
o up to now: Up to now we have not come up with a solution to the problem.
The Present Perfect tense is used: with phrases beginning with "This is the first/second/third ....time"
Examples:

o This is the first time I have taken a taxi.

o This is the fifth time I have lost my job.
The Present Perfect tense is used: to answer questions that are asked in the present perfect tense.
Examples:

o "Where have you been?" "I have been to London to see the Queen."
o "What have they bought?" "They have bought a couple of rifles."

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

The present perfect continuous tense is made up of the present perfect tense of the verb to be: have
been or 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 is still continuing.
Examples:

o Cecilia and I have been talking about getting married.

o They have been trying to contact her.
o Your dogs have been barking since early this morning.

The Present Perfect Continuous is: used for an action that began and just finished in the past.
Examples:
o Thank Heaven, you have arrived. We have been waiting for you.
o Why are my hands so dirty? I have been repairing the car.
o I have been calling you and I got no reply.

The Present Perfect Continuous is: used without mention of time

Examples:
o They have been having a lot of difficulties with their new computer system. (describes a difficult
situation that is not over.)
o This is the game they have been playing for years.
o A party of volunteers has been looking for her missing grandmother.
The Present Perfect Continuous is: used with all (all day, all evening, all week) to indicate duration of an
activity, and adverbs such as lately, etc.
Examples:

o The family has been spending all day looking for the cat.
o The party has been going on all night.
o I have been feeling ill all week.
o She has been grumbling lately.

Present perfect continuous tense in questions.

Examples:

o How long have you been growing your really long beard?
o How much money have you been borrowing from your grandmother?
o Have you been riding my new bicycle while I was away?

Statement: subject + have/has + past participle

They have been gambling.
He has been lying to us.
Question form: have/has subject past participle
Have they been gambling?
Has he been lying to us?
Present perfect continuous and present perfect tenses.
The present perfect continuous and the present perfect tenses do not differ much in meaning.
Examples:

o He has been selling pencils for two years.

o
o He has sold pencils for two years.

o We have been telling the children about their table manners.

o We have told the children about their table manners.
The present perfect continuous and the present perfect tenses are used in the same way
with for, since, ever since, etc.
Examples:

o Grandpa has been playing hide-and-seek with the grandchildren for hours.
o Grandpa has played hide-and-seek with the grandchildren for hours.

o I have been looking for the missing piece of the jigsaw since ten o'clock.
o I have looked for the missing piece of the jigsaw since ten o'clock.

o He has been living with this woman ever since his wife died.
o He has lived with this woman ever since his wife died.

Verbs not used with present perfect continuous

There are verbs that cannot be used with the present perfect continuous
tense: believe, decide, hate, know, recognize, want, etc. Use the present perfect tense instead.

Examples:

o No: Julia has been deciding to buy a big teddy bear.

o Yes: Julia has decided to buy a big teddy bear.

o No: She has been hating cockroaches since she was a small girl.
o Yes: She has hated cockroaches since she was a small girl.

o No: His parents and mine have been wanting to practice yoga together.
o Yes: His parents and mine have wanted to practice yoga together.
 Exercise 1 Change the following as directed :

1. Birds fly in the sky. (negative)

2. Rohit loves his teacher. (interrogative)
3. Boys are doing their homework. (negative)
4. My friend speaks good English. (interrogative)
5. Dogs are barking. (interrogative)
6. He is learning music. (negative)
7. We are going to Kolkata soon. (interrogative)
8. Children play in the evening. (negative)
9. Ritu sings a song. (negative)
10. I am listening to western music. (interrogative)
11. Naman and Chaman run fast. (interrogative)

Exercise 2 Fill in the blanks with is, am or are:

1. These bags ……… heavy.

2. Look! There ……… Raman.
3. My brother and I ……… good cricket players.
4. The weather ……… nice today.
5. This bag ……… not so heavy.
6. I ……… not tired.
7. Rama ……… at home.
8. Her children ……… at school.
9. I ……… a student.
10. My sister ……… a doctor.

II. Present Continuous Tense

1. The Present Continuous Tense represents an action as going on at the time of speaking;
as;
Shweta is singing.
The school boys are playing football.
I am opening the door.
I am not going to Delhi today.
What are you doing now?
2. “When” is not used with this tense unless in the sense of immediate future; as;
When are you going to school?
3. Certain verbs are practically never used, in the Present Continuous Tense. These are
mainly verbs of condition or behaviour not strictly under human control Consequently they
go on whether we like it or not, as;
I see a man outside, he is looking at me.

Other verbs like this are:

Believe; feel (that); think (that); know; understand; remember; recollect; forget; suppose;
mean; gather (that); want; wish; forgive; refuse; love; hate; like, dislike
etc.
Structure of Present Continuous:
—> Subject + is / am / are + V4 (V1 + ing)

Exercise 3 Complete the sentences. Use one of these verbs:

build cook go have stand

stay swim work rain watch

1. Please be quiet. I ………………….

2. Where is Umesh? He is in the kitchen. He ………………….
3. ‘You …………………. on my foot.’
4. Look! Somebody ………………….in the river.
5. We’re here on holiday. We …………………. at the Royal Hotel.
6. Where’s Renu? She …………………. a shower.
7. They …………………. a new theatre in the city centre at the moment.
8. I …………………. now. Goodbye.
9. The weather is nice at the moment. It is not ………………….
10. You can turn off the television. I am not ………………….it.

Exercise 4 Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form (Present Continuous) of the verbs
given in bracket.

1. I am ……………….. the table (turn).

2. Hari is …………………. the juice (suck).
3. Rani and Rajan …………………. under the cot (crawl).
4. The dog is …………………. its tail (wag).
5. You are …………………. on your paper (write).
6. She is …………………. right hand (wave).
7. He is …………………. over the fence (jump).
8. You are …………………. your books (take).
9. You are …………………. the sweets in your mouth (put).
10. Sita is …………………. on her dress (put).

III. Present Perfect Tense

1. The Present Perfect Tense denotes an action that has just been completed; as:
I have written my essay.
He has worked the sum.
2. The Present Perfect Tense is also used instead of past tense, to represent a past action
as continuing to the present; as:
 We have lived here ten years (and we are still living here).
Note the difference between:
(a) We have lived here for ten years, and
(b) We lived here ten years.
Structure of Present Perfect Tense:
—> Subject + has / have + V3

Exercise 5 Fill in the blanks with the Present Perfect tense form of the verbs given in the
brackets.

1. The train _______ just now. (arrive)

2. I _______ not _______ the cinema all these years. (visit)
3. Someone _______ some crockery. (break)
4. I _______ never _______ the Taj (see)
5. I _______ not _______ him so far. (meet)
6. I_______ not _______ the work even now. (finish)
7. My friend _______ his purse, (lose)
8. They _______ my pen. (take)
9. Birds _______ from here, (fly)
10. Rachna _______ food, (cook)

IV. Present Perfect Continuous Tense

1. Sometimes an action, beginning in the past, is still continuing at the present moment. This
frequently happens with verbs such as stay, wait, sit, stand, lie, study, learn, live,
rest etc. Such verbs Eire rarely found in the simple present perfect because by their very
nature they continue into the present.
Structure of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense:
Subject + has / have been + V4(V1 + ing)
 2. If we do not suggest duration from the past, the present continuous is used but as scon as
we imply a relationship between the past and now, the perfect continuous must be used;
as:
(a) He is lying on the floor, (now)
(b) He has been lying there for three hours.
(and there he still is)
You have been here since half past ten.
Mr. Singh has been here for twenty minutes.
He has been here since Monday.
He has been here for one day.

Exercise 6 Fill in the blanks with the Present Perfect Continuous Tense of the verbs
given in brackets.

1. We ______ English for two years. (study)

2. He ______ in this school for several years. (teach)
3. I ______ in this flat since 2000. (live)
4. It ______ for three hours. (rain)
5. They ______ for seven hours. (work)

Use of ‘since’ and ‘for’ ‘Since’ means ‘from some definite point or period in the past till now’
‘Since’ is used before a noun or phrase denoting some point of time in the past. It is preceded
by a verb in the present perfect tense; as:
I have not seen Sanjay since 10 th May.
She has been ill since Tuesday

1. ‘For’ means “a length of time till now.”

‘For’ is used before a noun or phrase denoting a period of time and is used with all the
tenses; as:
I shall stay here for a week.
They were there for ten days.

Exercise 7 Fill in the blanks with since or for:

1. He has been here ……………….. last Monday.

2. She has been on the phone ……………….. twenty minutes.
3. I have been in this town ……………….. 1967.
4. You have been married ……………….. six years.
5. Raman has been on holiday ……………….. last Friday.
Answer: Exercise 1
Birds do not fly in the sky. Does Rohit love his teacher? Boys are not doing their homework.
Does my friend speak good English? Are dogs barking? He is not learning music.
Are we going to Kolkata soon? Children do not play in the evening. Ritu does not sing a song.
Am I listening to western music? Do Naman and Chaman run fast?
Answer: Exercise 2
1. are 2. is 3. are 4. is 5. is 6. am 7. is 8. are 9. am 10. is
Answer: Exercise 3
Please be quiet. I am working.
Where is Umesh? He is in the kitchen. He is cooking.
You are standing on my foot.
Look! Somebody is swimming in the river.
We’re here on holiday. We are staying at the Royal Hotel.
Where’s Renu? She is having a shower.
They are building a new theatre in the city centre at moment.
I am going now. Goodbye.
The’ weather is nice at the moment. It is not raining.
You can turn off the television. I am not watching it.
Answer: Exercise 4
I am turning the table. Hari is sucking the juice. Ravi and Rajan are crawling under the cot.
The dog is wagging its tail. You are writing on your paper.
She is waving her right hand. He is jumping over the fence.
You are taking your books. You are putting the sweets in your mouth.
Sita is putting on her dress.
Answer: Exercise 5
The train has arrived just now.
I have not visited the cinema all these years.
Someone has broken some crockery.
I have never seen the Taj.
I have not met him so far.
I have not finished the work even now.
My friend has lost his purse.
They have taken my pen.
Birds have flown from here.
Rachna has cooked food.
Answer: Exercise 6
We have been studying English for two years.
He has been teaching in this school for several years.
I have been living in this flat since 2000.
It has been raining for three hours.
They have been working for seven hours.
Answer: Exercise 7
He has been here since last Monday.
She has been on the phone for twenty minutes.
I have been in this town since 1967.
You have been married for six years.
Raman has been on holiday since last Friday
Tenses
The English Tense System
The links below are to lessons for each of the 12 basic tenses. In each lesson we look at two
aspects of the tense:
Structure: How do we make the tense?
Use: When and why do we use the tense?
Some lessons look at additional aspects, and most of
them finish with a quiz to check your understanding.
Present Tense
I do do, I do
Present Continuous Tense
I am doing, I am doing tomorrow
Present Perfect Tense
I have done
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
I have been doing
Past Tense
I did do, I did
Past Continuous Tense
I was doing
Past Perfect Tense
I had done
Past Perfect Continuous Tense
I had been doing
Future Tense
I will do
Future Continuous Tense
I will be doing
Future Perfect Tense
I will have done
Future Perfect Continuous Tense
I will have been doing
Many English learners worry too much about tense. If you stopped 100 native English
speakers in the street and asked them about tense, one of them might give you an
intelligent answer—if you were lucky. The other 99 would know little about terms like
"past perfect" or "present continuous". And they would know nothing about aspect, voice
or mood. But they can all speak fluent English and communicate effectively. Of
course, for ESL it helps to know about tenses, but don't become obsessed with them.
Be like those native speakers! Speak naturally!
Simple Present Tense
I sing
How do we make the Simple Present Tense?
subject + auxiliary verb +main verb
There are three important exceptions:
1. For positive sentences, we do not normally use the auxiliary.
2. For the 3rd person singular (he, she, it), we add s to the main verb or es to the auxiliary.
3. For the verb to be, we do not use an auxiliary, even for questions and negatives.
Look at these examples with the main verb like:
subject auxiliary verb main verb
I, you, we, they like coffee. +
He, she, it likes coffee.
I, you, we, they do not like coffee. -
He, she, it does not like coffee.
Do I, you, we, they like coffee? ?
Does he, she, it like coffee?
Look at these examples with the main verb be. Notice that there is no auxiliary:
subject main verb
I am French.
+ You, we, they are French.
He, she, it is French.
I am not old.
- You, we, they are not old.
He, she, it is not old.
? Am I late?
Are you, we, they late?
Is he, she, it late?
How do we use the Simple Present Tense?
We use the simple present tense when:
the action is general
the action happens all the time, or habitually, in the past, present and future
the action is not only happening now
the statement is always true
John drives a taxi.
past present future
It is John's job to drive a taxi. He does it every day. Past, present and future.
Look at these examples:
I live in New York.
The Moon goes round the Earth.
John drives a taxi.
He does not drive a bus.
We do not work at night.
Do you play football?
Note that with the verb to be, we can also use the simple present tense for situations that are
not
general. We can use the simple present tense to talk about now. Look at these examples of the
verb "to be" in the simple present tense—some of them are general, some of them are now:
Am I right?
Tara is not at home.
You are happy.
past present future
The situation is now.
I am not fat.
Why are you so beautiful?
Ram is tall.
past present future
The situation is general. Past, present and future.
This page shows the use of the simple present tense to talk about general events. But note
that there are some other uses for the simple present tense, for example in conditional or if
sentences, or to talk about the future. You will learn about those later.
Present Continuous Tense
I am singing
We often use the present continuous tense in English. It is very different from the simple
present tense, both in structure and in use.
In this lesson we look the structure and use of the present continuous tense, follwed by a quiz
to check your understanding:
Structure: how do we make the present continuous tense?
Use: when and why do we use the present continuous tense?
Spelling: how do we spell verbs with -ing for the present continuous tense?
Present Continuous Tense Quiz
Continuous tenses are also called progressive tenses. So the present
progressive tense is the same as the present continuous tense.
How do we make the Present Continuous Tense?
The structure of the present continuous tense is:
subject + auxiliary verb +main verb
be base + ing
Look at these examples:
subject auxiliary verb main verb
+ I am speaking to you.
+ You are reading this.
- She is not staying in London.
- We are not playing football.
? Is he watching TV?
? Are they waiting for John?
How do we use the Present Continuous Tense?
We use the present continuous tense to talk about:
action happening now
action in the future
Present continuous tense for action happening now
a) for action happening exactly now
I am eating my lunch.
past present future
The action is happening now.
Look at these examples. Right now you are looking at this screen and at the same time...
...the pages are turning. ...the candle is burning. ...the numbers are spinning.
b) for action happening around now
The action may not be happening exactly now, but it is happening just before and just after
now, and it
is not permanent or habitual.
John is going out with Mary.
past present future
The action is happening around now.
Look at these examples:
Muriel is learning to drive.
I am living with my sister until I find an apartment.
Present continuous tense for the future
We can also use the present continuous tense to talk about the future—if we add a future
word!! We must add (or understand from the context) a future word. "Future words" include,
for example, tomorrow, next year, in June, at Christmas etc. We only use the present
continuous tense to talk about the future when we have planned to do something before we
speak. We have already made a decision and a plan before speaking.
I am taking my exam next month.
past present future
!!!
A firm plan or programme exists now. The action is in the future.
Look at these examples:
We're eating in a restaurant tonight. We've already booked the table..
They can play tennis with you tomorrow. They're not working.
When are you starting your new job?
In these examples, we have a firm plan or programme before speaking. The decision and plan
were made before speaking.
How do we spell the Present Continuous Tense?
We make the present continuous tense by adding -ing to the base verb. Normally it's simple—
we just add -ing. But sometimes we have to change the word a little. Perhaps we double the
last letter, or we drop a letter. Here are the rules to help you know how to spell the present
continuous tense. Just add -ing to the base verb:
work > working
play > playing
assist > assisting
see > seeing
Basic rule
be > being
Exception 1
If the base verb ends in consonant + stressed vowel + consonant, double the last letter:
(vowels = a, e, i, o, u)
stop > stopping
run > running
begin > beginning
Note that this exception does not apply when the last syllable of the base verb is not
stressed:
open > opening
If the base verb ends in ie, change the ie to y:
lie > lying
Exception 2
die > dying
If the base verb ends in vowel + consonant + e, omit the e:
come > coming
Exception 3
mistake > mistaking

Past Continuous Tense

I was singing
The past continuous tense is an important tense in English. We use it to say what we were in
the
middle of doing at a particular moment in the past.
In this lesson we look at the structure and the use of the past continuous tense, followed by a
quiz to check your understanding:
How do we make the Past Continuous Tense?
The structure of the past continuous tense is:
subject + auxiliary verb BE + main verb
conjugated in simple past tense present participle
was
were base + ing
For negative sentences in the past continuous tense, we insert not between the auxiliary verb
and main verb. For question sentences, we exchange the subject and auxiliary verb. Look at
these example sentences with the past continuous tense:
subject auxiliary verb main verb
+ I was watching TV.
+ You were working hard.
- He, she, it was not helping Mary.
- We were not joking.
? Were you being silly?
? Were they playing football?
The spelling rules for adding ing to make the past continuous tense are the same as
for the present continuous tense.
How do we use the Past Continuous Tense?
The past continuous tense expresses action at a particular moment in the past. The action
started before that moment but has not finished at that moment. For example, yesterday I
watched a film on TV. The film started at 7pm and finished at 9pm.
At 8pm yesterday, I was watching TV.
At 8pm, I was in the middle of watching TV.
When we use the past continuous tense, our listener usually knows or understands what time
we are talking about. Look at these examples:
· I was working at 10pm last night.
· They were not playing football at 9am this morning.
· What were you doing at 10pm last night?
· What were you doing when he arrived?
· She was cooking when I telephoned her.
· We were having dinner when it started to rain.
· Ram went home early because it was snowing.
Some verbs cannot be used in
continuous/progressive tenses.
We often use the past continuous tense to "set the scene" in stories. We use it to describe the
background situation at the moment when the action begins. Often, the story starts with the
past
continuous tense and then moves into the simple past tense. Here is an example:
" James Bond was driving through town. It was raining. The wind was blowing hard. Nobody
was walking in the streets. Suddenly, Bond saw the killer in a telephone box..."
Past Continuous Tense + Simple Past Tense
We often use the past continuous tense with the simple past tense. We use the past continuous
tense to express a long action. And we use the simple past tense to express a short action that
happens in the middle of the long action. We can join the two ideas with when or while.
In the following example, we have two actions:
1. long action (watching TV), expressed with past continuous tense
2. short action (telephoned), expressed with simple past tense
Long action.
I was watching TV at 8pm.

You telephoned at 8pm.

Short action.
We can join these two actions with when:
· I was watching TV when you telephoned.
(Notice that "when you telephoned" is also a way of defining the time [8pm].)
We use:
· when + short action (simple past tense)
· while + long action (past continuous tense)
There are four basic combinations:
I was walking past the car when it exploded.
When the car exploded I was walking past it.
The car exploded while I was walking past it.
While I was walking past the car it exploded.
Notice that the long action and short action are relative.
· "Watching TV" took a few hours. "Telephoned" took a few seconds.
· "Walking past the car" took a few seconds. "Exploded" took a few milliseconds.

Future Continuous Tense

I will be singing
How do we make the Future Continuous Tense?
The structure of the future continuous tense is:
subject + auxiliary verb
WILL + auxiliary verb
BE + main verb
invariable invariable present
participle
will be base + ing
For negative sentences in the future continuous tense, we insert not between will and be. For
question
sentences, we exchange the subject and will. Look at these example sentences with the future
continuous tense:
subject auxiliary verb auxiliary verb main verb
+ I will be working at 10am.
+ You will be lying on a beach tomorrow.
- She will not be using the car.
- We will not be having dinner at home.
? Will you be playing football?
? Will they be watching TV?
When we use the future continuous tense in speaking, we often contract the subject and will:
I will I'll
you will you'll
he will
she will
it will
he'll
she'll
it'll
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ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES
Page 34 of 38
we will we'll
they will they'll
For spoken negative sentences in the future continuous tense, we contract with won't, like this:
I will not I won't
you will not you won't
he will not
she will not
it will not
he won't
she won't
it won't
we will not we won't
they will not they won't
We sometimes use shall instead of will,
especially for I and we.
How do we use the Future Continuous Tense?
The future continuous tense expresses action at a particular moment in the future. The action
will
start before that moment but it will not have finished at that moment. For example, tomorrow I
will
start work at 2pm and stop work at 6pm:
At 4pm tomorrow, I will be working.
past present future
4pm
At 4pm, I will be in the middle
of working.
When we use the future continuous tense, our listener usually knows or understands what time
we are
talking about. Look at these examples:
I will be playing tennis at 10am tomorrow.
They won't be watching TV at 9pm tonight.
What will you be doing at 10pm tonight?
What will you be doing when I arrive?
She will not be sleeping when you telephone her.
We 'll be having dinner when the film starts.
Take your umbrella. It will be raining when you return.
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