English Tense Guide

1. Present Indefinite

Singular Subject (S.S): HE/SHE/IT/Name + V1(s/es) + O

Plural Subject (P.S): WE/YOU/THEY + V1 + O

Negative: S.S + does not + V1 + O / P.S + do not + V1 + O

Interrogative: Does + S.S + V1 + O? / Do + P.S + V1 + O?

Example: He plays cricket. / He does not play cricket. / Does he play cricket?

2. Past Indefinite

Singular/Plural Subject: S + V2 + O

Negative: S + did not + V1 + O

Interrogative: Did + S + V1?

Example: She went to school. / She did not go to school. / Did she go to school?

3. Future Indefinite

Singular/Plural Subject: S + will/shall + V1 + O

Negative: S + will/shall + not + V1 + O

Interrogative: Will/Shall + S + V1 + O?

Example: They will read a book. / They will not read a book. / Will they read a book?

4. Present Continuous

Singular Subject: S + is + V1 + ing + O

Plural Subject/I: P.S + are + V1 + ing + O / I + am + V1 + ing + O

Negative: S + is/are/am + not + V1 + ing + O

Interrogative: Is/Are/Am + S + V1 + ing + O?

Example: She is singing. / She is not singing. / Is she singing?

5. Past Continuous

Singular Subject/I: S + was + V1 + ing + O

Plural Subject: P.S + were + V1 + ing + O

Negative: S + was/were + not + V1 + ing + O

Interrogative: Was/Were + S + V1 + ing + O?

Example: They were playing. / They were not playing. / Were they playing?

6. Future Continuous

Singular/Plural Subject: S + will/shall + be + V1 + ing + O

Negative: S + will/shall + not + be + V1 + ing + O

Interrogative: Will/Shall + S + be + V1 + ing + O?

Example: I shall be sleeping. / I shall not be sleeping. / Shall I be sleeping?

7. Present Perfect

Singular Subject: S + has + V3 + O

Plural Subject/I: P.S/I + have + V3 + O

Negative: S + has/have + not + V3 + O

Interrogative: Has/Have + S + V3 + O?

Example: He has written a letter. / He has not written a letter. / Has he written a letter?

8. Past Perfect

Singular/Plural Subject: S + had + V3 + O

Negative: S + had + not + V3 + O

Interrogative: Had + S + V3 + O?

Example: She had finished work. / She had not finished work. / Had she finished work?

9. Future Perfect

Singular/Plural Subject: S + will/shall + have + V3 + O

Negative: S + will/shall + not + have + V3 + O

Interrogative: Will/Shall + S + have + V3 + O?

Example: You will have completed homework. / You will not have completed homework. / Will you have completed homework?

10. Present Perfect Continuous

Singular Subject: S + has + been + V1 + ing + O + since/time

Plural Subject/I: P.S/I + have + been + V1 + ing + O + since/time

Negative: S + has/have + not + been + V1 + ing + O + since/time

Interrogative: Has/Have + S + been + V1 + ing + O + since/time?

Example: He has been working since morning. / He has not been working since morning. / Has he been working since morning?

11. Past Perfect Continuous

Singular/Plural Subject: S + had + been + V1 + ing + O + since/time

Negative: S + had + not + been + V1 + ing + O + since/time

Interrogative: Had + S + been + V1 + ing + O + since/time?

Example: She had been reading for 2 hours. / She had not been reading for 2 hours. / Had she been reading for 2 hours?

12. Future Perfect Continuous

Singular/Plural Subject: S + will/shall + have + been + V1 + ing + O + since/time

Negative: S + will/shall + not + have + been + V1 + ing + O + since/time

Interrogative: Will/Shall + S + have + been + V1 + ing + O + since/time?

Example: You will have been studying for 5 years. / You will not have been studying for 5 years. / Will you have been studying for 5 years?