ALL TENSES

1. SIMPLE PRESENT

The simple present tense is used to describe an action that is regular, true or normal.

We use the present tense:

For repeated or regular actions in the present time period
For facts
For habits
For things that are always/generally true

(+) S + V1 + O/C

(-) S + Do/does + not + V1 + O/C

(?) Do/does + S + V1 + O/C

Signal words : always, every, never, normally, often, seldom, sometimes, usually

Example
a. (+) She reads book every day.
(-) She doesnt read book every day.
(?) Does she read book every day?

b. (+) He plays football every morning.

(-) He doesnt play football every morning.
(?) Does he play football every morning?

c. (+) The sun rises in the east.

(-) The sun doesnt rise in the east.
(?) Does the sun rise in the east?

d. (+) My sister lives in Cirebon.

(-) My sister doesnt live in Cirebon.
(?) Does my sister live in Cirebon?

e. (+) The president of the USA lives in the white house.

(-) The president of the USA doesnt live in the white house.
(?) Does the president of the USA live in the white house?

2. PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

Present continuous a form stating the time of an event or ongoing event and finished in the
present.

(+) S + Be + V1 + ing + O/C

(-) S + Be + not + V1 + ing + O/C

(?) Be + S + V1 + ing + O/C

 Example :
a. (+) They are playing badminton now.
(-) They arent playing badminton now.
(?) Are they playing badminton now?

b. (+) Karin is eating dinner right now.

(-) Karin isnt eating dinner right now.
(?) Is Karin eating dinner right now?

c. (+) He is seeing the movie tonight.

(-) He isnt seeing the movie tonight.
(?) Is he seeing the movie tonight?

d. (+) Nina is watching TV in the morning.

(-) Nina isnt watching TV in the morning.
(?) Is Nina watching TV in the morning?

e. (+) Dennis is repairing a car at this moment.

(-) Dennis isnt repairing a car at this moment.
(?) Is Dennis repairing a car at this moment?

3. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

We use the present perfect tense:

For something that started in the past and continues in the present.
For something we have done several times in the past and continue to do.
When we are talking about our experience up to the present.
For something that happened in the past but is important at the time of speaking.

(+) S + have/has + V3 + O

(-) S + have/has + not + V3 + O

(?) Have/has + S + V3 + O
Example :

a. (+) She has worked in the bank for five years.

(-) She hasnt worked in the bank for five years.
(?) Has she worked in the bank for five years?

b. (+) We have eaten at that restaurant two times.

(-) We havent eaten at that restaurant two times.
(?) Have we eaten at that restaurant two times?

c. (+) I have written english lesson for 30 minutes.

(-) I havent written english lesson for 30 minutes.
(?) Are you have written english lesson for 30 minutes?

d. (+) Gerry has lived in here since 1997.

(-) Gerry hasnt lived in here since 1997.
(?) Has Gerry lived in here since 1997?

e. (+) He has arrived in Canada.

(-) He hasnt arrived in Canada.
(?) Has he arrived in Canada?
4. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

It is used to describe an event that started in the past but is stiil happening in the present.

(+) S + have/has + been + V-ing + O/C

(-) S + have/has + not + been + V-ing + O/C

(?) Have/has + S + been + V-ing + O/C

Example :
a. (+) She has been going to Bandung since evening.
(-) She hasnt been going to Bandung since evening.
(?) Has she been going to Bandung since evening?

b. (+) Kartika has been reading a book for three days.

(-) Kartika hasnt been reading a book for three days.
(?) Has Kartika been reading a book for three days?

c. (+) Jack has been waiting here for one hour.

(-) Jack hasnt been waiting here for one hour.
(?) Has Jack been waiting here for one hour?

d. (+) They have been playing game for three hours.

(-) They havent been playing game for three hours.
(?) Have they been playing game for three hours?

e. (+) We have been studying since morning.

(-) We havent been studying since morning.
(?) Have we been studying since morning?

5. SIMPLE PAST TENSE

It is used principally to describe events in the past, although it also has some other uses.
Regular English verbs form the simple past in ed, however there are a few hundred
irregular verbs with different forms.

(+) S + V2 + O
S + (was/were) + (adj/noun/adverb)

(-) S + did + not + V1 + O

S + (was/were) + not + (adj/noun/adverb)

(?) Did + S + V1 + O

Example :

a. (+)He worked in the bank two years ago.

(-) He didnt work in the bank two years ago.
(?) Did he work in the bank two years ago?

b. (+) She cooked fried rice yesterday.

(-) She didnt cook fried rice yesterday.
(?) Did she cook fried rice yesterday?
 c. (+) He was a teacher.
(-) He wasnt a teacher.
(?) Was he a teacher?
d. (+) He came to my house last night.
(-) He didnt come to my house last night.
(?) Did he come to my house last night?

e. (+) She sent letter to her mother three days ago.

(-) She didnt send letter to her mother three days ago.
(?) Did she send letter to her mother three days ago?

6. PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

The past continuous describe actions or events in a time before now, which began in the past
and is still going on at the time of speaking. In other words, it expresses an unfinished or
incomplete action in the past.

We use past continuous tense :

For something which continued before and after another action

For something that happened before and after a particular time
To show that something continued for some time
For something that was happening again and again
With verbs which show change or growth

(+) S + (was/were) + VING + O

(-) S + (was/were) + not + VING + O

(?) (was/were) + S + VING + O

Example :

a. (+) He was sleeping when I came.

(-) He wasnt sleeping when I came.
(?) Was he sleeping when I came?

b. (+) Nana was watching TV when Rita arrived.

(-) Nana wasnt watching TV when Rita arrived.
(?) Was Nana watching TV when Rita arrived?

c. (+) They were learning in the classroom when I came.

(-) They werent learning in the classroom when I came.
(?) Were they learning in the classroom when I came?

d. (+) She was reading a book when my grandmother called.

(-) She wasnt reading a book when my grandmother called.
(?) Was she reading a book when my grandmother called?

e. (+) Jack was playing football when the phone rang.

(-) Jack wasnt playing football when the phone rang.
(?) Was Jack playing football when the phone rang?
7. PAST PERFECT TENSE

We use the past perfect tense:

For something that started in the past and continued up to a given time in the past.
For something we had done several times up to a point in the past and continued to do
after that point.
When we are reporting our experience and including up to the (then) present.
For something that happened in the past but is important at the time of reporting.

(+) S + had +V3/past participle

(-) S + had + not + V3/past participle

(?) had + S + V3/past participle

Example :

a. (+) She had finished her homework last year.

(-) She had not finished her homework last year.
(?) Had she finished her homework last year?

b. (+) When her husband arrived, she had written the letter.
(-) When her husband arrived, she had not written the letter.
(?) Had she written the letter when her husband arrived?

c. (+) John had gone to the store before he went home.

(-) John had not gone to the store before he went home.
(?) Had John gone to the store before he went home?

d. (+) Fini went to campus after she had had breakfast.

(-) Fini went to campus after she had not had breakfast.
(?) Had Fini had breakfast after she went to campus?

e. (+) The film had started before we reached cinema.

(-) The film had not started before we reached cinema.
(?) Had the film started before we reached cinema?

8. PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

The past perfect continuous is used to talk about action or situations that were in progress
before some other actions or situation. There are also other uses:
Duration of a past action up to a certain point in the past.
Showing cause of an action or situation.
Third conditional sentences.
Reported speech.

(+) S + had + been + VING + O

(-) S + had + not + been + VING + O

(?) Had + S + been + VING + O

 Example :

a. (+) We had been living here since 2001.

(-) We had not been living here since 2001.
(?) Had we been living here since 2001?

b. (+) He had been playing badminton for two hours.

(-) He had not been playing badminton for two hours.
(?) Had he been playing badminton for two hours?

c. (+) Michael had been standing in front of the door for twenty minutes.
(-) Michael had not been standing in front of the door for twenty minutes.
(?) Had Michael been standing in front of the door for twenty minutes?

d. (+) You had been reading a book since yesterday morning.

(-) You had not been reading a book since yesterday morning.
(?) Had you been reading a book since yesterday morning?

e. (+) George had been painting his house for two weeks.
(-) George had not been painting his house for two weeks.
(?) Had George been painting his house for two weeks?

9. SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE

It is used to express an action which has not occurred yet and will occur after saying or in
future.

(+) S + will/shall + V1 + O
S + (am/is/are) + going to + V1 + O

(-) S + will/shall + not + V1 + O

S + (am/is/are) + not + going to + V1 + O

(?) Will/shall + S + V1 + O
(am/is/are) + S + going to + V1 + O
Example :

a. (+) She will go to Bandung tomorrow morning.

(-) She will not go to Bandung tomorrow morning.
(?) Will she go to Bandung tomorrow morning?

b. (+) They will visit Jakarta tonight.

(-) They will not visit Jakarta tonight.
(?) Will they visit Jakarta tonight?

c. (+) I shall meet you tomorrow.

(-) I shall not meet you tomorrow.
(?) Shall I meet you tomorrow?

d. (+) The students are going to have a test next month.

(-) The students are not going to have a test next month.
(?) Are the students going to have a test next month?

e. (+) Nia will call her grandmother tomorrow.

(-) Nia will not call her grandmother tomorrow.
 (?) Will Nia call her grandmother tomorrow?

10. FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE

It is used to express a continued or an going action in future.

(+) S + will/shall be + VING + O

(-) S + will/shall + not + be + VING + O

(?) Will/shall + S + be + VING + O

Example :

a. (+) He will be watching a movie tonight.

(-) He will not be watching a movie tonight.
(?) Will he be watching a movie tonight?

b. (+) She will be reading a magazine tomorrow.

(-) She will not be reading a magazine tomorrow.
(?) Will She be reading a magazine tomorrow?

c. (+) George will be leaving Indonesia tomorrow morning.

(-) George will not be leaving Indonesia tomorrow morning.
(?) Will George be leaving Indonesia tomorrow morning?

d. (+) They will be eating at the restaurant tonight.

(-) They will not be eating at the restaurant tonight.
(?) Will they be eating at the restaurant tonight?

e. (+) She will be enjoying her vacations.

(-) She will not be enjoying her vacations.
(?) Will she be enjoying her vacations?

11. FUTURE PERFECT TENSE

It is used to express an action which will occur in future and is thought to be completed in
future. It express a sense of completion of an action which will occur in future.

(+) S + will + have + V3 + O

(-) S + will + not + have + V3 + O

(?) Will + S + have + V3 + O

Example :

a. (+) He will have finished his work.

(-) He will not have finished his work.
(?) Will he have finished his work?
b. (+) Students will have passed the examination.
(-) Students will not have passed the examination.
(?) Will students have passed the examination?
c. (+) She will have met her father.
(-) She will have met her father.
(?) Will she have met her father?
d. (+) We will have bought a computer.
(-) We will not have bought a computer.
 (?) Will we have bought a computer?
e. (+) She will have decorated her home.
(-) She will not have decorated her home.
(?) Will she have decorated her home?
12. FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
It is used to express a continued or ongoing action that will start in future and is thought to
be continued till sometime in future.

(+) S + will/shall + have + been + VING + O

(-) S + will/shall + not + have + been + VING + O

(?) Will/shall + S + have + been + VING + O

Example :

a. (+) I will have been living in America since 2003.

(-) I will not have been living in America since 2003.
(?) Will I have been living in America since 2003?

b. (+) It will have been raining for three days.

(-) It will not have been raining for three days.
(?) Will it have been raining for three days?

c. (+) She will have been working in this office since 2007.
(-) She will not have been working in this office since 2007.
(?) Will she have been working in this office since 2007?

d. (+) I will have been watching television since 6 oclock.

(-) I will not have been watching television since 6 oclock.
(?) Will I have been watching television since 6 oclock?

e. (+) My grandmother will have been visiting us tomorrow morning.

(-) My grandmother will not have been visiting us tomorrow morning.
(?) Will your grandmother have been visiting you tomorrow morning?

13. PAST FUTURE TENSE

Future in the past is used to express the idea that in the past you thought something would
happen in the future. It does not matter if you are correct or not. Future in the past follows
the same basic rules as the simple future. Would is used to volunteer or promise, and was
going to is used to plan. Moreover, both forms can be used to make predictions about the
future.

(+) S + would + bare infinitive

S + (was/were) + going to + bare infinitive

(-) S + would + not + bare infinitive

S + (was/were) + not + going to + bare infinitive

(?) Would + S + bare infinitive?

(was/were) + S + going to + bare infinitive?
 Example :

a. (+) They would buy a home the previous day.

(-) They wouldnt buy a home the previous day.
(?) Would they buy a home the previous day?

b. (+) I would buy a new car.

(-) I wouldnt buy a new car.
(?) Would you buy a new car?

c. (+) She would come to his house.

(-) She wouldnt come to his house.
(?) Would she come to his house?

d. (+) They would picnic to Bandung.

(-) They wouldnt picnic to Bandung.
(?) Would they picnic to Bandung?

e. (+) They would talk about a new president.

(-) They wouldnt talk about a new president.
(?) Would they talk about a new president?

14. PAST FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE

(+) S + would/should + be + VING + O

(-) S + would/should + not + be + VING + O

(?) Would/should + S + be + VING + O

Example :

a. (+) Mira would be cooking noodle with her mother.

(-) Mira would not be cooking noodle with her mother.
(?) Would Mira be cooking noodle with her mother?

b. (+) They would be going to Jakarta.

(-) They would not be going to Jakarta.
(?) Would they be going to Jakarta?

c. (+) I should be drawing a picture.

(-) I should not be drawing a picture.
(?) Should you be drawing a picture?

d. (+) She would be dancing with her husband.

(-) She would not be dancing with her husband.
(?) Would she be dancing with her husband?

e. (+) She would be sending a message to her boyfriend.

(-) She would not be sending a message to her boyfriend.
(?) Would she be sending a message to her boyfriend?
15. PAST FUTURE PERFECT TENSE

(+) S + would/should + have + V3 + O

(-) S + would/should + not + have + V3 + O

(?) Would/should + S + have + V3 + O

Example :

a. (+) They would have passed the exam.

(-) They would not have passed the exam.
(?) Would they have passed the exam?

b. (+) She would have answered the question.

(-) She would not have answered the question.
(?) Would she have answered the question?

c. (+) Frans would have climbed the tree

(-) Frans would not have climbed the tree.
(?) Would Frans have climbed the tree?

d. (+) We would have discussed about national examination.

(-) We would not have discussed about national examination.
(?) Would we have discussed about national examination?

e. (+) He would have improved his motorcycle.

(-) He would not have improved his motorcycle.
(?) Would he have improved his motorcycle?

16. PAST FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

(+) S + would + have + been + VING + O

(-) S + Would + not + have + been + VING + O

(?) Would + S + have + been + VING + O

Example :

a. (+) I would have been working in leading companies for 5 years.

(-) I would not have been working in leading companies for 5 years.
(?) Would you have been working in leading companies for 5 years?
b. (+) They would have been learning English for one year by the end of last month.
(-) They would not have been learning English for one year by the end of last month.
(?) Would they have been learning English for one year by the end of last month?
c. (+) Mrs. Anita would have been walking here for seventeen years.
(-) Mrs. Anita would not have been walking here for seventeen years.
(?) Would Mrs. Anita have been walking here for seventeen years?
d. (+) Rianti would have been speaking English for two years.
(-) Rianti would not have been speaking English for two years.
 (?) Would Rianti have been speaking English for two years?
e. (+) Paul would have been studying for two hours.
(-) Paul would not have been studying for two hours.
(?) Would Paul have been studying for two hours?