Tense

Shows the time of an action indicated by a verb. Tense is a grammatical feature of verbs. It often
expresses a time relationship. Tense is taken from Latin word (Tempus) which means time or era.

An aspect of verb which tells the time of an action is called tense. Tenses have certain rules, according to
which a sentence is made.

There are principally three kinds of tenses.

1. Present tense
2. Past tense
3. Future tense

Each of present, past and future tense is further divided into four kinds.

1. Simple Tense
2. Continuous (progressive)
3. Perfect
4. Perfect Continuous (Perfect progressive)

Past Present Future

In this way, there are 12 kinds of tense,

PERFECT PERFECT
which are explained in detail as below SIMPLE CONTINUOUS
CONTINUOUS

Tense Simple Continuous Perfect Perfect Continuous

Past She helped her She was helping She had helped She had been helping her
friend. her friend. her friend. friend.
Present She helps her She is helping her She has helped She has been helping her
friend. friend. her friend. friend.
Future She will help her She will be helping She will have She will have helped her
friend. her friend. helped her friend. friend.

Simple past tense

Shows an action started and finished at a particular time in the past. Time of action is not specified
in terms of long time ago or short ago but it make a sense that the action has done a little time ago. For
example, a person says, “I killed a snake”, it means the speaker of this sentence killed a snake a little time
ago or little time ago in the same day.
Structure : S+V2+C

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Auxiliary verb : Did, was, were.
Time expressions : Last…,…ago, yesterday…
I opened the door yesterday.

Statements Statements Questions answer answer

+ - + -
I worked. I didn't work. Did I work? Yes, I did. No, I didn't.
He worked. He didn't work. Did he work? Yes, he did. No, he didn't.
She worked. She didn't work. Did she work? Yes, she did. No, she didn't.
It worked. It didn't work. Did it work? Yes, it did. No, it didn't.
You worked. You didn't work. Did you work? Yes you did. No, you didn't.
We worked. We didn't work. Did we work? Yes we did. No, we didn't.
They worked. They didn't work. Did they work? Yes they did. No, they didn't.

Past continuous tense/ Past progressive

Shows an action which was going on when another action occurred. It is used to express a continued or
ongoing action in past, an ongoing action which occurred in past and completed at some point in past.
Structure:
Structure: S+Was/Were+Ving+C
Auxiliary verb:
verb: Was/Were
She was working in a factory.

Note:
Note If a sentence has two clauses, which are both in the past progressive, the speaker is showing that
both actions were happening at the same time in past.
While I was teaching, students were listening.
Note:
Note when while comes with first sentence, then a comma is needed.

Statements Statements Questions answer answer

+ - + -
I was working. I wasn’t working. Was I working? Yes, I was. No, I wasn’t.
He was working. He wasn’t working. Was he working? Yes, he was. No, he wasn`t.
She was working. She wasn’t working. Was she working? Yes, she was. No, she wasn’t.
It was working. It wasn’t working. Was it working? Yes, it was. No, it wasn`t.

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 You were working. You weren't working. Were you working? Yes you were. No, you weren't.
We were working. We weren't working. Were we working? Yes we were. No, we weren't.
They were working. They weren't working. Were they working? Yes they were. No, they weren't.

Past perfect tense

Shows an action that was completed before another action or time in the past. It is used to express
an action which has occurred in past (usually, a long time ago) and action which has occurred in past before
another action in past.

The students had gone before the teacher came.

The first part of sentence “The student had gone” is sentence of past perfect tense, it says about an action
which occurred before another action in past which is “the teacher came”. The second part “the teacher
came” is sentence of past simple tense. So such a sentence which express an action in past before another
action in past comprises two parts where the first part of sentence is past perfect tense.
Structure:
Structure: S+Had+V3+C
Auxiliary verb:
verb: Had
Time expressions:
expressions: Never, just, already, after, before, until…
They had visited a doctor.

Statements Statements Questions answer answer

+ - + -
I had worked. I hadn't worked. Had I worked? Yes, I had. No, I hadn't.
He had worked. He hadn't worked. Had he worked? Yes, he had. No, he hadn't.
She had worked. She hasn't worked. Had she worked? Yes, she had. No, she hadn't.
It had worked. It hadn't worked. Had it worked? Yes, it had. No, it hadn't.
You had worked. You hadn't worked. Had you worked? Yes you had. No, you hadn't.
We had worked. We hadn't worked. Had we worked? Yes we had. No, we hadn't.
They had worked. They hadn't worked. Had they worked? Yes they had. No, they hadn't.

Past perfect progressive tense

Emphasizes the duration of an action that was in progress before another action or time in the
past. It is used to express a continued or ongoing action that started in past and continued until sometime in
past. (Remember, an ongoing action in past which continued till some time in past) There will be a time
reference, such as “since 1980, for three hours etc.” from which the action had started. A sense of time
reference is found in these sentences which shows that action had started in past and continued till some
time in past. Such time reference or sense of reference is the identity of Present perfect continuous tense
because it tells that action has started from a particular time in past or for some time period.

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Structure:
Structure: S+Had+Been+Ving+C
Auxiliary verb:
verb: Had
Time expressions:
expressions: For, since…
She had been working in this office since 2011.

Statements Statements Questions answer answer

+ - + -
I had been working. I hadn't been working. Had I been working? Yes, I had been. No, I hadn't been.

He had been working. He hadn't been working. Had he been working? Yes, he had been. No, he hadn't been.

She had been working. She hasn't been working. Had she been working? Yes, she had been. No, she hadn't been.

It had been working. It hadn't been working. Had it been working? Yes, it had been. No, it hadn't been.

You had been working. You hadn't been working. Had you been working? Yes you had been. No, you hadn't been.

We had been working. We hadn't been working. Had we been working? Yes we had been. No, we hadn't been.

They had been working. They hadn't been working. Had they been working? Yes they had been. No, they hadn't been.

Difference between Past perfect and Past Perfect Continuous Tense:

Past Perfect:
Shows the completion of an action in past.
Emphasizes on the action.
The result was achieved.

Past Perfect continuous:

Shows the continuation of an action in past.
Emphasizes the duration of an action.
The result was not achieved.

Simple present tense

Shows an action which we do regularly and habitually and also expresses scientific facts and general truths
When something happens regularly or is a permanent situation we usually use the simple present tense. It is
used to express an action in present time which is usually done on a regular basis. For example a student
says, “I go to school”. It is a daily activity of a student to go to school, so such actions are expressed by
present simple tense.
Structure:
Structure: S+V+C
Auxiliary verb:
verb: Do/Does
Time expressions:
expressions: every…, always, often, usually
They usually use calculator.
Water maintains its surface level.
The earth goes round the sun.

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Another usage:
usage The simple present tense can also be used to discuss future events with a mention of
future time expression.
Ahmad comes here tomorrow.

Note: In simple present tense the verb takes S/ES with singular subjects (he, she, it). ES with verbs that
end in S, Z, CH, SH, O or X.
He goes…
He watches…
He fixes…
Statements Statements Questions answer answer
+ - + -
I work. I don't work. Do I work? Yes, I do. No, I don't.
He works. He doesn't work. Does he work? Yes, he does. No, he doesn't.
She works. She doesn't work. Does she work? Yes, she does. No, she doesn't.
It works. It doesn't work. Does it work? Yes, it does. No, it doesn't.
You work. You don't work. Do you work? Yes you do. No, you don't.
We work. We don't work. Do we work? Yes we do. No, we don't.
They work. They don't work. Do they work? Yes they do. No, they don't.

Present continuous tense

Shows an action which is going on at the time of speaking. It is used to express a continued or ongoing
action at present time. It expresses an action which is in progress at the time of speaking. For example, a
person says, “I am writing a letter”. It means that he is in the process of writing a letter right now.
Structure:
Structure: S+Tobe (is, am, are) +Ving+C
Auxiliary verb:
verb: Is/Am/Are
Time expressions:
expressions: Now …
You are washing your clothes now.
Another usage:
usage: Present continuous is also used to refer to future events with a mention of future time
expression.
They are playing football next Sunday.
Note:
Note Stative verbs can not generally be used in present continuous tense.
He is seeing his friend. (Incorrect)
He is loving her. (Incorrect)

Statements Statements Questions answer answer

+ - + -
I am working. I am not working. Am I working? Yes, I am. No, I am not.
He is working. He isn’t working. Is he working? Yes, he is. No, he not.
She is working. She isn’t working. Is she working? Yes, she is. No, she not.

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 It is working. It isn’t working. Is it working? Yes, it is. No, it not.
You are working. You aren't working. Are you working? Yes you are. No, you aren’t.
We are working. We aren't working. Are we working? Yes we are. No, we aren’t.
They are working. They aren't working. Are they working? Yes they are. No, they aren’t.

Present perfect tense

Shows an action completed at an unspecific time in the past. It is used to express an action which
happened or completed in past but usually the action which happened or completed at a short time before now
(near past) not a very long time before now. Specific time such as two years ago, last week or that day is
usually not used in the sentences of in this tense.
Structure:
Structure: S+Has/Have+P.P+R.S
Auxiliary verb:
verb: Has/Have
Time expressions:
expressions: Never, just, already, since, for, yet, ever…
I have eaten meal.

Another usage:
usage: The present perfect also expresses the repetition of an action before now.
They have bought a red pen more than 10 times.

Statements Statements Questions answer answer

+ - + -
I've worked. I haven't worked. Have I worked? Yes, I have. No, I haven't.
He's worked. He hasn't worked. Has he worked? Yes, he has. No, he hasn't.
She's worked. She hasn't worked. Has she worked? Yes, she has. No, she hasn't.
It's worked. It hasn't worked. Has it worked? Yes, it has. No, it hasn't.
You've worked. You haven't worked. Have you worked? Yes you have. No, you haven't.
We've worked. We haven't worked. Have we worked? Yes we have. No, we haven't.
They've worked. They haven't worked. Have they worked? Yes they have. No, they haven't.

Present perfect continuous tense

Shows an action started in the past continuing to the present and may go to future. It is used to
express a continued or ongoing action that started in past and is continued until now. There will be
a time reference, such as “since 1991, for three hours etc” from which the action has been
started.
Structure:
Structure: S + Have/Has + been + V ing + R.S
Auxiliary verb:
verb: Have/Has
Time expressions:
expressions: All day, the whole day, since, for…
• They have been watching television since 3 PM.

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 Statements Statements Questions answer answer
+ - + -
I have been working. I haven't been working. Have I been working? Yes, I Have been. No, I haven't been.

He has been working. He hasn't been working. Has he been working? Yes, he has been. No, he hasn't been.

She has been working. She hasn't been working. Has she been working? Yes, she has been. No, she hasn't been.

It has been working. It hasn't been working. Has it been working? Yes, it has been. No, it hasn't been.

You have been working. You haven’t been working. Have you been working? Yes you have been. No, you haven’t been.

We have been working. We haven’t been working. Have we been working? Yes we have been. No, we haven’t been.

They have been working. They haven’t been working. Have they been working? Yes they have been. No, they haven’t been.

Difference between Present Perfect and Present Perfect continuous.

Present perfect:
Shows the occurrence of an action.
Emphasizes on action.
The result is achieved.

Present Perfect Continuous:

Shows the continuation of an action.
Emphasizes the duration of an action.
The result is not achieved.
Simple future tense
Shows an action which will happen in future. It is used to express an action which has not occurred
yet and will occur after saying or in future. For example, “I will go library tomorrow”, in this
sentence the person intend for tomorrow’s visit to library.
Structure 1:
1: S + Will/Shall + V + C
Structure 2:
2: S + To be + Going to + V + R.S
Auxiliary verbs:
verbs: Will, Shall, Am, Is, Are
Time expressions:
expressions: Tomorrow, the next…, coming…
I will give you a pen tomorrow.
I will do

Present Future

Note1:
Note1 Difference between shall/will and going to structures is that will/shall structure shows our expectations about
future but going to structure shows our plans and decisions about future.
He will start business tomorrow.
He is going to call me tonight.
Note 2:
2 Won’t is the contracted form of will not and Shan`t is the contracted form of shan`t.
Note 3:
3 In speech (going to) is pronounced (gonna).

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 Statements Statements Questions answer answer
+ - + -
I will work. I won't work. Will I work? Yes, I will. No, I won't.
He Shall work. He shan`t work. Shall he work? Yes, he Shall. No, he shan`t.
She will work. She won't work. Will she work? Yes, she will. No, she won't.
It Shall work. It shan`t work. Shall it work? Yes, it Shall. No, it shan`t.
You will work. You won't work. Will you work? Yes you will. No, you won't.
We will work. We won't work. Will we work? Yes we will. No, we won't.
They will work. They won't work. Will they work? Yes they will. No, they won't.

Future continuous tense

Shows an action which will be in progress in future. (Shows our future plans and expectations.) It is used to
express a continued or an ongoing action in future. For example, “I will be waiting for you tomorrow”, it
conveys ongoing nature of an action (waiting) which will occur in future.
Structure 1:
1 S+Will/Shall+Be+Ving+R.S
Structure 2:
2 S+Tobe+Going to+Be+Ving+R.S
Auxiliary verb: Will, Shall, Is, Am, Are
Time expressions: The next…, coming…, tomorrow…
He will be flying a kite.

Note:
Note We use will/shall structure for expectations and going to structure for plans

Statements Statements Questions answer answer

+ - + -
I will be working. I won't be working. Will I be working? Yes, I will be. No, I won't be.

He shall be working. He shan't be working. Shall he be working? Yes, he Shall be. No, he shan`t be.

She will be working. She won't be working. Will she be working? Yes, she will be. No, she won't be.

It shall be working. It shan't be working. Shall it be working? Yes, it Shall be. No, it shan`t be.
You will be working. You won't be working. Will you be working? Yes you will be. No, you won't be.
We will be working. We won't be working. Will we be working? Yes we will be. No, we won't be.
They will be working. They won't be working. Will they be working? Yes they will be. No, they won't be.

Future perfect tense

Shows an action that will be completed before another action or time in the future. It is used to
express an action which will occur in future and is thought to be completed in future. It expresses a sense of
completion of an action which will occur in future. For example, “Najeeb will have gone tomorrow”. It shows a
sense of completion of an action (go) which will occur in future (tomorrow).
Structure:
Structure S+Will/Shall+Have+P.P+R.S

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Auxiliary verb:
verb Will/Shall
Time expressions: For, already, by next…, this…
I will have bought a computer by next Sunday.

Statements Statements Questions answer answer

+ - + -
I'll have worked. I won’t have worked. Will I have worked? Yes, I will have. No, I won’t have.

He'll have worked. He won’t have worked. Will he have worked? Yes, he will have. No, he won’t have.

She'll have worked. She won’t have worked. Will she have worked? Yes, she will have. No, she won’t have.

It'll have worked. It won’t have worked. Will it have worked? Yes, it will have. No, it won’t have.

You'll have worked. You won’t have worked. Will you have worked? Yes you will have. No, you won’t have.

We'll have worked. We won’t have worked. Will we have worked? Yes we will have. No, we won’t have.

They'll have worked. They won’t have worked. Will they have worked? Yes they will have. No, they won’t have.

Future perfect continuous tense

Emphasizes the duration of an action that will be in progress before another action or time in the
future. 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. (Remember, an ongoing action in future which will continue till some time in
future).
Structure:
Structure S+Will/Shall+Have+Been+Ving+RS
Auxiliary verb:
verb Will/Shall
Time expressions:
expressions For, by next…, this…
He will have been playing cricket for two hours.

Statements Statements Questions answer answer

+ - + -
I'll have been working. I won’t have been working. Will I have been working? Yes, I will have been. No, I won’t have been.

He'll have been working. He won’t have been working. Will he have been working? Yes, he will have been. No, he won’t have been.

She'll have been working. She won’t have been working. Will she have been working? Yes, she will have been. No, she won’t have been.

It'll have been working. It won’t have been working. Will it have been working? Yes, it will have been. No, it won’t have been.

You'll have been working. You won’t have been working. Will you have been working? Yes, you will have been. No, you won’t have been.

We'll have been working. We won’t have been working. Will we have been working? Yes, we will have been. No, we won’t have been.

They'll have been working. They won’t have been working. Will they have been working? Yes, they will have been. No, they won’t have been.

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 ACTIVE VERB AND PASSIVE VERB
(ACTIVE VOICE AND PASSIVE VOICE)
Note: Before studying Active and Passive Voice, the following issues must be educated.

Subject and object plus their cases.

Verb and its kinds.(Transitive and intransitive)

All twelve tenses with their structures.

Please compare these sentences.

 I speak Pashto.
 Pashto is spoken by me.

There are two special forms for verbs called voice:

1. Active voice
2. Passive voice
Active verb (voice): Shows what the subject does. The active voice is the "normal" voice. This is the
voice that we use most of the time. In the active voice, the object receives the action of the verb. In
“active voice” subject acts upon object. , in “active voice” subject does a work on object.

Structure: subject + verb + object

♠ Hamid eats an apple. (Active verb)

Passive verb (voice): Shows what is done to the subject.in “passive voice” object is acted upon by
subject. Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. in “passive voice” object is worked on by
subject.
Structure: object + verb + subject
♠ An apple is eaten by Hamid. (Passive verb)
The real meaning of a sentence does not change if the sentence is expressed either by active voice or by passive voice.

Why do we use passive verbs?

We use passive verbs for some reasons:
1. When the doer of an action is unclear.
♠ The car is stolen. (Passive verb)
2. When it is not necessary to mention the subject.
♠ Labors have been paid. (Passive verb)
3. When we want to change the style of our talking.
♠ Well said. (Passive verb)

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What is agent of the action and why do we use it?
In a passive clause, we usually use a phrase beginning with by if we want to mention the agent (the person
or thing that does something). It is what we call agent. The agents (subjects of the active sentences) are
used in only 20 % of passive clauses.
♠ The car crashed the wall. (Active verb)
♠ The wall was crushed by the car. (Passive verb)
Note: After the past participle of some stative verbs, including some which are used like adjectives,
other prepositions can be used instead of by.
♠ Her silence worries us. (Active verb)
♠ We are worried about/by her silence. (Passive verb)
♠ The saw slashes the wood. (Active verb)
♠ The wood is slashed with saw. (Passive verb)
♠ I know him. (Active verb)
♠ He is known to me. (Passive verb)

Passive Verb Formation

When we change an active verb to passive verb the following facts should be contemplated.
1. Study the verb in active sentence.
If the verb in active sentence is transitive, it can be changed to passive. If the verb in active sentence is
intransitive, it can not be changed to passive because it does not have any object to become the subject
of the passive sentence.
♠ I will teach you British. (Active verb)
♠ British will be thought to you by me. (Passive verb)
But if we say:
♠ I walk two kilo meter per hour.( no change is possible)

2. The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
In changing an active sentence to passive, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the
passive sentence and the object of the active sentence becomes the agent (a by phrase) at the end of
the passive sentence.
♠ I do my homework. (Active sentence)
♠ My homework is done by me. (Passive sentence)
Note: When the subject of our active verb is an indefinite pronoun such as someone, somebody…, they
are omitted while changing to passive.
♠ Somebody submitted me the keys. (Active verb)
♠ The keys were submitted to me. (Passive verb)
3. Use a tobe verb plus past participle (be + Past participle) according to the tense of
the active verb.

The passive forms of a verb are created by combining a “to be verb" with the past participle of the main
verb.

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Note: In order to recognize that a sentence is in passive voice, watch out for these keywords:

♠ Be
♠ Is
♠ Are
♠ Was
♠ Were
♠ Has been
♠ Have been
♠ Will be
♠ Being

Here is a list of all passive forms of English verbs, with all tenses.

Simple past tense

Active structure: S + V2 + C
Passive structure: Object of the active sentence + was/were + pp…
Active example: I presented the issue.
Passive example: The issue was presented by me.

Past continuous tense

Active structure: S + was/were + Ving + C
Passive structure: Object of the active sentence + was/were + being + pp…
Active example: He was painting the room.
Passive example: The room was being painted by him.

Past perfect tense

Active structure: S + had + V3 + C
Passive structure: Object of the active sentence + had + been + pp…
Active example: We had played the game.
Passive example: The game had been played by us.

Past perfect continuous tense

Active structure: S + had + been + Ving + C
Passive structure: Object of the active sentence + had + been + being + pp…
Active example: She had been sending the pictures.
Passive example: The pictures had been being sent by her.

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Simple present tense
Active structure: S + V + C
Passive structure: Object of the active sentence + is/am/are + pp…
Active example: you recited the book.
Passive example: book is recited by you.

Present continuous tense

Active structure: S + is/am/are + Ving + C
Passive structure: Object of the active sentence + is/am/are + being + pp…
Active example: I am practicing the vocabulary.
Passive example: The vocabulary is being practiced by me.

Present perfect tense

Active structure: S + have/has + V3 + C
Passive structure: Object of the active sentence + have/has + been + pp…
Active example: We have trained the participants.
Passive example: The participants have been trained by us.

Present perfect continuous tense

Active structure: S + have/has + been + Ving + C
Passive structure: Object of the active sentence + have/has + been + being + pp…
Active example: We have been supporting president.
Passive example: president has been being supported by us.

Simple future tense

Active structure 1: S + will/shall + V + C
Passive structure 1: Object of the active sentence + will/shall + be + pp…
Active example: He will carry the passport.
Passive example: The passport will be carried by him.
Active structure 2: S + is/am/are + going to + V + C
Passive structure 2: Object of the active sentence + am/are/is + going to + be + pp…
Active example: He is going to carry the passport.
Passive example: The passport is going to be carried by him.

Future continuous tense

Active structure 1: S + will/shall + be + Ving + C
Passive structure 1: Object of the active sentence + will/shall + be + being + pp…
Active example: She will be memorizing the book.
Passive example: The book will be being memorized by her.

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 Active structure 2: S + is/am/are + going to + be + Ving + C
Passive structure 2: Object of the active sentence + am/are/is + going to + be + being + pp…
Active example: She is going to be memorizing the book.
Passive example: The book is going to be being memorized by her

Future perfect tense

Active structure: S + will/shall + have + V3 + C
Passive structure: Object of the active sentence + will/shall + have + been + pp…
Active example: Boys will have flown the kites.
Passive example: The kites will have been flown by them.

Future perfect continuous tense

Active structure: S + will/shall + have + been + Ving + C
Passive structure: Object of the active sentence + will/shall + have + been + being + pp…
Active example: I will have been teaching students.
Passive example: students will have been being thought by me.

Modal auxiliary verbs

Active structure: modal auxiliary verb + V
Passive structure: modal auxiliary verb + be + pp
Active example: I would boil the tea for you.
Passive example: The tea would be boiled for you be me.

Imperative passive:
We can change an imperative transitive verb to passive by the following structure:
Active structure: V + C
Passive structure: Let + object of the active sentence + (not) be + past participle
♠ Active imperative example: Bring the kid.
♠ Passive imperative example: Let the kid be brought.
♠ Call the police. (Let the police be called.)
♠ Do not disturb people. (Let the people not be disturbed.)
♠ Open the door. (Let the door be opened.)
♠ Complete the work. (Let the worked be completed.)
♠ Turn off the television. (Let the television be tuned off.)
♠ Learn your lesson. (Let your lesson be learnt.)
♠ Do not kill the snake. (Let the snake not be killed.)
♠ Do not punish him. (Let him not be punished.)
♠ Speak the truth. (Let the truth be spoken.)

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 ♠ Help the poor. (Let the poor be helped.)
♠ Revise your book. (Let your book be revised.)

Passive yes/no questions

We can change an active yes/no interrogative sentence to passive yes/no interrogative sentence by
shifting the auxiliary to the beginning of the clause.
♠ Does he speak Pashto? (Active yes/no interrogative verb)
♠ Is Pashto spoken by him? (Passive yes/no interrogative verb)

Passive WH/information questions

For changing an active WH/information interrogative sentence to passive, we have to follow the following
structure.
Structure: WH word + auxiliary verb (according to the tense) + object of the active sentence + past
participle…
Where do you use the camera? (Active WH/information interrogative verb)
Where is the camera used by you? (Passive WH/information interrogative verb)

Verbs with two objects

When there are two objects in an active sentence direct object and indirect object, one of them can be
the subject of the passive sentence.
Structure A: V + indirect object + direct object
♠ I gave you a missed call. (Active verb)
♠ You were given a missed call by me. (Passive verb)
Structure B: V + direct object + preposition + indirect object
♠ I gave a missed call to you. (Active verb)
♠ A missed call was given to you by me. (Passive verb)
Note: Note that some verbs, for example, explain, invite and suggest can not be used in Structure A.
♠ They explained the problem to the students. (Active verb) (Correct)
♠ The problem was explained to the students by them. (Passive verb) (Correct)
♠ They explained the students the problem. (Active verb) (Incorrect)
♠ The students were explained the problem by them. (Passive verb) (Incorrect)

Passive and past forms of infinitives and gerunds

Passive forms are used to emphasize that the subject of the sentence is being acted upon.
♠ The students want to be taught. (Passive infinitive)
♠ The students expected to have been taught that already. (Past-passive infinitive)
♠ The students enjoy being taught. (Passive gerund)

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 ♠ The older students recalled having been taught that already. (Past-passive gerund)
Past infinitives and past gerunds have the same kind of meaning as perfect tenses.
♠ I am happy to have left school. (= I am happy that I have left school.)
♠ The teacher mentioned having taught Tenses. (= The teacher mentioned that he has taught
Tenses.)
The following are the passive, past and past-passive forms of infinitives and gerunds
Active infinitive (to + verb)
♠ He did not expect to invite me.
Passive infinitive (to be + past participle)
♠ I did not expect to be invited.
Past infinitive (to have + Past participle)
♠ Engineer claims to have finished the project.
Past-passive infinitive (to have + been + Past participle)
♠ The criminal agreed to have been caught.
Active gerund (V+ing)
♠ He kept talking about war.
Passive gerund (being + past participle)
♠ I tolerated being insulted.
Past gerund (Having + past participle)
♠ He forgot having killed the pigeon.
Past-passive gerund (Having + been + past participle)
♠ He denied having been helped.
Note: The events by past infinitives and past gerunds happened before the time of the main verb.
♠ She seems to have left the center.
to have left the center:
She seems: Now Before
♠ She enjoys having finished the courses.
having finished the courses:
She enjoys: Now Before

Please practice the succeeding examples.

 Cloth is sold in yards.
 He sings a song.
 The water fills the tub.
 The tub is filled with water.
 I am so tired.
 We can deliver the sentences.
 He has a new car.
 Rahim has eaten yesterday.
 Should all lessons be studied by students?
 The saw slashes the wood.
 A mistake was made.
 Swimming is something I do.
 The ball is hit by Player.

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 Hunger was what Ahmad felt.
 Reading is enjoyed by Mary.
 The town was destroyed by fire.
 Funny is what clowns are.
 Cheese was liked by Sakila.
 Nasim felt hungry.
 The new policy was approved.
 Rana enjoys reading.
 Fire destroyed the town.
 Clowns are funny.
 Sara likes cheese.
 The news surprised Khan.
 My dog died last week.
 The policy had been written on student behavior.
 The job will not have been started.
 Will a car be bought?
 She will not buy a car.
 The assignment had been completed by them.
 Job must not have been started by you.
 Was a car being driven by him?
 He was driving a car.
 I did not kill a snake.
 Has her work been finished by her?
 A letter is being written by me.
 Is a song sung by him?
 Guests might not play chess.
 Can a violin be played by her?
 May the computer be bought?
 Test-taking strategies must be learnt.
 He might have eaten meal.
 The book should have not been studied by you.
 He ought to have been helped by you.
 The wood is slashed with saw.
 Hamid was surprised.
 Had any one completed the assignment?
 Do you comply laws?
 Offering prayer is compulsory upon each Muslim.
 Offensive chats are concealed.
 Dean has been conceding bachelors to carry concrete proofs.
 Coalition government condemns convicted assailants.
 The smugglers have declared of judge`s condemnation.
 My confession of murdering a kid is being considered.
 The broken way has been confined with the confidential engineer`s plot.
 Zahid has been confiscating all his untitled archives.

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DIRECT SPEECH AND INDIRECT SPEECH
The word speech means “talking” we may report the speech of a person in two ways:
1. Direct (quoted) speech
2. Indirect (reported) speech

Direct speech: Indicates the exact words of a speaker (to report what someone said without any
changes in his/her words is called direct speech).
 She says, “I am a student”
 She said, “What time will you be home?”
 And I said, “I do not know!”
 “There is a fly in my soup!” screamed Rashid.
 Ahmad said, “There is an elephant outside the window.”

Indirect speech: Indicates the inexact words of a speaker (to report what someone said with some
necessary changes in his/her words is called indirect speech).
 She said, “I saw him.” (Direct speech)
 She said that she had seen him. (Indirect speech)
 She said, “I am tired.” (Direct speech)
 She said that she was tired. (Indirect speech)

Punctuation rules for direct speech

Direct speech may either follow or come before the reporting verb.

When direct speech follows the reporting verbs

1. Put a comma after the reporting verb.
2. Use opening quotation marks (“) before the first word of direct speech.
3. Begin the quotations with the capital letter.
4. Use the appropriate end punctuation for the direct speech. It may be a period (.) a question
mark (?) or an exclamatory point (!).
5. Put a closing quotation mark (”) after the end punctuation of the question.
 He said, “I had a good time.”
 She asked, “Where is the party?”
 They shouted, “Be careful!”

When direct speech comes before the reporting verb

1. Begin the sentence with opening quotation marks (“).
2. Use the appropriate end punctuation for the direct speech. If the direct speech is a
statement use a comma (,) if the direct speech is a question use a question mark (?) if the
direct speech is an exclamation use an exclamation mark (!).

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 3. Use closing quotation marks after the end punctuation for the direct speech (”).
4. Begin the reporting clause with a lower case letter.
5. Use a period at the end of the main sentence.
 “I had a good time.” he said.
 “Where is the party?” he asked.
 “Be careful!” they shouted.

The way to change the direct speech to indirect speech is different in types of sentences.

The following points should be observed:

1. The commas and quotation marks are deleted.
2. The conjunction that is used to connect the reporting verb with the rest of the sentence.
3. The pronouns, adverbs and other necessary words are changed according to the speaker and
reporter.
4. If the reporting verb is in simple past tense, the tenses are changed.
5. The modals would, used, should, could, might, must, had and ought are not changed in the
indirect form, but the following modals are changed:
Can To Could
Shall To Should
Will To Would
May To Might
Have/has To Had
 Ahmad said, “I come here every day.” (Direct speech)
 Ahmad said that he came there every day. (Indirect speech)
 Asad said to me, “I am speaking with him now.” (Direct speech)
 Asad said to me that he was speaking with him then. (Indirect speech)
 Matin said, “I should come early.” (Direct speech)
 Matin said that he should come early. (Indirect speech)

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

Will She said, “I will teach English.”
Can She said, "I can teach English easily."
Must She said, "I must teach English."
Shall She said, "What shall we learn today?"
May She said, "May I open the window?"
Would She said she would teach English.
Could She said she could teach English.
Had to She said she had to teach English.
Should She asked what we should learn today.
Might She asked if she might open the window.

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 Chart of Pronouns Change
Subject Pronouns
I To He , she
They To They
We To They
You To I , we
He To He
She To She
It To It
Object Pronouns
Me To Him/her
Them To Them
Us To Them
You To Me/us
Him To Him
Her To Her
It To It
Possessive Pronouns
Mine To His/her
Theirs To Theirs
Ours To Theirs
Yours To Ours/mine
His To His
Hers To Hers
Its To Its
Possessive Adjectives
My To His/her
Their To Their
Our To Their
Your To My/your
His To His
Her To Her
Its To Its

Chart of Adverbs and Some Adjectives Change

Now To Then
Here To There
Ago To Before
Thus To So
Today To That day
Tomorrow To The next day

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Yesterday To The day before
This To That
These To Those
Tonight To That night
Next To The following
Last To The previous
Just To Then

List of Common Reporting Verbs

Assertive Imperative Interrogative Exclamatory
sentences sentences sentences sentences
Acknowledge Advise Ask Cry
Add Ask Inquire Appreciate
Admit Caution Question Shout
Announce Command Want to know Admire
Answer Demand Wonder
Believe Instruct
Claim Invite
Complain Order
Conclude Say
Confess Tell
Declare Urge
Deny Warn
Exclaim
Explain
Indicate
Mean
Note
Observe
Promise
Remark
Repeat
Reply
Report
Say
State
Suggest
Tell
Warn
Write

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Normally, the tense in reported speech is one tense back in time from the tense in direct speech.
 She said, “I am tired.” (Direct speech)
 She said that she was tired. (Indirect speech)
The chart of tenses is shown below:
 Simple present tense to simple past tense
 “I always drink coffee.” she said. (Direct speech)
 She said that she always drank coffee. (Indirect speech)

 Present continuous tense to past continuous tense

 “I am reading a book.” he explained. (Direct speech)
 He explained that he was reading a book. (Indirect speech)

 Present perfect tense to past perfect tense

 “I have been to Spain.” he told me. (Direct speech)
 He told me that he had been to Spain. (Indirect speech)

 Present perfect continuous tense to past perfect continuous

 They complained, “We have been waiting for four hours.” (Direct speech)
 They complained that they had been waiting for four hours. (Indirect speech)

 Simple past tense to past perfect tense

 “Bill arrived on Saturday.” he said. (Direct speech)
 He said that Bill had arrived on Saturday. (Indirect speech)

 Past continuous tense to past perfect continuous tense

 “We were living in Paris.” they told me. (Direct speech)
 They told me that they had been living in Paris. (Indirect speech)

 Past perfect tense to past perfect tense

 “I had just turned out the light.” he explained. (Direct speech)
 He explained that he had just turned out the light. (Indirect speech)

 Past perfect continuous tense to past perfect continuous tense

 “We had been studying English.” they said. (Direct speech)
 They said that they had been studying English. (Indirect speech)

 Simple future tense to simple future in the past tense

 “I will be in Geneva on Monday.” he said. (Direct speech)
 He said that he would be in Geneva on Monday. (Indirect speech)

 Future continuous tense to future in the past continuous tense

 She said, “I will be using the car next Friday.” (Direct speech)
 She said that she would be using the car next Friday. (Indirect speech)

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  Future perfect tense to future in past perfect tense
 He said, “I will have played football.” (Direct speech)
 He said that he would have played football. (Indirect speech)

 Future perfect continuous tense to future in past perfect continuous tense

 She said, “I will have been waiting for three hours.” (Direct speech)
 She said that she would have been waiting for three hours. (Indirect speech)

Note: You do not need to change the tense if the reporting verb is not in simple past tense or if
the original statement was about something that is still true (General facts are not changed in the
indirect form).
 He says, “I miss the train but I will catch the next one.” (Direct speech)
 He says that he misses the train but he will catch the next one. (Indirect speech)
 He says, “The sky is high” (Direct speech)
 He says that the sky is high. (Indirect speech)
 We explained,” our house is on Kabul Bazaar. (Direct speech)
 We explained that their house is on Kabul Bazaar (Indirect speech)

The following points should be observed:

1. The reporting verb is changed to a verb which expresses a question such as ask, inquire, and
want to know…….
2. The comma and quotation marks are omitted.
3. Normal word order is used in reported questions that is, the subject comes before the
auxiliary verb and to do verbs are not used except negative statements and negative
questions.
4. Yes/no question: this type of question is reported by using ask...or another verb like ask +
if/whether + clause.
5. WH/information question: this type of question is reported by using ask...or another verb
like ask + question/WH word + clause.
6. A full stop is used at the end of the sentence instead of a question mark.
 “Do you speak Pashto?” he asked. (Direct speech)
 He asked if I spoke Pashto. (Indirect speech)
 She asked, “Are you Ahmad or Mahmood?” (Direct speech)
 She asked if I was Ahmad or Mahmood. (Indirect speech)
 “What is your name?” she asked. (Direct speech)
 She asked what my name was. (Indirect speech)
 “Is it raining” she asked. (Direct speech)
 She asked if it was raining. (Indirect speech)
 “Have you got a computer?” he asked. (Direct speech)
 He wanted to know whether I had got a computer. (Indirect speech)
 “Can you type?” she asked. (Direct speech)
 She asked if I could type. (Indirect speech)

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  “Did you come by train?” He asked. (Direct speech)
 He enquired whether I had come by train. (Indirect speech)
 “Have you been to Bristol before?” she asked. (Direct speech)
 She asked if I had been to Bristol before. (Indirect speech)
 “How old is your Dad?” he asked. (Direct speech)
 He asked how old her dad was. (Indirect speech)
 Asad said to Mahmood, “Where do you live?” (Direct speech)
 Asad asked Mahmood where he lived. (Indirect speech)
 “What time does the train arrive?” she asked. (Direct speech)
 She asked what time the train arrived. (Indirect speech)
 “When can we have dinner?” she asked. (Direct speech)
 She asked when they could have dinner. (Indirect speech)

The following points should be observed:

1. The reporting verb is changed to a verb which expresses an order, request, suggestion… such
as order, request, suggestion…
2. The pattern (structure) is verb +indirect object + to clause. (The indirect object is the
person spoken to)
Positive imperative structure:
(Verb + indirect object + to + clause)
Negative imperative structure:
(Verb + indirect object + not + to- clause)
• He said, “Go away.” (Direct speech)
• He told me to go away. (Indirect speech)
Note: Other verbs used to report orders and requests in this way are command, order, warn, ask,
advise, invite, beg, teach and forbid.
 The doctor said to me,” Stop smoking!” (Direct speech)
 The doctor told me to stop smoking. (Indirect speech)
 “Get out of the car!” said the policeman. (Direct speech)
 The policeman ordered him to get out of the car. (Indirect speech)
 “Run fast in the morning,” they told. (Direct speech)
 They warned him to run fast in the morning. (Indirect speech)
 The man with gun said to us,” do not move!” (Direct speech)
 The man with the gun warned us not to move. (Indirect speech)

Note 1: Requests for objects are reported using the pattern structure: Ask + for + object
 “Can I have an apple?” she asked. (Direct speech)
 She asked for an apple. (Indirect speech)
 “Can I have the newspaper, please?” (Direct speech)
 He asked for the newspaper. (Indirect speech)
 “May I have a glass of water?” he said. (Direct speech)
 He asked for a glass of water. (Indirect speech)
 “Sugar, please.” she said. (Direct speech)

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  She asked for the sugar. (Indirect speech)
 “Could I have of three kilos of onions?” he said. (Direct speech)
 He asked for three kilos of onions. (Indirect speech)

The following points should be observed:

1. The reporting verb is changed to a verb which expresses emotions and exclamations such as
cry, shout, appreciate and admire……
2. The commas and quotation marks are omitted.
3. Adverbs, pronouns and tenses are changed the same as in declarative sentences.
4. The conjunction that is used to connect the reporting verb with the rest of the sentence.
5. A full stop is used at the end of the sentence instead of an exclamation mark.
 He said, “Welcome to Kandahar!” (Direct speech)
 He greeted with me saying that welcome to Kandahar. (Indirect speech)
 He said, “What a noisy man he is!” (Direct speech)
 He shouted that what a noisy man he was. (Indirect speech)

EXAMPLES.
 Direct speech: She said, “Will he participate in the quiz competition?”
 Direct speech: Doctor said to me, “Do not smoke”
 Direct speech: He said to me, “Do you like music?”
 Direct speech: He said to me, “Have you taken the breakfast?”
 Direct speech: He said to me, “How are you?”
 Direct speech: He said to me, “please help me”
 Direct speech: He said, “Open the door”
 Direct speech: He said, “Please give me glass of water”
 Direct speech: He said, “When will they come?”
 Direct speech: I said to him, “are you feeling well?”
 Direct speech: She asked his son, “Why are you crying?”
 Direct speech: She said to him, “why did you come late?”
 Direct speech: She said to him, “you should work hard for exam”
 Direct speech: Teacher said to him, “what is your name?”
 Direct speech: The teacher said to him, “Get out”
 Direct speech: The teacher said to student, “Do not waste time”
 Direct speech: They said to him, “Do not tell a lie”
 Direct speech: They said to me, “did u go to school?”
 Direct: “Call the first witness”, said the Judge.
 Direct: “So help me, Heaven!” he cried, “I will never steal again”
 Direct: A stranger asked me, “Where do you live?”
 Direct: Alice said, “How clever I am?”
 Direct: He said to Mary, “Please wait here till I return.”
 Direct: He said to me, “I do not believe you.”
 Direct: He said to me, “What are you doing?”
 Direct: He said, “Alas! I am undone”.
 Direct: He said, “Be quite and listen to my words”.
 Direct: He said, “Bravo! You have done well.”
 Direct: He said, “I am glad to be here this evening.

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 Direct: He said, “I was here yesterday.
 Direct: He said, “Will you listen to such a man?”
 Direct: He says, “His horse died in the night.”
 Direct: He says, “I am unwell.”
 Direct: He says, “I have passed the examination.”
 Direct: He says, “My mother is writing letter.”
 Direct: He shouted, “Let me go.”
 Direct: His angry mother jeered, “Do you suppose you know better than your father?”
 Direct: I said to him, “I did not believe you.”
 Direct: I said to you, “I do not believe you.”
 Direct: Raja said to John, “Go away.”
 Direct: She said to him, “I do not believe you.”
 Direct: The Policemen said to us, “Where are you going?”

EXAMPLES.
• Indirect Speech: Doctor advised me not to smoke.
• Indirect speech: He asked me how I was. (Not, how was I)
• Indirect Speech: He asked me if I had taken the breakfast
• Indirect Speech: He asked me whether I liked music.
• Indirect speech: He asked when they would come.
• Indirect Speech: He ordered to open the door.
• Indirect Speech: He requested to give him a glass of water.
• Indirect Speech: I asked him if he was feeling well.
• Indirect speech: She asked her son why he was crying
• Indirect speech: She asked him why he had come late.
• Indirect Speech: She asked me if he would participate in quiz competition.
• Indirect Speech: He asked me if I liked music. (Not, did I like music)
• Indirect speech: Teacher asked him what his name was.
• Indirect Speech: The teacher advised the students not to waste time.
• Indirect Speech: The teacher ordered him to get out.
• Indirect Speech: They asked me if I had gone to school.
• Indirect Speech: They said to him not to tell a lie.
• Indirect: A stranger enquired where I lived.
• Indirect: Alice exclaimed that he was very clever.
• Indirect: he applauded him, saying that he had done well.
• Indirect: He asked me what I was doing.
• Indirect: He asked them whether they would listen to such a man.
• Indirect: He called upon Heaven to witness his resolve never to resolve.
• Indirect: He exclaimed sadly that he was undone.
• Indirect: he requested Mary to wait there till he returned.
• Indirect: He said that he did not believe me.
• Indirect: he said that he was glad to be there that evening.
• Indirect: He said that he was there the day before.
• Indirect: he says that he has passed the examination.
• Indirect: He says that he is unwell.
• Indirect: he says that his horse died in the night.
• Indirect: He says that his mother is writing letter.
• Indirect: he shouted to them to let him go.
• Indirect: He urged them to be quite and listen to his words.
• Indirect: His angry mother Zuhra and asked whether he supposed that he knew better than his father.

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• Indirect: I said to him that I did not believe him.
• Indirect: I said to you that I do not believe you.
• Indirect: Raja ordered John to go away.
• Indirect: She said to him that she did not believe him.
• Indirect: The Judge commanded them to call the first witness.
• Indirect: The Policemen asked us where we were going.
• Indirect: Would they, he asked, listen to such a man.

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References

To truly assure you that all the information in this booklet was taken from such resources.

The subsequent are the resources from which I have accumulated precise niceties;

 academic English by Leslie Childs

 Google.com and such other websites
 Hamidy’s grammar (My teacher)
 Online English Grammar by Anthony Hughes

Truthfully yours,

Ezatullah Zahid

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