GRAMMAR NOTES

PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

 I HAVE JUST CLOSED THE WINDOW

 SHE HAS ALREADY WASHED THE CLOTHES

- Do the verbs in the sentences above show present or past actions?

- They show past actions- they tell us that the actions have already happened but the exact time of
the actions is not given in the sentence.

- We use the Present Perfect tense for such action

- The Present Perfect tense is also used in such sentences. Here, it is used with ‘since’ and ‘for’

 I have lived here for five years.

 I have lived here since 1967.

-We also use the Present Perfect tense for an action which happened in the past and continued
into the present.

 He has waited for half an hour.

 I have worked here since last year.

PAST PERFECT TENSE

 WHEN ALI HAD EATEN SOME BREAD, HE DRANK A GLASS OF MILK

The sentence above shows two actions done in the past. The first action is had eaten it is used in
the Past Perfect tense. The second action is in the Simple Past tense.

The Past Perfect tense is used for an action that was completed before another action took place.
It is usually used with words such as ‘when’, ‘after’,etc.

 I have lost my pen.

 He said he had lost his pen
The Past Perfect tense is also used in the Indirect or Reported Speech.

 After we had finished our shopping, we went home.

 I had eaten my lunch when they came.
 “We went there by bus”. They said that they had gone by bus.
Before the firemen arrived, the fire had burnt up the whole hut.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINOUS TENSE

To show an action that began in the past and continued into the present
 The waiter has been working in this restaurant for the past 12 years.

PAST PERFECT CONTINOUS TENSE

To talk about an action that went on up to a point in the past

 They had been courting for a few years before they decided to get married.
 He had been practising his piano for the past two months.
COMPARISON OF TENSES

Simple Simple Past Simple Present Present Past Perfect

Present Future Perfect Perfect Continuous
Continuous
She cleans it She cleaned She will She has She has been She had
it clean it cleaned it cleaning it cleaned it……
I eat it I ate it I will eat it I have eaten I have been I had eaten it
it eating it
They pay They paid They will They have They have They had paid
pay paid been paying
It flies It flew I will fly It has flown It has been It had flown
flying

Try.. Do it yourself

Simple Simple Past Simple Present Present Past Perfect

Present Future Perfect Perfect Continuous
Continuous

Simple Simple Past Simple Present Present Past Perfect

Present Future Perfect Perfect Continuous
Continuous