01-TENSES-BY-MWALA

Objectives: TENSES

Complete English Tenses Notes

Complete Notes on English Tenses

This guide explains all 12 Tenses in English with rules, structures, examples, common mistakes, and a Swahili explanation of difficult terms.

1. Present Tenses

1.1 Present Simple

Use: Daily routines (mambo ya kila siku), facts (ukweli), general truths (ukweli wa jumla).

Structure: Subject + Base Verb (+ s/es for he, she, it)

Examples:

  • I go to school every day. (Naenda shule kila siku)
  • She works hard. (Anafanya kazi kwa bidii)

Common Mistake: Forgetting -s with he/she/it.
WRONG She work hard → CORRECT She works hard.

1.2 Present Continuous (Progressive)

Use: Actions happening now (mambo yanayotokea sasa), temporary actions (vitendo vya muda).

Structure: Subject + am/is/are + Verb(-ing)

  • I am studying English now. (Ninasoma Kiingereza sasa)
  • They are playing football. (Wana cheza mpira)

Common Mistake: Using it with stative verbs (verbs of state e.g., know, love).
WRONG I am knowing him → CORRECT I know him.

1.3 Present Perfect

Use: Past actions with result now (matokeo yapo sasa), life experiences (uzoefu wa maisha), unfinished time (muda haujaisha).

Structure: Subject + have/has + Past Participle (V3)

  • I have eaten already. (Nimeshakula)
  • She has visited Paris. (Ameshafika Paris)

Common Mistake: Confusing with past simple.
WRONG I have seen him yesterday → CORRECT I saw him yesterday.

1.4 Present Perfect Continuous

Use: Actions started in the past and still continuing (vitu vilianza zamani bado vinaendelea), showing duration (muda).

Structure: Subject + have/has + been + Verb(-ing)

  • I have been reading for two hours. (Nimekuwa nikisoma kwa masaa mawili)
  • She has been working here since 2010. (Amefanya kazi hapa tangu 2010)

2. Past Tenses

2.1 Past Simple

Use: Completed actions in the past (mambo yaliyopita).

Structure: Subject + Verb (Past form)

  • I went to school yesterday. (Nilienda shule jana)
  • They watched a movie. (Waliangalia filamu)

2.2 Past Continuous

Use: Actions happening at a specific time in the past (mambo yalikuwa yanaendelea zamani).

Structure: Subject + was/were + Verb(-ing)

  • I was reading at 8 pm. (Nilikuwa nasoma saa mbili usiku)
  • They were playing football when it rained. (Walikuwa wanacheza mpira wakati mvua ilinyesha)

2.3 Past Perfect

Use: Actions completed before another past action (kitendo kilichokamilika kabla ya kingine).

Structure: Subject + had + Past Participle

  • I had eaten before he arrived. (Nilikuwa nimeshakula kabla hajafika)

2.4 Past Perfect Continuous

Use: Show how long something had been happening before another past event.

Structure: Subject + had + been + Verb(-ing)

  • I had been studying for two hours before he came. (Nilikuwa nimesoma kwa masaa mawili kabla hajafika)

3. Future Tenses

3.1 Future Simple

Use: Predictions (utabiri), decisions now (maamuzi sasa), promises (ahadi).

Structure: Subject + will + Base Verb

  • I will call you tomorrow. (Nitakupigia kesho)

3.2 Future Continuous

Use: Action that will be in progress at a certain future time.

Structure: Subject + will + be + Verb(-ing)

  • I will be studying at 8 pm. (Nitakuwa nasoma saa mbili usiku)

3.3 Future Perfect

Use: Action completed before a specific future time.

Structure: Subject + will + have + Past Participle

  • I will have finished by tomorrow. (Nitakuwa nimekamilisha kufikia kesho)

3.4 Future Perfect Continuous

Use: Action continuing up to a point in the future (ikionyesha muda).

Structure: Subject + will + have + been + Verb(-ing)

  • I will have been working for 5 years by 2026. (Nitakuwa nimefanya kazi kwa miaka 5 kufikia 2026)

Summary

English has 12 basic tenses: 4 in Present, 4 in Past, 4 in Future. Always remember structure, usage, and common mistakes. With practice, you can answer any tense question confidently.

50 English Tenses Questions and Answers

50 English Tenses Questions and Answers

From simple to complex with clear explanations. Difficult words are explained in Swahili.

Q1. (Simple Present) He ___ (play) football every Sunday.

Answer: He plays football every Sunday.

Rule: In Simple Present, we add -s or -es for he/she/it. (Swahili: wakati wa kawaida, tukiwa na yeye/hii tunaongeza -s/-es)

Q2. (Simple Present - Negative) They ___ (not/go) to school on Saturday.

Answer: They do not go to school on Saturday.

Rule: Use do not or does not in negatives. (Swahili: kwa kukanusha, tunatumia do/does not)

Q3. (Present Continuous) She ___ (read) a book now.

Answer: She is reading a book now.

Rule: Present Continuous = is/are/am + verb-ing. (Swahili: wakati unaoendelea sasa, tunatumia -ing)

Q4. (Past Simple) We ___ (visit) our grandmother yesterday.

Answer: We visited our grandmother yesterday.

Rule: Past Simple = verb + -ed (for regular verbs). (Swahili: wakati uliopita, vitenzi vya kawaida vinaongezewa -ed)

Q5. (Past Continuous) While I ___ (walk) home, it started to rain.

Answer: While I was walking home, it started to rain.

Rule: Past Continuous = was/were + verb-ing. (Swahili: tukiongelea kitu kilikuwa kinaendelea wakati fulani uliopita)

Q6. (Present Perfect) I ___ (finish) my homework already.

Answer: I have finished my homework already.

Rule: Present Perfect = have/has + past participle. (Swahili: kitendo kilikamilika lakini kina matokeo sasa)

Q7. (Present Perfect Continuous) She ___ (study) English for 2 hours.

Answer: She has been studying English for 2 hours.

Rule: Present Perfect Continuous = have/has + been + verb-ing. (Swahili: kitendo kimeanza zamani bado kinaendelea, tunashuhudia muda)

Q8. (Past Perfect) They ___ (leave) before I arrived.

Answer: They had left before I arrived.

Rule: Past Perfect = had + past participle. (Swahili: kitendo kilikamilika kabla ya kitendo kingine zamani)

Q9. (Past Perfect Continuous) I ___ (work) all day before he called.

Answer: I had been working all day before he called.

Rule: Past Perfect Continuous = had + been + verb-ing. (Swahili: kitendo kilikuwa kinaendelea hadi kitendo kingine zamani)

Q10. (Future Simple) I ___ (meet) him tomorrow.

Answer: I will meet him tomorrow.

Rule: Future Simple = will + base verb. (Swahili: kitendo kitafanyika baadaye)

Q11. (Future Continuous) This time tomorrow, I ___ (travel) to Dar es Salaam.

Answer: This time tomorrow, I will be traveling to Dar es Salaam.

Rule: Future Continuous = will + be + verb-ing. (Swahili: kitendo kitakuwa kinaendelea katika wakati fulani wa baadaye)

Q12. (Future Perfect) By 2026, I ___ (complete) my degree.

Answer: By 2026, I will have completed my degree.

Rule: Future Perfect = will + have + past participle. (Swahili: kitendo kitakuwa kimekamilika kufikia wakati fulani wa baadaye)

Q13. (Future Perfect Continuous) By next month, I ___ (work) here for 3 years.

Answer: By next month, I will have been working here for 3 years.

Rule: Future Perfect Continuous = will + have + been + verb-ing. (Swahili: kitendo kitaendelea na kuonyesha muda hadi wakati fulani wa baadaye)

Q14. (Present Simple - Question) ___ you like pizza?

Answer: Do you like pizza?

Rule: Simple Present question = Do/Does + subject + base verb. (Swahili: kuuliza katika wakati wa kawaida)

Q15. (Present Continuous - Question) What ___ she ___ (do) now?

Answer: What is she doing now?

Rule: Present Continuous question = Am/Is/Are + subject + verb-ing. (Swahili: kuuliza kitendo kinachoendelea)

Q16. (Past Simple - Question) Where ___ you ___ (go) yesterday?

Answer: Where did you go yesterday?

Rule: Past Simple question = Did + subject + base verb. (Swahili: kuuliza kitendo kilichopita)

Q17. (Past Continuous - Question) What ___ they ___ (do) at 8 pm last night?

Answer: What were they doing at 8 pm last night?

Rule: Past Continuous question = Was/Were + subject + verb-ing. (Swahili: kuuliza kitendo kilikuwa kinaendelea zamani)

Q18. (Present Perfect - Negative) I ___ (not/see) that movie yet.

Answer: I have not seen that movie yet.

Rule: Present Perfect negative = have/has + not + past participle. (Swahili: kukanusha kitendo kilikamilika)

Q19. (Past Perfect - Negative) They ___ (not/finish) their work before lunch.

Answer: They had not finished their work before lunch.

Rule: Past Perfect negative = had + not + past participle. (Swahili: kitendo hakikamilika kabla ya kitendo kingine)

Q20. (Future Simple - Negative) I ___ (not/attend) the meeting tomorrow.

Answer: I will not attend the meeting tomorrow.

Rule: Future Simple negative = will + not + base verb. (Swahili: kitendo hakitafanyika baadaye)

Q21. (Future Continuous - Negative) She ___ (not/work) at 10 am tomorrow.

Answer: She will not be working at 10 am tomorrow.

Q22. (Future Perfect - Negative) By next year, I ___ (not/complete) my project.

Answer: By next year, I will not have completed my project.

Q23. (Present Simple - Negative) She ___ (not/like) spicy food.

Answer: She does not like spicy food.

Rule: Use does not for he/she/it negatives. (Swahili: kukanusha kwa yeye)

Q24. (Present Continuous - Negative) They ___ (not/play) football now.

Answer: They are not playing football now.

Q25. (Past Simple - Negative) I ___ (not/see) him yesterday.

Answer: I did not see him yesterday.

Q26. (Past Continuous - Negative) She ___ (not/watch) TV at 8 pm.

Answer: She was not watching TV at 8 pm.

Q27. (Past Perfect - Negative) They ___ (not/finish) the project before the deadline.

Answer: They had not finished the project before the deadline.

Q28. (Past Perfect Continuous - Negative) I ___ (not/work) for 3 hours before he came.

Answer: I had not been working for 3 hours before he came.

Q29. (Future Simple - Negative) He ___ (not/attend) the party tomorrow.

Answer: He will not attend the party tomorrow.

Q30. (Future Continuous - Negative) They ___ (not/study) at 7 pm tomorrow.

Answer: They will not be studying at 7 pm tomorrow.

Q31. (Future Perfect - Negative) By next month, I ___ (not/finish) my book.

Answer: By next month, I will not have finished my book.

Q32. (Future Perfect Continuous - Negative) By 2026, she ___ (not/work) here for 5 years.

Answer: By 2026, she will not have been working here for 5 years.

Q33. (Mixed Tense - Simple + Perfect) I ___ (finish) my work, now I am relaxing.

Answer: I have finished my work, now I am relaxing.

Q34. (Complex - Past + Past Perfect) She was happy because she ___ (pass) the exam.

Answer: She was happy because she had passed the exam.

Q35. (Conditional - Type 1) If it rains, I ___ (stay) at home.

Answer: If it rains, I will stay at home.

Q36. (Conditional - Type 2) If I were rich, I ___ (buy) a car.

Answer: If I were rich, I would buy a car.

Q37. (Conditional - Type 3) If he had studied, he ___ (pass) the exam.

Answer: If he had studied, he would have passed the exam.

Q38. (Reported Speech - Present to Past) She says, "I am tired." → She said that she ___ (be) tired.

Answer: She said that she was tired.

Q39. (Reported Speech - Past to Past Perfect) He said, "I lost my key." → He said that he ___ (lose) his key.

Answer: He said that he had lost his key.

Q40. (Passive Voice - Present Simple) The teacher ___ (teach) English every day.

Answer: English is taught by the teacher every day.

Q41. (Passive Voice - Past Simple) They ___ (build) the house last year.

Answer: The house was built last year.

Q42. (Passive Voice - Future Simple) He ___ (finish) the work tomorrow.

Answer: The work will be finished tomorrow.

Q43. (Future Continuous Question) What ___ you ___ (do) at 9 pm tomorrow?

Answer: What will you be doing at 9 pm tomorrow?

Q44. (Present Perfect Question) ___ they ___ (finish) their homework yet?

Answer: Have they finished their homework yet?

Q45. (Past Perfect Question) ___ she ___ (leave) before you arrived?

Answer: Had she left before you arrived?

Q46. (Complex Sentence - Future + Present Continuous) When I come, they ___ (play) football.

Answer: When I come, they will be playing football.

Q47. (Mixed Tense - Present Perfect + Continuous) I ___ (study) for 2 hours, now I am tired.

Answer: I have been studying for 2 hours, now I am tired.

Q48. (Past Continuous + Simple Past) While I ___ (walk) home, I ___ (meet) an old friend.

Answer: While I was walking home, I met an old friend.

Q49. (Future Perfect + Simple Future) By the time you arrive, I ___ (finish) my work.

Answer: By the time you arrive, I will have finished my work.

Q50. (Complex Conditional) If I had known about the exam, I ___ (study) harder.

Answer: If I had known about the exam, I would have studied harder.