01-TENSES-BY-MWALA

Objectives: TENSES

Complete English Tenses β€” Notes & Exercises

Complete Notes on English Tenses

A full, clear guide to the 12 main English tenses. Read carefully and use the exercises at the end. This page uses only Bootstrap for styling.

Quick Summary

English has three main time categories: Present, Past, and Future. Each has four aspects: Simple, Continuous (Progressive), Perfect, and Perfect Continuous. That makes 12 core tenses.

TimeSimpleContinuousPerfectPerfect Continuous
PresentSimple PresentPresent ContinuousPresent PerfectPresent Perfect Continuous
PastSimple PastPast ContinuousPast PerfectPast Perfect Continuous
FutureSimple FutureFuture ContinuousFuture PerfectFuture Perfect Continuous

Present Tenses (with forms, uses, signal words and examples)

Form
  • Affirmative: Subject + base verb (+ s/es for he/she/it) β€” e.g. She eats.
  • Negative: Subject + do/does + not + base verb β€” e.g. She does not eat.
  • Question: Do/Does + subject + base verb? β€” e.g. Does she eat?
Uses
  • Habits and routines: I brush my teeth every morning.
  • General truths/facts: Water boils at 100Β°C.
  • Scheduled events (timetables): The train leaves at 6 pm.
  • Stative verbs (like, know, believe) normally use simple present.
Signal words

always, usually, often, sometimes, never, every day/week/month, on Mondays, rarely

Examples

I work from home. β€” She speaks English. β€” They play football on Sundays.

Form

Affirmative: Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing β€” e.g. They are reading.

Negative: Subject + am/is/are + not + verb-ing.

Question: Am/Is/Are + subject + verb-ing?

Uses
  • Actions happening now: She is studying right now.
  • Temporary situations: I am living with my friend this month.
  • Planned near-future events: We are meeting him tomorrow.
  • Trends or changing situations: Prices are rising.
Signal words

now, right now, at the moment, currently, today, this week

Examples

He is listening to music. β€” I am learning Bootstrap.

Form

Affirmative: Subject + have/has + past participle β€” e.g. She has visited.

Negative: Subject + have/has + not + past participle.

Question: Have/Has + subject + past participle?

Uses
  • Actions at an unspecified time before now: I have seen that movie.
  • Experience: She has lived in Kenya.
  • Change over time: He has become more confident.
  • Actions with present relevance: I have finished my homework (so I can go out).
  • With time expressions: today, this week, so far, already, yet, ever, never, just, recently
Signal words

already, yet, ever, never, so far, just, recently, today

Examples

They have eaten lunch. β€” I have already finished the book.

Form

Affirmative: Subject + have/has + been + verb-ing β€” e.g. I have been studying.

Uses
  • Actions that started in the past and continue to the present (focus on duration): She has been working here for five years.
  • Recently finished actions with present result (often with "for"/"since"): He has been crying β€” his eyes are red.
Signal words

for, since, all day, how long, recently, lately

Examples

We have been waiting for an hour. β€” She has been practicing the piano since May.

Past Tenses

Form

Affirmative: Subject + past form of verb β€” e.g. I went.

Negative: Subject + did + not + base verb β€” e.g. I did not go.

Question: Did + subject + base verb?

Uses
  • Completed actions at a specific time in the past: The concert started at 7 pm yesterday.
  • Series of completed actions: He entered, sat down, and started to read.
  • Habits in the past: When I was small, I played football every day.
Signal words

yesterday, ago, last (week/month/year), in 2010, when I was young, on Monday

Form

Affirmative: Subject + was/were + verb-ing β€” e.g. They were talking.

Uses
  • Actions in progress at a specific moment in the past: At 8 pm I was eating dinner.
  • Interrupted past actions (use with simple past): I was watching TV when the phone rang.
  • Parallel actions in the past: She was cooking while he was setting the table.

Form

Affirmative: Subject + had + past participle β€” e.g. She had left.

Uses
  • An action completed before another action in the past: By the time I arrived, they had finished.
  • Reported speech with a past-in-past idea: He said he had seen the movie.

Form

Affirmative: Subject + had + been + verb-ing β€” e.g. She had been studying.

Uses
  • Focus on duration of an action before another past action: He had been waiting for two hours before the bus came.

Future Tenses

Form

Affirmative: Subject + will + base verb β€” e.g. I will go. (Also: "be going to" for plans/intention β€” I am going to study.)

Uses
  • Predictions: It will rain tomorrow.
  • Spontaneous decisions: OK, I will help you.
  • Promises/offers: I will call you later.

Form

Affirmative: Subject + will + be + verb-ing β€” e.g. They will be travelling.

Uses
  • Actions in progress at a specific future time: This time tomorrow I will be flying.
  • Polite enquiries about plans: Will you be using the car tonight?

Form

Affirmative: Subject + will + have + past participle β€” e.g. By next year, I will have graduated.

Uses
  • Show that something will be completed before a specific future time: She will have finished the report by Friday.

Form

Affirmative: Subject + will + have + been + verb-ing β€” e.g. By July, they will have been working here for two years.

Uses
  • Focus on duration up to a point in the future: By 5 pm she will have been teaching for six hours.

Common Mistakes & Tips

  • Don't use continuous with stative verbs: *I am knowing* — wrong. Correct: I know.
  • Use present perfect for unspecified past time and present relevance; use simple past for specific past times.
  • With "for" and "since": use perfect forms. I have lived here for 5 years; since 2018.
  • "Will" vs "be going to": "be going to" for plans/intention and things that are already decided; "will" for spontaneous decisions and weaker predictions.

Exercises (Practice)

Try these. Answers are hidden β€” click to reveal.

  1. He ___ (go) to school every day. (habit β€” simple present)
  2. Right now she ___ (write) a letter. (present continuous)
  3. They ___ (finish) their homework already. (present perfect)
  4. I ___ (see) that movie last week. (simple past)
    1. He goes to school every day.
    2. Right now she is writing a letter.
    3. They have finished their homework already.
    4. I saw that movie last week.
More challenging (fill with correct tense)
  1. By the time you arrive, we ___ (leave). (future perfect)
  2. She ___ (study) for three hours before the exam started. (past perfect continuous)
  3. At 8 pm tomorrow I ___ (watch) the match. (future continuous)
  4. He ___ (write) letters since 9 am. (present perfect continuous)
    1. By the time you arrive, we will have left.
    2. She had been studying for three hours before the exam started.
    3. At 8 pm tomorrow I will be watching the match.
    4. He has been writing letters since 9 am.
Short test: Choose the correct tense

1) "I ___ (live) here since 2010." a) lived b) have lived c) am living

Correct: have lived (b). Use present perfect with since + point in time.

Created for learners who want complete, clear English tenses notes. Use the page to study, practice and test yourself.

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.

50 English Tenses Questions and Answers

From simple to complex with explanations. (Difficult words explained in Swahili for clarity)

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." β†’ 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." β†’ 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.

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