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Chapter No 11

Concept-Based Quick Review Of

Tenses
Tenses show the time of a verb’s action. There are twelve tenses and some of them make combinations.
Tenses usually take signal words like now, yesterday, tomorrow, etc.

1: PRESENT INDEFINITE TENSE

Concept:
This tense shows some habit / routine or truth
Formation:
Subject + verb1 + object
Signal Words:
Always, often, usually, daily, etc.
Note:
Add s / es to verb1 if the subject is he, she, it (3rd person singular)
Examples:
i: He goes to his village every month.
ii: She often quotes from novels.
iii: I daily do my work.
iv: The usually get good marks.
v: You always tell lies.
(These sentences show some habit or routine)
i: God helps those who help themselves.
ii: He who digs a pit for others himself falls into it.
iii: Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.
iv: The elephant never forgets.
v: The cat has many lives.
(These sentences show truth or reality)
Interrogative and Negative Sentences
Put, do, or, does, before the subject to make the sentence interrogative.
Examples:
i: Does she help you?
ii: Do they waste their time?
Put do not or does not after the subject to make the sentence negative.
Examples:
i: He does not depend on others.
ii: We do not fear the strangers.
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2: PAST INDEFINITE TENSE

Concept:
This tense shows some action completed in the past with the time mentioned.
Formation:
Subject + verb2 + object
Signal Words:
Yesterday, ago, last, 2012 (any previous year), etc.
Examples:
i: I received your e-mail yesterday.
ii: They left a few minutes ago.
iii: He performed well in the last test.
iv: They made the discovery in 2010.
v: We met them in the morning.
Interrogative and Negative Sentences
Put, did before the subject to make the sentence interrogative.
Examples:
i: Did he see anything in the market?
ii: Did you fly to New York last month?
Put did not after the subject to make the sentence negative.
Examples:
i: We did not write the report last week.
ii: She did not take the exam in 2013.

3: FUTURE INDEFINITE TENSE

Concept:
This tense shows some plan or intention in the future.
Formation:
Subject + will / shall + verb1 + object
Signal Words:
Tomorrow, next, 2020, (any future year), etc.
Note:
Use shall after I and we.
Use will after all other subjects. Except I and we.
Examples:
i: We shall go to Karachi next month.
ii: He will help us in this project.
Note:
For some planned future activity, we prefer present continuous tense.
Examples:
i: He is living tomorrow.
ii: They are coming back next month.

Interrogative and Negative Sentences

Except for do, does, did, we put all other helping verbs before the subject to make the sentence
interrogative.
Examples:
i: Shall we ask them for advice?
ii: Will he come late to the office?
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4: PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

Concept:
This tense shows some action in progress in the present.
Formation:
Subject + is / am / are + ing form + object
Signal Words:
Now, currently, at the moment, these days etc.
Examples:
i: What is he doing now?
ii: He is living in England these days.
iii: Are they working for you?
iv: We are not going to leave you in trouble.
5: PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE
Concept:
This tense shows some action in progress in the past.
Formation:
Subject + was / were + ing form + object
Signal Words:
This tense usually makes combination with some other past action with the signal words like when,
while, etc.
Examples:
i: He was sleeping when we came back.
ii: She injured herself while she was cleaning the gun.
(These sentences show that some action was going on when some other action took place)

6: FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE

Concept:
This tense shows some action in progress in the future.
Formation:
Subject + will be / shall be + ing form + object
Signal Words:
This tense usually makes combination with some other action in the present with the signal words
like when, while, etc.
Examples:
i: We shall be waiting for her when she comes back.
ii: They will be sitting in the office when the bomb explodes.
(These sentences show that some action will be going on when some other action takes place)

7: PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

Concept:
This tense shows some action recently completed without time mentioned.
Formation:
Subject + has / have + verb3 + object
Signal Words:
Just, yet, already, recently, etc.
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Examples:
i: They have already seen this movie.
ii: She has just arrived.

Note: The difference between simple past and present perfect is that the former shows time of the action
while the latter does not show the time.

Present Perfect Simple Past

1. The plane has taken off. The plane took off a few minutes ago.
2. They have gone abroad. They went abroad last month.
3. He has written the report. He wrote the report yesterday.
4. I have visited the site. I visited the site in the morning.

8: PAST PERFECT TENSE

Concept:
This tense shows some action completed in the past earlier than some other action.
Formation:
Subject + had + verb3 + object
Signal Words:
This tense usually makes combination with some other action in the past with the signal words like
when, before, etc.
Examples:
i: The patient had died before the doctor arrived.
ii: We had reached our destination when it started raining.
(These sentences show that some action had taken place before some other action took place).

9: FUTURE PERFECT TENSE

Concept:
This tense shows some action completed in the future earlier than some other action takes place.
Formation:
Subject + will have + verb3 + object
Signal Words:
This tense usually makes combination with some other action in the present with the signal words
like when, before, etc.
Examples:
i: The guests will have left before we arrive.
ii: It will have stopped raining when he comes back.
(These sentences show that some action will have taken place before some other action takes place).

10: PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

Concept:
This tense shows some action in progress in the present for some time.(Present Continuous+
element of time = Present Perfect Continuous)
Formation:
Subject + has / have been + ing form + object
Signal Words:
since, for.
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Examples:
i: The children have been playing since morning.
ii: He has been waiting for the result for a long time.
Note: “Since” is used to show start of time, and “for” is used to show duration of time. “for” is used with
minutes, hours, days, months, years, etc.

11: PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

Concept:
This tense shows some action in progress in the past for some time. .(Past Continuous+ element
of time = Past Perfect Continuous)

Formation:
Subject + had been + ing form + object
Signal Words:
since, for.
Note: This tense usually makes combination with some other past tense.
Examples:
i: He had been working on the project for many weeks before he finally completed it.
ii: I had been teaching there for five years before I decided to resign.

12: FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

Concept:
This tense shows some action in progress in the future for some time. .(Future Continuous+
element of time = Future Perfect Continuous)

Formation:
Subject + will have been + ing form + object
Signal Words:
since, for.
Note: This tense usually makes combination with some other present tense.
Examples:
i: He will have been sleeping since non and she comes back.
ii: The people will have been protesting for many years before the government changes its
policies.
Note: Some verbs are not used in continuous tenses.
Incorrect Correct
1: He is wanting to leave. He wants to leave.
2: I am understanding you. I understand you.
These verbs are as follows:
Want, like, love, hate, feel, taste, smell, look, appear, see, etc. (mental state)
Hold, consist, comprise, have, etc. (to possess something)
Note: Negative sentences are note usually expressed in perfect continuous tenses.

1: He has not been eating anything since yesterday. Incorrect

He has not eaten anything since yesterday. Correct

2: They have not been doing any job for a year. Incorrect
They have not done any job for a year. Correct
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CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
A conditional sentence has two parts:
1: Condition. 2: Result.
Examples:
1: If he works hard, he will pass.
2: If you keep your word people will trust you.

FOUR TYPES OF CONDITIONAL STENSES

1: Future conditional:
Condition + Result
Simple Present tense + Simple Future tense
Examples:
1: If we leave early, we shall reached in time.
2: If it rains tomorrow, we shall not play the match.
Note: These sentences show the probable results.

2: Hypothetical conditional:
Condition + Result
Simple Past tense + Would / Might + verb0
Examples:
1: If man conquered death, he would not fear God.
2: If there were oxygen on the moon, people would often go there.
Note: These sentences show non reality:
Things, which are not likely to happen.
3: Past conditional:
Condition + Result
Past perfect tense + would / could / have + verb3

Examples:
1: If he had worked hard, he would have passed.
2: If he had been admitted to the hospital, he could survived.
Note: These sentences show regret / improbable results.

4: Zero conditional:
Condition + Result
Simple Present Tense + Simple Present tense
Examples:
1: He walks to college when he misses his bus.
2: It rains when the temperature rises.
Note: These sentences show truth or habit.
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TENSES REVIEW PRACTICE EXERCISE

Spot the error:
1: A theft has been made in the bank at 10 am.
(a) (b) (c) (d)

2: I have seen them yesterday when I was going to office.

(a) (b) (c) (d)
Choose the correct sentence:
1: (A) I know him since his childhood.
(B) I knew him since his childhood.
(C) I have known him since his childhood.
(D) I have been knowing him since his childhood.

2: (A) You are sleeping since noon.

(B) You slept since noon.
(C) You have slept since noon.
(D) You have been sleeping since noon.

3. (A) Each one of the dogs in the show require a special kind of diet.
(B) Each one of the dogs in the show are required a special kind of diet.
(C) Each one of the dogs in the show is require a special kind of diet.
(D) Each one of the dogs in the show requires a special kind of diet.

4. (A) Four weeks is the amount of time concrete takes to reach its full strength.
(B) Four week is the amount of time concrete takes to reach its full strength.
(C) Four weeks are the amount of time concrete takes to reach its full strength.
(D) Four weeks be the amount of time concrete takes to reach its full strength.

5. (A) One of the most influential Middle Eastern newspapers, The Pyramids, was established in
Egypt in 1875.
(B) One of the most influential Middle Eastern newspapers, The Pyramids, were established in
Egypt in 1875.
(C) One of the most influential Middle Eastern newspapers, The Pyramids, established in Egypt
in 1875.
(D) One of the most influential Middle Eastern newspapers, The Pyramids, were to stablish in
Egypt in 1875.

6. (A) The prime minister, together with cabinet members, exercise executive power.
(B) The prime minister, together with cabinet members, are exercise executive power.
(C) The prime minister, together with cabinet members, exercises executive power.
(D) The prime minister, together with cabinet members, is exercise executive power.

7. (A) That it is birds migrate long distances is well-documented.

(B) That birds migrate long distances is well-documented.
(C) Birds that migrate long distances is well-documented.
(D) It is that birds migrate long distances is well-documented.
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8. (A) In 1970, the Canadian scientist George Kell proved that warm water freezes more quickly than
cold water.
(B) In 1970, the Canadian scientist George Kell proving that warm water freezes more quickly
than cold water.
(C) In 1970, the Canadian scientist George Kell proves that warm water freezes more quickly than
cold water.
D) In 1970, the Canadian scientist George Kell prove that warm water freezes more quickly than
cold water.

9. (A) Psychologists believe that incentives make us want to increase our productivity.
(B) Psychologists believe that incentives make us to want to increase our productivity.
(C) Psychologists believe that incentives makes us want to increase our productivity.
(D) Psychologists believe that incentives make us wanting to increase our productivity.

10. (A) Having reached his first birthday, a baby should, without the help of an adult, to be able to sit
or even stand up.
(B) Having reached his first birthday, a baby should, without the help of an adult, be able sit or
even stand up.
(C) Having reached his first birthday, a baby should, without the help of an adult, being able to sit
or even stand up.
(D) Having reached his first birthday, a baby should, without the help of an adult, be able to sit or
even stand up.