CBSE Class 7 English Tenses Notes Set 02

What is a tense?

A tense is the form of a verb that tells us when an action happens. English verbs change their form to show whether something happened in the past, is happening now or will happen in the future. There are three main tenses: past, present and future. Each has four types: simple, continuous, perfect and perfect continuous. That gives twelve tense forms in all.

The four types and what they show

1. Simple: a habit, a fact or a single completed action.
2. Continuous: an action in progress at a given time.
3. Perfect: an action that is finished before a given time, or whose result matters now.
4. Perfect continuous: an action that began earlier and has been going on for some time, often with 'for' or 'since'.

Formulas for the twelve tenses

Present tense
1. Simple present: subject + first form of the verb (add -s or -es for he, she, it). Example: She plays tennis.
2. Present continuous: subject + is/am/are + verb-ing. Example: She is playing tennis.
3. Present perfect: subject + has/have + third form of the verb. Example: She has played tennis.
4. Present perfect continuous: subject + has/have been + verb-ing. Example: She has been playing tennis for an hour.

Past tense
1. Simple past: subject + second form of the verb. Example: She played tennis.
2. Past continuous: subject + was/were + verb-ing. Example: She was playing tennis.
3. Past perfect: subject + had + third form of the verb. Example: She had played tennis.
4. Past perfect continuous: subject + had been + verb-ing. Example: She had been playing tennis for an hour.

Future tense
1. Simple future: subject + will/shall + first form of the verb. Example: She will play tennis.
2. Future continuous: subject + will be + verb-ing. Example: She will be playing tennis.
3. Future perfect: subject + will have + third form of the verb. Example: She will have played tennis.
4. Future perfect continuous: subject + will have been + verb-ing. Example: She will have been playing tennis for an hour.

Making negatives and questions

For a negative, place 'not' after the first helping verb (is not, has not, will not). In the simple present and simple past, use do not, does not or did not with the first form of the verb. For a question, move the first helping verb before the subject: Are you playing? Have they left? Will she come? In the simple tenses, begin with Do, Does or Did: Did I live in London?

Handy points

1. Use 'since' with a starting point (since 1992) and 'for' with a period of time (for two weeks).
2. A timetable event in the near future can use the simple present: The train leaves at 6:30.
3. After 'when', 'as soon as' and 'before' about the future, use the present tense, not will: I will call you when he comes.
4. Words like 'now', 'at the moment' and 'these days' go with the present continuous; 'already', 'just' and 'recently' go with the present perfect.

Worked examples

Example 1. Fill in the correct form: Mary ______ in Germany since 1992. (live)
Answer: has lived. 'Since' with a starting year needs the present perfect.

Example 2. Change to the past perfect: He finished his homework.
Answer: He had finished his homework. Use had with the third form 'finished'.

Example 3. Turn into a question: They have been learning English for two years.
Answer: Have they been learning English for two years? The first helping verb 'have' moves before the subject.

Quick Check Questions