Tenses are forms taken by verbs in order to show the time of an action.

There are three main categories of tenses—Present, Past and Future. The present tense covers things that are true when the words are spoken or written; or are generally true. The past tense covers things that were true before the words were spoken or written. The future tense covers things that will be true after the words are spoken or written.

The simple present tense is used to express habits, general truths, repeated actions or unchanging situations, emotions and wishes, fixed arrangements, present or future; future time, after some conjunctions, to give instructions or directions.

The present continuous of any verb is composed of two parts – the present tense of the verb to be + the present participle of the main verb.

The present perfect of any verb is composed of two elements: the appropriate form of the auxiliary verb to have (present tense), plus the past participle of the main verb.

The present perfect continuous is made up of two elements: the present perfect of the verb ‘to be’ (have/has been), and the present participle of the main verb.

The simple past is used to talk about a completed action in a time before now.

The past continuous describes actions or events in a time before now, which began in the past and is still going on at the time of speaking. In other words, it expresses an unfinished or incomplete action in the past.

The past perfect refers to a time earlier than before now. It is used to make it clear that one event happened before another in the past.

The past perfect continuous corresponds to the present perfect continuous, but with reference to a time earlier than ‘before now’.

The simple future refers to a time later than now, and expresses facts or certainty.

The future continuous is made up of two elements—the simple future of the verb ‘to be’ + the present participle.

The future perfect is composed of two elements—the simple future of the verb “to have” (will have) + the past participle of the main verb.

The future perfect continuous is composed of two elements—the future perfect of the verb “to be” (will have been) + the present participle of the main verb.

1. Simple Past: She was asleep.

Past Continuous: She was sleeping.

Past Perfect: She had slept.

Past Perfect Continuous: She had been sleeping.

Simple Present: She is asleep.

Present Continuous: She is sleeping.

Present Perfect: She has slept.

Present Perfect Continuous: She has been sleeping.

Simple Future: She will be asleep.

Future Continuous: She will be sleeping.

Future Perfect: She will have slept.

Future Perfect Continuous: She will have been sleeping.

2. Simple Past: Rahul worked

Past Continuous: Rahul was working there.

Past Perfect: Rahul had worked there.

Past Perfect Continuous: Rahul had been working there.

Simple Present: Rahul works there.

Present Continuous: Rahul is working there.

Present Perfect: Rahul has worked there.

Present Perfect Continuous: Rahul has been working there.

Simple Future: Rahul will work there.

Future Continuous: Rahul will be working there.

Future Perfect: Rahul will have worked there.

Future Perfect Continuous: Rahul will have been working there.

3. Simple Past: Shilpa showed them around the house.

Past Continuous: Shilpa was showing them around the house.

Past Perfect: Shilpa had shown them around the house.

Past Perfect Continuous: Shilpa had been showing them around the house.

Simple Present: Shilpa shows them around the house.

Present Continuous: Shilpa is showing them around the house.

Present Perfect: Shilpa has shown them around the house.

Present Perfect Continuous: Shilpa has been showing them around the house.

Simple Future: Shilpa will show them around the house.

Future Continuous: Shilpa will be showing them around the house.

Future Perfect: Shilpa will have shown them around the house.

Future Perfect Continuous: Shilpa will have been showing them around the house.

4. Simple Past: We met

Past Continuous: We were meeting yesterday.

Past Perfect: We had met yesterday.

Past Perfect Continuous: We had been meeting yesterday.

Simple Present: We meet today.

Present Continuous: We are meeting today.

Present Perfect: We have met today.

Present Perfect Continuous: We have been meeting today.

Simple Future: We will meet tomorrow.

Future Continuous: We will be meeting tomorrow.

Future Perfect: We will have met tomorrow.

Future Perfect Continuous: We will have been meeting tomorrow.

5. Simple Past: She listened to what was being said attentively.

Past Continuous: She was listening to what was being said attentively.

Past Perfect: She had listened to what was being said attentively.

Past Perfect Continuous: She had been listening to what was being said attentively.

Simple Present: She listens to what is being said attentively.

Present Continuous: She is listening to what is being said attentively.

Present Perfect: She has listened to what is being said attentively.

Present Perfect Continuous: She has been listening to what is being said attentively.

Simple Future: She will listen to what will be said attentively.

Future Continuous: She will be listening to what will be said attentively.

Future Perfect: She will have listened to what will be said attentively.

Future Perfect Continuous: She will have been listening to what will be said attentively.

 

Try and solve these questions on your own. Select the most appropriate option in each case.

1. Convert the given sentence into Simple Past tense.

Reema is crying over spilt milk.

1. Reema cries over spilt milk.
2. Reema spills the milk and starts to cry.
3. Reema cried over spilt milk.
4. Reema is crying over spilt milk.

2. Convert the given sentence into Present Perfect tense.

Prakash keeps his belongings locked in the cupboard.

1. Prakash has kept his belongings locked in the cupboard.
2. Prakash will be keeping his belongings locked in the cupboard.
3. Prakash had been keeping his belongings locked in the cupboard.
4. Prakash had kept his belonging while locking the cupboard.

3. Convert the given sentence into Future Continuous tense.

The junior officer always follows the commands of his seniors.

1. The junior officers followed the instructions given by their seniors.
2. The junior officer will always be following the commands of his seniors.
3. The junior officer had followed the commands of his seniors.
4. The junior officer is always following the commands of his seniors.

4. Convert the given sentence into Past Perfect Continuous tense.

Mrs. Verma screamed loudly to scare the robbers.

1. Verma had been screaming loudly to scare the robbers.
2. Verma is screaming loudly to scare the robbers.
3. Verma has been screaming loudly to scare the robbers.
4. Verma had screamed loudly to scare the robbers.

5. Convert the given sentence into Present Continuous tense.

Payal will have danced on this stage tomorrow.

1. Payal will be dancing on this stage tomorrow.
2. Payal will dance on this stage tomorrow.
3. Payal is dancing on this stage today.
4. Payal is dancing on this stage tomorrow.

6. Convert the given sentence into Future Perfect tense.

I will spend all my fuel by this time tomorrow.

1. I will have spent all my fuel by this time tomorrow.
2. I am spending all my fuel by this time tomorrow.
3. I was spending all my fuel by this time tomorrow.
4. I had spent all my fuel by this time yesterday.

7. Convert the given sentence into Past Perfect tense.

Seema weeps copiously after she is rebuked by her parents.

1. Seema is weeping copiously after being rebuked by her parents.
2. Seema will weep copiously after being rebuked by her parents.
3. Seema will be weeping copiously after being rebuked by her parents.
4. Seema had wept copiously after being rebuked by her parents.

8. Convert the given sentence into Simple Present tense.

Rakesh was a dishonest man.

1. Rakesh does not operate with honesty.
2. Rakesh is a dishonest man.
3. Rakesh has been a dishonest man.
4. Rakesh was a dishonest individual.

9. Convert the given sentence into Simple Future tense.

Akshay was not a good student.

1. Akshay is not being a good student.
2. Akshay will not be a good student.
3. Akshay had not been a good student.
4. Akshay has not been a good student.

10. Convert the given sentence into Past Continuous tense.

Radha walks to school every day.

1. Radha was walking to school every day.
2. Radha has been walking to school every day.
3. Radha had walked walking to school every day.
4. Radha likes to walk every day.

11. Convert the given sentence into Present Perfect Continuous tense.

Rohan has studied about fitness training.

1. Rohan has been studying about fitness training.
2. Rohan had been studying about fitness training.
3. Rohan will be studying about fitness training.
4. Rohan can study about fitness training.

12. Convert the given sentence into Future Continuous tense.

Piyush eats more than what is required.

1. Piyush is eating a lot.
2. Piyush will be eating more than what is required.
3. Piyush ate more than what is required.
4. Piyush had eaten more than what was required.

 

ANSWER KEY

1. c- Reema cried over spilt milk.
2. a- Prakash has kept his belongings locked in the cupboard.
3. b- The junior officer will always be following the commands of his seniors.
4. a- Mrs. Verma had been screaming loudly to scare the robbers.
5. c- Payal is dancing on this stage today.
6. a- I will have spent all my fuel by this time tomorrow.
7. d- Seema had wept copiously after being rebuked by her parents.
8. b- Rakesh is a dishonest man.
9. b- Akshay will not be a good student.
10. a- Radha was walking to school every day.
11. a- Rohan has been studying about fitness training.
12. b- Piyush will be eating more than what is required.