Tenses
There are three basic tenses in the English language.
- Present Tense
- Past Tense
- Future Tense
Every basic tense has four sub-tenses.
- Simple or Indefinite Tense
- Continuous or Progressive Tense
- Perfect Tense
- Perfect Continuous Tense
Present Tense
- Simple or present Indefinite Tense
- Continuous or Present Progressive Tense
- Perfect Tense
- Perfect Continuous Tense
Past Tense
- Simple or Past Indefinite Tense
- Continuous or Progressive Tense
- Perfect Tense
- Perfect Continuous Tense
Future Tense
- Simple or Future Indefinite Tense
- Continuous or Future Progressive Tense
- Perfect Tense
- Perfect Continuous Tense
Types of Sentences
Sentences are of four main types.
- Affirmative or Positive Sentences
- Negative Sentences
- Interrogative Sentences
- Negative Interrogative Sentences
It means we can make positive, negative or interrogative sentences with the help of verbs, question words and helping verbs.
Question Words
what ~ where ~ when ~ why ~ who ~ whom ~ which ~ how etc.
Be Verbs
is ~ am ~ are ~ was ~ were ~ been ~ being
Present Indefinite Tense
In the positive or affirmative sentence of present indefinite tense, we use only the base form of the verb.
Structure
Use of a subject.
Singular subject (Ali, John, Ahmad). Add s/es with third person singular pronoun (he, she, it).
Use of object.
Don’t use helping verb in affirmative or positive sentences. Use base form only (add s/es with third person singular.
Use do not or does not in negative sentences. For third person singular pronoun, use does not or doesn’t. While for other singular pronouns use do not or don’t.
Use question words or do/does for asking a question.
Use do/does at the beginning of the negative interrogative sentence and not after subject in case of without contractions. While with contractions use don’t or doesn’t before the subject.