Tenses

   - Present, past, and future tenses

   - Perfect tenses (present perfect, past perfect, 

future perfect)

   - Progressive tenses (present progressive, 

past progressive, future progressive)

   - Perfect progressive tenses

 

Tenses in English grammar indicate the time at which an action occurs. The three main categories—present, past, and future—are further divided into simple, perfect, progressive (continuous), and perfect progressive forms.

 

A.  Present, Past, and Future Tenses

 1.  Present Tense

   -  Definition : The present tense describes actions happening now, habitual actions, or universal truths.

   -  Examples :

     -  She walks to school every day.  (Habitual action)

     -  The sun rises in the east.  (Universal truth)

     -  I am here now.  (Current action)

 

   -  MCQ Questions :

     1. Which sentence is in the present tense?

        - a)  She walked to the park.

        - b)  They will travel to Paris.

        - c)  I drink coffee every morning.

        - d)  He was studying late last night.

        -  Answer : c)  I drink coffee every morning.

     2. Identify the present tense sentence:

        - a)  She is reading a book.

        - b)  They visited the museum.

        - c)  We will meet tomorrow.

        - d)  He had already left.

        -  Answer : a)  She is reading a book.

 

2.  Past Tense

   -  Definition : The past tense describes actions that have already happened.

   -  Examples :

     -  He walked to the store yesterday.  (Completed action)

     -  They visited their grandparents last weekend.  (Completed action)

     -  The meeting started at 10 AM.  (Completed action)

 

   -  MCQ Questions :

     1. Which sentence is in the past tense?

        - a)  She walks to school.

        - b)  They will visit the zoo.

        - c)  He studied all night.

        - d)  We are going to the party.

        -  Answer : c)  He studied all night.

     2. Identify the past tense sentence:

        - a)  I write letters every day.

        - b)  She is cooking dinner.

        - c)  They had a great time at the concert.

        - d)  We will finish our project soon.

        -  Answer : c)  They had a great time at the concert.

 

3.  Future Tense

   -  Definition : The future tense describes actions that will happen.

   -  Examples :

     -  She will go to college next year.  (Future action)

     -  They will visit their cousins during the holidays.  (Future action)

     -  I will call you later.  (Future action)

 

   -  MCQ Questions :

     1. Which sentence is in the future tense?

        - a)  She writes every day.

        - b)  They played soccer yesterday.

        - c)  We will travel to Spain next summer.

        - d)  He was cooking dinner.

        -  Answer : c)  We will travel to Spain next summer.

     2. Identify the future tense sentence:

        - a)  She will graduate in May.

        - b)  He walks to work every day.

        - c)  They enjoyed the movie.

        - d)  We were studying together.

        -  Answer : a)  She will graduate in May.

 

  B.  Perfect Tenses

 

1.  Present Perfect Tense

   -  Definition : The present perfect tense describes actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past or that started in the past and continue to the present.

   -  Examples :

     -  She has visited Paris several times.  (Unspecified time in the past)

     -  I have lived here for five years.  (Started in the past, continues to the present)

     -  They have finished their homework.  (Completed action with relevance to the present)

 

   -  MCQ Questions :

     1. Which sentence is in the present perfect tense?

        - a)  She visited Paris last year.

        - b)  He is working on his project.

        - c)  I have eaten breakfast already.

        - d)  We will go to the concert tonight.

        -  Answer : c)  I have eaten breakfast already.

     2. Identify the present perfect tense sentence:

        - a)  She has written three books.

        - b)  They are playing soccer.

        - c)  We went to the mall.

        - d)  He will arrive soon.

        -  Answer : a)  She has written three books.

 

2.  Past Perfect Tense

   -  Definition : The past perfect tense describes an action that was completed before another action or time in the past.

   -  Examples :

     -  She had finished her homework before she went out.  (Completed action before another past action)

     -  By the time we arrived, they had left.  (Completed action before a specific past time)

     -  He had never seen the ocean until last year.  (Action completed before a past point)

 

   -  MCQ Questions :

     1. Which sentence is in the past perfect tense?

        - a)  He went to the store.

        - b)  She will have completed her assignment.

        - c)  They had eaten dinner before the movie.

        - d)  I am studying for the test.

        -  Answer : c)  They had eaten dinner before the movie.

     2. Identify the past perfect tense sentence:

        - a)  She had left before I arrived.

        - b)  He was reading a book.

        - c)  They will finish the project tomorrow.

        - d)  We have seen that movie before.

        -  Answer : a)  She had left before I arrived.

 

3.  Future Perfect Tense

   -  Definition : The future perfect tense describes an action that will be completed before another action or time in the future.

   -  Examples :

     -  By next month, she will have graduated.  (Action to be completed before a future time)

     -  They will have finished the project by the deadline.  (Action to be completed before a specific future time)

     -  I will have saved enough money by the end of the year.  (Action to be completed before a future point)

 

   -  MCQ Questions :

     1. Which sentence is in the future perfect tense?

        - a)  She will finish her homework.

        - b)  He had eaten lunch before the meeting.

        - c)  By tomorrow, they will have left the city.

        - d)  I am going to the store.

        -  Answer : c)  By tomorrow, they will have left the city.

     2. Identify the future perfect tense sentence:

        - a)  She will have learned French by next year.

        - b)  He is going to the gym.

        - c)  They had watched the movie.

        - d)  We will see the results soon.

        -  Answer : a)  She will have learned French by next year.

 

  C.  Progressive (Continuous) Tenses

1.  Present Progressive Tense

   -  Definition : The present progressive tense describes actions that are happening right now or ongoing actions.

   -  Examples :

     -  She is reading a book.  (Action happening now)

     -  They are playing soccer in the park.  (Ongoing action)

     -  I am studying for my exams.  (Ongoing action)

 

   -  MCQ Questions :

     1. Which sentence is in the present progressive tense?

        - a)  He reads a book.

        - b)  They were playing soccer.

        - c)  She is cooking dinner.

        - d)  We will go to the store.

        -  Answer : c)  She is cooking dinner.

     2. Identify the present progressive tense sentence:

        - a)  I am writing an essay.

        - b)  She walked to school.

        - c)  They will visit their grandparents.

        - d)  He has finished his homework.

        -  Answer : a)  I am writing an essay.

 

2.  Past Progressive Tense

   -  Definition : The past progressive tense describes actions that were ongoing in the past, often interrupted by another action.

   -  Examples :

     -  She was watching TV when the phone rang.  (Ongoing action interrupted by another action)

     -  They were studying all night.  (Ongoing action in the past)

     -  I was driving when it started to rain.  (Ongoing action interrupted by another action)

 

   -  MCQ Questions :

     1. Which sentence is in the past progressive tense?

        - a)  He wrote a letter.

        - b)  They are eating dinner.

        - c)  She was reading a book when I called.

        - d)  We will visit the museum.

        -  Answer : c)  She was reading a book when I called.

     2. Identify the past progressive tense sentence:

        - a)  They were playing soccer.

        - b)  She sings beautifully.

        - c)  I have finished my homework.

        - d)  He will go to the store.

        -  Answer : a)  They were playing soccer.

 

3.  Future Progressive Tense

    Future Progressive Tense

   -  Definition : The future progressive tense describes actions that will be ongoing at a specific time in the future.

   -  Examples :

     -  She will be working late tomorrow.  (Ongoing action in the future)

     -  They will be traveling to Japan next week.  (Ongoing action in the future)

     -  I will be studying for my exams all weekend.  (Ongoing action in the future)

 

   -  MCQ Questions :

     1. Which sentence is in the future progressive tense?

        - a)  He is writing a letter.

        - b)  They were eating dinner.

        - c)  She will be reading a book tomorrow.

        - d)  We visited the museum last week.

        -  Answer : c)  She will be reading a book tomorrow.

     2. Identify the future progressive tense sentence:

        - a)  I will be sleeping at midnight.

        - b)  She sings every day.

        - c)  They have completed the project.

        - d)  He was walking to the store.

        -  Answer : a)  I will be sleeping at midnight.

 

  D.  Perfect Progressive Tenses

1.  Present Perfect Progressive Tense

   -  Definition : The present perfect progressive tense describes actions that began in the past and are still continuing or have recently stopped.

   -  Examples :

     -  She has been studying for three hours.  (Action started in the past and is still ongoing)

     -  They have been living in New York since 2010.  (Ongoing action that began in the past)

     -  I have been working on this project all day.  (Action started in the past and is still ongoing)

 

   -  MCQ Questions :

     1. Which sentence is in the present perfect progressive tense?

        - a)  She has read that book.

        - b)  They will be visiting us soon.

        - c)  He has been working here for five years.

        - d)  We were watching TV.

        -  Answer : c)  He has been working here for five years.

     2. Identify the present perfect progressive tense sentence:

        - a)  I have been learning French for two years.

        - b)  She had finished her homework.

        - c)  They will have completed the project.

        - d)  He was reading a book.

        -  Answer : a)  I have been learning French for two years.

 

2.  Past Perfect Progressive Tense

   -  Definition : The past perfect progressive tense describes actions that were ongoing in the past up until another action or time in the past.

   -  Examples :

     -  She had been waiting for an hour before the bus arrived.  (Ongoing action in the past interrupted by another action)

     -  They had been living in the city before they moved to the countryside.  (Ongoing action in the past before another action)

     -  I had been working on the report when the power went out.  (Ongoing action in the past interrupted by another action)

 

   -  MCQ Questions :

     1. Which sentence is in the past perfect progressive tense?

        - a)  He was playing soccer.

        - b)  They have been traveling for months.

        - c)  She had been cooking when I called.

        - d)  We will be going to the concert.

        -  Answer : c)  She had been cooking when I called.

 

     2. Identify the past perfect progressive tense sentence:

        - a)  I had been studying for hours before the exam.

        - b)  She is writing an essay.

        - c)  They will have arrived by then.

        - d)  He has been working all day.

        -  Answer : a)  I had been studying for hours before the exam.

 

3.  Future Perfect Progressive Tense

   -  Definition : The future perfect progressive tense describes actions that will be ongoing up until a specific point in the future.

   -  Examples :

     -  She will have been working here for ten years next month.  (Ongoing action up until a future point)

     -  They will have been traveling for a week by the time they reach Paris.  (Ongoing action up until a future point)

     -  I will have been studying for five hours by the time you arrive.  (Ongoing action up until a future point)

 

   -  MCQ Questions :

     1. Which sentence is in the future perfect progressive tense?

        - a)  He will be playing soccer tomorrow.

        - b)  They were visiting us last weekend.

        - c)  She will have been working here for five years by then.

        - d)  We are going to the park.

        -  Answer : c)  She will have been working here for five years by then.

 

     2. Identify the future perfect progressive tense sentence:

        - a)  I will have been studying all night by the time the exam starts.

        - b)  She was reading a book.

        - c)  They have completed the assignment.

        - d)  He is walking to the store.

        -  Answer : a)  I will have been studying all night by the time the exam starts.

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