Sample Notes: Grammar Tenses

O Level and IGCSE English Language – Grammar Tenses

1. What Is a Tense?

• A tense indicates the time of an action or state.
• Tenses are categorized based on time (past, present, future) and aspect (simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous).

2. Overview of the 12 English Tenses

3. PRESENT TENSES

3.1 Present Simple

• Structure: Subject + base verb (+ s/es for third person singular)
• Uses:
  • Habitual actions: He drinks tea every morning.
  • General truths/facts: The sun rises in the east.
  • Scheduled events: The train leaves at 6 p.m.
• Common Errors:
  • Missing -s for he/she/it: She walk ❌ → She walks ✅
• Signal Words: always, usually, every day, often

3.2 Present Continuous

• Structure: Subject + is/am/are + verb-ing
• Uses:
  • Actions happening now: She is reading a book.
  • Temporary actions: I am staying at my friend’s house this week.
  • Future arrangements: We are meeting tomorrow.
• Common Errors:
  • Using non-continuous verbs like know, believe: I am knowing ❌ → I know ✅
• Signal Words: now, at the moment, currently

3.3 Present Perfect

• Structure: Subject + has/have + past participle
• Uses:
  • Unspecified time: I have visited London.
  • Past actions with relevance to present: She has lost her keys.
  • Repeated actions: We have eaten at that restaurant many times.
• Common Errors:
  • Using past simple instead of perfect: I have seen her yesterday ❌ → I saw her yesterday ✅
• Signal Words: ever, never, already, yet, just, since, for

3.4 Present Perfect Continuous

• Structure: Subject + has/have been + verb-ing
• Uses:
  • Duration from past to present: She has been studying for two hours.
  • Recently completed actions with present evidence: I’m tired because I’ve been running.
• Signal Words: since, for, all day, lately

4. PAST TENSES

4.1 Past Simple

• Structure: Subject + past form of verb
• Uses:
  • Completed past actions: They went to Paris last year.
  • Specific time: I met her in 2010.
• Common Errors:
  • Mixing with present perfect: He has gone to the store yesterday ❌ → He went ✅
• Signal Words: yesterday, ago, last year, in 2000

4.2 Past Continuous

• Structure: Subject + was/were + verb-ing
• Uses:
  • Ongoing action in the past: She was watching TV at 8 p.m.
  • Interrupted actions: I was walking when it started to rain.
• Signal Words: while, when, as

4.3 Past Perfect

• Structure: Subject + had + past participle
• Uses:
  • Action before another past action: She had left before I arrived.
• Common Errors:
  • Using past perfect without two past actions: He had eaten. ❌ (unless contextually justified)
• Signal Words: already, by the time, before, after

4.4 Past Perfect Continuous

• Structure: Subject + had been + verb-ing
• Uses:
  • Duration before a past moment: They had been playing for hours before the rain started.
• Signal Words: for, since, all day, before

5. FUTURE TENSES

5.1 Future Simple

• Structure: Subject + will + base verb
• Uses:
  • Predictions: It will rain tomorrow.
  • Spontaneous decisions: I’ll help you with that.
• Common Errors:
  • Using “will” for scheduled events instead of present simple: The train will leave at 6 ❌ → The train leaves at 6 ✅
• Signal Words: tomorrow, next week, soon

5.2 Future Continuous

• Structure: Subject + will be + verb-ing
• Uses:
  • Ongoing future action: This time tomorrow, I’ll be flying to Dubai.
• Signal Words: at this time tomorrow, later today

5.3 Future Perfect

• Structure: Subject + will have + past participle
• Uses:
  • Completion before a future time: She will have finished the work by 5 p.m.
• Signal Words: by the time, by then, before

5.4 Future Perfect Continuous

• Structure: Subject + will have been + verb-ing
• Uses:
  • Duration up to a point in future: By next month, I’ll have been working here for a year.
• Signal Words: for, since, by the time

6. Special Notes on Verb Forms

• Non-continuous verbs: know, believe, want, like, love, hate, need, own are generally not used in continuous form.
  • I am knowing the answer ❌ → I know the answer ✅
• Modal verbs (can, will, may, must) are not tenses but can combine with tenses: He must have gone early.

7. Common Tense Confusions in Exams

8. Tense Timeline Summary

Past         |        Present       |         Future
-------------|----------------------|-------------------------
Past Perfect | Present Perfect      | Future Perfect
Past Simple  | Present Simple       | Future Simple
Past Continuous | Present Continuous | Future Continuous
Past Perfect Continuous | Present Perfect Continuous | Future Perfect Continuous

9. Tense in Context – Paragraph Example

I have always enjoyed painting. I started painting when I was five years old. I painted every day after school. By the time I was ten, I had completed over 50 paintings. Now, I paint professionally. I am working on a new project. By next year, I will have completed a full exhibition. I hope people will be impressed.

10. Tenses in Exam Writing (Directed and Composition)

• Use past simple for recount or narrative.
• Use present simple in reports or factual articles.
• Use present perfect in letters or reflections.
• Use future tense in letters of advice or prediction.
• Always maintain consistency—avoid switching between tenses unless the time frame changes.