Verb tenses

Grammar tenses

Verb tenses are important for showing the correct timing of actions.

Basics of verb tenses

1. Present Simple

Describes habits, actions, general truths, and fixed arrangements.

• Positive: Subject + base form (e.g., "He runs.")

• Negative: Subject + do/does not + base form (e.g., "He does not run.")

• Question: Do/does + subject + base form? (e.g., "Does he run?")

2. Present Continuous

Describes actions happening at the moment of speaking or around the present time, and future plans.

• Positive: Subject + am/is/are + verb+ing (e.g., "He is running.")

• Negative: Subject + am/is/are not + verb+ing (e.g., "He is not running.")

• Question: Am/Is/Are + subject + verb+ing? (e.g., "Is he running?")

3. Past Simple

Describes completed actions in the past.

• Positive: Subject + past form of verb (e.g., "He ran.")

• Negative: Subject + did not + base form (e.g., "He did not run.")

• Question: Did + subject + base form? (e.g., "Did he run?")

4. Past Continuous

Describes actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past.

• Positive: Subject + was/were + verb+ing (e.g., "He was running.")

• Negative: Subject + was/were not + verb+ing (e.g., "He was not running.")

• Question: Was/Were + subject + verb+ing? (e.g., "Was he running?")

5. Future Simple

Describes actions that will happen in the future.

• Positive: Subject + will + base form (e.g., "He will run.")

• Negative: Subject + will not (won't) + base form (e.g., "He will not run.")

• Question: Will + subject + base form? (e.g., "Will he run?")

6. Present Perfect

Describes actions that happened at an unspecified time before now or started in the past and continue to the present.

• Positive: Subject + has/have + past participle (e.g., "He has run.")

• Negative: Subject + has/have not + past participle (e.g., "He has not run.")

• Question: Has/Have + subject + past participle? (e.g., "Has he run?")

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. She _______ (watch) TV every evening.

2. They _______ (play) soccer right now.

3. He _______ (finish) his project yesterday.

4. We _______ (visit) our grandparents next weekend.

5. I _______ (work) on this report for three hours.

6. You _______ (not, like) this movie.

7. While she _______ (read), her phone rang.

Exercise 2: Correct the Errors

Find and correct the errors in the following sentences.

1. He are playing tennis now.

2. I has visited the museum last month.

3. They will goes to the party tomorrow.

4. She don't like coffee.

5. We was watching TV when the power went out.

6. You will have finish your homework by 8 PM.

7. They is studying for their exams.

Exercise 1:

1. watches

2. are playing

3. finished

4. will visit

5. have been working

6. do not like

7. was reading

Exercise 2:

1. He is playing tennis now.

2. I visited the museum last month.

3. They will go to the party tomorrow.

4. She doesn't like coffee.

5. We were watching TV when the power went out.

6. You will have finished your homework by 8 PM.

7. They are studying for their exams.