Tenses
Subject: English | Topic: Tenses
For TLT, ECT, PST, JEST & All Competitive Exams
In our last topic, we learned about the eight Parts of Speech, including the Verb — the word that shows an action or state of being. Now we move to Tenses, which tell us when an action takes place: in the present, past, or future. Tenses are one of the most heavily tested areas of English grammar in TLT, ECT, PST, and JEST exams.
What is Tense?
Tense is the form of a verb that shows the time of an action or event — whether it is happening now, happened before, or will happen later. English has three main tenses: Present, Past, and Future, and each of these is further divided into four forms: Indefinite (Simple), Continuous, Perfect, and Perfect Continuous.
The Three Main Tenses
Types of Present Tense
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present Indefinite | Subject + V1(s/es) | She writes a letter. |
| Present Continuous | Subject + is/am/are + V1+ing | She is writing a letter. |
| Present Perfect | Subject + has/have + V3 | She has written a letter. |
| Present Perfect Continuous | Subject + has/have + been + V1+ing | She has been writing a letter. |
Types of Past Tense
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Past Indefinite | Subject + V2 | She wrote a letter. |
| Past Continuous | Subject + was/were + V1+ing | She was writing a letter. |
| Past Perfect | Subject + had + V3 | She had written a letter. |
| Past Perfect Continuous | Subject + had + been + V1+ing | She had been writing a letter. |
Types of Future Tense
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Future Indefinite | Subject + will/shall + V1 | She will write a letter. |
| Future Continuous | Subject + will be + V1+ing | She will be writing a letter. |
| Future Perfect | Subject + will have + V3 | She will have written a letter. |
| Future Perfect Continuous | Subject + will have been + V1+ing | She will have been writing a letter. |
Quick Tips to Identify Tense
- Indefinite/Simple: shows a habitual or completed action, no "-ing"
- Continuous: action is/was/will be ongoing — always has "-ing"
- Perfect: action is/was/will be completed — uses has/have/had/will have + V3
- Perfect Continuous: action started earlier and is/was/will be still continuing — uses been + V1+ing
Why This Topic Matters
Tenses are used in almost every sentence, and questions on tense identification, correction, and change of narration/voice all depend on a strong grip on tenses. This makes it one of the highest-weightage topics in the English section of TLT, ECT, PST, and JEST exams.
Practice MCQs
1. "She ___ to school every day." (Present Indefinite)
a) go b) goes c) is going d) went
2. "They ___ football at the moment." (Present Continuous)
a) play b) played c) are playing d) has played
3. "He ___ his homework before dinner." (Past Perfect)
a) has finished b) had finished c) finishes d) will finish
4. Which structure is used for Future Continuous Tense?
a) will + V1 b) will be + V1+ing c) will have + V3 d) is + V1+ing
5. "I ___ this book for two hours." (Present Perfect Continuous)
a) read b) have been reading c) am reading d) had read
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