Mastering English Tenses: A Comprehensive Overview

English Tenses

Present Simple

Affirmative, Negative, and Interrogative Forms

Affirmative: Subject + Verb + Complement

Negative: Subject + don't + Verb + Complement

Interrogative: Do + Subject + Verb + Complement?

Example:

• I speak English
• I don't speak English
• Do you speak English?

Present Continuous

Affirmative, Negative, and Interrogative Forms

Affirmative: Subject + Be + Verb + ing

Negative: Subject + Be + Not + Verb + ing

Interrogative: Be + Subject + Verb + ing?

Example:

• I am speaking
• I am not speaking
• Am I speaking?

Past Simple (Regular Verbs)

Affirmative, Negative, and Interrogative Forms

Affirmative: Subject + Verb + ed

Negative: Subject + didn't + Verb

Interrogative: Did + Subject + Verb?

Example:

• I travelled
• I didn't travel
• Did I travel?

Past Simple (Irregular Verbs)

Affirmative, Negative, and Interrogative Forms

Affirmative: Subject + Past Irregular Verb Form (FIDV)

Negative: Subject + didn't + Verb

Interrogative: Did + Subject + Verb?

Example:

• I went
• I didn't go
• Did I go?

Past Continuous

Affirmative, Negative, and Interrogative Forms

Affirmative: Subject + was/were + Verb + ing

Negative: Subject + was/were + not + Verb + ing

Interrogative: Was/Were + Subject + Verb + ing?

Example:

• I was speaking
• I was not speaking
• Was I speaking?

Present Perfect

Affirmative, Negative, and Interrogative Forms

Affirmative: Subject + Have + Verb + ed

Negative: Subject + haven't + Verb + ed

Interrogative: Have + Subject + Verb + ed?

Example:

• I have finished
• I haven't finished
• Have you finished?